@NTA said in Italy v Australia:

@MN5 said in Italy v Australia:

@NTA said in Italy v Australia:

@ACT-Crusader said in Italy v Australia:

@Winger said in Italy v Australia:

WTF. Bad result for NZ as we need a stronger Aust. Hope the team can sort themselves out and win at least one of their next 2 games

Yeah nah.

The ABs will continue to play what’s in front of them when it comes to the Wallabies. They’ve been inconsistent over the past 15 years - from very good to very poor. They don’t have great depth (not that unusual) and there were a bunch of newish players in this side. They didn’t perform and were whistled off the park because of poor discipline.

Look longer term: we're a tier 2 nation. Everyone who thinks we're top tier haven't looked at the history of mostly average work, garnished with a couple of awesome stretches where we punched above our weight.

You only just beat Scotland. It doesn’t get much lower than that

And could so easily have lost .... Bar the massive choke from Kinghorn...

They were keeping the powder dry for the victory over the ABs tomorrow.

@Billy-Tell said in England v Japan:

Japan tactics are baffling. They are not going to win by taking 3s.

Or running it from everywhere

This game showed there's three teams and then everyone else.

@Nepia said in All Blacks vs Wales:

Dagg showing that maybe the standard of education at fancy pants private schools isn't that great. 😉

Well this is triggering cc: @Magpie_in_aus

@Bovidae said in France v Australia:

Holloway is the player who has really stood up this year with his physicality . Fainga'a has a habit of missing key lineout throws.

The try on HT was the real killer blow.

I think there was a knock on by Fickou.

@Daffy-Jaffy first Seibold now Hodgson. What’s with the Aussie leaguies for defence coaches?

@MajorRage said in Ireland v South Africa:

@pakman said in Ireland v South Africa:

@pakman said in Ireland v South Africa:

Just saw clip which showed Hansen try came from an illegal kick through ruck by Keenan.

Georgian tryo was looking right at ruck and missed it.

🤔

I genuinely feel sorry for whoever took all that time to make that video. Genuinely.

He does one after every Boks match...

@WillieTheWaiter said in All Blacks XV vs Ireland A:

@MiketheSnow

@MiketheSnow said in All Blacks XV vs Ireland A:

@akan004 said in All Blacks XV vs Ireland A:

Ffs how is that a yellow

YC every day and twice on Sunday

Came at speed, in from the side, and hit the man late

WTF is this 'came at speed' bullshit.. saw the same thing with Brodies card

didn't realise there was a speed limit in rugby

Wasn't a tap

Brought his full force from distance; illegally in from the side where the Irish player was unsighted so couldn't defend himself; and hit him late

That's a pretty shit thing to do and deserves a YC

@Higgins Yeah, I watched the game live. Quality of the stream was HD and really good, but not many camera angles and no TMO. Good game to watch.

They now get an attacking structure, which was non existing in a recent past. Garbisi is an excellent 1st five, he is controlling the game very well. What they lack is a power runner up front. Is Polledri still injured ?

@TeWaio said in Scotland v Fiji:

Based on how Scotland looked, we should have a similar scoreline against them next week as today against Wales.

Yeah, but last night suggests it was the unbeaten record against Scotland that Foster has his eye on, not the 50 year old Welsh record. Our Foster aims high don't forget.

The pressure of playing in a World Cup semi final really showed in both matches more so in this one I thought.

Canada have played an expansive game throughout the tournament and you could see they wanted to do it but fluffed several opportunities. Some paid off, but there were more chances.

England have used a narrow attacking pattern and love the forward drive but they too made a hash of several opportunities and then their defensive alignment was found wanting.

A couple of impressive tries in the match and well done to England. Really looking forward to the final.

@nostrildamus think mate Mounga doesn't go that well with an inside centre type player as much as a 2nd 5/8, someone who plays first receiver a bit and allows him to take the ball a little wider. With the Crusaders off set play especially early in game, Havili often takes the ball off set play. Not a criticism of Mounga, but just something I have seen.

Just saw Young's yellow card from this game. What an absolute shocker. That's as clear a red as you'll see.

@pakman unseen? Hardly. Still evident v Japan

@mariner4life said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:

@ACT-Crusader said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:

@Jailbreak7 said in Black Ferns v Wales QF - RWC:

Main diff between mens and womens game is that the BFs really enjoy themselves out there, all smiles and really want to play for each other.. Shot of the bench showed teamates relaxed and having fun. Think the mens game has lost that spark and energy somewhere. Weight of Expectation? Too serious, need to lighten up and play with more freedom and the passes will stick.

You still see the ABs getting excited and celebrating. Sometimes it looks out of relief (eg Melbourne Bledisloe and final try) and others just genuine joy and excitement in the moment no matter at what point in the game it happens.

Just some of my thoughts, but you can’t overlook factors like the amount of money involved in the game, the fine line between being in and being cut for many players, the whole ‘AB legacy’ vs ‘play my own game’ tension. This does build pressure and expectation within and from the outside.

Fuck, take this place as a microcosm, times it by a millions for Stuff and Facebook

Have a look at the comments directed at any fucking player that dares to show a bit of emotion on the field. To celebrate. To puff the chest when they do something cool. You think that doesn't filter back to the fucking players?

NZ is still a very serious introverted little backwater in many ways. The ABs are still supposed to be stoic farmer types. Jog back to half way like it's nothing or you are a flash fluffybunny with a shit selfish attitude.

Good on the girls for ignoring that shit. But let's not pretend the pressure or expectation is the same

They can show the way though.

I tell you what. Clubs around the country better be gearing up for a boom in their womens teams next year. There will be a few that a happy if they hopped on the bus a little earlier as well.

@cgrant alt text

I’d love to watch some of the training sessions to see what Smith does to build awareness of space and shifting the ball to it. These women had handling skills but he has developed instincts which is a very difficult thing to do.