Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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#2996602 15-Nov-2022 13:35

Perhaps artbloke is looking at in your face, obvious nice plays, but in a team sport like this, its also often in the background, what people are doing that sets up the TV highlights reel. aka Teamwork

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#2996734 15-Nov-2022 15:33

artbloke:
I reckon Demant got the award because she was captain & the feel good feeling of winning the cup, sure as hell wasn't about her performance.

I reckon she got it because she was the best player on the winning team but that’s just me.

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#2996781 15-Nov-2022 15:42

networkn:
Our lineout is still a mess. Operating at 85% which is the worst by some ways in the top-tier international teams and the worst we have been for a while. I am surprised it hasn't gotten more attention and been fixed.

The lineout was fine on Sunday. There was one throw lost. That’s not a mess.

The lineout this year has largely been ok. Taylor’s throwing has been terrible, as has his general play. When he hasn’t played the lineout has been much better. The lineout Taukeia’ho lost on Sunday was one of the few we’ve lost on his throw this year.

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#2996785 15-Nov-2022 15:48

networkn:
Interested to know who you think played themselves out of the side?

Havilli is done as a starter. Barrett and ALB are ahead of him and he may struggle to make the World Cup squad if everyone is fit. Christie is probably done as well. His pass is ok but he’s too slow getting to the ruck. Laulala isn’t performing in any phase at a high level.

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#2996798 15-Nov-2022 16:24

Handle9:

Havilli is done as a starter. Barrett and ALB are ahead of him and he may struggle to make the World Cup squad if everyone is fit. Christie is probably done as well. His pass is ok but he’s too slow getting to the ruck. Laulala isn’t performing in any phase at a high level.

Yep, agree with those. I'd say Akira is probably gone too. Frizell is better for tough tests and I'd still like to see Barrett on the blindside again. I think Sotutu should be gone as well at this level at least until after the world cup.

Not on tour, but surely Coles' calves are too big a risk for a world cup. I'd like to see McAlister come in as third hooker

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#2996812 15-Nov-2022 17:11

Earbanean:
Handle9:

Havilli is done as a starter. Barrett and ALB are ahead of him and he may struggle to make the World Cup squad if everyone is fit. Christie is probably done as well. His pass is ok but he’s too slow getting to the ruck. Laulala isn’t performing in any phase at a high level.

Yep, agree with those. I'd say Akira is probably gone too. Frizell is better for tough tests and I'd still like to see Barrett on the blindside again. I think Sotutu should be gone as well at this level at least until after the world cup.

Not on tour, but surely Coles' calves are too big a risk for a world cup. I'd like to see McAlister come in as third hooker

Akira played ok. Missed some tackles but generally was fine. He’s not going to start but covers 6 and 8 plus his lineout work has been decent.

Barrett isn’t going to 6. Frizzell has that spot and we only have 3 locks that get any game time. When two of those are old you need Barrett at lock. He’s had by far his best year for the All Blacks at lock.

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#2996870 15-Nov-2022 19:43

tdgeek:

Perhaps artbloke is looking at in your face, obvious nice plays, but in a team sport like this, its also often in the background, what people are doing that sets up the TV highlights reel. aka Teamwork

George Bridge didn't score many tries in his last few matches, but his value leading up to tries scored by others was really significant. Smart decisions can make others look good, but shouldn't be underestimated.

It's a bit like when SBW stopped doing as many fancy offloads and people couldn't see his value, but his defensive stats were through the roof and that was what the AB's had asked of him.

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#2996872 15-Nov-2022 19:48

tukapa1:

Thought I had made that clear (good reasons). Those responsible for the player of the match award made the decision she was the best. I would guess, without knowing your pedigree, that they are far more qualified to make that decision. I supported that with the fact that she had been nominated for player of the year. Again I assume those tasked with making those nominations are better placed to do so than you.

There has been extra support in a more recent post (thanks Earbanean) here where Wayne Smith outlines his belief about Demant. Bearing in mind he's been with this team for many, many months, I would be happy to take his opinion over yours. I don't believe you have the same vitriol towards Wayne Smith as you do towards Foster, so would be happy to take Smith's word as accurate.

If you need something else here's a link to an article from The Guardian (hardly a bastion for support of NZ sport);

https://amp.theguardian.com/sport/2022/nov/12/new-zealand-england-womens-rugby-world-cup-final-player-ratings

"Ruahei Demant (capt) Player of the final. Pressured a Harrison kick to go out on the full which led to winning try. Dependable and inspirational leader. 9"

But you keep doing you....

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=176&topicid=111525&page_no=533#2995411

Here is the post with the video where Wayne Smith waxes lyrical about her.

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#2996873 15-Nov-2022 19:50

networkn:

George Bridge didn't score many tries in his last few matches, but his value leading up to tries scored by others was really significant. Smart decisions can make others look good, but shouldn't be underestimated.

It's always good to have a winger 10m behind the play because he's too slow.

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#2996874 15-Nov-2022 19:55

Handle9:

Akira played ok. Missed some tackles but generally was fine. He’s not going to start but covers 6 and 8 plus his lineout work has been decent.

He made 4 tackles and missed 3.

Papail'i made 11 and missed 4.

It wasn't a great night on defense overall, though we did get a couple of noticeable and well-earned penalties defending our line.

I think the most disappointing area of development this year was at half-back.

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#2996875 15-Nov-2022 19:56

Bridge was one of the selections that cheapened the jersey.

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#2996877 15-Nov-2022 19:58

tukapa1: Bridge was one of the selections that cheapened the jersey.

In 2019 he played ok when Rieko was injured. He's lost his pace now and can't play at the top level. Fainga'anuku looks like he may have the same problem. Against Ireland he looked slow.

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#2996881 15-Nov-2022 20:14

Handle9:
tukapa1: Bridge was one of the selections that cheapened the jersey.

In 2019 he played ok when Rieko was injured. He's lost his pace now and can't play at the top level. Fainga'anuku looks like he may have the same problem. Against Ireland he looked slow.

To be fair to Bridge he's not the only one. There's been many in the last decade or so.

Fainga'anuku was never going to be fast enough at international level. He was a knee jerk selection in response to super rugby form. As was Pita Gus. They are both excellent examples of why there should be no stand down period if moving to a second tier nation.

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#2996882 15-Nov-2022 20:16

networkn:

Handle9:

Akira played ok. Missed some tackles but generally was fine. He’s not going to start but covers 6 and 8 plus his lineout work has been decent.

He made 4 tackles and missed 3.

He missed two when he was the forward on the edge trying to get across in cover when the All Blacks were busted. The third was on Duhan van der Merwe and he got the turnover in the same play.

A fair chunk of the missed tackles for the team were on Duhan van der Merwe - he had 107 metres and 11 defenders beaten. The kicking plan was pretty poor, they consistently targeted his wing with a poor chase.

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#2996884 15-Nov-2022 20:23

tukapa1:
Handle9:

In 2019 he played ok when Rieko was injured. He's lost his pace now and can't play at the top level. Fainga'anuku looks like he may have the same problem. Against Ireland he looked slow.

To be fair to Bridge he's not the only one. There's been many in the last decade or so.

Fainga'anuku was never going to be fast enough at international level. He was a knee jerk selection in response to super rugby form. As was Pita Gus. They are both excellent examples of why there should be no stand down period if moving to a second tier nation.

Yeah. Once a wing loses his pace they struggle. It happens to all of them, Ben Smith and Julian Savea are probably the most obvious ones that fell off a cliff.

Jonny May for England has got the same problem at the moment.

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