Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#2669941 8-Mar-2021 10:59

afe66: Obviously because the chief are a great team when the opponents have 14 players. ;-)

They looked pretty good even before that happened. They had control of the start of the match.

networkn

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#2669945 8-Mar-2021 11:05

I did not expect the scoreline of the Crusaders Hurricanes game. I am a bit sad to see the backline of the 'canes, once the envy of all other teams in NZ, to have fallen away so dramatically. Right now, Ardie is for the Canes, as Hooper is for the 'Tahs. When he went off, they went backward pretty quickly. When he came back on, they looked *much* more composed and together.

Someone mentioned online something I thought was quite interesting. The 'canes didn't have anyone really close to Garden Bachop, in support of him, but there were 6 Crusaders in the frame. Sevu is really quick, he was on the ground when GB made his intercept, got up and still chased him down.

Julien Savea does look a little more free, and less wooden than he did previously, though he didn't get much of a chance last night.

Dallas McLeod had another fantastic game and Taylor seems to be getting better as time goes on. The little flick out of the back by Whitelock was beautiful as well. Will Jordan is just a freak,

JPNZ

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#2670058 8-Mar-2021 12:40

The Hurricanes will not get to previous years levels this year, the loss of TJP is insurmountable. The amount of poorly directed passes or even worse passes going behind players ruins all attacking motion. They have a VERY green 9/10 (two of the most important positions in the game) so I doubt there will be any miracle improvement this season. They will be battling the chiefs for the wooden spoon.

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Jas777

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#2670082 8-Mar-2021 13:37

JPNZ:

The Hurricanes will not get to previous years levels this year, the loss of TJP is insurmountable. The amount of poorly directed passes or even worse passes going behind players ruins all attacking motion. They have a VERY green 9/10 (two of the most important positions in the game) so I doubt there will be any miracle improvement this season. They will be battling the chiefs for the wooden spoon.

Don't think TJP will make them any better than 3rd and still probably 4th.

They need to go hard after Fakatava and either get one of the Blues back up 1st fives or see if allowed to go overseas for one for an interim step.

networkn

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#2670098 8-Mar-2021 13:45

JPNZ:

The Hurricanes will not get to previous years levels this year, the loss of TJP is insurmountable. The amount of poorly directed passes or even worse passes going behind players ruins all attacking motion. They have a VERY green 9/10 (two of the most important positions in the game) so I doubt there will be any miracle improvement this season. They will be battling the chiefs for the wooden spoon.

You mean there are half backs in NZ with a worse pass than TJP!? :)

Excluding that, yes I understand he brings other things to the team.

networkn

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#2670454 9-Mar-2021 13:06

One thing I was disappointed about in the Crusaders game was the captain's referral for the Crusaders not even resulting in a penalty. I have seen games where that would have been Red, or at least yellow, but no question in my mind it was a penalty at the very least.

The consistency around this annoying.

networkn

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#2670457 9-Mar-2021 13:10

I am very wary of the Chiefs, this weekend against the Crusaders. The Chiefs seem to really get up for those matches and they are so unpredictable.

I'd like to see us really ensure our kicks are out, and we don't give them counter attack possibilities, and if we do, ensure there is no space to exploit.

Also, avoiding intercepts.

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networkn

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#2672043 11-Mar-2021 23:14

Sonny Bill Williams retires from both codes of Rugby.

What an amazing career and athlete.

Grunta47

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#2672138 12-Mar-2021 08:03

networkn:

I am very wary of the Chiefs, this weekend against the Crusaders. The Chiefs seem to really get up for those matches and they are so unpredictable.

Unfortunately I don't really see the Chiefs being within 20 points of the Crusaders. They're just not the team from a few seasons ago and whether this is down to coaching or just the wrong players is still to be figured out.

They would have had a good review of that collapse against the Highlanders, but a week to turn that performance around and meet the top team may just be a bit too much.

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#2672151 12-Mar-2021 08:48

Grunta47:

networkn:

I am very wary of the Chiefs, this weekend against the Crusaders. The Chiefs seem to really get up for those matches and they are so unpredictable.

Unfortunately I don't really see the Chiefs being within 20 points of the Crusaders. They're just not the team from a few seasons ago and whether this is down to coaching or just the wrong players is still to be figured out.

They would have had a good review of that collapse against the Highlanders, but a week to turn that performance around and meet the top team may just be a bit too much.

For me, I'm be more worried about the Crusaders discipline than a win by them at this stage. I'd like them to win, but it's really making me grind my teeth that both the Crusaders and AB's are so undisciplined the past few seasons.

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#2673970 13-Mar-2021 20:30

Far out!

What’s the point of a Captain’s challenge when the TMO clearly (as obvious from the second angle) makes a mistake, awards a penalty try and puts Webber in the bin.

No wonder the Chiefs can’t win playing against 17 men (with 14).

Note: I didn’t expect them to beat the champions, but the officials are making it impossible.

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GV27

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#2673977 13-Mar-2021 20:44

Dingbatt:

Far out!

What’s the point of a Captain’s challenge when the TMO clearly (as obvious from the second angle) makes a mistake, awards a penalty try and puts Webber in the bin.

No wonder the Chiefs can’t win playing against 17 men (with 14).

Note: I didn’t expect them to beat the champions, but the officials are making it impossible.

Now will we see an apology from the powers that be in light of this obviously wrong call like the Crusaders seem to get in the week following a howler, or will they get the same treatment the Blues have had to endure when it comes to some of the shocking cards and calls they've had in the last few years... which is just stony silence.

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#2674011 13-Mar-2021 22:15

It was quite an error by the TMO, which unleased quite a series of consquences for the Chiefs.

Having said that, the commentary before the start of the match was insightful, in saying that if the Chiefs could capitilize on what has been a terrible start to the Crusaders in discipline and make good decisions with the options they had, then the Chiefs would have a chance. So many penalties by the Chiefs actually created the opposite situation, and honestly, some of their decision making and leadership was extremely average (why would you opt for a defensive scrum when every single scrum had resulted in a penalty?!). Chiefs would have lost someone to the bin within a couple of minutes I think, they were 8 in at that point. Damien MacKenzie did really well at 9.

Leicester Faingaanuku's try in the corner was an absoloute screamer. One of the best I've ever seen scored.

The Crusaders were just totally relentless against the Chiefs line, and whilst I felt the Chiefs were very good defensively on the whole, including defending the maul, there wouldn't be many if any teams around, that could defend that much pressure for that long.

Fergus Burke is a clearly better second option first five than Cameron. Richie Mo'unga was on fire tonight, some total wizardry at points.

Whilst sitting at Sals last night with my kids, I was watching league on the big screen. It's clear Rugby is just going to end up being the same game. Captains challenge and the change to in goal groundings, coming directly from League. I am not really a fan of either so far.

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#2674061 14-Mar-2021 07:08

The biggest thing is (certainly going by weeks 1&2) that the Chiefs seem to be a 50 minute team. The last half hour being where they are falling away. Combine that with the same portion of the game traditionally being the strongest for the Crusaders and it was a “stick a fork in this, it is done”.

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Handle9

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#2674064 14-Mar-2021 07:31

France England was an absolute classic. The first half was probably the best half of rugby I've watched since the world cup. Intense, very few errors and very little whistle or kicking. The second french try was an absolutely superb set piece move.

The second half got a bit looser and a lot more penalties. England managed to get up. Really enjoyable game.

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