Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#3197776 20-Feb-2024 09:01

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350185432/crusaders-fullback-will-jordan-ruled-out-super-rugby-season

Ugh that's not great if you are a Crusaders or Will Jordan fan.

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#3197808 20-Feb-2024 10:41

networkn:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350185432/crusaders-fullback-will-jordan-ruled-out-super-rugby-season

Ugh that's not great if you are a Crusaders or Will Jordan fan.

Better now in a rebuilding year, rather than a year they have a chance of winning.. Also great news its not concussion/migraine related issues that he has had previously. Hope he comes back strong & fit for the AB's

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#3197879 20-Feb-2024 13:03

JPNZ:

Better now in a rebuilding year, rather than a year they have a chance of winning.. Also great news its not concussion/migraine related issues that he has had previously. Hope he comes back strong & fit for the AB's

To be fair, last year, they had a pretty average season, and one of the worst injury lists of any super rugby team in my recent memory, and still won the title. I wouldn't write them off, though I definitely have lowered expectations this season compared to other seasons for the reasons you have mentioned. Chiefs are probably in the strongest position this season. IMO the Blues have come along way, but have been made to look better than they were for a variety of reasons, denoted by the hiding they got at home in the final the year before. I hope Cotter can help continue the work done to date by Leon MacDonald.

Looks like by a happy co-incidence I maybe able to attend the Chiefs/Crusaders game this Friday in person.

networkn

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#3203059 4-Mar-2024 12:52

Disappointing match from the Crusaders against a Warratahs side who sniffed blood once they worked out the Crusaders weren't being very cohesive. Well done to them for capitilizing on it.

The Chiefs ran riot on the Brumbies, they looked really great. Really connected on attack. Reminds me of the Crusaders vs Reds a couple of years back.

I am really over the continual failure of NZ players to adhere to the guidelines on tackle height. I am not picking on anyone, just to be clear, I think ALL teams are guilty of it.

It's getting embarrasing.

networkn

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#3203298 5-Mar-2024 11:29

This is twice in 6 months there has been controversy in the way this player conducts them on field.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350201273/springbok-bongi-mbonambi-apologises-female-referee-disrespectful-behaviour

I have no doubt he said what he said to Curry, regardless of whether there was sufficient evidence.

It's time his coaches sit down and let him know conduct like this can never ever occur again, or he will be removed from the team.

Fat Chance though.

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#3205121 10-Mar-2024 18:11

Sorry, I posted results without thinking so deleted my previous post. Was so intrigued by the results that I forgot to not post spoilers for those still waiting to watch the games.

Some interesting results this weekend in Super Rugby Pacific:

https://super.rugby/superrugby/fixtures/

networkn

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#3210486 25-Mar-2024 11:03

I'm as disappointed as any Crusaders fan, about the Crusaders very shaky start to the season, but honestly, the hate going around is repulsive. I'd be embarrassed to express some of the vitriol and bile that Kiwi Rugby 'fans' are, toward any team.

Some fans seem to be only be fans during the good times, and some people are utterly blind when it comes to why what's happening is happening. Injuries cause more issues than just that player not being able to play. It impacts combinations and understanding of defensive systems, lineout calls, and what not.

Rob Penney is being given a lot of negative attention, and I have some questions about the messages that either aren't being delivered or aren't being followed, but the 'tahs and Crusaders decline is certainly more than should be dumped at his feet entirely. In particular, even if they don't have a clear leadership group due to the disruption they are going through, why were they not told at half time, by the forwards coach, to shorten their lineout?!

No-one can win a championship or even have a winning record, when you are pulling players out of retirement at the START of a season and every week 2-3 players are being added to that list. They deserve the same sympathy as has been expressed for every other team who has the same issues over the last few years.

GV27

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#3210489 25-Mar-2024 11:26

networkn:

No-one can win a championship or even have a winning record, when you are pulling players out of retirement at the START of a season and every week 2-3 players are being added to that list. They deserve the same sympathy as has been expressed for every other team who has the same issues over the last few years.

As funny as it is finally seeing the Crusaders policed to the same extent that some others have been over recent years when it comes to repeated infringements, I was hoping for a bit more of a contest than that.

The saying of "All Black Rugby is strong when Auckland is strong" no longer holds true but I don't think we've ever contemplated how destabilising a bad Crusaders season could be to the international squad.

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#3210508 25-Mar-2024 12:03

GV27:

As funny as it is finally seeing the Crusaders policed to the same extent that some others have been over recent years when it comes to repeated infringements, I was hoping for a bit more of a contest than that.

The saying of "All Black Rugby is strong when Auckland is strong" no longer holds true but I don't think we've ever contemplated how destabilising a bad Crusaders season could be to the international squad.

As a Crusaders fan, I find that a little ironic as the timing of the 'rise' of the Blues, has 'co-incidentally' come with them frequently) not being penalized for infringements, or given as many cards as they should have been. Discipline has been better this year, but the last 3 years, pretty poor and they have got away with a lot. (no need to reply, I already know you disagree) :)

I think the Crusaders could have won that match, though our attack looks stunted, which isn't that surprising, given we have a 33 year old on the wing! Sevu Reece however, is a one winger super hero right now. He is everywhere. The biggest issue, was our awful lineout, which is also likely related, though as I mentioned, should have been dealt with at half time.

I agree, it's going to be a very interesting first international season post losing some of our best forwards (and with a new coaching set up) and still seeing daylight between them and their successors (though, some of our locks are starting to show some much needed promise). I'd like to see the hype attributed to Robertson pan out, I feel like NZ fans need to severely temper their expectations. We simply have not generated the same level of continuity as existed in the previous 3 coaching set ups, and developed the same level of players. With relatively low exceptions, as our legendary players have retired in key positions, we have not had people step up and take over at the same level.

I do wonder if Scott Barrett will be given the AB's captaincy, as someone who is capable of legendary level play, but too often found wanting with discipline, as a way to try and help him with the second part.

GV27

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#3210629 25-Mar-2024 14:40

networkn:

As a Crusaders fan, I find that a little ironic as the timing of the 'rise' of the Blues, has 'co-incidentally' come with them frequently) not being penalized for infringements, or given as many cards as they should have been. Discipline has been better this year, but the last 3 years, pretty poor and they have got away with a lot. (no need to reply, I already know you disagree) :)

I think the Crusaders could have won that match, though our attack looks stunted, which isn't that surprising, given we have a 33 year old on the wing! Sevu Reece however, is a one winger super hero right now. He is everywhere. The biggest issue, was our awful lineout, which is also likely related, though as I mentioned, should have been dealt with at half time.

I agree, it's going to be a very interesting first international season post losing some of our best forwards (and with a new coaching set up) and still seeing daylight between them and their successors (though, some of our locks are starting to show some much needed promise). I'd like to see the hype attributed to Robertson pan out, I feel like NZ fans need to severely temper their expectations. We simply have not generated the same level of continuity as existed in the previous 3 coaching set ups, and developed the same level of players. With relatively low exceptions, as our legendary players have retired in key positions, we have not had people step up and take over at the same level.

I do wonder if Scott Barrett will be given the AB's captaincy, as someone who is capable of legendary level play, but too often found wanting with discipline, as a way to try and help him with the second part.

That Crusaders lineout looked no different to the Blues of yesteryear in many ways - but they didn't have the process to go "hey, this doesn't work anymore, let's stop putting ourselves in a position where it has to work for us to pull something off."

As for the Blues getting away with a lot - it seemed to be something that wasn't in evidence when it counted - Wellington would get a try ruled as being OK by the video ref but Auckland would get it ruled out in almost exactly the same circumstances the following week - but I don't think this game came down to discipline, ultimately.

The difference really seemed to be Auckland not strangling their own momentum by making a basic mistake (throwing a pass in close quarters versus taking it to ground and creating an additional phase) and Canterbury just really struggling with some things like set pieces that they probably haven't had issues with before. It's like they traded places in someways.

Overall I'd say a game Canterbury lost more than Auckland won but Auckland has the capacity to really try hard to lose winnable games, so I'd consider that a decent enough achievement.

As long as we can both beat Wellington once during a season, I'm happy.

networkn

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#3210658 25-Mar-2024 15:29

I can understand the leadership challenges occurring, if the place is a revolving hospital door, considering even the senior citizens are out injured too. One would like to think in the absence of a group of leaders, coaches would hand out very simple messages. If I was the forwards coach, at half time, the entire message would have been to make really clear, that the throws need to be shorter and less people in the lineout. Who knows, perhaps it was made clear and the players just didn't listen.

In the last two weeks, Sevu Reece has saved 4 certain tries on his own. Doesn't even cover all the tackles, breakdowns, cleanouts I have seen him at. If there was ever a guy trying harder in a team to take up the slack, it's him right now.

Facebook: that idiot *anker coach should be playing different players, ones with more experience. Drummond should be starting, why isn't x y and z player playing, it's unacceptable, coach is a moron.

reply: Those players are ALL injured.

facebook: It's irrelevant, other players should have taken their place, where is our depth!?

/facepalm!

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#3210673 25-Mar-2024 16:01

I'll be honest, Ive only watched 2 super games this year. Sadly only one of them was a Crusaders game which I went to. I've had numerous events etc on (Birthday, weddings, SailGP) but don't really feel as though I have missed too much. Really enjoying the start to the NRL season though

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networkn

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#3210678 25-Mar-2024 16:07

JPNZ:

I'll be honest, Ive only watched 2 super games this year. Sadly only one of them was a Crusaders game which I went to. I've had numerous events etc on (Birthday, weddings, SailGP) but don't really feel as though I have missed too much. Really enjoying the start to the NRL season though

The only matches I have seen was half of the Reds game and the Crusaders matches this year. Also Super Busy and also don't feel I am missing anything.

Now life is a bit less frenetic, I'll probably watch Kiwi Games.

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#3210723 25-Mar-2024 17:32

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350225209/new-zealand-rugby-boss-mark-robinson-warns-game-cant-dally-it-embraces

I think rugby looks at itself the wrong way.

Some of the mains issues are

accessibility, it’s getting harder to support pay tv to simply watch rugby
too much on…. By this I mean, there’s so many competitions and it’s like it’s just rugby this, rugby that
the super season seems a bit too long…maybe too many teams.

it seems the sponsorship and broadcasting money is everything….. people are second.
make it cheaper to watch….and it might bring back those part timer floaters (non rugby people).

JPNZ

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#3210927 26-Mar-2024 08:11

Yea, honestly rugby is in serious trouble in New Zealand. On the back of the news that NPC won't have a TV partner from 2026, I don't find many people talking about SRP like it used to be. 2 weeks ago I was in a wedding in Noosa and sat across from me was a content manager from Sky NZ. He said last year warriors games were drawing the same numbers as AB's rugby championship games. He did say SRP was trending slightly higher this year as well which is good but I think crowd numbers across the board are down (especially australia)

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