Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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#2937700 3-Jul-2022 00:28

ABs dominated the set pieces, particularly the scrums - we still have a lot of work to do at the breakdown on our own ball & our general kicking wasn't accurate enough... as usual we have plenty of attacking x-factor players that can be deadly from any part of the field.

Good to see Aaron Smith isn't completely overdoing the box kicks, was great to see him use more variation in his kicking game, needs to dart around the edges of the rucks more to keep the defence guessing.

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#2937879 3-Jul-2022 13:38

There was a lot to like in the performance from the AB's last night, and lots of things I expect will improve over the next couple of weeks.

I am not sure you could have asked for more than a 20+ point win over one of the top teams in the world right now, in the first test of the season, when the coaches have been out with Covid, and some first choice players being out, forced a number of debutants into the field.

No-one will be surprised when I say I am not a fan of Reiko, I still don't believe him to be a centre, but last night those two try-saving tackles were fantastic. Full credit to him for that.

Barrett did pretty well at 6 I thought, though I'll be surprised if he isn't cited for his tackle that contacted the face of the Irish player.

I thought we did well at set-piece, and our forwards showed periods of strength and determination and accuracy.

Having said that, the Irish crossed our line 5 times without scoring, and I doubt you'd expect we could get 5 defenses in that situation again. They did find holes in our defense more easily than I would have liked.

Sam Cane made an expected step up, I think he played really well.

Ardie is a total monster. That individual try was something quite special.

It was heartwarming to see Gus cross the line and how all the AB's came into give him attention for it. Really awesome.

Something I liked and Farrel commented on it after the game, was the skip pass to the third man on attack. It really caught the Irish by surprise and created a couple of nice defensive gaps and uncertainty in the Irish minds.

artbloke

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#2938011 4-Jul-2022 00:35

Yeah, Reiko Ioane is far more suited to the wing... he showed excellent urgency with those try saving tackles.

The Irish were pretty predictable from those 5 & 10 metre tap penalties out from our goal line by going directly up the middle through the phases where all the traffic was, made it easier for us to hold them up off the deck over our goal line, was expecting them to attack in pods a few metre wide of the rucks each time to stretch us more making it easier for them to get over the line.

Was a good tactic to use skip passes to get wide of the congested area to free up space for our players.

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#2938025 4-Jul-2022 08:07

artbloke:

The Irish were pretty predictable from those 5 & 10 metre tap penalties out from our goal line by going directly up the middle through the phases where all the traffic was, made it easier for us to hold them up off the deck over our goal line, was expecting them to attack in pods a few metre wide of the rucks each time to stretch us more making it easier for them to get over the line.

I maybe wrong here but I wonder how much of that would be force of habit as I believe (Hope I'm right) that nearly all northern hemisphere comps including six nations are played under the old rules where held up is a 5M scrum?

Some of the plays definitely looked like they were never going to get it down yet they went anyway.

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#2938042 4-Jul-2022 09:03

JPNZ:

artbloke:

The Irish were pretty predictable from those 5 & 10 metre tap penalties out from our goal line by going directly up the middle through the phases where all the traffic was, made it easier for us to hold them up off the deck over our goal line, was expecting them to attack in pods a few metre wide of the rucks each time to stretch us more making it easier for them to get over the line.

I maybe wrong here but I wonder how much of that would be force of habit as I believe (Hope I'm right) that nearly all northern hemisphere comps including six nations are played under the old rules where held up is a 5M scrum?

Some of the plays definitely looked like they were never going to get it down yet they went anyway.

Seems unlikely they would have continued so many times after 'learning' that it wasn't, the first time.

itxtme

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#2938043 4-Jul-2022 09:03

JPNZ:

Some of the plays definitely looked like they were never going to get it down yet they went anyway.

Its a concept many super teams struggled with this year too, its a real disadvantage to the pick and go and I quite like it, rewarding good defence.

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#2938046 4-Jul-2022 09:07

itxtme:

JPNZ:

Some of the plays definitely looked like they were never going to get it down yet they went anyway.

Its a concept many super teams struggled with this year too, its a real disadvantage to the pick and go and I quite like it, rewarding good defence.

Well, that did get across the line 5 times using that rumble it up in the forwards pretty much. I wouldn't want to try and continue to rely on keeping them held up each time going forward.

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artbloke

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#2938061 4-Jul-2022 10:58

JPNZ:

artbloke:

The Irish were pretty predictable from those 5 & 10 metre tap penalties out from our goal line by going directly up the middle through the phases where all the traffic was, made it easier for us to hold them up off the deck over our goal line, was expecting them to attack in pods a few metre wide of the rucks each time to stretch us more making it easier for them to get over the line.

I maybe wrong here but I wonder how much of that would be force of habit as I believe (Hope I'm right) that nearly all northern hemisphere comps including six nations are played under the old rules where held up is a 5M scrum?

Some of the plays definitely looked like they were never going to get it down yet they went anyway.

You could be right... players must get pretty confused will all the constant rules changes.

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#2938063 4-Jul-2022 10:59

I said earlier that I thought Scott Barrett availed himself really well in the 6 Jersey, and was relieved to see he avoided being cited for his no-arms collision, but I am concerned that despite all the extra stuff he has done around his tackle technique (which has improved) he is still tackling no arms sometimes. He will only have himself to blame if it costs him dearly, and I just hope it doesn't cost the person he tackles that dearly, or the team he is playing for.

Having said that, coaches have indicated they would consider him permanently at 6, and I think his lineout option, plus the fact he is a lump of a human, strong and good in defense, would be good for the AB's.

I expect next week will be officiated differently. I am hoping that means we don't end up on the wrong side of a penalty count.

Quinn Tupea did well I thought. Not sure it would be good enough to get a starting position at the moment, but promising signs from him.

artbloke

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#2938082 4-Jul-2022 11:43

networkn:

I said earlier that I thought Scott Barrett availed himself really well in the 6 Jersey, and was relieved to see he avoided being cited for his no-arms collision, but I am concerned that despite all the extra stuff he has done around his tackle technique (which has improved) he is still tackling no arms sometimes. He will only have himself to blame if it costs him dearly, and I just hope it doesn't cost the person he tackles that dearly, or the team he is playing for.

Having said that, coaches have indicated they would consider him permanently at 6, and I think his lineout option, plus the fact he is a lump of a human, strong and good in defense, would be good for the AB's.

I expect next week will be officiated differently. I am hoping that means we don't end up on the wrong side of a penalty count.

Quinn Tupea did well I thought. Not sure it would be good enough to get a starting position at the moment, but promising signs from him.

Barrett isn't the only one in our team that needs to be careful with his tackling technique... they need to get their mindsets right trying to make sure they rap the arms & keep away from the neck & head area.

Worries me when we get a very pedantic UK ref... just know the ABs will be on the end of a big penalty count.

Reckon we haven't got the midfield players in the squad right... I think players like Sullivan & the Umaga-Jensen brothers would be more effective in the midfield for us.

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#2938085 4-Jul-2022 11:47

artbloke:

Barrett isn't the only one in our team that needs to be careful with his tackling technique... they need to get their mindsets right trying to make sure they rap the arms & keep away from the neck & head area.

Worries me when we get a very pedantic UK ref... just know the ABs will be on the end of a big penalty count.

Reckon we haven't got the midfield players in the squad right... I think players like Sullivan & the Umaga-Jensen brothers would be more effective in the midfield for us.

Laulula's name being read out for the AB's gives me a feeling of trepidation, Ofa a little less so.

I think this week our midfield was the result of Covid, if we get all our players back and they are fit, I'd expect to see different centers.

Before Goodhue's injuries, he was playing really well, him and ALB were great together. It annoyed me they kept playing him at 12 though, as I think he is more naturally a 13.

I don't feel introducing new players to center now is really something I'd do. We have a glut of them, we just need to pick and build combinations and experience.

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#2938086 4-Jul-2022 11:51

I enjoyed that game, and can happily say that my pessimism about them (and the coach) was misplaced. Sorry Foz.

Forwards played well against a good NH forward pack (that pretty much monstered the ABs last time they met). Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett had good games, Beaudy's game awareness looked really good.

Some of the field kicking was a bit off (for both teams actually) - missed touch a few times.

Looked like the field was pretty slippery, especially the end that the ABs were defending in the first half - our defenders slipped there a few times, and in the second half I saw the Irish defenders slip a coupl eo f times as well.

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#2938143 4-Jul-2022 12:29

The Aussie-England game was interesting. Swain being pulled off for head butting after being provoked changed the game quite a bit, but Australia did well to win regardless. For the record, I am not saying Swain should have head-butted him and there probably wasn't a better outcome available to the referees but hair pulling should be considered pretty poor form. It seemed to be that it was a deliberate attempt to rile him up, though England post-game denied it.

Fair play to Australia for winning that.

It's not easy to know what's happening in the English camp right now. Has Eddy overstayed his useful period with them, or is England trying something new ala SA about this same time last RWC cycle that will see them come out the other side of this stronger? He is a smart guy, but I do wonder if tenures with teams should be limited as it's pretty hard not to get stale in a role, even if you love it.

He's a pretty good coach I think, despite not liking him much, I do wonder where he goes after England. Back to Australia? I'd not look forward to him needling our coaches constantly the way he does with other coaches, the best thing about Eddie coaching England is how little we have to deal with his personality :)

artbloke

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#2938154 4-Jul-2022 12:33

networkn:

artbloke:

Barrett isn't the only one in our team that needs to be careful with his tackling technique... they need to get their mindsets right trying to make sure they rap the arms & keep away from the neck & head area.

Worries me when we get a very pedantic UK ref... just know the ABs will be on the end of a big penalty count.

Reckon we haven't got the midfield players in the squad right... I think players like Sullivan & the Umaga-Jensen brothers would be more effective in the midfield for us.

Laulula's name being read out for the AB's gives me a feeling of trepidation, Ofa a little less so.

I think this week our midfield was the result of Covid, if we get all our players back and they are fit, I'd expect to see different centers.

Before Goodhue's injuries, he was playing really well, him and ALB were great together. It annoyed me they kept playing him at 12 though, as I think he is more naturally a 13.

I don't feel introducing new players to center now is really something I'd do. We have a glut of them, we just need to pick and build combinations and experience.

I find that both Goodhue & ALB lack a bit on attack.

Havill & Tuivasa-Sheck are not that big for midfielders, have very similar skill sets, but Havili has the better all-round game over him because he has far better kicking skills... they could've had Sullivan in the squad in place of Tuivasa-Sheck.

In the next test we all know they going to start Reiko Ioane, so I'd prefer Havili to partner him, which would give our midfield more variation on attack.

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#2938156 4-Jul-2022 12:41

artbloke:

I find that both Goodhue & ALB lack a bit on attack.

Havill & Tuivasa-Sheck are not that big for midfielders, have very similar skill sets, but Havili has the better all-round game over him because he has far better kicking skills... they could've had Sullivan in the squad in place of Tuivasa-Sheck.

In the next test we all know they going to start Reiko Ioane, so I'd prefer Havili to partner him, which would give our midfield more variation on attack.

Personally, I'd like to see Havilli and Goodhue play at least once or twice together and see how they go. Goodhue has looked really good since getting back and if he got back to the form he was in pre-injury, he is the closest thing we have had to a Conrad Smith with a great understanding of Rugby in general and an excellent voice in organizing defensive lines.

Reiko's big plus is his speed. If we can get him into space, there isn't anyone faster, it just doesn't happen often enough to balance out what I consider to be his liabilities in distribution and decision making (which admittedly has improved this year). He made those two try saving tackles this match, which were really fantastic, and perhaps if his defense can stand up consistently, then he is the answer there.

Agree on Havillis size, but then we played MacKenzie at Fullback for 2 years :)

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