The All Blacks Team for the World cup is...

[Silent But Deadly]

he could be a great player... if he wasnt so fragile... the problem with guys who throw themselves into everything is they tend to get hurt... I still cant understand the Aussie lose forward mix for the WC... Other than Pocock you have interchangable 8's and 6's but none of them who can play at 7 or who are "speedsters"... the Yarpies even have players who can play 7 as do the AB's but the Wannabies dont... you better hope like hell Pocock doesnt get injured in pool play...

Yeah i don't quite understand that either, but if Pocock gets injured, they'll just fly Beau Robinson or Matt Hodgson over (I hope). They should have included Giteau who can cover 9, 10 & 12 which would have allowed them to carry Robinson or Hodgson. The exclusion of Giteau is the biggest problem I have with the squad!

 

[Te Kaha]

Pocock isn't just a fetcher, despite what some people think.

Then why is he never seen in any of those roles? they only time he was mentioned in the last test was when he was being penalised... he is never seen in a link role and barely as a carrier.. if it wasnt for his abilty to turn the ball over you wouldnt know he was there...

Yeah i don't quite understand that either, but if Pocock gets injured, they'll just fly Beau Robinson or Matt Hodgson over (I hope). They should have included Giteau who can cover 9, 10 & 12 which would have allowed them to carry Robinson or Hodgson. The exclusion of Giteau is the biggest problem I have with the squad!

The problem with replacing him if he gets injured is he cant come back once over it.... if he is injured out early and you need a replacement, either someone else comes down with an "injury" or Pococks cup is over.

 

[Thomas]

Then why is he never seen in any of those roles? they only time he was mentioned in the last test was when he was being penalised... he is never seen in a link role and barely as a carrier.. if it wasnt for his abilty to turn the ball over you wouldnt know he was there...

Do you watch games with your eyes shut?

He kept getting penalised in the last AB match because he was the only bloody forward committing to the breakdown. He had no support and tried to do it all on his own.

Did you watch the SA-AU game? He had a great game. A few carries and worked well as a link. The other forwards played with mongrel which allowed him to do other things than pilfer ball.

 

[Silent But Deadly]

Do you watch games with your eyes shut?

He kept getting penalised in the last AB match because he was the only bloody forward committing to the breakdown. He had no support and tried to do it all on his own.

Did you watch the SA-AU game? He had a great game. A few carries and worked well as a link. The other forwards played with mongrel which allowed him to do other things than pilfer ball.

Agree.

 

[Parra]

The problem with replacing him if he gets injured is he cant come back once over it.... if he is injured out early and you need a replacement, either someone else comes down with an "injury" or Pococks cup is over.

This is the problem.

 

[Te Kaha]

Do you watch games with your eyes shut?

He kept getting penalised in the last AB match because he was the only bloody forward committing to the breakdown. He had no support and tried to do it all on his own.

Did you watch the SA-AU game? He had a great game. A few carries and worked well as a link. The other forwards played with mongrel which allowed him to do other things than pilfer ball.

no.. he got penalised for cheating... he didnt get penalised for being the only wannabie forward in the ruck... like any openside he pushed the rules as far as he could and went too far... we shall see how much of a "link" or "carrier" he is this weekend... i bet it wont be much.

 

[Te Kaha]

This is the problem.

Its why you need cover in your squad and why your team selection is rather odd... from the knock out rounds a straight switch is fine.. but for one or two pool games cover is all you need.

 

[shiznit]

Unless they change the laws pococks biggest strength is going to be is downfall... the pure "fetcher" is on the way out... with ALL players trained to turn ball over and the hold the ball for a few more seconds in the tackle, the "fetcher" is now becoming redundent... Look at the world cup squads.. nobody has a backup 7... they are going for bigger stronger players with players who "can" play 7 .. except Aussie, they have noone to cover... unless things change the 7 needs to be a link man, tackler, fetcher, and ball carrier... Pocock is really only good as a fetcher and tackler(ad not a dominant tackler either)... McCaw saw this coming, he has greatly changed his game in the last couple of years, Pocock needs to do this or he wont last very long.

i actually disagree with you there... i think the 'fetcher' will always have a big part to play in the game.

i can see what your saying though... but for mine, i dont think the direction the game has headed has caused McCaw to alter his game to that link role he's playing...

i think the link role he's playing is more of a personal evolution in Richie's game that he's had to make because of 2 things.

1 - His age... he's 31 in September... he's played close to 100 tests and over 100 super games. while hes still in incredible physical shape... he doesn't have the ability to hang in there at the breakdown as long and as often as he did when he first hit the scene. Pocock for mine is the opposite... hes young, strong and fearless so he looks like more of a 'fetcher' because he's more active at the breakdown.

2 - His aura... he's Richie McCaw... he is probably the most influential figure in the game. Teams spend whole training sessions going over how to blunt his affect on a game. he commands HUGE attention anytime he goes near a ruck. so because he's got alot of extra attention on him he's developed into a far 'smarter' player at the breakdown. where Pocock go in all guns blazing and attack every breakdown because he's just a beast... McCaw will weigh up each situation and decide whether its better for him to go into the breakdown or to fan out and play another role... whether that be as another defender aiming to turn the next ball runner over... or as a link man with the ball in hand.

i think Pocock is at a different stage in his career.... he's a savage... an absolute beast. so he can get away with just going in all guns blazing. but as his career goes on... people will start to figure him out... and he will also get older... his game will have to evolve like Richies has.

and thats why Richie McCaw is so damn good... most 'fetchers' are really awesome when they first hit the scene... but as they get older they lose there effectiveness because they cant rely on just attacking every single breakdown. McCaw however has evolved his game so much so that he's still very effective at the breakdown... not as prolific has he used to be... but he makes up for it in his linking game.

so you right in the fact that Pocock will need to learn to change his game.... but i think thats the natural evolution of a fetching openside flanker... not so much because the game has changed so much that fetcher's will no longer be in the game.

 

[Te Kaha]

i actually disagree with you there... i think the 'fetcher' will always have a big part to play in the game.

When all members of a team, backs included are taught and can turn over ball in the tackle, having someones sole role to do that is no longer required.

i can see what your saying though... but for mine, i dont think the direction the game has headed has caused McCaw to alter his game to that link role he's playing...

It is no so much where it is headed as to where its heading back to.. There really wasnt a "fetcher" until Micheal Jones played, he changed the way Open sides played the game.. Since then the 7 became primarily a "fetcher". Before that he was the link, tackler and support player McCaw is now. The rules have favored the "fetcher" in that as long as a player was on his feet hands were ok... not any more. Now a player MUST be allowed to place the ball once tackled i.e the tackler must realease the player... this extra second or two allows the attacking team to get players to the ruck.. this means its much much harder to turn the ball over with your hands... a great "fetcher" may get one or two turnovers a match, but will be penalised two or three times... its not worth the risk.. getting players to a ruck and counter rucking is where the ball is now being turned over more and more... much like the older days of 20-30 years ago.

i think the link role he's playing is more of a personal evolution in Richie's game that he's had to make because of 2 things.

1 - His age... he's 31 in September... he's played close to 100 tests and over 100 super games. while hes still in incredible physical shape... he doesn't have the ability to hang in there at the breakdown as long and as often as he did when he first hit the scene. Pocock for mine is the opposite... hes young, strong and fearless so he looks like more of a 'fetcher' because he's more active at the breakdown.

2 - His aura... he's Richie McCaw... he is probably the most influential figure in the game. Teams spend whole training sessions going over how to blunt his affect on a game. he commands HUGE attention anytime he goes near a ruck. so because he's got alot of extra attention on him he's developed into a far 'smarter' player at the breakdown. where Pocock go in all guns blazing and attack every breakdown because he's just a beast... McCaw will weigh up each situation and decide whether its better for him to go into the breakdown or to fan out and play another role... whether that be as another defender aiming to turn the next ball runner over... or as a link man with the ball in hand.

While his age is no doubt a factor, the fact that the world cup teams are not naming "fetchers" in their teams, unless they are the top 7, seems to show that they think the time of the "fetcher" may be on the way out.

i think Pocock is at a different stage in his career.... he's a savage... an absolute beast. so he can get away with just going in all guns blazing. but as his career goes on... people will start to figure him out... and he will also get older... his game will have to evolve like Richies has.

and thats why Richie McCaw is so damn good... most 'fetchers' are really awesome when they first hit the scene... but as they get older they lose there effectiveness because they cant rely on just attacking every single breakdown. McCaw however has evolved his game so much so that he's still very effective at the breakdown... not as prolific has he used to be... but he makes up for it in his linking game.

Which is what i am saying... to me Pocock is a one trick pony.. a one trick that may soon be largely redundent.

so you right in the fact that Pocock will need to learn to change his game.... but i think thats the natural evolution of a fetching openside flanker... not so much because the game has changed so much that fetcher's will no longer be in the game.

We shall see.. but unless they change the rules again, the multiple penalties vs occasional turnover may make choaces decide otherwise..

 

[Parra]

It would be good to see two rules in particular enforced every time - tacklers to roll away and other players enter through the gate. Refs can get loose with these rules - too often the first support players enter from the side. This should often be penalised, rather than penalising a player for using his hands in a ruck that has been formed illegally.

 

[ThirdEye]

It would be good to see two rules in particular enforced every time - tacklers to roll away and other players enter through the gate. Refs can get loose with these rules - too often the first support players enter from the side. ...

The breakdown in rugby certainly needs cleaning up - a pedantic referee could find an infringement in every ruck or maul if they were so inclined. Entering 'through the gate' is such a grey area I dont know how it can be consistently policed. But the biggest problem is the scrum: this business of 'crouch, pause, touch, engage' hasn't solved anything, in fact, it has made it worse. It makes the game look labourious and plodding, but has done nothing to prevent the re-setting of scrum after scrum. Dont get me wrong, the scrum is an essential part of the game, but the rule-makers need to find a better solution than the referee calling out instructions.

 

[Parra]

The breakdown in rugby certainly needs cleaning up - a pedantic referee could find an infringement in every ruck or maul if they were so inclined. Entering 'through the gate' is such a grey area I dont know how it can be consistently policed. But the biggest problem is the scrum: this business of 'crouch, pause, touch, engage' hasn't solved anything, in fact, it has made it worse. It makes the game look labourious and plodding, but has done nothing to prevent the re-setting of scrum after scrum. Dont get me wrong, the scrum is an essential part of the game, but the rule-makers need to find a better solution than the referee calling out instructions.

The scrum calls were done for safety reasons, not convenience. Simple fix is to remove the 'pause'. Also, refs have to be content when the ball comes out. The bane of scrums is having the ref blow it up when the ball has passed the locks feet.

Nothing wrong with a free kick for minor scrum infringements, rather than either repacking or blowing a full penalty. The options are there for refs to use.

 

[Butters]

I thought NZ were meant to have awesome depth? Dan Carter rolls his ankle and thats bye bye for their world cup hopes

Colin Slade :lol:

Even if they had depth at flyhalf a Dan Carter injury would still be devastating. A certain quarter final in Wales comes to mind...

 

[shiznit]

I thought NZ were meant to have awesome depth? Dan Carter rolls his ankle and thats bye bye for their world cup hopes

Colin Slade :lol:

Even if they had depth at flyhalf a Dan Carter injury would still be devastating. A certain quarter final in Wales comes to mind...

you would have to be the only Australian geniused enough to start talking about depth... :lol:

like your depth??

:lol:

how about you homo's just worry about Justin Bieber turning up for you guys... :lol:

 

[Silent But Deadly]

I thought NZ were meant to have awesome depth? Dan Carter rolls his ankle and thats bye bye for their world cup hopes

Colin Slade :lol:

Even if they had depth at flyhalf a Dan Carter injury would still be devastating. A certain quarter final in Wales comes to mind...

I must admit I'm a huge fan of Colin Slade. He's a very capable backup for Carter, even if he didn't have a great game against the Boks last week but wasn't Slade's fault.

Great to see Mitchell, Barnes, Horne, Polota-Nau and Slipper all make good returns in the Baba's game. Felling a little better about the world now...

 

[ThirdEye]

I must admit I'm a huge fan of Colin Slade. He's a very capable backup for Carter, even if he didn't have a great game against the Boks last week but wasn't Slade's fault....

I think it was - he took the wrong option on too many occasions. He couldn't have played worse if he tried.

But we do have great depth - its just that the likes of Dan Carter and Richie McCaw can often be the difference between two teams. They have the x factor but that is not to say we couldn't win without them.