Would have liked to see Yoshikazu Fujita start - but it may be too big an ask when up against Halai/Piatau.
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[EOYT] Japan vs. New Zealand. 02/11/13
- Thread starter LittleGuy
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ABs2011
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To me this just says L Whitelock is only really in the AB's periphery! 5th pick #8 (for RWC2015) behind Read, Messam, Kaino, and McCaw. Like A Savea I think he really only comes into play post RWC unless there are injuries. Maybe a bench spot against the Irish at best on this tour!
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I actually wish he was starting too, then everyone could see him not even stand out against Japan and realise he is no better than a dozen other number 8's in NZ rugby.
Didn't realise this was a 4.30am kickoff :huh:
Painful!
Hooowweevveerrr, I'll be up that early anyway getting ready for work :lol: Will be able to watch the first half - it's going to tough tearing myself away from the 2nd to leave!
Painful!
Hooowweevveerrr, I'll be up that early anyway getting ready for work :lol: Will be able to watch the first half - it's going to tough tearing myself away from the 2nd to leave!
Not sure really what to expect from this match. The AB's should win pretty comfortably, but it will probably be hard to read much into the performance of individual players. I'm looking forward to watching Dominic Bird at lineout time. He will be officially the tallest All Black ever (2.06m), and the Japanese locks are very short by locking standards (listed at 1.91 & 1.92m....). Obviously lineouts aren't all about who is the tallest, but I imagine Bird will fancy his chances of stealing a few off the Japanese lineout (he may not even have to jump 
).
Kerr-Barlow vs Tanaka will be a good match-up. I've got a lot of time for Tanaka, but I suspect the AB's will be targeting his channel with big ball runners all night. Tanaka is always committed on defense, but stopping someone who is 30kg's bigger than you (as even the smallest AB's forwards are) is not always that easy! Halai vs Hirose is another size miss-match on the wing, with Hirose giving away almost 30kg to Halai. I'm not sure how good Hirose is on defense, but I suspect he will have a hard time stopping Halai (we may also see a few balls going in the air in that direction...).
).Kerr-Barlow vs Tanaka will be a good match-up. I've got a lot of time for Tanaka, but I suspect the AB's will be targeting his channel with big ball runners all night. Tanaka is always committed on defense, but stopping someone who is 30kg's bigger than you (as even the smallest AB's forwards are) is not always that easy! Halai vs Hirose is another size miss-match on the wing, with Hirose giving away almost 30kg to Halai. I'm not sure how good Hirose is on defense, but I suspect he will have a hard time stopping Halai (we may also see a few balls going in the air in that direction...).
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We are playing poorly so far, and Japan are going ok. They'd be doing a lot better if they weren't making these silly errors. So far I'm pretty impressed by the blossoms.
Yeah, really enjoying this so far.
A few too many handling errors, but a good match.
Gutted I've got to leave in 10 mins
A few too many handling errors, but a good match.
Gutted I've got to leave in 10 mins
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Our guys had better start playing properly, the intensity level is nowhere near good enough. So many errors this is starting to wind me up.
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Richie McCaw!!!
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Hey anyone of you know where I can buy the Japan jersey? online store...
Pretty poor first half by the AB's. Japan have been spirited, but they have made a lot of errors themselves. We are getting penalized off the park at the moment, and Japan have probably had the better of the set pieces. The forward pack as a whole is playing far too loose. If they start hitting the breakdown we might actually get some quick ball for our backs too use...
Probably the only standout for the AB's thus far has been Piutau - he is almost unstoppable 1-on-1.
Probably the only standout for the AB's thus far has been Piutau - he is almost unstoppable 1-on-1.
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