Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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#3369544 1-May-2025 13:50

networkn:

I have no issue with that to be honest.

We make decent money in those matches and it potentially gives us a window to try some new things or talent, or give new players more game time.

I wasn't saying that as a negative, or complaint, or anything. Just an observation.

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#3371124 7-May-2025 13:03

Crazy high scoring game, and wow that was some performance by the U20's

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#3371630 9-May-2025 10:29

There is an interesting article in the paywalled Herald about the ongoing dilema in the loose forwards, esp Blindside.

With Cane gone, it changes the picture a little. Kirifi has been in some great form, but it is felt he just isn't big enough for test level despite his work ethic.

Blackadder seems to be made of glass, though on form and fit, he is pretty much a shoe in I think.

Leo-Willie has been pretty good for a couple of seasons at least for the Crusaders. Jacobsen for the Chiefs though his test performances have been patchy.

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#3371939 10-May-2025 09:55

It is really grinding my gears this season, the number of absolutely clear and obvious forward passes that lead to tries. I have seen the TMO call back half a freaking game for the tiniest infringements, but they somehow can't see forward passes? It's been a blight this whole year.

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#3372173 11-May-2025 11:14

A far less controveserial result well earned by the Chiefs last night. Too good, too strong.

That's the second game against the Chiefs that the Crusaders have gone missing in the second half. Showing very little of the determined defense of prior weeks.

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#3372192 11-May-2025 13:41

The Crusaders spent most of their time on defence, as evidenced by having to do almost twice as many tackles as the Chiefs. And resolute defence it was, particularly in the first half, but that is particularly draining and the fatigue was obvious in the second half. Much was made of the penalty count, but the team doing the defending is always going to get pinged more.

The Crusaders were given three opportunities in the Chiefs 22. All were executed and turned into tries. The moral being you just can’t give the Crusaders an attacking lineout within 15m of your goal line.

What a difference Damian MacKenzie makes to the Chiefs. He played badly (by his own admission) in their loss to the Warratahs and was out, injured, for the loss to the Hurricanes, but he really showed up last night.

The loss of Will Jordan in the first quarter was a blow as well. It blunted their counterattack. Reece and Fihaki can provide the magic, but Jordan is the one who holds it together (imo). I hope his knee injury isn’t serious. Likewise, I’m hoping the injury to Vai’i isn’t serious either.

I will take particular note of the first kick off reception in future games. Last week the Chiefs spilled their first reception and went on to lose to the Hurricanes. This week it was the Crusaders turn to spill the first receipt. I know the sample size is small but I will take note in future games😁.

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#3372361 12-May-2025 07:43

Brilliant effort from the U20's in the final match against SA. That was some stupidly high scoring games.

Earbanean

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#3372384 12-May-2025 11:03

It's already been said quite a bit, but the Chiefies with/without DMac are two different teams. Maybe the same can be said about Jordan for the 'saders. I hope his injury isn't too bad.

As the season gets to the business end, everyone starts looking at players from an ABs perspective. I thought Sititi has looked good again. It'll be the 'difficult second year' in the ABs for him, so good to see form at Super Rugby after a long break.

For me, even as a Chiefs fan, Stevenson is NOT an AB. I think the selectors got that one right. Personally I think the same about Reece. Fantastic Super player, but didn't take the opportunity at test level. Aerial skills are so important in tests, while not seen as much in Super games. I think Narawa and Fihaki fit the ABs wing mould a bit better, having both played 15. It's way to soon to talk about Carter as an AB, but it's going to be interesting to watch his growth. Naholo is going well, but would only be on the radar if Clarke is out.

I think David Havili is looking excellent - "both sides of the ball", as the ABs coaches love to say. His versatility and range of skills will be so valuable in an ABs squad. I'd love to see how he'd go at 13. Same goes for Reuben Love. In a World Cup scenario, having that sort of back up at 10 and 15 is gold.

I think the hardest ABs pick is blindside (assuming Sititi plays 8). I'm still at a loss. On paper, Cullum Grace should be what we're after, but I'm always disappointed in how he plays. He's miles off test quality. Finau had an early shot and hasn't gabbed the spot either. Simon Parker is a seriously underrated player who always seems to play really well, but doesn't get consistent time in a stacked Chiefs squad. Papali'i, Jacobson and Blackadder are all playing well and are great bench/squad options, but I personally don't think they're specialist enough at 6 to compliment Savea and Sititi.

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#3374402 18-May-2025 21:48

I didn't have Black Ferns 15's draw with Canada on my 2025 Bingo Card. I expected us to give them a decent thumping.

I remain a bit dubious about the fact not one column has been written about Jamie Joseph or Cotter, given their reputation and their sides poor form this season, and that not much has been made of the Crusaders massive turn around from last year (given the near endless stream of criticism that Penney was subjected to).

I saw a guy on Reddit say of the 2024 SRP Season.. Everyone was crap, the Blues were just a little bit less crap. It was quite an accurate assessment I thought.

The Crusaders seem to have a bit of a second half problem. In multiple matches this year, they have only managed 40 minutes of what I think has been pretty great Rugby, and then there is a noticeable fall off, not even as much from the reserves, but just overall.

Ardie Savea seems to have found another level at Moana Pasifika. He is, in my opinion, the best Rugby player in the world, I don't even think it's that close. His performance against the Blues last night was almost unbelievable (certainly if you hadn't watched him over the last 10+ years).

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#3376315 24-May-2025 10:55

Lasts night match against the Highlanders was incredibly mixed for me.

1) Sevu Reece, top try scorer in Super Rugby History, such a great moment for him. Many of those tries were tries no-one else would have scored as well. It would be criminal in my view, not to give him another chance in the Black Jersey after one bad season (compare to Ioane who has had many).

2) We got the win, we needed to win that, after playing so badly.

3) We played so badly, it almost felt like we were just testing our defence. So many dumb decisions to give the ball back to the Highlanders.

4) Our defence is pretty excellent. Would be nice not to need it.

5) We could have had 2 yellow cards against us, that playing the ball on the ground was a shocking miss by the TMO. It was cycnical and right on the line. The referee was pretty lenient toward the Crusaders high penalty count.

6) The Highlanders missed 2 regulation kicks, and really were pretty poor. Is it too early to be asking if Jamie Josephs coaching reputation is overrated? You could argue the mistakes were a result of resolute defence by the Crusaders, but honestly, it was pretty shocking.

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#3376316 24-May-2025 11:16

Reds Hurricanes was a fun watch, unless an absolutely horrendous miss on the clearly forward pass to Proctor that gave the Hurricanes the win. They shouldn't have been awarded it.

It's said Kirifi is too small to be a test forward, but man he is a machine. I wonder if they give him a try? I think he'd be ok against some teams, but against SA, Ireland, England and France who have massive forwards, there is a risk he wouldn't be able to make the gain line potentially.

Proctor needs more time at the next level.

TeaLeaf

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#3381618 7-Jun-2025 18:32

Is sky now the only option left for kiwis wanting Union and NRL?

I had Kayo, but think DNS dont work with that now and probably needs a VPN, if it works at all.....

Sky is really expensive. I guess always has been.

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#3381738 8-Jun-2025 14:48

I have to say this was a very interesting week of Super Rugby.

I was a bit disappointed to see the Crusaders leak late tries, but it has been something that has happened a fair bit this season. Reihana is turning into a pretty decent 10 for us. It's well needed. The Crusaders cleanouts at the break down are lightning fast and that's encouraging.

The Blues Chiefs match was quite the unusual one. I had the Chiefs winning comfortably. The Blues showed some fortitude to recover that. Fortunate for the Crusaders too. I am not a fan of the way the quarters work now, regardless of how it's benefited the Crusaders this time.

I can't recall a Chiefs side that looked this unsettled for an entire game. The Blues didn't look comfortable either.

The results of the earlier matches made The Canes Brumbies QF actually mean something, and the Brumbies looked pretty comfortable throughout the match. I thought the Hurricanes were still going to level it at one point, but the Brumbies were very stauch at times and the Canes blew a number of decent chances.

It won't pan out this way, but if all teams played the way they did this week, It will be a Brumbies Crusaders final, though it's more likely a Chiefs Crusaders Final and the Crusaders will need something special to fend off a Chiefs team who will be super motivated to win for a departing MacMillan who is potentially after an overseas stint, a decent potential option for future AB's coach.

JPNZ

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#3381899 9-Jun-2025 08:21

Chiefs losing the number 1 seed is the biggest thing IMO. If the Crusaders win this weekend then the final goes through Christchurch. And I don't need to tell anyone what the Crusaders home final record is.

Crusaders v Blues on Friday, the two old foes. It will be cold & wet (no surprises, its going to rain in chch all week). Forward battle supreme.

Chiefs v Brumbies, if its wet I wouldn't be surprised to see a Brumbies upset. Their forward play was the Canes was very impressive.

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#3381900 9-Jun-2025 08:27

Sad to hear that Stu Wilson has passed away. A gentleman of the game, he played with what seemed like real joy. He was a pleasure to watch. Him and John Kirwan were the wingers I aspired to be the most growing up. Met him quite some years back in Wellington and he was engaging and as lovely as I expected him to be. A great loss to the rugby community.

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