Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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Networkn
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#2955979 18-Aug-2022 12:24

@Handle9

Who do you expect to apply and who would you like to see given the AB's coaching job in 2023?

I wonder if Foster will reapply? (I wouldn't if I were him).

What specifically did you like about the French handling of the appointment process?

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networkn

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#2956037 18-Aug-2022 12:47

I have to say I find it kind of disturbing some of the conspiracy theories around SA/NZ at Ellis Park. Even if it were true (and for the record I do not believe that), it was obviously a significantly improved performance over the past 4 tests, even the one we won against Ireland.

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#2956056 18-Aug-2022 14:02

I wonder if Damien Mackenzie features in the All Blacks plans in the coming 12 months? He certainly hasn't found the form he was in prior since his horrible injury, and I really feel that because he was so good, he was overworked for a good while, and well deserved a break away in Japan. He didn't really reach the same heights with the AB's as he did for the Chiefs, and there seems to be a decent queue now for fullback.

Earbanean

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#2956060 18-Aug-2022 14:34

Much as I really love the many pages of heated and personal arguments about Foster and Robinson, I think a we bit of banter about the footy would be a nice change. Lots to discuss.

They named a squad for the SA tour part of the Rugby Championship. Can they now tweak that for the next phase? I haven't heard anything about squad announcement dates or anything. Even if they can't tweak the squad, they can definitely tweak the match day 23 and starting 15. But should they? Previous first choice players are coming back from injury, but the Ellis Park 23 were pretty good.

I think Retallick should go back in when fully fit, and at that point I think they should continue the Barret to 6 experiment, that showed such promise. Is that overly hard on Frizell?

Jack Goodhue must be coming back to fitness. Does he get a run, or have Havili/Ioane done enough? I'd still like to see Goodhue at 13 and Reiko on the wing. Reiko was pretty good at Jo'burg and Am is an awesome player in top form. However, I think Ireland and France ask different more complicated questions of opposition defences.

Lastly, players from outside the squad? I got my wish about Newell and I still think Grace should get a shot at some stage. Maybe end of year tour. My other wish is Brodie Mcalister as back up hooker. Taukei'aho has to be bolted on starter, but I think Taylor and Coles are maybe past it now.

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#2956065 18-Aug-2022 14:47

I am not sure the rules around the Squad, but SA just announced a touring squad so I guess there must be some flexibility. I agree I'd like to see Grace get a go, and agree to see more of Barrett at 6. I prefer Reiko to Clarke on the wing, but if Reiko could continue his improvements and especially his form in that Ellis Park game, it would be pretty tough to remove him from Center. I also thought his defence in the first Irish game was outstanding.

I think Goodhue should return to the centers. If he can play the way he was prior to injury, we are onto a good thing. He has the same type of Rugby brain as Conrad Smith, and great distribution and defence organizing skills. You might be right about Taylor though I am hoping he still has something left, when playing well he's excellent. Coles I suspect may be done, though he has his own benefits, though I can't see him getting that speed back that made him so valued previously. People talk about his mongrel, it's a two-edged sword though, right? Havilli and Mo'unga seem to work exceptionally well together, I think that familiar partnership gives Mo'unga the confidence to play his natural game.

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#2956069 18-Aug-2022 15:00

Yeah, I wasn't previously impressed with Havili as a test 12 and had thought Jordie Barrett was the answer. However, he is looking good. He's a really good kicking option for a 12 - a couple of 50/22s and his cross field kick to Ardie from back in the pocket was perfect. I agree it probably helps when he's playing with Mo'unga. Combinations are a really key thing that maybe we've lost a bit. Schalk Burger talked a bit about the huge importance of them. Maybe we underestimated the importance of the settled Nonu/Smith, McCaw/Read/Kaino, etc combos.

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#2956075 18-Aug-2022 15:11

Earbanean:

Yeah, I wasn't previously impressed with Havili as a test 12 and had thought Jordie Barrett was the answer. However, he is looking good. He's a really good kicking option for a 12 - a couple of 50/22s and his cross field kick to Ardie from back in the pocket was perfect. I agree it probably helps when he's playing with Mo'unga. Combinations are a really key thing that maybe we've lost a bit. Schalk Burger talked a bit about the huge importance of them. Maybe we underestimated the importance of the settled Nonu/Smith, McCaw/Read/Kaino, etc combos.

Yeah, combinations are important, though injuries have probably had a big part to play in why we haven't been building them as much as might have been desired. I know our loose trio has experimented with a lot, but as I have said a few times before, that's a fair bit to do with finding a consistent test level 6. For my money, Frizell after his assault charge wouldn't be in the team, at least not for a while. We have seen a bit from various 6's it's the consistency that is the issue. If Grace gets in, who misses out from the trio? Presumably not Savea, that leaves Cane who remains Captain and isn't likely to be excluded even though I don't think he is playing at the level he is capable of.

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#2956309 18-Aug-2022 18:14

Unrelated to this thread in its current theme, but to me this is nice news

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/129616634/all-blacks-legend-richie-mccaw-confirmed-as-director-of-new-zealand-rugbysilver-lake-entity

Ive met him more than once, "a good bloke"

Handle9

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#2956454 19-Aug-2022 07:00

networkn:
I
I think Goodhue should return to the centers. If he can play the way he was prior to injury, we are onto a good thing. He has the same type of Rugby brain as Conrad Smith, and great distribution and defence organizing skills.

Goodhue needs to show he can play more than 3 games in a row. He’s played about 10 games in 2 years, at the moment there’s no way you could take him to a World Cup.

Players that can’t stay fit don’t help, especially now with around 15 games until the World Cup. Moody, ALB, Laulala, Retalick and Coles are in the same camp. Hopefully Whitelock doesn’t join them again but I’m dubious.

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#2956478 19-Aug-2022 08:59

Handle9:

Goodhue needs to show he can play more than 3 games in a row. He’s played about 10 games in 2 years, at the moment there’s no way you could take him to a World Cup.

Players that can’t stay fit don’t help, especially now with around 15 games until the World Cup. Moody, ALB, Laulala, Retalick and Coles are in the same camp. Hopefully Whitelock doesn’t join them again but I’m dubious.

Fair enough, though to be fair Rettalick had his injury inflicted on him (rather than having a weakness like recurrent calf issues), you'd hope that doesn't happen often.

With those extra players in the mix, even when fit, how do you keep them match fit and build combinations, with 15 matches to go? It's a tough ask. Shortly I'd imagine, if not already, decisions are going have to be made around who is realistically going to make it.

No way to predict at this stage I don't think, though it will be interesting to see who goes on the end-of-year tour if fit. Moody is out for the year, same with ALB? Whitelock hasn't been too bad for injury, he had a concussion and had a couple of weeks off and had a thumb injury that kept him out of super rugby for a bit, I don't recall much else. I don't recall ALB being particularly injury prone (though my memory could well be flawed).

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#2956589 19-Aug-2022 14:33

Anyone who wants to believe that SA 'threw' the match at Ellis Park to keep Foster in the job, should watch Squidges video on how NZ won.

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#2956822 20-Aug-2022 09:07

Why would anyone ever think that ? ...the rivalry between the ABs & Boks is huge, clearly the ABs were the better team on the day.

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#2956828 20-Aug-2022 09:45

By jumping & driving one knee up at the same time not only gives a player challenging for up & unders more protection, but that technique also helps them to get more elevation when attacking the ball in the air.

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#2957496 22-Aug-2022 08:35

The Black Ferns have shown some real signs of improvement. They probably left a few tries on the field due to decision-making and the odd handling error here and there but it was a pretty dominant performance. If they can back that up next week it will be impressive.

I didn't watch the Northern Tour games, but Smith was saying post-game, that he felt they still couldn't compete with the bigger teams and were focused on speed. I get the feeling that is the case for the AB's as well. There have been a number of articles talking about the different ways that Ireland and SA slowed the game down and that we need the tempo to be high for 80 minutes and our skill execution to be good.

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#2957529 22-Aug-2022 09:31

Defence coach departs the Wallabies, and Laurie Fisher from the Brumbies joins the coaching lineup. With Dan McKelllar leaving and being replaced by Stephen Larkham at the Brumbies and Fisher leaving too (though it's not clear how long that may happen for) it will be interesting to see what happens with the Brumbies in 2023. Fisher is pretty well respected and seems to have been with the Brumbies forever. He always looks like a big of a dag with that hat he wears!

I feel sorry for the Wallabies who really seem to be having a pretty disrupted past few months with Hooper leaving likely till the end of the year at least and *so* many injuries, now coaching changes...

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