Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#1576737 19-Jun-2016 20:34

ludez: The one last night where dagg didn't get a single high ball. What one did you watch?

Glad he got his 50th and now we can have savea back and Smith back in his best position. He's the best fullback in the world for a reason

Yah know, I read a lot of Rugby writing, I watch a lot of Rugby, and I listen to a lot of Rugby commentary. Coaches say he had an "outstanding" or "superb" game, every bit written about him in the past 22 hours has been positive, and all throughout the game the commentators were complimentary. I thought he had a good game, so did everyone at my house (including one non Dagg fan) and yet you have nothing but bad things to say.. Are we all wrong?

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#1576741 19-Jun-2016 20:40

He's ok. But he didn't get his first 3 high balls. Writers obviously like him, so obviously wrote good things about him. Question is, does Steve. We will find out on Thursday morning.

ludez

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#1576752 19-Jun-2016 20:51

Actually only negative things I said were he didn't get a high ball and his defense. I said his attack was ok. Compared to Ben Smith at 15? Dagg pails in comparison

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#1578845 23-Jun-2016 09:39

joker97:

He's ok. But he didn't get his first 3 high balls. Writers obviously like him, so obviously wrote good things about him. Question is, does Steve. We will find out on Thursday morning.

Seems like it was so, also blows the preposterous suggestion he was getting a pity test to 50.

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#1578846 23-Jun-2016 09:40

Team named for third test. Plenty of Otago players for the local crowd to get behind! Well done to the players about to get their first test caps!

1. Joe Moody (13)
2. Dane Coles (38)
3. Charlie Faumuina (35)
4. Brodie Retallick (49)
5. Sam Whitelock (74)
6. Elliot Dixon
7. Sam Cane (33)
8. Kieran Read – captain (86)
9. Aaron Smith (49)
10. Beauden Barrett (37)
11. Julian Savea (42)
12. Ryan Crotty (17)
13. George Moala (1)
14. Ben Smith (50)
15. Israel Dagg (50)

16. Codie Taylor (4)
17. Wyatt Crockett (47)
18. Ofa Tu'ungafasi
19. Luke Romano (23)
20. Liam Squire
21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow (20)
22. Lima Sopoaga (1)
23. Waisake Naholo(5)

ludez

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#1580316 25-Jun-2016 20:23

Ok dagg has been simply fantastic!

tukapa1

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#1580358 25-Jun-2016 22:57

That was more what I expected from the AB's against this average Welsh side.

Pretty much across the park they outplayed their opposites.

Dagg had one of his best ever games in a black jersey. I don't know if he can do that week in, week out, but if he can then he's destined a place in the squad for a while. It will be interesting to see what they do with Barrett/Dagg and the five/three split they take onto the bench once Milner-Skudder is fit.

The debutantes all stood up - I love the look of Squire. Have always loved his play in super rugby, but it's always a bit of an unknown when they get a chance to step up. Raw talent, strength and mongrel that can be moulded with more time in the set up.

Moala showed potential, and bearing in mind it was his first test, I don't think you can hold the couple of decision making issues against him.

Hopefully those that refuse to see Barrett as an option at 10 will be eating a bit of humble pie now. He takes the play to the line and causes opposition defence to be in two minds.

Scrum is still a bit of an issue, apart from the one which popped the Welsh front row. As an ex tight head, that was beautiful to watch.

Savea might be sitting on the pine for a while I think.....

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#1580390 26-Jun-2016 00:16

ludez: Ok dagg has been simply fantastic!

Agreed. Man of the match in the tonight's game. Some unbelievable hands. Looks like he finally got that monkey off his back. I expect him at full-back for the RC.

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#1580391 26-Jun-2016 00:21

tukapa1:

That was more what I expected from the AB's against this average Welsh side.

Pretty much across the park they outplayed their opposites.

Dagg had one of his best ever games in a black jersey. I don't know if he can do that week in, week out, but if he can then he's destined a place in the squad for a while. It will be interesting to see what they do with Barrett/Dagg and the five/three split they take onto the bench once Milner-Skudder is fit.

The debutantes all stood up - I love the look of Squire. Have always loved his play in super rugby, but it's always a bit of an unknown when they get a chance to step up. Raw talent, strength and mongrel that can be moulded with more time in the set up.

Moala showed potential, and bearing in mind it was his first test, I don't think you can hold the couple of decision making issues against him.

Hopefully those that refuse to see Barrett as an option at 10 will be eating a bit of humble pie now. He takes the play to the line and causes opposition defence to be in two minds.

Scrum is still a bit of an issue, apart from the one which popped the Welsh front row. As an ex tight head, that was beautiful to watch.

Savea might be sitting on the pine for a while I think.....

You see it all the time, when a player loses their confidence. I believe other than injury, it was the same with Dagg. They will get him sorted out. DC had a similar problem just before the world cup. They need to make sure he understands his role and perhaps take some of the pressure from him. SH is the best coach in the world and their support team is really something special, so I expect them to resolve it with him. I don't see them letting him go too easily.

Moala looked dangerous but some extremely poor choices made on timing of passes, and the like. I thought him and Crotty were a naturally better combination than Crotty Fekitoa. I still maintain Crotty should play 13 and move Moala to 12 or Fekitoa to 12.

Barrett really was something pretty special, probably player of the tournament for me, but Read could easily fit that billing as well.

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#1580393 26-Jun-2016 00:24

England clean sweep. Kudos to Australia for identifying their attacking weaknesses and finding a way to exploit Englands defense, but England look the real deal, though toward the end of the season you'd hope a team is firing the best it can. England showed massive heart. Farrell has laser accuracy. He has one of the smoothest and relaxed kicking motions I've seen. It's magic to watch. Would give England a lot of confidence. Other than defense, I think the key area Australia lost the battle was kicking. England decimated them in this area. Israel Folou is amazing under the high ball.

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#1580407 26-Jun-2016 08:30

I'm not sure about the criticism of the scrum. They got beaten in one scrum but they consistently had the Wales scrum under pressure and they didn't have a stable platform for most of the game.

Dagg was superb in the first half, not quite as good in the second half. One kick was particularly egregious. They can play horses for courses. If they want to go with big wingers they can play Naholo and Savea, if they want to play more aerially they can pay Dagg. If Naholo can get the turnovers under control he puts lots of heat on Savea which also helps.

I'm afraid that I really don't see Crotty there long term. He never provides any impact. He doesn't make many mistakes but he doesn't offer a threat in attack. His defence is OK but he's not physically intimidating or quick enough laterally the way Smith was. To me he is a placeholder until they find someone better. If I had to describe him in one word it'd be mediocre.

It's been a problem that they couldn't play Ngatai. I'm not sure if they'll risk him against Australia sight unseen at this level but I'd be very suprised if he doesn't play the Argentina test in Hamilton.

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#1580408 26-Jun-2016 08:30

Dagg came good didn't he.

Savea however ... he really shouldn't be anywhere near the 23.

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#1580410 26-Jun-2016 08:44

For me moala has to be in the mix now for sure. His decision making was fine, that disallowed try was a tough call because biggar got in between his support runners.
Savea will come right, but it's the rockococko situation again.1 dimensional type player

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#1580411 26-Jun-2016 08:49

Handle9:

I'm not sure about the criticism of the scrum. They got beaten in one scrum but they consistently had the Wales scrum under pressure and they didn't have a stable platform for most of the game.

Dagg was superb in the first half, not quite as good in the second half. One kick was particularly egregious. They can play horses for courses. If they want to go with big wingers they can play Naholo and Savea, if they want to play more aerially they can pay Dagg. If Naholo can get the turnovers under control he puts lots of heat on Savea which also helps.

I'm afraid that I really don't see Crotty there long term. He never provides any impact. He doesn't make many mistakes but he doesn't offer a threat in attack. His defence is OK but he's not physically intimidating or quick enough laterally the way Smith was. To me he is a placeholder until they find someone better. If I had to describe him in one word it'd be mediocre.

It's been a problem that they couldn't play Ngatai. I'm not sure if they'll risk him against Australia sight unseen at this level but I'd be very suprised if he doesn't play the Argentina test in Hamilton.

SH says he's waiting patiently for SBW to walk straight back into the 12 jersey for the Rugby Championship. (my paraphrase)

Assuming he's fit and that happens, then you are looking at who will partner him at 13. Not Feikitoa based on recent form, but hey he might be a Nonu that plays well under and only under certain conditions.

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#1580421 26-Jun-2016 09:15

Savea needs to go to the mojo store that Dagg went to, to get his back.
Just watched some of the highlights again. What stood out to me was the no-look passes, a sign of a team that is starting to click. While they went to ground sometimes, most times they just worked. Having the confidence to just flick the ball and expect someone to be there epitomizes All Black play from the last few years.
I had my heart in my mouth a couple of times with some of the long passes that were just asking to be intercepted. Luckily none of the Welshmen were up to the task, not so the Wallabies or Springboks come the Rugby Championship.
Once again the bench added ,not subtracted, from the equation.
They should patent the non-stick coating that allows Barrett to slip tackles the way he does. His silky running style reminds me of Christian Cullen.
What an enviable position for the AB selectors to be in, where virtually every position in the team has more than one world class player to choose from.
The Wallabies have found a little of their mojo as well. They didn't win, but were much less hapless than the week before.

“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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