Handle9:

The same way Jack Goodhue was moving upward in the super rugby final.

Whataboutism isn't an answer. 

networkn:

Handle9:

The same way Jack Goodhue was moving upward in the super rugby final.

Whataboutism isn't an answer. 

 

Handle9:

Whataboutism is ok for Ta’avao but not other tackles?

It’s still a mystery how you thought he would get 4+ weeks if found to have committed a red card offence.

You are very good at trying to misdirect. It's a simple enough question? If he is moving forward, or upward, how can that be considered 'absorbing'. I could understand if he was trying to lower or was totally static or even going backward.

Standard discount is not automatic. Whilst it's almost always applied, he seriously injured Rettalick, which might have lowered his mitigation somewhat. I also thought he had previously been warned, but I may have misread that.

networkn:

When is the squad for SA named? Is it next week Wednesday or was it supposed to be today?

 

networkn:

Handle9:

Whataboutism is ok for Ta’avao but not other tackles?

It’s still a mystery how you thought he would get 4+ weeks if found to have committed a red card offence.

You are very good at trying to misdirect. It's a simple enough question? If he is moving forward, or upward, how can that be considered 'absorbing'. I could understand if he was trying to lower or was totally static or even going backward.

Standard discount is not automatic. Whilst it's almost always applied, he seriously injured Rettalick, which might have lowered his mitigation somewhat. I also thought he had previously been warned, but I may have misread that.

 

itxtme:

Dingbatt:

Pretty much everything surrounding a rolling maul. The only time in the field of play when you are allowed to be in an offside position, ahead of the ball carrier, actively obstructing defenders trying to get to the ball. And the defenders aren’t allowed to ‘clear’ obstructers or impede them by tackling. The repetition of lineout, rolling maul, penalty, lineout, rolling maul, penalty, until a try is scored is ruining the game. I believe the rule was instituted to negate Southern Hemisphere running rugby in favour of Northern Hemisphere forward dominance.

What really annoys me about the rolling maul is one in which a player is held up to create a maul.  The intention of the attacking player was to get to ground but being held up there is apperently no offside line, and anyone from the opposing team actively runs in grabs at the attacking player from any direction they like, and a turnover is called.  The maul rules remain, so if they are being held and a maul called, the players need to join from the onside line - infuriating! 

Handle9:

 

The test isn’t static, it’s passive. 

How can you be passive, raising yourself up or forward, directly prior to the impact?

networkn:

Handle9:

The test isn’t static, it’s passive. 

How can you be passive, raising yourself up or forward, directly prior to the impact?

 

artbloke:

 

Handle9: This made me lol

https://thespinoff.co.nz/sports/19-07-2022/next-all-blacks-test-cancelled-due-to-mean-press

 

😀

 

By not fronting up to the media the NZRU & Head & assistant coaches were basically throwing their toys out the cote, pathetic !

 

It had nothing to do with the coaches. They were doing as they were told.

Dingbatt:

 

Wayne Barnes’ comment in Saturday’s game, “It may be a dumb rule, but it is still a rule” (or words to that effect) rang true with me and got me thinking. Are there any ‘dumb’ rules that you think should be changed? Here’s a couple off the top of my head;

 

Pretty much everything surrounding a rolling maul. The only time in the field of play when you are allowed to be in an offside position, ahead of the ball carrier, actively obstructing defenders trying to get to the ball. And the defenders aren’t allowed to ‘clear’ obstructers or impede them by tackling. The repetition of lineout, rolling maul, penalty, lineout, rolling maul, penalty, until a try is scored is ruining the game. I believe the rule was instituted to negate Southern Hemisphere running rugby in favour of Northern Hemisphere forward dominance.

 

That the ball has to be lifted clear of the ground by the halfback before defenders can advance. I believe as soon as the halfback puts their hands on the ball they should be fair game. It would avoid the feinting moves that halfbacks try and also the huge pauses that happen between touching the ball and lifting it off the ground.

 

The biggest change rugby could make at the moment is providing clarity and differentiation around head contact. 

If the red card threshold is to remain where it is it should be illegal to tackle above the waist. Then it's a penalty for a tackle above the waist, a yellow card for a tackle that is near the shoulders and a red card for contact of the head. 

The downside is it would probably result in more concussions as around 75% of concussions are on the tackler.

networkn:

 

So, does anyone have anything positive to say about the series against Ireland? 

 

I thought Bower did reasonably well, seemed to be pretty mobile throughout. I thought some of our offloading from the forwards showed promise. I thought the skills handling in the wet in the first test were very impressive, esp for the first test of the year. 

 

We showed periods on attack where we were finding holes.

 

A lot of players played ok. Given the overall lack of cohesion it's really hard to say who played really well though.

Bower seems better than Moody at this point, he can stay on the park which is a huge positive. Moody looks like he's entering the Franks zone where his body has given up and he can't be relied on. It's happened to Whitelock and Retalick as well, they can't stay fit for 3 games in a row.

Taukiaho is the clear standout for development in the forwards. He's played well now for nearly a year and should really be given the opportunity to start. Taylor hasn't stood up for a while now in physical contests and may provide more value off the bench before his inevitable move overseas in 2025.

Fakatava looked good enough and Reece and both Ioanes played ok. For all the crap that gets talked about Rieko there's been crickets about the quality of his passing and decision making in this series - it's hard to remember him taking a bad option. He was used as playmater in the first test and it worked pretty well. He's constantly improved as a centre which is more than can be said for a number of other players.

Fainganuku was probably the biggest disappointment of the new guys. He looks a bit too slow as an international wing and could end up in the Bridge zone. He might improve but the top end pace doesn't look to be there to be an international finisher. He should get more opportunities but he'll have to do more than he showed.

Yeah, I'd agree with most of that. Fainganuku seemed quite out of sorts, I can't imagine that yellow card did his confidence any favours. I hope they give him some more chances, he certainly showed some toe for the Crusaders. I imagine being a new All Black right now isn't that easy to be honest. He has the advantage over Bridge that he is quite a bit bigger and stronger, and can play well in the centres. (though when Bridge was in form he did really well despite seeming quite small compared to all the other players on the park).

It could be he doesn't quite have the top end speed and he ends up a centre. He's a big lad so should provide value there.

I certainly would hate it if he got dumped, you can't judge a player on a couple of games. Jordie Barrett is a great example of how giving a player time to develop, if you think he's good enough, can result in a an excellent player. Nonu and Conrad Smith were the same - neither were automatic choices until their mid 20s.

Handle9:

 

It could be he doesn't quite have the top end speed and he ends up a centre. He's a big lad so should provide value there.

 

I certainly would hate it if he got dumped, you can't judge a player on a couple of games. Jordie Barrett is a great example of how giving a player time to develop, if you think he's good enough, can result in a an excellent player. Nonu and Conrad Smith were the same - neither were automatic choices until their mid 20s.

 

I think one of the things I like about the AB's is that they do tend to give a player time to develop, and they are generally pretty supportive around directing players on how they can improve, but then equally, they don't really have a great deal of patience if you aren't putting in the equal effort. Julien Savea was an example of that. I am still stunned how he went from possibly being one of the worlds best wingers ever to nothing pretty much overnight.

I think LF has some great potential as a 12. He has the physicality.

I'm interested to see who makes the cut and who doesn't on Friday. I suspect they will drop Cane as captain, pretty sure he will still make the squad though. I wasn't in favour of him being captain, though I have nothing against the guy at all. I think he's been a pretty solid AB. I haven't minded him at captain though I don't think he did himself any favours against the anti Cane crowd in the third test.