Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Mad Scientist
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#2337657 15-Oct-2019 18:46

throbb: We got Nigel Owens for our quarter final, would have been happy with any of the 4 except Jérôme Garcès.

herein starts the lottery ... first you buy your raffle ticket

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Handle9

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#2337887 16-Oct-2019 07:24

Oh my god. England Australia has
Referee: Garces
Touch judges: Poite and Raynal
TMO: Skeen

Three Frenchmen and the most vilified official of the world cup. What possibly could go wrong?

TeaLeaf

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#2337889 16-Oct-2019 07:33

Batman:

throbb: We got Nigel Owens for our quarter final, would have been happy with any of the 4 except Jérôme Garcès.

herein starts the lottery ... first you buy your raffle ticket

I know the damage Owen can inflict. Or he can have a good call.

Either way ABs will be prepared for it.

And honestly, I know Ireland beat us once, but it took them 110 years and was at home. I know they were number 1 off the back of that and North Hem rugby. But they are now 5 points adrift with England then Wales ahead of them before NZ back in the #1 Saddle again like we never left.

I have seen nothing in the pools to suggest they are capable of beating NZ. Lost to Japan. Could have been pipped at the post by Scotland who were leading points scorer in the pool until the final round. Very disapointed in Scotland to be honest.

I think NZ is ready for Ireland any which way because they have shown they can be starved of ball at 23% for a half by the Wallabies and still be in front at half time.

We have electric offense, whether its Savea breaking the line, SBW breaking the line or B Barrett breaking the line or TJ P breaking the line or Richie M placing perfection based kicks to our wings to run and catch on the full.

I dont mention our defense because I believe it is so solid ever since that accidental shoulder from Scott Barrett that probably cost us our 1 loss for the season, Im glad it happened because I think we are now focused on defense and when the possession gods swing the ball our way we have players who can create offense out of thin air, and loose forwards who will scramble and get to any loose ball first, even old man Kieran is doing a good job, maybe not the speed of Ardie but hes getting it done

Nobody will beat us this world cup. If they were going to it would have been South Africa, who we may play again in the final and we will destroy them.

Surpremely confident.

Handle9

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#2337891 16-Oct-2019 07:36

Ireland beat us the first time in Chicago.

Batman

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#2337895 16-Oct-2019 07:54

Either way I will be glued to the laptop (yeah sad right) this weekend. Why do I even have a TV.

networkn

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#2337906 16-Oct-2019 08:01

Handle9: Oh my god. England Australia has
Referee: Garces
Touch judges: Poite and Raynal
TMO: Skeen

Three Frenchmen and the most vilified official of the world cup. What possibly could go wrong?

Statistically, we could end up with most of those in a Semi or God forbid the Final.

I like you, think Wayne Barnes is now an excellent referee. Like the AB's, he vowed to transform himself after the quarter-final in 2007, and I think he has done that well.

throbb

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#2337908 16-Oct-2019 08:04

Wonder if they'll name Brodie in the team, I'm guessing he would have played most of the game last week if it went ahead. Its a pretty big game if he's not match fit, but if not now, there isn't any easier games. I think he'll be named.

networkn

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#2337926 16-Oct-2019 08:45

throbb:

Wonder if they'll name Brodie in the team, I'm guessing he would have played most of the game last week if it went ahead. Its a pretty big game if he's not match fit, but if not now, there isn't any easier games. I think he'll be named.

Given they excluded other players to accomodate his presence in the final, and there was a risk he wouldn't play, I would imagine unless there is a health related issue, he will play. They will need his height in the lineout which hasn't been that good, and need him to clear bodies.

Grunta47

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#2338062 16-Oct-2019 12:22

networkn:

throbb:

Wonder if they'll name Brodie in the team, I'm guessing he would have played most of the game last week if it went ahead. Its a pretty big game if he's not match fit, but if not now, there isn't any easier games. I think he'll be named.

Given they excluded other players to accomodate his presence in the final, and there was a risk he wouldn't play, I would imagine unless there is a health related issue, he will play. They will need his height in the lineout which hasn't been that good, and need him to clear bodies.

Yep I think theyll play Brodie. It's unfortunate the Italy game was called off because he would have got a big run in that game.

What it will probably mean is a shuffle of reserves with Tuipolotu and Barrett in as forward cover for lock/loose, with Matt Todd to miss out.

networkn

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#2338080 16-Oct-2019 12:27

Todd is always the last to get called. It sucks for him, he is so under rated.

I understand why, but it still sucks.

Batman

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#2338083 16-Oct-2019 12:34

networkn:
Todd is always the last to get called. It sucks for him, he is so under rated.

I understand why, but it still sucks.

I went into depression when Mitchell ended Cullen's career. I never understood why.

Handle9

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#2338390 16-Oct-2019 19:21

networkn:

Handle9: Oh my god. England Australia has
Referee: Garces
Touch judges: Poite and Raynal
TMO: Skeen

Three Frenchmen and the most vilified official of the world cup. What possibly could go wrong?

Statistically, we could end up with most of those in a Semi or God forbid the Final.

I like you, think Wayne Barnes is now an excellent referee. Like the AB's, he vowed to transform himself after the quarter-final in 2007, and I think he has done that well.

If we get to the semi hopefully we get Owens or Peyper. Peyper isn't great but at least you're not subject to the French lottery.

Handle9

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#2338392 16-Oct-2019 19:27

Grunta47:

networkn:

throbb:

Wonder if they'll name Brodie in the team, I'm guessing he would have played most of the game last week if it went ahead. Its a pretty big game if he's not match fit, but if not now, there isn't any easier games. I think he'll be named.

Given they excluded other players to accomodate his presence in the final, and there was a risk he wouldn't play, I would imagine unless there is a health related issue, he will play. They will need his height in the lineout which hasn't been that good, and need him to clear bodies.

Yep I think theyll play Brodie. It's unfortunate the Italy game was called off because he would have got a big run in that game.

What it will probably mean is a shuffle of reserves with Tuipolotu and Barrett in as forward cover for lock/loose, with Matt Todd to miss out.

IMO they won't have two locks on the bench. They are far more likely to go with Frizzell/Todd than Tuipolotu. Bear in mind that Read can play lock if he has to and Whitelock generally plays 80 minutes.

The jungle drums are beating hard for a Goodhue Lienart-Brown combination which doesn't thrill me. Lienart-Brown has to be there but as a mid-field they haven't convinced. I'd be more confident with Crotty, which would also make us a bit more versatile.

If they go with Goodhue it signals a full rugby league style attack with left and right centres rather than a traditional rugby union style pattern. Barrett-Mounga also feeds this pattern where a midfield ruck would have a backline pattern of:

Bridge Lienart-Brown Mounga Smith Barrett Goodhue Reece

Put a 1-3-3-1 or a 1-2-4-1 forward pattern around it you have a rugby league style attack with Coles/taylor and Savea playing the role of rugby league back rowers out wide

MileHighKiwi

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#2338394 16-Oct-2019 19:30

Does anyone other than me think Australia has a chance against England? That test in Perth makes me think they could cause an upset.

ABs will smoke the Irish, it wont be as bad as the 2015 1/4 against France but I'm thinking a pretty comprehensive performance to send them home with a whimper.

Wales should beat France and Japan will put up a good fight.

Aussie v NZ semi?

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#2338396 16-Oct-2019 19:37

Before I get sent to the naughty boys corner, yet again, I agree with this

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup/rwc-2019-japan/116631175/all-blacks-zinzan-brooke-fears-rugby-world-cup-semifinal-against-england

What miffed me was Richie, Dan, Jane, the powerful combination Smith and Nonu, etc, etc are all not as great as this team. Early on we won against island teams and were branded the best AB's team in history. Thats why Im miffed. yes, Ive met more that a few players, so I'm biased.

IMO, this team is not great. The other teams are not great either. Back in the day AUS was hard, RSA was super hard, but these days no one is awesome. I can pnlky assume that the big money in Europe and Japan has diluted international rugby.

And Im still mystified why Japan can field near on 50% foreigners. If I was in charge of a team, I'd get a backer and just stack them wth talent. It makes a mockery of a "World" Cup. In world terms Japan is a minnow. If they were in a Rugby Championship, they can stack them as much as they like thats what all sports does

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