A question of sport
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Where are we at with the All Blacks? A decent enough win over England - and then it's all change again for the French test. Should we be seeing a first XV by now, or is still about depth? Should we start fretting already about how really bad it might be if we contrive to yet again not win the Rugby World Cup? Do we have a centre yet? And which would be the most calamitous injury? McCaw? Carter? Or Hayman? Discuss …
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The all blacks are doing fine...just need to start building the combinations and a little work on set pieces. I trust Henry as he did wonders with Wales and he didn't have any players of the calibre of McCaw, Carter et al back then.
But what on earth is this all about?...
http://www.haka.co.nz/haka-column.php?column_name=Hard%20Yards&category=ab -
Henry said before he left that all touring players would be given some game time and that appears to be what is happening but it would be interesting to see if he plays his top 22 for the Paris test
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Henry's strategy of fielding wildly different teams is evidence of the luxury he has in selecting from a wide range of eligible players - there is no real pressure to come up with a starting World Cup XV straight away as clearly most of the tried combinations thus far have been largely successful.
While the loss of certainty for us in not having a locked in first-string squad can be a tad disconcerting, we should take heart in the fact that the ABs look dominating in whichever mould they have been put into this year...
As to worst injury prospect, my head says McCaw naturally, given that he is the Captain, and given the way the international press drools over him as 'the world's best player' he is almost a psychological weapon. Notwithstanding the fact that I still don't agree with his playstyle at the breakdown. My heart, however, says Jerry. One of the hardest workers, and awesome to watch playing. If Jerry got sidelined due to injury it would take a bunch of the pleasure out of watching the game for this Wellingtonian.
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It's nice that we play a bit sh*t and still put England away by 21 points, nevertheless, there were a lot of problems in the midfield in that game and it only takes 27 minutes of fantastic play (see 1999) for a World Cup to be over.
Having said that, we're looking the best out of all the rugby playing nations.Isn't it nice to see Australia struggle.....again?
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One thing I find interesting - certainly this year and probably since the Lions we're pretty much put to bed midway thru the series - is that the All Blacks are largely playing and winning without a great deal of complexity in their set piece moves.
Now and then they've pulled out a 'special' to get across the line, but otherwise its just been the basics - run the oppo ragged, bang it up hard and go wide to get around this year's defensive fad (the 'rush').
Is it because they still haven't got the ball distributor in the mid, or are they holding back, or am I missing something?
(Without Sky, following the game on Prime with fuzzy reception and ad breaks making it hard to keep the feel of the game, my spectatoring is well lacking match fitness this year).
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In terms of biggest disaster to hit the All Blacks come World Cup, it would have to be Daniel Carter.
We'd lose a little if we lost McCaw, but lets face facts, we've got world class open side flankers coming out our ears here in NZ. Marty Holah would walk into most top sides in world rugby, yet he's currently struggling to make the All Black squad here. Blackie, Masoe, there's a bunch of people who'd slot in fine in a world cup final.
The key position in rugby is the goal kicking first five. We've got good replacements, but Carter is the player that doesn't just turn a play, he turns a whole match, and even a whole competition on its head. He was good against England in a man-of-the-match performance, but he just about raised international rugby to new levels against the Lions.
He kicks as well as Grant Fox, he runs as well as Kirwan, he defends like Frank Bunce, and he's only been in his current position for what... 2 years? Assuming no disasters he'll smash all point scoring records, try scoring records for first fives etc during his career, and I think in rugby he'll be looked back on as significant as Jordan in basketball, Bradman in cricket, Gretzky in ice hockey.
Rugby is a team game, and the best team will win the world cup. The closest thing to breaking that rule is Daniel Carter.
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Well said Kyle.
However, I think he’s a significantly superior goal-kicker to Fox.
1. He has at least 10 metres extra distance, and that has a big psychological influence on the behaviour of the opposition.
2. He is also better from his “wrong side” than Fox was; effectively mastering the art of rugby’s equivalent of reverse swing. -
Nick Evans would be *ok* as his subsitute but the bugger keeps getting injured. God forbid we have to play Rangi there. Evans is obviously not of the same quality as Carter but he kicks well and is a strong runner. Most sides would be glad to have him when he's fit and on form.
I think we're in the best position it's possible to be in at this stage. I think we have the all the quality, depth and experience that we need. It's all about mental toughness from here on in. Not just saying it but doing it as well.
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I have to confess to waking up in a cold sweat more than once with the thought of losing either Carter or McCaw. Carter's the points-scoring machine, but I think it would be every bit as disasterous if we lost McCaw to injury.
For one, there's no natural successor who could step in as captain - as much as I love big Jerry, I don't know if I'd want him captaining the side in a World Cup final. Despite the depth in the squad and development of senior players as leaders, I don't see anyone who could step up and lead the team - off the field, as well as on it - and handle the added pressure the way McCaw has this year.
If anything, the extra responsibility seems to have elevated his game – his individual performance in the Brisbane Bledisloe Test has to rank alongside Carter's in the second Lions Test last year as one of the most influential ever.
World Cup winning teams need a core of players who would make a world xv, but they also always have a couple of individuals players who get them over the bar - England would never have won in 2003 without both Wilkinson and Johnson, the same goes for Australia in '99 with Horan and Eales. Losing Carter or McCaw in '07 doesn't bear thinking.
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I'd be curious to see percentage stats on DC vs GF kicking records. I remember GF as this methodical machine, who never seemed to have a bad game - he consistently kicked at 90% Carter is certainly capable of that, and better, but occasionally has off games where he drops down to 'human'. Google hasn't led me to any percentage stats though.
Certainly on the distance though, he's got a dozen metres or so on Fox.
There's a rugby generation between the two really. Fox used sand, which I would imagine is a little harder than a tee. Carter uses basically the same style as Fox (ball upright but leaning forward), but this was relatively new when Fox was one of the pioneers of it - Fox was breaking new ground a little.
And neither of them look as much as a dork as Wilkinson, praying that the ball will go over!
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Was Fox’s kicking percentage over his career really that high? Without wanting to sound mean-spirited he rarely attempted anything getting towards the end of his range.
Henry has shown true balls with his rotation except for the loose trio and #10. In all 4 positions we have built no depth at all, except for the odd cameo by Masoe until he gets binned. You can’t count Thorne because he had the experience anyway.
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The lack of rotation in the backrow is interesting considering the number of quality loosies at the moment - Holah, Messam, Blaikie etc. Would have loved to see what Sione Luake could have done at 6 or 8 with some regular game time. His work rate had improved dramatically in the Super 14 before he was injured. Maybe the selectors didn't want to blood anymore loosies unless they were recognised lineout jumers?
And what about Flavell - safe to write him off for the World Cup now that Thorne is back in favour and we have about 17 locks in the squad?
If Flavs is goneburger, Eaton seems the most likely candidate to be converted to a lock/blindside benchwarmer, he definitely has the skills and speed for a number 6.
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Luaki goes missing too much for my liking.
But I agree that Meesam should’ve been tried. If nothing else he’d be a good alternative to Yellow Card Masoe on the bench.
Things would’ve been very different if Flavell hadn’t broken.
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Grant Fox, along with Andrews & Lynagh created the first five (fly half) position as it is today and they should be recognised for that feat alone.
Comparing Fox, Mehrtens & Carter is great fun but, like comparing Jones, Kronfeld & McCaw at 7, largely down to personal preference and selective memory. Remember how Fox was almost universally loathed outside of Auckland? He was one of Mains' high profile targets in 1993 when Mains tried to drop a bunch of older players (mostly Aucklanders? Kirwan, Zinny, Fox, the Whettons at least) in 1993, but Fox and Brooke forced their way back into the team.
IMHO without Fox we wouldn't have a Carter now (and without Jones probably not a McCaw either). What great players!
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I know I am an older blogger but why are peoples memories so short. Ian Kirkpatrick was a giant in a poor All Black era and at least the peer of McCaw. Remeber that Try!!
Isn't everyone missing the point of a rotation policy it means players can get injured!!
Carter would leave a hole but with the right attitude someone will fill it. After all Canterbury with Carter and McCaw could'nt even beat Welligton. Rugby is a team game. -
All in all, I'd much rather be in our position that any other country going into next years World Cup.
In a perfect world the likes of Carter, McCaw, Collins and Hayman will remain bulletproof, but even if they suffer serious injury - god forbid - I'm with Neil in that someone will step up.
One of the beauties of having more depth than anyone else is that if it comes down to a massively high-impact game of last man standing, we should win. No its not guaranteed, and on their day the Aussies, Springboks and the French could beat us, but I have faith that 7, 8 or even 9 times out of 10 we will win, and frankly I like those odds better than the alternative.
Note: I put the Jerminator in the same illustrious company as Dan, Richie and Carl above, because even though our blind-side flanker stocks are a little more healthy, there is just something about the way Jerry plays the game that makes me as a fan feel a little more safe. As Inky calls him, Jerry is the Taxman.
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Something not many know though is that fox was responsible for the axing of shelford after a punch up at training. He issued a him or me ultimatum, the rest is history.
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Also, what about the not in my electorate stuff thats going on with the stadium and eden park.
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Feel free to delete those if you're feeling a little fragile over the fox allegation, I know people who know people I can assure you it's true but obviously wouldn't want to open you up to any liability.
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Although it could be a little late for that, heh
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I was thinking the other night in bed (I know, beds are a place of action not thinking) that we should pick our best side for once but then once I started to go through it I couldn't think who our best players were in half the positions because there are several players of roughly equal ability.
Clear owners of positions are Hayman, Mealamu (but not by much), McCaw, Collins (though he isn't that far ahead of the likes of Masoe), Carter and Mealamu (at fullback).
Other spots are anybodies for the taking. One prop spot is up for 3 or 4 players, we have about 5 or 6 locks who aren't leaping ahead of each other, a number 8 spot that is So'ialo's or Masoe's or possibly Lauaki if he pulls finger, halfback has Kelleher or Weepu who are both bloody good, our second five and centre combo is unknown to us and the selectors it seems though Mauger is a likely starter at 12 while on the wings we have arguably the four best wingers in the world to pick from.
We will know who the selectors are looking at when they pick the Paris side but they would be hoping to create more problems with more competition for those who at this stage are dead certs.
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It really is an embarrassment of riches isn't it. Reminds me of the total domination of the Henry era at Auckland or for that matter Kelston boys. Can't believe petty politics stood in his way to becoming coach so long ago. Myself I am liking Robinson at lock he was awesome for Waikato this year and for the AB's before injury. Can't beat Jacks experience either. Loads of apprentices when he wants to retire too. It's great to be an All Blacks fan.
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I agree with LegBreak--it's disturbing that there hasn't been depth explored for McCaw, Carter, Hayman, and Woodcock. They're crucial and obviously world-class, so are targets for the other teams. Who's going to take McCaw's place if his hamstring goes or he's concussed? Has the replacement had experience in that position, or are we currently playing him in a different position? The problem in earlier World Cups was that injuries forced us to play people out of position to cover, and the resulting inexperience and incoherence leaked tries and failed to press attacks. It'd be negligent not to prepare for injuries to our real stars: in planning there's no such thing as someone you can't imagine losing.
It's the same in other sports, by the way. In NFL (American football), injuries correlate to winners. The eventual league champions are almost always the team with the least damage done by injuries. I wonder what the equivalent statistics would be for rugby.
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I just watched them play in France ... and I'm sorry but they rock!
They can fiddle about with combinations all they like at the moment because well ... they appear to be ruling the world, writes this kiwi stranded in Belgium.
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Having just seen the latest match, I'm not going to moan about mere trifles in handling or discipline. It was a rout. There's no way Pelous should have been binned, but he was, we scored during his absence. The French mauling and drive was effective as was our scrum and lineout (two off their throws) so we're ok right now and where we want to be I think. The england result is in sharp perspective given their result against argentina. Maybe there is room for refinement but daylight is still well second.
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