NZ vs Japan - Match thread

[Pete C (Kiwireddevil)]

First topic message reminder :

Rather poignant minute's silence for the Christchurch and Japan earthquake victims.

And the game's underway.

[Cari]

Yo! My line manager says I can go downstairs and watch teh second half!!!!

[TheGreyGhost]

Toeava kicking out on the full, NZ losing a lineout to Japan, the scrum looking good just once, and Slade having yet another shocker missing points out in front, out wide and everywhere in between, knocking on and his pass is waaaaay to soft. The lad needs to calm down. Kahui scored, but his lack of pace revealed. If ever there was a "horses for courses" game for Guildford, this is it. The ABs look sluggish all around the park, and aside from running through some ordinary tackling there is a distinct lack of pace.

I'm afraid that 6 tries can't hide the fact that it's a poor performance against poor opposition.

Owens gets a "could do better" too. NZ had a try ruled out for obstruction last week, but he's waving on the obstruction in the Japanese attack, gave a dodgy ruling for "truck and trailer" that clearly wasn't and then compenstated by pinging Japan for a crooked scrum feed...I mean, how many of those have gone unpunished in the tournament so far.

[SuperTanker]

Well, the BBC is as up-to-date as usual. Apparently is still only 12-0.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

It´s not great GG but certainly positives. Kahui at least is showing he can play at left wing. Nonu is immense on attack.

But certainly we´re not doing the basics as well as we could which is what we´ll need against the good sides. Difficult for Slade to control the game with such poor defence and so many holes. But he looks as though he´s been caught on the toilet on the big screen. He does need to calm down and some senior AB needs to whack him on the back and say smile or I´ll whack you.

[HERSH]

The BBC rugby site had a questionnaire the other day let them know what you think I did.

[mckay1402]

p1ss poor is what I think

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Kahui bursts through and simple hands for that try. That´s his 4th RWC try. Japan´s B squad is quite a way behind their A squad.

SBW on the wing for Jane. Oh dear. What is Ted up to. Is this trying to see whether Jane, Kahui and Dagg or Muliaina and SBW for the bench who can cover centres and wing?

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Nonu strips the ball on defence and SBW forces a pass and it´s called forward.

[Guest]

There's the 50. I thought I had Corey Jane in my team this week, but I don't. A few more Kahui tries would be alright though.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

SBW with a big smile on his face shows Slade how to enjoy his rugby.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Well, the BBC is as up-to-date as usual. Apparently is still only 12-0.

Are they using the welsh scoring method?

[LondonTiger]

52-0

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Crowd cheers with Japan opting to go for touch in the AB 22 and looking for a try. Thought they were holding in that ruck to get the penalty. But they were told to release and didn´t. Japan lose possession.

[LondonTiger]

59-0

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Japan with a really good passage of play keeping it tight. But Smith robs the ball, Ellis clears and lucky bounce for Kahui and so many AB support players for Toeava to score.

[LondonTiger]

Japan Try!!!!

[G2]

BBC rubbish still 12 - 0, try

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/newzealand/8753175/New-Zealand-v-Japan-live.html

or

http://www.espnscrum.com/2011-rugby-world-cup/rugby/match/93470.html

[doctor_grey]

Mornin' folks. Seems the rout is on.


Well, well. Good intercept score for Japan.

[LondonTiger]

Slade is looking really poor.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Slade with a great pickup and then runs at the line and then passes the ball to the Japan winger and he´s off. Just as Slade was getting confident...

Good on Japan for getting on the scoreboard and NZ will be disappointed to let them score. Japan get the kick and good on them.

[Cymroglan]

Comeback trail I have Japan by 10

[Guest]

So nice for Japan not to get nilled.

[doctor_grey]

OK, that score was a nice diversion. But with 20 minutes to go and the All Blacks on 60+ points, when do they pull in the fangs and start kicking possession back to Japan?

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Big driving play from ABs and ball spread wide with too many gaps out wide and A Hore scores on the left. Who let her onto the field?

[LondonTiger]

some SBW magic (showboating?), nonu try - 69-7

[kiakahaaotearoa]

SBW cabaret performance and then makes right option and passes to Nonu.

[Guest]

Ah, everything is down Kahui's wing, but it isn't him scoring

69-7

[littleswannygirl]

You're doing a grand job with the commentary people

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Meanwhile on the BBC Japan have contained the ABs to 12 - 0 and everything to play for. Two tries and they´ll take the lead.

[yappysnap]

Come on Japan!

[littleswannygirl]

[RuggerRadge2611]

SBW cabaret performance and then makes right option and passes to Nonu.

some SBW magic (showboating?), nonu try - 69-7

I'm not entirely sure that was neccessary.......

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Slade bullied into touch after a nice wrap around movement with Nonu and Ellis. This kid will not be happy with this performance. Ted will be alarmed but maybe this is a case of getting the yips out of him when it doesn´t really matter. There aren´t any other options so let´s hope Carter is back for next game.

[Cymroglan]

Japan have had a lot of possession admittedly it's come from all the restarts.

[Cymroglan]

I would have let them have that try.

[doctor_grey]

Shame that was called back. Right call by Owens, but looked pretty slick on tv. eh?

[kiakahaaotearoa]

But it´s how the guy expresses himself RuggerRadge and unlike Slade, at least he is enjoying his rugby. You wouldn´t want to see that nonsense in a big match but like Quade Cooper he has the entertainer in him, which he finds impossible to supress. It seems that Ted has SBW in mind for a supersub role coming off the bench whether it be at wing or in the centres. I´m much more comfortable about that than a starting role for him in the centres. But against a classy winger, he might be a liability on defence. But no doubt he has that X factor to make something happen in a tight game. Unfortunately he also has that side of his game like Cooper where he can make a poor option and a good side can make him pay for that error. But worth a gamble.

[greybeard]

NZ haven't scored for 13 minutes. If they keep this up Japan will have managed to keep NZ scoreless for two separate 15 minute intervals. And the first one was the half time break.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Good lineout and Cowan spots the gap. He won´t be happy with Ellis entering the equation. Adam Thomson scores 12th try with 11 different scorers.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

SBW scores his second but looked to be well in front of the kick.

[rodders]

NZ haven't scored for 13 minutes.

Crisis in NZ! The AB's are choking again!

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Nigel Owens says Oh my god when NZ run it out down to the Japan 22 only for Kahui to pass the ball away.

[doctor_grey]

That last attempt by the ABs was totally unnecessary. Shame Japan didn't score.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

Well Henry won´t be overly happy with that. Too many basic mistakes. Restarts were atrocious and if we give ball away like that against good sides, we´ll be punished. Slade had a shocker. Goal kicking was nervous and poor and his general play was error-ridden. Ted will be concerned as there aren´t many options other than Weepu there. I expect Slade to get another chance against Canada and see if he performs there. But this was a game for him to forget.

Positives. Adam Thomson got through a game back from injury. Woodcock got through more minutes than in Tonga and didn´t seem to have any complaints. He at least gives a few options with Sam Whitelock for the backrow. Kahui seems to be putting his hand up for the left wing spot. Nonu is in devastating form. His partnership with Smith looks good. SBW seems to be putting his hand up for a supersub role.

But really nothing learned from this game. At least a more complete performance by the ABs but the opposition was weak. France game is a vital one and that´ll provide a much better insight into how this team is performing.

[Cymroglan]

I'm looking forward to the France match that will be a tester.

[mckay1402]

score?

[Portnoy]

Processional rugby. Whatever is the point? Any of us who have played rugby and know beforehand that no matter how well your team plays then you are in for a stuffing will know the feeling. There was a post yesterday which raised this debate and it should have been delayed.

Men against boys rugby is sort of depressing.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

83 - 7 but it´s gone into extra time on the BBC and Japan still in this game.

[Cari]

FT 83 - 7.

That wasn't a bad match to watch actually, even though it was a one-sided score.

SBW is a bit of a show pony isn't he?

[Cymroglan]

Portnoy one day the boys could grow into big strong men. The key word is World Cup

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