Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#2963555 5-Sep-2022 17:24

Handle9:

The only teams putting consistent performances together are France and Ireland. Everyone else is up and down for a variety of reasons but it's fair to say that international rugby is far more competitive than it's ever been.

The All Blacks won a lot of games in the 2000s by being fitter than their opponents. That's long gone, everyone is very well conditioned.

I do think teams are generally a year behind where they normally would be in the WC cycle, but I agree, I can't recall a time where anyone in the top 8 could beat another in the top 8 on a day.

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#2963565 5-Sep-2022 17:32

networkn:

I predict Scott Barrett will be developing his blindside flanker further. Seems a logical time to do it.

That really only makes sense if they start Va'ai. Retalick is made of glass at this point.

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#2963566 5-Sep-2022 17:34

networkn:

I am not sure they are going to end up using Tuivasa-Sheck at all, he hasn't been named in the 33-man squad for Australia and has been sent back to NPC. I personally think that's the right decision, if it's been determined he isn't test quality.

They kept Ennor and he's clearly not test quality.

They decided they didn't need 3 2nd 5s for a one off game.

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#2963568 5-Sep-2022 17:41

Handle9:

That really only makes sense if they start Va'ai. Retalick is made of glass at this point.

Are you suggesting any other player who had their cheek smashed into by the head of a player at near full speed wouldn't have a fractured cheekbone? I think you are overstating his fragility somewhat :)

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#2963569 5-Sep-2022 17:42

networkn:

Handle9:

That really only makes sense if they start Va'ai. Retalick is made of glass at this point.

Are you suggesting any other player who had their cheek smashed into by the head of a player at near full speed wouldn't have a fractured cheekbone? I think you are overstating his fragility somewhat :)

How many super rugby games did he play this year?

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#2963589 5-Sep-2022 18:54

Handle9:

How many super rugby games did he play this year?

He has had an unfortunate number of injuries, the majority of which were done to him rather than some inherent weakness in his body (compared to Coles and his calves for example). He's had a concussion, broken thumb and a broken cheekbone.

Based on that, he isn't any more or less likely than any other player to not be on the field.

Characterizing him as made of glass seems unreasonable. Goodhue would someone I would put somewhat in that category.

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#2963596 5-Sep-2022 19:03

networkn:
Handle9:

How many super rugby games did he play this year?

He has had an unfortunate number of injuries, the majority of which were done to him rather than some inherent weakness in his body (compared to Coles and his calves for example). He's had a concussion, broken thumb and a broken cheekbone.

Based on that, he isn't any more or less likely than any other player to not be on the field.

Characterizing him as made of glass seems unreasonable. Goodhue would someone I would put somewhat in that category.

And a severe shoulder injury in 2019.

He’s in his thirties and his body has a lot of miles. It’s not normally something that gets better once a guy his age gets a pattern of injuries.

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#2963839 6-Sep-2022 11:29

Lukhanyo Am out for the rest of the international season by the looks. That is hugely bad news for the Springboks.

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#2963884 6-Sep-2022 14:51

Handle9:

That really only makes sense if they start Va'ai.

That's probably true and given they have called up Jacobsen as cover....

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#2964367 7-Sep-2022 17:33

Dear God! Scotty Stevenson will be commentating games during the Womens RWC! I guess I'll be watching those matches on mute! Perhaps they could get Sonny Bill Williams to join him from the sidelines and make it a special kind of unsurvivable torture. You could get Sean Maloney in on it too, and then you'd have the Axis of commentating agony.

Perhaps they are trying to use that ear bleeding experience to encourage people to go to the games live instead!

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#2964369 7-Sep-2022 17:39

At least he’ll be able to correctly identify the players and see where they are on the field, unlike Grant Nisbett.

Stevenson has the added benefit of actually knowing the laws, unlike Justin Marshall.

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#2964370 7-Sep-2022 17:44

Handle9: At least he’ll be able to correctly identify the players and see where they are on the field, unlike Grant Nisbett.

Stevenson has the added benefit of actually knowing the laws, unlike Justin Marshall.

ROFL.

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#2964411 7-Sep-2022 20:10

networkn:

Dear God! Scotty Stevenson will be commentating games during the Womens RWC! I guess I'll be watching those matches on mute! Perhaps they could get Sonny Bill Williams to join him from the sidelines and make it a special kind of unsurvivable torture. You could get Sean Maloney in on it too, and then you'd have the Axis of commentating agony.

Perhaps they are trying to use that ear bleeding experience to encourage people to go to the games live instead!

Totally agree, Stevenson is an useless commentator... it's a joke that he gets to do a lot of top commentating jobs in different sports, but clearly knows stuff all about any of them.

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#2964420 7-Sep-2022 20:53

artbloke:

Totally agree, Stevenson is an useless commentator... it's a joke that he gets to do a lot of top commentating jobs in different sports, but clearly knows stuff all about any of them.

I'd say he has reasonable knowledge on Rugby, including a much better than average knowledge of the players in the lower tiers. He has at least as much as anyone else I can recall.

I thankfully haven't heard him commentate any other sports, I can only imagine how painful it would be. I can't speak to his knowledge or lack thereof for other sports.

His voice annoys me and he is about as interesting to hear call a game as hearing paint dry. I'd rather even listen to Mahoney, at least he changes his tone based on what's happening!

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#2964431 7-Sep-2022 21:36

artbloke:

networkn:

Dear God! Scotty Stevenson will be commentating games during the Womens RWC! I guess I'll be watching those matches on mute! Perhaps they could get Sonny Bill Williams to join him from the sidelines and make it a special kind of unsurvivable torture. You could get Sean Maloney in on it too, and then you'd have the Axis of commentating agony.

Perhaps they are trying to use that ear bleeding experience to encourage people to go to the games live instead!

Totally agree, Stevenson is an useless commentator... it's a joke that he gets to do a lot of top commentating jobs in different sports, but clearly knows stuff all about any of them.

The short ball podcast used to be very good and showed how much he actually knows. He has a significant body of knowledge of NZ rugby and is one of the few guys who will openly criticise NZR.

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