@african-monkey probably close to Goodhue’s most complete game , there’s a superb moment where he drops a subtle offload to Gerard Crowley Tuioti gets slightly checked but is still the first player to clean out 30 metres down field when GCT is tackled , if that clean out does not happen , it’s probably a penalty and Akira Ioane does not score down the left flank ..I watched Ofa Tuangafasi who was jogging along like he’s was out strolling on a Sunday afternoon and yet was in the best position to be the first to clean out ..

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300309712/super-rugby-blistering-blues-challenged-to-show-some-transtasman-consistency

@toddy said in Waratahs v Hurricanes:

@machpants Like TJ vs Namibia?

Haha! When I saw MPs comment I immediately facepalmed thinking of that. Way to read the room...

@nevorian Just a natural phenomenon I think. Officials are human and whoever is at the top gets a negative narrative and the officials, as much as they try, have to be influenced by it all. The ABs in Europe during the end of year tours were subject to extra scrutiny especially around foul play where local players could get away with things the ABs couldn't.
The alternative is losing and the scrutiny (and whinging) transfers to the team that is winning.

The way Tiatia was playing it was more likely to be a try for the Force at the other end of the field.

@derpus Hegarty was very pedestrian at 1st 5. Stifled momentum by just receiving the ball flat footed.

I thought Scott-Young toiled hard. Both halfbacks had their moments. I like the young kid that started at halfback, he’s got some talent, just needs to calm it down a bit.

Aaron Smith’s speed to the ruck and then clearance is still world class for an old fella....

@derpus It doesn't need to be - it just needs a better balance restored, where the spectators aren't being punished for player misdeeds - and sometimes just perceived misdeeds.

Reds and Brumbies will be hard to beat esp. at home and judging by the refs' performances so far in both comps, it could really be a factor. Looking forward to the combined competition.

@nostrildamus said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

@snowy said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

@nzzp said in SRA Round 10: Blues v Chiefs:

@bovidae second year syndrome - suddenly you get marked, and you lift your game 🙂

Yep. Use the extra attention to distribute / offload and find the space that is created elsewhere. Maybe that is why he keeps heading infield rather than trying to go outside? Trying to link up, rather than go over or through a couple of defenders.

yeah but it helps if you have the ball..

True. Limited opportunities, but making the most of them is also key. The Blues aren't great at converting breaks into points.

@canes4life said in SRA Round 10: Highlanders v Hurricanes:

@siam I saw that live too but it wasn’t that bad after seeing it on the replay.

Yeah I don't think any of it was bad either but they seem to apply the letter of the law very arbitrarily. This time "beyond horizontal" made way for "retaliation".
I've given up making sense of what they're trying to officiate

@nepia said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@stargazer said in SRA Round 9: Crusaders v Blues:

@kiwimurph Or some people are just oversensitive when someone says something remotely critical of Akira (I guess that goes hand in hand with hyping up a player over the years 🎣 ). I've seen plenty of people commenting on Sotutu, Clarke and Rieko being lacklustre this season, and being outplayed in this game.

I don't think people care when Akira gets shit when he's playing average, but as this thread clearly shows no matter how well he plays posters will say he's playing shit or he's always shit.

The 2018 season clearly shows us this. He was class all that year yet we have have posters on here that are claiming otherwise.

Mate ,I didn't think he played that well in 2018, but I quite happy to say that is just my opinion, and some like different things in a 6 than me. I like them to have fairly good all round game. Doesn't mean I'm right though, just what I think.

@bovidae said in Force v Reds:

I think they have changed the rules to avoid club games counting for a suspension.

This was one of the changes made ahead of the 2017 SR season:

In the determination of an incident and the handing down of any sanctions, the committee will now have the ability to exclude any regular season Super Rugby byes as part of a meaningful sanction. This is a significant change and will ensure all sanctions issued during Super Rugby are treated consistently across all teams.

https://super.rugby/superrugby/news/new-super-rugby-judiciary-process-unveiled/

It seems the Judiciary in the recent cases in SR AU considers missing club rugby games as part of a "meaningful sanction", or the Juriciary Process introduced in 2017 is no longer applied.

Isi Naisarani suspended for 3 weeks:

https://super.rugby/superrugby/documents/judiciary/round-10-au-naisarani-suspended-for-three-weeks/

Pone Fa'amausili also suspended for three weeks.

https://super.rugby/superrugby/documents/judiciary/round-10-au-faamausili-suspended-for-three-weeks/

Screen Shot 2021-04-25 at 21.18.07.png

@crucial yeah they arent far off, but definitely missing something out there.

@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.

@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