Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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#1675889 23-Nov-2016 10:57

networkn:
With the number of penalties given to Ireland, it's unbelievable they didn't nearly out-score us just on 3 pointers. They have the kickers for it!

I guess, happily most teams aren't interested in winning by 3 pointers any more.

But by my reckoning Sexton (primary kicker at that stage) should have been in the bin for his head high tackle of Barrett. Was that the 12th incident they speak of? Or are only the ABs "thugs"? I saw at least two other obvious neck rolls by the Irish players. The kind that were yellow carded in the Super Rugby competition.

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blair003

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#1675939 23-Nov-2016 11:39

blair003 at 9.13am

Are Ireland becoming the new England?

Duncan Johnston on stuff.co.nz at 10.59am

Control yourselves Ireland, you've replaced England as the new whingers of world rugby

Article here

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#1675942 23-Nov-2016 11:43

I still believe Irelands one win was one out of the box. They have no reason to feel they have any ascendency over NZ in my opinion. I believe it will be a long time before they beat us again. I don't mind the occasional loss to teams I think it sharpens the minds of the AB's and reminds people they are human!

Wondering what the backline will be for this week. I remain unconvinced by DM though it's almost certain he will play. Not that happy with Naholo or Savea, but I'd probably go Dagg @ FB, Barret @ 10, Savea at 11, and Naholo @ 14 with DM covering FB/10/Wing.

blair003

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#1675961 23-Nov-2016 12:22

networkn:

I still believe Irelands one win was one out of the box. They have no reason to feel they have any ascendency over NZ in my opinion. I believe it will be a long time before they beat us again. I don't mind the occasional loss to teams I think it sharpens the minds of the AB's and reminds people they are human!

Wondering what the backline will be for this week. I remain unconvinced by DM though it's almost certain he will play. Not that happy with Naholo or Savea, but I'd probably go Dagg @ FB, Barret @ 10, Savea at 11, and Naholo @ 14 with DM covering FB/10/Wing.

DM is Damien McKenzie in case anyone else had to look it up (You're doing well to know players who are not in the normal starting team by their initials!)

Unless there was an injury I didn't hear about, there is no way Ben Smith isn't involved in the team. I also think it is unlikely either Cruden, Sopoaga or both are not invovled in some way.

But it is actually a hard team to pick. We have lost a game on tour and we are coming up against the French in Paris. Last time we played them we smashed them, and they may be highly motivated. The selection could also be impacted by injury niggles from the Ireland game.

I'm going to go a bit left field:

TJ P to start with Ker-Barlow off the bench.

Cruden to start with Sopoaga off the bench.

Naholo and Smith on the wings, Barrett at fullback

Dagg and either McKenzie or Savea off the bench.

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#1675964 23-Nov-2016 12:26

blair003:

DM is Damien McKenzie in case anyone else had to look it up (You're doing well to know players who are not in the normal starting team by their initials!)

Unless there was an injury I didn't hear about, there is no way Ben Smith isn't involved in the team. I also think it is unlikely either Cruden, Sopoaga or both are not invovled in some way.

Sorry, I am just to using initals now :)

Ben Smith has a broken finger. (Bone was sticking out apparently (How gross!) He won't be playing I can't imagine.

Would be tough for Dagg to start off the bench. He has been awesome this year.

You may be right about Barrett @ FB and Cruden to start at 10 though, that makes some sense in some ways (Though I still maintain BB should be starting 10 for us).

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#1677378 25-Nov-2016 12:16

Well, almost backline exactly as I thought it would be. I had hoped for Aaron Smith to be given one last chance, but I trust the Coaching team. I don't think there is much doubt AS will bounce back and be back to himself pretty soon.

I'd really like to see them return to Rugby Championship form and thrash the French within an inch of their lives. Circa 2015 RWC.

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#1677427 25-Nov-2016 13:55

It seems you have to try very very hard to get kicked out of the first team once it's settled. Not sure if they've settled on tjp or as still their no 1.

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#1677468 25-Nov-2016 15:14

joker97: It seems you have to try very very hard to get kicked out of the first team once it's settled. Not sure if they've settled on tjp or as still their no 1.

I think they are likely to try pretty hard to keep you if your attitude is right and they can see progress in training.

I don't think AS has been near as bad as it's been made out to be. He has been on the back foot in most of his recent games because the forwards are struggling against opposition, more.

blair003

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#1677736 26-Nov-2016 01:48

joker97: It seems you have to try very very hard to get kicked out of the first team once it's settled. Not sure if they've settled on tjp or as still their no 1.

AS is definitely still their No.1, but it makes sense to be resting him and hoping he finds some form again next year.

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#1678098 26-Nov-2016 22:05

blair003:

joker97: It seems you have to try very very hard to get kicked out of the first team once it's settled. Not sure if they've settled on tjp or as still their no 1.

AS is definitely still their No.1, but it makes sense to be resting him and hoping he finds some form again next year.

I guess they'll bring him on against a tired (and hopefully already beaten) French side and try to get him to play his natural game, and gain some of his confidence back.

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#1678695 28-Nov-2016 10:51

I don't recall seeing as many utterly knackered AB's at the end of a game for a long time. They were pretty much empty. I hope they get a VERY well deserved holiday after what has been a MASSIVELY entertaining and dominant performance this year.

I feel my unwavering support of Israel Dagg has been vindicated, with him being the top try scorer for the AB's in an unfamiliar position. I feel he has been our best winger this year.

I'm VERY concerned at the number of tackles the AB's fell off in recent weeks, pretty poor really. Better attacking teams really should have cut us to ribbons on 14 missed tackles (in the first half alone). We certainly punish other teams for the same. I am really not sure how we kept managing to keep them out!

Hoping to see KR more on attack next season, he wasn't captain fantastic as much the second half of the year for me.

Best AB's for me this year is pretty much in line with what media are saying. BB, ID, ALB, DC would be our standout players. JS had a fairly quiet season.

I am looking forward to SR already! I am interested to see what Razor can do for the Crusaders. We are looking a little light in some areas. Nadolo was a MASSIVE loss for us, and Johnny McNicol as well.

I still maintain it's time we get our guys in Head Gear. Most things can be repaired if they break, but brains, not so much.

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#1689048 15-Dec-2016 07:31

New tackle laws protecting the head announced, and to take affect from the third of January 2017. Effectively increasing the punishment for contact above the shoulder accidental or deliberate, and lowering the acceptable height for initial contact. While i applaud the IRB's efforts to protect players (and themselves in litigious countries) clumsy enforcement will see players ducking into tackles in an attempt to get the opposition player sent off, or shrugging their shoulders to lift the defender's arms up to the same effect. Eventually we will end up with the theatrics we see in Soccer. It has already begun under the current laws in rugby and will only get worse.

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#1689056 15-Dec-2016 07:57

Luckily the difference here is that in soccer refs have no access to video replays but they are in rugby - hopefully the astute refs will ask to watch replays before making big calls. But yeah there will be lots of lower level refs who will be duped in lower level matches :)

blair003

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#1689057 15-Dec-2016 07:58

Dingbatt: New tackle laws protecting the head announced, and to take affect from the third of January 2017. Effectively increasing the punishment for contact above the shoulder accidental or deliberate, and lowering the acceptable height for initial contact. While i applaud the IRB's efforts to protect players (and themselves in litigious countries) clumsy enforcement will see players ducking into tackles in an attempt to get the opposition player sent off, or shrugging their shoulders to lift the defender's arms up to the same effect. Eventually we will end up with the theatrics we see in Soccer. It has already begun under the current laws in rugby and will only get worse.

I agree with you. It's a concern. The problem is in any game there are many incidents that, if slowed down and assessed to the letter of the law, are penalisable offences. So now we have more reasons for a TMO to get involved and pander to a home crowd.

If the IRB are so worried about player welfare, how about proper sanctions against clubs that send players who are clearly knocked out back on to play as with George North a couple of weeks ago? It is farcical.

Slightly OT but I am sick of hearing that the shoulder being the first point of contact is evidence of a no-arms tackle (e.g. Sam Cane's tackle vs Ireland where there was a head clash). How do these people (commentators etc) think you tackle, with your arms first? If you are tackling arms first it's because the player has started to get outside you and you are diving across. If a player is headed directly towards you (with the ball, so he can shoulder charge you and hit you in the face with his hand) you need to have the shoulder as the first contact point, otherwise you are going to get hurt.

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#1689091 15-Dec-2016 08:50

blair003:

Dingbatt: New tackle laws protecting the head announced, and to take affect from the third of January 2017. Effectively increasing the punishment for contact above the shoulder accidental or deliberate, and lowering the acceptable height for initial contact. While i applaud the IRB's efforts to protect players (and themselves in litigious countries) clumsy enforcement will see players ducking into tackles in an attempt to get the opposition player sent off, or shrugging their shoulders to lift the defender's arms up to the same effect. Eventually we will end up with the theatrics we see in Soccer. It has already begun under the current laws in rugby and will only get worse.

I agree with you. It's a concern. The problem is in any game there are many incidents that, if slowed down and assessed to the letter of the law, are penalisable offences. So now we have more reasons for a TMO to get involved and pander to a home crowd.

If the IRB are so worried about player welfare, how about proper sanctions against clubs that send players who are clearly knocked out back on to play as with George North a couple of weeks ago? It is farcical.

Slightly OT but I am sick of hearing that the shoulder being the first point of contact is evidence of a no-arms tackle (e.g. Sam Cane's tackle vs Ireland where there was a head clash). How do these people (commentators etc) think you tackle, with your arms first? If you are tackling arms first it's because the player has started to get outside you and you are diving across. If a player is headed directly towards you (with the ball, so he can shoulder charge you and hit you in the face with his hand) you need to have the shoulder as the first contact point, otherwise you are going to get hurt.

And we all know which incidents will be replayed over and over on the big screens and which incidents won't

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