Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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725 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2987316 24-Oct-2022 13:24

It's ridiculous that MacKenzie is in either squad. Should be nowhere near either team.

There are plenty of young players that should be in the XV ahead of MacKenzie.

Not sure I'd have Fakatava in my 23 bearing in mind his season ending ACL injury. Don't think they'd get much value out of him.

Weber should be the reserve halfback for the ABs. Should have been all season.

And well done the Lions on their win in the weekend. Comprehensively out passioned Canterbury all over the park.

artbloke

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#2987857 25-Oct-2022 15:45

Got to be kidding me... McKenzie is an x-factor player, that can cover first-five, fullback & wing.

Agree, Weber is a much better option than Christie off the bench as well.

networkn

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#2988388 26-Oct-2022 21:56

artbloke:

Got to be kidding me... McKenzie is an x-factor player, that can cover first-five, fullback & wing.

When was the last time he was the X-Factor or game changer in a match? Quite some time ago. He was decidedly average in his last super rugby season.

I believe the Chiefs over-worked him. He played more minutes than any other Chief for 3 seasons straight if I recall correctly. He never really fired as consistently at test level.

He is a talented player, but on current form, he definitely wouldn't be in my AB's side.

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#2988389 26-Oct-2022 22:00

I fully back the principals who have decided they no longer want 1st XV games televised live, creating what is considered to be too much pressure on young players. I feel school age rugby is too competitive and commercially focused now and I believe it should be banned to approach a player under 18 for professional teams or development squads for super rugby etc.

tukapa1

725 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2988526 27-Oct-2022 04:40

networkn:
I fully back the principals who have decided they no longer want 1st XV games televised live, creating what is considered to be too much pressure on young players. I feel school age rugby is too competitive and commercially focused now and I believe it should be banned to approach a player under 18 for professional teams or development squads for super rugby etc.

Hard to miss the irony though that it's the 1A principals talking about what's best for these kids. I'ts them who have been pressuring kids for decades from the age of 12, poaching then from other schools and taking them away from their support bases, creating the competitive and commercial product.

The cynic in me thinks it has more to do with NZ Rugby wanting to control the school game.

Earbanean

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#2988573 27-Oct-2022 09:35

networkn:

I fully back the principals who have decided they no longer want 1st XV games televised live, creating what is considered to be too much pressure on young players. I feel school age rugby is too competitive and commercially focused now and I believe it should be banned to approach a player under 18 for professional teams or development squads for super rugby etc.

I agree with the sentiment. However, if Rugby Union implemented a ban on approaching a player under 18, then that would leave young players wide open for Rugby League to sign up to lucrative contracts. That's what used to happen.

cshwone

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#2988577 27-Oct-2022 09:45

Surprised there has been no mention of https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup/300721135/avoidable-and-disgraceful-kiri-allan-slams-nz-rugby-for-blunder-over-black-ferns-all-blacks-schedule-clash

Have found the ladies World Cup really entertaining so far.

Hatch

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Hatch (affiliate link).

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#2988583 27-Oct-2022 10:11

Earbanean:

I agree with the sentiment. However, if Rugby Union implemented a ban on approaching a player under 18, then that would leave young players wide open for Rugby League to sign up to lucrative contracts. That's what used to happen.

It shouldn't be sport specific.

artbloke

407 posts

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#2988608 27-Oct-2022 11:23

networkn:
artbloke:

Got to be kidding me... McKenzie is an x-factor player, that can cover first-five, fullback & wing.

When was the last time he was the X-Factor or game changer in a match? Quite some time ago. He was decidedly average in his last super rugby season.

I believe the Chiefs over-worked him. He played more minutes than any other Chief for 3 seasons straight if I recall correctly. He never really fired as consistently at test level.

He is a talented player, but on current form, he definitely wouldn't be in my AB's side.

He's still only 27, and class is class, that doesn't disappear all of a sudden... he'd be ideal coming off the bench with his speed, elusive running & kicking game too.

trig42

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#2988682 27-Oct-2022 13:00

cshwone:

Surprised there has been no mention of https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup/300721135/avoidable-and-disgraceful-kiri-allan-slams-nz-rugby-for-blunder-over-black-ferns-all-blacks-schedule-clash

Have found the ladies World Cup really entertaining so far.

I think it's p*ss poor on the part of NZ Rugby.

They're saying they didn't foresee it. It was locked in months (over a year) ago that if NZ was to make the quarterfinals, their game would be the 7pm Saturday timeslot.

One of the old men (or more) at NZR ivory towers needs to fall on their sword for this.

Unacceptable.

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#2988685 27-Oct-2022 13:23

tukapa1:

Hard to miss the irony though that it's the 1A principals talking about what's best for these kids. I'ts them who have been pressuring kids for decades from the age of 12, poaching then from other schools and taking them away from their support bases, creating the competitive and commercial product.

The cynic in me thinks it has more to do with NZ Rugby wanting to control the school game.

You could be right. Having said that, the end result seems positive to me.

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#2988849 27-Oct-2022 16:18

I don't understand the online commentary about Dmac not being in the match day 23 and ALB not starting!

Dmac was called in as injury cover only, and so was Patrick. ALB is coming back from injury and almost always, are introduced off the bench.

artbloke

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#2988917 27-Oct-2022 19:46

trig42:
cshwone:

Surprised there has been no mention of https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup/300721135/avoidable-and-disgraceful-kiri-allan-slams-nz-rugby-for-blunder-over-black-ferns-all-blacks-schedule-clash

Have found the ladies World Cup really entertaining so far.

I think it's p*ss poor on the part of NZ Rugby.

They're saying they didn't foresee it. It was locked in months (over a year) ago that if NZ was to make the quarterfinals, their game would be the 7pm Saturday timeslot.

One of the old men (or more) at NZR ivory towers needs to fall on their sword for this.

Unacceptable.

Having a lot of muppets on the NZRU Board, it's not really a surprise they made such a big stuff up.

Handle9

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#2988918 27-Oct-2022 19:51

artbloke:
trig42:

I think it's p*ss poor on the part of NZ Rugby.

They're saying they didn't foresee it. It was locked in months (over a year) ago that if NZ was to make the quarterfinals, their game would be the 7pm Saturday timeslot.

One of the old men (or more) at NZR ivory towers needs to fall on their sword for this.

Unacceptable.

Having a lot of muppets on the NZRU Board, it's not really a surprise they made such a big stuff up.

What has this got to do with the board, it's not a governance issue? It's a straight operational matter handled by the management.

networkn

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#2988927 27-Oct-2022 20:16

I have always had a lot of respect for Hooper as a player, but seeing him put himself and his mental health first and then be brave enough to front the media and explain the reasons for that, when he had absolutely no obligation to do so, made me respect him even more as a man and a human being.

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