Sports Talk

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  • 2017-2018 World Sevens Series

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    If Liam Barry was the first-choice for assistant coach that is an underwhelming appointment.

  • Kelston BHS 1st XV 2018

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    Kents and Kings have been scouring Fiji for talent for ages. Good on KBHS for getting in on the act.

  • Big changes for lawbook

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    @antipodean said in Big changes for lawbook:

    @Crucial said in Big changes for lawbook:

    As far as the complexity/ confusion of the current law book goes you only have to read forums like RugbyRefs to see how much debate and variation exists among referees. In many cases the pertinent law itself is undefined and you need to assume that the situation will be dealt with according to the way a different situation is.

    Don't be confused by what the name of the website is. Anyone can post there and claim they're a referee.

    Of course. I have posted there myself. You do get to know who the real ones are. Some are even assessors.

  • NZ players overseas

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    @Stargazer said in NZ players overseas:

    I seriously doubt Fruean can play the RWC 2019 for Samoa. This is why:

    The International Olympic Committee's passport rule is part of World Rugby's Regulation 8 (Eligibility to play for national representative teams). That means (I've simplified it) that a player who has represented one country at national senior level (XVs), next senior level (XVs) or in national sevens, can play for another country if he has the nationality of that other country. Several conditions/exceptions apply.

    The requirement to have to play at least 4 tournaments of the sevens series was introduced because they feared that this rule would be (ab)used by too many players changing nationality. I assume that requirement is still in place, but I can't find it anywhere.

    I'm hoping Fruean and Samoa have, however, spotted this in Regultion 8.7.2:
    "The Player may not represent the second Union in any other form of the Game until after he has participated in such Olympic Event."

    I think that means that Fruean has to participate in the 2020 Olympics first, before he can be eligible for Samoa XVs' side. I may be wrong but to me it seems he can forget about playing for Samoa at the next RWC. It's a pity, because it has been ages ago since he played for the JABs and the JABs have very little significance as a "next senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team".

    Regulation 8 : ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY FOR NATIONAL REPRESENTATIVE TEAMS

    World rugby body changes rules to prevent shortcut changes in nationality

    Edit: just looked at the definition of "Olympic Event". This definition encompasses "Olympic qualification events". So if Fruean would play for the Samoa 7s team in Olympic qualification events before the 2019 RWC, he could be fine. From memory, the Olympic qualification for Rio was during the 12 months preceding the Olympics. With the RWC being in the year before the Olympics, there may be enough time. Just.

    Your edit's correct. Otherwise TNW wouldn't be eligible to play for Samoa either.

  • Christian Lealiifano

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    Almost a year after his diagnosis with leukaemia, Lealiifano will be playing Super Rugby again. Really pleased to see he's doing so well that he can already make his comeback this season!

    Lealiifano set to return to action

  • Black Sox World Champions!

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    Couple of incredible comebacks. In semis Canada was up on Black Sox 9-2 after putting up a 7-spot in the (i think) 3rd-or-4th before the Yukon weather gods and a rain delay chased the Canuck starter. When clouds cleared and they returned to play their middle-reliever promptly gave up 8 runs next half-inning to give NZ 10-9 lead! Those are crazy innings at this level.

  • Chiefs 2017

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    @Stargazer I haven't seen the scorers. I was going to go along to watch another winger in the Chiefs team but he was injured so couldn't play.

  • June Internationals

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    @antipodean said in June Internationals:

    I don't understand Los'e's commentary about Tonga going to the RWC; they'd already qualified if Samoa didn't win against Fiji or lose by less than seven. Nothing to do with points differentials once the score was beyond that.

    No they didn't. Qualification was based on this year AND last years PNC.

  • Crusaders 2017

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    Crusaders U18 (Junior Knights) squad to play the Hurricanes U18 in the curtain raiser to Hurricanes v Crusaders this Saturday, 15 July:

    Hunter Stewart – Christchurch Boys' High School, Canterbury
    Thomas Edwards – Timaru Boys' High Schools, South Canterbury
    Shilo Klein – St Andrew's College, Canterbury
    Melvin Pauni – Timaru Boys' High School, South Canterbury
    Jack Rose – St Andrew's College, CanterburyPatrick Thacker
    Cullen Grace – Timaru Boys' High School, South Canterbury
    Sam Darry - Christ’s College, Canterbury
    Caleb Havili – Nelson College, Ta$man
    Finlay Joyce – Timaru Boys' High School
    Veitata Kinivuwai – St Andrew’s College, Canterbury
    Corban Harding – Christchurch Boys' High School, Canterbury
    George Prain – Rangiora High School
    Glen Beardsley – Shirley Boys' High School, Canterbury
    Graham Urquhart - Nelson College, Ta$man
    Max Hughes – Christchurch Boys' High School, Canterbury
    Louie Chapman – Christchurch Boys' High School, Canterbury
    Fergus Burke
    Tahu Kaa-Goodwillie – Christchurch Boys' High School, Canterbury
    Nigel Satherley – Marlborough Boys' College, Ta$man
    Isaiah Punivai – Christ’s College, Canterbury
    Leicester Faingaanuku – Nelson College, Ta$man
    Patrick Elia – St Thomas of Canterbury College, Canterbury
    Ryan Barnes – Christchurch Boys' High School, Canterbury
    Rico Syme

    FYI: This info doesn't come from the Crusaders website or social media.

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    You are over estimating how many would travel for either tournament. The vast majority of people will come from the hosting city. It isn't the Wellington tournament from over a decade ago

  • Super Rugby Teams - Round Seventeen

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  • Goalkicker

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    @Nepia said in Goalkicker:

    @rotated From the match reports Evans only played once at fullback in 2007 RWC and McAlister and him shared the kicking - I assume McAlister kicked until he was replaced. The Portugal match he kicked all the conversions but he was playing at 10 that day.

    Right you are - Evans kicked more but McAlister kidked first against Romania

    .

    @taniwharugby said in Goalkicker:

    Around that time, it was him, Halligan and Ridge were leading kickers in the NRL werent they?

    Eion Crossan was in that upper echelon for his stint there too, he certainly wasn't there for his speed.

  • Exclusive video of Poite day job

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    @pakman Loved Pink Panther as a kid.

  • 2007 QF [split thread]

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    @rotated said in 2007 QF [split thread]:

    Can we merge this thread back with the 3rd Test one now?

    Pretty much the same.

    Yeah, I was kind of thinking that. Which should be excellent news by the way

  • What midfield do you want?

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    @No-Quarter said in What midfield do you want?:

    @antipodean said in What midfield do you want?:

    Anyone selecting Laumape to start has rocks in their head. Defensively he was exposed against the Lions, which isn't an issue with Mala.

    Will be interesting to see if the selectors have rocks in their head... 🙂

    Shag 🙂

  • Hillsborough

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    At the risk of going over many of these arguments again, the Taylor report and subsequent reports provide pretty good summaries of the events and where the blame lay (i.e. the Police and their management of the event) and these latest charges are more around the actions of the Police post-incident that have contributed to the suffering of the families.

    In terms of blame, Sheffield Wednesday FC (the stadium had major issues and had had capacity reduced due to previous issues that were never properly addressed), the local Police (signed off the event and the capacity in addition to providing crowd management at the event), the Council (signing off the event and capacity) and the FA (ignoring the previous incidents at Hillsborough when arranging the event and not delaying the start of the match) all contributed to running an unsafe event.

    The fans actions were largely in response to the situation presented - while I have no doubt there was some bad behaviour (based on attending games in modern UK grounds and seeing footage of historical games) it wasn't found to be a significant proportion of the crowd or beyond a level expected at that time, and if the Police had had an effective crowd management plan in-place, this tragedy could have been avoided.

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    How good is Super rugby...

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    INteresting decision on Bond, given Reuben Wright has been in the HP squad, while he probably isnt quite up to moving past MItre 10 Cup (possibly not quite tall enough either, but then at this level not as much an issue) he isnt likely to let you down either, been very good for Kamo in the games I have watched.

    Watched the Kamo-Wellsford game today, Ross Wright looking in pretty good shape, Whiria looks sharp at the back for them too, got some gas and some nice touches, but with his pack getting out-muscled he was often trying to create something form nothing.

    Kamo won 23-5 in damp windy conditions, and gotta say, skill level seems pretty good too, Sykes looking handy as as Wright for Kamo.

  • Fiji vs Scotland

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    @Nepia The cosmic ballet continues

  • Wallabies v Italy - Satdee arvo

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    Thanks @Rapido.

    I googled videos of highlights. Got the tries but not post try celebrations.