Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#2707085 13-May-2021 16:28

Handle9: I'll get it looked at when you trade in your eye patch

I've spent almost as much time criticising them this year as you have. Almost.

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networkn

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#2707096 13-May-2021 16:38

I would like to see Havilli make a move permanently into the midfield for the Crusaders, it does seem like they do see his temporary move there as being very successful. I'd like to see him have another go in Black too, esp with Goodhue out. He has been really very good, and is able to play pretty much any position in the backline, and well.

I saw some commentary this week along the All Blacks having not won a world cup without specialist 10's and 15's and wingers deployed. Jordie Barrett is a good player and his height is an obvious advantage, along with his decent kicking from the tee, and his raking punt, but he really shouldn't be on the wing. Goodhue and ALB need to switch back to their proper 12-13 jerseys, I still can't see why Foster insisted on them the other way around.

It would seem that Frizell probably played himself into the 6 jerseys for the AB's this year, though it would seem less likely depending on the outcome of the accusations of assault against him. Akira had a pretty average 2021 season compared to 2020, it will be interesting to see if he can keep his place.

I think COVID has really messed with the RWC plans for most teams, effectively giving them a year less in preparation. I wonder how this will impact how we get some younger players game time. As mentioned in the breakdown this week, we may need to sacrifice a few test matches to get some of these forwards (and backs to a lesser degree) some game time. Foster is really screwed either way. He has to do this, but every match we lose, people will lose their minds and immediately call for his head.

Mo'unga hasn't been to the same highs with test rugby as with super rugby, but they need to give him a reasonable run at 10 to help him get more confidence.

All in all, I think it's going to be interesting to see what the squad looks like.

Handle9

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#2707107 13-May-2021 16:59

Ben Smith, specialist fullback*

*except when he.played 14.

Richard Kahui, specialist winger*

Except when he played his whole career at centre.

Corey Jane, specialist winger*

* Except when he played fullback

It's a load of cobblers

cshwone

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#2707117 13-May-2021 17:28

As a relatively recent import into the country, only 16 years, I support the Hurricanes as they're my local team.

So a few years ago I regarded the Chiefs as thugs but somehow they got away with it and took the title.

This year I regard the Crusaders as thugs but somehow they got away with it and took the title.

GV27

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#2708047 15-May-2021 21:12

That was not a particularly convincing hit-out for the Crusaders.

The first try was off a forward pass that was not even close to borderline, yet instantly awarded. How did three officials and a TMO not even see something worth reviewing, just to check?

They were gifted some incredibly suspect penalties and a player who looked in need a blood transfusion was able to score a try before being sent to the blood bin.

In the end the game was close on the board but the Brumbies gave them an incredibly hard time and were unlucky not to come away with the win tonight, which they looked more deserving of than most Super Rugby Aotearoa teams.

tukapa1

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#2708048 15-May-2021 21:20

GV27:

That was not a particularly convincing hit-out for the Crusaders.

The first try was off a forward pass that was not even close to borderline, yet instantly awarded. How did three officials and a TMO not even see something worth reviewing, just to check?

They were gifted some incredibly suspect penalties and a player who looked in need a blood transfusion was able to score a try before being sent to the blood bin.

In the end the game was close on the board but the Brumbies gave them an incredibly hard time and were unlucky not to come away with the win tonight, which they looked more deserving of than most Super Rugby Aotearoa teams.

Not to mention professional fouls which just got worse the longer the game went in. That deliberate killing of the play must be coached it happens that much. And why didn't Reece go to the bin n the last minute? He should have been sent straight away.

Dingbatt

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#2708153 16-May-2021 10:06

What stood out to me over the weekend of TT rugby was that the four teams in last weekend’s finals underperformed this week. Particularly evident in the last 20 minutes of each game they were involved in.

Thirty minutes into the Crusaders/Brumbies game had me ready to switch channels to “Married at first pop star chef” on another channel. Scrum reset after scrum reset and both teams determined to slow down and kill the ball made it almost unbearable to watch. Luckily it did pick up a bit after that, but it was still a dire match to watch.

The Chiefs/Force match was similar with the added impact of a 4 hour timezone change. The Chiefs started of with some fizz, that quickly fizzled. McKenzie had another ordinary night, and such is his talismanic affect on the team, that the Chiefs were pretty ordinary too.

Jacobsen’s second yellow that was then automatically red was a bit of a head scratcher. Penalised for not rolling away, he was a good foot away from the ball with his arms stretched away from it, pinned by a Force player. The ball was clearly available to the Force halfback. So much so, that Bouchier was able to lean over from the other side of the ruck and pick it up.

Haven’t had a chance to watch the (try-fest) Hurricanes/Warratahs or Blues/Rebels yet. But that is the plan for a (this) Sunday afternoon.

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

networkn

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#2708155 16-May-2021 10:33

Dingbatt:

What stood out to me over the weekend of TT rugby was that the four teams in last weekend’s finals underperformed this week. Particularly evident in the last 20 minutes of each game they were involved in.

Thirty minutes into the Crusaders/Brumbies game had me ready to switch channels to “Married at first pop star chef” on another channel. Scrum reset after scrum reset and both teams determined to slow down and kill the ball made it almost unbearable to watch. Luckily it did pick up a bit after that, but it was still a dire match to watch.

The Chiefs/Force match was similar with the added impact of a 4 hour timezone change. The Chiefs started of with some fizz, that quickly fizzled. McKenzie had another ordinary night, and such is his talismanic affect on the team, that the Chiefs were pretty ordinary too.

Jacobsen’s second yellow that was then automatically red was a bit of a head scratcher. Penalised for not rolling away, he was a good foot away from the ball with his arms stretched away from it, pinned by a Force player. The ball was clearly available to the Force halfback. So much so, that Bouchier was able to lean over from the other side of the ruck and pick it up.

Haven’t had a chance to watch the (try-fest) Hurricanes/Warratahs or Blues/Rebels yet. But that is the plan for a (this) Sunday afternoon.

I thought the cards were fair enough, but agree with everything else.

I really think they needed a week break between the two competitions. It was pretty obvious the top 4 teams were really struggling.

afe66

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#2708165 16-May-2021 13:18

After the crusaders 21 was yellow carded for cheating and repeated penalties why wasn't another player sent off at very next play when another defensive penalty given away...

Brumies deserved to win that. I agree the crusaders try was way forward.

Re finals teams playing badly ? Alcohol fueled post finals celebrations

networkn

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#2708229 16-May-2021 20:13

cshwone: As a relatively recent import into the country, only 16 years, I support the Hurricanes as they're my local team.

So a few years ago I regarded the Chiefs as thugs but somehow they got away with it and took the title.

This year I regard the Crusaders as thugs but somehow they got away with it and took the title.

According to stats on screen last night, Hurricanes led the competition (SRA 2021) for penalties per game and cards for the season. I was pretty surprised by that. Honestly, I expected the Crusaders to lead in penalties per game easily.

networkn

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#2708230 16-May-2021 20:19

After a clean sweep by NZ teams, I really feel that Australian Rugby hasn't gone far this season. The two close games really shouldn't have been. Yet again Australia struggling to keep up with the pace of our game here. Doesn't bode that well for the international season. Aussie are always good for a few surprises. It will be interesting to see how much Rugby the new Wallabies that were blooded get this season, it's pretty much the same in NZ, with effectively a years less prep, I suspect we need to potentially sacrifice some wins in exchange for getting players some experience.

I wonder if they will delay the RWC by 1 Year. Held to the original timeframe, I don't think it's going to be a good indication of who's the best, rather who has had the most lockdowns.

Handle9

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#2708261 16-May-2021 23:46

networkn:

I wonder if they will delay the RWC by 1 Year. Held to the original timeframe, I don't think it's going to be a good indication of who's the best, rather who has had the most lockdowns.

Zero chance. The world cup is about generating revenue.

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#2708351 17-May-2021 11:16

So, our initial international schedule is up, 2 games against Fiji and 1 against Tonga. I wonder if we will make bold choices with selections. We may not actually have any chance, the injuries to "first choice" players will probably play a reasonable part in deciding our sides.

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#2710038 20-May-2021 10:34

The Silver Lake thing has been going on for a while.

I am not sure what the structure of NZR is, but as far as I can tell, there isn't an owner at the top taking all the profits out of NZR each year. The people making the decisions are salaried staff, perhaps with performance bonuses. They are custodians of NZR rather than people who would directly profit significantly from any decisions they make (I think?). It seems to me, that both NZR and NZR Players Association want what is best for Rugby in NZ in the long term but differ in their opinion of how that should be done.

The issue seems to largely be with TV rights. I think the idea is that Silver Lake will have a better chance of selling media rights internationally, which will generate income for all parties concerned. I think the issue NZRPA has is that there isn't a detailed enough plan on how that's being achieved. I am inclined to agree with that.

I must admit to feeling trepidation at the thought of selling 12% to an off-shore organisation.

It's hard to know what's really happening. What little is being reported in the press is likely a pretty small chunk and is likely tilted to one side or the other.

Rugbypass.com owned by Sky, is already offering NZ Rugby games internationally, is the concern they can't reach the same number of punters as whomever Silver Lake partners with for content delivery?

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#2710039 20-May-2021 10:35

I am seriously considering taking my kids to Eden Park this Saturday. They enjoyed the last time we went. I am less enthused, but there is a 2-1 offer available now which makes the 2 kids $15 total.

2.30pm Gates open
3.00pm Black Ferns Sevens v. Australia Women
3.23pm All Blacks Sevens v. Australia Men
4.35pm Blues v. Waratahs
6.40pm Black Ferns Sevens v. Australia Women
7.03pm All Blacks Sevens v. Australia Men

That's an almost unbelievable value.

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