Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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#2021583 24-May-2018 09:05

Hammerer:

networkn:

The Crusaders are going to be lucky to even field a full team of forwards this week! Tim Perry has gone down in training. It's going to be pretty tough going.

This is the part of the season that I really don't like. Teams with rosters depleted for the All Blacks are hit hard if there are injuries in those positions.

I'd rather the Crusaders and Hurricanes had all their best players so we got a real spectacle this weekend.

Say it with me..... "It's for the greater good"... yeah nah I agree. It's a real shame. Honestly I can't see us beating the canes tomorrow. It would have been a massive game with a full strength squad - with how many front rowers are missing, she's going to be tough times.

networkn

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#2021587 24-May-2018 09:07

GV27:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12057306

Repeat after me: It's OK if it's just a Blues player.

No, it's not ok if it's any player. If he didn't actually apologize I consider that extremely poor form.

networkn

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#2021607 24-May-2018 09:40

It's tough. Super Rugby IMO makes up the foundation of what make the AB's so good, and I enjoy SR, but honestly, the priority *should* be the All Blacks so these training camps are necessary and should continue. It's unfortunate that a combination of idiotic behaviour, and injuries, will pretty much mean our top players won't be available. Seems Crotty and Whitelock are out injured, so it's going to be a super hard road tomorrow night. We would need an outstanding effort by our remaining players to negate what's coming especially if the weather is good. Defense is likely to be the key for the Crusaders if they have any chance of a win.

On another note, I was a *little* surprised that Matt Todd didn't make it to the AB's. I thought he played well last year for them and has played well for the Crusaders. He is our best fetching number 7 IMO and has a good rugby brain. Savea has amazing physicality, some of his charging runs and tackle breaks this season have been amazing. I guess they

want that physicality this season, but it does feel a little like the AB's are preparing a battering ram style of Rugby more than a nuanced one perhaps.

networkn

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#2021645 24-May-2018 09:56

Just saw the team announcement. It doesn't look TOOO bad. Discipline and defence will be the keys I think.

Hammerer

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#2021663 24-May-2018 10:20

networkn:

On another note, I was a *little* surprised that Matt Todd didn't make it to the AB's. I thought he played well last year for them and has played well for the Crusaders. He is our best fetching number 7 IMO and has a good rugby brain. Savea has amazing physicality, some of his charging runs and tackle breaks this season have been amazing. I guess they want that physicality this season, but it does feel a little like the AB's are preparing a battering ram style of Rugby more than a nuanced one perhaps.

Todd appears to be receiving the most commiserations for missing out - particularly because he was in last year. I don't have any opinion on whether he should be in or not. But I thought that Todd was only in last year to fill a gap due to other players being injured?

I'm mystified by how the selectors choose their loose forwards: Savea is very good (and he does play for the Hurricanes ) but I thought others have perhaps been more consistent. So I think that they do want the option of a bullocking runner who can turn around an otherwise solid defense.

networkn

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#2021671 24-May-2018 10:37

Hammerer:

networkn:

On another note, I was a *little* surprised that Matt Todd didn't make it to the AB's. I thought he played well last year for them and has played well for the Crusaders. He is our best fetching number 7 IMO and has a good rugby brain. Savea has amazing physicality, some of his charging runs and tackle breaks this season have been amazing. I guess they want that physicality this season, but it does feel a little like the AB's are preparing a battering ram style of Rugby more than a nuanced one perhaps.

Todd appears to be receiving the most commiserations for missing out - particularly because he was in last year. I don't have any opinion on whether he should be in or not. But I thought that Todd was only in last year to fill a gap due to other players being injured?

I'm mystified by how the selectors choose their loose forwards: Savea is very good (and he does play for the Hurricanes ) but I thought others have perhaps been more consistent. So I think that they do want the option of a bullocking runner who can turn around an otherwise solid defense.

Last year the selectors dropped Savea due to him not actioning his work ons, including defense. Todd was considered the most unlucky player in NZ according to Hansen, and he was promoted as the next choice when the gap was made. I think the AB's want to go back to the super quick physical game they played in 2016, and with less injuries that would make sense. Savea is a very strong defense breaker, but from what I can see he is sometimes "out of position" rather than missing his tackles.

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#2022246 25-May-2018 08:54

So Taufau is out with a calf injury!

wratterus

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#2022247 25-May-2018 08:57

Just saw that too.

She's going to be a mission tonight.

Hammerer

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#2022343 25-May-2018 11:36

Now that the Crusaders have lost so many first-string players, I should probably be feeling happy that the task should be easier for the Hurricanes. But I'm feeling a little nervous because the cost of losing is so much higher.

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#2022349 25-May-2018 11:39

It's not impossible to win for the Crusaders, but they will need to negate key players, hold their defense and make very few mistakes. If they can keep the Hurricanes inside their own half, anything is possible. Recall when the Chiefs played the Blues, at home, and everyone thought it was dead Rubber as the Chiefs could barely field a team, and the Blues had a horror night and the Chiefs won. In sport you can't take anything for granted, and teams always play to the level of their opponents in my experience. \

I'm not taking anything for granted, but the canes should win this.

networkn

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#2022461 25-May-2018 13:51

I feel Nabura should be out for 8 weeks not 6, from a starting position of 12. So people don't jump all over me, I also think Moody should have gone for 3-4. I am a little torn about Franks, but probably 3.

It's disgraceful what Nabura did. He easily could have blinded the play he struck or caused a significant issue. a 50% discount seems excessive.

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#2023277 27-May-2018 10:34

networkn:

but they will need to negate key players, hold their defense and make very few mistakes. If they can keep the Hurricanes inside their own half, anything is possible.

Well, I think they followed that plan very well. The Crusaders seem to revell in the wet games.

That was a tough ask and they did a great job with it. When they did a check check and referenced red 3, I was like OMG! Upon review I thought it was barely a penalty.

I thought a few members of the Crusaders really stood up when it was needed. Mo'unga was magical, Goodhue, and with depleted forward pack, people like Crockett were up and off the deck quickly. Next week will be special in his 200th! 200 for crying out loud. Insanity.

I note Shields did not congratulate the Crusaders post-match.

Close match between the Reds and Highlanders. I feel it could have gone either way. The Reds look inconsistent, but when they look good, they look very good. Hamington had an off night and the Highlanders looked about twice as good with Smith on the field. As would be expected some jitters in the back with 3 young players. Same for both sides. Communication at the Reds needs improvement.

I do wonder what the plan is for a 10 for the Highlanders next year?https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12058487

I think the Warratahs could feel a little aggrieved at the end of the Chiefs game, they wouldn't likely have won, but certainly might have got a losing bonus point had it not of been for the decision to penalize the tah's when actually I think it shouldn't have been, given the 8 played the ball in the ruck. Does anyone know what the official position of this is according to the rule book? I know the rules changed last year.

McKenzie did well to capitalise though. He does have some moments of brilliance for sure.

Red Cards seem to be being handed out like candy now. Both SA games got one! The red card for a headbutt seemed over the top..

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-union/brumbies-remarkable-win-against-bulls-despite-folau-faingaa-head-butt-20180526-p4zhnw.html

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#2023301 27-May-2018 11:19

I think the "Check Check"-itis in the Crusaders/Hurricanes game is because of the stinging criticism of the TMO for not picking up foul play in the preceding two weeks. In this case, the perpetrators previously were the beneficiaries this week.
The Crusaders were definitely the better wet weather team. And the citizens of Christchurch want a covered stadium why? (Joking)
When the Warratahs were up two converted tries after 15 minutes (and kind of against the run of play) I wondered "Are the Chiefs going to be the first 15 man team to get beaten by an Aussie side?" But then normal transmission resumed for a while, with three tries in reply. I can't understand the Chief's tactic of constantly kicking the ball to, arguably, the best aerial exponent in world rugby (Folau). Yes put the ball in behind the rushing defenders, but high and deep to the likes of Folau, Beale and Foley is just folly. The Chiefs proved that in the second half when they rumbled half the length of the field with ruck after ruck, only to be denied when their No7 (Karpik) got penalized for diving through the ruck. From the replay, he was actually trying to clean out and missed the ruck so badly that he had no material impact on the play whatsoever. I have read commentary on other media that Glen Jackson shouldn't have been the ref since he used to play for the Chiefs a lifetime ago. From my perspective, I would prefer he didn't as well because I think he is overly harsh on them.
If McKenzie aimed between the woodwork rather than at it (hit the posts three times) the final score would have been more comfortable.

Not sure if the Highlanders are still reeling from last week, but they appeared to lack fluidity and flair. But despite that still managed to grind out a win against the Reds.

I would now rank NZ teams
1. Crusaders
2. Hurricanes
3= Highlanders Chiefs

5. You know who.

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itxtme

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#2023521 27-May-2018 18:46

Angus Gardner was woeful in the Crusaders vs Canes game. Granted the better team won with plenty of basic handling errors by the Hurricanes, but the calls meant the Canes missed out on 3 opportunities to put pressure on the Crusaders own 22 with offsides, missed knock on try and the penalty for the hard tackle in the 35th minute was just bizarre!? I am normally a fan of Angus, but this was a pretty poor game from him. Do crusaders fans not get sick of Scott Robinson? I heard the same joke about the closest neighbour being Antarctica 3 separate times, he is a strange character.

networkn

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#2023524 27-May-2018 18:57

itxtme:

Angus Gardner was woeful in the Crusaders vs Canes game. Granted the better team won with plenty of basic handling errors by the Hurricanes, but the calls meant the Canes missed out on 3 opportunities to put pressure on the Crusaders own 22 with offsides, missed knock on try and the penalty for the hard tackle in the 35th minute was just bizarre!? I am normally a fan of Angus, but this was a pretty poor game from him. Do crusaders fans not get sick of Scott Robinson? I heard the same joke about the closest neighbour being Antarctica 3 separate times, he is a strange character.

No, I don't get sick of him. He is genuine and warm and a very good coach. He gets a good rapport with the people he coaches, they dig deep for him. He's a little unusual sometimes, but I think he is going a great job and as long as that continues I think most people would forgive any minor personality issues.

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