Tana Umaga talks Moana Pasifika's 'purpose', Aaron Mauger's advice and more

IF

The Razor gang has given the AB’s a game plan A, B, C & etc (unlike so many AB games since 2016). &

IF

AB’s play 80+ minutes. &

IF

ABs do their individual & team jobs error free (‘ish)  (unlike so many AB team since 2016). &

IF

All the ‘critical V Ireland’ AB form mobile forwards stay on field for the 80min S.Barrett, Sititi, Savea, and Vaa’i swap with Cane when he tires & Tuipulotu comes on. Finau back up. &

IF

The 10's get a better ‘cunning game plan’ than BB, ie his kicky, kicky, kicky, kicky, kicky, kicky, kicky, ETC! (& MacK does have a better game plan). &

IF

Aumua can throw to lineouts . &

IF

The AB’s can remember their lineout calls (unlike too many V England games 1, 2 & 3). &

IF

Williams can be coached to stop being sucked into experienced tactics to drop him to the ground. &

IF

The AB coaches, teach all ABs some ‘soccer like’ drama queen fouling acting skills to make clear to the ref 1 of the most common Irish tactics ie obstruction by ‘stray’ decoy attackers around contact zone (tackle, ruck, maul). &

IF

The ABs have their arm out away if not tackling any, again, decoy attackers  (or defenders) that run into them to try milk penalties as England did (eg penalty  against  Cane the worst). &

IF

S.Barrett can change & captain with assertiveness & presence to even be noticed by the ref (way to passive). &

IF

There's no food poisoning.

Look, Dmac is clearly first choice. Razor said BB was a selection "just for this game", Dmac was always leading the two big ones. They rotated BB and Mounga the same way in 22.

Firstly, I'm a fan of BB when he's not gun shy. Do I think he's a first five? Of course not, he can hardly pass the ball 5 meters. Do I think he's likely to play again after being concussed? No, end of discussion.

Do I hate Mo'unga? No, of course not. He was the only reason we got within cooee of SA, him finding his footing at International level was their main reason for success. Do I think that resulted in him being a game orchestra or having played well in black the years prior to that? Of course not. Maybe you were just on the end of the better AB performances fran, outside of those games I'd suggest he wasn't as influential as you think. He has a good kicking game for sure, but it's certainly not up there with Carter or even some current 10s, and it's certainly not much better than DMac's (understand you own opinion still won't say that) despite him having a lot more development and experience.

He would obviously get a great opportunity from Razor if he came back, and DMac would possibly find he can be a good fullback or bench player under Razors guidance, but if you're wrong and Dmac actually performed better than Richie running the show, then he'll having Damien as his 10 come RWC time.

TLDR, JWH is a Cantab, Richie is one of my favourite players, we just think you've got the wrong context in this article and I think you're way off the mark on Richies strengths.

Ouch that pain must be eternal. Oh yer it is forever.

That's the self deluding thing about misplaced ego...

Quote Sexton,

I couldn’t bring myself to watch the quarterfinal back. I don’t think I ever will. I don’t need to.

and

Whitelock goes in for the poach, clearly without releasing, but somehow Wayne Barnes awards him the penalty, even though it has all happened under his nose

... from some who just stated he has & probably never will watch the replay.

Strange that.

Clearly Whitelock wasn't part of the tackle & only went in OVER going for the ball.

Nice try Sexton. Again.

Go on. Watch the replay Sexton. Oh & I, & most AB fans would like to watch you watch it ... then you're silence (only kidding, it's Sexton).

Carry on.

You evenly bag any non-Bok.

Keep it up.

We love it.

A person of common sense you are.

He's a meany.

Cowering and crying about it isn’t going to help.

Clearly Whitelock wasn't part of the tackle & only went in OVER going for the ball.

Nice try Sexton. Again.

Go on. Watch the replay Sexton. Oh & I, & most AB fans would like to watch you watch it ... then you're silence (only kidding, it's Sexton).

The fullbacks were always still solid receivers and kick returns throughout that period. It's changed a bit as the kick chase (laws etc) have changed right, the 'playmaker' goes back in the pocket to return a lot of kicks now (Dmac a heavy returner even while playing 10).

That might actually come, sometime later down the line, but for now I agree that Jordie to should focus on one position and be given the chance to be great. His switch to 12 was so timely and important to the team, yet when it came down to it, that one area he was cherished for was where he let the team down in the Final. Does that mean he's just not suited to reaching his potential in the 12 jersey? IDK. I think there are certainly such facets that affected him during his 15 days as well, he would often to weird/brain explosion type things, and yuo can get yourself into trouble doing those in the open field, but yeah, skillwise I agree, 15. TBH though I see other FBs ahead of as well as those other 12s overtaking him.

And tell me if Mounga was available would Robertson select him in a flash.

And if BB is so great why was DMac selected ahead of him in the first 8 tests and then DMac was dropped to the bench and the second choice promoted.

I reckon both of you are probably Jacko in disguise. His hatred for Mounga was so apparent and also the Crusaders.

He's obviously done these facets at SR level, he just needs to get comfortable with them with less space/more pressure, finding space is probably his easiest out in terms of not stuffing things up. But many fullbacks use low dinky kicks right, he's not going to be a Jordie Barrett from the back and the worst thing he could do would be to try and develop those sorts of skills imo.