Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#2273814 10-Jul-2019 11:07

So, I am curious who the rest of you feel should be appointed Coach of the AB's?

I am quite torn. Ian Foster in my view has been loyal, has come through the ranks, by all accounts is a very good assistant coach and would provide continuity. If he was side stepped, I feel he would have every legitimate reason to feel hard done by. I'd like to see Robertson in the mix, probably as assistant coach to Foster for 4 years, but I could imagine that may make for some tension.

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wratterus

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#2273817 10-Jul-2019 11:11

Do you think Fozzie wants the top job? I wouldn't mind seeing Robertson assisted by Fozzie or vice versa. Even Gats might be in the mix, not sure how I feel about that though haha.

networkn

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#2273879 10-Jul-2019 11:29

wratterus:

Do you think Fozzie wants the top job? I wouldn't mind seeing Robertson assisted by Fozzie or vice versa. Even Gats might be in the mix, not sure how I feel about that though haha.

I don't think Gats would be an option given his commitments to the Chiefs and Lions, and I couldn't imagine him accepting second fiddle.

I think Foster wants the top job, he has never given indication otherwise. Hansen has indicated he feels Foster should be considered, though not as obvious as just coming out to say it.

I'll be surprised if Foster accepts second fiddle to Robertson. It would be a shame to see all that knowledge effectively lost if Hansen and Foster went together. I imagine NZR would try hard to find a way to avoid this.

One way that could work, would be Foster as Director of Rugby, and Robertson as Head Coach. Despite the fact I am a huge Razor fan, clearly has something special with the players and in the way he thinks, it worries me slightly a jump that size in a single step

may stifle some of that. I don't know the man personally though, so perhaps unfair to make such an observation.

networkn

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#2274278 10-Jul-2019 19:43

Well, Foster has put his hat in the ring and stated head coach, so that answers that.

Would he accept a lesser role? Unsure, I'd suspect not.

He could be head coach of pretty much any other international side if he wished.

networkn

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#2275052 12-Jul-2019 09:24

Wow, BB signs for the Blues for 4 years!

hsvhel

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#2275096 12-Jul-2019 10:14

networkn:

Wow, BB signs for the Blues for 4 years!

He must know something the rest of the country doesn't!!

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Dingbatt

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#2275145 12-Jul-2019 10:38

hsvhel:
networkn:

Wow, BB signs for the Blues for 4 years!

He must know something the rest of the country doesn't!!

I’m sure he does. But does he know he may struggle to find a house, even on his salary!

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

Dingbatt

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#2275149 12-Jul-2019 10:44

networkn:
So, I am curious who the rest of you feel should be appointed Coach of the AB's?

I think in the current climate it should be a woman, preferably of mixed race, with a background in cooperative community environmental support. [/joking]

“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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#2275153 12-Jul-2019 10:54

Dingbatt:
networkn:

So, I am curious who the rest of you feel should be appointed Coach of the AB's?

I think in the current climate it should be a woman, preferably of mixed race, with a background in cooperative community environmental support. [/joking]

So funny! Don't laugh, it could happen :)

networkn

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#2275183 12-Jul-2019 11:13

hsvhel:

networkn:

Wow, BB signs for the Blues for 4 years!

He must know something the rest of the country doesn't!!

Look, my gut feeling here, is that NZR has said enoughs enough. They need Auckland to get better. People don't want to play Rugby in Auckland now, not if there is an opportunity elsewhere, and for NZ that is bad for the long term survival of Rugby.

They have moved a couple of big names to Auckland to try and turn things around (Karl and co), and last year NZR took a share in the Blues, which ultimately gives them greater say. I never really rated Kirwan (though I do think he is a great man and I have a lot of respect for him) as a coach, so I wasn't surprised that they didn't really improve under him, especially since day to day, there were other people interfering. Umanga I expected to do better, and he was assured of less interference and there was less but not none. MacDonald I think is also a really good coach. He has a lot better support with NZR being involved, but until they can resolve the underlying cultural issues at the Blues, I don't see them becoming consistent contenders. Whilst some players continue to be asked to win games by themselves, or feel they should and try, and as long as they aren't playing for each other and group pride, I don't see them getting where they want to be. I think keeping Umaga was a good move by MacDonald and Tom Conventry is highly regarded.

Handle9

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#2275258 12-Jul-2019 12:47

Everyone seems to be over thinking this one. Barrett was moving to live in Auckland. At that point you either commute or move to the Blues.

networkn

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#2275278 12-Jul-2019 13:27

Handle9: Everyone seems to be over thinking this one. Barrett was moving to live in Auckland. At that point you either commute or move to the Blues.

Perhaps you are right, but if I was him, I know what I would have been doing :)

Dingbatt

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#2280587 21-Jul-2019 09:37

Scrappy win against the Pumas. Admittedly missing their Crusaders forwards. In the ten minutes before halftime I thought it was all over for Argentina as they looked out on the feet. But AB errors and penalties kept them in the hunt. And in the end they were denied a ‘famous’ victory.
Is the Jordie Barrett experiment over? There is a chance that if he had been fullback instead of Smith he may have outreached the Pumas player to prevent their try, but that is about it. Play him at fullback and use him in the backs if you have to, but he isn’t a starting wing.
Sevu Reece looked the goods, as did all the debutantes.
Coltman was great at pilfering at the breakdown but the ABs certainly lost surety in the lineout on his throw.
Awesome to see Retallick intercept and run 48m to score. Saves had another strong game.

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

Handle9

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#2280830 21-Jul-2019 15:51

It seemed a fairly typical first game of the season. We were super rusty but we didn't get our defence breached other than by a kick. We seemed to struggle a bit at the end, we clearly aren't yet at peak fitness.

We played some unusual shapes on attack. We seemed to be avoiding having pods and being stretched more across the field. I thought that was really interesting but I'm not sure how that will work against a team that is more aggressive at the breakdown.

Reece was ok. He made one good tackle and got badly exposed by the late break down his wing when he rushed up and let the pumas go around him rather than trusting the drift. Coltman was really poor with his throwing. Another performance like that may bring Harris back into the frame. You can not afford that sort of throwing from a hooker. Fifita was fairly average and I think they'll give Frizzell a run there next week.

Based on how we played I think you are going to see Jordie Barrett heavily featured. I'm not sure how you can draw any conclusions about either of the wings from that game but Barrett was rock solid on defence and his clearances were a huge weapon. Other than the mistake when he stepped on the line his clearances consistently pinned the Pumas back.

I had hoped the Pumas would box kick more. We are going to get box kicked to death by the northern sides and really need to get more effective at dealing with it.

tukapa1

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#2281040 22-Jul-2019 06:09

If the selectors pick Read to play the crunch games in the World Cup then I think that will go a long way to be our undoing.

Read was good in his day, but that day is gone when you compare him to our other options.

You've got to play both Savea and Cane as starters, and you can't play them both with Read because you need a physical number 6.

Savea was the form loosie of Super Rugby (by some margin), and we know what Cane continues to bring.

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