Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#1658814 27-Oct-2016 11:13

See I have been thinking about this whole "the rest of the world isn't playing that well" but I am not sure it's just that (or even that it's the biggest factor). I think the AB's play at such tempo (Faster than the AB's of the Mccaw Era even) and with such accuracy that teams just can't keep up. I can't recall the last time the AB's had a "bad" game. I recall a few years ago, usually, the first 3 tests of the year where most fans had their head in their hands lamenting school-boy handling errors etc. This year we have pretty much been on point with our handling. Obviously, it's not possible for 100% of passes to go to hand when you are throwing as many passes at the speed they are currently going, but it's pretty freaking impressive.

The Walleroo's didn't really play that badly, the Black Ferns just played SO well. I don't think any team could have stopped them. Our runners are faster, our ball barries are stronger and our breakdown clearouts were really accurate.

Batman

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#1658877 27-Oct-2016 11:58

Do they use the AB backstage staff I wonder. They played like the ABs.

networkn

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#1660690 29-Oct-2016 22:10

Outstanding game between Tasman and Canterbury with Canterbury winning comfortably and deservedly in the end.

I'd like to see the Crusaders defend like that, something they did under Deans and didn't as much, under Blackadder. I am hoping Robertson can bring it back.

Marty Banks had a horror game and Mo'unga had a fantastic night. Yet another number 10 with the potential for World Class status.

tukapa1

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#1660776 30-Oct-2016 08:27

Canterbury were made to look good by the fact Tasman were so awful.

That would be close to the worst game I have seen Tasman play this season, and probably last season as well.

Canterbury did defend well enough to cause mistakes, but Tasman made so many uncharacteristic errors it really was the reason for the loss, not some Canterbury brilliance.

They started very slowly, gifting two early tries, and every time they got back into the match they made another error immediately gifting Canterbury attacking position and opportunity.

Canterbury should have won that game by 30 points at least with the number of errors Tasman made, and the quality side we know Canterbury to be.

I thought it was quite a dull game, and the Otago v Harbour game was much better the night before.

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#1664529 6-Nov-2016 12:14

disappointed.

for the last 10 mins, looks like blues were on the field and not ABs :(

helping others at evgenyk.nz

driller2000

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#1664572 6-Nov-2016 14:30

The better team won - full credit to Ireland - would be great to be in Chicago this week :)

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#1664575 6-Nov-2016 14:43

Ireland and Australia win big wow. Who would have thought. Flash in the pan? Let's see...

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Handle9

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#1664581 6-Nov-2016 15:00

Congratulations to Ireland. They thoroughly outplayed the All Blacks for 60 minutes and deserved their win.

tdgeek

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#1664585 6-Nov-2016 15:15

joker97: Ireland and Australia win big wow. Who would have thought. Flash in the pan? Let's see...

I haven't watched it but the scoreline says it all. No flash in the pan. As I've said all along this is not the best team in 50 years as phil Gifford said along with other similar statements. It's a new look team rebuilding. Wins over second tier teams or top tier teams who are playing very very average doesn't a champion make. I have no doubt this new look team has huge potential. But not yet. You can't expect new players to be equal or better than who they replaced and they can't gel immediately . This game proves that. As I think was said today by z past England coach I think, The AB's are carried away with their own publicity. Again I haven't watched it yet but no excuse. Outplayed or skillefld Or out thought I can't comment yet. In fact when I read the best team in 50 years I thought what an insult to Richie and the other old guard that left.

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#1664596 6-Nov-2016 15:46

Too early to say if you're right. In many ways you seem to expect the virtually impossible. They cannot win all the time and one loss doesn't make you right. One loss isn't enough to prove anything as significant as you think. And you haven't even watched it!?

I agree with your comment about difficulties with new players because that is more generally true. They lost enough key players that they were significantly weakened. So I'm not surprised that they lost.

tdgeek

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#1664604 6-Nov-2016 16:27

Hammerer:
Too early to say if you're right. In many ways you seem to expect the virtually impossible. They cannot win all the time and one loss doesn't make you right. One loss isn't enough to prove anything as significant as you think. And you haven't even watched it!?

I agree with your comment about difficulties with new players because that is more generally true. They lost enough key players that they were significantly weakened. So I'm not surprised that they lost.

Pardon me? :-)

No I don't expect the impossible at all. Before this season started , and with some rebuilding I expected us to lose . No worries. It is a new team. We kept winning, great. But what got me us now this new team is the best in 50 years, that really irks me. We aren't. We have been blessed with second tier wins and Oz and SA being extremely average. But good on us, we triumphed. But this new team is not the best in 50 years, they could not win the last two world cups. They are rebuilding from the old guard, that's my point. I made these comments before a ball was kicked this season. In this thread .i haven't yet watched thus match which I did disclose TWICE. It's about the new team overall not this match but at 40-29 I feel I am vindicated. And that I can see this new look team being freaking awesome when faced with top tier teams playing really well, but not yet. This loss will help a lot, get feet back on the ground.

Disclosure . I love the AB's. I met and chatted to many as my employer supported the Crusaders a while back. Chatting to Richie was awesome. He is the same off the field as on it

Kingy

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#1664608 6-Nov-2016 16:44

As good as Ireland were (don't get me wrong, they played out of their skins) you can also put this loss down to the All Blacks.

Ireland won because they kept us off the ball in the first half and disrupted what little ball we did have. I think it was something crazy like 73% possession to them at half time. However, bad handling and absolutely mind numbingly dumb discipline were our problems. When you're down a man and you've had your final warning 20 minutes into a game you know you need to fix something. 17 of Irelands points can be put directly on to Joe Moody. We were comfortably defending Irelands attack before his tip tackle got him sent off and then they scored 2 tries. His high tackle (albeit a soft penalty) in the second half also directly led to their next try.

The second half was actually rather decent from the All Blacks. I was pretty convinced we were going to pull off yet another comeback, but with 10 minutes remaining the All Blacks looked a bit rushed and started playing silly rugby, despite only being 4 points behind, which led to Saveas mind explosion which let them in for their final try by which time it was finished.

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tdgeek

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#1664611 6-Nov-2016 16:58

Kingy:
As good as Ireland were (don't get me wrong, they played out of their skins) you can also put this loss down to the All Blacks.

Ireland won because they kept us off the ball in the first half and disrupted what little ball we did have. I think it was something crazy like 73% possession to them at half time. However, bad handling and absolutely mind numbingly dumb discipline were our problems. When you're down a man and you've had your final warning 20 minutes into a game you know you need to fix something. 17 of Irelands points can be put directly on to Joe Moody. We were comfortably defending Irelands attack before his tip tackle got him sent off and then they scored 2 tries. His high tackle (albeit a soft penalty) in the second half also directly led to their next try.

The second half was actually rather decent from the All Blacks. I was pretty convinced we were going to pull off yet another comeback, but with 10 minutes remaining the All Blacks looked a bit rushed and started playing silly rugby, despite only being 4 points behind, which led to Saveas mind explosion which let them in for their final try by which time it was finished.

I'll watch it tonight. But going by your comments I get that. But it's a team sport. The team appeared to falter under pressure. So ups to Ireland. We put teams under pressure too. Smiths stuff article (Ian smith?) talked about our oppositions being inept. Faced with a real game we failed. No real excuse. I feel it gets our ability a reality check. And that's a good thing. IMHO the team is rebuilding

andrew027

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#1664642 6-Nov-2016 18:36

Congrats to Ireland. They took the game to the All Blacks and put us under pressure. And they stuck with us in the last 20 minutes where we've been running away with it so successfully lately. While I love the ABs and was disappointed we didn't get another win, I felt quite pleased with the result at the end. Ireland played well, with a lot of spirit and emotion, and thoroughly deserved the win. By contrast we looked rattled and undisciplined and looked like we lacked spark and creativity until Perenara came on.

Kingy

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#1664647 6-Nov-2016 18:55

andrew027:

Congrats to Ireland. They took the game to the All Blacks and put us under pressure. And they stuck with us in the last 20 minutes where we've been running away with it so successfully lately. While I love the ABs and was disappointed we didn't get another win, I felt quite pleased with the result at the end. Ireland played well, with a lot of spirit and emotion, and thoroughly deserved the win. By contrast we looked rattled and undisciplined and looked like we lacked spark and creativity until Perenara came on.

Agree with TJP. Maybe it was a bit of rust of Smiths part but we quickened up a lot once Perenara took over. I also must admit I much prefer BB to be an impact player off the bench. He was been very underwhelming the last couple of games and looked almost lost at times. Once Cruden came on and Barrett moved out of the playmaker role he had a bigger impact imo.

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