We’ve had enough of 2016, and we are packing it in for Christmas.
We have a few predictions articles that will be published ahead of the festive fixtures in the Guinness Pro12 and Aviva Premiership, but we’ll back in full swing in the first week of January – and 2017 is Lions year!
Next year will also mark the 10th year of this blog…
Thanks for all your support, as always. Your comments and contributions make the site what it is, and we’re looking forward to following all the action with you in 2017.
We hope you have a great Christmas and a very happy new year.
Thanks for all your hard work Hutch and team, always appreciate your views and insight into this game we love
Merry Xmas all
Thanks Leon, for all your comments and guest articles too.
Yeah, me too Hutch… or do I mean ‘Bah humbug’?
Well, perhaps in the case of ‘Leon Russell & The Shelter People’, a little.
Hope YOU had a good 1.
Thanks for all the great articles over 2016. It’s been a good year for England rugby and a great year for my chosen club (lucky me!!). My eldest son has begun his rugby journey this year and is looking forward to more challenges next year as he starts to learn how to tackle!!
Merry Xmas to all, hope the festive fixtures all go your way (unless your playing Sarries!).
Cheers Dazzle. Keep us posted on your son’s progress! Mine is 4 and starting to take an interest…
Thanks from me as well. This is a fantastic site and your hard work is greatly appreciated. Have a great Christmas break.
Now, as a topic of discussion for us commenters over the Christmas period, I give you the following question:
Are the current All Black team as good as they are made out to be?
Or have essential weaknesses since the retirement of McCaw, Carter, Nonu, Smith et al been masked by the fact that the opposition they have played since the World Cup has been either re-building (Australia) or on the way down (South Africa, Wales)
Did Ireland (who managed to win just 1 out of 3 against a poor SA side in the summer) expose just how much the ABs rely on the work of Retallick and Whitelock? Is the legendary strength in depth of the ABs no longer there to the same standard?
I think they are more of a finished article than England are.
They have gone backward slightly with those retirements but we have seen them put in some dominant performances against decent opposition
Front row looks good with a solid set peice and the likes of Coles all over the park
Second row looks very good but lacks depth beyond Retalick or Whitelock as Chicago proved
Back row needs some work none of the replacements have been up to McCaws level
Scrum half looks very strong with 3 players capable bringing different styles
Fly-half Barrett is Excellent with ball in hand behind a strong platform but struggles when the pack are going backwards(doesn’t happen often) and can’t kick very well
Centres looking pretty good with the emergence of leinert-brown and will look even better once SBW returns
Wings are very good with depth and variety especially considering Milner-Scudder is still to return
Full back Excellent
So in summary if you can hold your own in the set piece and win the battle of the breakdown they are very beatable but that is no easy ask. If you give them a even share of possession they have too much fire power to defend against. They still have the ability to turn it on for 15-20 minutes and take the game away from you
You’re definitely right that of the teams they’ve played since the WC, they’re mostly either trying to adjust to their schedule (Argentina), rebuilding (Australia/France), gotten worse (Wales, SA), which leaves just Ireland.
I actually think they’re fine in a number of the positions that people retired from, as they have a lot of good flankers (Cane, A Savea, Kaino, Squires, etc) and their strength in depth at outhalf is astonishing (B Barrett, Cruden, Sopoaga, Barrett #3/4 who is supposedly even more exciting than Beauden, I’m sure MacKenzie and Dagg can cover, etc), it’s in other positions that I feel they are vulnerable. I think Ireland exposed how vital Retallick and Whitelock are, and I think if a couple of centres get injured they’re in real trouble there too, as Crotty is very solid, and Lienhert-Brown is astonishing, but after that the drop off is fairly sharp. I’m also not convinced about their front row cover either.
Which is good news for the Lions, because I think where NZ are the weakest (front 5) is where the Lions are the strongest!
Also, thanks for the site Hutch and co., and merry Christmas!
GKDA
It’s NOT my intention to be an ‘AB cheerleader’ as has been opined about my views before. DO I need to with their record to back them up?
However & unless you’re another ‘baiter’ like all the rest here (ha, ha & ho hum), in yr opening para, you can level the same statement or worse, @ England who will bulk out the Lions.
You also seem to base yr opinion of NZ’s ‘lack of lock depth’ on 1 game in Chicago where they had a novice & a No. 6 @ lock due to unavailability. See my comments to Leon re same – well the less personal 1’s anyway.
It doesn’t esp bother me if you believe what you state on this matter, or that on the NZ’s centres, because when you view the latter’s combo’s within a line up of Ryan Crotty, Malakai Fekitoa, Anton Lienert-Brown, George Moala, Seta Tamanivalu & SBW, I’ll be interested to know precisely who are yr perceived ‘drop offs’ & why?
Personally I don’t think that MF has quite enough guile & a couple of others like GM & ST are relatively unproven, yet they all stand up @ S Rugby (just under test rugby level), otherwise they wouldn’t feature. And NZ don’t generally pick too many donkeys.
And BTW their fr row is a WC one, which has transitioned over the past yr or 2 & is now seasoned. Whether you rate them or not, all they need do is hold their own. I don’t recall their being shunted too often inn that time.
Another point, I generally find too much attention here is paid to individual players. It’s a team game & it’s largely about getting the basics & decisions right, @ hi tempo, with accuracy & under pressure.
The only proof will be in June of course. The rest, surely, can only be subjective opinion to which we’re entitled, but come June, the facts are that NZ will be @ home, having lost 1 in the last how many yrs(?), facing an untried Lions team who’ll have a week’s prep & who’ll be belted by a killer schedule coached by Kiwi whose side have endured an ordinary record over recent yrs.
So I don’t see what’s suddenly changed in yr perceived views in respect of NZ.
Thanks Pablito, appreciate the message. Also love that you’re starting a discussion to continue in our absence (or is it just Don-baiting?!).
I actually forgot that there’s a Lions Stock Check to publish in 5 mins, and I’ve got another topic for discussion that I’ll add below.
Don Baiting?
Might just catch on Alex has been at it for a while
Leon
Well, we’ll see who’s baiting who in June I guess.. & if that’s all you & perhaps more importantly, The Lions have to offer?
As for Alex? The Johnny come lately whose ‘baiting’ is based on 1 game in Chicago? Agree, pretty impressive certainly, but I’m equally sure that he can ‘speak’ for himself. He doesn’t need a another mother. I’m sure he’s already got 1.
And all this is bound to help the Lions for sure, or maybe they WILL have more to offer, where it counts.. on the pitch?
Hope you didn’t choke on yr turkey? Well, maybe a little.
HNY.
Whats the matter Don you seem a bit grumpy today did you not get a selection box in your stocking.
I seem to have done something to offend you but I’m not sure what, nevermind I had a great Christmas and managed to avoid choking on my turkey you will be pleased to hear.
Leon
No, but I did get a turquoise coloured ink pen thanks & a couple of bits & bobs.
And I was aware of Alex’s based on what baiting thanks.
PS Hope your stocking didn’t run.
HNY.
Hah! It really wasn’t intended as Don bait but I am sure he will have some very strident views on the matter – and I can probably guess what they are!
No yes yes no Pablito. Happy Christmas to all and look forward to exchanging thoughts again next year.
Brief but to the point Andy.
I do think they are over-reliant on a few players, particularly at lock and in the centres.
It’s a great shame that England didn’t play them this year as, although I think they would have been beaten, it would have been a great indication of where the teams are.
NZ record since the RWC – played 14, won 13, lost 1 – lost to Ireland, beat Wales x 3, Australia x 3, South Africa x 2, Argentina x 2, Ireland x 1, Italy x 1, France x1
England record since the RWC – played 13, won 13 – Australia x 4, Wales x 2, South Africa x 1, Argentina x 1, Fiji x 1, Scotland x 1, France x 1, Ireland x 1, Italy x 1
Andy
Likewise & W. Mitty also sends you his best.
Pablito
And then you woke up?
Wasn’t it you who’s watched rugger for 25 yrs? Maybe you should watch it for another 25 then!
Just check out the AB team on Wiki fella.
If NZ require depth @ lock, they can call upon exp guys like Dominic Bird & Luke Romao. Also Scottie Barrett looked useful when belatedly brought on last up. Then there’s the emerging duo of Michael Fatialofa & Vaea Fifita, whom, in tandem, won the S Rugby title this yr!
As for loose fwds. Cane’s looked pretty effective, not least in Dublin. And don’t you ever watch the aforementioned S. Rugby? Have you never heard of Ardie Savea, Elliot Dixon or even Akira Ioane?
At centre, with 3 out, NZ were still effective enough, again in Dublin, methinks. Likely current combo of Crotty, & Lienert-Brown seam effectively, when available, I venture.
And BTW, B. Barrett kicked a few in Dublin as I recall & he does score a few tries more than say… any other fly1/2 in world rugby.
Regarding ‘the opposition they have played since the World Cup has been either re-building (Australia) or on the way down (South Africa, Wales)’, can’t this be also more or less be levelled @ England (who’ll likely make up 1/2 the Lions’ squad)? Even more so if the Keystone Cops’ ‘D’ Fijians & the depleted Argies are included?
And even with ‘essential weaknesses’ & having lost a 1/3rd of their WC team, NZ only won the SH Ch’ship with 6 bonus point wins & continued an 18 match winning streak in 2016! They also stuck 9 (TRIES) on SA AWAY (v England’s 4 @ HOME!), to boot.
Perleese!
Don’t you think that you need to educate yrself brother?
But, from a selfish POV, it’s good that you’re clutching @ straws, which, in reality, is likely based on the 1 result in Chicago, (or is it just the childish needle again?). Esp so if WG actually believes in your spurious contentions.
Judging from his comments before Xmas however, I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you.
Hope you didn’t eat too much Xmas turkey!?
Another topic to discuss is site feedback. Is there anything you’d like to see more or less of in 2017? Anything we could do differently? What is your favourite and least favourite series of articles that we publish?
(Be nice, it’s Christmas, but constructive criticism is always helpful).
Hutch
Yes. I’d like to see my last blog please.
Is there something specific in it that’s an issue for you H?
The standard articles are good and promote some good general discussion
Superbru Predictions,
Best of the weekend
6 things we learned
Lions stock check
Team news (International)
Player ratings (International)
but I would like to see more feature articles.
Suggestions
Vote based articles are great discussion starters. Was this suspension right length? Who is the best Lock? Which try is the best? Which team has the best fans? Pick a team from the listed players? Manager of the month? etc…
Player Profiles – Player of the month article with some key stats and video highlight clips to back it up
Player Analysis – Pick out some standout performances by players and show clips or a series of stills highlighting what they did well and how they were game changers.
Team Analysis – Same as above but pick out a standout play or a try where teams manipulated defences well as show how/why it worked, or even focus on why defences are failing/working.
Silly Articles – Last year we had superhero and supervillain XV articles something like this is always fun on a slow news day
The issue, as always, is finding someone to write these articles on a regular basis
Agree with everything Leon has suggested here – would particularly like to see some more analysis based article – but I understand it must be difficult to find the writers
Thanks for all your hard work Hutch and looking forward as you say to 2017!
Who said anything about Don baiting? Leon you pot stirrer was it you?
I’m as innocent as the wind.
As for the way to beat the Abs who do appear BTW to have lost their mystique somewhat over the last nine months : –
Beat them in the front five which England have more than enough personnel to achieve now (and the precise knowledge once Borthwick gets back from down with the Lions to report back to his England colleagues!)
Play an ‘in your face’ 99 call type game (a la Lions of 71) which again England are more than capable of doing where no backward step is permissible or taken.
Improve the attack (having identified and employed a top attack coach)
Play to the rules of the game and let the ABs get pinged for consistent foul play and ‘professional fouls’ whilst staying the ‘right side of the referee’.
Clive Woodward and his team were masters of that one and it did them untold wonders on the pitch – In other words…..foul and we’ll bang over three points thank you very much. The same applies to both teams of course but ours are the better kickers!
The laws are being applied much more harshly on the pitch and the AB 10 point starter just for turning up and being the ABs seems to have vanished overnight!
AlexD
Dunno about as ‘innocent as the wind’, but you pass enough of it.
Meant to say “as innocent as the driven snow” but had writer’s block for once.
Apologies for lack of literacy and erudition.
Will do better next time!
Happy xmas
Happy Christmas and many thanks TRB.
It’s the season of goodwill and we should all be nice to our resident kiwi. After all without him we would have no idea who the best team in the world are or how many points are scored for a try ;)
But joking aside if we all had the same point of view there would be nothing to debate and we manage, for the most part, to debate the different point constructively. Which, along with great contributions from team TRB, is why this remains the number one rugby site for me.
Matt
But Matelot, you’re my favourite Pom!
And besides, someone’s got to educate you & yr’s to think outside of yr boxes.
And even EJ agrees with me. ‘England’s attack’ will come! Just didn’t say when!
But joking aside (is there an echo in here?), just how many points is a TRY worth?
You can always ask Beauden Barrett of course, or George Fo.., er, or Owen Farr…, er, oh I give up!
Hang on a minute, I know, I’ll ask the turkey… if you haven’t gobbled it all up over Crimbo that is!
Hope you had a good 1.
Xmas spirit apart we could introduce a New Year’s disciplinary system for serial offenders on here.
Too many rude comments(otherwise known as trolling) and you face a week’s ban from contributing to this blog.
Opinions and reactions much appreciated!
Merry Xmas!
There is a certain Welsh contributor who would spend every second week talking to himself.
AlexD
Are you volunteering to go head of the ‘serial offenders jingoism’ list then Alex? Ha, ha.
PS Trust your Xmas turkey was.. English?
Oh Don you’re such a charmer!
Christmas really is NOT the appropriate time to be offensively trolling people.
Here’s hoping you learn sonner rather than later to respect the poor englishmen in whose country you live and work that have to put up with your crass and often offensive nonsense.
In true xmas spirit have a very happy one!
AlexD 3
So impressed was he with what I conveyed to him of your insights, he asked me to relay to you that, as soon as he’s got his NY festives out of the way, he’ll be on to you faster that a speeding bullet.
As far as i’m aware ‘jingoism’ (your accusation largely unsubstantiated) is not a crime.
Trolling however is!
The excellent organisers of this blog and users of it might take offence at your serial abuse of almost everyone on here over the xmas period.
Christmas spirit apart, ‘trolling’ and general online/social media misbehaviour is taken very seriously in this country so i would be a little more selective with your comments.
The last comment is meant in all seriousness.
I’m quite capable of defending myself in any sphere but the comments made to others on here (and the nature of them) is totally unnacceptable.
Remember where you are (reference to country, however deplorably unnacceptable to you, and the social medium!!!)
AlexD
Define trolling.
You sound like my mother. In fact everyone’s mother!
Stop ‘moralising’ & stick to rugger.
@ least I almost understand yr jingousm, but as for yr bewildering lecturing & ? as to my recalling my whereabouts?
Well, I’m in the local library… posting this!
Had an idea AlexD.
If you subbed ‘troll’ for ‘SOH’ sometimes, you might be nearer the mark.
E.g.
Extremely good news, a dream come true or, or even, a belated Crimbo pressie for you.
AlexD 2
Just contacted Warren GATLAND about yr razor sharp & cutting edge analysis of NZ rugger.
SOMEONE needs to ‘mother you’ to curb your wild behavioural excesses.
A call out to all mothers:
Desperately seeking a rogue kiwi male on walkabout somewhere in England (last whereabouts unknown as subject most reluctant to give them!)
Approach subject with extreme caution as most likely to bite (subject is affected by a severe case of anglophobia!)
Upon relocating subject the english language is non-preferable at first point of contact as he is most likely to find it confusing.
Preferred idiom: Maori as this will elicit a more favourable response!
Mothers Anonymous
XXX
PS. Do not attempt to entrap with a rugby ball (wrapped or otherwise in this festive period).
The outcome of such a friendly act by the local populace (especially all english mothers) will be deemed as meriting an extreme verbal response !!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
AlexD
Are YOU a troll?