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The Rugby Championship - round 4
(lemmy.world)
Can NZ get some revenge for last week? Will Australia show up and get their act together?
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this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2024
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just in case anyone hasn't watched yet
SA 18 v 12 NZThe ABs are facing one of their worst years ever with 3 more away tests to come against England, Ireland and France. 4/7 so far could become 8/14, or hell if Schmidt has been targetting the Bledisloe 7/14 or even 6/14.
As I mentioned last week I don't care enough about international rugby to get up at 3am to watch any game so I wasn't watching and can't comment much beyond the results.
But NZR have given the kingdom to Razor and so far, he has failed to deliver. If the worst happens and the results from the year pan out badly then NZR need to react, force some changes across his team and see if he can respond like Fozzie did.
Just editing to add - afterall its not like Razor was ever the only option for the ABs. There are other coaches kicking about so as when the pressure when on Foster there are options: Joseph, Cotter, maybe even Rennie.
If Australia somehow manage to pinch a win, do you wait for November to change?
No I think you have to make changes immediately, for NZ, losing to Australia this year is losing to a 10th ranked team and that is unacceptable.
The reality NZ faces is that the game at the lower levels is hollowed out economically and basically a drag on NZR as a whole; this has led to NZR focusing more & more on the top end. That has coincided with a major push into elite rugby schools which in the long run is reducing our player pool. Basically if you don't get into one of the top 20 or so schools on a rugby scholarship you won't get into an academy and won't get a pro contract.
So we're now relying on a smaller group of academy prospects who're identified when they're 16 to somehow become international quality players by competing against each other in the Super Rugby reserves competition and/or competing against ever weakening Australian teams. Its an NZR problem as much as an ABs coach problem.