Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#3299171 20-Oct-2024 12:38

Wellington looked a fraction shaky approaching the finals, but managed to get themselves together in time.

I'd imagine it's quite a challenge to win away in a grand final. There aren't many teams who can do it.

Should be a cracking match, though I'll be pretty surprised if Wellington can't hold their nerve.

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Earbanean

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#3299303 21-Oct-2024 08:51

networkn:

Canterbury would have given me a bit more confidence a year or two back, on their ability to roll BOP this weekend, BOP probably didn't play to their potential last weekend, and Canterbury probably played as well as they have for the last two seasons, and without their AB's this weekend, I'll be pretty happy if they manage to make the final. We have the players, but our execution has been pretty inconsistent, esp on defence. I am hoping Pohepi getting more game time at 10, will help him for the Crusaders next year. Last year, even with the chopping and changing and disruption, he looked pretty inconsistent.

If you're talking about Rameka Poihipi, then he's a Chiefie not a Crusader. Born and raised Tron City, from the Tron Boys High First XV production line.

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#3299450 21-Oct-2024 13:15

Yes, I mixed him up with Reihana.

You might be interested to know he played for both Canterbury and the Crusaders.

Earbanean

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#3299467 21-Oct-2024 13:42

networkn:

Yes, I mixed him up with Reihana.

You might be interested to know he played for both Canterbury and the Crusaders.

Yep, I was aware of that. He saw the light.

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#3300196 23-Oct-2024 09:07

https://www.allblacks.com/news/all-blacks-team-named-to-play-japan-at-yokohama-stadium

I expect this to be a pretty scratchy game. That's a lot of changes. I agree on giving the game time to the less experienced, certainly, but I'll be surprised if it's not a lower than expected scoreline.

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#3300466 23-Oct-2024 12:23

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360460949/rugby-referees-clamp-down-escorts-and-means-more-box-kicking

I feel like if player safety was a real concern, removing shielding from players who are receiving a high kick is going to have the opposite effect.

The idea that someone who weighs 10kg0+ and runs at a player full speed, who is potentially in an exposed position, who then gets impacted heavily with the potential whiplash from momentum, is stupid and careless.

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#3302122 27-Oct-2024 17:23

Well, whatever is plaguing our replacements is continuing. Whilst the bench did make some nice touches and obviously Reuben Love scored two tries, yet again, in the third quarter we looked lost.

A few players had pretty rough games such as Bell, Havilli. The lack of match time clearly has had it's consequences.

Patrick T had an outstanding game, leading from the front, that was reassuring.

Sevu Reece showed why they keep selecting him. Unlike DM, when he runs sideways, there a method to his madness. He seems to have regained his confidence in challenging for the ball.

One game with BB at 10 doesn't provide enough to make a definitive statement, but 9 matches with DM at 10, and we have looked lost in the second half pretty much every time. He's great from the T, but he doesn't offer enough the rest of the time to warrant being our starting 10 (though his chase down of that Japanese player was absolutely amazing).

Our massive (biggest ever) propping combination didn't put a dent in the scrum, but our tight five looked strong in mauls etc.

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#3302665 29-Oct-2024 11:56

I think we missed an opportunity to play someone different at 10 against Japan. I don't think DM is our long term 10, and we need some depth there. Love and Perofeta have both played 10. DM could have been on the bench.

Earbanean

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#3302750 29-Oct-2024 14:58

networkn:

One game with BB at 10 doesn't provide enough to make a definitive statement, but 9 matches with DM at 10, and we have looked lost in the second half pretty much every time. He's great from the T, but he doesn't offer enough the rest of the time to warrant being our starting 10 (though his chase down of that Japanese player was absolutely amazing).

I'm not necessarily in favour of DMac as our test 10. However, your point above sort of contradicts itself. We were bad in the second halves and particularly the last quarters - but DMac was the starting 10. i.e. You can't just ignore that he was in charge for the great first halves. Not only that, but for a lot of the last quarter meltdowns, he was either off the field, or playing fullback/wing.

I think our second half/last quarter woes are way more complex than just fingering one player - especially a starting player. You can't blame last quarter problems on a starting player. If he was so bad, then why weren't the first halves terrible as well?

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#3303028 30-Oct-2024 09:56

It annoys me that the press have chosen the term 'relegated' to refer to Reuben Love being given more game time in the AB's XV, instead of doing nothing for the AB's in the end of year tour.

Whilst his short time on field against Japan produced two nice tries, that wouldn't have been enough to throw incumbent players down the pecking order, and this gives his value rugby time.

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#3303976 1-Nov-2024 08:33

Team to play England.

1. Tamaiti Williams (15), 2. Codie Taylor (93), 3. Tyrel Lomax (40), 4. Scott Barrett (76) (captain), 5. Tupou Vaa’i (34), 6. Wallace Sititi (6), 7. Sam Cane (101), 8. Ardie Savea (90) (Vice-Captain), 9. Cortez Ratima (8), 10. Beauden Barrett (131), 11. Caleb Clarke (25), 12. Jordie Barrett (65) (vice-captain), 13. Rieko Ioane (77), 14. Mark Tele’a (16), 15. Will Jordan (37) Reserves: 16. Asafo Aumua (16), 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (64), 18. Pasilio Tosi (4), 19. Patrick Tuipulotu (47), 20. Samipeni Finau (5), 21. Cam Roigard (6), 22. Anton Lienert-Brown (80), 23. Damian McKenzie (57).

Not surprised to see Barrett at 10.

Otherwise this is a pretty strong team largely.

Earbanean

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#3303978 1-Nov-2024 08:40

Yep, strong team. One of the key changes I see relative to early season, is the growing strength of the bench. With names like Tuipulotu, Roigard, DMac coming off the bench, you start to hope the bench is now an advantage we have, rather than a disadvantage.

A lot of talk about Groot being dropped, but not so much focus about Tosi going past Newell into the 18 jersey. Long term, that's another important step in the sort of footy we want to play.

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#3304973 3-Nov-2024 21:30

Errors and penalties, errors and penalties, and then more errors and more penalties. This is getting really old, really quickly.

We found a way, history won't remember the errors and penalties, but make no mistake, England lost this game, rather than us winning it. I'd be surprised if we were that lucky against any other top tier team

Clarke is slow to learn, making the same identical mistake putting his hand out, he was exceptionally lucky not to be carded.

Sititi has to be top contender for player of the year, breakthrough player at least. Paddy T is our new super sub.

3 Penalties for tackles off the ball, then a yellow card, you'd hope we would have learned after 70 minutes, but it is something England are clearly looking to create, a passing structure we didn't adjust to.

England showed some interesting stuff on attack, our scramble D was only just enough on a number of occasions.

Our lineouts got shaky once Aomua got tired. Not really his fault, most hookers don't handle 80 minutes, and he was still charging at 75m, not bad really.

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#3304977 3-Nov-2024 21:56

I have a problem with the penalty against J.Barrett for a tackle off the ball (the first one). Mainly for the fact that the tackle should impede or disadvantage the player being tackled in some way. Not one where the tackler ends up flat on his arse after being bowled over, which is what happened in that case.

Can’t argue with Lienert-Brown’s one though.

Always happy to see Gus as the referee. Best in the world in my opinion.

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Earbanean

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#3305109 4-Nov-2024 09:06

Dingbatt:

Always happy to see Gus as the referee. Best in the world in my opinion.

Yeah, I'm a fan of Gardner too, but I didn't think he had his best game on Saturday. There were a few forward passes, etc missed, but I guess that happens. However, I reckon refs are starting to get a bit OTT with the talking to the players. Gardner (and others) are now actually praising them for just following the rules. I number of times he even said "good listen", for players apparently doing something they were told. I talk a bit like that when reffing U9, U10 juniors etc - but for test footy?

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