C'mon Geekzoners = Give us your views on Rugby World Cup 2011!

Forums › Sports › C'mon Geekzoners = Give us your views on Rugby World Cup 2011!

1 | ... | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23

837 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 192

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#536823 24-Oct-2011 00:22

Was doubting the win for a few minutes there,
Glad we came through!
Great stuff, a win is a win, lets do it another 4 years!

networkn

Networkn
32868 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15456

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#536829 24-Oct-2011 00:48

I was at the game, mind boggling! Ritchie McCaw, NZ man of the year for me (and not just for his Rugby), but that would be enough).

Stephen Donald, wow!

Dingbatt

6804 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3694

Lifetime subscriber

#536874 24-Oct-2011 11:04

I think the ABs played their final the week before. So close for too long in this match. The whole house was screaming at them to stop kicking the ball to the French all the time, but I guess that was part of the master plan. A one point win is enough, good for the soul, but not for the heart at the time.

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

dclegg

2806 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 810

Trusted

#536878 24-Oct-2011 11:14

Dingbatt: I think the ABs played their final the week before. So close for too long in this match. The whole house was screaming at them to stop kicking the ball to the French all the time, but I guess that was part of the master plan. A one point win is enough, good for the soul, but not for the heart at the time.

QFT

I'm getting a little sick of reading all the comments about how the best team lost, the ref gifted the game to the ABs, & how the ABs wilting under pressure proves they're still chokers. If France were the best team, they would've found a way to crack that awesome, World Cup winning, All Blacks defense. Joubert had a pretty good game, and didn't seem unfair or biased to me in the least. And the All Blacks certainly did not choke last night. They dug deep, and produced a defensive effort that deservedly saw them crowned Rugby World Champions in 2011.

Batman

Mad Scientist
30014 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#536888 24-Oct-2011 11:32

firstly, as expected the 2nd best team in the world lost to the team crowned as best in the world, ushered by referee mr joubert. congratulations to both teams who played as well as any team could have.

as geeky as geeks get, here's a review of the match

joker97:
the top 15 (or 14 if you think Cruden is slightly inferior to carter): may have been twisted by circumstances - the experience and stamina of Woodcock at tighthead (with the 22 named he's gonna have to play at least 80 mins). the strength, experience, scrumhalf ability, dynamic linebreaking ability of mealamu. our tight five is as good as it gets. don't forget the french tight five is heavier and faster and can run the ball - beware if they show up to play.

loose trio - you have to say ours is as good as it gets - the fittest and strongest guys are on our team. but don't tell me the french did not get to the final because their loosies are as big strong and can run the ball. discipline may let the french down, but if they show up to play, it's gonna be one hell of a battle.

inside backs - i'm pretty sure if carter was playing weepu may well be on the bench. but he's not, and as such weepu will be the brain and the key to our attack. the funny thing is sometimes the outside backs come inside to receive the ball and they will be crucial, esp the dagger, to slip thru non existent gaps. otherwise nonu needs a big game to get past the giant french wall, which, as i said, on a good day is as good as the boks in 2007. the french? well - all of them can kick high, kick low, run the ball, pass it like a basketball, as as fast as anyone in the competition. don't forget their top flyhalf is on the bench! defense isn't too bad too.

outside backs - i think we have the advantage here ... what can i say!

and finally the most important man of the game - joubert! i cannot emphasise, that in the last decade, we have seen teams shaken by poor refereeing in soccer and rugby. but many poor calls have gone the favourites' or home teams' way ... so ... who knows!

the bench -
no idea about the french but presumably they are as good as the starting 15 they replace.
my only head scratchie abour our bench is SBW and stephen donald. stephen has not played a minute of the cup. not one minute (ok he may have but i don't remember he did anything useful??). i think he's there to kick goals if required. not a bad backup plan should the dreaded top 2 kickers be out or a kick off is needed (somehow i think the rules eliminate that possibility because we defeated the french in the pool? someone?). SBW - an impact player he certainly is due to his strength ... but i don't know if he is as technically skilled as some other players and certainly not specialised in anything!

the match was won because the boys held on around the 40m line AND were disciplined enough not to give away a penalty. although i read the english press are saying "because joubert did not award any penalties". to those who think that, well, he did. twice in kicable range, and both were missed by the french. (was Richie offside when he forced the turnover? is that what they meant? i will have to watch again). again, having watched the previous 4 finals, you do not expect try fests, at least not without DC, the man who singlehandedly demolished france in the pool.

tight five - france 4.5/5, nz 4.5/5. the french collected all their line outs and then some. the NZers had a slight edge at scrum time, but not by much, and depended on the hit. one awol occasion and tony woodcock was across, straight as teen towards the exit at lunch time.

loosies - france 5/5, nz 4/5. france were clearly dominant here. you had to say that because the backs couldn't clear the ball, and due to french pressure, our boys lost any adge by 50 mins. they looked like they had played too much footy and were so fatigued the black had fadded off the jerseys. but without being dominant, they threw their bodies at the french legally when able, and the cover defences were at hand to mop up when the loosies were reduced to passersby. mccaw was superb at inspiring, but dusautoir was in control - but you cannot deny the fact that their inside backs made him MOTM.

inside backs - france 4/5, nz 3.5/5. as i said, the better flyhalf was on the bench, and his only mistake was a long range penalty miss (and the missed droppie if you like). france started to dominate once he came on. he could run, he could kick over the defense when the middle channel was shut, he with yachvili put france on the front foot. weepu missed everything, and cruden was absolutely smashed. i thought the ABs should have made more tactical kicks i'm sure DC would have done, but they didn't (at least until donald showed up, but please note he hasn't played a single minute prior and as such his fitness is lacking), and put a lot of pressure on themselves by playing ball in their own half. i was surprised that possession and territory was only 55% to the french. it felt like 80% 70%. and to sum it up, smith bounced off rougerie. nonu did not get much advantage against the french line.

outside backs - i thought both were outstanding, neither dominant. the game wasn't played at this department today.

did the better team win? have you ever heard anyone criticise cup winners? of course the scoreboard never lies. not in 1999, not in 2007, not in 2011. well done team.

Batman

Mad Scientist
30014 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#536889 24-Oct-2011 11:35

Dingbatt: I think the ABs played their final the week before. So close for too long in this match. The whole house was screaming at them to stop kicking the ball to the French all the time, but I guess that was part of the master plan. A one point win is enough, good for the soul, but not for the heart at the time.

you didn't give france any credit that's why. how can an easy win be a final and the tough win be unimpressive???

i watched the french agaisnt england and i watched the french in the entire 199 and 2007 tournament and i know what they are no pushovers. just look at the build of their guys mate!

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

heavenlywild

5091 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 901

Trusted

#536905 24-Oct-2011 12:32

Ugly game but a win is a win!

Well done All Blacks and well done to us Kiwis for hosting a great tournament!:)

Dingbatt

6804 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3694

Lifetime subscriber

#536966 24-Oct-2011 17:26

joker97:
Dingbatt: I think the ABs played their final the week before. So close for too long in this match. The whole house was screaming at them to stop kicking the ball to the French all the time, but I guess that was part of the master plan. A one point win is enough, good for the soul, but not for the heart at the time.

you didn't give france any credit that's why. how can an easy win be a final and the tough win be unimpressive???

i watched the french agaisnt england and i watched the french in the entire 199 and 2007 tournament and i know what they are no pushovers. just look at the build of their guys mate!

No, I just wasn't sure which France was going to show up. As it turned out it was the 'world beater' team. I still stand by my statement that the ABs viewed the Wallabies as their greatest obstacle to RWC glory. Last night proved otherwise. Viva la France, glad you are on the opposite side of the draw for next time (along with Australia).

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

nate

6473 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 458

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#536985 24-Oct-2011 18:45

Partner and I headed into town after watching the match at home. Queen St/Quay St were packed, everyone in the most amazing mood.

scottjpalmer

6032 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 790

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#536986 24-Oct-2011 18:52

nate: Partner and I headed into town after watching the match at home. ?Queen St/Quay St were packed, everyone in the most amazing mood.

Likewise in Wellington, electric atmosphere, so many people!

asmcar

331 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 6

#536987 24-Oct-2011 19:09

scottjpalmer:
nate: Partner and I headed into town after watching the match at home. ?Queen St/Quay St were packed, everyone in the most amazing mood.

Likewise in Wellington, electric atmosphere, so many people!

Wellington did have a good atmosphere i'd have to agree. The issue I had was with the organisation / road closures. I was working on the door of a bar on Courtney place last night (I have been for the entire RWC) surely the council or police saw that there would need to be closures in place, the fan zone was at capacity, all of the bars were full, where did the police / council think everyone was going to go after the game?

I saw multiple near accidents as people partied in the streets, drinking, while buses, taxis and cars were trying to drive through as the road hadn't been closed and there were no police in sight till at least 30 minutes after the game. The fans were rocking cars as they drove through the crowds including one police car, I think that's a terrible look for New Zealand, it's fine to celebrate but when you risk your lives, and other peoples lives and properties people need to know when to settle down a bit.

It's great that the All Blacks won, but the papers don't seem to have taken much notice of the atrocious level of organisation from the Wellington City Council last night. Maybe they can redeem themselves with the parade on Wednesday.

Edit: /End rant. A little off topic but still part of the RWC celebrations and didn't want to start a new thread for it.

Lenovo

Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

networkn

Networkn
32868 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15456

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#537003 24-Oct-2011 20:19

Well I went to the game, Eden Park is completely amazing, unlike anything I had seen before. Honestly, if I had of known it was so easy to see the people (Watched the whole game on the field rather than using the screens) I would have gone to at least the quarters and semi's for NZ.

I am a pretty reserved guy, I find it hard to cheer, but I was SCREAMING at them in the last 4 minutes not to give away the ball, when we won I was hoarse!

I strange as it seems wasn't as anxious as I think I would have been at home with commentary, but wow they did so well.

Ritchie McCaw for NZ'r of the year for me, no questions. The stuff legends are made of. He looked pretty out of it 4 minutes to go, not sure but he looked like he got a knock to the head.

We also went to the Domain and Parade (Not that sort of guy either) and the thing I was so impressed by, was the number of people there, and the mood they were in, and there was no fighting, and no negativity. We are at least, ONE NATION, instead of 10 groups of nationalities living in the same space. There had to be 550-600K people out today of every creed, all out in support of their heroes..

I am SO *PROUD* to be a Kiwi today, we are a great nation!

networkn

Networkn
32868 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15456

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#537059 24-Oct-2011 22:24

Ritchie for NZ'r of the year, but for a knighthood in his thirties? No, I am sorry that is just too much.

MBE perhaps?

mattwnz

20515 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4796

#537067 24-Oct-2011 22:57

Dingbatt: I think the ABs played their final the week before. So close for too long in this match. The whole house was screaming at them to stop kicking the ball to the French all the time, but I guess that was part of the master plan. A one point win is enough, good for the soul, but not for the heart at the time.

I think as a game that was probably the game of the tournament, but the final was as satisfying in the end. They are replaying it on tv one now

It is hard to think that tonga beat france just a few weeks ago, but france deserve the world number two tag now.

Dingbatt

6804 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3694

Lifetime subscriber

#537132 25-Oct-2011 08:30

Yes. My son pointed out to me that if Tonga had beaten Canada then France wouldn't have even made the quarters!

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

1 | ... | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23