Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#3356446 23-Mar-2025 10:21

I am super happy with the way the Crusaders are tracking right now. In some ways, some of the areas are actually better than what Razor was doing.

Penneys recruitment and selection choices are paying serious dividends. Preston, O'Connor, Ioane Moananu. Kemera needs more time to develop and we need someone to take over kicking or get him some assistance.

Other than what is the best defensive effort in at least a year, our attack looked pretty good in the first half.

I do not know what is up with the Blues though. The scoreline flattered them a bit I think, even just taking into account we should have slotted some of those conversions etc. I can't recall a more error prone handling game in some time, but even without that, the decisions made during that match were genuinely puzzling.

Ioanes attack is pretty much non existent, though his defence continues to be strong.

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#3356534 23-Mar-2025 14:29

RIP Grizz thanks for all the tackles!

GV27

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#3356784 24-Mar-2025 06:07

networkn:

I do not know what is up with the Blues though. The scoreline flattered them a bit I think, even just taking into account we should have slotted some of those conversions etc. I can't recall a more error prone handling game in some time, but even without that, the decisions made during that match were genuinely puzzling.

No one is really prepared to be honest about the Blues, but it's the same issue that plagued their title defences in prior years.

They are still very good, but they are losing winnable very winnable games.

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#3356943 24-Mar-2025 16:49

GV27:

No one is really prepared to be honest about the Blues, but it's the same issue that plagued their title defences in prior years.

They are still very good, but they are losing winnable very winnable games.

A surely unpopular hot take;

The only 'real' progress made toward rebuilding the Blues properly came under Leon MacDonald, and his focus was first and foremost a culture shift, which in my view, is the Blues (and Warriors) biggest issue. MacDonald leaving the Blues for the AB's and then bailing out of that, introduced Cotter, who is a fine coach, but year one, the team was still operating off stuff put in place in prior years.

Now, it feels, at least to me, that the Blues are reverting to 'type' and Cotters technical capability, isnt addressing the decision making and attitude regression. As GV27 says, they are losing games that should be winnable, and honestly, some players look barely interested.

IMO for years, the Blues have recruited marquee players and expected them to produce magic, often leaving them to carry games off individual brilliance, rather than it being 'team' first.

An even more unpopular view : The Chiefs who turned up to Eden Park for the final, werent the Chiefs who played throughout the season. On paper I'd have backed the Chiefs to beat that Blues team, but they barely showed up.

It's going to take a super human turn around for the Blues not to finish in a similar position to the Crusaders last year, without the injuries and disruption the Crusaders had to contend with.

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#3356948 24-Mar-2025 17:19

I don’t think the final score in the Crusaders/Blues game really reflected the game. The difference was, the Crusaders converted their ‘moments’ into points and the Blues didn’t. (Much like the Crusaders of every season except 2024). Each team created chances though. If the Crusaders had a decent kicker, the score would have been even more embarrassing.

As for the Chiefs, their sublime first half was undone in the second by stupid antics, like jersey pulling and late tackling, that were penalised and let MP back into the game. It is up to “the leadership”, in this case Jacobsen, to sort that out on the field. Although I was disappointed, when the jersey pulling happened the other way around, it received no sanction.

The previous week, when they had the Marvel Superhero Round, I chose who I thought was the “Superhero” for each team. Not necessarily the player who scored the most points, but one who played in an inspiring fashion. They were

Sevu Reece for the Crusaders

Leroy Carter for the Chiefs

Timoci TavaTavanawai for the Highlanders

Du’Plessis Kirifi for the Hurricanes

and, unfortunately, I struggled to pick someone for the Blues, because ones like Papali’i were strangely quiet that week.

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#3357101 25-Mar-2025 08:46

The Chiefs were rubbish - again. It's like I've been saying, their attack is amazing, but their defence is seriously shocking. As soon as opposition teams recover from the early attacking onslaught and have a crack themselves, they realise it's easy to score against them. Critically, the Chiefs had a bonus point in the bag, which they let go by the end of the game, while the 'saders secured one away from home vs the Blues. Come end of the season, it's those bonus points that often determine home semis and finals - and that in turn has proved decisive in winning the comp.

As for the Blues, I personally don't buy the culture problem stuff and I think Cotter gets the credit for last year. However, they built their game on a direct power style and when you take Tuʻungafasi, Tuipulotu, Darry, Ricciteli and Ioane out of that, it just doesn't work anywhere near as well. Particularly when teams are ready for it this year.

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#3357166 25-Mar-2025 10:10

Earbanean:

The Chiefs were rubbish - again. It's like I've been saying, their attack is amazing, but their defence is seriously shocking. As soon as opposition teams recover from the early attacking onslaught and have a crack themselves, they realise it's easy to score against them. Critically, the Chiefs had a bonus point in the bag, which they let go by the end of the game, while the 'saders secured one away from home vs the Blues. Come end of the season, it's those bonus points that often determine home semis and finals - and that in turn has proved decisive in winning the comp.

As for the Blues, I personally don't buy the culture problem stuff and I think Cotter gets the credit for last year. However, they built their game on a direct power style and when you take Tuʻungafasi, Tuipulotu, Darry, Ricciteli and Ioane out of that, it just doesn't work anywhere near as well. Particularly when teams are ready for it this year.

If not culture, then what would you attribute to the Blues long standing failures in super rugby? They have had like 10 coaches and many many talented rosters. If you look at the Crusaders success, their ability to have a endless supply of talent, and even take struggling talent elsewhere and turn it around, has to be culture, over that length of time.

I always blamed Rennie for the Chiefs foul play tactics, they were during his tenure among the most carded and penalised teams, esp in years they won titles, and things have been so so much better under Macmillan, until the last 9 months. This year the off the ball stuff and esp the water boys interference against the Blues has been pretty bad.

On that topic, I am amazed that clear interference (much more overt than the Springboks attempts of a couple of years ago) was met with an undisclosed fine, rather than having their points docked, which feels like a much more appropriate punishment. A clear message needs to be sent.

Interesting Doleman got very shirty about how long medical and water was on the field during the Blues Saders match, obviously match officials have been given the big stick to wield.

I have never been a fan of the way some teams (I notice it more between the Chiefs and Crusaders) will try and get under the skin of the opposition. The Chiefs were masters of it against the Crusaders, and I noticed extremely obvious attempts by the Crusaders to do it to the Blues last match. I am not a fan, it's clearly part of the mongrel that Penney has, and is trying to develop in the Crusaders. I really hope that doesn't become the usual.

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#3357182 25-Mar-2025 11:01

I think the Blues have just made some really bad coach choices. John Kirwan and Tana Umaga were great players and are really good guys, but they were nowhere near the standard need to run a franchise like the Blues. Decisions they made, like the Benji Marshall debacle had longer term detrimental effects, on top of the week to week coaching inadequacy.

Let's also remember, that the Blues have won more Super titles than the Chiefs, Hurricanes and Highlanders put togther! (man this is hard for a Chiefs fan to write). The Blues just look bad because they get compared to the Crusaders, who have been unbelievably consistently good - better than just about any team in any sport globally.

Yes, the Blues have had a good supply of talent, but that became less important when the rules changed to allow contracting players from anywhere in the country. The Chiefs and Hurricanes have also had a very good supply of players, including world players of the year and All Black captains - for a paltry return of titles.

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#3361846 8-Apr-2025 09:44

It was relieving to see the Crusaders bounce back from a flat performance against Moana the week prior. I don't think they played badly as such, they just failed to adjust their intensity to match MP who were clearly fired up and highly motivated. Credit to Penney who made keen observations about how he felt the game went and where it was lost.

Alarming was the number of turn overs and handling errors from the Crusaders side, they clearly weren't treasuring the ball. It was less apparent against Fiji on Saturday, and defensively except for one lapse at the end, they were a machine, but the turn overs and handling errors were actually higher than that of the Drua, despite the pretty decent score difference.

Moana look a different side now than I have ever seen them before. They are consistently taking it to teams up front and their turn over rate is near competition leading. Even their scrums and lineouts are better than they were.

I think it would take something special for them to make the final (Though they are able to beat any team in the competition on the day), but they are a team absolutely worth having in the competiton.

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#3362786 10-Apr-2025 21:56

RIP to Doc Mayhew, a great man who dedicated himself to sports medicine generally, and to the All Blacks from 1988 to 2004.

JPNZ

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#3362857 11-Apr-2025 08:31

networkn:

RIP to Doc Mayhew, a great man who dedicated himself to sports medicine generally, and to the All Blacks from 1988 to 2004.

Agreed and the Warriors from 2005 to 2019. RIP

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#3362881 11-Apr-2025 10:13

networkn:

RIP to Doc Mayhew, a great man who dedicated himself to sports medicine generally, and to the All Blacks from 1988 to 2004.

Yes, an extremely sad day. I was just at an AGM a couple of weeks ago at the Northcote club with Doc there (as always). He was a life member and legend of the club, as well as with Harbour. There are 3 generations of Mayhews at Northcote and they are massive part of the fabric of the club. Heartfelt condolences to Sue and all the Mayhew whanau.

A few years ago, after a young senior player had tragically taken his own life, Doc, along with John Kirwan, ran a session for all senior players in the club. Doc had been ABs doctor when JK was first hitting his mental health issues and his insights and calm words were hugely beneficial to the young men in attendance.

RIP

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#3363187 12-Apr-2025 16:34

I am pretty happy with how the Crusaders are tracking so far this season. They have had a couple of big blips, but actually, in many ways, this feels like the best the Crusaders have been for a while, including under Roberton the last couple of years. There is a positivity in the way they are playing, and I am really enjoying the way they attack. Some of the attack and interplay between the forwards last night was pretty jaw dropping.

Disclipline was an issue last night, but the old Doleman authoritarian was back with a vengence. There hasn't been a card for discipline without a warning first for a long long time, nor a card for a second offence immediately afterward for probably even longer. I acknowledge there was offending and there is responsibility for the defending team to change it's behaviour and for the captain to make it clear he expects better, but all anyone generally wants is consistency. Where was the Hurricanes card for 5 penalties in quick succession?

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#3363235 12-Apr-2025 16:39

I think the Chiefs got away with a fair bit last night against the 'Tahs. I know there are some Chiefs supporters here, do you not think that was the most straight forward red card of the season? Attempt to wrap, yeah right.

That last pass in the Chiefs try was clearly forward as well.

Also how is it possible with a round ball for the touch to be similaneous? Assuming the ground and grass were both even.

The Tahs fullback reminds me of Israel Folou (hopefully without the homophobic social media posts), and he is surely a contender for the fastest back in NZ/Aus right now?

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#3364271 15-Apr-2025 12:31

It's a bit of a slap in the face to see Te'lea heading overseas after getting so much game time for the AB's.

Hopefully, this year Reece will be able to take his Super Form into the AB's. His defence and workrate is higher anyway.

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