Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#2230990 4-May-2019 23:32

That's exactly how I felt last night actually.

It certainly was entertaining!

Ben Smith has been cleared of a serious injury thank the heavens!

Hammerer

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#2231338 5-May-2019 22:36

I'm quite enjoying that there are so many games that end with close scores when it looks like one of the teams is totally out of the game in the first half.

I don't remember so many results being draws, but maybe I usually don't notice.

networkn

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#2231375 6-May-2019 09:01

There aren't many draws each year. I thought a draw resulted in zero points for each team, but I think it's actually 3, correct?

There were glimpses of the Chiefs of old (A couple of years ago) in that game with the Highlanders.

I don't want to take away from some great tries by the Hurricanes, but it comes from the back of some disgraceful defense in the first 20 minutes by the Rebels. One wonders if the Rebels hadn't of given away 21 points in 20 minutes, what might have happened in that game.

Last year (I think it was) or 2017 there were about 6 games on the trot at the start of the season where the Crusaders let teams get huge leads and everything look lost, and then came back. I have learned a lot about writing teams off now :)

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#2231511 6-May-2019 11:23

I am concerned at the prevalence of scrum penalties being awarded against our All Black Props. Especially binding infringements leading to arms touching the ground, or collapses. It is almost as if this is the primary objective of the opposition and needs to be sorted out prior to the RWC, especially since we will meet SA in pool play.

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networkn

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#2231518 6-May-2019 11:27

Dingbatt: I am concerned at the prevalence of scrum penalties being awarded against our All Black Props. Especially binding infringements leading to arms touching the ground, or collapses. It is almost as if this is the primary objective of the opposition and needs to be sorted out prior to the RWC, especially since we will meet SA in pool play.

I agree actually. There seems to be something going on. I understand Jason Ryan has placed a formal "please explain" in front of the head of referees.

It seems unlikely that all of a sudden we are crap at scrummaging.

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#2231519 6-May-2019 11:29

I need to make a correction to an earlier suggestion I made. I confused Marty Banks and Hayden Parker. Parker is who I think we should consider bringing to fill in for McKenzie. His boot is unbelieveable and he has ice through his veins. I can't imagine how good he would be in front of All Black forwards.

Handle9

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#2232574 8-May-2019 03:03

So Folau has been found guilty of a high level breach of his contract by an independent judiciary panel. It'll be interesting to see what happens next.

Rugby Australia did the sensible thing by offering him a settlement but now that'll get eaten by the lawyers if Folau goes to litigation.

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networkn

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#2232865 8-May-2019 11:48

@handle9 you made comments earlier about fetching 7's not being as important in this new phase of Rugby. Across the past 8 rounds of SR I am seeing a different picture. I can't speak to the Northern game, but seemingly down here, breakdown penalties and breakdown turn overs seem to be as popular as I can recall in recent times. I haven't seen the stats on it, but certainly for my money, having a couple of world class ball snatchers is something I'd be encouraging if I was coaching the AB's. Savea and Todd are both seemingly taking ball from the opposition at will!

I remain very concerned about our ability under the high ball. I'd say NZ ranks probably 4-5th in the world right now (Australia are well above us I think even without Folau), if that. I believe kicking is going to huge this RWC. I think it's not just a matter of being able to catch the ball in the air, and compete safely, but our forwards getting to the player fast enough so they dont' allow the receiver to become isolated. Aaron Smiths contestable kicks weren't great last year, but they seem better this season. TJP is pretty hit and miss. Hopefully our wingers are working on their aerial skills and our fullbacks are working on contestable kicking too. Lastly, charge downs are seemingly reasonably common off the back of poor protection for the kicker, something we need to be both aware of, and able to recognize and expliot in other teams who don't do it.

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#2232890 8-May-2019 12:28

Handle9: So Folau has been found guilty of a high level breach of his contract by an independent judiciary panel. It'll be interesting to see what happens next.

Rugby Australia did the sensible thing by offering him a settlement but now that'll get eaten by the lawyers if Folau goes to litigation.

So, does that mean he will be stood down on full pay until this is resolved? (One way or the other)
As long as that process takes 6 months that is fine by me.

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

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#2232896 8-May-2019 12:32

It's pretty clear by now I'd imagine, that money isn't his motivator. This is a pretty sticky situation. What the panel decided is different to what an employment court would consider I think.

In my view if this was unheld in an employment court, new clauses would have to go into employment contracts that state you can't publically quote from the Bible unless it's positive, inclusive and uplifting. I can imagine a fair amount of uproar over that.

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#2233392 8-May-2019 23:13

Waisake Naholo signs with London Irish. A bit of a shame. I wonder if he feels his injuries will keep him out of the AB's esp with such a huge amount of talent competing for backs positions? For me he never met the same heights in test rugby that he made for the Highlanders. A shame really.

tdgeek

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#2233455 9-May-2019 07:57

Handle9: So Folau has been found guilty of a high level breach of his contract by an independent judiciary panel. It'll be interesting to see what happens next.

Rugby Australia did the sensible thing by offering him a settlement but now that'll get eaten by the lawyers if Folau goes to litigation.

I can't find anything about them offering him a settlement. All I can see is that they are deciding on what sanctions to apply. That means anywhere from a fine to termination, with or without his $4M

Handle9

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#2233844 9-May-2019 16:40

tdgeek:

Handle9: So Folau has been found guilty of a high level breach of his contract by an independent judiciary panel. It'll be interesting to see what happens next.

Rugby Australia did the sensible thing by offering him a settlement but now that'll get eaten by the lawyers if Folau goes to litigation.

I can't find anything about them offering him a settlement. All I can see is that they are deciding on what sanctions to apply. That means anywhere from a fine to termination, with or without his $4M

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/112472840/israel-folau-rejected-a-1-million-payout-offer--report