Clearly after the first game against Tonga, Hodgson was told to give ball to his halves and stay out of the way. Awful tactics when the halves are Jackson Hastings and an out of form Widdop. I can’t get over how bad Hastings has been these last two games - the Tonga game it could have be argued Hodgson was over playing his hand, but these last two games that was not an excuse. Hastings was so horrible - from those useless bombs, to his inability to read a simple 3 on 2, to his hospital passes and consistently poor options on the last tackle. I was worried for poor Whitehead outside him who was getting short balls with 3 defenders sweating on him. Hodgson being off the field when they were 20-8 down with the amount of possession they had - just awful coaching.
On the bright side - Bateman, CNK, and Tapine all had solid games. Special mention for CNK - to play as well as he did out of position at international level shows the quality of player we have. I thought he was immense defensively, read the game well with great first up contact. Tapine was probably NZ’s best forward - he really is finding his feet in the middle, though I would prefer slightly more hit ups - he is so strong with such good footwork, he needs his hands on the ball more (though the way he defends would take some gas out of him).
Clearly after the first game against Tonga, Hodgson was told to give ball to his halves and stay out of the way. Awful tactics when the halves are Jackson Hastings and an out of form Widdop. I can’t get over how bad Hastings has been these last two games - the Tonga game it could have be argued Hodgson was over playing his hand, but these last two games that was not an excuse. Hastings was so horrible - from those useless bombs, to his inability to read a simple 3 on 2, to his hospital passes and consistently poor options on the last tackle. I was worried for poor Whitehead outside him who was getting short balls with 3 defenders sweating on him. Hodgson being off the field when they were 20-8 down with the amount of possession they had - just awful coaching.
On the bright side - Bateman, CNK, and Tapine all had solid games. Special mention for CNK - to play as well as he did out of position at international level shows the quality of player we have. I thought he was immense defensively, read the game well with great first up contact. Tapine was probably NZ’s best forward - he really is finding his feet in the middle, though I would prefer slightly more hit ups - he is so strong with such good footwork, he needs his hands on the ball more (though the way he defends would take some gas out of him).
Some very good points.
Have actually had English fans tell me Daryl Clark and James Roby are better hookers. And how great Hastings is. Someone told me on Twitter today that James Roby is the best hooker after Cameron Smith since the early 1990s! It’s probably why England and Great Britain are in such dire straits. I fear for the game in the northern hemisphere.
This is a really entertaining game! It’s been great!
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Yeah, I love the pacific Tests. Smashing tackles, courage, great skills on show with the passing. Now that they get more regular games + the Hunters etc the cohesion and fitness is improving too.
Compare that to the dull dross Great Britain have served up this tour. Bennet will kill league in England if they keep him much longer.
This is a really entertaining game! It’s been great!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Yeah, I love the pacific Tests. Smashing tackles, courage, great skills on show with the passing. Now that they get more regular games + the Hunters etc the cohesion and fitness is improving too.
Compare that to the dull dross Great Britain have served up this tour. Bennet will kill league in England if they keep him much longer.
He will destroy any chance they have in their home World Cup.
Very average crowd in at Christchurch, both teams have completed their warm ups and are back in the sheds. Kick off due in nine minutes. Maori traditional welcome underway on field.
Just on this I reckon people of Christchurch are fed up and voting with there feet, it's been nearly 9 years since the earthquake and not only do we not have a new stadium but we dont even have a plan agreed on for what the new stadium will be like (roof/capacity etc).
The temporary stadium built of scaffolding basically initially had an expected life of 4 or so years but has had its use extended a couple of times already, the views are fine but your'e almost sitting on top of each other .
It was a perfect night for footy last night but there was also large fireworks display on that would have meant a lot of family's wouldn't have gone but Even the crusaders struggled to draw decent crowds even for semi finals etc in recent years
Clearly after the first game against Tonga, Hodgson was told to give ball to his halves and stay out of the way. Awful tactics when the halves are Jackson Hastings and an out of form Widdop. I can’t get over how bad Hastings has been these last two games - the Tonga game it could have be argued Hodgson was over playing his hand, but these last two games that was not an excuse. Hastings was so horrible - from those useless bombs, to his inability to read a simple 3 on 2, to his hospital passes and consistently poor options on the last tackle. I was worried for poor Whitehead outside him who was getting short balls with 3 defenders sweating on him. Hodgson being off the field when they were 20-8 down with the amount of possession they had - just awful coaching.
On the bright side - Bateman, CNK, and Tapine all had solid games. Special mention for CNK - to play as well as he did out of position at international level shows the quality of player we have. I thought he was immense defensively, read the game well with great first up contact. Tapine was probably NZ’s best forward - he really is finding his feet in the middle, though I would prefer slightly more hit ups - he is so strong with such good footwork, he needs his hands on the ball more (though the way he defends would take some gas out of him).
Some very good points.
Have actually had English fans tell me Daryl Clark and James Roby are better hookers. And how great Hastings is. Someone told me on Twitter today that James Roby is the best hooker after Cameron Smith since the early 1990s! It’s probably why England and Great Britain are in such dire straits. I fear for the game in the northern hemisphere.
The way English fans underrate Hodgson is unbelievable. I swear it is like they haven’t seen him at all in the NRL, and go off what he was like in the Super League. He is easily the second best Hooker in the world, just came off playing a finals series where he was a big reason his side won the preliminary final. His passing off the ground is crisp and accurate, he has a great long and short kicking game - he does overplay his hand in the opposition 20 at times, but he can also hit the halves on the chest with 20-25m passes both sides. To think he wasn’t given the keys to this side, and was encouraged to play second fiddle to Jackson Hastings - almost criminal.
James Roby has continually and consistently out played Josh Hodgson at international level.
That suggestion that Roby is the second best hooker of this generation isn’t as silly as it sounds imo.
It is a lot easier to look good coming off the bench fresh when opposition forwards are tired.
Ah I guess that's why Baptiste and Havili have outplayed Hodgson over the last few seasons.
There were a significant number of fans and “experts” calling for Baptiste to get more minutes in 2016, based on his impact. It’s the old “Craig Wing” effect. I don’t think it is unreasonable to suggest being a running bench hooker (as Roby was in those tests) is an unfair comparative advantage. Roby started the Final in 2017 when Hodgson was injured, and he didn’t have anywhere near as much impact as he did off the bench.
I'd definitely agree Hodgo hasn't produced for England what he has for us.
Whether that is the way it is coached? Or his style needs time to gel with other players? Some thing different about the international game? I am not sure.
I'm leaning toward #1, as he's had some time on this tour and played a fair bit with some of those guys. Not many of them look happy playing on this tour- then again they are losing.
Can anyone confirm if the Lions are currently staying in Brisbane?
Just went for my morning coffee in the city, and saw Kevin Sinfield run past (or someone who is a dead ringer)
Yes they are, en route to PNG. Presume they won't go up there too early.
They'll end up with respiratory problems training in Brisbane
Gina Riley: Oh, come on, John. That’s a bit old hat, the corrupt IOC delegate. John Clarke: Old hat? Gina, in the scientific world when they see that something is happening again and again and again, repeatedly, they don’t call it old hat. They call it a pattern.
Clearly after the first game against Tonga, Hodgson was told to give ball to his halves and stay out of the way. Awful tactics when the halves are Jackson Hastings and an out of form Widdop. I can’t get over how bad Hastings has been these last two games - the Tonga game it could have be argued Hodgson was over playing his hand, but these last two games that was not an excuse. Hastings was so horrible - from those useless bombs, to his inability to read a simple 3 on 2, to his hospital passes and consistently poor options on the last tackle. I was worried for poor Whitehead outside him who was getting short balls with 3 defenders sweating on him. Hodgson being off the field when they were 20-8 down with the amount of possession they had - just awful coaching.
On the bright side - Bateman, CNK, and Tapine all had solid games. Special mention for CNK - to play as well as he did out of position at international level shows the quality of player we have. I thought he was immense defensively, read the game well with great first up contact. Tapine was probably NZ’s best forward - he really is finding his feet in the middle, though I would prefer slightly more hit ups - he is so strong with such good footwork, he needs his hands on the ball more (though the way he defends would take some gas out of him).
Some very good points.
Have actually had English fans tell me Daryl Clark and James Roby are better hookers. And how great Hastings is. Someone told me on Twitter today that James Roby is the best hooker after Cameron Smith since the early 1990s! It’s probably why England and Great Britain are in such dire straits. I fear for the game in the northern hemisphere.
The way English fans underrate Hodgson is unbelievable. I swear it is like they haven’t seen him at all in the NRL, and go off what he was like in the Super League. He is easily the second best Hooker in the world, just came off playing a finals series where he was a big reason his side won the preliminary final. His passing off the ground is crisp and accurate, he has a great long and short kicking game - he does overplay his hand in the opposition 20 at times, but he can also hit the halves on the chest with 20-25m passes both sides. To think he wasn’t given the keys to this side, and was encouraged to play second fiddle to Jackson Hastings - almost criminal.
James Roby has continually and consistently out played Josh Hodgson at international level.
That suggestion that Roby is the second best hooker of this generation isn’t as silly as it sounds imo.
It is a lot easier to look good coming off the bench fresh when opposition forwards are tired.
Ah I guess that's why Baptiste and Havili have outplayed Hodgson over the last few seasons.
There were a significant number of fans and “experts” calling for Baptiste to get more minutes in 2016, based on his impact. It’s the old “Craig Wing” effect. I don’t think it is unreasonable to suggest being a running bench hooker (as Roby was in those tests) is an unfair comparative advantage. Roby started the Final in 2017 when Hodgson was injured, and he didn’t have anywhere near as much impact as he did off the bench.
The Craig Wing effect?
He's legitimately the best Origin bench player in eons so I don't know about that term.
James Roby has continually and consistently out played Josh Hodgson at international level.
That suggestion that Roby is the second best hooker of this generation isn’t as silly as it sounds imo.
It is a lot easier to look good coming off the bench fresh when opposition forwards are tired.
Ah I guess that's why Baptiste and Havili have outplayed Hodgson over the last few seasons.
There were a significant number of fans and “experts” calling for Baptiste to get more minutes in 2016, based on his impact. It’s the old “Craig Wing” effect. I don’t think it is unreasonable to suggest being a running bench hooker (as Roby was in those tests) is an unfair comparative advantage. Roby started the Final in 2017 when Hodgson was injured, and he didn’t have anywhere near as much impact as he did off the bench.
The Craig Wing effect?
He's legitimately the best Origin bench player in eons so I don't know about that term.
Did he ever start a game at Hooker for NSW? My point is, bench hookers and starting hookers are different roles, and often a bench hooker can look better than a starter just by that fact. Roby did nothing in the single game in the World Cup he started and, to be honest, until he proves himself in the NRL (and helps take his side to a GF) he can’t hold a candle to Hodgson.
So many times this game.
