Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

Forums › Sports › Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

1 | ... | 161 | 162 | 163 | 164 | 165 | 166 | 167 | 168 | 169 | 170 | 171 | ... | 642

903 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1795556 6-Jun-2017 18:09

networkn:
You know, if you look at the team they picked for the Lions against the Blues, with all due respect to the talent at the Blues, you could well imagine a 50 point hiding being given to the Blues. I am glad I am not out there!

If both teams play to their potential, I expect a pretty healthy contest for 55 minutes then I would expect the Lions should just Overpower the blues, esp up front.

Of course, as we have already seen, that may not be the case.

I recall when Ireland played the Crusaders a few years ago, I expected a close match, but in fact the Crusaders played so badly, I was embarassed. In reality it was simply a case of the pressure put on by a test match side.

Lol what? 50 points on the blues? Name a super side that has put that much on them ever. Won't happen.

In fact I expect the blues to put 10-20+ on the lions

blair003

557 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1795621 6-Jun-2017 21:46

networkn:

You know, if you look at the team they picked for the Lions against the Blues, with all due respect to the talent at the Blues, you could well imagine a 50 point hiding being given to the Blues. I am glad I am not out there!

If both teams play to their potential, I expect a pretty healthy contest for 55 minutes then I would expect the Lions should just Overpower the blues, esp up front.

Of course, as we have already seen, that may not be the case.

I recall when Ireland played the Crusaders a few years ago, I expected a close match, but in fact the Crusaders played so badly, I was embarassed. In reality it was simply a case of the pressure put on by a test match side.

Given that the Crusaders beat the blues by a mere 9 points in March and you can see the Lions beating the Blues by 50 points, how much do you reckon the Lions will thrash the Crusaders by in the weekend? 20 points? 30 points?

Blues record 2017 year to date FYI:

beat Rebels 56-18
lost to Chiefs 26-41
lost to Highlanders 12-16
lost to Crusaders 33-24
beat Bulls 38-14
beat Force 24-15
lost to Highlanders 20-26
lost to Hurricanes 24-28
beat Brumbies 18-12
beat Waratahs 40-33
beat Cheetahs 50-32
lost to Stormers 22-30
Draw with Chiefs 16-16
beat Reds 34-29

Lots of close games. Clearly they lack the ruthlessness of the best teams, but to imagine the Lions will beat them by 50 points is pretty delusional.

networkn

Networkn
32257 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1795633 6-Jun-2017 22:10

blair003:

Lots of close games. Clearly they lack the ruthlessness of the best teams, but to imagine the Lions will beat them by 50 points is pretty delusional.

Good grief man. As I said.. If they played to the best levels they could play, we are talking the best of the best from 4 countries vs a 2nd tier rugby team (albeit with some 1st grade players). I didn't say it was a certainty, I was saying it was possible.

In reality, they will not be putting forward their best efforts or moves.

Calling someone delusional for musing about a situation is just plain rude.

blair003

557 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1795651 6-Jun-2017 22:51

networkn:

blair003:

Lots of close games. Clearly they lack the ruthlessness of the best teams, but to imagine the Lions will beat them by 50 points is pretty delusional.

Good grief man. As I said.. If they played to the best levels they could play, we are talking the best of the best from 4 countries vs a 2nd tier rugby team (albeit with some 1st grade players). I didn't say it was a certainty, I was saying it was possible.

In reality, they will not be putting forward their best efforts or moves.

Calling someone delusional for musing about a situation is just plain rude.

After deliberate thought, you can imagine a 50 point hiding being put on a team that hasn't ever been beaten by 50 points. A team that consists of eight current or former all blacks playing at home in front of their friends and family.

The team that you can imagine thrashing them by a record margin are a team of good players - some world class - who have never played together before as a team.

I am just using English words to describe the situation, not sure why you consider it rude. I say it with a smile but the word delusional is definitely the one I intended.

I disagree when you say the Lions won't be putting forward their best efforts. You will see a different lions team playing vs the blues, and they will bring as much intensity as they can muster (given they just got off a plane a week or whatever ago). I expect they will be taking no prisoners.

networkn

Networkn
32257 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1795666 6-Jun-2017 23:44

Ok, I see where I could have communicated better. I can see them SCORING 50 points against the Blues. I wasn't necessarily saying there would be 50 points separating them (though I consider anything possible, including if they played the way they played against the BaaBaa's getting 50 points put on them BY the Blues).

I still feel that even if you disagree with someone, there are certainly nicer ways of doing it, without resorting to insults. For the record, there are ways in written format to communicate a smile.

Dingbatt

6744 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1796138 7-Jun-2017 19:34

First time Blues have played in a full Eden Park in quite a while!

Hope it's a good game. Just a few showers on the radar.

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

Dingbatt

6744 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1796214 7-Jun-2017 21:33

Not particularly a Blues fan, but Woohoo!

They may be out of super rugby but won't care now.

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

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

sdavisnz

1015 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1796219 7-Jun-2017 21:46

As a kiwi. That was brilliant to watch.

Voice gives context

tdgeek

29671 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1796246 7-Jun-2017 21:48

Dingbatt: Not particularly a Blues fan, but Woohoo!

They may be out of super rugby but won't care now.

Even 15 minutes out, or more, the fate of the Lions Thursdays paper reports were already done. They changed 15 players but still are only at Blues level. They will need to improve again and they will, but next game is the same step up.

ludez

903 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1796273 7-Jun-2017 21:53

Bloody brilliant game!

networkn

Networkn
32257 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1796277 7-Jun-2017 22:02

I cannot believe how slow and lumbering these internationals are. Everything looked static and uncertain from the Lions. They had about 5 decent phases of play all season. I bet Gatland is exceptionally grateful he didn't have to play the AB's first :)

Equally, I thought the Blues looked similar for large parts of the game. The rush defense of the Lions was really good, I expect that was a part of the reason for the Blues not getting pace going.

Congratulations to the Blues. SBW really put his hand up for his AB's jersey, and I imagine that is what will not happen.

tdgeek

29671 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1796278 7-Jun-2017 22:04

networkn:

SBW really put his hand up for his AB's jersey, and I imagine that is what will not happen.

Why not? I ask mainly as I don't follow rugby as close as most here

blair003

557 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1796279 7-Jun-2017 22:05

I only watched the second half, but that game was pretty much as I expected. Two evenly matched teams, both with some average and some world class players, both motivated.

It was close and could have gone either way. The Blues were more attacking and while the Lions did get some good go forward lon attack, when on attack in good territory they ended up kicking to a corner or something after 8 or 9 phases rather than really putting the Blues to the sword. The Blues had opportunities to take the game to the Lions in the first part of the second half but kept them in the game through their lack of ruthlessness.

Good try scored by West to seal the deal - that try took a fair bit of scoring.

The Lions team playing in the weekend will be a better team, but then the Crusaders will also be a significant step up.

It was evident the Lions were slowing down/lying on the ball in rucks often. In con, rast the Blues were clearing rucks quickly as is expected in super rugby. The Crusaders will be more astute in this regard and it will be difficult for the Lions to beat them.

tdgeek

29671 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1796281 7-Jun-2017 22:08

I thought the Lions played many parts well, of their type of game. Bit lax on penalties.

Blues played their more open game pretty well, bit lax on errors.

But the running game seems more likely to produce 5 points than the work up the middle game. And when we run, they cant respond as its not their game type. Seems more a case of compatibility to me.

Handle9

11289 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1796282 7-Jun-2017 22:08

tdgeek:
networkn:

SBW really put his hand up for his AB's jersey, and I imagine that is what will not happen.

Why not? I ask mainly as I don't follow rugby as close as most here

Typo? Or just bad England ;)

1 | ... | 161 | 162 | 163 | 164 | 165 | 166 | 167 | 168 | 169 | 170 | 171 | ... | 642