Highlanders vs Canes

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gt12" data-cid="562669" data-time="1457162777">Really? 
I think he's a bit underrated. Given their current resources, I think I'd have him out there in the midfield or at 15.</blockquote>
Say what? Has he ever even played in the midfield? He's looked good at times, but how stupid do you have to be to decide to kick the ball away when you're down on the scoreboard with time basically up...

kiwiinmelb

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="562727" data-time="1457166110">
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Fekitoa was awesome, insanely strong. No Nonu or Conrad but fuck we have some talent still.
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At this point in time , im leaning towards a Crotty Fekitoa midfield , but could end up changing my mind before it matters

Dan54

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="562751" data-time="1457169008">
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At this point in time , im leaning towards a Crotty Fekitoa midfield , but could end up changing my mind before it matters 
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Yep, I think that would be ok, but I leaning towards Nagatai/Fekitoa,

gt12

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="562749" data-time="1457168592">Say what? Has he ever even played in the midfield? He's looked good at times, but how stupid do you have to be to decide to kick the ball away when you're down on the scoreboard with time basically up...</blockquote>
 
Pretty sure he's played in midfield a bit (definitely at the Rebels, and I'm sure at ITM cup) although he is better at 15 - which is probably where I'd have had him. 
Luckily, I'm no selector though, cos he should be taken out back and slapped around for kicking that:)

Bones

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gt12" data-cid="562763" data-time="1457189071">Pretty sure he's played in midfield a bit (definitely at the Rebels, and I'm sure at ITM cup) although he is better at 15 - which is probably where I'd have had him. 
Luckily, I'm no selector though, cos he should be taken out back and slapped around for kicking that:)</blockquote>
I've only ever seen him play wing or fullback, not even seen him named in the midfield for upper hutt, but perhaps I don't watch enough! He's big enough.

hydro11

Jane looked very slow out there last night. He just didn't seem to have any pace. I would probably stick with the same midfield combination - they just need more time. Obviously our scrum and lineout remain big issues. We need to get Coles back into the team. A lot of people have also commented about how good Barrett played but I think his kicking left a lot to be desired. The Highlanders kicking game was far superior and they did a far better job in the air. Savea can't drop that much ball.
 
Oh, yeah and Fekitoa did get that ball down. One thing I don't understand is why the TMO doesn't pause the footage and magnify it. When you do that, it was obvious that Fekitoa had scored.

leytonandamanda

Jane and Julian savea were awful I thought. How long is proctor out for? Canes scrum is terrible. Think a new scrum coach is needed. Ardie savea was the best canes player on show. Was fantastic 
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taniwharugby

could have been anyones arm
 
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtl1/v/t1.0-9/12809653_10153956179772463_665822535099892338_n.jpg?oh=25f68152517f365e8785b802217d2097&oe=57665775&gda=1465736006_8e6b62599b1de8d41ad9321d5ec6a765" alt="12809653_10153956179772463_6658225350998">

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="562792" data-time="1457213618">
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could have been anyones arm
 
<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xtl1/v/t1.0-9/12809653_10153956179772463_665822535099892338_n.jpg?oh=25f68152517f365e8785b802217d2097&oe=57665775&gda=1465736006_8e6b62599b1de8d41ad9321d5ec6a765" alt="12809653_10153956179772463_6658225350998">
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</blockquote>
 
Yeah - it's a clear try. The question is why don't the TMO's do this? Pausing the footage and blowing it up makes it very clear. Most people thought it was a try just based off the replays anyway but this is crystal clear. Instead, we saw a lot of replays from a lot of angles which didn't tell us anything. The TMO seemed t focus on the front on replay.

Dan54

To be honest whether it a try or not,I don't want to have to wait while the TMO looks at 50 f***ing angles, then pause it and blow up pictures!!!

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dan54" data-cid="562810" data-time="1457221233">
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To be honest whether it a try or not,I don't want to have to wait while the TMO looks at 50 f***ing angles, then pause it and blow up pictures!!!
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Then it isn't really fair for us to post pictures the next day saying how it should have been a try. I don't think it should take too long to do so with modern technology and ideally we wouldn't need 50 angles.

Stargazer

Didn't the TMO say that it wasn't clear and obvious that the try was planted at the base of the pole/touched the ground?
 
The question asked by the ref was "try or no try", so this conclusion meant that the try could not be awarded.
 
If the ref had asked "is there a reason not to award a try", then the try should have been awarded.

pukunui

Clear try for me. 
On another point, why take sopoanga off? I know parker kicked the winning penalty but sopoanga was playing well and parker is hardly going to spark something like lima can. Leave him on for 80 unless he is having a shocker IMO. 
Canes are really struggling to pull off the plays that made them so good last year. Holding onto the ball a bit better will see them back looking a lot better. 
Dont know what the hell woodward was thinking kicking the ball away at the end. Similarly there was a rubbish attempt at a chip kick from osborne i think right near the end where the canes were under pressure from a poor kick. Maybe these guys watch too much league. Attacking kicks are such a low percentage play in rugby.

canefan

Looks like this Friday at Eden Park will be a bit of a cripple fight. Again. :(

jegga

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="pukunui" data-cid="562823" data-time="1457228031">
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Clear try for me. 
On another point, why take sopoanga off? I know parker kicked the winning penalty but sopoanga was playing well and parker is hardly going to spark something like lima can. Leave him on for 80 unless he is having a shocker IMO. 
Canes are really struggling to pull off the plays that made them so good last year. Holding onto the ball a bit better will see them back looking a lot better. Dont know what the hell woodward was thinking kicking the ball away at the end. Similarly there was a rubbish attempt at a chip kick from osborne i think right near the end where the canes were under pressure from a poor kick. Maybe these guys watch too much league. Attacking kicks are such a low percentage play in rugby.
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I'd imagine the rest of the team had a chat to him about that after the game. It was pretty baffling.

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gt12" data-cid="562694" data-time="1457164949">
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Ardie has been good too. Anyone know anything about the hooker who just came on for the canes?
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Ricky Riccitelli, NZ U20s and second hooker of the Magpies (Ash Dixon being no. 1)

gt12

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="562767" data-time="1457198870">
I've only ever seen him play wing or fullback, not even seen him named in the midfield for upper hutt, but perhaps I don't watch enough! He's big enough.
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 You need to get out more ;) <a class="bbc_url" href="http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/67937310/Hurricanes-fullback-Jason-Woodwards-Super-Rugby-season-over-after-breaking-ankle-in-club-match">http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/67937310/Hurricanes-fullback-Jason-Woodwards-Super-Rugby-season-over-after-breaking-ankle-in-club-match</a> 

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">He suffered the injury when he was caught between two defenders while playing at centre for club side Upper Hutt against Oriental Rongotai at the Polo Ground in Miramar.
 
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taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dan54" data-cid="562810" data-time="1457221233">
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To be honest whether it a try or not,I don't want to have to wait while the TMO looks at 50 f***ing angles, then pause it and blow up pictures!!!
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I just want them to get it right.

gt12

Well, just for discussion, I personally think that the law should change anyway.
 
Given that we now have massive pads in front of the posts, I'd argue that touching the ball to the pad at ground level is not actually putting the ball on the line. It's short. 
 
Don't get me wrong, I like having the pads there, but, personally I think the law
 
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
22.4 (b)
Grounded against a goal post. The goal posts and padding surrounding them are part of the goal line, which is part of in-goal. If an attacking player is first to ground the ball against a goal post or padding, a try is scored
</blockquote>
 
should be changed. The goal post was once set against the line, so this originally made sense.
 
However, those pads are now pretty big and they stick out into the filed of play, so I suggest that if you hit the ball into the pad, you are deemed to be held up, and it is a 5 metre scrum.

Siam

Know what you mean GT, i'm waiting for the day some smart arse gets a runaway intercept and dots it down at the base of the pads for a larf

The Silver Fern

Highlanders vs Canes