Comments on: New Zealand names squad for Rugby World Cup 2015

By: Don P

Don P — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 12:30:42 +0000

Don’t know how much NZ’s structure differs from those of Oz or SA, but it’s certainly different from that in England. Don’t see how it can be changed now though. Not with human nature & self interest being what it is. Need the RFU to become defunct & the clubs’ body to replace it. Ain’t goning to happen any time soon & it would have brought about issues such as promo & relegation.

NZ (& SH) skills better due to coaching & tactics, e.g. fr/2nd rows handling like backs. Also the step up from S15 less of a gap & only 5 teams to pick from. England has 12 with differing styles of play. Plus, acc to Bemn Darwin, the S15 run for c.180 m /game (Int’als = c.160), so keep thinking going better under pressure. It’s a mind thing as opposed a fitness thing.

By: Don P

Don P — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 12:19:56 +0000

Seems B. Smith is likely f/back with Savea & Naholo or M. Skudder on the wings.

Thought Jane would go as he’s exp & like B & C. Smith, he hardly ever makes a mistake or takes a wrong option with the ball in hand. Gd in the air too.

However, Hansen obviously sees the alts as more powerful & elusive(?) & he isn’t coming here to be 2nd.

Also Dagg is unlucky as he is pretty strong & although slightly more of a risk taker, he’s also an exp & proven Int’al f/back. Leaves cover thin if BS gets injured. Suppose he can be called as a replacement if nec though.

Never esp rated SBW either as he’s too ltd, if @ times an effective ball carrier over the gain line & an off loader in the tackle. However I’ve ?ed his commitment with his boxing lark (distraction) & reactions when under the pump. Bit dim. Nice tatts & haircut though. Not so sure about Crotty as an alt though. Solid, reliable, but flair…?

NZ may falter, but what reason do you suppose will cause them to do so? More so as yr England may be more likely candidates, esp with Lancaster’s taking them down the ranking @ 32′ / sec/ sec, having no game @ scrum, line out OR breakdown v France & with a track record whereby he lost 6 in a row v the SH & which parallels that of Johnno? Mmmm.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 14:12:03 +0000

Completely agree – the infrastructure in NZ is a different class to anywhere else in the world. Which is why I fully support the RFU’s quest for complete control of the game from the grassroots up; they want the same thing. Hence my never-wavering support of the RFU stance on Armitage.

I think NZ players have such a better skill set that is just too much of a gap to close once they reach the senior teams.

One massive thing I noticed in NZ is the amount of kids/teens throwing a rugby ball around. Passing, running and playing games with a rugby ball in their hands. In England, down every street and in every park, kids are kicking a football around. It makes a huge difference in development; ball handling (even for their props) is second nature and has been since they were growing up.

By: Don P

Don P — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 14:04:15 +0000

The NZ Union controls the game from grassroots, school kids to Int’al levels. Players are moved between teams, certainly in S15, to ensure more even competition. For whatever reason, possibly because rugby appealed to early NZ pioneering, outdoors & communal spirit, to the population at large above other sports.

Therefore there’s an efficient, focused national system in place to spot skilled players early on & a clarity of purpose in developing uniform tactics nationally.There’s an objective clarity of purpose & thinking which resulted in an innovative, skilled based game, attacking with the ball to max points (via tries) & to defend with massed, disciplined, coordinated ranks when they don’t have possession.

It’s mainly in the coaching & their rugby set up that NZ have the edge. They have less historical &, cultural baggage & analyse & fix things if things go wrong… IMO.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 21:22:49 +0000

Do they have the strength to leave out Jane and Dagg for a couple of good prospects?

Who the hell knows? In a couple of months time we could be praising Milner Scudder and Naholo to the skies. Alternatively they may fail in the pressure cooker of a world Cup where space and time are at far more of a premium than they are used to and Kiwiland could be calling for Hansen’s head

Two biggest calls for me are Dagg – who has been there and done it all and at his best is unbeatable – and SBW who has never shown me anything to suggest he’s more than a flat track bully. Crotty would have been much the better choice

Great team, some superb players, but I reckon they’ll falter before the final

By: Jacob

Jacob — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 15:21:51 +0000

So they have the squad depth to leave out Cory Jane and Isreal Dagg meanwhile we’ve got May and Goode in our squad, and no obviously better alternatives around. How do NZ consistently produce this level of talent!?

By: Don P

Don P — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 15:21:25 +0000

Hansen’s stacked the fr row, but trimmed the locks, picked exp b/row. V V also lock cover? A. Savea might have been the bolter? Not to be though. Todd unlucky?

Plenty 1/2 backs & 1st 5’s, again plenty exp, although I though Sopoaga would go in place of Slade.

Outside back line a balance of exp & the less exp with M.Scudder, Noholo (is he on 2 legs?). Cory Jane & esp Dagg unlucky IMO, Never known M. Scudd as f/back though!? And ? brains of Money Bill. Early game crash/offload fodder maybe?

Bit of a contrast to Lancaster’s ‘yoof’ policy, but perhaps a more balanced & exp side, all those 30 yr olds notwithstanding.

Look good on paper, but will they go all the way on grass? Must have a good chance, but teams also need a bit of luck too methinks.

By: Don P

Don P — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 15:05:49 +0000

… but he’s not married to a Dierdre.

By: Robert Davidson

Robert Davidson — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 15:04:50 +0000

This squad is by far the best in the world and perhaps the best way to show how superior they are to our countries,is to make a team out of who they haven’t taken.

1 Joe Moody, 27, 8 caps
2 Hika Eliot, 29, 4 caps
3 Nepo Laulala,24, 2 caps
4 Jeremy Thrush,30, 11 caps
5 Patrick Tuipulotu,22, 7 caps
6 Matt Todd,27, 2 caps
7 Ardie Savea,21, uncapped
8 Akira Ioane,20, uncapped
9 Andy Ellis,31, 28 caps
10 Lima Sopoaga,24, 1 cap
11 Charles Piutau,23,16 caps
12 Ryan Crotty,26,13 caps
13 Seta Taminavalu,23, uncapped
14 Cory Jane,32,53 caps
15 Israel Dagg, 27, 48 caps

All of these players (perhaps bar Seta Taminavalu and Andy Ellis) would be picked in any other countries world cup team, that shows just how hood this squad is.

By: Don P

Don P — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 15:02:57 +0000

Waikato S15 1/2back.

By: Sharpy

Sharpy — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 13:29:59 +0000

Quite a pragmatic selection. Dagg misses out because the inform Skudder can play fullback. Don’t know how you unravel the Ab’s,as they easily win games with 30/40 percent position. If any one has a chance of beating them, they have to edge the breakdown and set piece from beginning to end and constantly keep them under pressure. If you take your foot off the the gas for a second, they have the ability to punish you immediately. Which team do you think has t
He make up to execute that strategy?

By: RWC 2015

RWC 2015 — Sun, 30 Aug 2015 17:55:31 +0000

all black will defend the cup surely.