NZ North vs South Game Thread

[Sandstorm]

For a game with a million lineouts, all four hookers were garbage. Very surprised the skippers kept “going for the corner”

[Magpie26]

That Jordan is some talent.

Pretty quiet for much of the game but has that special knack of being in the right place and doing the right thing at the right time.

Took a while to get going but a very enjoyable game to watch.

[Dan54]

That was pretty ok, plenty of good stuff from both teams, so everyone will be able to say whoever he or she supports convinced them they should be AB

We all have our favourites. I don't think any of the established All Blacks did their prospects any harm. Is Ofa now our starting tighthead? And how good was Rieko?

Of the fringe players - Jordan seems to have the Midas touch. He reminds me of a young Goldie in that respect. And marking him was Clarke, who also had a strong game. Sotutu was very good, but then so was Sanders, and I thought Akira got better as the game went on.

Mate I meant that in best way, certainly don't think anyone played their way out of ABs, loosies all went well, Beaudy played bloody well at 10, and RM had some sweet moments, ALB was bloody good, Reiko looked the good at 13 etc etc.
I worry when I answer someone called Gumboot as I know someone with that nic in NZ.

[Gumboot]

That was pretty ok, plenty of good stuff from both teams, so everyone will be able to say whoever he or she supports convinced them they should be AB

We all have our favourites. I don't think any of the established All Blacks did their prospects any harm. Is Ofa now our starting tighthead? And how good was Rieko?

Of the fringe players - Jordan seems to have the Midas touch. He reminds me of a young Goldie in that respect. And marking him was Clarke, who also had a strong game. Sotutu was very good, but then so was Sanders, and I thought Akira got better as the game went on.

Mate I meant that in best way, certainly don't think anyone played their way out of ABs, loosies all went well, Beaudy played bloody well at 10, and RM had some sweet moments, ALB was bloody good, Reiko looked the good at 13 etc etc.
I worry when I answer someone called Gumboot as I know someone with that nic in NZ.

Haha, don't think it's me, bro. And I agree, it was heartening to watch so many players perform so well under the circumstances. But as usual, despite their form a few deserving players will miss out tomorrow.

[Steve]

Gonna cop a lot of flak for this but Sevu Reece doesn't quite do it for me. That run he got bundled in to touch by Will Jordan .....For me a Savea, Naholo, Sivivatu, Rokocoko scores from there.

If you watch his highlight reel a lot of his tries are getting on the end of grubbers, cross field kicks from Mo'unga and finishing off in the corner after the space has been made for him.

Not saying he is a bad player, but I don't get up out of my seat when he gets the ball 40 meters out. The typical Allblack winger of old would excite me.

[Biffer]

Gonna cop a lot of flak for this but Sevu Reece doesn't quite do it for me. That run he got bundled in to touch by Will Jordan .....For me a Savea, Naholo, Sivivatu, Rokocoko scores from there.

If you watch his highlight reel a lot of his tries are getting on the end of grubbers, cross field kicks from Mo'unga and finishing off in the corner after the space has been made for him.

Not saying he is a bad player, but I don't get up out of my seat when he gets the ball 40 meters out. The typical Allblack winger of old would excite me.

I also reckon a Jordan, Bridge or Clarke scores from there (or makes the right pass so someone else does)

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

Actual score:

South 45 North 28.

South get 7 more for the rolling maul disallowed try that should have been given, while North lose 7 for the late try under the sticks that was actually held up.

Paul Williams gets an all expenses paid, one week stint in ref remedial school.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

Agree that it could be advantage South based on combinations. However, to me the South loose forwards look a bit ho-hum compared to the North, especially with Hunt sitting on the bench.

This post hasn't aged well. I knew Frizell would play well. No surprises there. But Sanders and Christie were bloody good.

Sanders and Christie are the type of unheralded grafters that get stuck in and win turnovers while you jaffas gaze at Ioane A. with admiration as he stands at centre and yells at Barrett to do a cross kick.

[FujiKiwi]

Don't you southern boys listen to anything Uncle FB says?

It's Akira's role in the team to loiter in the midfield calling for the cross kick.

[Ata Rangi]

Thoroughly enjoyable.

[stemoc]

one thing we know after this game, akira ain't gonna get picked.

[Auckman]

Reiko had a great game. Nailed-on All Black squad centre! Welcome back!

[Auckman]

Gonna cop a lot of flak for this but Sevu Reece doesn't quite do it for me. That run he got bundled in to touch by Will Jordan .....For me a Savea, Naholo, Sivivatu, Rokocoko scores from there.

If you watch his highlight reel a lot of his tries are getting on the end of grubbers, cross field kicks from Mo'unga and finishing off in the corner after the space has been made for him.

Not saying he is a bad player, but I don't get up out of my seat when he gets the ball 40 meters out. The typical Allblack winger of old would excite me.

Totally agree. He should've finished that off.

[mrbrownstone]

Really enjoyed that - Will Jordan is some kind of talent, and Tom Sanders had one of his best games as a professional rugby player. Jordie is also starting to look like the player that we always knew he could be. For the North, Reiko Ioane looks to be nearly back to his best, and I see him as an ideal impact sub able to cover both midfield and wing. Sotutu continues to impress, Whitelock was great, and Coltman still struggles to hit a barn door at times.

Paul Williams...the less said the better. The standard of NZ refs is dire right now. Good thing the right team won anyway

[mrbrownstone]

What does an All Black backline look like after this game (if it impacted anything at all)?

The tight five largely picks itself, barring maybe a question over who starts of Taylor/Coles and Laulala/Tu'ungafasi. We have no lock or loosehead depth, so Moody, Whitelock and Tuipolotu are nailed on. Rightly or wrongly, the loose forwards is basically just a question of who partners Cane and Savea - probably Frizell at the moment with Sotutu on the bench?

The backline is a real toss up though, with genuine selection headaches in every position except halfback. I'd like to see the following:

9. Smith
10. Mo'unga
11. Bridge
12. ALB
13. Goodhue
14. Jordan
15. BB

21. TJP
22. Ioane
23. Jordie

Reece, DMac, Ennor unlucky to miss out.

Wing is the toughest call - I'd be open to swapping Jordie and Jordan, but I really think Will Jordan is a special talent and deserves to start somewhere on form. Jordie probably does too but I think it would be silly to drop BB. I also really like the idea of a TJP/Ioane/Jordie coming on with 30 to go to cause havoc too.

Bridge is probably the luckiest of that lot - but I'm not sure any of the other potential options are left wingers - could Reece or Jordie play there? Clark possibly but I'd prefer the reliability of Bridge at test level.

[Steve]

I’d have Rieko at 11 over Bridge to get him in the team now that he has his mojo back . Rieko is still unproven at 13 on defence which would be exposed at international level for me .

I feel the personnel selected/available at 6,11 and 14 didn’t help against England in the semi final of the RWC.

I think essentially the rest of the lineup was fine .

[ScarfaceClaw]

I’m only just watching this now and so far early comments:

1. What the bollocks was that disallowed try for the south about.
2. Jordie Barrett missing a penalty virtually in front. The useless tit.

[ScarfaceClaw]

And then Barrett scores in the corner and looks like a Cheshire Cat. Fk off Jordie Barrett.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Sanders (33 mins in) is looking good so far.

[ScarfaceClaw]

No try for Barrett surely. Was never back for that line out.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Webber has had a good first half. Probably shaded Flappy.

[ScarfaceClaw]

2nd half just kicked off and Snecky’s pass is already a thing of beauty.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Not seen a lot of Bridge. The wife beater has had the better run of play against him.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Great line from Snecky running to where the ball will be and easy try.

[ScarfaceClaw]

South pack has gone quiet. Goodhue looking very solid in the back for the south but not much else.

Grudgingly, good tackle from Jordie.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Jordie Barrett looks like a fat Beaker.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Couple of good turnovers from Tom Christie since he’s been on.

[ScarfaceClaw]

And that’s everything wrong with Mackenzie. Headless pass and leaves his team hugely exposed. And who was that flicking the ball back in? Clarke?

[ScarfaceClaw]

Whitelock has some engine on here. He’s holding this South pack together.

[ScarfaceClaw]

That’s a great line from Lomax.

[ScarfaceClaw]

And the Sarf bring on a soulless flamer to replace Webber. Webber has a good game. Snecky showed another level of class when he came on.

And Reiko shows the sort of form he used to have to score under the posts. Clarke is having a strong game on the wing.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Dick Mo drops it cold.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Goodhue looks hurts there.

[ScarfaceClaw]

That ball was never grounded. Seriously ref.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Reiko should be back on the wing. He’s looking better with a bit more space.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Christie is shite. And Bridge touches the ball for a brief moment on the game.

[ScarfaceClaw]

FFS. Turn over for the North.

[ScarfaceClaw]

One last chance for the South. Just keep it the feck away from Jordie.

[ScarfaceClaw]

What. A. Fucking. Try. In your face North Island.

[ScarfaceClaw]

Good game. The good guys and that twat Jordie win the game.