Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#1062394 10-Jun-2014 10:00

Agreed that Wales would have been unlikely to beat us in a final, also agreed we were unlikely to lose the final. I was at the final and for sure it was a terribly tense game, but once the ball was turned over that last time and we went into defence forward movement, I knew we would win.

On another note I was very surprised at the result against Australia. French lost their structures, but their handling was nothing short of amazing for periods of the game, I was pretty impressed. Australia did take their chances for sure. I'll be surprised if the next game isn't closer.

You have to feel for the Australian Captaincy Curse. Moore out for 6 weeks, I think that's the 10th Captain in 2.5 years.

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#1064155 12-Jun-2014 15:12

Interesting to hear Steve Hansen make comments like "the worst display of skills he thinks he has seen", yet we still beat a pretty fired up and well playing English side. I think that says something. End of the day, we did win that test, and we did have some calls go our way, but I honestly think even if they hadn't, we would have found a way. The AB's aren't the best in the world just because they are the fittest, biggest or just because we have the best skills, Ireland in the last test last year displayed why we are the best, and that is because we can keep our mental fortitude and fight back even if we don't start well.

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#1064160 12-Jun-2014 15:15

The next test should see a big improvement in the All Blacks game.

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#1064162 12-Jun-2014 15:21

KiwiNZ: The next test should see a big improvement in the All Blacks game.

I think Steve Hansen made a lot of sense in his interview. He said one of the big problem was preparation time, and that short lead up, with a new team, to a team that has been together all season.

blair003

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#1064164 12-Jun-2014 15:27

Yup, second test backlash. A reminder from an article I just read:

"A year ago, they struggled to beat France first-up, then walloped them 30-0. Twelve months before that, it took a last-gasp drop goal to get past Ireland. A week later, they caned the boys in green 60-0."

Lancaster made 5 changes to the team from last week - I must admit that guy seems to do and say all the right things.

They will start Tuilagi on the wing, which to me seems reminiscent of Graham Henry starting Richard Kahui (and SBZW?) on the wing just because you want your best players on the field (and let's face it - if you can play inside back you can play wing, although arguably the reverse is not true... see record of Allblack outside backs playing at centre at world cups)

MikeB4

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#1064169 12-Jun-2014 15:30

The heavy burdens that Super rugby puts on the players availability impacts the prep time for the All Blacks, one of the negatives of Super rugby. That being said Super rugby does maintain the players international match fitness.

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#1064171 12-Jun-2014 15:34

KiwiNZ: The heavy burdens that Super rugby puts on the players availability impacts the prep time for the All Blacks, one of the negatives of Super rugby. That being said Super rugby does maintain the players international match fitness.

I honestly believe without SR the All Blacks wouldn't be the team they are. We get a lot of our depth from the various levels of conferences like SR and ITM cup. We have an Excellent player development hierarchy. I believe it's primarily one of the reasons Australia has struggled in recent years. I know that Robbie Deans was at the ARU for more of a NZ type player level competition at different levels.

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MikeB4

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#1064176 12-Jun-2014 15:37

networkn:
KiwiNZ: The heavy burdens that Super rugby puts on the players availability impacts the prep time for the All Blacks, one of the negatives of Super rugby. That being said Super rugby does maintain the players international match fitness.

I honestly believe without SR the All Blacks wouldn't be the team they are. We get a lot of our depth from the various levels of conferences like SR and ITM cup. We have an Excellent player development hierarchy. I believe it's primarily one of the reasons Australia has struggled in recent years. I know that Robbie Deans was at the ARU for more of a NZ type player level competition at different levels.

Absolutely, it does mean though they have less time to bring the team together. Plus and minuses I guess

networkn

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#1065920 15-Jun-2014 11:38

That was a great second test. I thought the scoreline didn't do the AB's improved performance justice. That try to the English, was held up, it defies belief the two guys responsible for the decsion could concur, balls need to be grounded to count as a try and his wrist was stopping it.

That Ben Smith try saving tackle was insane, really something. He played well at 15 I thought. Nonu's try was impressive as well. I think people forget that most tests, the AB's take about 15 minutes to get into their work and I saw it again. Some people say the Haka is responsible for that, and it's within the realms of possibility for that to be the case, though I'd still support them doing it.

The English are a good team, though decision making seems flawed a fair bit of the time. It's a fixable problem for them, and once they do, they will be lethal.

Cruden, he needs to find some form, and quick. Beauden Barrett will start for the AB's next week, Cruden on the bench is my bet. Was nice to see Patrick Tuipulotu get his first cap.

Still too many errors from the AB's. It's scary how many handling errors they made, we have all but blown 2 sure tries because of them.

I also watched the Australia French second test, and man the French played really well. Australia have climbed a level too, I suspect they will be a much bigger threat in the Bledisloe this year.

NonprayingMantis

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#1065924 15-Jun-2014 11:51

networkn: That was a great second test. I thought the scoreline didn't do the AB's improved performance justice. That try to the English, was held up, it defies belief the two guys responsible for the decsion could concur, balls need to be grounded to count as a try and his wrist was stopping it.

That Ben Smith try saving tackle was insane, really something. He played well at 15 I thought. Nonu's try was impressive as well. I think people forget that most tests, the AB's take about 15 minutes to get into their work and I saw it again. Some people say the Haka is responsible for that, and it's within the realms of possibility for that to be the case, though I'd still support them doing it.

The English are a good team, though decision making seems flawed a fair bit of the time. It's a fixable problem for them, and once they do, they will be lethal.

Cruden, he needs to find some form, and quick. Beauden Barrett will start for the AB's next week, Cruden on the bench is my bet. Was nice to see Patrick Tuipulotu get his first cap.

Still too many errors from the AB's. It's scary how many handling errors they made, we have all but blown 2 sure tries because of them.

I also watched the Australia French second test, and man the French played really well. Australia have climbed a level too, I suspect they will be a much bigger threat in the Bledisloe this year.

Yeah the try was a pretty bad call by the TMO - but I've seen tries awarded like that many times. (I thought I'd heard somewhere that if it's the scorers own arm or hand under the ball, and he is still applying downward pressure on top of the ball with his body, then it is a try, but can't remember where I heard that - could be wrong)

OTOH, the yellow card for England was also a bad call. From what I've read, a yellow is 'worth' about 8 points,, and the ABs definitely took advantage of the yellow, running in, I think, 2 tries during that period so those two decisions even up more or less.

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#1065965 15-Jun-2014 13:13

I'd have to say Cory Jane had a bad night. Next week I'd probably put BB @ 10, ID, back at 15 unless unfit, CJ on the Bench, BS on the right wing. IF were ahead comfortably by half time, Fekitoa would be out for Conrad Smith. Not because anything was wrong with CS, but rather because there is an opportunity to give some experience to these guys.

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#1066033 15-Jun-2014 15:37

NonprayingMantis: (I thought I'd heard somewhere that if it's the scorers own arm or hand under the ball, and he is still applying downward pressure on top of the ball with his body, then it is a try, but can't remember where I heard that - could be wrong).

I saw that game you are referring to. I think it's Justin Marshall, Mr Know-it-all

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#1066034 15-Jun-2014 15:38

He said something like "you cannot hold up your own ball with your own hands, therefore downward pressure by the body counts".

I tried to search the laws of the game but gave up. Watching footy highlights

tdgeek

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#1066038 15-Jun-2014 15:48

networkn: That was a great second test. I thought the scoreline didn't do the AB's improved performance justice. That try to the English, was held up, it defies belief the two guys responsible for the decsion could concur, balls need to be grounded to count as a try and his wrist was stopping it.

That Ben Smith try saving tackle was insane, really something. He played well at 15 I thought. Nonu's try was impressive as well. I think people forget that most tests, the AB's take about 15 minutes to get into their work and I saw it again. Some people say the Haka is responsible for that, and it's within the realms of possibility for that to be the case, though I'd still support them doing it.

The English are a good team, though decision making seems flawed a fair bit of the time. It's a fixable problem for them, and once they do, they will be lethal.

Cruden, he needs to find some form, and quick. Beauden Barrett will start for the AB's next week, Cruden on the bench is my bet. Was nice to see Patrick Tuipulotu get his first cap.

Still too many errors from the AB's. It's scary how many handling errors they made, we have all but blown 2 sure tries because of them.

I also watched the Australia French second test, and man the French played really well. Australia have climbed a level too, I suspect they will be a much bigger threat in the Bledisloe this year.

I agree. And the last try for Eng was a bit lucky. The ball was going everywhere, no structure, just pass if you can and they lucked a try, thats fine. To me, the game was more a 35-23 scoreline. Both sides improved, but AB's just a bit too good

I feel the first test was more a 15-15 game

Hamilton will see the AB's blow it out, they are rusty, it has to be a 12+ minimum.

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#1066047 15-Jun-2014 16:06

tdgeek:
networkn: That was a great second test. I thought the scoreline didn't do the AB's improved performance justice. That try to the English, was held up, it defies belief the two guys responsible for the decsion could concur, balls need to be grounded to count as a try and his wrist was stopping it.

That Ben Smith try saving tackle was insane, really something. He played well at 15 I thought. Nonu's try was impressive as well. I think people forget that most tests, the AB's take about 15 minutes to get into their work and I saw it again. Some people say the Haka is responsible for that, and it's within the realms of possibility for that to be the case, though I'd still support them doing it.

The English are a good team, though decision making seems flawed a fair bit of the time. It's a fixable problem for them, and once they do, they will be lethal.

Cruden, he needs to find some form, and quick. Beauden Barrett will start for the AB's next week, Cruden on the bench is my bet. Was nice to see Patrick Tuipulotu get his first cap.

Still too many errors from the AB's. It's scary how many handling errors they made, we have all but blown 2 sure tries because of them.

I also watched the Australia French second test, and man the French played really well. Australia have climbed a level too, I suspect they will be a much bigger threat in the Bledisloe this year.

I agree. And the last try for Eng was a bit lucky. The ball was going everywhere, no structure, just pass if you can and they lucked a try, thats fine. To me, the game was more a 35-23 scoreline. Both sides improved, but AB's just a bit too good

I feel the first test was more a 15-15 game

Hamilton will see the AB's blow it out, they are rusty, it has to be a 12+ minimum.

Oh how badly would I love to see a repeat of the 60-0 hiding they gave Ireland.

Realistically, I'd expect more of the 23-35 scoreline.

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