‘Can rely on him’: Why the All Blacks have to select Shaun Stevenson

I read in the Sydney Herald theyre looking at getting some ex Super Rugby/Wallaby players back for each teams July build up for their Lions fixtures. Who could Queensland add to their squad, Cooper, O'Connor, Kerevi, Marika? Guess it depends who which Wallabies they think are likely to be kept out of that QL fixture?

Perhaps French sides don't really need that for their part, but I'm afraid to say I don't think you'd get the English sides agreeing with that idea.

As the odd one out, France might need to take it on the chin and find their own solution to the problems. Will have a read of the other article but SA is new and things are still settling. If I recall right France's commitment with playing their top sides wasn't great in the CC until recently as well.

You want long term success . 1st 15 rugby is the second most important competition in NZ and i'll explain why . firstly the rivalries between the schools are already there and the atmosphere is crazy . I still watch games from 2-3 years ago just for the atmosphere alone . They also get their first taste of international footy in the end of year school tournaments . But most importantly the core target for the future is the kids and the easiest way to get their interest is to use older kids , obviously being closer in age they can relate more .

There's also a gap between 1st 15 and the npc level that isn't getting exposure , that's why the NPC atmosphere doesn't exist. That's why 1st 15 is so important . It's the first point of exposure . Whatever that bridge is between 1st 15 and NPC has to become accessible. this is the key to increasing the fan base . In the past people followed teams , but in this age people follow players . So increasing player engagement is the best way to increase the fan base . And following 1st 15 players all the way to NPC is the most logical solution to ticket and jersey sales . Rebuild the fanbase , rebuild rugby , secure the future . At this point I think the NZRU should hire me .

But what if their results were good and they weren't involved? The SA sides seem to be on a bit of a slide in general now they are becoming further and further removed from their Super Rugby days, yes, but you could have had situations were Leinster were CC winners, the best of Europe, but were SA sides win the URC!

How bad would that be the URC looking like a more competitive/higher tier competition than the CC? I think you have to have them involved for that reason alone and your view that the best, strongest, don't need to be involved wouldn't be shared by many.

Of course you're entitled to it if that is indeed what you want. Certainly if you did have what you suggest it would be so much simpler for everyone, including South African sides. You would need to re-imburse the SA'n teams somehow I'd imagine though (otherwise more imbalances).

No one was more dissapointed in lack of execution in that July than Razor

SA england numbers left side )home)

2Tries42Conversions30Drop Goals0109Carries885Line Breaks7

Attack1113Passes94109Ball Carries88229mPost Contact Metres326m

aussie

5Tries53Conversions40Drop Goals0122Carries1616Line Breaks13

Attack146Passes182122Ball Carries161 345mPost Contact Metres417m

nz eoyt

1Tries31Conversions30Drop Goals088Carries1445Line Breaks8

Attack104Passes21188Ball Carries144190mPost Contact Metres279m

nz jul2 england numbers right side (away)

2Tries21Conversions20Drop Goals093Carries1088Line Breaks5

Attack121Passes13993Ball Carries108235mPost Contact Metres212m

nz jul1

2Tries20Conversions10Drop Goals0152Carries9710Line Breaks3

Attack213Passes111152Ball Carries97288mPost Contact Metres200m

Thats the dump from RP stats

so weve got conceded

4

5

3

in eoyt with line beaks and PCM for each

7/326

13/417

8/279

and in july

2 8/235

2 10/288

here is the 6n

sctoland away

3Tries23Conversions10Drop Goals186Carries1024Line Breaks4

Attack98Passes14986Ball Carries102309mPost Contact Metres316m

ireland home

3Tries21Conversions01Drop Goals0114Carries938Line Breaks2

Attack163Passes121114Ball Carries93327mPost Contact Metres182m

France away

3Tries43Conversions40Drop Goals0125Carries657Line Breaks7

Attack148Passes82125Ball Carries65228mPost Contact Metres118m

As you should clearly see, those numbers are more consistent with 3, 4, and 5 try games. So indeed the tries they conceeded in July weren't reflective of there defence at all. Conceeded breaks and PCM avg once Jones system in effect for second half of 6N is 4.3 breaks and 240m, against NZ in july of 9 breaks and 261m. Consistent with an expect 3/4 try games also. It all points to NZ not finishing a couple more tries than Opta would have predicted (would love to know what it did predict ala https://theanalyst.com/2024/10/data-behind-south-africa-rugby-championship-success and https://theanalyst.com/2024/09/opta-rugby-data-debrief-springboks-wafer-connacht ).

Thing is, how can he? Both those teams have drastically different attack structures don't they? UBB would seem the least effect against this defence, due to the width in their game?

Great call on a combo like that with Sam. One Leinster might come up against earlier in the CC is Albornoz, he kicks very similar to Sam, deep and low. Might be on a different level but a player I could see in a similar kicking tandem with Dupont!

The second playmaker ofc for that game was Barrett, so not a lot to do with Irelands prospects/outlook! It just looked like this one early play epitomized the difference between how well they executed in the Lancaster era v now. In this instance I felt it was caused by Barrett typically passing a step too soon, removing a fraction of time for Sam on the double (young fella did nothing wrong really, but yes, still very young).

Along the lines of Nick below I actually though Bryne was very effective as well, but if you still want to catch the game I wont tell you why it might be obvious that he should. Surely Leinster have to go back to their Irish midfield this week for the benefit of a good 6N start? Ringrose was my mom.

Which other than the currrent 15m tram and 10m offside lines being enforced differently, could have things added to it that might help attacks, like teams needing a backfield player in each tram line, or player(s) at certain depths in the field, say behind the 22 when play is restarted in the opposite half etc. I'd only wondered at this point if that sort of thing might help, essentially taking the essential winger out of the blitz, see how they defences might adapt to that sort of requirement.

But I love how you make no sense when trying to defend your losing perspectives though lol