Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#1329099 22-Jun-2015 11:02

Handle9: Ellis is generally pretty average. Average pass, defence, running game, kicking game. He doesn't do anything noticeably well, or poorly. He certainly doesn't offer anything coming off the bench.

Dagg strikes me as the new Nonu - awful in super rugby, p*sses people off as it never looks like he's trying but steps up and delivers at the next level.

Disagree about Ellis (Except this season where he was decidedly average esp with his continuous box kicking!), but think Dagg will do well in International Stage if his injury gets better. He has had a pretty average couple of seasons, I'd agree, but do believe firmly it's related to injuries he has carried most if not all of that time.

Also worth noting my defence of him has NOTHING to do with the fact he is a Crusader!

One thing that has been surprising to me, is how well people talk about Malikai Fekitoa. I just don't get it, he IS good, I'll agree, but compared to our outgoing 13, Conrad Smith he is a FAR FAR distant second. I am actually surprised that selectors aren't more concerned about it. MF is a handful if he gets wound up, but he lacks the Rugby Brain and composure of CS to my mind. I think we are really going to miss that. I don't think CS gets the attention he deserves, because he goes about his work so quietly, but he is seriously lethal. It's an area I think Australia and SA potentially have an advantage. I think MF played a lot better last season than this one too.

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#1329121 22-Jun-2015 11:36

MF is still extremely green, no he isn't anywhere near CS, but give him a few seasons and see where he is at. Other super teams have also got on to the fact that if you give MF any space you're gonna have a bad time.

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#1329151 22-Jun-2015 12:05

lxsw20: MF is still extremely green, no he isn't anywhere near CS, but give him a few seasons and see where he is at. Other super teams have also got on to the fact that if you give MF any space you're gonna have a bad time.

Yah don't get me wrong, I think he is a good player, but I think there is a gulf between him and CS and I am unsure what we do to fill the gap between the two of them in the meantime. Because he is a more "visible" player, I think he gets a lot of attention from defenders that CS probably doesn't get.

BTW I am not sure how many of you watched the final Crusaders game, but I saw something there I can't recall ever seeing before. Ritchie McCaw KICKING the ball. (It wasn't a bad kick either).

My dream would be for us to win the RWC final, with a try under the posts, and for DC to give RM the kicking tee for the final kick of the game. Would be the ultimate sign off.

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#1329152 22-Jun-2015 12:09

A long way to go yet.

DC's legs have not been tested by anyone with any tenacity of test rugby

RM hasn't had a good season but maybe he's saving hiss body for one last go

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#1329190 22-Jun-2015 12:35

joker97: A long way to go yet.

DC's legs have not been tested by anyone with any tenacity of test rugby

RM hasn't had a good season but maybe he's saving hiss body for one last go

Inclined to agree on both points, though DC's kicking has been pretty good. Only Lima has done better from memory, and would you rather DC or Lima in a RWC Final? I'd take DC every day of the week.

I think DC has deliberately been on the slow burn, building up and getting fit properly this time instead of rushing back. I think he will be ok, but I think we are ok at 10 regardless.

Hammerer

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#1329382 22-Jun-2015 17:11

Geektastic:
Hmm. I don't really consider a resigning sports coach to warrant 'breaking news" status regardless.

Death of Monarch? Check. Sudden resignation of PM? Check. Plane crash at Auckland airport? Check. Resigning ball game coach? Not so much....

I noticed a few comments like this. Unfortunately that meaning was swamped by a different meaning decades ago.

Nowadays "breaking" news is primarily nothing to do with the importance but with timing. Sometimes it is still the reporting of a highly significant news but more commonly breaking news is news not yet publicly reported, i.e. it is being reported just now for the first time. Another meaning is that it is unexpectedly or suddenly becoming public. If it is already public knowledge then it should no longer be breaking news but some media outlets will still use the term to get people's attention. In that situation other terms like "just in", "newsflash", "special bulletin" or "special report" have traditionally been used instead.

The term did derive from "latebreaking" news which interrupts the scheduled program. In the old days this would only happen for particularly significant events like declaration of war, death of a president, major disaster, etc. But today it is commonly used for any special report, live broadcast, or item of interest to the audience. CNN and other dedicated news channels so commonly interrupted the scheduled program that significance was depreciated. It gets a bit silly when any news program is interrupted by trivia like a "celebrity wardrobe malfunction" but that is the reality of competition between many channels all struggling to assert their significance by getting exclusive reports.

Handle9

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#1329524 22-Jun-2015 20:44

networkn:
lxsw20: MF is still extremely green, no he isn't anywhere near CS, but give him a few seasons and see where he is at. Other super teams have also got on to the fact that if you give MF any space you're gonna have a bad time.

Yah don't get me wrong, I think he is a good player, but I think there is a gulf between him and CS and I am unsure what we do to fill the gap between the two of them in the meantime. Because he is a more "visible" player, I think he gets a lot of attention from defenders that CS probably doesn't get.

Don't forget Conrad Smith was in the all blacks for 4 years before he became the first choice centre. He was left out of the 2007 starting team so Mills Muliaina couple play centre and Leon MacDonald could play fullback, when he wasn't concussed. It takes time for players to mature, especially at the top level. That's the skill of selection and coaching - picking guys who aren't quite there and making them world class.

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networkn

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#1329600 22-Jun-2015 22:55

Handle9:
networkn:
lxsw20: MF is still extremely green, no he isn't anywhere near CS, but give him a few seasons and see where he is at. Other super teams have also got on to the fact that if you give MF any space you're gonna have a bad time.

Yah don't get me wrong, I think he is a good player, but I think there is a gulf between him and CS and I am unsure what we do to fill the gap between the two of them in the meantime. Because he is a more "visible" player, I think he gets a lot of attention from defenders that CS probably doesn't get.

Don't forget Conrad Smith was in the all blacks for 4 years before he became the first choice centre. He was left out of the 2007 starting team so Mills Muliaina couple play centre and Leon MacDonald could play fullback, when he wasn't concussed. It takes time for players to mature, especially at the top level. That's the skill of selection and coaching - picking guys who aren't quite there and making them world class.

I had actually forgotten that, you are right. I guess it's been so long since he was new it's hard to imagine Rugby without him!

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#1329601 22-Jun-2015 22:56

but you are right. 13 is the spot where we are in complete lack of depth.

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#1329613 22-Jun-2015 23:03

joker97: but you are right. 13 is the spot where we are in complete lack of depth.

It's surprising to me the selectors don't seem concerned. I guess they think Crotty could go there, or Puitau.

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#1329615 22-Jun-2015 23:08

or Nonu ... ?! SBW ?!!!

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#1329616 22-Jun-2015 23:11

joker97: or Nonu ... ?! SBW ?!!!

Not Nonu, but I'd rate SBW to do it, though he also definately lacks the Rugby brain that CS has.

We are losing a lot more than people realize at the end of the RWC. We have some excellent talent on it's way through, but we are losing like 500 caps of Rugby from memory.

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#1329618 22-Jun-2015 23:13

umm ... Mealamu, Woodcock. McCaw, Carter are past their use-by dates. please go!

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#1330687 24-Jun-2015 13:34

joker97: umm ... Mealamu, Woodcock. McCaw, Carter are past their use-by dates. please go!

Heh I thank my stars you aren't a selector for the RWC.

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#1330689 24-Jun-2015 13:35

Brad Weber, George Moala and Ofa Tu'ungafasi have been added to the All Blacks training squad.

Man I just don't get these particular choices.

However:

Canterbury and Crusaders halfback Andy Ellis is tipped to make a return to the All Blacks to wear No 9 in the historic test against Samoa next month.

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