Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#2543270 17-Aug-2020 22:26

Handle9:

networkn:

I really wish Tafua had been able to get into an AB's Jersey, he had in my mind, the promising characteristics of an absolutely fantastic 6 for the AB's.

Being too short, slow and not particularly explosive?

Not sure who you are referring to? He played 6 and 8 for the Crusaders led the stats for loosies or was near the top for a couple of seasons, was called into the AB's and was due to start in his first game before succumming to injury. Explosiveness was his thing.

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Handle9

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#2543273 17-Aug-2020 22:33

networkn:

Handle9:

Being too short, slow and not particularly explosive?

Not sure who you are referring to? He played 6 and 8 for the Crusaders led the stats for loosies or was near the top for a couple of seasons, was called into the AB's and was due to start in his first game before succumming to injury. Explosiveness was his thing.

He's too small for an international 6 without being a freak athlete like Savea.

He's 10cm shorter than Frizell and 15cm shorter than Pieter Steph Du Toit. He's much more Brad Shields than Jerome Kaino.

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#2543276 17-Aug-2020 22:39

Handle9:

He's too small for an international 6 without being a freak athlete like Savea.

He's 10cm shorter than Frizell and 15cm shorter than Pieter Steph Du Toit. He's much more Brad Shields than Jerome Kaino.

Can't dispute the height, but consistency and work rate he easily was ahead of Frizell in those seasons. There was a reason he was called into the AB's, they don't usually waste their time if a player clearly isn't going to provide any value.

He had/has a very similar savage characteristic to Savea in contact, very often breaking first tackles etc.

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#2543280 17-Aug-2020 22:53

networkn:

Handle9:

He's too small for an international 6 without being a freak athlete like Savea.

He's 10cm shorter than Frizell and 15cm shorter than Pieter Steph Du Toit. He's much more Brad Shields than Jerome Kaino.

Can't dispute the height, but consistency and work rate he easily was ahead of Frizell in those seasons. There was a reason he was called into the AB's, they don't usually waste their time if a player clearly isn't going to provide any value.

He had/has a very similar savage characteristic to Savea in contact, very often breaking first tackles etc.

He was a very fringe player, in the same vein as Luke Whitelock, Jackson Hemopo, Brad Shields, Blake Gibson etc. He had nearly 100 game for the Crusaders without demanding inclusion. Hardly someone who stood out as an outstanding prospect for 6.

tukapa1

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#2543309 18-Aug-2020 07:19

networkn:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12357322

Good to see we will likely still get a match.

Does anybody really want to see this match? I'd rather the players had a break before Mitre 10 cup.

This was always a cynical money grabbing attempt by NZRU with no real links to North or South. Should link back to which 1st XV you played for. If you came into the country after school then you can't play.

I'm really surprised NZRU want to play this if they can't get crowds in.

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#2543400 18-Aug-2020 08:57

I am quite torn about whether I want to see it. I want to see the AB's, I want to see Rugby. Nothing else is happening..

Having said that, we have had 10 weeks of NZ Rugby players nearly killing each other.. It's also going to be a bit weird with who is eligible for what regions.

Seems plenty of people want to watch it though, it sold out Eden Park pretty quickly I thought.

God forbid, this coming weekend I may actually watch Australian Rugby. Things have gotten quite dire.

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#2543615 18-Aug-2020 12:39

tukapa1:

Whitelock who has looked behind the eight ball all year. Get's a spot in the reserves due to the unavailability of others.

I am perplexed by this comment. You are the first person to suggest Whitelock isn't playing well. Pundits, commentators, fans and now coaches alike have all been pretty complimentary of his play. I'd bet his stats look good.

Does anyone have a go-to stats site for SRA?

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#2543793 18-Aug-2020 15:50

There are some somewhat surprising inclusions in the squad, most noticeably Tahuriorangi who could even make the bench for the Chiefs...

Umaga-Jensen was in good form, unsurprising he made it.

The North has a boon of Loosies which could be quite a challenge for the South to overcome.. Hunt led the stats for the South though..

Mitchell Hunt has been playing well, I wonder how far down the pecking order he is excluding injuries though..

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#2543796 18-Aug-2020 15:57

Do you mean Dillon Hunt?

He'd probably be the 12th lose forward on the pecking order.

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#2543801 18-Aug-2020 16:01

Handle9: Do you mean Dillon Hunt?

He'd probably be the 12th lose forward on the pecking order.

No, Mitchell Hunt, plays 10 for the Highlanders

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#2543804 18-Aug-2020 16:05

Same same. Break glass in case of fire

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#2543860 18-Aug-2020 17:52

What about Sam Cane?

Boshier is undoubtedly the form 7 at the moment and should be picked to start there.
You'd expect the selectors to pick Ardie Savea to cover 6, 7 & 8, and Scott Barrett to cover 4, 5 & 6.
Doesn't leave a lot of room in the All Black 23 for the putative 'Captain'

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#2543866 18-Aug-2020 18:00

LOL, it happens like clockwork every year, that people take the established AB's and comment they aren't as inform as other players at Super Rugby.

It just doesn't work like that, that you switch out players every week/month/year. How many times was Ma' Nonu said to be the worst 12 at SR level, to put on a Black Jersey and monster everything and anything in his way? He's rank up there with one of the best 12's to wear the jersey and the Smith Nonu Combination may never be repeated.

If he doesn't work to keep his AB's position, THEN they might cut him, but he has earned a little more loyalty than that!

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#2543879 18-Aug-2020 18:20

networkn:

LOL, it happens like clockwork every year, that people take the established AB's and comment they aren't as inform as other players at Super Rugby.

It just doesn't work like that, that you switch out players every week/month/year. How many times was Ma' Nonu said to be the worst 12 at SR level, to put on a Black Jersey and monster everything and anything in his way? He's rank up there with one of the best 12's to wear the jersey and the Smith Nonu Combination may never be repeated.

If he doesn't work to keep his AB's position, THEN they might cut him, but he has earned a little more loyalty than that!

Completely agree. The same is true of Beauden Barrett. He is one of the best 5/8ths in the world for the last 5 years. Comparatively Mo'unga hasn't accomplished much at the international level, while clearly being a dominant player at Super Rugby.

The pundits anointing him as one of the best flyhalves in the world are delusional. He's not yet in the same class as Barrett, Farrell and Sexton. He has the potential to get there but he needs to be proven to be consistently dominant at the international level.

It is a big step up to tier 1 international rugby and the sheer physicality is quite different, as Mo'unga found out in the World Cup semi.

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#2544027 18-Aug-2020 21:42

To be fair, in the pundit's defence, they were talking about Barrett the same way before he was an AB. NZ all but demanded him to be included and that turned out pretty well. I don't doubt RM has the same quality, but like any 10, he needs to be going forward so the forwards will need to front. Carter was special too, but to be fair, he was fronted by possibly the most dominant forward packs to wear any national colours. He has said so on multiple occasions.

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