Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#1571990 14-Jun-2016 21:54

Dingbatt: GO THE CHIEFS! Chiefs 40 Wales 7
What an awesome game (from a Chiefs supporter's perspective). Admittedly it was the Wales midweek team, but the Chiefs were missing Retallick, Cane, Cruden, Tameavalu, McKenzie, Kerr-Barlow and Ngatai.
Beaver played out of his skin, denied a try by the TMO, but played like a man 10 years younger.

That was a strong performance by the Chiefs I would agree, though with the I can honestly say I've never seen an international side look so tired after 10 minutes of play. They looked ponderous.

What was impressive was fantastic defense. I felt however that had Wales had even a little more energy the lines would have been broken.

The Haka was awesome. One of the best I've seen.

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#1574781 16-Jun-2016 06:49

While we were all sleeping the bus has been grounded in favour of Israel Dagg ...

MikeB4

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#1574788 16-Jun-2016 07:18

Julian Savea left out. This could be the wake up call he needed for him to get fit, get motivated and get his form back. A good decision by the team.

itxtme

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#1574870 16-Jun-2016 09:43

MikeB4: Julian Savea left out. This could be the wake up call he needed for him to get fit, get motivated and get his form back. A good decision by the team.

Yep saw this when I woke up and thought aaaah christmas has come early for @networkn :D

His form has been atrocious, so Dagg rightly should get a start, writing was on the wall since Saturday 9.15pm

Its going to be a huge test for Dagg, an opportunity to regain his spot. For me he still has unanswered questions as last line of defence in his most recent AB encounters, but will be happy to be proven wrong.

networkn

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#1574871 16-Jun-2016 09:46

It's a massively strong team we have named. I'd put this team against any in the world and expect a victory!

Dagg deserves his start. I'll be hoping he can make the most of it.

I am trying not to get overconfident, we as a team seem to stumble when we are expected to excel, but after Wales mid-week showing and the scoreline of the first test of the season, if the weather is good (please please let it be good), a spanking wouldn't be unexpected.

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#1574876 16-Jun-2016 09:52

Does anyone have a prediction of England vs Australia second test? I'd say it's 50/50, depends if Australia can play more than 20 minutes of high intensity rugby. If they can, I expect them to win, if they can't, England should clinch the series.

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#1574888 16-Jun-2016 09:59

networkn:

Does anyone have a prediction of England vs Australia second test? I'd say it's 50/50, depends if Australia can play more than 20 minutes of high intensity rugby. If they can, I expect them to win, if they can't, England should clinch the series.

England by 20

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MikeB4

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#1574894 16-Jun-2016 10:06

networkn:

Dingbatt: GO THE CHIEFS! Chiefs 40 Wales 7
What an awesome game (from a Chiefs supporter's perspective). Admittedly it was the Wales midweek team, but the Chiefs were missing Retallick, Cane, Cruden, Tameavalu, McKenzie, Kerr-Barlow and Ngatai.
Beaver played out of his skin, denied a try by the TMO, but played like a man 10 years younger.

That was a strong performance by the Chiefs I would agree, though with the I can honestly say I've never seen an international side look so tired after 10 minutes of play. They looked ponderous.

What was impressive was fantastic defense. I felt however that had Wales had even a little more energy the lines would have been broken.

The Haka was awesome. One of the best I've seen.

saw that Haka on The Crowd Goes Wild last evening, what an incredibly powerful Haka gave me goose bumps.

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#1574896 16-Jun-2016 10:08

Can guarantee daggs inclusion was mainly to get his 50 caps, abs are loyal. Same happened with Jane and mils. Sure he has been in decent form but in reality. Barrett could have played at 15

networkn

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#1574897 16-Jun-2016 10:10

ludez: Can guarantee daggs inclusion was mainly to get his 50 caps, abs are loyal. Same happened with Jane and mils. Sure he has been in decent form but in reality. Barrett could have played at 15

LOL don't make me laugh. (Maybe if it was his 100th). (What does a player get for 50 caps that would worth much really?)

Hansen said picking Dagg for the AB's was one of the easiest choices this year, and he considered him "unlucky" not to have made the WC Squad "but ran out of time to prove his fitness after long injury concerns".

You might give a player a pity cap if you already clinched the series.

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#1574924 16-Jun-2016 11:09

ludez: Can guarantee daggs inclusion was mainly to get his 50 caps, abs are loyal. Same happened with Jane and mils. Sure he has been in decent form but in reality. Barrett could have played at 15

How can you guarantee this exactly? BB has never started a game at 15 in his life... coming on in the 15/20 mins to make an impact is not the same as starting a test and playing 60-80 minutes there... as BB has said himself.

I would expect we will see BB start a game or three at 15 for the Canes later in the year IF we're out of contention for the finals (which I hope we won't be lol).

They'd do the same as they did for Cory Jane and Nehe M-S to create a positional change - though there's was the other way around of course, FB's shifted to wings.

Watched JS closely in the game against the Landers here a couple of weeks back and he truly was extremely ordinary (ok, he was poor). I remember tweeting during the game he needs to get out of the gym and onto the road. He looks big and slow - not strong and fast which he was a year ago. He can do it, again - I just hope he does.

ludez

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#1574991 16-Jun-2016 12:40

Like I said loyalty, there's no denying his 50th played a part. Jane had just come back from injury and got his 50th, he has also been in top for this season but wasn't picked. They already have the series, we all know it.

Would like to see BB at 15 dagg has done his dash, McKenzie,BB, Smith can all play a better game.

J's really needs to drop some weight he just seems out of shape

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#1575005 16-Jun-2016 13:05

ludez: Like I said loyalty, there's no denying his 50th played a part. Jane had just come back from injury and got his 50th, he has also been in top for this season but wasn't picked. They already have the series, we all know it.

Would like to see BB at 15 dagg has done his dash, McKenzie,BB, Smith can all play a better game.

J's really needs to drop some weight he just seems out of shape

Have you watched any games with Dagg this season? I hate saying it, but he's been awesome for the crusaders. I think he's playing the best rugby he has since 2011. yeah, he's a little older, but I think that is making him read the game better as he uses his resources more effectively.

I think the AB's brains trust respected it when he made the statement he wasn't going overseas and was going to fight to retain his AB's jersey.

Jane didn't come back from injury for his 50th either - he had a piss poor 49th test (12 all draw with aussie) and played the next week, along with most of the team from the draw. (I think)

I want to see McKenzie at FB if they decide to try new players in the 3rd test (if the series is decided) but do worry about his size, and him trying to do too much like he did in the latter half of the current super season where had a lot of lost possession. (could be Dave Rennie pushing him to do this as Chiefs game plan though)

Either that, or they just got the new players in to get a taste of the AB's environment, keep them primed and make them work even harder in SR for the black jersey.

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#1575008 16-Jun-2016 13:15

Yeah I have been watching dagg, and he has been pretty good on attack for sure. Not denying that, but his defense is a worry. Jane did come back from injury only to get injured again. Dagg will of course do the jersey well.

Interested to see what they do with McKenzie, will they try turn him into a 10? Like you say his size is a worry, he's gutsy as hell but that ain't going to stop some big guys like folau etc. Such a talented player, think they might try him on the wing. Really want to see moala come in instead of seta

networkn

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#1575016 16-Jun-2016 13:37

ludez: Yeah I have been watching dagg, and he has been pretty good on attack for sure. Not denying that, but his defense is a worry. Jane did come back from injury only to get injured again. Dagg will of course do the jersey well.

Interested to see what they do with McKenzie, will they try turn him into a 10? Like you say his size is a worry, he's gutsy as hell but that ain't going to stop some big guys like folau etc. Such a talented player, think they might try him on the wing. Really want to see moala come in instead of seta

Most commentary has noted his improved defense and I must admit I've not seen anything particularly concerning for the Crusaders. All Fullbacks miss the odd tackle and as the last line of defense that makes them ultimately responsible, but Ben Smith isn't without his defense lapses either.

Would be interesting to see some stats, I may well be wrong.

I think teams have been quicker than ever to identify and neutralize new threats. I think McKenzie was over-worked (or relied on too heavily) for the Chiefs and it's made him less effective as teams just line him up. I suspect the same of NMS when he returns. Our forwards are getting the work done and being more mobile makes defense a nightmare. Once upon a time, you didn't worry about nonsense like your props offloading in contact.

I also worry about McKenzie being too small. The AB selectors will almost certainly ask him to bulk up, but I suspect he may struggle with that extra weight. Hope I am wrong.

The thought of watching him grin every time he lines up a kick, makes me hope he is not our kicking option :(

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