Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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#2084918 6-Sep-2018 11:26

The fitness thing has been there for years - I remember the ABs being fitter in the 90s than anyone else around.

What surprises me, is that no-one (bar the 2003 English team) seems to have caught up.

There must be something more to it than aerobic and anaerobic fitness and strength. It is the skill whilst under that pressure (and the depth of the reserve bench) that are the differences, and that all the players, 1 through 22 are ball players, and happy to run with the ball and know where their backup is.

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#2084974 6-Sep-2018 12:11

networkn:

I feel there has been a slight drop in the level in Aus and SA, but I don't think it's massive, I think the game has changed and they haven't adjusted properly. I think the big difference is how much better the AB's are at pace. How often do you see balls dropped cold by the AB's. Their core skills are without parallel AND they can do it at crazy pace.

Agree.

The All Black pattern of play appears to be very consistent even when they are tiring. The Wallabies, for example, drop out of their pattern far too easily.

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#2084984 6-Sep-2018 12:24

I hear it mentioned a lot, that is trusting the guy next to you defensively. I don't think the Wallabies have the Squad consistency in terms of what players play week to week, that they have built those trusts yet. They move out of line because they feel the guy next to them won't make that tackle.

I don't expect the same holes to be present in the Argentina line this week, at least not until 60-65 minutes and maybe not even then.

Jogre

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#2085756 7-Sep-2018 16:04

networkn:

I hear it mentioned a lot, that is trusting the guy next to you defensively. I don't think the Wallabies have the Squad consistency in terms of what players play week to week, that they have built those trusts yet. They move out of line because they feel the guy next to them won't make that tackle.

I don't expect the same holes to be present in the Argentina line this week, at least not until 60-65 minutes and maybe not even then.

There was some after-match commentary after the Eden Park test to the same effect. While AU scramble very well so far this year, a lot of the initial breaks are being caused my basic manipulation of the defensive line due to lack of trust.

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#2086553 9-Sep-2018 18:29

Woohoo! Lowly Waikato wrest the Ranfurly Shield from the star studded Taranaki.
Could be the shortest reign in history though, as I think it's now up for grabs against Hawkes Bay on Thursday.

Surprised there's no comment about the NZ-Argentina test here yet. So I'll start it off.
Mo'unga had a nervous but adequate first start. Found out a few times on defence as well. I think he discovered the whirlwind pace of test rugby and will be more than ready for it next time. A work in progress.

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

networkn

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#2086559 9-Sep-2018 18:55

Agreed. His distribution and kicking from the T was very good. Nervy start. It will be interesting to see what happens when he plays again.

One of the most powerful Haka's I've witnessed last night.

Frizell exceeded my expectations and could have been the candidate for player of the night for me. TTT (No I am not going to try and spell it and copying and pasting it seems like cheating) also surprised me. I have heard his passing is good, but it's actually beyond that, it's really pretty to watch and quick as well.

The pace was amazing all night long and I was surprised how the Pumas actually stayed with us for most of the game.

The Australia/SA game was pretty good to watch, tense. Close fought and pretty even, though lots of mistakes made in finishing. I didn't see much from the Boks that leads me to believe they should give the AB's too much trouble next week, but sometimes teams surprise you.

Congrats to Waikato, they have played pretty well this season, they were awful last season from memory. Good to see some strength and mental fortitude in the squad.

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#2087024 10-Sep-2018 16:16

The SA coach has come out and said if they don't beat the AB's this weekend, he may not be coach any longer?! I can't really get my head around a comment like that.

The chances of the Boks beating the AB's playing the way they did last weekend are <0% they will need to step up massively.

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Jogre

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#2088024 12-Sep-2018 09:17

networkn:

The SA coach has come out and said if they don't beat the AB's this weekend, he may not be coach any longer?! I can't really get my head around a comment like that.

The chances of the Boks beating the AB's playing the way they did last weekend are <0% they will need to step up massively.

Agree, interesting comment given their odds.

networkn

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#2088026 12-Sep-2018 09:21

Jogre:

Agree, interesting comment given their odds.

As I understand it, he was only appointed in March 2018. If he is already under pressure then either SA Rugby don't have a clue how long it takes to change things inside a sports team for the long term results, or he hasn't the fortitute for high level coaching, or doesn't know how to understand the pressure of losing, something I would have expected someone at his level would have been vetted for or had reasonable experience. I wonder if it's mind games?

Hard to believe that claim has credibility given he has made improvements this year.

tdgeek

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#2088027 12-Sep-2018 09:24

Jogre:

networkn:

The SA coach has come out and said if they don't beat the AB's this weekend, he may not be coach any longer?! I can't really get my head around a comment like that.

The chances of the Boks beating the AB's playing the way they did last weekend are <0% they will need to step up massively.

Agree, interesting comment given their odds.

1.07 is near enough to 0%. Factoring in "Boks beating the AB's playing the way they did last weekend" 0% seems fair.

networkn

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#2088035 12-Sep-2018 09:30

The Boks have looked much better this year. I have watched about half their matches. They are a significantly improved side defense and attack, though like a lot of teams they lack consistency. They came back from 2 massive half time deficits to win against SA, something few would have expected given the lead the English had. Some of that was the English consistency, but to claw back 30 points in ANY game is an achievement.

It was very close against Australia last weekend, 5 points in it, and I would say they were pretty much even, though neither team finished well and made a lot of mistakes.

Often in sport you play to the level of your opponent. I find that if I play a person 2-3 grades above me in squash, I will lose by a smaller amount than people might expect, and same if I play someone below me, I win by a smaller amount. When your opponent is playing "well" then it's easier (though I guess, less so in team sports) to play well too.

tdgeek

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#2088044 12-Sep-2018 09:41

networkn:

Often in sport you play to the level of your opponent. I find that if I play a person 2-3 grades above me in squash, I will lose by a smaller amount than people might expect, and same if I play someone below me, I win by a smaller amount. When your opponent is playing "well" then it's easier (though I guess, less so in team sports) to play well too.

100% with that. Table Tennis, I take a player who I cannot beat, to the wire. Then I play in my grade, a small win, maybe a pressure win. Problem sits between the ears! When I start playing again, I MUST play my own game with my own skills. Too often I realised I was playing not to lose, rather than to win.

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#2088051 12-Sep-2018 09:47

For me, with Squash, A D grade player will play unpredictably, which then causes you to respond in an unstructured way often, whereas playing a B grader, who almost always hits for length, tightly, you kind know where the ball will go.

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#2088065 12-Sep-2018 09:57

networkn:

For me, with Squash, A D grade player will play unpredictably, which then causes you to respond in an unstructured way often, whereas playing a B grader, who almost always hits for length, tightly, you kind know where the ball will go.

I can see that with squash, such a huge playing arena. TT, its topspin or side spin, so the better player should win by way of consistency. But I used to play like a demon in a match I know I cant really win, or average in a game I should/could win. I need to get over that when I start playing again.

networkn

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#2088067 12-Sep-2018 10:01

Yeah. We have a club event each year. Basically I can end up playing one of the top A graders in the country. I have no chance of beating them and otherwise I would not have a chance of playing them. I will run like I have never run before. They play with a handicap deduction on points. We play for 10 minutes continiously. I have run myself into the ground for 10 minutes and nearly been unable to walk off court, but will have legitimately kept the score to something I am moderately happy with. They might not playing their aboloute best, but I feel happy I can score even a dozen points. Often they will just "play" with you, and make you run all over the court, but sometimes doing this will give you points. It feels amazing to do that.

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