‘Didn’t think it was an option’: Captain Skelton reflects on World Cup journey

Set pieces are important and the way teams use them is a great indication of how they play the game. No team is showcasing their revolution more than the Springboks. This year they have mauled less and primarily in the attacking third. Otherwise they have tended to set like they are going to maul and then play around the corner or shove the ball out the back. They arent also hitting the crash ball carrier constantly but instead they are choosing to use their width or a big carrying forward in wider areas. While their maul is varied the scrum is still a blunt instrument winning penalties before the backs have a go. Some teams have chosen to blunt their set piece game for more control. The All Blacks are kicking more penalties and are using their powerful scrum as an attacking tool choosing that set piece as an attacking weapon. Their willingness to maul more and in different positions is also becoming more prominent. The French continue to play conservative rugby off the set piece using their big bruisers frequently. The set piece is used differently by different teams. Different teams play different ways and can be successful regardless. They can win games with little territory and possession or smash teams with plenty of both. The game of rugby is for all types and sizes and thats true in the modern era. I hope that administrators keep it that way and dont go further towards a Rugby League style situation. Some administrators are of the opinion that rugby is too slow and needs to be sped up. Why not rather empower teams to choose how they want to play and create a framework that favours neither size nor agility. That favours neither slow tempo play or rock n roll rugby. Create a game that favour both and challenge teams to execute their plans. If World Rugby can create a game like that then it will be the ultimate winner.

Razor's 2024 All Blacks Christmas wish list

Tk 31 minutes ago

A new axis at 10, 12 & 13 is needed. And to start blooding young players who may be good enough to win us a world cup rather than stick with known players who won't.

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NB 32 minutes ago

I can see England beating France at Twickers...

NB 33 minutes ago

HC to you too Mitch and thanks for all your involvements. Yes, though they always tended to be way ahead in terms of content!

NB 34 minutes ago

Too true Tom.

NB 35 minutes ago

yep ideal👍

Mitch 1 hour ago

Merry Christmas, Nick. Thanks for all your articles.

For all the doom and gloom around super rugby, its stats are very similar to the Gallagher Premiership with the exception of ball in play time.

Mitch 4 hours ago

The Boks will remain formidable while Rassie is running the show. Can't see England beating the French anytime soon. New Zealand will be OK as long as they don't get complacent about rugby League's efforts to make serious inroads in New Zealand.

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

JW 5 hours ago

Love the simplicity and romance with that thought, you're right. I always hated training at night, in the rain, to be fair though, but that could just be me 🤷‍♂️

213 Go to comments

JW 5 hours ago

Razor's 2024 All Blacks Christmas wish list

Was goign well GP until you included the 'Worlds Best 10' this year at the end there LOL

17 Go to comments

JW 5 hours ago

'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

It wasn't the player doing it, I was specifically refering to the "whims of the HFC and selection team" model of selection policies All Blacks teams have. It's a model that believes say sharing a 9 jersery evenly three ways, with three distinctly different players is going to be less beneficial than chosing to play a fast and wide game with Aaron for instance.

And I'm totally down wiht that thinking in a lot of ways (though I'd like more sophistication as suggested), you don't want to offer each of those three players the same contract and have all three leavue, when you can decide to share that value over just two players and get them both, but that idea wasn't really about spending.

'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

JW 5 hours ago

Lol wasn't that my point? That you were speculating? (idk not rereading ofc)

'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

JW 5 hours ago

Why would he be thought of as a failure? Frizell might not play well on return, or if Savea was the only one not playing well on return then Sititi can start at 8.

'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

JW 5 hours ago

Beauden and Sam wanted to be part of the last 4 weeks of this years Super did they not? That could be 'restricted eligibilit'y?

'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

JW 5 hours ago

Yep, no one knows what will happen. Thing is I think (this is me arguing a point here not a random debate with this one) they're better off trialing it now in a controlled environment than waiting to open it up in a knee jerk style reaction to a crumbling organtization and team. They can always stop it again.

The principle idea is that why would players leave just because the door is ajar?

BBBR decides to go but is not good enough to retain the jersey after doing it. NZ no longer need to do what I suggest by paying him to get back upto speed. That is solely a concept of a body that needs to do what I call pick and stick wth players. NZR can't hold onto everyone so they have to choose their BBBRs and if that player comes back from a sabbatical under par it's a priority to get him upto speed as fast as possible because half of his competition has been let go overseas because they can't hold onto them all. Changing eligibility removes that dilemma, if a BBBR isn't playing well you can be assured that someone else is (well the idea is that you can be more assured than if you only selected from domestic players).

So if someone decides they want to go overseas, they better do it with an org than is going to help improve them, otherwise theyre still basically as ineligible as if they would have been scorning a NZ Super side that would have given them the best chance to be an All Black.

'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

JW 5 hours ago

Remember, your not given the jersey and it's yours. You are continusously earning the jersey each week, so that's one way.

'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

JW 5 hours ago

That goes for Europe as well. If it's to work they need a comphrensive method of evalutating players, which is kind of a reason why it's not going to happen I'd assume (high cost envestment).

'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

JW 5 hours ago

By bringing him into camps, playing for the XVs etc, or depending on what the previous discussion was in this thread, a players form could possible by both monitored and kept to the required high standards, but continuing to include them in ABs sides (ie the idea players come back underpar might be related to them being completely excluded from the AB evnironment while away).

This is all preuly argument based, first I don't think they need Mo'unga back so it's not like I'm going to campaign or argue for it, but second I think he did finally establish himself as the worlds best 10 last year.

'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

JW 5 hours ago

No BB didn't. I can't remember what Dmac's sitch was (to have included him), but Beauden was the first to leave and be signed abroad as a sabbatical. If Beauden had of been treated like just anybody else he would not have played against England. Not until he has shown form in the NPC.

'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

JW 5 hours ago

Teams already are fabricated, just because they've been around longer than all the randoms working for them, doesn't mean it's not a fabricated team.

That said, I don't think it will get as bad as you suggest. I say bad because I look at the sort of dominance of the NRL and even in other sports like football with the Premier League as being detrimental to the sport and fans entertainment. Once you look under the rock theres not a whole lot wrong with say NFLs approach, it is merely different.

But I still don't think it will happen, or atleast if this new league does kick off, won't be succesful, much like how the IPL hasn't been (it has very little value outside India I'd think).