Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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#2091301 16-Sep-2018 08:25

Not knocking the AB's at all but I bet almost all the fans left the match far happier than if the result had been 58 to 6 in favour of the All Blacks.

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#2091302 16-Sep-2018 08:36

finally a match i want to actually see ... now how to i get abouts doing that ...

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#2091303 16-Sep-2018 08:37

sonyxperiageek:

Why didn't we go for a drop goal..?

umm ... is anyone on the field at that time able to reliably kick one (as opposed to give away possession) ?

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#2091307 16-Sep-2018 08:47

A shock result given the levels and inconsistent results by the top tier teams, and how good the lower their teams are going. As in horse racing, you dont know how good a horse is, until it gets beaten.

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#2091380 16-Sep-2018 11:16

Dingbatt: Why didn't Owens penalize the Boks for offside at the ruck on the goal line (right in front of the posts)?
Why did Jordie Barrett do a quick throw in when there was no one close enough the receive it?
Why did the ABs play like they were 20 points ahead when they weren't?

Read had an improved game personally, but failed to lead the team effectively. After 12 minutes and 12 points up, it was almost like they set the game on cruise control and just waited for the win to come.

Barrett had one of 'those' games with the boot, and the Bok's defence didn't allow him time to move to make up for it around the field. We need a reliable kicker. How many did Pollard miss? (Admittedly some were easier than Barrett faced).

Looking at the stats the Boks did what the ABs would normally do, convert the chances they were given. And the AB's backline defence was shown up quite badly.

I think Hansen and Co will have their butt kicking boots on at the Monday morning debrief. For the newer ABs that have never lost it will be a 'learning experience' to put it on corporate speak.

Tis but a flesh wound.

I agree with all these points.

I am honesty, completely flabbergasted at the way that the AB's played. Credit to the Boks, however, there were SO many opportunities for us to put this match away.

Jordie Barrett has serious temperament issues. He has shown it all season for the 'canes and same again for the AB's. I seriously hope they are done with that experiment for a while. I think he has massive potential, but he needs to get his head straight. He is trying too hard to live up to the hype for his brothers.

Beauden.. His passing was as bad as his kicking last night. They *need* to address his distribution skills. They should have handed the kicking T over to someone else when it was clear he was having an off night.

If it wasn't for our subs, I am pretty sure we would have been facing down a massive hiding. They really straightened us out somewhat.

Ultimately, they were trying to be too clever by half most of the night. I am seriously questioning Kieran Reads leadership at this point. It didn't look that great most of last year.

As you say, it's a flesh wound, I expect a seriously improved team for the next few weeks as a result.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. Ben Smith is our best right winger, and that is where he should be, every match. No doubt he is a good full back, but he is an exceptional winger.

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#2091381 16-Sep-2018 11:17

The Wallabies Pumas game was a nailbiter as well. I just kept thinking Australia were going to take the match away in the last 20 minutes, but it never happened. The Pumas have improved their mental attitude and physical variety. They are now using their brilliant back 3 in new ways. Their Right Winger and Full Back are approaching world class.

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#2091392 16-Sep-2018 11:39

Frikkin awesome game.

Stoked for SA - well deserved I reckon and keeps the comp interesting.

Lots of learning for the ABs re execution and decision making- and timely 1 year or so out from RWC 2019

Can't wait to the rematch in SA.

PS: Re watching game if you missed it - there tends to be UL's to YT within 48 hrs.

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Free kids accounts - trade shares and funds (NZ, US) with Sharesies (affiliate link).

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#2091393 16-Sep-2018 11:41

I think my issue is not THAT we lost, it's HOW we lost.

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#2091396 16-Sep-2018 11:47

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12125974

Jeebus! That is some ugly stuff there. I hope that fan gets a long ban for outrageous behaviour. I can understand being upset at an unexpected loss, but wow, that's just over the top.

Will be interested to see if that player changes his mind.

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#2091453 16-Sep-2018 14:22

networkn:

I agree with all these points.

I am honesty, completely flabbergasted at the way that the AB's played. Credit to the Boks, however, there were SO many opportunities for us to put this match away.

Jordie Barrett has serious temperament issues. He has shown it all season for the 'canes and same again for the AB's. I seriously hope they are done with that experiment for a while. I think he has massive potential, but he needs to get his head straight. He is trying too hard to live up to the hype for his brothers.

Beauden.. His passing was as bad as his kicking last night. They *need* to address his distribution skills. They should have handed the kicking T over to someone else when it was clear he was having an off night.

If it wasn't for our subs, I am pretty sure we would have been facing down a massive hiding. They really straightened us out somewhat.

Ultimately, they were trying to be too clever by half most of the night. I am seriously questioning Kieran Reads leadership at this point. It didn't look that great most of last year.

As you say, it's a flesh wound, I expect a seriously improved team for the next few weeks as a result.

I've said it before, I'll say it again. Ben Smith is our best right winger, and that is where he should be, every match. No doubt he is a good full back, but he is an exceptional winger.

Agreed. There was no adaptation, .

I suspect the loosies were so unused to not having the ascendency that Reid possibly wasn't thinking with the top 10% about things like swapping kickers etc.

The kicking all night was pretty average. The high bomb is something they've made work, but it was just so....pointless last night. Generally they persist with it until it comes off (and it would have only needed to come off once to have been worth it) but it seemed like they only used it when they had no idea what to do. Kicking just outside the 22 and high-bombing behind your own halfway line? I mean.....why? It wasn't even to Ben Smith's wing half the time, and he's the guy you want up after them. But that wasn't what they did.

It just seemed so aimless and frankly a 100% risk/0% reward situation; they would have been better off just giving them the ball and not having to risk broken play. It's the same with the quick line-out or the intercept passes. What could go right vs. what could go wrong etc. That radar was off all night, for everyone, and no one on the field stepped up and said "hey so this isn't working". Once they just put their head down and ground it out with about 20 mins to go, they started scoring tries.

I yelled "Stop doing it" at the TV as loud as I could but they mustn't have heard me. I'm sorry I let everyone down.

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#2091619 16-Sep-2018 18:31

I watched it thinking it was an epic match.

But it wasn't.

To be honest, SA was just playing like SA have been playing all year.

The ABs however, was playing like everybody had a headache or something.

Ie just a glitch in the matrix.

Expect normal service to resume!

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#2091624 16-Sep-2018 18:42

Batman:

I watched it thinking it was an epic match.

But it wasn't.

To be honest, SA was just playing like SA have been playing all year.

The ABs however, was playing like everybody had a headache or something.

Ie just a glitch in the matrix.

Expect normal service to resume!

As per your F1 posts, the result is the win. The best team won. AB's didnt lose, RSA won.

Both teams have the same number of players, they play well, they have strategy, they execute. On this occasion RSA had the best of all those combined. Had AB's got a late penalty and won. nothing changes. If AB;'s won by 8, its a loss, based on their record, RSA's record, and the even but poor record of the other top tier teams.

Puma's beat AUS at AUS home, that never happens. Never. The tier below AB;s is average at best, its not AUS and RSA being tough to beat as it used to be.

Maybe Gifford or Reason, whoever it was, that said the current AB's (ex Richie, Dan and so on) is the best AB's team ever (after beating Samoa, Fiji and one other) need to rethink.

RSA won, AB's could not adapt. Its that simple. Maybe next week Wales will beat RSA 36-8 and Puma's beat Wales 24-6 thats the current way. Low level and anyone can win, which is a big negative for the AB's.

Still the best team but not the best team

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#2091625 16-Sep-2018 18:45

I actually don't *care about rugby, I just thought SA had improved. But they are still the same. But we shall find out soon!

*First rugby match I had watched all year!

*But I will care when it is the RWC! As you said, I won't read too much into predictions, and only the results will matter.

*For me the match of the last RWC was England-Wales. Everything else after that did not compare!

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#2091626 16-Sep-2018 18:46

Batman:

I watched it thinking it was an epic match.

But it wasn't.

To be honest, SA was just playing like SA have been playing all year.

The ABs however, was playing like everybody had a headache or something.

Ie just a glitch in the matrix.

Expect normal service to resume!

That is a very very poor excuse for the No.1 team, forever. They couldnt be bothered as per your post? No. Arrogant, so expect to win? No. Winning every match doesnt mean you are levels ahead of everyone, as has been proven. No excuse. They let 36 points be scored, the alleged dropkick is not anywhere near relevant, as SH stated.

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#2091627 16-Sep-2018 18:47

Batman:

I watched it thinking it was an epic match.

But it wasn't.

To be honest, SA was just playing like SA have been playing all year.

The ABs however, was playing like everybody had a headache or something.

Ie just a glitch in the matrix.

Expect normal service to resume!

That's a pretty fair assessment.

Not saying RSA didn't win, or didn't last night, but hard to see them pulling it off twice.

For my money, defense in the AB's has suffered greatly as a result of Scott McLeod's tenure as defence coach. I've not seen the AB's leak 30+ points very often.

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