NPR

Gumboot wrote: Mon Oct 21, 2024 6:51 am I always enjoy watching Japan. The Japan XV tour of NZ way back in 1974 attracted a fair bit of interest, and admiration for their exciting style of play and high scoring matches against a few provincial unions.

You going to the test, Kiwias?

Kiwias wrote: Mon Oct 21, 2024 10:41 am

Gumboot wrote: Mon Oct 21, 2024 6:51 am I always enjoy watching Japan. The Japan XV tour of NZ way back in 1974 attracted a fair bit of interest, and admiration for their exciting style of play and high scoring matches against a few provincial unions.

You going to the test, Kiwias?

Nope, I'll be watching it in the comfort of my lounge. I usually enjoy watching Japan but they seem to be losing their way under Eddie 2.0.

Enzedder wrote: Tue Oct 22, 2024 4:13 am Am I reading it right that with DMac playing this game, Spongebob has the England start?

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Oct 22, 2024 3:54 am Pretty raw pack with Cane and Tuipolutou the only two really experienced players.

I don't know what it is the coaches see in Tuipolutou myself but he's named as captain. I know Parson's referred to him on the ARP a few weeks back as a player they looked to as a ball carrier. I bow to his experience and insight of course, as all I've seen is a big lazy fuck that can run two steps and fall over but those two steps can be crucial in the battle for territory I guess.

The Roigod starting is awesome and bodes well for a new settling of the halfback role. It'll be interesting to see how his delivery influences the shape of the game.

Finau will want to deliver a strong game and I'm looking forward to seeing whether Perofeta can show some more of that sparkle he had in the 15 jersey early this season.

Lots to digest.Bugger, I'll be at work.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Oct 26, 2024 6:16 am Reece left for dead by a lock

Enzedder wrote: Sat Oct 26, 2024 6:38 am Took a while to get into it but the last 15 was excellent

Gumboot wrote: Sat Oct 26, 2024 6:41 am

Enzedder wrote: Sat Oct 26, 2024 6:38 am Took a while to get into it but the last 15 was excellent

Yep. AB loosies playing well.

Gumboot wrote: Sat Oct 26, 2024 7:49 am A win's a win I guess, but the drop off in the quality of the play in the second half has got to be cause for concern.

Bringing on so many reserves at once backfired badly, and DMac's descent into silliness has become a recurring theme, and he should be bloody worried about retaining his 10 jersey after that performance.

Congrats to the debutants though, who I thought both played well.

Kiwias wrote: Sat Oct 26, 2024 8:09 am

Gumboot wrote: Sat Oct 26, 2024 7:49 am A win's a win I guess, but the drop off in the quality of the play in the second half has got to be cause for concern.

Bringing on so many reserves at once backfired badly, and DMac's descent into silliness has become a recurring theme, and he should be bloody worried about retaining his 10 jersey after that performance.

Congrats to the debutants though, who I thought both played well.

Perenara did not help his cause and yes, chucking on pretty much the whole bench at once broke up any rhythm the team had built in a fine first half.

Sititi, Finau, Roigard, Love, Proctor all played really well.

Reece looks to have lost a lot of pace, Telea has a bad habit of his first move being a step back in field, DMac was DMac, and Havili had a bit of a shocker, at one point chipping a cross-field kick to ........ no-one.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Oct 26, 2024 6:16 am Reece left for dead by a lock

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Oct 22, 2024 2:38 am Worst coach of the professional era?

Uncle fester wrote: Sat Oct 26, 2024 9:53 am

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Oct 22, 2024 2:38 am Worst coach of the professional era?

He's shit now but wasn't always so. Took some limited teams to world cup finals.