Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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#2096872 26-Sep-2018 14:51

I'd like to see the same, or very similar (barring injuries and Read) team v Argentina that we had in Nelson, and the same for the SA game. IMO player development is more important than a win record, especially the year before the world cup. That would be a real test for Mounga in Argentina.

wratterus

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#2097193 27-Sep-2018 08:28

Thinking about that more though, the opposite might be better - play the A team this week in Argentina to hopefully wrap the championship up, then play RM etc against SA. That would probably be even tougher.

Either way it will be really interesting to see the team - anyone know what time it's named? Around midnight tonight our time at a guess?

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#2097212 27-Sep-2018 09:19

wratterus:

Thinking about that more though, the opposite might be better - play the A team this week in Argentina to hopefully wrap the championship up, then play RM etc against SA. That would probably be even tougher.

Either way it will be really interesting to see the team - anyone know what time it's named? Around midnight tonight our time at a guess?

That's true too. I am sure they have a plan. In Steve we trust! :)

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#2097215 27-Sep-2018 09:25

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/107408467/sa-kicking-guru-beauden-barrett-has-poor-technique-with-deficiencies-exposed-by-all-blacks-arrogance

I am not a kicking expert. I am unsure who the AB's have as kicking coach, but it feels like our kicking hasn't been good enough for a while esp with BB. He is a crazy talent, no-one disputes it, however for him to become GOAT he would for my money, require to fix his kicking, and much more importantly, his distribution. If Jordie is to become the incumbent 15 for the AB's then perhaps they need to allow the duties to be shared or just allow Jordie to kick and allow BB to play his running game and run the cutter.

BB is a capable kicker, but I guess like with lots of special talents, possibly not consistent enough.

I will be annoyed if as a result of losing this game and the focus on the drop goal, this becomes a big part of their game, however, I agree with the article, that a drop kick is a reasonable tool to have ready to use in your arsenal.

There is time for BB to develop this, but at some stage I expect his speed will drop off as he gets older, he needs more to his game than this.

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#2097238 27-Sep-2018 09:49

DM has come home for a family bereavement. I am unsure what the loss but my sympathies to him.

I guess that means RM will definitely be playing. The question will be, will he start or sub?

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#2097248 27-Sep-2018 09:59

The All Blacks have made bad decisions late in the game when under pressure to score. So I'd have a look at changing the captain because he is most responsible for those on-field decisions. I'm assuming that there is a candidate who can make better decisions: I think there are at least two senior players who could do this.

Edit: corrected grammar

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wratterus

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#2097249 27-Sep-2018 10:00

IMO S Whitelock > Read

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#2097258 27-Sep-2018 10:05

Hammerer:

The All Blacks have made bad decisions late in the game when under pressure to score. So I'd have a look at changing the captain because he is most responsible for those on-field decisions. I'm assuming that there is a candidate who can make better decisions: I think there are at least two senior players who could do this.

Edit: corrected grammar

I am a HUGE fan of Keiran Read, but I agree, for a while I've felt he wasn't leading the team particularly well. Sam Whitelock would get my vote, he has been exceptional for the Crusaders. I have little doubt he could translate to an excellent AB's captain.

The issue is for me, that the captaincy has a LOT of work involved at the AB's level. A lot more off the paddock stuff than I think most people would think. Sam is one of our most dependable and important players I wouldn't want to see even 1% of that gone as a result of extra responsbilities.

Who were your candidates? Sam Cane?

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#2097398 27-Sep-2018 11:47

I was more trying to point out the issue of on-field decision-making rather than introduce names and then get into comparisons.

But I'd be excited to have Sam Whitelock as captain. He's probably the best option: he only has the occasional average game yet he makes astute decisions when he has been captain of the Crusaders.

I'd like to mix a forward and back as captain and deputy.

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#2097411 27-Sep-2018 11:50

Hammerer:

I was more trying to point out the issue of on-field decision-making rather than introduce names and then get into comparisons.

But I'd be excited to have Sam Whitelock as captain. He's probably the best option: he only has the occasional average game yet he makes astute decisions when he has been captain of the Crusaders.

I'd like to mix a forward and back as captain and deputy.

Fair enough. I do agree that for me Read fails to adapt on field. I saw it a few times when he led the Crusaders and they were behind. I think his before game prep with the team is very good, and also his general inclusiveness and relatabilty. My impression was that Richie led more with an iron fist and by example and SW is possibly more in the same vein.

I'd probably be inclined to do something like Whitelock and Ben Smith (Deputy), though I am unsure if Ben Smith will make the world cup. I think it's planned he will, I presume pretty much anyone playing this year will be at the RWC or at least is in contention, however Concussion and potentially the fact his best speed is probably behind him now are against him. His aerial and decision making are by far his best qualities and he isn't exactly a slouch so I mean no disrespect to him there.

We are doing a Argentine Style BBQ at my place to Celebrate the game and Daylight saving. I am quite looking forward to it.

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#2097439 27-Sep-2018 12:55

networkn:

We are doing a Argentine Style BBQ at my place to Celebrate the game and Daylight saving. I am quite looking forward to it.

A great idea - I might just use it another time. I'll be at a child's birthday where the food may well be mainly vegetarian.

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#2097441 27-Sep-2018 12:56

Hammerer:

networkn:

We are doing a Argentine Style BBQ at my place to Celebrate the game and Daylight saving. I am quite looking forward to it.

A great idea - I might just use it another time. I'll be at a child's birthday where the food may well be mainly vegetarian.

I'm so sorry, on both counts :) It's a double blow, noisy kids and terrible food :)

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#2097738 27-Sep-2018 20:14

If we kicked the famous drop goal, and we won, what would be different now as far as this title and the ARG match be?

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#2097739 27-Sep-2018 20:19

tdgeek:

If we kicked the famous drop goal, and we won, what would be different now as far as this title and the ARG match be?

I think we had to win by a bonus point to secure the Championship in Wellington and I THINK by a points differential of greater than 20?

A win in Argentina will secure it no matter the Margin.

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#2097744 27-Sep-2018 20:38

networkn:

tdgeek:

If we kicked the famous drop goal, and we won, what would be different now as far as this title and the ARG match be?

I think we had to win by a bonus point to secure the Championship in Wellington and I THINK by a points differential of greater than 20?

A win in Argentina will secure it no matter the Margin.

Appreciate that, thanks. What I meant was if we won by the DG, would the furore over the loss and where we sit with the title be as big as its been? We will win this, thats sorted. End of story. WE will beat all teams. But since, its we should beat this team we should beat that team etc. Team changes (not referring to DM). Like womens netball, and rowing, NZ has an unbelievable record for a small nation. It is unbelievable if you are into stats. But I see the unbeatable AB's be now seen as beatable and we "should win" this or that. Its a bit fickle to be honest. If we got the DG, nothing has changed. We allowed a lot of points to be scored against us. Thats is a problem, perhaps it nat not be seen as such if we had kicked the DG.

No doubt I will be castigated (again) but its a fair point.

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