Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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917 posts

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#3351852 10-Mar-2025 08:20

A great weekend for the comp. So good to see Moana and Drua get wins over big NZ sides and also Brumbies knocking the defending champs off in Auckland. I couldn't believe the bookies had Chiefs favourites in Lautoka, where the Drua had won their last 6 games in a row.

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#3351970 10-Mar-2025 10:14

The Hurricanes ill discipline this year is really concerning. I don't know the exact stats but I feel they are the most carded team in super rugby this year. Penalties and being a man (sometimes 2) down really kill their chances of getting a win. No deflecting from the fact Moana Pacific played really well and deserved their win, but I do feel the Canes gave them them the opportunities to do so. Really concerned with the lack of depth for the Canes as well and the number of injuries. Also...Isiah Walker-Leawere is a walking yellow card if ever there was one. Grumble over 😂

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#3351972 10-Mar-2025 10:32

Its nice to have a team of fit players with a relatively low injury count so far. Our attacking structures look really sharp with front foot ball. Its strange to see us being a first half team as usually we are slow starters, but in the second half we go missing a bit. Jordan back to his lethal best and honestly, Reece looks like the best back in the competition again. He has been accused of running sideways but unlike Mackenzie he is usually doing it with a particular idea in mind, to let his forwards catch up and recenter the play when we are running out of space. He doesn't mind contact and usually presents the ball well. JOC looks like he is having fun, and Levi Amua looks far more destructive this year than last where he was slow and overweight and a bit lost.

Earbanean

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#3351989 10-Mar-2025 11:37

I think Reece has been really impressive. However, I think he's now at risk of falling into the group of players who are considered stars at Super Rugby, but don't take the step up to test rugby. At least in the minds of the selectors. Others, like Hoskins Sotutu, also seem to be in this category.

I think at the moment, the ABs starting back 3 is pretty settled on Jordan, Clarke and Tele'a. It might be hard breaking into this now - other than through injuries.

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#3354782 18-Mar-2025 11:12

The Crusaders were the only match I got to watch fully over the weekend from Australia.

It was nice to see them back up a decent performance with a second decent performance. Disappointing to leak so many points, but their attack looks onpoint.

Sevu Reece, Will Jordan and Ennor played pretty well, though with 5 tries in a single match Macca Springer stole the show. Preston will likely be find of the season, at least for the Crusaders. He has an exceptionally quick and accurate pass and makes good decisions. Most of his kicks are decent too.

The real test will be Kiwi Teams. I am keen to see us put a thrashing on the Warratahs, who have really had the better of us for a while.

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#3354784 18-Mar-2025 11:14

Earbanean:

I think Reece has been really impressive. However, I think he's now at risk of falling into the group of players who are considered stars at Super Rugby, but don't take the step up to test rugby. At least in the minds of the selectors. Others, like Hoskins Sotutu, also seem to be in this category.

I think at the moment, the ABs starting back 3 is pretty settled on Jordan, Clarke and Tele'a. It might be hard breaking into this now - other than through injuries.

I'd say he would be comfortably next cab of the rank in the backs though. He had a pretty average AB's season last year, but has decent form with the AB's other than last year. I imagine Razor will be prepared to give him another chance (though Razor has shown ruthlessness in the past).

Earbanean

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#3355466 20-Mar-2025 08:46

Here's a statement that I prepared at the start of the season, that the journalists have released today: "Ethan Blackadder and Braydon Ennor ruled out through injury". Also, noting that Thomas Umaga-Jensen is back this weekend after his latest injury break. Pre-prepared statement "Thomas Umaga-Jensen ruled out through injury" ready to go at short notice.

In the competition for the 'Richard Kahui Memorial Sick-Note Prize', the rivalry between the three main contenders once again heats up. (Three really good players, that I'd love to see on the field a lot more.)

Special mention to Josh Lord, who is threatening to break into the group and push for the title.

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#3355471 20-Mar-2025 09:02

Poor Brayden, he just can't catch a break. He had an unbelieveable game against the force, was pretty much the best I had seen him in quite some time.

The problem with legs, is that they are such high stress areas that injuries once they occur, recur at a high frequency. Ala Coles with his calves. Once you get injured, the desire to get back playing leads you to jump in before you are ready potentially, and that means you favour the injured part, putting abnormal loads on other parts.

Hopefully, we won't end the season in the same injury state we spent the entirety of last year in.

On another note, the Crusaders poor run last year, was pretty much blamed on entirely on Penney, but we are second on the table with no acknowledgement of that in the media or social media, and the the Blues have gone from Champions to Wooden Spoon holders, and not mention of Vern Cotter.

Earbanean

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#3355480 20-Mar-2025 09:27

networkn:

On another note, the Crusaders poor run last year, was pretty much blamed on entirely on Penney, but we are second on the table with no acknowledgement of that in the media or social media, and the the Blues have gone from Champions to Wooden Spoon holders, and not mention of Vern Cotter.

"Small margins..."

In my view Crusaders are effectively top of the table at the mo. They are 4 behind Chiefs with a game in hand and hot form.

I'm a Chiefs supporter, but their position and a number of recent scorelines have massively flattered them, given how they've actually played. True, there's an unbelievable attacking flair that can conjure tries out of nowhere, but their defence has been terrible. You cannot win a title with a porous defence like that. I'm hoping as weather changes and selections settle, they'll tighten up, but there's no sign of that yet.

JPNZ

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#3355547 20-Mar-2025 10:44

The media blamed it on Penny, actual people that followed rugby could easily see last year was an anomoly and purely based on the massive injury toll. But hey people need someone to blame right?

On actual rugby news, the amount of injuries compared to NRL is quite something. NZR seriously needs to look at the NZ clubs pre season health & fitness schedules and protocols. No games are fun when the best players are consitently not playing due to injuries.

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#3355612 20-Mar-2025 12:30

JPNZ:

The media blamed it on Penny, actual people that followed rugby could easily see last year was an anomoly and purely based on the massive injury toll. But hey people need someone to blame right?

There was plenty said against Penney even here :)

For a casual viewer if you look at his time at the Warratahs and then 1 Year with the Crusaders, it's easy to say he is a crappy coach, but what people don't seem willing to see is that both Warratahs had both incredible injuries AND for the tahs, his predeccessor hadn't been handling recruitment and development properly for 2 years. Their Roster was a hot mess.

Earbanean

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#3355675 20-Mar-2025 15:01

I guess there are a couple of differences behind treatment of Penney and Cotter. Cotter has a brilliant last year already in the bank, whereas Penney had not prior Super Rugby achievements to point to. Also, Penney lashed out against the media a couple of times, including the hot mike saga, while Cotter (so far) has kept his composure on camera and with the press. Obviously, that could change, and I reckon everyone is watching him closely (eagerly) for the first sign of a blow up.

I am surprised about getting upset about this though. If your team is near top of the table and in scintillating form, I reckon you should be celebrating that, not finding a negative to focus on. That's serious glass half empty stuff. it's a cliché, but it is just a game. It should be there totally for our enjoyment. Once your mental wellbeing starts getting linked to slights by referees, or journalists (either real or perceived), I reckon you maybe need to reassess what the point of following sports is.

My team got well beaten by the Drua, a supposedly lesser team, but I was really happy for the Drua (and Moana). Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Sometimes your coach or captain is a hero - sometimes they're a zero.

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#3355680 20-Mar-2025 15:27

I think you are over estimating how upset I am by it. I have a pet peeve against the flack that coaches get in general, and it's usually so unbalanced.

I had a similar problem with the way the public and press treated Foster. Before he had been appointed let alone coached his first AB's team people were slagging him. He showed an unbelieveable amount of character throughout his tenure with the AB's.

Re the hot mic thing, it wouldn't have barely made the news if Rennie said it.

It doesn't really matter at the end of the day, it's disappointing that we aren't better fans in general in NZ. It seriously annoys me when we boo players, boo kickers, and carry on like muppets in general.

Celebrating the Crusaders success doesn't go down well here from experience :) I try to keep my comments carefully tempered :)

Earbanean

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#3355681 20-Mar-2025 15:43

networkn:

It doesn't really matter at the end of the day, it's disappointing that we aren't better fans in general in NZ. It seriously annoys me when we boo players, boo kickers, and carry on like muppets in general.

True dat! Totally agree.

networkn:

Celebrating the Crusaders success doesn't go down well here from experience :) I try to keep my comments carefully tempered :)

I reckon, after last year, you've got plenty of leeway. Not quite underdog status, but a bit more scope to crow about successes.

I'm now kinda left stumped about who to support in the Bluesers v 'saders game. I guess comp wise I need to support the Blues, but not sure that'll come easy. Note, I see a massive weakness in the Blues front row (incl. bench), coming up against an impressive ABs front row. My prediction is that could be one of the most decisive areas of the game.

JPNZ

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#3356398 23-Mar-2025 04:09

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