Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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#2556804 4-Sep-2020 10:28

networkn:

I was a bit surprised by this to be honest.

It surprised me. I thought they had improved over last season given the current roster.

So I assume there is another issue (e.g. personality clash) or intention (e.g. Tony Brown as head coach) that has not been publicised.

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#2556807 4-Sep-2020 10:32

Hammerer:

It surprised me. I thought they had improved over last season given the current roster.

So I assume there is another issue (e.g. personality clash) or intention (e.g. Tony Brown as head coach) that has not been publicised.

I also think there is something else significant in play here.

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#2557057 4-Sep-2020 14:48

It could be as simple as money.

He's not been successful at either job he has had. If they want to cut costs an unsuccessful coach is a good place to start.

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#2557058 4-Sep-2020 14:50

Handle9: It could be as simple as money.

He's not been successful at either job he has had. If they want to cut costs an unsuccessful coach is a good place to start.

They need to replace him, they can't run coachless. Assuming coaches cost approximately the same amount of money at Super Rugby level, he probably doesn't earn what Scott Robertson makes, but I can't seem them saving signficantly doing this.

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#2557061 4-Sep-2020 14:54

networkn:
Handle9: It could be as simple as money.

He's not been successful at either job he has had. If they want to cut costs an unsuccessful coach is a good place to start.

They need to replace him, they can't run coachless. Assuming coaches cost approximately the same amount of money at Super Rugby level, he probably doesn't earn what Scott Robertson makes, but I can't seem them saving signficantly doing this.

They have said they plan to retain their current coaches. If Brown becomes head coach and they don't employ anyone else then they have probably saved a couple of hundred thousand.

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#2557063 4-Sep-2020 14:57

Handle9:

They have said they plan to retain their current coaches. If Brown becomes head coach and they don't employ anyone else then they have probably saved a couple of hundred thousand.

Isn't he supposed to be with Joseph in Japan? C19 will have delayed it, but I didn't see anything indicating him as head coach and assistant coach had been canned? I assumed (perhaps incorrectly) he would be heading back to Japan sometime soonish.

If they are dropping down numbers of coaching staff, that's a saving I guess.

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#2557064 4-Sep-2020 15:00

Brown has two more years on his Highlanders deal.

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#2557675 5-Sep-2020 21:02

Great North vs. South game. Hope they turn it into an every year event.

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#2557679 5-Sep-2020 21:23

It was a fun game. The defence was pretty average, as you'd expect when the teams hadn't had much time together. I thought Dunshea, Tom Christie, Sotutu and Clarke looked totally at home with the step up. I was pretty disappointed with the North pack and the South backline never looked good. They had much better ball than the North and never looked fluid.

I thought Damian Mckenzie laid down a marker, his combination with Barrett, Lienart-Brown and Ioane looked really slick. The quality of their passing was much better than the south island.

Fun game and one or two players might have booked an All Blacks jersey. Hopefully they have someone to play but I am getting increasingly doubtful.

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#2557700 6-Sep-2020 01:21

There was some ridiculous skill on display, particularly in the North. The forwards of the South were quite a bit better when the forwards did pick and go, they made ground almost at will. Akira made some good movements, in fact, I thought the tight five from both teams were pretty good overall.

The North was alight with Smith at Halfback. It was SO evident how much faster his delivery of the ball was. Their game probably got 20% faster or more with him passing. DM looked the best he has all year (The South seemed to give him the plenty of space that gives him his electricity which was odd), and 2020 has been Jordie Barretts best in my opinion. I am wondering who will make way for Will Jordan, he has been exceptional all year. I usually prefer to see a player play well for 2 seasons in a row before making the AB's, but he is pretty hard to ignore. The last kick that won the game, they said Mo'unga made it, but he was off at that point, so that would have been Ioane? If they hadn't of scored, North would have been down to 14. They were lucky to not lose by a penalty try for collapsing that last maul.

It was a disgrace that Paul Williams didn't go upstairs for that last North try. He looked held up for sure.

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#2557701 6-Sep-2020 01:29

I don't know if Reece will make it TBH. He's by far the worst of those 4 wingers in the air and didn't look that great. With Ioane also giving them very good wing/centre cover he's probably redundant if Clarke makes it. Clarke's a much bigger man and probably a better bet long term.

Bridge was fairly anonymous as well but that seemed to be by virtue of the poor passing of those inside him.

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#2557702 6-Sep-2020 05:03

Owen Farrell should be getting a very long holiday after his tackle against Wasps today. It's the worst swinging arm I've seen in a very long time.

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#2557925 6-Sep-2020 16:08

Interesting squad. They have picked some young players which I think is the right thing to do. It's really unfortunate that Pari Pari Parkinson is out for the season. He's got the right physical attributes to be a standout lock. Strange and Vaai have the same issue as Patrick Tuipolotu and Scott Barrett, they're a little shorter than you'd like. They may still be very good players but you can't coach size and speed.

They've also named Reiko Ioane as a midfielder rather than a wing. I think he's probably a season away in the midfield. His attack is excellent, his defensive reads are just not quite there yet. He's totally justified his place though and looks back to his form of a couple of years ago.

I really like abrasive players with an edge to them. Despite all the clap trap that gets talked rugby is a game of confrontation and intimidation. Having Ioane in the side brings a real edge without him being a thug. It's the same reason I prefer Coles to start over Taylor. Taylor is probably the more skilful player but Coles brings a physicality and confrontation that Taylor doesn't.

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#2557926 6-Sep-2020 16:11

Handle9: Owen Farrell should be getting a very long holiday after his tackle against Wasps today. It's the worst swinging arm I've seen in a very long time.

Video here

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#2557935 6-Sep-2020 16:15

That's a shocker I watched it earlier. Farrell has long had issues with his tackling I hope he gets a long long break to consider his techniques and attitudes. He knew instantly and I don't think there was any malice but you could cause a life long injury with that tackle.

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