So how were the All Blacks

The substitute French team ran them very close and scored a raft of tries. I think it’s fair to say the AB defense was pretty porous….with Jalibert ripping them apart several times. Jordan looked less dangerous back on the wing and the centers still don’t look like the answer. McKenzie looked like McKenzie.

To be frank they looked worse than the Razor teams with the defensive weaknesses in those teams highlighted by Wellington, still very much in evidence. One commentator said something like that, but was quickly contradicted. It was the rebirth of NZ rugby with myths and fireworks before the game

Where I saw some progress was in the ruck intensity, French fetchers were simply blown off the ball time and again. But this was disappointing overall. No new ideas, and except for young Love who made 2 fine breaks, no new talent of note. Is this Oupa coaching team really going to turn around NZ rugby?

New Zealand had home-ground advantage. If it were a neutral venue, they would not have been so lucky.
The tight 5 stocks in New Zealand are just not that good, so more than just a coaching problem me feels

I thought there were promising signs for the All Blacks. First game under a new coach. Their defense was a mixed bag - got among the French really well at times to cut off their options and force them to a standstill. It was also exposed at various times, especially out wide. They had some great passages of play, but they were guilty of forcing passes and being too frantic at times which I mentioned on the live thread. A little more composure in attack and they'll get more value for their efforts. Their rucking was excellent for the most part, if they can up the physical dominance they have the backs to cash in.

Hard to say if they're better than under Razor, yet. Italy next week probably won't bring much clarity. Aus and France should be a great game although I can't see the Aussies holding out. They feel a bit like the Lions - well coached, lots of heart and skill but a lack of x-factor personnel.

That French team is no joke. I'm glad that they choose to stick to how they want to play and don't seem to care that much about percentage wins. From SA to the ABs and England, everybody fell for the "he who kicks wins" stat but France have just ignored that and one has to respect them for it.

At this point, their clubs play the rugby I like to watch and their national team does its best to attempt to keep that going in Test rugby.

With the backs and pack they have, I do wonder how hard they would be to beat if they decided to play boring rugby.

Regardless, they played in NZ on Saturday and tried to beat NZ at NZ rugby. That's rarely achieved, and yet they still went for it. As a neutral, I'm grateful for that.

Comparing apples with apples, the French side that went there last year was inferior to this one and the Kiwis did struggle a little to put them away. This French team had a good few more big names in it and the game could have gone either way.

What did impress me about the ABs was after letting in an easy early score, and then Love getting sent off, they responded really well. They could easily have panicked and let in another score or two but they fought back, showed good skill and scored with 14 men on the park. I think that gave them a lot of confidence and reminded the French who they were playing against.

Thoroughly enjoyed the game. So much handling skill on display from both sides.

Still, based on yesterday's evidence, one would probably bet on the Boks to win the rivalry series.

Very interested to see how Ireland go against them.

W/end review from MiddleEarth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-uCBwGUb4A

okay...so are we now spoiling rugby threads with Trump posts?

Get a grip

jou gat se moer , as Vlag told me more than once ... I'm sukkeling with the new structure
I posted the 'politics' on Gripes first but it followed me here when i attempted to post the rugby topic as seen above & I can't delete it now
& in your next verbals ps. tell me how to post a f'kng pic
Until then kiss m.b.a