Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#2921208 1-Jun-2022 09:02

JPNZ:

No surprises to read yesterday after his 12 month extension to the end of 2023 and the world cup that Richie Mo'unga is off to Japan for 2 years. Beauden is also retiring at the end of 2023 world cup so you'd hope some decent 10's start performing next year or the All Blacks are going to be in some rebuild phase for a couple of years.

He is indicating he may, not he will. Also unsure if it's 1 or 2 years I guess it will depend.

When you say BB is retiring, do you mean he is heading overseas for a high paid cushy job or he has indicated he won't be playing Rugby anymore?

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#2921235 1-Jun-2022 09:42

networkn:

He is indicating he may, not he will. Also unsure if it's 1 or 2 years I guess it will depend.

When you say BB is retiring, do you mean he is heading overseas for a high paid cushy job or he has indicated he won't be playing Rugby anymore?

Read between the lines, signed a 12 month extension to 2023. He will go to Japan for 2 years and good on him.

BB has stated he will retire from playing rugby after the WC, have to remember he will be 34 in 2024, what more does he need to play for...

The real question is over the next 18 months who are the number 10's that will step up? NZR need to get a contract back in front of Dmac

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#2921450 1-Jun-2022 15:16

Stephen Perofeta

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#2921470 1-Jun-2022 16:04

Dmac is not a 10. He can be used as a 10 at a pinch, but for the Chiefs and AB's he has proven he needs more time and space to do what he does best. He is also fairly mercurial, though less so than he used to be, but, also makes less line breaks since he became more predictable.

The problem is at 15, whilst he can be a game-breaker, he lacks the size of Barrett, which is useful under the high ball, and doesn't have the prodigious kick of Barrett either. Defensively, whilst unquestionably brave, he isn't a huge guy either.

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#2921478 1-Jun-2022 16:07

tukapa1: Stephen Perofeta

He has been good this season (Esp from the T), but has been mixed in seasons prior. He also hasn't really been tested that much, the Blues have had a reasonably easy run in the regular season.

Certainly, if he can continue his form into next year etc, and prove himself under pressure, I have no issue with him putting his hand up for the job.

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#2923341 6-Jun-2022 20:40

Well with the exceptional *maybe* of the Brumbies game, I think all the results went the way they were expected (though I felt the Brumbies would be too good for the Hurricanes).

I took my kids to the Blues game on Friday night. The Highlanders were absolutely awful. Under Tony Brown they have gone backwards pretty handily. Throughout the season they have had inventive lineout moves and pretty much nothing in the way of basics consistently delivered. The score was pretty much a summation of their season.

Unfortunately, only about 10 of the Blues came to meet the fans after the game, though some were generous with their time, hanging around quite a while. Not a Highlander to be seen after the game, which was pretty disappointing. Lots and lots of kids looking for their favourite players....

The Crusaders Reds score probably didn't reflect the game really I didn't think. The Crusaders seemed to still be struggling in many areas. They have periods where they look like title contenders, and other times I wonder how they even got this far.

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#2923431 7-Jun-2022 09:55

Dick of the week goes to Tupea of the Chiefswho thought it a good idea to go and laugh in the face and rub in the mistake made by a Waratah which led to a try. Disappointing behaviour really.

Overall though, I thought the Chiefs looked very good and I expect it to be a pretty tough match between them and the Crusaders.

The Chiefs have a reasonable winning record over the Crusaders compared to most other teams.

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#2924634 10-Jun-2022 11:09

Two cracking semi finals this weekend. I expect both will be very close, 1-12 either team in both games.

Crusaders probably hold a slight advantage over the chiefs with home ground. For the Blues the weather is going to be very wet so I wouldn't be surprised to see the Brumbies stronger forward pack REALLY push them close.

Bring on the games!

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#2924636 10-Jun-2022 11:20

Playoffs is always a bit unpredictable and there are no second chances. I am more nervous about facing the Chiefs than I would be about almost any other team, given they have already beaten us at home once this season, and they seem to be a team that seem find a way past us. The Crusaders season hasn't been as dominant as it usually is, and a lot of our performances have been pretty mixed. Having said that, we lost to the Blues and could have won even down to 13 men, and I wouldn't expect that situation to repeat itself (I think the ball passed to any other player would have seen that last try scored).

I think we will probably be too strong for them at home, but won't be surprised if we slip up. If we win and go to the final in Auckland, I think we can definitely win the title.

I am hoping cards (Discipline) and referee howlers don't mar the remaining games (for anyone).

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#2924648 10-Jun-2022 11:50

networkn:

I think we will probably be too strong for them at home, but won't be surprised if we slip up. If we win and go to the final in Auckland, I think we can definitely win the title.

I am hoping cards (Discipline) and referee howlers don't mar the remaining games (for anyone).

Agree 100% on both these points

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#2925909 13-Jun-2022 10:00

What a game between the Chiefs and Crusaders.

An absolute brilliant effort in defence. A record-breaking number of tackles. Not to mention 14 men for 30 minutes. They really stood up for Razer and Jase Ryan in their 100th together. There was a really nice heartfelt bit after the game with the coaches and the presentation. It's clear those two men really care about their team and the players feel the same way in reverse.

The Chiefs were probably fortunate they didn't get picked up on Nankeville checking Jordan twice in the race to the ball at the Chiefs end of the field. Without that, very likely Jordan would have beaten the defender to the ball and most likely scored. Should really have been reviewed. I think you could easily have been looking at a penalty try.

The Crusaders win was their 26th consecutive play-offs win. That is something pretty amazing I think!

The prior record for tackles in a game was Crusaders Chiefs earlier in the season.

Blues - Brumbies. McKellar was pretty unhappy post-game about the referring near the end of the game and I can see why. Should really have been a penalty to the Brumbies for Romano holding on despite Luke Reimer clearly having hands on the ball and supporting his own body weight.

I think if both Teams play the way they did this weekend, next weekend, the Crusaders will probably win, though I expect home advantage to help the Blues fairly next week.

I think it's going to be a titanic match, I just hope discipline isn't the deciding factor.

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#2925912 13-Jun-2022 10:14

networkn:

What a game between the Chiefs and Crusaders.

An absolute brilliant effort in defence. A record-breaking number of tackles. Not to mention 14 men for 30 minutes. They really stood up for Razer and Jase Ryan in their 100th together. There was a really nice heartfelt bit after the game with the coaches and the presentation. It's clear those two men really care about their team and the players feel the same way in reverse.

The Chiefs were probably fortunate they didn't get picked up on Nankeville checking Jordan twice in the race to the ball at the Chiefs end of the field. Without that, very likely Jordan would have beaten the defender to the ball and most likely scored. Should really have been reviewed. I think you could easily have been looking at a penalty try.

The Crusaders win was their 26th consecutive play-offs win. That is something pretty amazing I think!

The prior record for tackles in a game was Crusaders Chiefs earlier in the season.

Blues - Brumbies. McKellar was pretty unhappy post-game about the referring near the end of the game and I can see why. Should really have been a penalty to the Brumbies for Romano holding on despite Luke Reimer clearly having hands on the ball and supporting his own body weight.

I think if both Teams play the way they did this weekend, next weekend, the Crusaders will probably win, though I expect home advantage to help the Blues fairly next week.

I think it's going to be a titanic match, I just hope discipline isn't the deciding factor.

Mirrors my thoughts pretty much spot on, well said.

Crusaders looked phenomenal on Friday, defense wins championships and thats the best defensive performance by any team this year. In fact I'd rate it up there with the 2000 final in Canberra when they tackled the brumbies to death, had almost no ball and won the match. To add to your thoughts above how's this for a stat from Friday...

"Over the 80mins the Chiefs spent 10min21sec in the Crusaders’ 22 and the Crusaders were in theirs for just 56 seconds." to top that off the Crusaders won by 13 points.

If I were a Blues supporter and looking at the two matches on the weekend I would be very sheepish going into the final. Here's another worthy stat.

The Blues last beat the Crusaders at Eden Park on… 28 February 2014 😲

Matera doesn't really have a case to answer with a team YC and a very minor IMO 2nd YC. I have it on good authority that Whitelock will be fit to play and Taylor was managing a calf complaint on Friday and came off early as a precaution. Pretty confident the Crusaders will roll out the same team they named for the semi

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#2925914 13-Jun-2022 10:18

I agree with almost all of what I have seen from potential selections from the 36 to be announced in a few hours time, with the exception of the inclusion of RTS.

I have nothing against the guy, but I just haven't seen him do enough to make the National side. We have a log jam in midfield compared to other positions (like prop or lock) and if you were going to 'experiment' surely, adding an extra prop to try and get them up to test level would make more sense?

He isn't, based on what I have seen to date, a game-changer, he is certainly no more impressive than any of the other midfielders currently, and it feels a little like a marketing thing. He doesn't seem to have the obvious qualities as say SBW, and whilst we have seen *some* decent progress, any other name doing the same thing likely wouldn't be getting a call-up. Is there some impending exodus of midfielders that isn't obvious?

If he is called up, I hope he shows some serious improvement and becomes something special.

Perofeta has been consistently excellent throughout the season for the Blues. With Luke Romano being probably their top forward, SP and BB have been their best backs. Who do they leave out though? DM isn't eligible right now, but is he even still in the conversation anymore? At best he would be injury call up I think. He didn't play that well last year at either SR or test level and with Jordans form, and Jordies height, size and bigger boot, I am not sure he would even fit in if eligible? I don't see Jordie at Midfield and I really really hope they don't continue putting him on the wing.

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#2926343 14-Jun-2022 10:36

Four of the Six new names were slightly surprising to me.

Leicester Fainga’anuku

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

Pita Gus Sowakula

Aidan Ross

I've covered my reservations around RTS. LF has been playing out of his skin, it gives them another power winger, and yet another midfielder. PGS indicates they still aren't happy with their loose forward trio. Not unhappy about Ross, I think as I mentioned above, another prop in the ranks may prove to be beneficial. They are clearly looking for players who can consistently get gain line advantage. I'd like to see more dominant tackles in defense this year too (safely).

Whilst I've not been a fan of TJP as a half-back at test level, because of his very average distribution and ruck clearance, it's still a bit of shame for him. Whilst the door isn't totally shut, one would think that is likely the end Weber will probably be feeling slightly hard done by.

On the breakdown last night, they were talking about BB and how much more direct he is recently, and how much he is taking the line, and seeing some of that acceleration that made him a household name, is really great. The commentary was that they believe it's the fact he has Perofeta and Christie who he trusts to continue their flow of ball, if he is no longer in the chain due to being tackled. I think that's probably right. Playing like that requires confidence, in yourself, your body, your skills and your teammates. He clearly has it.

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#2926414 14-Jun-2022 12:34

TJP handled his exclusion with his usual class, on social media, kudos to him. He is likely from what I read, to be in the Maori All Blacks regardless, and could still get called up if Aaron Smiths groin doesn't get better pretty quickly, though personally, I'd *probably* take Weber first.

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