Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#3500215 4-Jun-2026 13:24

GV27:

OK man it's everyone else's fault we kept picking the same players over and over again during the rebuilding phase we were supposedly going through (and still losing games).

How about you spend less time being sarcastic, and more time reading what was written?

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=176&topicid=111525&page_no=685#3500045

I clearly stated that Robertson did NZ a disservice in continuing to pick players that were struggling. I referenced DMAC, but I think most people can read between the lines, and see it went beyond that.

Having said that, I also was clear that if fans weren't so over entitled, he may well have felt it was easier to lose games and spend more time on trying other options.

There was, to my knowledge, never any comment made about an official rebuild and what that looked like for setting expectations on our win rate. Other coaches have those conversations, including Rassie, and Eddie Jones.

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#3500492 5-Jun-2026 10:46

I haven't been paying much attention to the ways the finals could come through, but it's absolutely bananas to me that the Blues could lose to the Crusaders, and still be in the top 4. I know it's an anomoly of the current format, but it seems somewhat likely we will have an all NZ top 4.

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#3500511 5-Jun-2026 11:43

networkn:

I haven't been paying much attention to the ways the finals could come through, but it's absolutely bananas to me that the Blues could lose to the Crusaders, and still be in the top 4. I know it's an anomoly of the current format, but it seems somewhat likely we will have an all NZ top 4.

Without taunting the mockers, it will be a NZ top 4 without a doubt. Canes and Chiefs won't lose at home

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#3500662 5-Jun-2026 21:29

That's one way to bounce back....

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#3500663 5-Jun-2026 21:30

Always thought the Hurricanes were paragons mental toughness.

networkn

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#3500668 5-Jun-2026 22:21

What a pathetic first quarter final! Why bother flying 5 hours to put in a performance as limp as that?

Switched off after 60 minutes should have switched off after 40.

I think James Slipper would be rightfully pissed that was the way he finished his career.

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Dingbatt

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#3500799 6-Jun-2026 17:19

I’m watching the qualifying quarter (Crusaders vs Blues).

Already spoiled by a red card.
It was a definite red, all day, every day. But surely if it is “a high degree of danger, with no mitigation” I have to ask why is Fainga’anuku still on the field without having to undergo an HIA? Is there really concern for player welfare, or is it just lip service?
In the following minutes Fainga’anuku has had a major part to play in at least three of the Crusaders tries.

I have to question the match doctor on this. If the head contact is severe enough to warrant a red card, shouldn’t that automatically be an HIA?

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

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#3500915 7-Jun-2026 08:48

Dingbatt:

I’m watching the qualifying quarter (Crusaders vs Blues).

Already spoiled by a red card.
It was a definite red, all day, every day. But surely if it is “a high degree of danger, with no mitigation” I have to ask why is Fainga’anuku still on the field without having to undergo an HIA? Is there really concern for player welfare, or is it just lip service?
In the following minutes Fainga’anuku has had a major part to play in at least three of the Crusaders tries.

I have to question the match doctor on this. If the head contact is severe enough to warrant a red card, shouldn’t that automatically be an HIA?

I know you to be a very reasonable person (and so trying to give the benefit of the doubt) and I share your concern, but for you to mix your concern in with the impact Fainga’anuku had by staying on the park, makes it feel a little... Ick.

Overall though, I have raised these concerns previously, and I feel like it should be automatic. It was absolutely shocking the way his head snapped back like that.

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#3500916 7-Jun-2026 08:53

The incident with Wallace Sititi was genuinely one of the most scary things I've seen on a Rugby field. Sky did an incredible job of moving to cameras nowhere where he was. What I saw though was genuinely shocking. There was a great mobilisation of care services for him. Almost no delay.

I really hope he is ok.

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#3500917 7-Jun-2026 09:01

I was concerned during the first 20 minutes of the Crusaders Blues game that the Blues had come to spoil our record and looked quite capable. With the number of basic errors the Crusaders made at the start, I was worried it was going to be one of those nights.

The Red Card played a massive part in the result, though I don't think it changed the ultimate result. The Crusaders didn't get the fast start they were after, but pretty much they worked their way back into the game, and put on the sort of collision winning performance they had against the Hurricanes the week before.

I know many here don't rate Penny, but I genuinely do. He has a long history of great results overall, and his decisions to bring in the likes of Matt Todd, and some of the others in the coaching team, seems to have reconnected the team to the Crusaders of old, and that has, in my opinion, been part of the big turnaround in their fortunates and the building of their season.

I can't quite decide if I think Scott Hansen is a good coach or not. Mixed things were 'leaked' during the AB's review, and some said he was good and others not. I'd not have been mad if they had kept Penny another year so long as we made the Semi's this year. I like the way he thinks and I think lots of decisions have been pretty inspired.

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#3500919 7-Jun-2026 09:09

I only saw 50 minutes of the Reds v Chiefs, but it felt inevitable the Chiefs were going to grind down the Reds and run away with it.

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GV27

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#3500930 7-Jun-2026 10:46

Terrible discipline and anonymous defense the difference for the Blues. When your hardest working defender is Christie, you've got some problems.

But objectively, Berry missed an insane amount of calls that should have been ruled against the Crusaders. First two Crusaders tries were preceded by a knock-on at the base of a ruck and a forward pass. There was a challenge under the high ball that wasn't even replayed that looked extremely dangerous when I went back and looked at it in the lead up to the phase that lead to the red card. And the Crusaders might as well have had Blues jerseys on when they defended on their own line, whereas the Blues conceded repeat advantages for doing literally what the Crusaders did.

Other incidents included Berry telling Blues attackers to stay back after the Crusaders blew past a ruck and there being no one over the ball at all; i.e. it should have been a fair contest at that point, and reversing an advantage for holding on for 'having a second go at it' after the Blues had already won the advantage for the Crusaders holding onto the ball. Compare this to the ease at which LF got awarded turnover penalties and it's not hard to see one standard for one and and a different one for the Blues.

I'm sorry but that's not good enough for finals football.

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#3500946 7-Jun-2026 12:32

networkn:

I know you to be a very reasonable person (and so trying to give the benefit of the doubt) and I share your concern, but for you to mix your concern in with the impact Fainga’anuku had by staying on the park, makes it feel a little... Ick.

Overall though, I have raised these concerns previously, and I feel like it should be automatic. It was absolutely shocking the way his head snapped back like that.

My concern is, he is such an influential player that that didn’t colour the judgement of whoever makes those type of decisions, particularly the Crusaders management. Fainga’anuku continued his massive work rate and putting his head “in dark places” after the head knock. If he had suffered another, who knows what the compound damage may have been? It’s not like he’s a back that occasionally gets tackled, he is right in the thick it all the time. That kind of stuff might not show up for years but it brings to mind the triple concussed Tongan League player that ended up in hospital.

If an HIA was made mandatory following a yellow/red card for direct head contact it would remove that element of doubt.

So “Ick” all you like. That is my opinion.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

Earbanean

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#3501050 7-Jun-2026 14:14

I commented at the time that Faingaʻanuku should definitely have gone for an HIA - and I'd say the same regardless of whether he was the best player on the field, or worst. It begs the question, what does it take to trigger those smart mouthguards?

Thoughts with Wally after his knock. That was pretty frightening. It's good to see the level of immediate care, by the physios, medics, referee, etc and the follow up checks at hospital. We'll lose him for the rest of the comp and that's a big loss - but I wouldn't have it any other way. In the bad old days, he'd be playing next week and quite likely may have even gone back on last night. Remember Lonergan in that League test?

The top 4 teams have made the semis as expected, in the combinations as expected. The Canes and Saders were the form teams of this round. Regardless of how bad the opposition may have played, those were impressive blow-out wins. The Chiefs had to work a lot harder and now have a short turn around before the semi. That could count against them, but maybe could actually be a positive as be they'll be more 'battle hardened'. Time will tell.

I'm planning to duck down to Tron city for the game. Should be a cracker. The other semi, on the other hand, is shaping up as another cake walk for the Canes.

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#3501051 7-Jun-2026 14:14

Some awesome news about Sititi

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/wallace-sititi-head-knock-chiefs-confirm-hospital-scans-did-not-reveal-any-issues-for-star-no-8/7BC5TDOXBRFUXCVNRC7POMJNXU/

Basically, cleared of any serious damage after scans. Seems incredible considering his initial state.

I hope he recovers well.

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