McLeod, your comment about Poi being handcuffed under Taurua might be applicable more broadly. NZ has good players, but things don’t seem to be working. From the outside it seems like there is something off with the mentality of the team. And I don’t mean they need to try harder, I think they’re trying really hard.
Whatever you think of the fitness standards, I find it baffling in elite sport that time and again there are issues with seasoned players not hitting those targets. It makes you wonder what on earth is going on?
It also seems like apart from a couple of players there isn’t much of a settled lineup and it probably doesn’t help performance if so few players feel secure in their position in the team. It seems like it has been a long time since you could easily predict the SF starting lineup.
Having said all that England are doing really well and I don’t mean to take away from how well they have played. I think Nat Metcalfe and Cardwell will have to win their starting bibs back.
