Comments on: All Blacks bash Italy

By: BrumbiesBoy

BrumbiesBoy — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 06:08:36 +0000

13.BrumbiesBoy said:
16 Nov 2012, 07:39 am
ABs by 30?

Hah! My call from the preview thread!

Should’ve had more faith in Dan…

By: cane

cane — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 09:43:13 +0000

@aliboy-15:

Things just keep getting better and better don’t they ali.

We now have covering Izzy at FB,
Jane,
Ben Smith,
& Barrett.

With Andre Taylor, waiting in the wings.

By: cane

cane — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 09:37:25 +0000

@gonzo-2: Cruden is a genius in the making. Not long to go maybe 2yrs. I think he (like all players really), needs the right people inside and outside.

By: cane

cane — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 09:31:55 +0000

@Big Hit-8: Actually Biggles, I'd give Rolland 2 out of ten for that performance. Not sure how Rolland made the top grade. Is Paddy shafting him?

By: aliboy

aliboy — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 08:42:43 +0000

@Hurricane-11 Woodcock was good. Jane was great. Barrett was very solid at FB, but Jane has the confidence and 'x' factor. Dagg is similar but might not be as confident at the moment. Not sure that Barrett will ever have that, but a solid back up option covering 10 & 15.

By: corporal punishment

corporal punishment — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 08:38:55 +0000

@Hurricane-11: ps takes time for most players to mature into top flight internationals. Don't fret, they will come good. And as the itm cup showed, there are some exciting plates on the way up.

By: corporal punishment

corporal punishment — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 08:34:36 +0000

@Hurricane-11: Woody had a great game, he and charlie beastrd the vaunted Italian scrum. Yes, how good was Jane when he came on! I am a hurricane supporter, and I have always been bemused by how effective Jane is at wing for the AB's. He isn't big, he isn't flashy like say sivi, and isn't the fastest winger out there. But he keeps on doing the business game after game, and I can't argue with you that he's one of the best wingers on the international scene.

By: corporal punishment

corporal punishment — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 08:25:38 +0000

@Big Hit-8: I'm not whinging, just stating facts. If you read my post as a whole, you will see I was impressed with the Italian attack, and disappointed the AB's didn't adapt to the ref.

By: Hurricane

Hurricane — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 02:19:22 +0000

@aliboy-10:
Not a woodcock fan but he played good today.
Didn’t find himself offside and slow to get back at all. And as you said scrummed
the Italians well.

I have to say it but Cory Jane is one of the best wingers in world rugby going
at this time. He came on against the Italians at fullback and just carved them up.
In fact whats scary is the gap between AB fringe players and the top 15 starters.

By: aliboy

aliboy — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 23:32:01 +0000

Who was it on here that was making all the predictions about Italy flattening the AB scrum?? Tough night at the office for Italy this year when the ref made them scrum correctly. Woodcock might not be the player he was a couple of years back, but he wasn’t taking any nonsense like an inexperienced Crockett did last time. Might look a bit dark for Wales up front next week if the AB’s front up like that again.

By: aliboy

aliboy — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 23:19:21 +0000

@Big Hit-8: Probably wouldn’t be too good at it as he doesn’t get much practice

By: Big Hit

Big Hit — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 20:47:02 +0000

@corporal punishment-6: jeez, I'd hate to see your whinge when the ABs lose

By: spartan

spartan — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 20:18:06 +0000

@corporal punishment-6: We were definitely watching the same game CP agree with every thing you said

By: corporal punishment

corporal punishment — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 20:12:21 +0000

@sparten 5: agree with you masterchief: Rolland only reffed the ab’s in the scrums, and let the Italians do what the pleased at the breakdown.n without McCaw on the field, we didn’t adapt and make hay the way like the Italians.

Clearly the half time talk was commit more numbers to the rucks to protect the ball from Italian flopping into the ruck and handling the ball on the ground. It worked – ten points in ten minutes.

I also thought Rolland was also very lenient on Italian obstruction of kick chasers, and tackling of supporting players without the ball.

All that said, when the had the ball the Italians played with real ambition and executed some nice moves. Their handling was mostly excellent, and parisse had a couple of lovely deft touches.

Pretty happy overall, good experience for newbies like faumauina, cane, Barrett, Coles and savea. Kerr barlow’s cameo was good too.

By: spartan

spartan — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 19:40:47 +0000

Considering the arm chair ride Italy got from Rolland
42 – 10 is a pretty good scoreline

By: gonzo

gonzo — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 18:43:57 +0000

Corey Jane didn’t get many minutes but really showed why he’s our #1 winger – even though I think he was at FB at the time. Scored a try and set up another. I was watching the highlights and just worked out why something didn’t seem right, jersey 23 for the first time.

Gear has so much potential but he just doesn’t seem to get the right chances wen he plays. Looks to me like it’ll be Jane and Savea for the future and Kahui, if he’s fit, on the bench to cover 13, 11, 14

By: ufo

ufo — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 17:36:45 +0000

haven’t watched the game… will do so a bit later…

congratulations to the ABs and their supporters…

By: gonzo

gonzo — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 17:16:35 +0000

The scoreline probably doesn’t reflect how well the Italians played.

The jury is still out on Cruden too. Unlucky not to be awarded a try and had some nice touches but is he too small? Or would anyone have been walked over by the Italian centre? He’d never make the Boks, that’s for sure.

By: aliboy

aliboy — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 15:56:24 +0000

Italy played very well for 3/4 of the matych but the reserves couldn’t keep it going. Good game to watch though.