RWC 2015: Pool C discussion

Discussion in 'Rugby Union Discussion' started by Howe, Sep 12, 2015.

Page 8 of 17

  1. Fiery GR Smith

    The All Blacks do not have a weak scrum [MENTION=2932]Hurricane[/MENTION]...and it's certainly not "at a low ebb".
     
    Fiery, Sep 21, 2015
    #141

  2. Fiery GR Smith

    I think people are forgetting that there are a few good reasons Cooper is reviled in NZ.

    First of all, he's a kiwi so therefore seen as a bit of a traitor.

    Secondly, he kneed McCaw in the head.

    Some of his performances have also been quite comical.

    He's one player who deserves a few boos.

    McCaw commands respect, wherever and whenever he plays.
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2015
    Fiery, Sep 21, 2015
    #142

  3. Fiery GR Smith

    Well in 1978, (when the All Blacks scrum probably was at a low ebb) it was so weak against the British Lions that in the final must-win Test they packed a three-man scrum on their own put-in. It worked and the All Blacks got enough possession to eke out a close victory. The IRB were suitably unimpressed and passed a regulation that a scrum had to have at least seven men in it.
     
    Last edited: Sep 21, 2015
    Fiery, Sep 21, 2015
    #143

  4. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    Love that post along with all your contributions.

    Yeah I consider it to be a low ebb. In the 1980s we had a massive scrum. There were a few things we took pride in. One was massive clearing kicks from our own 22. The other was a good scrum. We didn't yield an inch. Fuck knows how many hours we scrummaged against those newly invented scrum machines that we thought were high tech at the time and scoffed at Fiji because they couldn't afford one.

    Richard Loe on one occassion managed to not pack down in time and got his head smunched against the side of the machine. When everyone heard that story we all winced as we imagined the power of the all black scrum driving his head against the side of the pad.

    Our scrum is patchy and has been for about 3 years. If we really need to we can still turn the screws on the opposition. Sometimes they do on us though.

    Low ebb is taken as a comparison point against the last 100 years of All Black rugby.

    Wilson Whineray was a prop by the way. You wouldn't see a prop these days even in the running for captaincy.
     
    Hurricane, Sep 21, 2015
    #144

  5. Fiery GR Smith

    Props are generally too stupid to be captains lol
     
    Fiery, Sep 21, 2015
    #145

  6. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    Have you read Buck Shelford's book. He was not Einstein.

    his description of captaincy is a riot.

    "Meh, you make a decision of whether to kick for the posts or not. There is not a lot to it".
     
    Hurricane, Sep 21, 2015
    #146

  7. Fiery GR Smith

    Buck would struggle to read a book let alone write one. But he led by example and had mana.
     
    Fiery, Sep 21, 2015
    #147

  8. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    Indeed
     
    Hurricane, Sep 21, 2015
    #148

  9. Droos JP Rhodes

    It seems as though it is going to be the norm in the tourney. So far, many of the "minnows" were adopted by the crowds and cheered for like they were the home side, except where one of the "local" sides played (England, Ireland, Wales). Georgia received more support than Tonga from the neutrals, so too did Japan and Argentina, and I am sure that the result of effectively playing with a "hostile" crowd does have a downward impact on the players' performance. Just a thought.
     
    Droos, Sep 21, 2015
    #149

  10. Alex Mediocre MBE A Mediocre


    What makes you think it was English supporters? I think you underestimate: a) the size of London's Latin American contingent; and b) how much noise they're capable of making.

    England fans have no beef with McCaw. Everyone I know has the greatest of respect for him.
     
    Alex Mediocre MBE, Sep 21, 2015
    #150

  11. Alex Mediocre MBE A Mediocre

    At the beginning of that game Tonga had most of the support from the locals because a lot of the Tongan players are Premiership players. Georgia earned their respect and support.

    As for Japan - as a neutral you'd have needed a heart of stone not to be rooting for them.
     
    Alex Mediocre MBE, Sep 21, 2015
    #151

  12. SmellyStuff MP Chung

    I probably used the wrong term but my comment was more about playing away from home in general. If you can't handle an intimidating neutral or away atmosphere, you really have no business being a professional sportsman as far as I'm concerned. That's what sets McCaw apart from Cooper, McCaw doesn't let it affect him whereas Cooper clearly does.

    It's the same thing with that whole Hakarena controversy. I know it was a pisstake, but if any of those England players feel intimidated by the haka they shouldn't be in the team.
     
    SmellyStuff, Sep 22, 2015
    #152

  13. Starris ER Starris

    He did what was required to lead his men to victory and they followed his nothing stops me approach.
     
    Starris, Sep 22, 2015
    #153

  14. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    Bring back Buck
     
    Hurricane, Sep 22, 2015
    #154

  15. Starris ER Starris

    Still undefeated.
     
    Starris, Sep 22, 2015
    #155

  16. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    [MENTION=168]Fiery[/MENTION]

    What do you make of the form our back 3 are in? Are they the best in the world? Do they have what it takes.

    By the way simply in awe of Aaron Smith's performance. Best performance by a half back I have ever seen in my life. There was such a short amount of time to clear the base before the pressure of the argentinians loosies swallowed him up, as soon as TJ walked on the field he got snapped on the first play.
     
    Hurricane, Sep 22, 2015
    #156

  17. Weeman27bob BE Force

    Reckon your back three are comfortably the best in the world at the moment. NMS didn't look amazing, but aside from bungling that try, he was pretty competent.

    Everyone else probably has two of their back three at NMS level, and only one at Savea/Ben Smith's.
     
    Weeman27bob, Sep 22, 2015
    #157

  18. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    Hmmm thanks for that. Savea went ok I guess but I guess I was expecting him not to so viewed the glass as half empty on his performance.

    I guess who are the better players I can mention?

    Folau
    AAC

    Would potentially think those two are at least as good as anything we have.

    One of England's wings looked the business and you know my thoughts on Brown.

    Maybe you are right other teams have two quality guys.

    I would like to see a better effort out of our back three in the next match I guess and am hoping Naholo can force his way into the mix.
     
    Hurricane, Sep 22, 2015
    #158

  19. Fiery GR Smith

    The back 3 didn't fire in that first game but Savea and Smith still showed glimpses of what they're capable of. Milner-Skudder had a poor game tbh and will need a big improvement in the rest of the pool games to keep his place when Naholo is ready to play.

    I was particularly pleased with Aaron Smith's form, especially given he has a couple of quite wretched games in the Rugby Championship when his option taking and kicking game were quite bad.

    These next 3 games will be cake walks for the ABs but hopefully they can all stay fit and focused for the quarterfinal which will inevitably be a really tough game.

    But I think we're travelling alright.

    Best back 3 in the world? Yes.

    The England back 3 are pretty good too. And Australia have the mercurial Israel Folau who is probably the most dangerous player in world rugby atm but not much else in the backline.
     
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2015
    Fiery, Sep 22, 2015
    #159

  20. Weeman27bob BE Force

    AAC and Folau are a good shout actually, probably slightly below the level of Ben Smith and Savea, but I don't know who their third player would be?


    England: Brown is great, May and Watson could make it a devastating three, but we'll have to see in time.
    Wales: Halfpenny, North, Cuthbert (or whoever) would have been pretty good, but no Halfpenny probably hurts from an experience point of view. Although Liam Williams is still pretty good.
    France: Would have been up there before Huget got injured imo.
    Ireland: All three are good without being great


    Haven't seen enough of SA to comment.
     
    Weeman27bob, Sep 22, 2015
    #160
Page 8 of 17

Share This Page