Geekzone Rugby (Union) Discussion Thread

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#1401133 6-Oct-2015 16:40

Other teams are getting quality opposition, so they are getting under pressure and responding - the good ones by upping their game, the weaker ones by falling apart.

We are not getting quality opposition, and they look lost on the park, not sure what to do. Again, if I were them, I'd kick for territory and play old fashion rugby from there.

High ball - well, they are supposed to be ok under bombs. But when the 15 (ok 14) got lost on the park and starting playing like schoolboys so everyone started to drop balls, not just whoever is collecting as fullback.

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#1401276 6-Oct-2015 20:18

What a great game between Tonga and Argentina. Man did both teams play well for about the first 30 minutes. Then it was pretty much all Argentina, who played some excellent Rugby. They look like they could really go places in the future. Some awesome sportmanship between opposing players despite a physical game.

I have really loved this World Cup. Like last Cup where the most interesting games were between the minnows, same as been this World Cup.

I am no longer as anxious about the AB's as I was. A chance to reflect and consider the reasons for what looks to be a pretty off set of performances, have left me thinking, it's all in hand. I hope I am right!

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#1401538 7-Oct-2015 10:09

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/72770355/samoan-alesana-tuilagi-suspended-for-five-weeks-after-kneeing-japans-harumichi-tatekawa-at-the-world-cup

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#1401665 7-Oct-2015 11:59

I see Chris (the troll) Rattue claiming Carter should be dropped. He is such a muppet! There was no-one else, our other two choice number 10's were injured and Lima could easily have been if he was included. Secondly we owe Carter to play in this World Cup, he was a major part of the reason we are the best in the world and has been massively loyal to NZ. We need to show our new generation of players, that we are loyal back, otherwise, they will go overseas! I still have faith in his game, but even if he lost us the final, I'd still be 100% behind his selection.

blair003

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#1401669 7-Oct-2015 12:07

He was a major reason of why we are the best in the world? Dunno about that. He was a major reason why we were the best in the world (i.e. back when he was at the top of his game and playing for us), but our dominance over the past few years subsequent to 2011 didn't have a lot to do with DC as he hasn't been playing all that much until this year. All the big games in 2013/14 it was AC to my memory who was locked in at 10.

But you're right, Chris is paid to troll, it's pretty obvious so not much point getting up in arms about it. I wonder if he even gets to pick his positions or someone hands them out and he forms an argument based on it like he's in a debating team.

Also, that Tuilagi suspension seems pretty legit to me.

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#1401677 7-Oct-2015 12:22

So predictions for the last of the Pool games?

SA v US - Easy win for SA, suspect they will use a 2nd XV, US will be OK. SA by 20
NAM v GEO - GEO win by 13+, giving them entry to next WC.
NZ v TON - Hopefully a big win by NZ, show a bit more of their game plan, bonus point win. Tonga to score one try, but I hope NZ want to, and do, keep their try line clean.

SAM v SCO - Scotland *should* win this easily, but Samoa have had their pride wounded a bit. Tough first half, Scotland to pull away by the end.
AU V WAL - Hard to pick IMO. Head says AU easily, but both teams will want to win to stay on a slightly easier side of the draw. Wales have better Loosies than ENG, AU has no Hooper. Result ?? to get off the fence, I'm going Wales by <7
ENG v URU - Easy win for ENG
ARG v NAM - Argentina are my Dark Horses for the tournament, they will win this easily, and hope they get FRA in the QFs.
ITA v ROM - Should be ITA by 12+
FRA v IRE - Big game for both, lose and face NZ, win and they will fancy chances against ARG. FRA have no mental baggage playing NZ, so maybe not as desperate to win as IRE? IRE had pretty poor game v ITA, I'm picking France <7
USA v JAP - Hopefully JAP, and hopefully a Bonus point. USA off short turnaround after playing SA. If SCO lose to SAM, all to play for for JAP.

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#1401690 7-Oct-2015 12:52

I'm sorry but i maintain my stand that DC is wayyyy past his prime. Is the team good enough to win it? Find out, live, on prime (Sky)

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#1401693 7-Oct-2015 12:54

joker97: I'm sorry but i maintain my stand that DC is wayyyy past his prime. Is the team good enough to win it? Find out, live, on prime (Sky)

I maintain my stance that Steve Hansen knows what he is doing and even if he screws this up, it's not the end of the world.

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#1401697 7-Oct-2015 12:57

With big risk, coMes big reward... But i thought you don't agree with dagg and Jane.

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#1401705 7-Oct-2015 13:13

joker97: With big risk, coMes big reward... But i thought you don't agree with dagg and Jane.

I don't have to agree with it, to support SH. Not everything National does is right in my eyes, but they are far better than any alternative.

For the record, I agreed re Jane, disagreed re Dagg and disagreed re Naholo.

I am less worried about losing the World Cup than the years of analyzing, criticism, investigations etc that will ensue afterward.

blair003

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#1401748 7-Oct-2015 13:59

networkn:
joker97: With big risk, coMes big reward... But i thought you don't agree with dagg and Jane.

I don't have to agree with it, to support SH. Not everything National does is right in my eyes, but they are far better than any alternative.

For the record, I agreed re Jane, disagreed re Dagg and disagreed re Naholo.

I am less worried about losing the World Cup than the years of analyzing, criticism, investigations etc that will ensue afterward.

I was excited for them to pick Naholo.
Even if he doesn't play another game it was the right call. Realistically whoever would have come in his place would not have been in the starting team anyway so it doesn't really matter.

Very much agree with your last sentence.

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#1401756 7-Oct-2015 14:14

blair003:
networkn:
joker97: With big risk, coMes big reward... But i thought you don't agree with dagg and Jane.

I don't have to agree with it, to support SH. Not everything National does is right in my eyes, but they are far better than any alternative.

For the record, I agreed re Jane, disagreed re Dagg and disagreed re Naholo.

I am less worried about losing the World Cup than the years of analyzing, criticism, investigations etc that will ensue afterward.

I was excited for them to pick Naholo.
Even if he doesn't play another game it was the right call. Realistically whoever would have come in his place would not have been in the starting team anyway so it doesn't really matter.

Very much agree with your last sentence.

I was excited too, to a degree, but disagree that if he doesn't play another game it was the right call. If his leg injury is the reason he is unable to play, or play at full strength, I won't be too impressed. I am not utterly convinced in NMS yet either. He is 50/50 for me. He has excellent potential and looks good with ball when things are going his way, but there have been lots of players that is true for, who don't make good All Blacks. I guess we should give him a few more games.

I 100% am behind blooding new players, but I disagree with taking TWO relatively untested (one injured) player of the same type (Wing) to a WC.

I am happy to be proven wrong, in fact I am really hoping I am given the stakes (the endless whining for the next 3 years etc) that will occur.

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#1401760 7-Oct-2015 14:21

Does the World Rankings reset at the end of the World Cup final with the winner being the new number 1?

blair003

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#1401762 7-Oct-2015 14:23

networkn:
blair003:
networkn:
joker97: With big risk, coMes big reward... But i thought you don't agree with dagg and Jane.

I don't have to agree with it, to support SH. Not everything National does is right in my eyes, but they are far better than any alternative.

For the record, I agreed re Jane, disagreed re Dagg and disagreed re Naholo.

I am less worried about losing the World Cup than the years of analyzing, criticism, investigations etc that will ensue afterward.

I was excited for them to pick Naholo.
Even if he doesn't play another game it was the right call. Realistically whoever would have come in his place would not have been in the starting team anyway so it doesn't really matter.

Very much agree with your last sentence.

I was excited too, to a degree, but disagree that if he doesn't play another game it was the right call. If his leg injury is the reason he is unable to play, or play at full strength, I won't be too impressed. I am not utterly convinced in NMS yet either. He is 50/50 for me.

I 100% am behind blooding new players, but I disagree with taking TWO relatively untested (one injured) player of the same type (Wing) to a WC.

I am happy to be proven wrong, in fact I am really hoping I am given the stakes (the endless whining for the next 3 years etc) that will occur.

I would just make the point that if we don't win (which is always entirely possible), it is unlikely that our fortunes would have been different had not taken a couple of untested wingers. You can risk untested players on the wring more so than any other position. Last world cup we played centers/second five's at wing just to have those players on the park.

The reason he took those two players was in part because they are unknown to the world. You can't have it both ways - either they are tried and tested and everyone knows how to defend against them or they are untested and new and potentially game breaking players. When I look back to the past, e.g. vs France in 2007, I think we lacked a bit of x-factor at critical times.

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#1401772 7-Oct-2015 14:34

blair003:
networkn:
blair003:
networkn:
joker97: With big risk, coMes big reward... But i thought you don't agree with dagg and Jane.

I don't have to agree with it, to support SH. Not everything National does is right in my eyes, but they are far better than any alternative.

For the record, I agreed re Jane, disagreed re Dagg and disagreed re Naholo.

I am less worried about losing the World Cup than the years of analyzing, criticism, investigations etc that will ensue afterward.

I was excited for them to pick Naholo.
Even if he doesn't play another game it was the right call. Realistically whoever would have come in his place would not have been in the starting team anyway so it doesn't really matter.

Very much agree with your last sentence.

I was excited too, to a degree, but disagree that if he doesn't play another game it was the right call. If his leg injury is the reason he is unable to play, or play at full strength, I won't be too impressed. I am not utterly convinced in NMS yet either. He is 50/50 for me.

I 100% am behind blooding new players, but I disagree with taking TWO relatively untested (one injured) player of the same type (Wing) to a WC.

I am happy to be proven wrong, in fact I am really hoping I am given the stakes (the endless whining for the next 3 years etc) that will occur.

I would just make the point that if we don't win (which is always entirely possible), it is unlikely that our fortunes would have been different had not taken a couple of untested wingers. You can risk untested players on the wring more so than any other position. Last world cup we played centers/second five's at wing just to have those players on the park.

The reason he took those two players was in part because they are unknown to the world. You can't have it both ways - either they are tried and tested and everyone knows how to defend against them or they are untested and new and potentially game breaking players. When I look back to the past, e.g. vs France in 2007, I think we lacked a bit of x-factor at critical times.

Look I 100% Agree with that. I am not looking to blame either Winger for any particular thing, nor suggest they are the be all and end all.

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