Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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#3501052 7-Jun-2026 14:18

networkn:

I agree with your sentiments on starting 10, however, he hasn't 'had' to share it, I understand injuries have been the main factor. Maybe that doesn't make any difference, if it's simply about building experience, but I don't feel he's being 'demoted' (plus the argument for building experience works both ways)

FWIW, it seems Penney and the Saders selectors don't see it that way. Finals footy and Reihana fully fit, but they had Kemara as starting 10.

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#3501053 7-Jun-2026 14:23

Earbanean:

FWIW, it seems Penney and the Saders selectors don't see it that way. Finals footy and Reihana fully fit, but they had Kemara as starting 10.

Kemera was pretty freaking awesome honestly, but Reihana was still recovering from the situation that had him come off last week. OK to play, but at reduced role. Pretty sure I saw something about it during a team update. Not 'fully' fit was my understanding.

Maybe more to it than that, I don't have any insight into selections personally.

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#3501054 7-Jun-2026 14:34

networkn:

Kemera was pretty freaking awesome honestly, but Reihana was still recovering from the situation that had him come off last week. OK to play, but at reduced role. Pretty sure I saw something about it during a team update. Not 'fully' fit was my understanding.

Maybe more to it than that, I don't have any insight into selections personally.

Ah, OK I wasn't aware there was any injury/fitness question mark after last week. Two good 10s and a good selection problem to have for the Saders. However, with Mo'unga coming back it's a shame one or the other will get almost no game time next year. As I said in a previous comment, for the good of NZ Inc, I'd love to see Reihana (or even Kemara) go to the Blues. Or if Rennie sees DMac as a 15, then it'd even be great for one of them to come home to the Chiefs.

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#3501055 7-Jun-2026 14:40

Earbanean:

Ah, OK I wasn't aware there was any injury/fitness question mark after last week. Two good 10s and a good selection problem to have for the Saders. However, with Mo'unga coming back it's a shame one or the other will get almost no game time next year. As I said in a previous comment, for the good of NZ Inc, I'd love to see Reihana (or even Kemara) go to the Blues. Or if Rennie sees DMac as a 15, then it'd even be great for one of them to come home to the Chiefs.

I am not 100% sure that was the reason, but it seems logical. After injury you usually bring a player off the bench to lessen their workload. Often the game is more intense initially.

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#3501061 7-Jun-2026 15:15

Dingbatt:

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

No need to be like that. It was simply the way you linked your two comments together with how influencial LF was. It shouldn't be tied to stuff like that, it should be if direct head contact occurs, an HIA should be mandatory.

I agree with what I believe the sentiment was.

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#3501062 7-Jun-2026 15:18

GV27:

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.

Man oh man. I am shocked @Earbanean hasn't given you grief over comments like this :) Seems only Crusaders fans can't complain about refereeing ;)

Kinda amusing you complained only about the refereeing as it in your mind, disadvantaged the poor hard by, constantly refereed against Blues. Apparently, 100% of the decisions against the Crusaders were correct. That's fortunate. We should probably investigate Berry for Bias :)

Not really sure how you can complain, you get another week despite a pretty average showing. (the 5th in a row).

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#3501080 7-Jun-2026 18:13

networkn:

Man oh man. I am shocked @Earbanean hasn't given you grief over comments like this :) Seems only Crusaders fans can't complain about refereeing ;)

Nah, I think I just felt sorry for the hapless Blues and didn't have the heart to kick a bunch of supporters when they're down. Really down. But yeah, it did cross my mind.

Unfortunately, it just seems to be part of the game these days. Teams lose - ref cops grief. Teams that lose by a lot generally concede more penalties and then their supporters feel more aggrieved. The comp has massively restricted the ability of TMOs to intervene. That's a good thing in my opinion, but it does mean more ref mistakes happen. I'm happy with that as long as there's no bias for or against any particular team - and as far as I can see there's not.

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#3501090 7-Jun-2026 19:32

Earbanean:

Nah, I think I just felt sorry for the hapless Blues and didn't have the heart to kick a bunch of supporters when they're down. Really down. But yeah, it did cross my mind.

Unfortunately, it just seems to be part of the game these days. Teams lose - ref cops grief. Teams that lose by a lot generally concede more penalties and then their supporters feel more aggrieved. The comp has massively restricted the ability of TMOs to intervene. That's a good thing in my opinion, but it does mean more ref mistakes happen. I'm happy with that as long as there's no bias for or against any particular team - and as far as I can see there's not.

ROFL, when I complained about 3 direct errors leading to 3 tries, which 100% changed the outcome of a match, I got thrown insults and told off in no uncertain terms. Everyone else gets a pass, cause now mistakes happen due to TMO reduced interaction, and the poor hapless other teams.

It's OK, the thread is nearly 700 pages long and it's been like that since the start.

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#3501150 7-Jun-2026 21:04

networkn:

Apparently, 100% of the decisions against the Crusaders were correct. That's fortunate. We should probably investigate Berry for Bias :)

The lineouts were very very poorly reffed for both sides, which was frustrating. And speaking as an ABs fan, pretty concerning.

The breakdown contact was pretty rough and you could have reviewed a number of clearouts that looked to be pretty marginal for foul play from the Blues as well.

I get there's a desire for the game to flow but safety either matters of it doesn't - you can't card a bloke at the start of the match and then ignore players getting womped in the aerial contest or shoulders to the head/neck during clearouts.

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#3501180 8-Jun-2026 08:18

JPNZ:

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

Well.. that was as predictable as night follows day. I sincerely hope the Chiefs win this weekend against the Crusaders, I'd much rather lose a semi than be outgunned in a final. I also think the Chiefs have the best chance of the three teams left of beating the Hurricanes in Wellington.

Good luck Blues, could see that "semi final" getting pretty ugly.

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#3501189 8-Jun-2026 08:49

networkn:

ROFL, when I complained about 3 direct errors leading to 3 tries, which 100% changed the outcome of a match, I got thrown insults and told off in no uncertain terms. Everyone else gets a pass, cause now mistakes happen due to TMO reduced interaction, and the poor hapless other teams.

It's OK, the thread is nearly 700 pages long and it's been like that since the start.

Jeez, you're appealing to me like I'm the moderator, or referee, of this thread. I'm not. As I alluded to, his post about the ref's performance wasn't great, but it's not my job to critique every single post on this thread.

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#3501191 8-Jun-2026 09:04

Earbanean:

Jeez, you're appealing to me like I'm the moderator, or referee, of this thread. I'm not. As I alluded to, his post about the ref's performance wasn't great, but it's not my job to critique every single post on this thread.

No, apparently, just some peoples :)

I am not appealing, just pointing out the hipocrisy.

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#3501194 8-Jun-2026 09:09

JPNZ:

Well.. that was as predictable as night follows day. I sincerely hope the Chiefs win this weekend against the Crusaders, I'd much rather lose a semi than be outgunned in a final. I also think the Chiefs have the best chance of the three teams left of beating the Hurricanes in Wellington.

Good luck Blues, could see that "semi final" getting pretty ugly.

I'm far more worried about the Chiefs than the Hurricanes. I have less fear of losing away to the canes than home to the Chiefs.

If we get past the Chiefs this weekend, if I was the canes, I'd be moderately concerned.

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#3501198 8-Jun-2026 09:49

networkn:

No, apparently, just some peoples :)

I am not appealing, just pointing out the hipocrisy.

Oh dear, this is really starting to sound like some sort of persecution complex. Yes, it would be hypocritical if I agreed with his post and criticised your's. I never agreed with it, I ignored it. On a Sunday afternoon, I couldn't be bothered writing yet another post about people criticising refs. Choosing to ignore something isn't the same as agreeing with it.

Even as I write this I know it's probably pointless, but I'd remind you again, that this is just banter about rugby. It's just a game, it really doesn't matter. The only thing of any importance discussed here is the well being of players like Wally Sititi and Tamaiti Williams - and of course the tragedies to players like Shane Christie, Connor Garden-Bachop.

Just my opinion, but maybe try to focus on the fun positive stuff, rather than harping about perceived slights on you. Your team is doing really, really well (in a fantastic new stadium). Maybe try to enjoy that.

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#3501211 8-Jun-2026 10:41

Based on the weekend performances ...

Hurricanes should easily clean up the Blues.

The other semi is harder for me to pic.

Crusaders were fantastic on attack, but let far too many tries in against the Blues.

Chiefs were clinical in patches but unconvincing in others. They're usually a strong defensive team. Their +/- is 90 ahead of the Crusaders and second only to the Canes.

If the Crusaders are sloppy on D again, or if they get a strict ref, I think they'll lose.

On balance ... I'm guessing a Canes-Chiefs final.

Mike

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