Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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#1327879 19-Jun-2015 15:09

Agree with above.

Dalton has to go, and there are evidently massive conflicts within the board and ownership.

Good luck Tana.

E + R = O

networkn

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#1328496 20-Jun-2015 22:06

Well it was a big game, but the Chiefs biggest liabilities were their biggest factors, and cost them a semi final. I just don't understand the negative play element of their game. Too aggressive by far. Some nice moments by them, but ultimately the Highlanders deserved the win and got it. Some outstanding skills shown by them. If it wasn't for the foot in touch (glad I didn't have to make that call) that first Highlanders try would have been a contender for try of the season. Perhaps with Tamefuna gone overseas, the Chiefs will concede a few less penalties, though interestingly Liam Messam, is the most penalized player in the comp this year. His overly aggressive stance really needs toning down (it was getting quite silly there for a while, can't recall how many times Pollack had to warn him).

I am very much looking forward to seeing the AB's list tomorrow. Will be interesting to see how many new Highlanders get a shot at an AB's cap.

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#1328501 20-Jun-2015 22:45

networkn:
Geektastic:
networkn: Well as expected JK finally stepped down. I don't get the feeling that Umaga will shift their fortunes considerably. The problems at the Blues seem to be much deeper and I expect that this could actually harm Umanga's career, but I really hope not, and I really hope he turns them around.

Thought it was a bit overkill for the Herald to bill this as "Breaking News" on their site.

Not exactly "World War Three Declared"...

Well, I consider it breaking NATIONAL news. Didn't seem that out of place to me.

Hmm. I don't really consider a resigning sports coach to warrant 'breaking news" status regardless.

Death of Monarch? Check. Sudden resignation of PM? Check. Plane crash at Auckland airport? Check. Resigning ball game coach? Not so much....

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#1328720 21-Jun-2015 16:02

Geektastic:
networkn:
Geektastic:
networkn: Well as expected JK finally stepped down. I don't get the feeling that Umaga will shift their fortunes considerably. The problems at the Blues seem to be much deeper and I expect that this could actually harm Umanga's career, but I really hope not, and I really hope he turns them around.

Thought it was a bit overkill for the Herald to bill this as "Breaking News" on their site.

Not exactly "World War Three Declared"...

Well, I consider it breaking NATIONAL news. Didn't seem that out of place to me.

Hmm. I don't really consider a resigning sports coach to warrant 'breaking news" status regardless.

Death of Monarch? Check. Sudden resignation of PM? Check. Plane crash at Auckland airport? Check. Resigning ball game coach? Not so much....

Many people in NZ follow Rugby and not politics and could care less about the the resignation of a politico, however since you feel so strongly about it, you could contact the press outlets responsible to share your views on what constitutes breaking news.

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#1328722 21-Jun-2015 16:03

breaking news!

some uncapped highlanders in the wider AB squad!

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#1328723 21-Jun-2015 16:07

5 New AB's!

It's always been traditional that players needed to show form for more than a single season, so despite admittedly sparkling form, I was surprised Milner-Skudder make it this time around. I do understand Lima because of no Cruden. I guess if they don't select them, other countries will snatch them from us.

I can't for the life of me understand how Kerr Barlow, gets named ahead of Andy Ellis! It must be so frustrating to be so consistently high performing and not make the AB's year after year. I am not sure if perhaps he slept with someones wife or something!

Grumbling about Daggs selection also puzzles me, his kicking is really good, much MUCH better than Ben Smith, he has distance and accuracy, and actually is a very good goal kicker. I hope he does get back to his dazzling best.

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#1328724 21-Jun-2015 16:08

joker97: breaking news!

Don't wind him up :)

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#1328763 21-Jun-2015 18:46

Be interested to see who gets brought in for the Samoa test if there is a Hurricanes/Highlanders final.
Dagg is included on his ability not his current form. He can cover wing and fullback and deserves his place.
The Chiefs only gave away one more penalty than the Highlanders. Two pieces of brilliance by Aaron Smith were the main difference between the teams. Smith deserves to be the number one halfback in the country. Naholo took his chances well and it is good that the ABs have secured him, one test and he's ours for the foreseeable future.
I thought Heem and Lowe may have come onto the selectors radar for the future but Lowe particularly displayed a lack of maturity in the game last night.
The Highlanders had a game plan and executed it correctly. The Chiefs had a plan but failed to execute it and literally dropped the ball. The Highlanders are deserving semifinalists.
I would be interested to see how far behind Messam, Richie McCaw is on the penalty count. Richie is in my opinion NZ's greatest ever All Black, but as a loose forward his job is to live on the edge of the law. And yes @Networkn I recognise that you loathe the Chiefs and adore the Crusaders but please take the red and black eye patch off now both teams are out of the competition. Ellis is past his best and will be joining Justin Marshall in the Sky commentary team soon.
The only newby that that I hadn't heard much about was Cody Taylor but he is the future once Mealamu is put out to pasture.
I thought Piutau was gone burger but obviously not.

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#1328769 21-Jun-2015 18:59

Ellis is generally pretty average. Average pass, defence, running game, kicking game. He doesn't do anything noticeably well, or poorly. He certainly doesn't offer anything coming off the bench.

Dagg strikes me as the new Nonu - awful in super rugby, p*sses people off as it never looks like he's trying but steps up and delivers at the next level.

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#1328771 21-Jun-2015 19:05

networkn:
joker97: breaking news!

Don't wind him up :)

Sorry we live in Dunedin, that's about as good as it gets during these days

MileHighKiwi

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#1328773 21-Jun-2015 19:06

Roll on Saturday at the Cake tin. Gona be a stern test against a very good Brumbies team but I think the Canes are gona have too much firepower, and in front of what should be a full house they should be too strong for the boys from Canberra. Glad I got my tickets early.

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#1328775 21-Jun-2015 19:08

The Aussies travel round the world with associated jet lag, so that's a handicap in itself. But a game's a game.

Dingbatt

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#1328795 21-Jun-2015 19:37

Hopefully a sign of the state of South African rugby that the only SA team in the playoffs gets owned on their home ground. Last time this happened to the Brumbies they got to Waikato Stadium and got beaten. I can only hope the same happens next weekend at the cake tin. Highlanders have a much tougher task against the Warratahs in Sydney but I have my fingers crossed for that one too.
A Warratahs/Brumbies final isn't on my viewing list.

Incidentally I have decried some of the TMO decisions this year, but in the U20 final this morning the one time they really needed to refer to the TMO to check for foul play, the ref took the word of the assistant referee that Ioane had done a no arms late charge and yellow carded him. Once the replay was shown, it was obvious that he had used his arms in a legitimate, if slightly late, tackle. Too late, already in the bin. Luckily it didn't cost NZ the game. England has produced some huge under twenty year olds, lucky they ran out of puff hauling that bulk around the field for 80 minutes.

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#1329097 22-Jun-2015 10:59

Dingbatt: Be interested to see who gets brought in for the Samoa test if there is a Hurricanes/Highlanders final.
Dagg is included on his ability not his current form. He can cover wing and fullback and deserves his place.
The Chiefs only gave away one more penalty than the Highlanders. Two pieces of brilliance by Aaron Smith were the main difference between the teams. Smith deserves to be the number one halfback in the country. Naholo took his chances well and it is good that the ABs have secured him, one test and he's ours for the foreseeable future.
I thought Heem and Lowe may have come onto the selectors radar for the future but Lowe particularly displayed a lack of maturity in the game last night.
The Highlanders had a game plan and executed it correctly. The Chiefs had a plan but failed to execute it and literally dropped the ball. The Highlanders are deserving semifinalists.
I would be interested to see how far behind Messam, Richie McCaw is on the penalty count. Richie is in my opinion NZ's greatest ever All Black, but as a loose forward his job is to live on the edge of the law. And yes @Networkn I recognise that you loathe the Chiefs and adore the Crusaders but please take the red and black eye patch off now both teams are out of the competition. Ellis is past his best and will be joining Justin Marshall in the Sky commentary team soon.
The only newby that that I hadn't heard much about was Cody Taylor but he is the future once Mealamu is put out to pasture.
I thought Piutau was gone burger but obviously not.

I couldn't disagree more about Ellis. I don't Loath the Chiefs I loath the way they often play Rugby. The Hurricanes and Highlanders play a more positive form of Rugby. In terms of Penalties, I'd be interested to see how the penalties break down in terms of reasons. Anyone know if there is a Rugby Stats Website? My gut feeling is that the Chiefs tend to give away more negative play penalties, whereas teams like the Highlanders and Hurricanes get more "technical" type penalties. Same with cards.

Agree about Aaron Smith, in my opinion easily the best half back in World Rugby right now, by some margin as well.

Agree about Lowe. Was surprised by Piutua as well.

To my mind RM and DC are the two greatest rugby players ever, RM then DC in that order, for different reasons. Codie Taylor will be lucky to make the RWC squad, but I see him there next year. They are bringing him in with an aim to give him a list of things to work on, and a taste of the environment.

They haven't got a release for Nahaolo yet, but they probably will and have selected him on that likelihood.

As for my eye patch, I think that's a little harsh, I have been critical of the Crusaders and positive about lots of other teams too especially this season.

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#1329098 22-Jun-2015 11:00

Dingbatt: Hopefully a sign of the state of South African rugby that the only SA team in the playoffs gets owned on their home ground. Last time this happened to the Brumbies they got to Waikato Stadium and got beaten. I can only hope the same happens next weekend at the cake tin. Highlanders have a much tougher task against the Warratahs in Sydney but I have my fingers crossed for that one too.
A Warratahs/Brumbies final isn't on my viewing list.

Incidentally I have decried some of the TMO decisions this year, but in the U20 final this morning the one time they really needed to refer to the TMO to check for foul play, the ref took the word of the assistant referee that Ioane had done a no arms late charge and yellow carded him. Once the replay was shown, it was obvious that he had used his arms in a legitimate, if slightly late, tackle. Too late, already in the bin. Luckily it didn't cost NZ the game. England has produced some huge under twenty year olds, lucky they ran out of puff hauling that bulk around the field for 80 minutes.

Is that game available for replay somewhere, or highlights available online? It drives me crazy that in one of the most Rugby focused countries in the world we can't get highlights for lots of games.

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