All Blacks score?

[wysper]

All Blacks were outplayed and out referreed.

outplayed yes - out refferreed - no
Simple - the French were better.

The ref needs to go with him too. Like a penalty for that tackle??



Skyryder

Why is it always the ref when we lose.

I thought the French played really well last night. The All Blacks weren't in the same league. The score flattered them.

Of all international teams, I reckon the French can be the most exciting to watch. It was a good game. With this team we will most likely be last in the Tri Nations and possibly loose the Bledisloe Cup.

The All Blacks seem to be no longer feared. I reckon it is partly because we no longer pick specialists in their positions, to make the all blacks you must be able to cover two other positions. So we are a team of 'jacks of all trades' but 'masters of none'. Two exceptions aside.

[BiK3RChiK]

outplayed yes - out refferreed - no
Simple - the French were better.



Why is it always the ref when we lose.

I thought the French played really well last night. The All Blacks weren't in the same league. The score flattered them.

Of all international teams, I reckon the French can be the most exciting to watch. It was a good game. With this team we will most likely be last in the Tri Nations and possibly loose the Bledisloe Cup.

The All Blacks seem to be no longer feared. I reckon it is partly because we no longer pick specialists in their positions, to make the all blacks you must be able to cover two other positions. So we are a team of 'jacks of all trades' but 'masters of none'. Two exceptions aside.

I'd bling ya, but I gotta spread it round...

The All Blacks were damn lucky to have 22 points on the board at the final whistle. They certainly didn't deserve to IMO. France deserved to win by a margin greater than 5. They out-played the AB's who looked like stunned mullets most of the time.

I support the AB's but seriously! That's not how they should be playing rugby!

[kave]

The AB's were shite, but they are missing 9 frontline players (thats almost 2/3rds of the starting lineup). The French were also short, missing players from their club finals, but nowhere near as decimated as the All Blacks. I was tempted to put money on France because I felt that there was no way we would win against France with the players we had available. Yes the ABs got shown up on their first outing of the season (and will quite probably lose the next game as well, unless G. Henry manages to do something magical), but we blooded a lot of new players and hopefully are building our depth with an eye to 2011.

I am definitely not overly concerned about last nights result, but I am a little worried about the next game with the top French Players back in their squad, while the AB's squad still looks dire and injury riddled. There is no question in my mind that an AB's side with all players available (or even a quality centre, without which the AB's or any team will struggle) would have easily dealt with that French side, but we don't have the depth in reserves. That game was a step in the right direction towards building that depth in reserves (even if it was a step taken due to an excessive amount of injuries), and giving some of our second string players a taste of the intensity and expectations of top level test rugby.

[awayatc]

Thing with the French is.....
They were wearing French jerseys...with "New Zealand 2009" on their chest....

The All Black wear their Jerseys with pride as well....
unfortunately they are not the "Canterbury" brand anymore, but the highest paying "sponsor".......German stuff

Not the same

[pzkpfw]

My sons 9th grade Soccer team got smacked in their first game this season. Possibly a bit over-confident after last year being undefeated (one draw, last game of season).

After that they've mostly won, and mostly by big margins. A wake up call can be good. (Not a one-for-one analogy, as the All Blacks were not the same team as alast year... new players... injury... etc...).

Anyway, what is it with the cries of anguish (or know-it-all "ha ha!") when the AB's lose? Are they really expected to win every game? Their first half was not so good, but they came back a bit in the second. Pretty good for that combination of players.

I'm still looking forward to the rest of the international season.

[Big Dave]

Surely it isn't Rugby unless there are wholesale complaints about the rules and the referees.

[nallac]

Surely it isn't Rugby unless there are wholesale complaints about the rules and the referees.

yip ,just like there have to be at least two kiwi players suspended
before a league test..

[JimO]

the ABs have become celebrity super stars they need to harden the fuck up, at least they couldnt blame the weather in Dunedin for their loss. One of my boys played a Premier mens hockey game on thursday night, a premier mens soccer game on saturday at 12:45 and a premiere mens hockey game on saturday afternoon at 3:30, he gave 100% for all 3 games, he is 17, the ABs are to mollycoddled how about no win no pay

[jaymzw]

A loss early in the season is not a problem at all, epsecially for such a young side. 27-22 is not a hiding. For a team full of youngsters, being led by a tactless flyhalf (Donald) and lacking leadership (Muliaina) they showed some great heart to come back through the second half however they simply didnt take the oportunities when they were given.
Plain and simple the referee had nothing to do with it.
Having a useless first five(admittedly there is no-one better at the moment) doesnt help. To be top level you have to slot your kicks, Donald didnt!

Henry and is men were straight up after the match, he said it. They didnt play well enough to win.

Will they win next week?
Will they win the Tri Nations?

I think yes to both,

EDIT: forget to mention the reason i am so upbeat about this loss. A lazy 20 got me 120 back at the TAB :-p