Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#2613431 30-Nov-2020 15:33

Georgia played really well against Ireland who were pretty average. The speed at which their big boys were getting off the ground was impressive even in the last 20 minutes, an area Georgia has struggled. The try they scored was a beauty as well, though if Ireland had of gone wide and stayed composed they could have added probably another 3 tries to their tally, so narrow was Georgias defense at times.

I think Georgia would be happy with that result, as happy with a loss as anyone can be. They also had some good games in the RWC as well.

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#2615628 3-Dec-2020 14:47

I am glad to see Luke Romano in the Crusaders squad this year. He was for me, either one of, if not *the* best forward in Mitre 10 this year. Even though he will be the fifth choice lock, what he brings is worthy of inclusion, I think the Crusaders will be better for his inclusion. His play not be varied or subtle (though he showed some great touches and skill in M10) but we need a couple of seriously hard men not afraid of the collision.

I am not sure how successful the policing of the breakdown and offside in the SRA was this year. It started well, but I think it was killing the game just as much as not doing it, with endless whistling. Teams did adjust, but I am not sure it significantly improved the quality of rugby.

I see at the coaches round table last night, there was a discussion around an offside referee, but whilst it annoys me how often teams are offside, between the line judges, the referee, the TMO, we already spend enough time at the hands of referees.

I sincerely hope that Scott Barrett will set a better example as Captain this year, some of the cynical play was very offputting in 2020.

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#2616318 4-Dec-2020 13:15

I am shocked to see that Josh McKay didn't get a contract in Super Rugby this year. He was good for the Highlanders last year.

Handle9

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#2616528 5-Dec-2020 06:52

networkn:
I am shocked to see that Josh McKay didn't get a contract in Super Rugby this year. He was good for the Highlanders last year.

Probably something to do with this. Continually getting second rate Canterbury players probably isn't a way to have a Highlanders culture.

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300173580/super-rugby-highlanders-lost-their-identity-in-last-few-years-tony-brown

Hammerer

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#2616536 5-Dec-2020 08:10

networkn:

I am glad to see Luke Romano in the Crusaders squad this year. He was for me, either one of, if not *the* best forward in Mitre 10 this year

I'm not sure about him being the best but I can't argue against your porposition. I really enjoyed watching him, he really stood out. I thought he was uncompromising, always doing what had to be done.

By the way, that was a really good point to bring up and I was going to like your post except I found that I disagreed with another point. That's the problem with shotgun posts that cover several points. Maybe keep them separate?

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#2616836 6-Dec-2020 01:17

The MAB v Pacifica game was a fantastic spectacle from start to finish. One of the most enjoyable games I can ever recall. A real celebration. Both challanges made the hair on my arms stand up, totally fantastic. Perofeta had a very average game and the MAV shut down Faingaanuku effectively I thought.

Fakatava continues to impress, though Hall I think has come a long way since his days with the Blues. Both players accuracy and in the pass is streets ahead of TJP.

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#2616837 6-Dec-2020 01:27

Australia vs Argentina, second consecutive draws. I guess Dave Rennie isn't the instant cureall for ARU that the press were raving so animately after the draw with the AB's in Wellington. Finishing third with most games played on home territory isn't great. Hooper contines to be an absoloute workhouse for them, though I'll be a little surprised if he isn't cited for that tackle, it was contact with the head first in every video I saw, and should have been Red. Petiaia hasn't transitioned at all well from Super to test Rugby, it will be a year he will keen to forget. He is young and has time to mature. Gordon is a distant second to White at halfback. Their backs attack looks more badly broken than the AB's, they barely fired a shot in the past 2-3 games. Tupou has a pretty strong career ahead of him, but he needs to learn to control his enthusiam.

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#2616848 6-Dec-2020 08:20

networkn:

The MAB v Pacifica game was a fantastic spectacle from start to finish. One of the most enjoyable games I can ever recall. A real celebration. Both challanges made the hair on my arms stand up, totally fantastic. Perofeta had a very average game and the MAV shut down Faingaanuku effectively I thought.

Fakatava continues to impress, though Hall I think has come a long way since his days with the Blues. Both players accuracy and in the pass is streets ahead of TJP.

For teams that have only been together for a short time, the display that was put on was great and is a credit to the coaching teams.

I am looking forward to a Pasifika team in Super Rugby in 2022 but that is tempered by the realisation that most of the team on display yesterday were players that are already contracted to established Super Rugby franchises. They may be able to form the nucleus of a team from existing SR players and build on that and I’m sure there is plenty of untapped talent out there. But just like the Rebels or the Sunwolves it will take a number of seasons to settle into the competition.

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

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#2616870 6-Dec-2020 09:42

Dingbatt:

For teams that have only been together for a short time, the display that was put on was great and is a credit to the coaching teams.

I am looking forward to a Pasifika team in Super Rugby in 2022 but that is tempered by the realisation that most of the team on display yesterday were players that are already contracted to established Super Rugby franchises. They may be able to form the nucleus of a team from existing SR players and build on that and I’m sure there is plenty of untapped talent out there. But just like the Rebels or the Sunwolves it will take a number of seasons to settle into the competition.

Yeah, there was some great skill shown.

I guess my issue is that SANZAR have not really shown great patience with new teams. The Sunwolves were starting to get some wins on the board and starting to build. They were still getting the odd hiding, but the scorelines were starting to show some signs of progress.

I think even Argentina were removed from SRA right? That may have been a logistics thing though for COVID.

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#2616871 6-Dec-2020 09:44

Man Hodge looked totally crushed when he missed that penalty. It's the kind of thing that really starts to play on your mind as a player. It's a difficult situation to continue to be required to win the big moments. I hope his team and management and soft skills coaches rally around him.

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#2616879 6-Dec-2020 10:45

Another thing in the AU ARG game was the strength of the tackles Argentina were putting in. At one point the ARG 12 picked up and drove back Scott Sio (3), a man some 15-25 KG heavier. It was happening all over the park. By some margin the defense of Argentina this year was the best on show. I know we rorted them in that last game, but honestly, it was still massively impressive.

I wonder if not for the 3 players suspended, if Argentina would have won..

I am going to miss Rugby over summer. As somewhat of a sports fan, there isn't much to keep me interested as Squash shuts down, I don't really like Cricket that much.

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#2618307 8-Dec-2020 19:08

I am still geniuinely shocked that Hooper wasn't cited post game. That's nothing against Hooper. The way these matters is handled consistency wise is awful and I am shocked an independant review wasn't undertaken of the consistency already.

Handle9

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#2618310 8-Dec-2020 19:17

Why would he be cited for a yellow card offense? That's not the criteria.

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#2618317 8-Dec-2020 19:26

Handle9: Why would he be cited for a yellow card offense? That's not the criteria.

Well, depends on whether you think it was yellow or red, but players have been cited after a review of the game for card offenses deemed insufficient punishment. Players have been given red cards for those sorts of tackles.

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#2618324 8-Dec-2020 19:32

networkn:

Handle9: Why would he be cited for a yellow card offense? That's not the criteria.

Well, depends on whether you think it was yellow or red, but players have been cited after a review of the game for card offenses deemed insufficient punishment. Players have been given red cards for those sorts of tackles.

Shoulder to shoulder contact then slipping to the head is a clear yellow card under the framework. There isn't clear evidence to change the ruling so it's straightforward.

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