Solid, strong arm win. The Kiwis might be whinging about our tedious tactics but they do have intelligence and purpose. Gatland is fully aware that most Kiwis teams excel in a fast, open, expansive game. This is because the majority of the high numbers in their back-line of most NZ teams are dominated by fast and powerful Maori and South Sea Islanders, Polynesians. It is their natural physique which has always given Kiwi Teams the edge over none Kiwi opposition, particularly us Lillie liverd Europeans. Its the Polynesians in the team that makes NZ rugby teams so powerful and dangerous, especially with the ball. Our tactics are simple and designed to deny momentum to these guys so they are not running 'downhill' at us. Gatlands tactic is to change the point of contact by making them compete for the ball n areas they are not so comfortable with. They'll run through brick walls all day but if we stop them looking in front at our defense by making them focus in the air or on a ball bouncing behind them, they are not so comfortable with this. Our kicking game stops their momentum and our chase makes them think defensively. It stops them getting up steam with the ball in hand and allows us to target them as they concentrate on securing the ball and not on 'smashing' a defender. We can win the series but The All Blacks will come at us in the first test with all the intensity of man at war. They will have no B, they will want to use their Polynesian power to hammer us into the ground. Our only defense against them will be to temper their onslaught by making them run back wards, making them have to compete for the ball and by stopping them running at us. If we can do that then we stand a chance because NZ never have a plan B, its all in your face pace, power and aggression. We have to take that way if we want to win the test. The hardest rugby any of our players will ever play in their lives will be the first half of the first test. Each of our players has to know from the off that they are not playing a game but going to war because the All Blacks will want to kill us to prove their dominance in the rugby world. If we're don't have a Roarks Drift attitude we're dead and NZ will take the series and win the war 3-0. We have to kick the life out of their game, confuse them and turn their aggression into panic.
Very true, and makes you realise how vital our own Polynesian boys are, Te'o and Toby have been outstanding for us so far. In particular Te'o, who I think only swapped codes a season or two ago.
Get in their face from the off and stay there....Give them any space and they will destroy us.....They are the masters of running rugby so if we can stop that then we have a chance....
Happy with the result against the Chiefs although its a game we should have won due to the 10 changes they made and the virgin back line they played. Still, all we could do was beat them and we did, easily. Good to see the game plan finally working for the dirt trackers. Looking forward to Saturday now with a lot of hope for a good game and for a competitive Series. With Gatland taking away the fear factor I think we can be competitive against the best team in the World. I can see us beating the AB's once which should make for a very exciting series indeed, can't see us winning the series though but I think it will be exciting, which is all I want. I pray I find a Kiwi stream though because even if we won the series 3-0 all the joy would be sucked out of it by the pathetically one eyed commentary of Miles 'If he's not English I wont mention him' Harrison and the extraordinarily **** Stuart 'I'm a thick cnut' Barnes.
Team is announced tomorrow. I am going for, Front row, Vunnipola, Owens, Furlong Second row, Itoje, Kruis Back row, Warburton, Faletau, O'Brien Half Backs, Murray, Farrell Centres, Teo, Davies Back 3 North, Halfpenny , Watson. I am not saying that is what I would pick, but I think he will pick. I personally wouldn't change much but would have O'mahoney for Warburton.
AWJ, Falatau, JD and LW in the side. Gatland has finally grown a pair and dropped his pets SW, GN and LH.
Didn't expect Halfpenny to miss out. Also thought that Al's best chance of playing would be if Gats wanted him as skipper..... Got both those wrong
Warburton, Webb, Halfpenny and Owens on the bench. I bet Biggar and Tips are pissed. Biggar has been outstanding and the in form 10 so far.
Careful what you wish for though, a stream with Justin Marshall might be ok, but if you're unfortunate enough to end up with nigel yelden, you will be begging for barnes by the end of 80 minutes!!
Gatland already had big balls. He's his own man, and the team he has chosen for the First Test indicates that. Many people taken by surprise.
