Three hopes I have for the final

@akan004 said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

Looks like ST and Tamaiti will be in the 23. Both were at the PC.

From McLoed during this press conference:

When we look at last year in particular, where and how we got beaten, we were tending to ‘defend the man’ system. Ireland were too good last year in being able to put the ball into spaces and play through us

A lot of that is coached in Super Rugby in New Zealand and I do know that northern hemisphere sides in particular will target Kiwis who play up here because they know they are going to be man-focused rather than ball-focused, so we had to shift our skillset in the way we looked at things as defenders.

So we planted the seed earlier this year with the leaders, got them to work right through the Super and then it got tested early on – throughout all the games we have been tested quite thoroughly on that. However, when the push came to shove, particularly with Ireland who were going to test us the most, it stood up and that was really pleasing.

It’s relevant against the South African boys. You don’t need to make as many decisions on the ball but you still need to be able to see where the ball is going and watch the influence on the bodies in front of them. That has probably been the biggest shift for us and we will see if it can hold up again

@Duluth said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@akan004 said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

Looks like ST and Tamaiti will be in the 23. Both were at the PC.

From McLoed during this press conference:

When we look at last year in particular, where and how we got beaten, we were tending to ‘defend the man’ system. Ireland were too good last year in being able to put the ball into spaces and play through us

A lot of that is coached in Super Rugby in New Zealand and I do know that northern hemisphere sides in particular will target Kiwis who play up here because they know they are going to be man-focused rather than ball-focused, so we had to shift our skillset in the way we looked at things as defenders.

So we planted the seed earlier this year with the leaders, got them to work right through the Super and then it got tested early on – throughout all the games we have been tested quite thoroughly on that. However, when the push came to shove, particularly with Ireland who were going to test us the most, it stood up and that was really pleasing.

It’s relevant against the South African boys. You don’t need to make as many decisions on the ball but you still need to be able to see where the ball is going and watch the influence on the bodies in front of them. That has probably been the biggest shift for us and we will see if it can hold up again

This is the shift the Crusaders used when Ronan O'Gara came on board with them in 2018, he changed the defensive system to NH system of defending where the ball is going rather than defend the Man.
A few interviews around with O'Gara and Robertson mentioning this but I have not got the time to search them atm.

@Chris-B said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Duluth Brodie or Frizell to play 80 minutes?

Probably Brodie

Shannon subs off relatively early in most games and it's been rare for him to go 80. He did do 80mins last week but dropped off significantly

I think it'll be similar to the subs v Ireland. SF was off at 59mins. Cane went long in that game (75mins) but generally goes of ~65-70mins. That was possibly Canes best ever match so it made sense to go long.. depends on how his legs are in this one

Ardie Savea is amazing when you consider his output and how often he goes 80

@game_film said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@BerniesCorner greatest trick the devil ever pulled.

"...was convincing the world that he did not exist"?

the Bokke dont exist?

@Duluth We could make good use out of Rassie's HIA tactic to swap among Cane, Frizell and Papali'i!

@Duluth said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

I think it'll be similar to the subs v Ireland.

Yes, I think that is the blueprint they'll use, and the starting pack will be the same as in that test. I expect Coles will be on the bench.

@Chris-B

Ha, or a 7/1 bench.. Mo'unga is a halfback now

@Duluth Somewhere there's footage of George Bower interviewing Richie after that game.

At halftime he said he had to ask Aaron Smith how to put the ball into the scrum.

(Which was a bit surprising - I'd have thought that would've been a scenario they would have practiced for - but, RM may have been joking).

@Bovidae said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

I expect Coles will be on the bench.

Everything seems very settled. That's probably the biggest question right now - Coles or ST for the bench?

Absolute 100% confidence of the win here.

Foster's cunning 4 year plan of playing miserably so that the weight of expectation no longer lies on the team and every team going to to play them goes in as favorites is playing off richly.

Finally the AB's have entered a RWC with the mantle of being the underdogs and it's really paying off.

We can only hope that SA expecting a cakewalk will be surprised by a display of adequacy like the Irish were and we romp to a historic victory.

Can't wait for Fozzie to lift the RWC this year and next year receive his knighthood for services to rugby just like McCaw and Carter.

A brilliant tactical plan that no-one saw coming - not even Eddie Jones.

It'll be a real shame if the weather is wet as forecast. Would have been great to see a spectacle of contrasting styles, you'd expect that contrast to be somewhat diminished if conditions don't suit.

I was quite keen to see how the rush defense in particular went against us - it was pretty noticable against Ireland that we used our midfield as crash runners, but against the Argies we looked more like Ireland with decoy runners in front and a deeper 2nd line.

I'm also keen to see how we defend - against Ireland we were so narrow, and almost got caught wide a few times - we spread a bit against Argentina, and I can't imagine we would want to be as narrow again against the speed of SA (assuming the ball ever makes it to their wingers).

Another tactic I noticed England do well last week was when contesting the high ball in attack, they often didn't actually try to catch it in the air (which can often result in a knock-on), instead just tried to get one hand to it and knock it backwards. They were then very good at having 2-3 forwards about 5m behind the play running forward at pace in the hope of regathering the knock-back. Worked a few times.

As always, my main hope is just that the players get to decide the outcome. I'm sick of talking about referees, and I really hope we aren't doing it on Sunday, regardless of outcome.

@voodoo

You did a fucking iron man mate, you deserve it. Pull the trigger.

The thing i like, man for man if you go through the players , they seem to have hit form

@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@frugby said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Dan54 said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Stag said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Hooroo so we have become just another one of those teams that don’t care about results between world cups? Don’t thinks so, that’s never been the All Blacks. Win or lose the World Cup that doesn’t change the results over the past 4 years and Foster will still have one one of the worst records as coach of the AB’s. Credit where credits due if Fozz wins the WC, but the AB’s have always been about winning, wether at the World Cup or not, and that aura has been severely diminished under Foster.

You actually got it a bit wrong mate, Foster (as a coach)actually has the best results in competitions since he took over anyway, Won Tri nations, theRugby championships, held the Bledisloe and Freedom cup. This team is only one to do that in professional era under any coach So if results are everything you missing the point. I not arguing one way or another on his ability, just you may need to just redo your argument.

That is totally ignoring context though... in that Tri Nations series, we lost to Argentina and drew with Aussie, only won it because the other two sides weren't all that.

Don't forget that home series loss to Ireland either.

So when Foster wins it's only because the opposition were poo. When the ABs lose, it'll all down to Foster.

Who'd be a coach in a RWC Final eh?

Completely ignores the fact that Ireland has beaten EVRY major playing rugby nation in the last year or 2, so following frugby's logic, that means all these teams are coached by poor coaches?

@voodoo I have noticed we defend quite narrow at times, but seem to back our speed to take on the wide pass? Also like we seem to be in general defending the ball. I still think against Boks, we will try to take them on in close and give a target for out forwards to hit, and then turn them in on defence. Only guesswork of course.
And on the players staying on ground and tapping kicks back, works if you have plenty of support of the first player, and still need usually a good bounce. But agree Poms did it quite well at times.

All Blacks easily. First RWC final with the winning team scoring 50.

@antipodean it is only Tuesday. Best ease up on the drinking if you hope to see the final ?

@antipodean said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

All Blacks easily. First RWC final with the winning team scoring 50.

This is where carrying that extra winger so we can get in more practice will really come into play and we can expect sparkling tries from all over the park.

@antipodean said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

All Blacks easily. First RWC final with the winning team scoring 50.

Love the enthusiasm

@voodoo said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

It'll be a real shame if the weather is wet as forecast.

My trusty Norwegians are saying a bit of drizzle at worst.

Long term weather forecast for Paris

Weather forecast for Paris for the next 9 days.

@sparky said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

Wayne Barnes confirmed as World Cup referee:

South Africans will be pleased. They've only lost with Barnes as ref once in 10 attempts.

@gt12 not sure my wife operates on the same logic as you, but I appreciate the sentiment ?

@voodoo said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@gt12 not sure my wife operates on the same logic as you, but I appreciate the sentiment ?

not sure she has a leg to stand on....

A chance Bongi is banned?
Rassie - "'e's a good 'ard family man - so 'umble. They're trying to take the cup from us boys!!!"

I do hope the AB's are keeping a sharp watch-out for any wait staff named Suzie.

@Dan54 said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@frugby said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Dan54 said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Stag said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Hooroo so we have become just another one of those teams that don’t care about results between world cups? Don’t thinks so, that’s never been the All Blacks. Win or lose the World Cup that doesn’t change the results over the past 4 years and Foster will still have one one of the worst records as coach of the AB’s. Credit where credits due if Fozz wins the WC, but the AB’s have always been about winning, wether at the World Cup or not, and that aura has been severely diminished under Foster.

You actually got it a bit wrong mate, Foster (as a coach)actually has the best results in competitions since he took over anyway, Won Tri nations, theRugby championships, held the Bledisloe and Freedom cup. This team is only one to do that in professional era under any coach So if results are everything you missing the point. I not arguing one way or another on his ability, just you may need to just redo your argument.

That is totally ignoring context though... in that Tri Nations series, we lost to Argentina and drew with Aussie, only won it because the other two sides weren't all that.

Don't forget that home series loss to Ireland either.

So when Foster wins it's only because the opposition were poo. When the ABs lose, it'll all down to Foster.

Who'd be a coach in a RWC Final eh?

Completely ignores the fact that Ireland has beaten EVRY major playing rugby nation in the last year or 2, so following frugby's logic, that means all these teams are coached by poor coaches?

Not at all, but you can't ignore that was a historic home series defeat. If it was one loss you probably wouldn't mind it, but after losing the first one, to drop the second and third, including that embarrassing first half in the third test was abysmal. I don't want to live in the past, but you can't rewrite history.

@antipodean said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@sparky said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

Wayne Barnes confirmed as World Cup referee:

South Africans will be pleased. They've only lost with Barnes as ref once in 10 attempts.

As I understand it ABs have won 4 on the trot under Barnes and Boks have only been refereed by him once this cycle (the one loss)

I'm very surprised the boks haven't come out with a sight up denial of the fluffybunny calling. 'We asked bongi, he said it never happened. End of story'. So either he's guilty, or rassie is using it as fuel for his team 'the world's against us and curry is actually a fluffybunny who is white'

At least the colour of the jerseys is going to be correct, with no awful alternate uniforms

@Machpants said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

I'm very surprised the boks haven't come out with a sight up denial of the fluffybunny calling. 'We asked bongi, he said it never happened. End of story'. So either he's guilty, or rassie is using it as fuel for his team 'the world's against us and curry is actually a fluffybunny who is white'

At least the colour of the jerseys is going to be correct, with no awful alternate uniforms

There's a fair bit of speculation online that Bongi was using an Afrikaans term that phonetically sounds very similar to what was alleged.

@KiwiMurph said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Machpants said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

I'm very surprised the boks haven't come out with a sight up denial of the fluffybunny calling. 'We asked bongi, he said it never happened. End of story'. So either he's guilty, or rassie is using it as fuel for his team 'the world's against us and curry is actually a fluffybunny who is white'

At least the colour of the jerseys is going to be correct, with no awful alternate uniforms

There's a fair bit of speculation online that Bongi was using an Afrikaans term that phonetically sounds very similar to what was alleged.

yeah, and does make a lot of sense, if all or most of my team spoke a language most other teams didnt then id use it for comms during a game too

I even saw a video today where you can hear him/someone yelling it during play

@Machpants said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

I'm very surprised the boks haven't come out with a sight up denial of the fluffybunny calling. 'We asked bongi, he said it never happened. End of story'. So either he's guilty, or rassie is using it as fuel for his team 'the world's against us and curry is actually a fluffybunny who is white'

At least the colour of the jerseys is going to be correct, with no awful alternate uniforms

is that confirmed? good...but it make the whole argument a bit limp....if its not important enough to implement for the biggest game then why role it out at all?

@Windows97 said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

display of adequacy

This is right up my alley.

@frugby said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Dan54 said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@frugby said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Dan54 said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Stag said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Hooroo so we have become just another one of those teams that don’t care about results between world cups? Don’t thinks so, that’s never been the All Blacks. Win or lose the World Cup that doesn’t change the results over the past 4 years and Foster will still have one one of the worst records as coach of the AB’s. Credit where credits due if Fozz wins the WC, but the AB’s have always been about winning, wether at the World Cup or not, and that aura has been severely diminished under Foster.

You actually got it a bit wrong mate, Foster (as a coach)actually has the best results in competitions since he took over anyway, Won Tri nations, theRugby championships, held the Bledisloe and Freedom cup. This team is only one to do that in professional era under any coach So if results are everything you missing the point. I not arguing one way or another on his ability, just you may need to just redo your argument.

That is totally ignoring context though... in that Tri Nations series, we lost to Argentina and drew with Aussie, only won it because the other two sides weren't all that.

Don't forget that home series loss to Ireland either.

So when Foster wins it's only because the opposition were poo. When the ABs lose, it'll all down to Foster.

Who'd be a coach in a RWC Final eh?

Completely ignores the fact that Ireland has beaten EVRY major playing rugby nation in the last year or 2, so following frugby's logic, that means all these teams are coached by poor coaches?

Not at all, but you can't ignore that was a historic home series defeat. If it was one loss you probably wouldn't mind it, but after losing the first one, to drop the second and third, including that embarrassing first half in the third test was abysmal. I don't want to live in the past, but you can't rewrite history.

Ireland losing the first one, don’t you mean. We played quite well in that test.

@frugby said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

losing the first one

But...

@ACT-Crusader said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@frugby said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Dan54 said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@frugby said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Dan54 said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Stag said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Hooroo so we have become just another one of those teams that don’t care about results between world cups? Don’t thinks so, that’s never been the All Blacks. Win or lose the World Cup that doesn’t change the results over the past 4 years and Foster will still have one one of the worst records as coach of the AB’s. Credit where credits due if Fozz wins the WC, but the AB’s have always been about winning, wether at the World Cup or not, and that aura has been severely diminished under Foster.

You actually got it a bit wrong mate, Foster (as a coach)actually has the best results in competitions since he took over anyway, Won Tri nations, theRugby championships, held the Bledisloe and Freedom cup. This team is only one to do that in professional era under any coach So if results are everything you missing the point. I not arguing one way or another on his ability, just you may need to just redo your argument.

That is totally ignoring context though... in that Tri Nations series, we lost to Argentina and drew with Aussie, only won it because the other two sides weren't all that.

Don't forget that home series loss to Ireland either.

So when Foster wins it's only because the opposition were poo. When the ABs lose, it'll all down to Foster.

Who'd be a coach in a RWC Final eh?

Completely ignores the fact that Ireland has beaten EVRY major playing rugby nation in the last year or 2, so following frugby's logic, that means all these teams are coached by poor coaches?

Not at all, but you can't ignore that was a historic home series defeat. If it was one loss you probably wouldn't mind it, but after losing the first one, to drop the second and third, including that embarrassing first half in the third test was abysmal. I don't want to live in the past, but you can't rewrite history.

Ireland losing the first one, don’t you mean. We played quite well in that test.

The COVID game

@ACT-Crusader said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

We played quite well in that test.

Extremely well for ~8mins when 21 of the points were scored

@antipodean said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

South Africans will be pleased. They've only lost with Barnes as ref once in 10 attempts.

Odds stacked in our favour then.

@Bones said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Windows97 said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

display of adequacy

This is right up my alley.

What's your sex life got to do with it?

@KiwiMurph said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

@Machpants said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

I'm very surprised the boks haven't come out with a sight up denial of the fluffybunny calling. 'We asked bongi, he said it never happened. End of story'. So either he's guilty, or rassie is using it as fuel for his team 'the world's against us and curry is actually a fluffybunny who is white'

At least the colour of the jerseys is going to be correct, with no awful alternate uniforms

There's a fair bit of speculation online that Bongi was using an Afrikaans term that phonetically sounds very similar to what was alleged.

No shit haha. But why haven't the Boks come out and said that? Also who the fuck says 'white side' when referring to the opposition or whatever? Refs refer to colour but I've not ever heard a player do it. Anyway, SA silence is just weird.

@Kiwiwomble said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

At least the colour of the jerseys is going to be correct, with no awful alternate uniforms

is that confirmed? good...but it make the whole argument a bit limp....if its not important enough to implement for the biggest game then why role it out at all?

I saw it on one of those images with the refs gear too, buggered if I can find it now.