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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Sidekick" data-source="post: 3199164" data-attributes="member: 13946">Forward passing – yeah sure it happens a bit in the Super 14. But to say that it’s a common event is a stretching the truth. I call the ABs of forward passes as well as the opposition.The ref just needs to be consistent in that sort of thing. Flat passes should be given the benefit of the doubt. But blatantly forward ones should be penalised. Its hardly rocket science. Richie and the infringements: Yeah Masoe and McCaw infringe a lot. And that’s one of the bits that I don’t like about the ABs. But apart from the holding the ball up (which is poor if you ask me) the loose forwards are the players who operate in the area of the game that has the most subjective and ambiguous rules – the rucks and mauls.The refe decides when a maul if formed and if your in the middle of a 70,000 capacity stadium running full bore into a tackle to nabt the ball in a legal manner then often by the time you get there someone’s called RUCK as your taking the ball. – its hard.Also, lets face it everyone does it. Have the ABs had any penalty tries awarded agsint them recently? Nope – but the welsh did. New Zealand may ‘cheat’ in the grey areas, but ultimately they just do it better than the opposition. You can bet your bottom dollar that in school rugby and club rugby the same things are happening – heck it’s common to get punched at the bottom of a ruck in local grades – just not in view of the ref.It’s a dirty game people. Anyway back to the autumn internationals.Ireland – about time these dudes showed what they can do. I really like O’Driscoll, O’Garra and co. They know their rugby. I’m dead keen to see what they can do in the 6 nations.France: How did that team get 2nd in the world? My left cheek they’re 2nd!!! They were woeful and I think they got the wake-up call they needed at the hands of the ABs.England – where to begin. Fire the coach, fire the captain, get a half-back and 1st 5 with talent. Then the players need to listen to Brian Ashton. Then they might make a semi-final next year.Maybe – I’d be planning for the 2011 as someone else has mentioned.Scotland – didn’t see any of their games so can’t comment.Saffa’s – White needed that win. They’ve got talent and I do feel sorry for SA’s coaches. The regular internationals are against NZ & Australia every year and then they’re expected to come up this way and win everything. Hard task if you ask me.Aussie – they’re just tricking us./ Just you wait until next year. Gregan will lead the troops to at least a semi spot.All Black – we need to a) find a first team, b) gell together and c) actually hit top gear. Because I’m sorry people but only in the first game against France were our boys actually trying their hardest. The rest of the time it felt like they were coasting and just focussing on not letting in tries.I mean against Wales we scored when we pleased. Nick Evans – a man who can’t get on the field at 1st Five set up a try with his FIRST TOUCH of the game. Dan Carter isn’t the All Black’s, he’s just our best of many talented players (no one but Evans & him at no 10 though)…If anyone is going to compete with the All Blacks next year then they need to A)    get tougher, bigger & fasterB)    get smarter in the breakdown (fight fire w fire)C)    have depth past 18 players (which will be a BIG ask for some)D)    Get the basics right everytimeEssentially if someone want’s to compete with New Zealand the way they are playing. They need a drastic overhaul of their skills, physique, tactics, defensive play you name it, it needs work.Of course, chances are we’ll come completely unstuck between now and then and it’ll all go to pot.But it won’t!! New Zealand will be defending the World Cup at home come 2011!!!</blockquote>

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