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Rugby Union
The Rugby Championship 2023
[2021 Rugby Championship] Round 2 (Bledisloe 3) Australia v New Zealand (5/9/2021)
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<blockquote data-quote="Larksea" data-source="post: 1054503" data-attributes="member: 43875"><p>I disagree on most parts. I think Papalii is almost a perfect foil for when Savea is at 8. Savea is a small 8 heck as atheletic as he is on the greater scheme of things he is a small loose forward and hes also not an elite defender like Cane is - Savea's focus is more on his ball carrying. Papalii is a bigger 7 who does have a more defensive focus. its a good balance to the pack with Cane out injured.</p><p></p><p>I like bower as a prospect, as far as props go it doesn't matter if they are starting or on the bench they are pretty much all equally critical. Looking at the balance of the front row I think its less about the best props start and more about who is the better option at various times in the game. IMO I think bower's starting has been more to do with his workload and intensity on defense. The all blacks are famously slow starters and tend to lose games when teams get ahead of us early and get just a bit too far ahead for us to chase run them down. I think he can be valuable to couter oposition forward packs looking to get through the advantage line in the first quater.</p><p></p><p>I agree Ioane is still a much better winger than midfielder, he has improved but if the WC was in the next year IMO he would not be ready. He has a lot to add as a ball carrier but has work to do as a defender and distributor.</p><p></p><p>One thing you are missing in your midfield argument is that first and foremost defense is critical and its also the primary reason Laumape never locked down an all black spot. His volume of work and accuracy on defense was always below the other contenders. With Crotty's exit we are left with one elite level midfield defender in ALB. The others need to lift their game.</p><p></p><p>I dont think Richie is clearly our best 10, he's had the position pretty much to himself this year and he's been able to build more consistency than we have seen from him in the past but then we haven't really played anyone. we have not seen him perform against anyone other than Aussie. not his fault, its covid's fault. While barrett has won a WC, proved himself against everyone and is a 2x IRB player of the year. The only real argument with BB is that his goal kicking has cost us a couple of games over the past few years. Going into the next WC he needs to fix that or simply be removed from kicking duty. Richie and DMac are kicking brilliantly. you can't say "Mo'unga is clearly our best 10" when he's the only one who's had a go and this comming game will be BB's first real chance to show where he is currently at.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Larksea, post: 1054503, member: 43875"] I disagree on most parts. I think Papalii is almost a perfect foil for when Savea is at 8. Savea is a small 8 heck as atheletic as he is on the greater scheme of things he is a small loose forward and hes also not an elite defender like Cane is - Savea's focus is more on his ball carrying. Papalii is a bigger 7 who does have a more defensive focus. its a good balance to the pack with Cane out injured. I like bower as a prospect, as far as props go it doesn't matter if they are starting or on the bench they are pretty much all equally critical. Looking at the balance of the front row I think its less about the best props start and more about who is the better option at various times in the game. IMO I think bower's starting has been more to do with his workload and intensity on defense. The all blacks are famously slow starters and tend to lose games when teams get ahead of us early and get just a bit too far ahead for us to chase run them down. I think he can be valuable to couter oposition forward packs looking to get through the advantage line in the first quater. I agree Ioane is still a much better winger than midfielder, he has improved but if the WC was in the next year IMO he would not be ready. He has a lot to add as a ball carrier but has work to do as a defender and distributor. One thing you are missing in your midfield argument is that first and foremost defense is critical and its also the primary reason Laumape never locked down an all black spot. His volume of work and accuracy on defense was always below the other contenders. With Crotty's exit we are left with one elite level midfield defender in ALB. The others need to lift their game. I dont think Richie is clearly our best 10, he's had the position pretty much to himself this year and he's been able to build more consistency than we have seen from him in the past but then we haven't really played anyone. we have not seen him perform against anyone other than Aussie. not his fault, its covid's fault. While barrett has won a WC, proved himself against everyone and is a 2x IRB player of the year. The only real argument with BB is that his goal kicking has cost us a couple of games over the past few years. Going into the next WC he needs to fix that or simply be removed from kicking duty. Richie and DMac are kicking brilliantly. you can't say "Mo'unga is clearly our best 10" when he's the only one who's had a go and this comming game will be BB's first real chance to show where he is currently at. [/QUOTE]
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[2021 Rugby Championship] Round 2 (Bledisloe 3) Australia v New Zealand (5/9/2021)
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