Biffer wrote: Sat Aug 10, 2024 11:57 am
When I watch New Zealand there seems to be something about these players where they expect to be as good a team as previous NZ sides, without putting in the work to get to that level. They think they're as good individually as previous teams (some of them may well be) but they're nowhere near in terms of being a team. And they don't seem to understand the level of work previous teams put into achieving that.
I got a massage from a mate who takes no part in online chat like this place. He was saying that only one side played with passion for their country last night and the other played for their pay cheque. I prefer the playing like millionaires phrase, myself.
When you spend the best part of ten years under two coaches setting players up to be bigger than the team, you get players who...act like they're bigger than the team. Players who are granted the opportunity to play overseas on sabbatical coming back and calling the shots straightaway.
I hear repeated massaging about the onfield leadership qualities that Beauden Barrett (it's compulsory to say both of his names every time you refer to him in NZ) brings to the team and I look at last night's game with a jaundiced eye. Firstly, there were two penalties taken early where they kicked for the line instead of the points. On the 3rd call, Ardie made a swift motion to the ref that they'd take the shot. He's the captain... why didn't he make that same swift decision forst up? Was he having 'discussions' with his other onfield leaders?
Why did Two names both mentioned and Sevu Reece both go up for a high ball and tap it back, for the Argie to snaffle and sprint for a try?
Why was two names always mentioned caught out of position in defense... in nearly every test he plays at 15?
Why do people think Damian MacKenzie is a test 10?
Why don't we talk about how often Jordie Barrett (note the use of two names) drops the ball in contact. He did it several times last night. He does a good job of running fast into people, he just doesn't always hold onto the ball.
TJ looked cooked. He was read too easily because he was rinsing and repeating his play too often. Love him like a brother, but it might be time. He cost us dearly early in that game and then they had momentum.
I think Razor is caught between the Devil and the deep blue sea. He wants to evolve this team and get them playing a new style and the talk early was that it was hard to the players who were going back to school in a sense to learn new terms, forms and themes. Coupled with that is the need to keep things stable, maintain some experience in the team. Your problem with some of that experiences is that they picked up a lot of shitty habits and attitude under the last two head coaches and it's getting in the way now.
How much does he clear out? Last night's game provides some excuses. Findlay Christie was surpassed through selection. There are players waiting in the wings for a shot. Sam Darry and Tupou Vaa'i did a sterling job last night as the world fretted over their inexperience. ALB shone at 13... been a while since we noticed the 13 jersey being prominent in a test. Sititi has power off the back of the scrum, is it time to start him at 8 and play Ardie at 7. Take your pick then for who plays 6... Sam Cane was water boy last night, you could never accuse him of playing for his pay packet. He's got to be in the mix for a start.
Seriously there were players out there for the ABs that should be sent back to the NPC before next weekend's installment in extinguishing the light at the end of the tunnel. Still have a lot of faith in Robertson fixing the ship, though have to say it is going to take a lot longer than I had thought.
