Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#1955269 11-Feb-2018 16:15

Congrats to the Blues, because of the controversial win the Hurricanes got, I would have felt a little less thrilled had they of won the title.

The Blues are overdue a win, I wouldn't completely be upset if they won SR this year, though obviously, I'd prefer the Crusaders go back to back.

Overall I'd say the handling of the ball during the 10's was pretty amazing. Not too many dropped balls considering the fast pace of the games.

I see finally Australia got a win over NZ, the first since May 2016 in either 10's or 15's.

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#1956658 13-Feb-2018 22:05

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11993823

That is an interesting thing they did.

I was talking to an American Rugby Union administrator around the time of the last game in Chicago. He said that Rugby is gaining popularity over there at a phenomenal rate. He said some incredibly big money is being sunk into developing Rugby in the US, and whilst he doesn't expect it to become as big as some of the other sports there, he genuinely believes they can break into the 2nd tier within 3 years and top tier within 7. Their aim this next RWC is to make the quarter finals.

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#1957016 14-Feb-2018 12:36

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11994087

So they admitted the guy got it wrong. Was a similar concession made by WR during the final Lions test?

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#1958440 15-Feb-2018 09:28

Man, if the Blues don't make the finals this year, with the Squad they have, it's going to be someones head on the line surely.

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#1958441 15-Feb-2018 09:28

Man, if the Blues don't make the finals this year, with the Squad they have, it's going to be someones head on the line surely.

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#1958481 15-Feb-2018 10:37

networkn:

Man, if the Blues don't make the finals this year, with the Squad they have, it's going to be someones head on the line surely.

That problem won't materialise. They're not that good.

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#1961374 21-Feb-2018 09:56

The TAB released the preseason odds for the teams. Crusaders $4, Blues $4.50, Hurricanes $4.50, Chiefs and Highlanders $7

I would have swapped the Blues and Highlanders for those odds.

I see Carmichael Hunt had his Cocaine Charges dropped, how convenient! I don't think ARU will keep him though so he is almost certainly done for the Wallabies. If they allow him to stay, it will indicate that AU Rugby leadership is still completely lost. If they want to win they need to change the ethos that the players are more important than the team.

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#1961575 21-Feb-2018 14:27

So I felt this way last year and it will be interesting to see how it pans out, and I know, I just KNOW the inevitable comments about Crusaders one eye blah blah, but I think Ritchie Mo'unga looks like a better long-term 10 for the AB's than the McKenzie does. I was actually keen to see DM do well for the AB's but I think he was pretty inconsistent. When he is on, he is is impressive, but off, he is pretty horrible. I think RM is better on defence and seems to have a slightly better vision of the game. I think DM should still be in the AB's at least for this season depending on SR form, but if he doesn't improve a fair bit, I wonder if it's smart to keep selecting him.

Obviously RM pretty untested at test level, I'd be keen to see that change.

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#1961783 21-Feb-2018 19:22

networkn:

The TAB released the preseason odds for the teams. Crusaders $4, Blues $4.50, Hurricanes $4.50, Chiefs and Highlanders $7

I would have swapped the Blues and Highlanders for those odds.

Yeah, the odds are the other way around for their game on Friday: Blues $2.80 Highlanders $1.40

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#1961784 21-Feb-2018 19:27

Hammerer:

networkn:

The TAB released the preseason odds for the teams. Crusaders $4, Blues $4.50, Hurricanes $4.50, Chiefs and Highlanders $7

I would have swapped the Blues and Highlanders for those odds.

Yeah, the odds are the other way around for their game on Friday: Blues $2.80 Highlanders $1.40

I think it's going to be a very interesting game. I'll probably be playing in a squash tournament but will try and watch it afterward.

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#1963647 24-Feb-2018 22:04

Well, it's been two interesting derbies. I didn't get to see the Highlanders Blues but the highlights indicated it was as I predicted.

Crusaders v Chiefs same really. Was happy to get the win, scoreboard didn't reflect the effort.

Whilst I felt sorry for the chiefs for the yellow plus penalty try, I do feel there wasn't really any choice. There are some rules in Rugby that seem a little... something, but both teams are refereed by the same rule book and it's all you can ask for.

The rolling maul by the sunwolves on the Brumbies was one of the most well organized and powerful I've seen. I don't see the Sunwolves becoming a top tier team, but I can see them improving.

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#1963768 25-Feb-2018 10:29

England stunned by Scotland. Beaten 25-13!

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#1963820 25-Feb-2018 12:22

networkn:
Well, it's been two interesting derbies. I didn't get to see the Highlanders Blues but the highlights indicated it was as I predicted.

Crusaders v Chiefs same really. Was happy to get the win, scoreboard didn't reflect the effort.

Whilst I felt sorry for the chiefs for the yellow plus penalty try, I do feel there wasn't really any choice. There are some rules in Rugby that seem a little... something, but both teams are refereed by the same rule book and it's all you can ask for.

The rolling maul by the sunwolves on the Brumbies was one of the most well organized and powerful I've seen. I don't see the Sunwolves becoming a top tier team, but I can see them improving.

Couldn't agree more. Players need to adjust to the way referees are required to apply the rules. However, it does mean that 'taking a dive' will be replaced by 'ducking under' to milk a penalty this season. Boshier's yellow could not have been ruled any other way but earlier when the Chiefs were challenging the line, Ben O'Keefe called "high tackle, penalty advantage" three times, so where is the consistency for the awarding of penalty try/yellow card (for repeated dangerous play preventing a try) in that instance?
Attacking players now need only lift their arms in a tackle around the chest to ensure the tackler has to pull out rather than risk his grip riding up to the neck/head region.
Both of the Crusader's yellows in the first half were 'letter of the law' ones as well.
The knee to Marty McKenzie's head that saw him leave the field concussed was clearly unintentional, but why wasn't the same 'contact with the head' rule applied? The arriving player could be accused of not taking greater care in avoiding the player on the ground. The can of worms opened by (necessarily) more stringent rules for player protection is only going to get larger.

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#1963839 25-Feb-2018 13:05

May I predict that diving will dominate big rugby matches from now on. Pretty easy to get penalty tries along with the mandatory sin bin if you ask me. Lunge for the line and get your head down and dare anybody to challenge.

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#1964202 26-Feb-2018 08:52

Batman: May I predict that diving will dominate big rugby matches from now on. Pretty easy to get penalty tries along with the mandatory sin bin if you ask me. Lunge for the line and get your head down and dare anybody to challenge.

To get a penalty try the action of the tackler has to be the only preventing factor which in plenty of times it wouldn't have been. If there was another defender, if the player would have pulled up short with the dive, etc.

I don't see diving being a big things. Most players want honest games and have reasonable sportsmanship. Could happen occasionally, I guess we will see.

The way Crottys head and neck moved made me feel sick, I support preventing head injuries.

In some ways it's a result of the game evolving, World Rugby has done a lot to speed up games, and players often make breaks that defenders aren't expecting and as a reflex extend an arm. Teams will need to adjust their tackles and defences, possible to more narrow sets.

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