Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

Forums › Sports › Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

1 | ... | 156 | 157 | 158 | 159 | 160 | 161 | 162 | 163 | 164 | 165 | 166 | ... | 642

Networkn
32257 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1772316 29-Apr-2017 09:51

Stormers vs Highlanders. I felt a little sorry for the Stormers who seem to have retreated into their shells showing almost none of what has won them so many games this season (admittedly on the whole against less capable sides than they would face in NZ).

The Highlanders just seemed to get every bounce of the ball, every call from the ref, same as last week against the Crusaders.

That penalty that got the Highlanders the try from the Highlanders player landing on top of the Stormers player was an absolute disgrace. From that point onward I felt the Stormers shoulders slumped and they almost seemed like they were discouraged they couldn't get one thing to go right. Patrick Osbourne showed some lovely skill. Hansen would have been clutching his chest when they strapped Ben Smith I imagine, seemed ok later on though.

On another note it was a sad day for Rugby for Hurricane Broadhurst, but 100% the right thing to do. I hope he can find a new adventure that is as rewarding. I am not convinced that Ngatai shouldn't have followed suit. I think if you suffer concussion with consequences that last 6+ months, you should be prevented from competing again, because these things tend to be cumulative as I understand it, and the risk Ngatai gets another bump isn't exactly low. I would hate to see the guy end up severely hurt.

Batman

Mad Scientist
29737 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1772398 29-Apr-2017 12:29

I think if you suffer concussion with symptoms lasting 6+ months, you should never have had that concussion because it's probably going to come back and could keep affecting you for decades to come.

Hammerer

2476 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1772438 29-Apr-2017 13:59

networkn:

Stormers vs Highlanders. ...

On another note it was a sad day for Rugby for Hurricane Broadhurst, but 100% the right thing to do. ...

Well said. You saved me a lot of typing.

I only have one thing to add apart from saying it was a rather unreal but very enjoyable game.

Re the penalty. I agree that the Stormers were really hard done by. But Glen Jackson was correct under the existing rules because the penalised player had used upwards force (I can't remember the exact words Jackson used), which he did do. If he had simply dropped his shoulder to let the falling player slide off then I doubt there would have been a penalty.

Dingbatt

6744 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1772639 29-Apr-2017 21:38

OMG! What an absolutely horrible game by the Chiefs. A team (Sunwolves) that most other NZ teams have despatched with ease, make the Chiefs look really ordinary. The final plays after 80 minutes summed up the game. Even against 13 men they still couldn't score the bonus point try.
I give kudos to the Sunwolves, but I bet Dave Rennie is ruing playing his B side from the start. I mean how thick do you have to be on a wet night to keep throwing to the back of the lineout and watching the ball slip past the fingers of your jumper 4 times.
Edit: I did have to smile at the ref saying that the deliberate knock down only prevented a line break when the only line in front of the intended recipient (Beaver) was the try line.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

Hammerer

2476 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1772645 29-Apr-2017 22:08

Not much to say about the Chiefs except how did they get away without a yellow card when defending inside their 22? Players are often sent off for less than Kane Hames did - I think he had a few penalties against him and then, early in the second half, he goes down in the scrum ... but recovers and avoids another.

Last night, I saw the highlights of Korea versus Japan and really enjoyed Korea's breaks to score tries. Just the sort of play we enjoy in Super Rugby and much more interesting looking than the Chiefs' game.

Really missing the Hurricanes on a bye week.

Dingbatt

6744 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1772647 29-Apr-2017 22:13

Hammerer:
snip.....
Really missing the Hurricanes on a bye week.

But that just increases the anticipation for the Hurricanes Crusaders next weekend.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

tukapa1

725 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1772703 30-Apr-2017 07:58

Hammerer:

Not much to say about the Chiefs except how did they get away without a yellow card when defending inside their 22?

This. I kept saying to the missus "he's going to go to the pocket" and he never did. Sunwolves were ripped off there.

I also think they were ripped off with the intentional knock down. His hands were up and he was starting to bring his other hand round before he realised the ball had got away from him. I couldn't see any intent to hit the ball down with his initial action. They've really got to get this ruling right. It's either consistency needed (ie if he did it in the oppositions 22 rather than his own he would still get a yellow) or it's the movement of the hand. His certainly wasn't down.

No issues with the red card though - dumb.

Now I just await networkns weekly rant about how despicable the Chiefs are, dirty cheaters. When I was playing and managing the rule was always "play to the ref". The Chiefs certainly did that.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

Dingbatt

6744 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1772720 30-Apr-2017 08:57

Just realised that the Crusaders will have gone all the way to Sorry Africa and back for one game. I really do hate the Super Rugby format. Either play everyone, or stick to your own little corner of the world.
Hope Reid can recover in time for the Lions. A great servant of All Blacks Rugby deserves the opportunity to play in a 'once in a career' series.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

JarrodM

969 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1772739 30-Apr-2017 10:00

Dingbatt: Just realised that the Crusaders will have gone all the way to Sorry Africa and back for one game. I really do hate the Super Rugby format. Either play everyone, or stick to your own little corner of the world.
Hope Reid can recover in time for the Lions. A great servant of All Blacks Rugby deserves the opportunity to play in a 'once in a career' series.

Think you've missed a week? They play the bulls next week and the canes have the stormers. The hurricanes go to South Africa for one game though, with a stopover in Perth on the way back

networkn

Networkn
32257 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1772815 30-Apr-2017 13:36

tukapa1:

Now I just await networkns weekly rant about how despicable the Chiefs are, dirty cheaters. When I was playing and managing the rule was always "play to the ref". The Chiefs certainly did that.

Oh, Ruck off and soak your head.

I was actually going to say there was some breath-taking skill shown by the Chiefs. Nicest play I can recall this year was Cruden throwing the ball into empty space and having (I think McKenzie) hit that space previously unoccupied.

McKenzie was fantastic for them, but I still don't see him in a Black Jersey as readily as some other players. Maybe as an impact player off the bench.

Sam Cane will wake up with nightmares over his decision to take the mid-field penalty over the side. Initially, I agreed with Cane until Marshall pointed out the obvious advantage of the scrum at the sideline.

I do think however, the Sunwolves were due a fair bit of credit for their structured play that combated a lot of what the Chiefs were trying to do.

networkn

Networkn
32257 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1772829 30-Apr-2017 13:43

The Crusaders are really hitting their straps. That was a great win from them I thought. I was pretty unimpressed by Sam Whitelock's loss of control and thuggery, I expect better. Stormers played smart with a 2 man advantage to score that try.

George Bridge, what a game! (and that one try my God!) and David Havaili too.

I like Sam Whitelock as captain, he has really shown his leadership and is having a cracking season (todays brain fade aside).

Anyone know what's up with Read?

I am anxious about a Hurricanes Crusaders matchup, not too worried about too many other teams right now.

Hammerer

2476 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1772887 30-Apr-2017 15:50

networkn:

McKenzie was fantastic for them, but I still don't see him in a Black Jersey as readily as some other players. Maybe as an impact player off the bench.

Sam Cane will wake up with nightmares over his decision to take the mid-field penalty over the side. Initially, I agreed with Cane until Marshall pointed out the obvious advantage of the scrum at the sideline.

I do think however, the Sunwolves were due a fair bit of credit for their structured play that combated a lot of what the Chiefs were trying to do.

I don't think that the bottom teams are that bad. Some small improvements could make a massive difference to the scorelines. If the Reds had played like NZ teams usually do then they would have capitalised on some of their first-half line breaks to trounce the Waratahs. The Reds also miskicked a few too many times.

One bad day, or even one bad quarter, might be enough for any of the top teams to lose to the bottom teams. It was a reasonable opportunity for the Sunwolves to beat the Chiefs - getting their kicks over would have closed the gap. Likewise, the Force might have been able to beat the Lions - perhaps, some more help for the Force from the referee's decisions.

Dingbatt

6744 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1772911 30-Apr-2017 16:38

JarrodM:
Dingbatt: Just realised that the Crusaders will have gone all the way to Sorry Africa and back for one game. I really do hate the Super Rugby format. Either play everyone, or stick to your own little corner of the world.
Hope Reid can recover in time for the Lions. A great servant of All Blacks Rugby deserves the opportunity to play in a 'once in a career' series.

Think you've missed a week? They play the bulls next week and the canes have the stormers. The hurricanes go to South Africa for one game though, with a stopover in Perth on the way back

Yes, quite right, got a week ahead of myself. The Hurricanes Crusaders game is on the 12th not the 5th.

I do see an All Black jersey in Damian McKenzie's future, but I'm not sure if that will be against the Lions due to the size of their backline. He is one of the most courageous players for his size on the scene at the moment but I think he will only be included if Ben Smith is unfit and something happens to Dagg. Cruden had a good game and warrants selection alongside Barrett for the Lions series. Particularly with Sopoaga injured. It is a shame he is leaving.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

networkn

Networkn
32257 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1772914 30-Apr-2017 16:46

Hammerer:

networkn:

McKenzie was fantastic for them, but I still don't see him in a Black Jersey as readily as some other players. Maybe as an impact player off the bench.

Sam Cane will wake up with nightmares over his decision to take the mid-field penalty over the side. Initially, I agreed with Cane until Marshall pointed out the obvious advantage of the scrum at the sideline.

I do think however, the Sunwolves were due a fair bit of credit for their structured play that combated a lot of what the Chiefs were trying to do.

I don't think that the bottom teams are that bad. Some small improvements could make a massive difference to the scorelines. If the Reds had played like NZ teams usually do then they would have capitalised on some of their first-half line breaks to trounce the Waratahs. The Reds also miskicked a few too many times.

One bad day, or even one bad quarter, might be enough for any of the top teams to lose to the bottom teams. It was a reasonable opportunity for the Sunwolves to beat the Chiefs - getting their kicks over would have closed the gap. Likewise, the Force might have been able to beat the Lions - perhaps, some more help for the Force from the referee's decisions.

I agree. There isn't much difference. The Sunwolves COULD have won, like you say if kicks had gone over and nothing else had changed.

networkn

Networkn
32257 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1773066 30-Apr-2017 20:45

Blues Brumbies game wasn't much fun to watch. Good win for the Blues I guess. I can't recall a worse Brumbies performance, they seemed half asleep and completely unmotivated.

1 | ... | 156 | 157 | 158 | 159 | 160 | 161 | 162 | 163 | 164 | 165 | 166 | ... | 642