@bones Nah my old man told me when I don’t know why he was watching it..I’m assuming the commentary team said it.

Also Dunedin’s a farking great spot for a few days away with the family. In addition to rugby, we got a couple of surfs in, mountain biking, saw the penguins and Larnach castle plus lucked it with some rally action. And some mint weather too. No rain, high of 24 today and about 5deg the other night. Will be be back!

@old-samurai-jack said in SRA round 8: Chiefs v Crusaders:

The way both teams dealt with the breakdown seemed completely different. The Crusaders were happy to concede a lot and fan across in defense. The Chiefs put numbers in there and there were numerous hands competing for the ball. I wonder if the Chiefs would have been penalized more with a different ref.

Maybe initially - but you always push the boundaries and see where the line is.

Problem is when the line changes mid-game 😁

@antipodean so at least he's a good 7s ref then?

Identical situation to Chiefs last night with a defensive penalty with under a minute to play. But unbelievably bad throw to ultimately cost match. Ironic.

@bovidae Cook Savage a Northland Boy from Kaitaia ,also Corey Evans from the Blues another Kaitaia lad .

Cameron Millar kicks it! Highlanders win!

Full time: Crusaders 23 - 25 Highlanders

There was really nothing between these teams. If you haven't watched it, try to catch a replay if there is one. Great game, with some great quality rugby!

@bovidae said in Highlanders v Chiefs (Sat 10/4/21):

@dan54 My invoice to NZR has been posted.

A logical, thought through idea? You're barking up the wrong tree there pal.

@kiwiwomble said in SRA U20: Hurricanes U20 v Highlanders U20:

Nice power play use yellow for our announcement, put the canes on the back foot right from the start

Yellow is nicer than what I thought it was - lemon.

@dice

Not the point of your post, but wow, Tony Gilbert's a hard taskmaster. If i was Semo I would've been informing him that I was leaving to be there for my son, and he could handle that however he saw fit

@cgrant Higgins had more knock-ons, missed tackles and other handling errors, but in the highlights alone he misses the tackle that leads to the second Chiefs' try, butchers a try scoring opportunity by dotting down too early (short) and is offside for the failed intercept attempt (giving away 3 points). He didn't have a great first half (even the commentators mention it several times), but his second half was better. His second try was the result of some good quick thinking; his first was created by Godfrey and he basically only had to dot it down. No doubt he has talent and definitely a good work rate, but the second half highlights are flattering him and he definitely wasn't the best back on the field. That was Godfrey by a country mile, but unfortunately, you can't see that in the highlights.

@mikey07 You may be rights about that 5-year-contract haha.

That team was meant to have a player from each NPC province, and I think there is apart from Manawatu. Sweeney had a long career after this. 😉

Clip with all the highlights, not just those of the Blues:

@stargazer The Highlanders played well but the Barbarians took it to them, and created try-scoring chances. Mistakes and a lack of combinations hurt them. Individually the Barbarians have some quality players but had less than 2 days preparation.

@kiwimurph fair enough

@duluth said in Rebels v Force:

@gunner

They won against the Tahs in Sydney.

🤭 😏

Oh that's right, I remember now.

@pakman said in Crusaders v Highlanders (2 April 2021):

@frank said in Crusaders v Highlanders (2 April 2021):

@pakman said in Crusaders v Highlanders (2 April 2021):

Couple of things I’ve not seen mentioned.

Highlander runners seemed for at least first 60 to back off/slow a tad/change line at last moment going into contact. Result was a bit like when a scrum fakes at hit. Oppo overbalanced and contact ineffective. Whatever it was it really threw Saders momentum at breakdown.

Clan seemed to target running one out and then angling back in behind ruck. Seemed that analysis may have identified space there, and good yards made.

Seemed also to result in Saders not getting the rub of the red and black, as per usual.

If I were Super coaches I’d be pouring over tape!

A bit of actual rugby analysis rather than endless moaning about the refereeing. Awesome stuff!!

Apologies for any inconvenience caused.

We don't like change.

@canes4life said in Blues v Hurricanes:

@winger well enough isn’t good enough though. Or is that what we’ve come to expect these days?

I didn't have an issue at all with the way he played. The main issue is the first 5. Even more so than Blackwell. Until this is addressed the team will continue to struggle

The Highlanders match shows what a quality first can do

@nta fuck that is so dangerous! If someone did that to me we're fighting

Pure filth

@machpants said in Chiefs v Blues (27 March 2021):

@pakman So when you nee hits the ground you decelerate to zero in an instant? The body above the knee is not flung forward? Nope, his upper body and arms are still moving forward, at quite a speed, it gives momentum to the ball. Flat ball, right call

Nice theory, shame the side ons don’t show that.

I actually think his arm goes forward, but that isn’t clear.

If you’re really interested I suggest you spend a few minutes watching the various angles.

I’ve done it, but will leave my input at that.

Onward to the Canes...

@kiwimurph said in SR Australia Round 6: Waratahs v Reds:

@chris he's so small he's not a running threat either.

Yeah must be a better HB in Nsw

@mikey07 I have learned something new today, Jensen is a recognised Maori name! Looks like he might be eligible for one of the Scandinavian teams as well.
I'm sure @nepia will agree that the names Gemmell, Wakefield and Blake over our way are also recognised Maori names too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

@cgrant said in Blues v Crusaders:

Ofa cost the game against the Aussies a few months ago. His bad habits are a problem, but the ABs have only two THPs of international calibre so he should keep on be selected again and again. Lomax is not yet ready, Angus T and Fidow cannot scrum while Jager is irish and Moli always injured (and seen as a LHP). It's urgent to give Newell and T. Williams some game time.

Careful, that is going to upset Canes4Life.

@arhs Jordan Smiler is another Waikato player who ended up at the Brumbies. Speight for the backs.

@nepia said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:

@chris said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:

@frank said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:

@antipodean said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:

@bobily2 said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:

@antipodean said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:

@bobily2 said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:

@antipodean said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:

@frank said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:

@tim said in SRA Round 4: Hurricanes v Chiefs:

DMac needs to start at 10 for the Chiefs.

DMac needs to be given more time at 10, and maybe given another try at 10 for the ABs.

Fuck right off.

He did well at 10 against France in his first start there. One of the best games I've seen from an AB 10 over the last 4 or 5 years

Is that a joke? The France game where they had one foot on the plane already?

Jesus christ one good half against a shit Canes team and people are calling for him to be five-eighth for the All Blacks.

It's not like every player looked amazing against that French team. He stood out more than most.

And I've been calling for it for awhile (perhaps s not on this forum). Based on much more than one game.

I'll change my position when he continuously displays a calm demeanour on the field instead of his usual headless chicken act. Yes he played well today in the second half. It was against the Canes. A little perspective.

Mo'unga handily contributed to us losing against the Poms with his pathetic defense leading to the first try. Beauden has had a million chances but struggles in tight games where he just shovels it sideways. Both are good in space though.

McKenzie may be no better, but it's not like either Mo'unga or Barrett are brilliant options. Both have their limitations.

Oh, and McKenzie is a better goalkicker than both of them.

Not sure McKenzies has any better front on defence at First Five he was average a few times in the Canes match so not sure what you are gaining there nothing I reckon.
The chiefs coaches must have thought the same they shuffled him to the wing a fair bit in defence so the big boys couldn't run at him down that channel.

I think DMac is probably more willing to throw himself in front of the big boys and he usually slows them down, but that's just an impression I get.

I thought Mounga was strong defensively against the Blues he pulled off some crucial tackles against the Blues big boys as well.

@nta I think it was a fair criticism of his last year but he seems to be putting in more of a shift this year. My main concern picking him for the Wallabies is a lack of lineout presence.

@nta

He "has the full confidence of the board", so he'll likely be out before the end of the season.

@stargazer I must be well over triple figures for the Wellington game by now. I am seriously considering buying another HB jersey to ensure I have enough left to last the entire club season down here as I'm sure some sort of sabotage/theft will occur to my sole jersey left given it is worn most Saturdays!

@kirwan said in Blues v Highlanders:

@tim Look at the length and accuracy of that pass, amazing considering he was sprinting while he passed it.

outrunning a back.

Also, how good was the 'don't argue'. One of the best tries I've seen live in ages (first proper game in a year or so, of course 😃 ) As I said in the match thread, Rieko came from nowhere - used his gas to get in position, but then had a lot of work to do to wrong foot the defender and gas everyone.

Absolute quality. Still pissed that it didn't get awarded.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned ( I think) is how brutal Christie's defense is. Wow! He hurt himself though.

@machpants said in SR Australia Round 4: Brumbies v Reds:

@nevorian said in SR Australia Round 4: Brumbies v Reds:

@machpants said in SR Australia Round 4: Brumbies v Reds:

@nevorian said in SR Australia Round 4: Brumbies v Reds:

@machpants said in SR Australia Round 4: Brumbies v Reds:

@nevorian said in SR Australia Round 4: Brumbies v Reds:

yep some good rugby by both. Looking like it could be an even more improved Wallaby team this year

as long as they don't fill it with under performing players from some other franchise

Would only expect Hooper out of the Tahs and Force combined

Hooper doesn't play for either this season lol

Oops forgot he is in Japan but still available for the Wobblies?

Yeah I think so, like the ABs over there

Think we have enough guys playing their hands up.

@african-monkey Brumbies and Reds maybe close. Probably not.

@arhs yes, the way he gave up was frustrating. I agree the defensive accuracy of the entire team was miles off, when your All Balcks are missing routine one on one tackles that indicates a broader issue.

@nepia I've actually thought of a potentially logical reason for the change.

When they converted from yards to metres they presumably changed the distance to the front of the lineout from 5 yards to 5 metres.

Which would have required the thrower to chuck it an extra .468 of a yard - which is probably about the size of a hooker's foot + the width of the touch line.

I thought the Rebels played close to their maximum capability given the roster they have. The Brumbies were maybe a bit below par but that was mostly because their lineout went to shit when they lost the starting hooker early.

Rebels' Hosea is a very good, athletic lock from our U20s program who looks like he could be the goods 🤔 so it is only a matter of time before he goes to Europe. Let's hope he gets a few Wallabies Tests in before then. Young.

Damon Murphy is such a shit ref. Refused to even look at the last feet at ruck time, ignoring the Brumbies for the first 25 minutes as they repeatedly infringed. Lonergan stole about half a metre for that final kick, and that is also on Murphy being useless, regardless of the result. He also couldn't tell that the Brumbies didn't have a dominant scrum, giving them a penalty for wheeling, and letting the Ponies' 9 delay the feed too often.

I'm not sayign the Brumbies are a bad team and don't deserve to win; their midfield versus the Reds will be worth the price of adminission alone. But fuck they get a legup from the officials, and Caydern Neville is a useless niggly fuckwit.

@booboo said in SR Australia Round 3: Waratahs v Western Force:

@nta said in SR Australia Round 3: Waratahs v Western Force:

Having slept on it, I'm happy with the improvement. Again it was a step up from last week, tho against a weaker opponent. It is still going to be a long season, and a lot of these guys aren't going to feature in Wallaby gold this year.

Just hope NSWRU HQ get over their complete lack of self-awareness and leave Penney in place.

Read an article on Fox I think. It's all NZ's fault: Hore, Gibson, Penny ...

Checks out. 😉

I wouldn't blame Penney tho.

@duluth How is there an argument on this? The ref under that post is surely the only one who can see if has gome between the uprights! FFS I a Canes man but can't believe anyone seeing it on tv or somewhere in ground thinks they got better angle. There are getting to be some serious whingers in our our game!

@pakman watching the nations cup on the prime app on a few telly's, it was crap.