Rugbology August 15 2024
Quick taps : Reality for Razor; The Caketin fails to rise; Darry yes, Perenara no; FFS get a loosie to catch the kickoff and move Telea out of the way; No scrums for Ethan !!
A quick edition before the team naming.
The Rugby Championship has started with a decent twist including a reality slap for Razor. Argentina didn’t really do anything too startling they just got stuck in, nailed the important bits and pounced on a number of AB errors. A number of the ABs howlers the Warriors would’ve been proud of.
If there was one big reality thread on display it was that tier one test footie is a decent step up from Super Rugby and requires a bigger respect applied to the games basics and players that can deliver this need.
Razor is the first AB coach for some time to come in cold and while this doesn’t indicate he isn’t worthy or can’t succeed, its simply that he’s grappling with how it works and what consequences result.
He’s trying to unearth the next generation of AB talent and his selection sifting was always going to provide some bumps in the road. Additionally, I believe the team is overcoached - there’s too many of them and the players looked tactically confused.
We’ve all seen the match so not much point in reviewing that except to say the ABs modern underbelly is an inability to finish strong and find a way to win tight games, both historic strengths that were absent last Saturday. Why ? Lack of real hard leadership, probably a bit of overconfidence and at the moment a number of players who aren’t up to it.
What should Razor do ?
Beef up the loose forwards - suspect Cane will come in and maybe Finau at 6. Ardie is not big enough for 8 (best 7 we have) but we don’t seem to be able to find one so we battle on with fingers crossed.
Josh Lord to partner Darry at lock - we need to develop the next duo so let him loose.
More zip at halfback both in pace of pass and of mind. TJ is not up to it. Again, let Ratima and Hotham are the future so slip their collars and let’em go.
ALB was good at centre but Jordie ineffective at 12 - a position where I favour a more bulky stepper in the Nonu/Laumape mould - SBW was an exception but Jordie is too leggy and is getting nailed without making yards. So perhaps Razor will move ALB in one and restore Reiko to 13.
Outside backs are not really an issue but I’d give Caleb a run - his direct and powerful running could help. If BB to stay at 15 then slot Will Jordan into 14 as he’s just too good to leave out - one of our few world class players currently.
And Razor, keep the messaging simple, the tactics basic and above all get into them. And put some power on your bench as last week you subbed players that were our best - ie, subbing Darry when he was our best and Vaii was struggling to impose himself.
Meanwhile, Rassies mob doesn’t have any of Razors problems and has rolled out his rookies to give them a go. Its a luxury he has given how poor the Wallabies are plus the Bok machine is rolling along in top gear. Smashing Joes boys wasn’t unexpected but it was very one sided and the scoreboard could’ve been much worse. Joe just doesn’t have the talent.
NPC underway in a comp we all enjoy with its parochial spine and its conveyor belt production line - despite the CEO of the NZRU describing it as “not fit for purpose”. As it warms up, the people will come although I’d move many of the games to smaller towns where a crowd of 2-3000 would at least provide an atmosphere.
Thoughts ?
See you at Eden park.