Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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#1413549 25-Oct-2015 16:05

That is a perfect summary

CYaBro

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#1413555 25-Oct-2015 16:51

No need to worry about the "elbow", it's just an illusion:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/73365190/rugby-world-cup-it-is-an-illusion-there-is-no-elbow-from-richie-mccaw

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

floydbloke

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#1413557 25-Oct-2015 17:14

joker97: Here's Graham Henry's analysis:

"It will be great for next week because they didn't play particularly well but they did the job," Henry told Newstalk ZB sports host Tony Veitch after the game.

"I was concerned because we hadn't played well in the first half, we'd kicked a lot of ball away, we didn't look sharp, our scrum was under a bit of pressure and we had given a lot of penalties away. There's lot to work on but psychologically that's good for next week.

"At the end of the day, we were the better side. We scored two tries to none. The Springboks never looked like scoring tries. It was just that we kept them in the game by giving away penalties which was a bit irritating.

"They will be a bit disappointed about how they played but they will be delighted they are in the final and they will play well next week, there's no doubt about it.

"I've got a feeling this game will do them a huge amount of good. Last week's game against the French, in actual fact, was actually pretty counter-productive. They won too easily. People are human and when you win easily you probably get a wee bit of an inflated opinion of your own ability and it just gives you a false sense of security.

Isn't he still assistant coach for Argentina? Yet he still refers to the All Blacks as 'we'. Shows where his heart truly lies, I guess.

Thanks for explaining "plethora".

It means a lot.

Batman

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#1413558 25-Oct-2015 17:16

That explains why Argentina are so so good! Didn't know that. Thought he was just "helping" them

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#1413559 25-Oct-2015 17:17

tdgeek: That is a perfect summary

The word that resonates with me was ... Irritating haha

floydbloke

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#1413561 25-Oct-2015 17:22

joker97: That explains why Argentina are so so good! Didn't know that. Thought he was just "helping" them

I'm just going by what Wikipedia says..so it must be true.

Thanks for explaining "plethora".

It means a lot.

tdgeek

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#1413566 25-Oct-2015 17:38

joker97:
tdgeek: That is a perfect summary

The word that resonates with me was ... Irritating haha

Point taken! Yep I'm not a rugby fiend like some here, but the banter is great, and the info too

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tdgeek

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#1413568 25-Oct-2015 17:44

joker97: That explains why Argentina are so so good! Didn't know that. Thought he was just "helping" them

Assistant or assisting, he'd have to bring another level. Be nice to know how involved he is. Their participation in the championship has helped. But at any elite level, the skills are there it's often management, whether that be in game tactician, or belief.

Going down to oz 30-26 would be a win for Argentina, but I bet that's it's not about improving or playing well, it's about the win. That's what Henry will bring, belief. "You are at this level"

throbb

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#1413590 25-Oct-2015 19:24

floydbloke:
joker97: Here's Graham Henry's analysis:

"It will be great for next week because they didn't play particularly well but they did the job," Henry told Newstalk ZB sports host Tony Veitch after the game.

"I was concerned because we hadn't played well in the first half, we'd kicked a lot of ball away, we didn't look sharp, our scrum was under a bit of pressure and we had given a lot of penalties away. There's lot to work on but psychologically that's good for next week.

"At the end of the day, we were the better side. We scored two tries to none. The Springboks never looked like scoring tries. It was just that we kept them in the game by giving away penalties which was a bit irritating.

"They will be a bit disappointed about how they played but they will be delighted they are in the final and they will play well next week, there's no doubt about it.

"I've got a feeling this game will do them a huge amount of good. Last week's game against the French, in actual fact, was actually pretty counter-productive. They won too easily. People are human and when you win easily you probably get a wee bit of an inflated opinion of your own ability and it just gives you a false sense of security.

Isn't he still assistant coach for Argentina? Yet he still refers to the All Blacks as 'we'. Shows where his heart truly lies, I guess.

Pretty sure he was only a mentor to the coaching team in 2012 when they joined the Rugby Championship, he may have been tagged as an assistant coach when they played Australia and SA in the same year. I don't think he is doing the role anymore.

Batman

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#1413803 26-Oct-2015 09:03

Watched a delayed feed of the 2nd Semi. If any match could be "ugly", yeah this was it. A bit annoying (irritating) that after about 40 odd mins the game lost all structure and turned into a high school rugby match.

The difference in the end - Australia's defence vs Argentina's holey defensive line. Players were visibly tired from about the 54th minute on both teams.

Not sure if Australia has anymore in the tank after 3 big matches in the pool. But as Graham Henry said, winning ugly helps. Winning by 90 points is detrimental.

So on paper it's the ABs to take the final, but you just never know.

Goes into withdrawal mode and awaiting Sunday.
Saturday is meaningless but I expect the Boks to fire.

Handle9

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#1413808 26-Oct-2015 09:14

I'm really pleased we're playing Australia. The two best teams in the world are playing for all the marbles. If we win the World Cup we'll have beaten France, South Africa and Australia in successive weeks. It doesn't get much better than that.

networkn

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#1414128 26-Oct-2015 20:51

So Ben Smith and NMS are potentially out of this final? Smith is a much bigger blow but interesting how they keep putting BS on the wing, and interesting that when we do, we look better as a team.

Early word is that Folau is likely out for next week. I still don't really get what is so special about the guy, he has had a few "decent" games for the Wallabies, but hardly what I'd consider revolutionary. I do think he was pretty slick at SR level. He is pretty good under the high ball I'd agree.

I still think we have a problem under the high ball. Ben Smith is our saving grace here, but I don't think one guy is enough.

I did think it was curious that Australia got an Argentine scrum coach, and still couldn't compete with the Argentine scrum for most the game. I really hope we have a good week in the scrum and we can find a way to neutralize Hooper and Pocock.

One thing I thought it curious for all those people who criticize coaches for taking experience over flair/form, Australia have pretty much relied entirely on the ex Wallabies who have been wheeled in to save them. With the exception of Hooper and Pocock, none of their "new" players are worth much as far as I am concerned. It will be interesting to see what happens when they take those guys back to the old peoples home :)

Batman

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#1414139 26-Oct-2015 21:22

Ben Smith and NMS are apparently just fine. Even Wyatt is suposed to be fit.
Australia however are firstly tired. Do they have one more set of 100 minutes in them. They were down a first choice prop and their reserve front row is pretty average. Not sure about their locks and line out. Watch out for line out steals to the ABs when it matters. back row and breakdown, in a good day it's even. On a slightly not 100% day the Wallabies will steal the ball all day. Happened with SA but SA double tackled most of the time.
9 call it even.
Back line.
10-12-13 call it even. Reserves AB has the advantage.
11-14-15. With Folau, advantage to ABs who are much faster, have one more who can step. High ball about the same bar NMS, not sure about Savea. Thing is, Folau only had one good leg. If he plays AB has a massive advantage. If he doesn't, I'm not sure who will play. Reserves advantage to ABs.

On paper the ABs to pull away once the bench is used. Especially Australia are starting to only last 60 at high intensity.
But the real thing could be very different eg AB ahead by a lot, or vice versa, depending on who controls the tempo.

Captains, both are good at talking to the ref, but Nigel Owens either likes you on the day, or marches you back 10. If everything turns out equal, whoever can get into his head will win.

networkn

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#1414167 26-Oct-2015 22:04

Not sure where you saw NMS (Does a Left Calf right itself in 7 days?) and BS are just fine, today I saw something from SH saying they were "monitoring" them.

Man I want this so bad for RM! I want RM to score the winning try and DC to slot through the middle, the conversion.

My only real concern re Australia are 7 and 8. Genia is good, certainly not Smiths Equal any more I don't think.

Batman

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#1414168 26-Oct-2015 22:05

Umm ... Andrew Saville said so

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