Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

Forums › Sports › Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

1 | ... | 671 | 672 | 673 | 674 | 675 | 676

Earbanean

1110 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 377

#3473098 24-Mar-2026 12:19

Also forgot to say, but in my opinion at least, selections weren't a major problem at all with Robertson and the previous coaching team. Bringing in Holland, Sititi, Carter, Parker, Tosi, etc were all good calls and promoting Williams and Roigard was also great.

The only selections that I really didn't agree with were the non-aerial wings Ioane and Reece. However, even then their selection options were limited by injuries to Clarke and Narawa.

networkn

Networkn
32862 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3473099 24-Mar-2026 12:25

Earbanean:

Those criticisms can both be true - and valid. They're not mutually exclusive.

e.g. it's perfectly valid to say that he shouldn't have picked TJ Perenara and Sam Cane on the EOY tour in 2024, given they were both leaving NZ. It's also perfectly valid to say Ioane, Kirifi, Reece, etc weren't good selections.

And there in lies the rub. People want innovation, player development, depth and to almost never lose. They want to see their favourite players included and playing.

Ted, Hansens and to a lesser degree Fosters tenures were succesful in no small part because of the number of unicorn players, they managed to largely experiment successfully, which led to innovation, and did so in a time where other nations really hadn't cottoned on.

I guess we need to wait and see how the new coaching regime does, past the honeymoon phase.

networkn

Networkn
32862 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3474117 26-Mar-2026 16:31

Boo to no Crusaders game this weekend. I was keen to see if they could continue to build on 2 wins in a row.

Earbanean

1110 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 377

#3474132 26-Mar-2026 17:01

networkn:

Boo to no Crusaders game this weekend. I was keen to see if they could continue to build on 2 wins in a row.

Well you'll be happy to know I bought lunch for my eye-patcher mate yesterday, to (belatedly) settle our bet on last year's Super final.

networkn

Networkn
32862 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3474169 26-Mar-2026 21:14

Earbanean:

Well you'll be happy to know I bought lunch for my eye-patcher mate yesterday, to (belatedly) settle our bet on last year's Super final.

Somewhere he is saying to someone... My eye patcher mate had to buy me lunch to settle our bet on last years super final.

Earbanean

1110 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 377

#3474278 27-Mar-2026 10:24

I see in the news today that Te Kaha stadium in ChCh opens today. That is such great news. It has been a long time coming, but looks like it should be a top place to watch sport - and concerts. The Super round and the first test against France will be great occasions. I can't wait to get down for a game one day. Is it open for the public to go and have a look around today?

Samsung

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).

JPNZ

1715 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 840

#3474379 27-Mar-2026 13:28

Earbanean:

I see in the news today that Te Kaha stadium in ChCh opens today. That is such great news. It has been a long time coming, but looks like it should be a top place to watch sport - and concerts. The Super round and the first test against France will be great occasions. I can't wait to get down for a game one day. Is it open for the public to go and have a look around today?

No, its open for leaders and dignataries today. There are two upcoming "ticketed open days" for the public.

I just booked dinner and pre drinks for the 24th April opening game. 6 mins walk from the stadium, I'm expecting an electric atmosphere

Panasonic 65GZ1000, Onkyo RZ730, Atmos 5.1.2, AppleTV 4K, Nest Mini's, PS5, PS3, MacbookPro, iPad Pro, Apple watch SE2, iPhone 15+

networkn

Networkn
32862 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3475385 30-Mar-2026 09:26

Tamiti Williams ruled out for 2026 after a scan revealed a serious infection in his back.

I hope he recovers ok. Health and Family first.

networkn

Networkn
32862 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3477866 4-Apr-2026 12:43

Well, that was an emphatic way to end the time at Apollo Stadium. It was clearly a highly emotional match for many reasons.

Quite fitting to see off one hundred wins in the final match ever at that location.

Codie Taylor getting 4 tries in his 150th esp the one on the wing was pretty cool to see.

Having said that, the game all got a bit silly, and I think Jordan had his weakest game in a very long time both as Captain and as a player. He really should have had a word with the team, when things got crazy, and reigned in the silly passes and over trying that went on, some of which was his own stuff.

Having said that, sometimes people just need to blow off some team and the players had clearly been told to express themselves, and once the game was over (pretty much by half time) it was about entertaining the fans.

Disclipline on defence again was a weakpoint, I really hope they get that under control.

networkn

Networkn
32862 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3478270 5-Apr-2026 13:13

Chiefs running riot against Warratahs last night. Nice to see the Debutant get a double. Finau with a massive tackle and a try. The Chiefs don't lose as lost without MacKenzie as they have in the past. In my opinion it's probably what Gibbes should be focusing on as MacKenzie is not going to be around forever.

networkn

Networkn
32862 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3478284 5-Apr-2026 14:18

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/ardie-savea-inside-the-all-blacks-loosies-relationship-with-the-team-and-new-zealand-rugby/premium/WOJ7W6MXHBAY5CTQAKRXZDXY3U/

This seems to paint a significantly different picture to what was originally claimed in the press over Savea wanting to leave the AB's as a result of Scott Robertsons leadership.

1 | ... | 671 | 672 | 673 | 674 | 675 | 676