For the record: I'm supporting you guys.

just threw up in my mouth a little

Wow. Just when you thought everyone had the complacency knocked out of them, Ireland Schmidt the bed.

@Frank said in RWC: Japan v Ireland (Pool A):

Schmidt is on to "Hometown."

Ireland are usually the most disciplined team on the pitch but they came out on the wrong end of a 9-6 penalty count, with Schmidt hinting at some frustrations at referee Angus Gardner – who the Ireland head coach had curiously decided to criticise as recently as Thursday.

“We’ll go back and have a look at it,” said Schmidt. “I certainly understand the frustrations of some of the players and in discussing things with them based on what I saw on the monitor, it’s not too dissimilar from the last time we had this referee.

https://www.the42.ie/ireland-world-cup-japan-schmidt-4828766-Sep2019/

"Our brand of cynical bullshit finally got called on us. It happened with this referee last time but we were too stupid/arrogant/complacent to understand and rectify this either in our preparation, or during the game"

@chimoaus said in Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November:

@NTA As a neutral are we overreacting or were we really that shit?

I can't speak for all of you as a collective but some of you may be egging it a bit too much in terms of this game being a disaster beyond all disasters. The fact is, this has happened before (RWC2019 SF) and will happen again.

EDIT: I mean in terms of this being rugby. You have to accept losses. Just makes it hard for you bastards you only lose occasionally.

Argentina won the way you always beat the All Blacks: minimise your errors, make your tackles, and don't take any shit at set piece.

I've said it a few times the last month, but I think as fans you guys occasionally get carried away with the freakish skills some of your guys possess, and think that is the difference i.e. that they're just better as a group than everyone. Really, its just that the fifteen individuals you put on the park at one time (fourteen is S Barrett is playing ;)) are probably better players than the other blokes, but what is that saying about Champion Team versus Champion Individuals? Doesn't always work.

@mariner4life - in the same period - has pointed out a few times that when under the pump, the ABs haven't really looked that special. Nothing more than good even in Sydney - it was either dinky kicks breaking things open for you + counterattack (26-0 at halftime), or getting whacked (first part of the second half).

I count one set piece try in the period - and that was a 5 metre scrum where our flanker didn't get off in time at ANZ, leaving the wing stranded.

That has been the AB game plan since Henry / McCaw left: defend, counterattack, and (occasionally) pull off your skills and fitness, complemented occasionally by the odd piece of streaky bullshit. And I'm not saying those skills and fitness aren't great, because the winning record over the last decade speaks for itself.

BUT these skills and fitness aren't really built around any structure besides "You're the Fucking All Blacks, go out and win".

Looking at the last few weeks, maybe the depth isn't as good as everyone thinks. I'll talk about the tight five, because that's my jam.

Big concern for the Wallabies was second row in particular, but we generally stood up physically with Philip, LSL, and even Simmons. On the flipside, guys like Tuipolotou have not shown up with consistency. Whitelock is still a stalwart but looked a helluva lot better with BBBR (as would any of us!)

Your props are fine around the park but getting a bit of a lesson at scrum time, as a collective - that also comes back to your second row being a little frail. The combination there is important, and what stands out is you're not learning on the run. A couple of times the Wallabies put the ABs under pressure and you didn't adjust.

Must say that Coles is a fuckwit who throws his toys when he's not allowed to just swan around on the wing while everyone else does the hard yards (like Codie Taylor).

The backs are going through the motions, and look it isn't park footy and you can't always have a highly structured plan, but "play what's in front of you" has dangers of its own, especially when half the backline changes in the space of 2 weeks from A to B and back again.

Maybe making 9+ changes two weeks in a row wasn't the right decision. Maybe the selections and combinations are just wrong.

Regardless, you haven't really moved the needle in close to a decade, tactically speaking. It makes the ABs an easy target for coaches to plan for: front up physically, don't miss your tackles, and don't give away cheap ball. Of course, that relies on players executing and the Wallabies continue to be plagued by inconsistency.

Contrast Brisbane and Wellington versus ANZ and Auckland from a Wallabies point of view. Chalk and cheese in terms of execution.

The most burning example of this was Caleb Clarke: breaks 8 tackles on his way to setting up a try in Auckland, but was well looked after tonight. Simple game, really.

I've played suburban rugby in Sydney.

Every fucking Kiwi I played with or against was an All Blacks trialist.

Just ask them.

@geebee said in RWC Final: England v Springboks:

@NTA nah its true,and remind me where you are from and why you are here please?

Australian. Long time contributor here, and I've had my share of disagreements with these kiwi bastards but I'm not about to spout fuckwit statements like "not world champs to me".

Wind your neck in, you've got school tomorrow

@dogmeat said in 2018 Football World Cup:

So how bad must Saudi be?

@barbarian said in Super Rugby Trans Tasman:

That's true, but I'd argue they face a unique set of circumstances with the landscape in Australian sport. The competition from AFL being a central part of that, as is the relative dominance of rugby league.

<<<Insert rant about RA's complete neglect of Western Sydney here>>>

@higgins not much help when most of Second Grade didn't show up

@snowy speed of charging advances will be huge. Car builders supporting it will be huge-r.

Over our short 35km journey, we calculated a 17% drop in battery range.

That is pretty poor data set to base any analysis on, TBH. I'd be keen to see what other models are doing in terms of efficiency - there are some manufacturers going all out on the towing thing because they know it'll matter.

@nzzp said in Blues v Waratahs:

blues by a thowsand',

Endorsed

@snowy said in Electric Vehicles:

Range anxiety isn't a thing when people can just pull over and fill up though.

Improved charging infrastructure needs a critical mass of EVs to justify it.
EVs need a critical mass of infrastructure to justify them.

@machpants said in Waratahs v Hurricanes:

@nta said in Waratahs v Hurricanes:

@mariner4life said in Waratahs v Hurricanes:

Y'all are whinging about the quality but...

That 90m try the Waratahs scored that started with a ridiculous chip kick on the 10m line and included at least one "chuck and hope" pass was good as any you will see on any rugby field

A few Tahs fans have remarked that, after the season we've had, it was the most entertaining game they've seen in ages.

If the ABs scored that, the forum would have gargled to death on its collective spooge.

If the ABs scored that against a second iter nation, no we wouldn't. And both those teams were well below second tier defence

It is cute you think that.

I'm reminded of the default NZ Rugby fan when the ABs get outplayed: "You weren't that good - we just played like shit!"

@mariner4life said in Waratahs v Hurricanes:

Y'all are whinging about the quality but...

That 90m try the Waratahs scored that started with a ridiculous chip kick on the 10m line and included at least one "chuck and hope" pass was good as any you will see on any rugby field

A few Tahs fans have remarked that, after the season we've had, it was the most entertaining game they've seen in ages.

If the ABs scored that, the forum would have gargled to death on its collective spooge.

@snowy additionally, nobody talks fuel efficiency of ICEV towing. The range of a petrol or diesel vehicle is drastically affected by load in the same way as EV.

@akan004 yep something is cooked

Hey @Derpus what was 5-0 to kiwi teams paying?