RWC 2015: Pool C discussion

I'd put him up there as being one of the better backs at the WC.

 

Yes.

Agree with your observation skills. I don't think they fired either. I am hoping Naholo can come into the mix at this stage. I am also wishing we had've had the experience of a Richard Kahui or a Corey Jane out there. Either one of them would have caught the ball and that "drop" by NMS with the try line beckoning showed how green he really is.

Also even Ben Smith needs to bounce back. This will sound very harsh but Ben Smith himself would agree with me. With 15 minutes to play Ben had a one on one with a winger with the try line in sight. There was a decent amount of field to work with and no one else around. Normally a world class winger can beat someone one on one every time.

When I played rugby it easy to run a around a guy if you have good wheels. The only way not to get beaten is to rush up in defensive formation so that if they step you they just step into someone else's defensive arc. But you should be able to, as a top flight player, beat someone in a one on one.

 

Good post I agree you have to give credit to the defender but also think Smith was so good 12 months ago that he would have skinned him anyway.

FWIW Nisbett made the same comment I am making - something along the lines of "Ben Smith on earlier form could have been expected to brush him off there".

Happy to disagree Mike and it is only because I think Highly of Ben Smith that I am saying he might have skinned him 12 months ago. Israel Dagg never would have scored that try.

 

Overall I am encouraged by our effort. More than anything I am heartened by our bench. I viewed they were a weak link before the game started but they really came through.

The much maligned Dane Coles actually did some hard yards in tight. Go Figure. And his line out throws were on the money.

I think there is a lot to work with and Argentina are no easy beats.

Just quietly I am very proud of SANZAR for agreeing to the Argies coming into our comp. Argentina are twice the team they were last world cup.

They could make the semis again this time quite easily.

 

I have said enough about Smith and don't want to end up in a debate about him.

Overall I just think our whole back three needs to go to another level. There were a number of mistakes they made.

Savea always cutting back into traffic. (Did defend well though)
NMS bombing the try
etc

Overall we didn't make the first guy miss enough.

There have to be work ons from every match. Pointing them out is not a big deal. I am happy overall and we won against top opposition on foreign soil and the crowd were probably more for them than us.
Well done ABs

 

Inside joke. Sending myself up. Heef would get the joke.

(I have maligned him Fiery for not doing his core set peice role and scoring bullocking running tries instead). In the Argies game he was very good.

 

turning in Fiery.

[video]Goodnightkiwionchannelltwo[/video]

 

Double Like.