Tri Nations: All Blacks vs Pumas: MATCH THREAD: Sat 14th Nov

[Carter's Choice]

Happy to see Webber on the bench and TJ given time off to think about his atrocious display on the weekend.

Weber turns 30 in two months. He'll be almost 33 at the next RWC. What a wasted opportunity this year was to introduce one of the talented young 9's in the AB system. Instead we have the same trio of halfbacks that failed in our last RWC cycle.

[wet-socks]

What I'd like to know is did Foster select his pet project player Mackenzie over Jordan at 23 - or is Jordan simply unavailable due to injury?

[Trapper]

Happy to see Webber on the bench and TJ given time off to think about his atrocious display on the weekend.

Weber turns 30 in two months. He'll be almost 33 at the next RWC. What a wasted opportunity this year was to introduce one of the talented young 9's in the AB system. Instead we have the same trio of halfbacks that failed in our last RWC cycle.

I agree but short of flying non squad member Fakatava, Christie, NE Other halfback in there’s not much to be done about it. So in this case Foster has done the best he can. But you’re right, this can not continue and we have just wasted a year learning absolutely nothing at all about our halfback stocks.

[Trapper]

What I'd like to know is did Foster select his pet project player Mackenzie over Jordan at 23 - or is Jordan simply unavailable due to injury?

I thought he got concussed, no? If he did then he wasn’t available. Dmac has to be a project player otherwise apart from his experience I have no idea why he’s in the squad.

[Gumboot]

Happy to see Webber on the bench and TJ given time off to think about his atrocious display on the weekend.

Weber turns 30 in two months. He'll be almost 33 at the next RWC. What a wasted opportunity this year was to introduce one of the talented young 9's in the AB system. Instead we have the same trio of halfbacks that failed in our last RWC cycle.

I agree but short of flying non squad member Fakatava, Christie, NE Other halfback in there’s not much to be done about it. So in this case Foster has done the best he can. But you’re right, this can not continue and we have just wasted a year learning absolutely nothing at all about our halfback stocks.

Fakatava's clearly the next cab off the rank, for mine. Pity he's been stuck behind Aaron Smith at the Highlanders.

[Trapper]

Another way to look at it is he’s learning from the best. He needs to fix that hair though, as good as he is, I find it hard to take him seriously.

[Jb1981]

What I'd like to know is did Foster select his pet project player Mackenzie over Jordan at 23 - or is Jordan simply unavailable due to injury?

I thought he got concussed, no? If he did then he wasn’t available. Dmac has to be a project player otherwise apart from his experience I have no idea why he’s in the squad.

I suspect that Foster, like Hansen near the end, is a magpie coach. He is attracted to flashy things.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

That’s a strong team. The irony is that in making the wholesale changes in the name of player development last week and losing, Foster has had to go back to full strength this week in a game far better suited to giving some of the new guys a go.

I disagree, better to test new players against a decent squad rather than an anticipated walkover. I think Foster always intended to return to close-to-full strength for Argentina to continue developing the A team and forming combinations.

The best way to introduce new players is to insert them into a largely stable XXIII. It's not about whether the opponent is strong or weak, it's about the support and structures around them. Foster made too many changes last week and set his team up for failure.

This is of course 100% correct.

Unfortunately I have little confidence there is sufficient nous among the current selection group to see things this way.

[Enzedder]

DMac was supposed to have been an integral part of the ABs attack at the last world cup so I can see why Fozzie doesn't want to discard him too soon. I agree though, he hasn't come back to the same level . I would love to see him start at 15 against a strong team (in a shit or get off the pot arrangement) but we have lost that opportunity now.

[Ymx]

Feel a little sorry for Akira, but real pleased Scott Barrett has been stood down, I really hope it was with a good kick up the jacksie for dumbfuckery!!

Was it last time as well we lost to Aus due to a Scooter card (red)?

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

Feel a little sorry for Akira, but real pleased Scott Barrett has been stood down, I really hope it was with a good kick up the jacksie for dumbfuckery!!

Was it last time as well we lost to Aus due to a Scooter card (red)?

Correct. The boy has discipline issues. FHHOOTS.

[Gumboot]

Feel a little sorry for Akira, but real pleased Scott Barrett has been stood down, I really hope it was with a good kick up the jacksie for dumbfuckery!!

Was it last time as well we lost to Aus due to a Scooter card (red)?

Correct. The boy has discipline issues. FHHOOTS.

Unlike the smart and skillful Tupou Vaa'i, who hasn't been dealt any cards yet as he embarks on his long and illustrious test career.

[PCPhil]

Wow you are really having a go at your coaches. I think you have to give them some time to get the right style and patterns into the squad. At least set a reasonable time period. Sometime around mid to late October 2023 should be about right to make judgements.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

Was it last time as well we lost to Aus due to a Scooter card (red)?

Correct. The boy has discipline issues. FHHOOTS.

Unlike the smart and skillful Tupou Vaa'i, who hasn't been dealt any cards yet as he embarks on his long and illustrious test career.

Scored a well taken try last week. Adv Vaa'i.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

Wow you are really having a go at your coaches. I think you have to give them some time to get the right style and patterns into the squad. At least set a reasonable time period. Sometime around mid to late October 2023 should be about right to make judgements.

It's Ian Foster. He of the lowly garden variety 50% win record in Super Rugby. I think we know what he has to offer.

Not much.

[Not_Couch]

Whatever this team does, I freaking hope we don't box kick it to death with Aaron Smith again. Our attack is not getting better because of aimless kicking with no chasers (due to lack of speed)

[obelixtim]

I disagree, better to test new players against a decent squad rather than an anticipated walkover. I think Foster always intended to return to close-to-full strength for Argentina to continue developing the A team and forming combinations.

The best way to introduce new players is to insert them into a largely stable XXIII. It's not about whether the opponent is strong or weak, it's about the support and structures around them. Foster made too many changes last week and set his team up for failure.

Absolutely this. I want Foster to pick his best 23 basically for every match, with changes to the starting XV restricted to injury and using the bench to introduce new players.

Agree completely. If a team is playing well, there should be no changes apart from injury or suspension. If a player has a shocker, he gets one chance to redeem himself, then the next best player gets his chance. The replaced player stays on the bench until he gets another chance thru injury. Dumb fucks like Scooter and Reiko (1st game) get dropped from the23 altogether until they get their shit together. Those two cost the ABs two tests. Unforgiveable.

I've had a few coaches who were ruthless like that, and the team was better for it.

[Carter's Choice]

Agree completely. If a team is playing well, there should be no changes apart from injury or suspension. If a player has a shocker, he gets one chance to redeem himself, then the next best player gets his chance. The replaced player stays on the bench until he gets another chance thru injury. Dumb fucks like Scooter and Reiko (1st game) get dropped from the23 altogether until they get their shit together. Those two cost the ABs two tests. Unforgiveable.

I've had a few coaches who were ruthless like that, and the team was better for it.

Case in point, the Nonu/Smith midfied is the best we've had in the modern era. How often was it chopped and changed once it was established as our best? Very little if ever. They started just about every match at 12 and 13 and their performance improved as they grew in experience and confidence together.

How many times was Dan Carter chopped and changed out of the 10 jersey? Again, very rarely aside from injury.

Foster needs to decide on his best XXIII and pick them every test, with only a small amount of rotation.

[Sards]

So jealous of the Argies...they have the oppurtunity to snotklap the ABs whilst we sit at home too timid yo send out a team.

[Carter's Choice]

So jealous of the Argies...they have the oppurtunity to snotklap the ABs whilst we sit at home too timid yo send out a team.

It would have been so much better with the Springboks. Oh well, hopefully next year

[Gumboot]

So jealous of the Argies...they have the oppurtunity to snotklap the ABs whilst we sit at home too timid yo send out a team.

It would have been so much better with the Springboks. Oh well, hopefully next year

Indeed.

And also for South Africa, next year's Lions tour. Fingers crossed.

[mrbrownstone]

Can't complain about that team. Full strenght aside from Lomax. Still the usual thoughts re midfield the wrong way around and Jordie's not a winger, but those aren't changing any time soon.

Think it's good that TJ and Barrett are getting a kick up the backside as a reminder that the jersey needs to be earned. Agree that with so many promising young halfbacks, playing the nearly 30 year old Weber is a waste. It's the same reason Andy Ellis couldn't get a cap in the 2012-15 cycle.

I do see the value of DMac off the bench where he can add spark. In theory DMac and Ioane vs a tired defence should be a winner. But still don't think he's looked quite right after the ACL, so hopefully he can rediscover top form soon.

[mrbrownstone]

On the topic of halfbacks, did anyone realise Finlay Christie was Scottish born? Just came across that.

How long before he gets a tap on the shoulder to join Blade Thompson, Sean Maitland, and the proud ranks of kilted Kiwis?

[Jerome_Kaino]

I think his brother already plays for the national team. I think he first want to develop himself as a rugby player before goIng over there.

[Steve]

Can't complain about that team. Full strenght aside from Lomax. Still the usual thoughts re midfield the wrong way around and Jordie's not a winger, but those aren't changing any time soon.

Think it's good that TJ and Barrett are getting a kick up the backside as a reminder that the jersey needs to be earned. Agree that with so many promising young halfbacks, playing the nearly 30 year old Weber is a waste. It's the same reason Andy Ellis couldn't get a cap in the 2012-15 cycle.

I do see the value of DMac off the bench where he can add spark. In theory DMac and Ioane vs a tired defence should be a winner. But still don't think he's looked quite right after the ACL, so hopefully he can rediscover top form soon.

i love DMAC. Well the old DMAC. i fear for him now.......

[stemoc]

Argentina showed more guts than south africa did.. heck even fiji risked covid to play in a tournament on the other side of the planet.. grow a pair u saffers

[Carter's Choice]

I'm looking for two key things today, patience and composure. I don't want to see the AB's trying to score a try off every possession, I don't want to see selfish play or headless chicken rugby. I want to see the team play to its processes and stick to its structures. I will be focusing on our backrow and midfield, as these are two key structural elements of our team that need to be settled asap. I also want Richie Mo'unga to play well.

[coldtowel3478]

I will be focusing on our backrow and midfield, as these are two key structural elements of our team that need to be settled asap.

I'll say it again because it annoys me that it's not happening.

I'm a big Frizell fan, I think he deserves to be the incumbent-ish.. but Akira showed enough in his short run to be given another shot against the Argies, I would have given Cane a rest, played Savea at 7, started Sotutu and Akira, with Frizell or Papali'i on the bench.

The worrying sign for me is the coaches don't seem to have the ability to change things up like the team didn't on the weekend, this selection just stinks of being decided a few weeks ago and not revisited even after the weekend.

[Gumboot]

Go, All Blacks!

[stemoc]

hogman tightening his studs is hillarious, ppl do not realize how important that is for props..

[Flockwitt]

http://0eb.net/video/2620895.html

My friend makes no assurances of quality or security.

[Ymx]

We still have to put up with those embarrassingly weird welcome to country ramblings when not playing Aus.

[Trapper]

We still have to put up with those embarrassingly weird welcome to country ramblings when not playing Aus.

I like it.

[Kiwias]

Call me an old fart but I hate those glowing orange boots.

[stemoc]

sky sports uk feed
http://rwc19.rf.gd/

[Trapper]

Call me an old fart but I hate those glowing orange boots.

Me too, standards have slipped since McCaw retired.

[Kiwias]

http://0eb.net/video/2620895.html

My friend makes no assurances of quality or security.

https://www.vipleague.lc/tag-new-zealand-live

Good quality but 1'+ behind the live feed.

[Ymx]

Argies looking surprisingly sharp, considering

[Jb1981]

A very tidy start from Argentina.

[Ymx]

Where is that Foster out thread??