Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

Forums › Sports › Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | ... | 642

1184 posts

Uber Geek

#941031 26-Nov-2013 13:15

Creamed the ABs? For 80 minutes? The Irish played very well in the first half and played reasonably well in the second half - they scored no points of their own in the last 40-odd and let in 17 points against themselves.

Pretty foolish of them to charge Cruden at that last kick.

networkn

Networkn
32255 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#941037 26-Nov-2013 13:21

Journeyman: Creamed the ABs? For 80 minutes? The Irish played very well in the first half and played reasonably well in the second half - they scored no points of their own in the last 40-odd and let in 17 points against themselves.

Pretty foolish of them to charge Cruden at that last kick.

The AB's showed unbelievable courage in the last 3 matches. Very calm and composed. The Irish did a good job of the breakdown, something we traditionally have had a significant advantage for.

On the plus side, they cured my sore back as it went back in as I jumped from my seat cheering as Ryan Crotty crossed.

Re Ben Smith at Centre, if he has any chance there, I'd say he needs to spend the super rugby season there, otherwise they should call it, and put Ryan Crotty there who is a more natural 13. Ben Smith can return to the Wing with Savea, but that leaves Cory Jane in the cold.

networkn

Networkn
32255 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#992088 21-Feb-2014 22:53

Wow as a Crusaders fan it was a fairly gutting loss, but my God the Chiefs showed some courage under fire. It would have been a different outcome with Taylor on earlier I think, though even he wasn't 100% with his kicking which is unlike him.

Batman

Mad Scientist
29727 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#992137 22-Feb-2014 00:26

Why did they not start tom taylor? He was the best AB 10 by a country mile last year.

networkn

Networkn
32255 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#992143 22-Feb-2014 00:55

joker97: Why did they not start tom taylor? He was the best AB 10 by a country mile last year.

I have no idea. We would have won with him at number 10, I have little doubt. I really like Blackadder, but from time to time I don't understand his decisions. Aaron Cruden had a great game, but I still feel there is a gulf between him and Carter.

TT had the best kicking accuracy last year by some 10 percentage points. I have seen him in person kick from the 40M line, from the sideline mark, in severe winds and put the ball across the middle black mark of the crossbar, MULTIPLE Times in a row.

When he strikes the ball nicely it sounds like gun fire :)

tukapa1

725 posts

Ultimate Geek

#992196 22-Feb-2014 09:38

joker97: Why did they not start tom taylor? He was the best AB 10 by a country mile last year.

Rubbish. Care to qualify that?

He made his debut against Australia because all 3 regular first fives were injured. Apart from that he played 8 minutes against Australia later in the year and then 30 minutes against Japan (that great heavyweight of test nations).

That is all the rugby he has played for the AB's and you are calling him the "best AB by a country mile" in 2013.

If it wasn't for the three injured 10's at the same time he wouldn't be an AB yet.

He played well in his debut, I grant you that, but best of 2013 (and by a country mile) pffft - perhaps you didn't see the other 1002 minutes of All Black rugby in 2013 where some other player at 10 helped guide the AB's to their perfect season.

Batman

Mad Scientist
29727 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#992197 22-Feb-2014 09:41

I'm biased obviously.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

Dingbatt

6744 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#992295 22-Feb-2014 13:02

networkn: Wow as a Crusaders fan it was a fairly gutting loss, but my God the Chiefs showed some courage under fire. It would have been a different outcome with Taylor on earlier I think, though even he wasn't 100% with his kicking which is unlike him.

His success rate last season was 88% according to today's Herald. But then the outcome may have been different if Afeake and Retallick hadn't banged heads, or if Keiran Reid or Sam Cane or Tanerau Latimer or Dan Carter or Tawera Kerr-Barlow had been available.
The biggest change from situation normal was it was the Chiefs who pulled off the last minute match winning (or securing in this case) try. In past years it would have been the Crusaders doing that.

I was disappointed the Christchurch crowd booed Fruean for having the audacity to score a try on what used to be his home ground. And it was a classy try.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

JokezNZ

144 posts

Master Geek

#992340 22-Feb-2014 14:44

joker97: Why did they not start tom taylor? He was the best AB 10 by a country mile last year.

After Carter, Cruden and Barrett maybe

Ramboss

202 posts

Master Geek

#992348 22-Feb-2014 15:04

Aaron Cruden had a great game, but I still feel there is a gulf between him and Carter.

Maybe at one stage they were a gulf apart, but these days its more of a crack in the road apart, Carter is not what he was and Cruden is always on the improve

Batman

Mad Scientist
29727 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#992359 22-Feb-2014 15:40

Lol whoever says Carter is the best 10 by form is ... umm ... ok I won't say it :)

Batman

Mad Scientist
29727 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#992360 22-Feb-2014 15:42

By reliability and tactical kicking when fit yes ... but I prefer Tom Taylor ahead of Carter. Not sure about cruden and barrett. I guess it comes down to defense

Dingbatt

6744 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#992376 22-Feb-2014 16:15

Since Carter is on sabbatical, the discussion about the merits of him vs Taylor are moot.

The commentators noted that the complete Crusaders forward pack were, at one stage, all current or former All Blacks, yet they were unable to dominate a wounded Chiefs pack that were using a hooker as a number eight. Ascendant, yes, dominant no.
As an avid and previously long suffering Chiefs fan, it is interesting to not hear the Chiefs being written off by the commentators. Mind you Tony Johnson (the worst offender) wasn't calling last night's match.

Props to James Lowe for a runaway try on Super XV debut.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

tukapa1

725 posts

Ultimate Geek

#992394 22-Feb-2014 16:54

Dingbatt: As an avid and previously long suffering Chiefs fan, it is interesting to not hear the Chiefs being written off by the commentators. Mind you Tony Johnson (the worst offender) wasn't calling last night's match.

You must feel the same way about TJ writing the Chiefs off as I feel about Matt Cooper's one eyed ramblings when he commentates any game involving Waikato or the Chiefs.

As a Naki resident I'm slowly working my head into the space that we are now Chiefs country.

As a long suffering Canes supporter I'm giving them one more year of support - but only because Beauden Barrett is still there.

Chiefs next year.................

Dingbatt

6744 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#992482 22-Feb-2014 18:07

tukapa1:
Dingbatt: As an avid and previously long suffering Chiefs fan, it is interesting to not hear the Chiefs being written off by the commentators. Mind you Tony Johnson (the worst offender) wasn't calling last night's match.

You must feel the same way about TJ writing the Chiefs off as I feel about Matt Cooper's one eyed ramblings when he commentates any game involving Waikato or the Chiefs.
As a Naki resident I'm slowly working my head into the space that we are now Chiefs country.

As a long suffering Canes supporter I'm giving them one more year of support - but only because Beauden Barrett is still there.

Chiefs next year.................

And don't forget that Bay of Plenty and Counties are also part of the franchise, and Hawkes Bay may as well be with the number of players they have provided to the Chiefs.

The Chiefs are currently top of the NZ conference :) at least until tonight's game....

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | ... | 642