Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

Forums › Sports › Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

1 | ... | 240 | 241 | 242 | 243 | 244 | 245 | 246 | 247 | 248 | 249 | 250 | ... | 642

29659 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2094357 21-Sep-2018 09:56

Following on from my post, a lot of sports have leagues, rugby included. But basketball here and the US, soccer, those leagues are the main attraction. IMO rugby's leagues are a big attraction, but unlike many other team sports, the internationals contest are a huge deal. Who cares of player swap between NRL sides, but even Rugby league, internationals don't seem a big deal. Rugby they are a huge match

networkn

Networkn
32255 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2094361 21-Sep-2018 10:02

tdgeek:

Following on from my post, a lot of sports have leagues, rugby included. But basketball here and the US, soccer, those leagues are the main attraction. IMO rugby's leagues are a big attraction, but unlike many other team sports, the internationals contest are a huge deal. Who cares of player swap between NRL sides, but even Rugby league, internationals don't seem a big deal. Rugby they are a huge match

Huh?

tdgeek

29659 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2094363 21-Sep-2018 10:09

networkn:

tdgeek:

Following on from my post, a lot of sports have leagues, rugby included. But basketball here and the US, soccer, those leagues are the main attraction. IMO rugby's leagues are a big attraction, but unlike many other team sports, the internationals contest are a huge deal. Who cares of player swap between NRL sides, but even Rugby league, internationals don't seem a big deal. Rugby they are a huge match

Huh?

No idea why the huh as my first was quite clear. To clarify for you, the first post was obviously about player dilution, the article related just to RSA, but I asked about NZ as well. Following on as I stated, I talked about the relationship between local leagues and internationals, and how it seems rugby has a different level of interest in internationals. The obvious inference is dilution of our and other nations international players, which was the question I asked on my previous post

networkn

Networkn
32255 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2094532 21-Sep-2018 13:30

I think I am the only one in NZ (or the world) that doesn't quite see how "amazing" Reiko Ioane is. I think he is talented, but no more so than most our other decent wingers for the past 20 years.

clevedon

1059 posts

Uber Geek

#2094537 21-Sep-2018 13:42

networkn:

I think I am the only one in NZ (or the world) that doesn't quite see how "amazing" Reiko Ioane is. I think he is talented, but no more so than most our other decent wingers for the past 20 years.

He is only 21 and 102 kg's and has still a bit to learn, I would rather have him in our team than anyone else have him.

I read somewhere the other day that he is the fastest All Black ever. So when it all comes together, he's a weapon worth having.

networkn

Networkn
32255 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2094546 21-Sep-2018 13:49

clevedon:

He is only 21 and 102 kg's and has still a bit to learn, I would rather have him in our team than anyone else have him.

I read somewhere the other day that he is the fastest All Black ever. So when it all comes together, he's a weapon worth having.

Don't get me wrong. I am happy to keep him, happy to sign him for 4 Years, though to be honest we have signed promising (even amazing) wingers (Savea is a recent example) in the past and they have not turned out to be able to sustain their performance so I would have likely gone slightly shorter term.

I think for me, I don't see him as the x factor player that everyone else seems to be able to. I am not a Waisake fan to that same degree as others either, but some of the tries he has finished, esp for the Highlanders, possibly 1-2 other players in the world could do. He doesn't seem spectacular in the air, or crazy on defense. He's fast, but I think the SA guy from last weekend is potentially even faster (where does one get stats for that?). He has no kicking game that I have seen, and doesn't seem to bump defenders easily compared to say Rico Gear or Savea could.

I agree he does seem to run away quick in a straight line, but teams can adapt to that.

Hammerer

2476 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2094693 21-Sep-2018 17:40

Reiko Ioane is a precocious talent: he was All Blacks Sevens Player of The Year in 2015 when he was 18 years old. Even so, Ben Smith is the one who has always amazed me more. He was basically a small white boy when I first saw him on TV in 2007. He continues to outshine larger, stronger and more aggressive players by having a great all-round game, being particularly good in the air, and making a lot of really smart decisions. In my opinion, he has been the most consistent All Black back several years.

Ioane replaced Julian Savea who had been playing badly for quite a while. But both appear to be more limited in their playing strengths. Savea in particular never appeared to adapt to the All Black's emphasis on multi-dimensional wingers. I've seen Ioane kick successfully so I expect that he can improve his game.

Is it only me that thinks our best NZ wingers are not found by shining in the NZ Under 19s/21s, now the Under 20s, teams? Off the top of my head, Ben Smith did play once for the U21 team and Julian Savea a few times but Reiko Ioane and Cory Jane not at all.

GoodSync

GoodSync. Easily back up and sync your files with GoodSync. Simple and secure file backup and synchronisation software will ensure that your files are never lost (affiliate link).

networkn

Networkn
32255 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2096114 25-Sep-2018 12:33

Hammerer:

Reiko Ioane is a precocious talent: he was All Blacks Sevens Player of The Year in 2015 when he was 18 years old. Even so, Ben Smith is the one who has always amazed me more. He was basically a small white boy when I first saw him on TV in 2007. He continues to outshine larger, stronger and more aggressive players by having a great all-round game, being particularly good in the air, and making a lot of really smart decisions. In my opinion, he has been the most consistent All Black back several years.

Ioane replaced Julian Savea who had been playing badly for quite a while. But both appear to be more limited in their playing strengths. Savea in particular never appeared to adapt to the All Black's emphasis on multi-dimensional wingers. I've seen Ioane kick successfully so I expect that he can improve his game.

Is it only me that thinks our best NZ wingers are not found by shining in the NZ Under 19s/21s, now the Under 20s, teams? Off the top of my head, Ben Smith did play once for the U21 team and Julian Savea a few times but Reiko Ioane and Cory Jane not at all.

For me Ben Smith has probably been at his best this year and last. He has shown signs of genius before that, but I didn't view him the same way others do. Just for the record, it's not because he plays for the Highlanders and not the Crusaders before anyone starts up with that.

I agree on your comments about Savea, I'd commented for a while, his movement seemed wooden and restricted. It almost seemed like he was marching at high speed rather than running freely, and his trademark was his ability to try and run over players rather than around them. He was developing really well (kicking game etc) and then almost overnight seemed to collapse.

I'll wait to see how Ioane develops and reserve judgement.

MikeB4

18435 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#2096150 25-Sep-2018 13:49

So Mitchell believes he can beat the ABs. I believe he is forgetting the biggest threat for Japan, that is Ireland.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/107348412/john-mitchell-believes-england-can-usurp-all-blacks-as-worlds-best-within-a-year

networkn

Networkn
32255 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2096167 25-Sep-2018 14:05

MikeB4:

So Mitchell believes he can beat the ABs. I believe he is forgetting the biggest threat for Japan, that is Ireland.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/107348412/john-mitchell-believes-england-can-usurp-all-blacks-as-worlds-best-within-a-year

I don't think he has forgotten them, just thinks he can get the English to be better. I doubt it, but believe you underestimate your foes at your peril.

Mitchell has been (surprisingly to me) been heralded as the one who changed the AB's mindset to an attacking one. I can't recall clearly recall his era, except that he isolated the public from the AB's and vica versa which was very very bad. I also recall a famous loss to the Wallabies where he wouldn't front the media. One of Graham Henry's greatest early moves was reversing this and making sure anyone could talk to, meet or get a picture, with an All Black regardless of financial status or location. I clearly recall public falling in love with the AB's all over again at the start of his era and it believe it to be a key to the AB's success, that the public are so invested in them.

networkn

Networkn
32255 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2096170 25-Sep-2018 14:07

Who is going to start at 10 this week?

Tough call. DM seems to be due a start, but his erratic play style scares me. I'd probably pick BB to start and RM off the bench. Even after a fairly average test last time, BB is still our most experienced and stable 10. I am anxious about starting RM in such a high pressure game despite the fact I think he is going to be a star.

I wouldn't be upset if they started him. Just anxious.

Batman

Mad Scientist
29727 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2096187 25-Sep-2018 14:33

MikeB4:
So Mitchell believes he can beat the ABs. I believe he is forgetting the biggest threat for Japan, that is Ireland.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/107348412/john-mitchell-believes-england-can-usurp-all-blacks-as-worlds-best-within-a-year

I read an English article baffled at his hiring.

Apparently:

he is hired as a defence coach.

His ex team results were very bad.

His ex team has the second worst defensive record in all of super rugby

He has never been a defence coach.

He is not moving to England to coach.

Wow.

Dingbatt

6744 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2096229 25-Sep-2018 15:56

networkn:
Who is going to start at 10 this week?

Tough call. DM seems to be due a start, but his erratic play style scares me. I'd probably pick BB to start and RM off the bench. Even after a fairly average test last time, BB is still our most experienced and stable 10. I am anxious about starting RM in such a high pressure game despite the fact I think he is going to be a star.

I wouldn't be upset if they started him. Just anxious.

Going by the "It's just a flesh wound" theory from the previous game, then it should be Mo'unga to start and McKenzie off the bench. Just like it was in Nelson. Mo'unga needs the game time, and McKenzie is far better as an impact player against a tiring defence. Plus he can play more positions if required by injury.
If it's not a flesh wound they will play with the strongest team, which is BB/DM.

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

networkn

Networkn
32255 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2096856 26-Sep-2018 14:28

I am unsure how the AB's should approach this game. A good win in Argentina wins us the RC, but do wonder if they should experiment more to see if the fringe players are test material or not, however, I expect Argentina to be harder to beat at home, and there will be some pressure to not let it be a second consectutive loss, esp with what should be a tough game against SA the week before. I'd imagine a lot of the players who have been indicated as being rested, would really want to be out there to right the wrong.

In my mind there are about 8 changes that could be made from the team that played in Wellington, but that many changes isn't likely to result in a strong performance potentially.

Will be interesting.

I am not sure how I personally feel about it. We have never lost to Argentina and I am not that keen to end that run, however in the grand scheme of things, I think we need something fresh to take to the world cup, and there may be a price to pay now for having a stronger team then.

I'd not be surprised if they changed lots of players and had a really good performance and comfortably won, though traditional logic would argue against it.

I don't want to lose to SA twice, and to beat them at home would mean something I feel. The players involved in the loss who play that game in SA will be amped and up for it. Hopefully, the skipping of play in Argentina doesn't backfire.

networkn

Networkn
32255 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2096861 26-Sep-2018 14:39

Complaining about how some of the rich are making Rugby Eliteist.

I don't understand what the point of complaing about this is. If you have money, you can afford better most things. Raw Talent will take you so far, getting access to the best coaches etc is a key part of being successfull. It's the same in any walk of life, esp sport.

We have kids who are getting $200-400 of coaching a month in Squash just RACING ahead of those who are playing casually or using free coaching lessons etc. It's just the reality.

1 | ... | 240 | 241 | 242 | 243 | 244 | 245 | 246 | 247 | 248 | 249 | 250 | ... | 642