Toute le Noir v Les Blues; troisieme fois chanceux

[Mellsblue]

This is the best test I’ve seen in a very long time.
Scott Barrett has been immense. I’d assumed his/their dad was an All Black but watching a documentary last night it seems he is just a farmer with super sperm.

[cashead]

What the hell....

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Lacey's positioning was shit, but there's no grounds to overturn the try that came subsequent to it.

There were other French defenders on hand though, so what were they doing?

[cashead]

Of course, we'll never hear the end of bitching about this because apparently the All Blacks have never once ever been fucked by a shit ref in the history of the sport, and when it does happen once in a blue moon it's "you need to play better," but when it's the other team, it's an injustice that requires a trial at Nuremberg afterwards.

[cashead]

Immediate during-and-post-match thoughts

1. Jackson Hemopo may have a future as a long-term All Black as the lock/loose forward cover Hansen craves. Tall enough to be a line-out option, and just the right size to be a good 6. Very useful cameo in the first half.
2. Ardie Savea needs to rediscover his form. Tonight wouldn't be a fair game to judge him on, but he's definitely fallen behind Cane and Todd, and possibly even Dillon Hunt when looking at pure form.
3. Frizell had a good, efficient game. Tough call on his non-try.
4. McKenzie had a shaky start, but looked much better after about 20 minutes.
5. SBW is top notch. Needless penalty though.
6. Goodhue = yes.
7. Paddy Tuipulotu and Luke Romano will have a hell of a lot of work to do to regain the 3rd and 4th lock spot. Scott Barrett has got to be a permanent fixture on the bench once Brodie Retallick returns from injury.
8. That DMac try - the ref has no grounds to call it back, and there were plenty of French defenders on hand who were clearly not paying attention. So the response to those chowing down on the sour grapes right now is: https://youtu.be/oCEgOb7pnP4?t=13s

[morepork]

Pretty choice game. Scotty Barret is like a destructive human dog roll. Matt Todd, immense, again.

[Spiffy]

McKenzie may not be the best at bossing a tight game, but who cares. What an instinctive attacking genius. And plays with a smile on his face.

[Mellsblue]

Watching the replay...Lacey’s question is ‘I want to make sure I don’t stop the player’. Given the question, how does he come to the conclusion it’s a try. Academic but it’s a terrible call.

[Mellsblue]

McKenzie may not be the best at bossing a tight game, but who cares. What an instinctive attacking genius. And plays with a smile on his face.

Yep, quality. Plays what he sees.

[cashead]

Watching the replay...Lacey’s question is ‘I want to make sure I don’t stop the player’. Given the question, how does he come to the conclusion it’s a try. Academic but it’s a terrible call.

Unless Serin is a gimp or something, surely he can go around.

[Mellsblue]

Watching the replay...Lacey’s question is ‘I want to make sure I don’t stop the player’. Given the question, how does he come to the conclusion it’s a try. Academic but it’s a terrible call.

Unless Serin is a gimp or something, surely he can go around.

You missed my point...somehow. After the ref asks that question there is no way he can feel he didn’t ‘stop the player’. Regardless of your opinion, once he asks that question there is no way he should give that try.

[cashead]

Watching the replay...Lacey’s question is ‘I want to make sure I don’t stop the player’. Given the question, how does he come to the conclusion it’s a try. Academic but it’s a terrible call.

Unless Serin is a gimp or something, surely he can go around.

You missed my point...somehow. After the ref asks that question there is no way he can feel he didn’t ‘stop the player’. Regardless of your opinion, once he asks that question there is no way he should give that try.

Lacey is moving back, and Serin, clearly trying to milk it, is aggressively pushing into him. He was only an impediment in the sense that Serin decided to persistently rub up against him, rather than around.

[Mellsblue]

Unless Serin is a gimp or something, surely he can go around.

You missed my point...somehow. After the ref asks that question there is no way he can feel he didn’t ‘stop the player’. Regardless of your opinion, once he asks that question there is no way he should give that try.

Lacey is moving back, and Serin, clearly trying to milk it, is aggressively pushing into him. He was only an impediment in the sense that Serin decided to persistently rub up against him, rather than around.

If that’s what you think then fair enough. You seem to be in a minority of one and I’m not arguing over something that had no bearing on the final result.

[cashead]

Regardless of whether or not Ayoub felt he'd interfered, there are no grounds in the laws of the game for Lacey to call the play back. Any advantage the All Blacks had would have been negligible any way, since there were plenty of French defenders around who could have done something, instead of the nothing they did.

[canta_brian]

I'm not sure if d-mac might have a touch too much of the Carlos Spencers about him.

Is he a first five who operates well in a loose game, or is it his play that helps the game break up in NZ's favour?

That said, I would be pretty happy to see him get a crack against a south Africa or England type team. See if he can open them up, or else play a more conservative game when required.

[Spiffy]

I'm not sure if d-mac might have a touch too much of the Carlos Spencers about him.

Is he a first five who operates well in a loose game, or is it his play that helps the game break up in NZ's favour?

That said, I would be pretty happy to see him get a crack against a south Africa or England type team. See if he can open them up, or else play a more conservative game when required.

That's why I like him. I loved Carlos too. Bugger the safety first approach, play rugby with verve and for fun and give vent to your natural talent. There are enough plodders out there to make up for it.

[morepork]

There is too much traffic at 10. Barrett is first choice, and Mac the knife can slot in at 15 or pull a cameo at 10 in a pinch, and is a killer off the bench. We lost Sopoaga up North and I'd really like to see and I'd like to hope that Richie Mo'unga has some motivation for hanging around for a while.

[canta_brian]

I'm not sure if d-mac might have a touch too much of the Carlos Spencers about him.

Is he a first five who operates well in a loose game, or is it his play that helps the game break up in NZ's favour?

That said, I would be pretty happy to see him get a crack against a south Africa or England type team. See if he can open them up, or else play a more conservative game when required.

That's why I like him. I loved Carlos too. Bugger the safety first approach, play rugby with verve and for fun and give vent to your natural talent. There are enough plodders out there to make up for it.

2003 semi final.

[Lizard]

As much as I hate to admit it, I think D-Mac has more value as strike cover for 10/15 than as a starting player. He doesn’t have the consistency or composure to start at 10, and B Smith and J Barrett are probably ahead of him I. 15. It’s a shame we didn’t get to see Mo’unga have a proper crack at running the cutter. I would hope to see him get a start v Argentina at home at least. We need to get him up and running before the RWC.

Other things we’ve learned:
Scott Barrett is the real deal.
Moody possibly isn’t
Codie Taylor is actually quite handy.
If Hansen has a plan to bring stability to the loose forward and midfield combos, he’s keeping his cards very close to his chest.
There’s probably going to be a lot of misinformed people making stupid comparisons between Reiko Ioane and Jonah Lomu next year.

[morepork]

What's the story with Dane Coles? Injured or just trying to grow a proper beard?

[Lizard]

Knee ligament rupture last November. He’s supposed to be back sometime during TRC, but given his recent history I wouldn’t bet on him lasting long.

On the other hand, 6 or so months out of the game might have been good for his concussion issues. A Coles/Taylor combo (in either order) would be quite handy.

[morepork]

Knee ligament rupture last November. He’s supposed to be back sometime during TRC, but given his recent history I wouldn’t bet on him lasting long.

On the other hand, 6 or so months out of the game might have been good for his concussion issues. A Coles/Taylor combo (in either order) would be quite handy.

I clearly have my finger on the pulse/ligament. Defo re the combo. I would just hate to see another hurricane get triaged by pies.

[Spiffy]

As much as I hate to admit it, I think D-Mac has more value as strike cover for 10/15 than as a starting player. He doesn’t have the consistency or composure to start at 10, and B Smith and J Barrett are probably ahead of him I. 15. It’s a shame we didn’t get to see Mo’unga have a proper crack at running the cutter. I would hope to see him get a start v Argentina at home at least. We need to get him up and running before the RWC.

Other things we’ve learned:
Scott Barrett is the real deal.
Moody possibly isn’t
Codie Taylor is actually quite handy.
If Hansen has a plan to bring stability to the loose forward and midfield combos, he’s keeping his cards very close to his chest.
There’s probably going to be a lot of misinformed people making stupid comparisons between Reiko Ioane and Jonah Lomu next year.

That's Ok. Rugby is a 23 man game now. Who better coming off the bench to challenge tiring defences than the electric McKenzie, whether at 10, 15 or even wing. His whole future could be that of an impact player rather than a starter, with still a key role to play in the squad. If he keeps going in the present vein, he will score (and create) a bagful of points for the ABs as a super sub, even if he rarely, or never, gets a start. He still gets a cap every time he plays. And he'll get better. Though they are somewhat different players, he is probably the most exciting runner since Christian Cullen.

[morepork]

He is the smiling assassin, and long may he be recognised as such.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

As much as I hate to admit it, I think D-Mac has more value as strike cover for 10/15 than as a starting player. He doesn’t have the consistency or composure to start at 10, and B Smith and J Barrett are probably ahead of him I. 15. It’s a shame we didn’t get to see Mo’unga have a proper crack at running the cutter. I would hope to see him get a start v Argentina at home at least. We need to get him up and running before the RWC.

Other things we’ve learned:
Scott Barrett is the real deal.
Moody possibly isn’t
Codie Taylor is actually quite handy.
If Hansen has a plan to bring stability to the loose forward and midfield combos, he’s keeping his cards very close to his chest.
There’s probably going to be a lot of misinformed people making stupid comparisons between Reiko Ioane and Jonah Lomu next year.

Based on what precisely?

[Lizard]

Moody just never seems to anything special. He trots around the park being adequate. Why didn’t he do to the French scrum what Tu’inukuafe did the minute he got on?

I’m not saying Moody isn’t good, he’s just not Great All Black material.