Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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#2099185 1-Oct-2018 10:16

Were the All Blacks that good?

The Pumas set pieces were woeful, 2 of the All blacks first 3 tries were gifts.

It was good to see Richie Mo'unga get some minutes. Only his second game since the Super Rugby final. It is a bit sad that the fans can't get to see players such as himself and a few others play much (no mitre 10 cup ) if they are in the group of players who make up the 3rd player in a position.

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#2099200 1-Oct-2018 10:21

Jas777:

Were the All Blacks that good?

The Pumas set pieces were woeful, 2 of the All blacks first 3 tries were gifts.

It was good to see Richie Mo'unga get some minutes. Only his second game since the Super Rugby final. It is a bit sad that the fans can't get to see players such as himself and a few others play much (no mitre 10 cup ) if they are in the group of players who make up the 3rd player in a position.

Plenty of "gifts" went begging in prior games and in Australia vs SA, so they were "good enough". I am not sure that performance would get us a win in SA, but then I don't expect the same team to play.

Savea had a strong game. RM's distribution and different skillset was interesting contrast. That little kick through to the ALB try was outstanding.

Arg coach will be beside himself I think, with the way his set peice went. I don't think they have mastered the multi facet game yet, because in order to play expansively, I think their traditional strengths went AWOL.

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#2099307 1-Oct-2018 12:34

So, should Hansen experiment or play the strongest possible team in SA? I am a little torn, though I have to admit, I don't want to lose in SA. I imagine in many of the players (and possibly coaches though potentially to a lesser degree) will have a burning desire to make right the Wellington loss. I'd like to see us avoid throwing any intercept passes.

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#2099324 1-Oct-2018 13:14

networkn:

So, should Hansen experiment or play the strongest possible team in SA? I am a little torn, though I have to admit, I don't want to lose in SA. I imagine in many of the players (and possibly coaches though potentially to a lesser degree) will have a burning desire to make right the Wellington loss. I'd like to see us avoid throwing any intercept passes.

Gota play the strongest team, we don't want to lose two on the trot to SA, which is what a weakened team would do.

Not this game, but I'd like to see 10 Mounga, 11 Ioane, 12. SBW, 13. Goodhue, 14. Smith, 15. B Barrett at some point.

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#2099328 1-Oct-2018 13:22

MileHighKiwi:

networkn:

So, should Hansen experiment or play the strongest possible team in SA? I am a little torn, though I have to admit, I don't want to lose in SA. I imagine in many of the players (and possibly coaches though potentially to a lesser degree) will have a burning desire to make right the Wellington loss. I'd like to see us avoid throwing any intercept passes.

Gota play the strongest team, we don't want to lose two on the trot to SA, which is what a weakened team would do.

Not this game, but I'd like to see 10 Mounga, 11 Ioane, 12. SBW, 13. Goodhue, 14. Smith, 15. B Barrett at some point.

I'd be keen to see that as well.

I agree probably need our strongest team this weekend.

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#2099333 1-Oct-2018 13:36

networkn:
So, should Hansen experiment or play the strongest possible team in SA? I am a little torn, though I have to admit, I don't want to lose in SA. I imagine in many of the players (and possibly coaches though potentially to a lesser degree) will have a burning desire to make right the Wellington loss. I'd like to see us avoid throwing any intercept passes.

Lol that's a no brainer, strongest team. They only experiment when they are sure of winning. Based on the previous match result, the answer to your question is very clear.

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#2099339 1-Oct-2018 13:39

Batman:
networkn:

So, should Hansen experiment or play the strongest possible team in SA? I am a little torn, though I have to admit, I don't want to lose in SA. I imagine in many of the players (and possibly coaches though potentially to a lesser degree) will have a burning desire to make right the Wellington loss. I'd like to see us avoid throwing any intercept passes.

Lol that's a no brainer, strongest team. They only experiment when they are sure of winning. Based on the previous match result, the answer to your question is very clear.

Whilst I am sure we will play our strongest, I don't believe that Hansen only experiments when the result is dead set. No such thing exists, though some games are more certain than others.

At some point these players will need to be exposed to the heat of a test match they might not expected to play in, in the toughest of environments. I think he could potentially consider playing 1-2 players in this test without risking everything.

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#2099413 1-Oct-2018 14:23

I am keen to see the Crusaders play more of Will Jordan this year. He looks a prodigous talent.

I am hoping to see Havilli have a better season next SR too. He was pretty quiet this year compared to the last.

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#2099415 1-Oct-2018 14:27

The Referee in the ABs v Pumas was at best bad at worse bloody aweful. But the opening seconds of the Australia v SA game brought back memories of David Campese. I would have been great to hear the sounds in Cheikas booth at that moment.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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#2099421 1-Oct-2018 14:34

I though the ref between AB and Pumas wasn't THAT bad. He got a terrible call wrong with the Pumas try, but he made great decisions both sides where traditionally he might of got RSI pulling yellow cards for high tackles, was very sensible.

I think I agree that a call upstairs should be binding, however, I can see a few instances where it would be bad.

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#2099506 1-Oct-2018 15:47

MikeB4:

I would have been great to hear the sounds in Cheikas booth at that moment.

If there are problems with Foley, Beale is not the answer at 10

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#2099512 1-Oct-2018 15:56

One of the things that is quite apparent the past few weeks is how average Foley is at kicking out of hand. Toomua has been FAR superior at 12 with out of hand kicking gainng much bigger distances, but his running game and general ability to find space isn't as strong as say Beales I don't think. Beale at 10 is lacking the space his natural game needs which he gets at either 12 or 15.

The problem is, in my view, they are still not a cohesive group and don't really seem to sing from the same hymm sheet. I am inclined to think that Hodge looks ok at 13. Dane Haylett Petty is looking ok at fullback, though I am still wondering on why they moved Folau from 15. I am not sure how Folua was doing in defense as fullback and am too lazy to check that specifically.

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#2099830 2-Oct-2018 09:28

There is a fair bit of chatter talking up SA. It's of course that they are on the "up" and are a far superior team than the one fielded last year. Even in SR they were better this than last. However, it's worth noting I believe, that they won by 2 points over the AB's who had by most pundits reckoning, a very average game, and then went to beat Australia by 9 points, 7 of which were due to a brain-dead decision by Beale. Their defence WAS excellent, however, Australia is really pretty average on the attack now, very muddled and not cohesive. AU didn't play as well against the Springboks as they did both tests against the All Blacks and the margin was a try and a penalty kick.

I don't think the world order is being massively shaken up just yet. I am thinking unless the AB's have another poor game, we should win somewhere between a small margin and a moderate one.

I see Faff de Clerk, de Toit and Marx being the guys that we need to watch for amd potentially target. I'd be aiming to target De Clerk

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#2099856 2-Oct-2018 09:57

I don't believe the world order is shaken up, AB's are a clear and deserved No.1, that won't change. I just believe they are not as far ahead as many feel. Everyone else seems pretty darn average, all sorts of odd results. IRE seem to have had a more solid year, but even then they lost to AUS and had two narrow wins which isn't a great indicator all things considered. But they have been solid in winning many games

The top 2 seem pretty clear cut, the rest, toss a coin

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#2099966 2-Oct-2018 13:01

The interesting thing for me this weekend will be whether the Boks shut Barrett down like they did the other week, or whether we've learnt something there. And, if they do, how long Shag leaves him there before giving Richie a crack.

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