Smudge
Hall of Fame Member
You're on.
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Official Rugby Thread
- Thread starter KennyD
- Start date
ripper868
International Coach
Splendid, though I'll feel bad removing murray from you...sometime in the next decade..
Somerset
Cricketer Of The Year
Ridiculously entertaining first half - brilliant attitude from both sides to keep the ball in hand, and ironically on the few occasions that defensive kicks have been attempted, theres been two charge downs leading to tries. Bit disappointing that Joubert's had to yellow card a player on both sides, I didn't get a good view of Franks' shoulder charge though by the sounds of it the yellow was deserved, and didn't see Mitchell's foul play at all so can't really comment.
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Somerset
Cricketer Of The Year
Yup following through with his previous warning regarding throwing the ball away from the opposition when they were the only ones entitled to it is fair enough and Mitchell has no one else to blame but himself. I almost wish more referees stamped their authority on that aspect of the game, it'd potentially speed the game up to an even greater extent. Out of interest, did anyone see the incident that led to Mitchell's first yellow card?So stupid from Mitchell, ref couldn't have given a clearer warning to either captain/team that time wasting wasn't on, yet he still tried to get away with it whilst he was on a card
AB's just way to good though.
Somerset
Cricketer Of The Year
Hes had a few tests in recent times where his kicking's been somewhat average - I still can't understand how world class players can miss kicks, on their favoured sides, with a roof on the stadium (i.e. so conditions have absolutely no impact).
Agreed re. Mealamu, he had a great game, as did McCaw (although whether he deserved MOTM is another issue) and Kaino also stood out for me on defence. Obviously on attack Cory Jane caught the eye. Muliaina brillaint at the back defending and indeed on attack with two tries.
Fiji-Bati
Cricket Spectator
Just my random thoughts on the match...
The effort was there from the Wallabies but they were outplayed by a far superior side. I can't name one Wallaby who outplayed their AB counterpart, having said that even McCaw put up an equally matched performance to Pocock who was easily Australia's best.
Pocock put in a great effort but some selections didn't really justify the faith shown.
I must say the second half could have turned out to be a whole lot worse for the Wallabies but they showed some good character and must be applauded for that.
I thought Rocky didn't have the best night leading the troops, hopefully he has learned a lesson from it. A change it captaincy wouldn't be ideal at this stage IMO - shades of the Pakistani cricket team.
Genia needs to stamp his authority in the game a bit more, he seems to be shut off quite easily and with a player of his quality he needs to step up a bit.
Oh and the ground was a disgrace.
The effort was there from the Wallabies but they were outplayed by a far superior side. I can't name one Wallaby who outplayed their AB counterpart, having said that even McCaw put up an equally matched performance to Pocock who was easily Australia's best.
Pocock put in a great effort but some selections didn't really justify the faith shown.
I must say the second half could have turned out to be a whole lot worse for the Wallabies but they showed some good character and must be applauded for that.
I thought Rocky didn't have the best night leading the troops, hopefully he has learned a lesson from it. A change it captaincy wouldn't be ideal at this stage IMO - shades of the Pakistani cricket team.
Genia needs to stamp his authority in the game a bit more, he seems to be shut off quite easily and with a player of his quality he needs to step up a bit.
Oh and the ground was a disgrace.
Somerset
Cricketer Of The Year
I have to question rugby venues with a roof on, after Cardiff was substandard when the All Blacks played Wales last year with the roof closed and indeed the ground last night. I'm no expert when it comes to grounds needing so much sunlight or water but there does seem to be a trend with covered stadiums and poor surfaces. Might serve as somewhat of a warning to the new stadium in Otago which I understand is to have a roof.
Somerset
Cricketer Of The Year
I doubt New Zealand will post 60 points in Christchurch - I'd imagine it'll be high scoring again but not to the same extent as last night. Remember they didn't post 50 last night and played against 14 for half the match. Then again, if both sides adopt the same approach (the All Blacks certainly will), then who knows; it'd be a great spectacle for rugby if theres another 8-10 tries scored in the match. On Genia, I was surprised that he didn't have more of an impact, particularly for a player known to create gaps and thrive on an open and ball-running game.
Smudge
Hall of Fame Member
Might help if you did some research on the new stadium.
Somerset
Cricketer Of The Year
Might also help if I knew a bit more about ground preparation and why those surfaces in roof-covered stadiums have been subject to the ground getting chomped up. All I was noting in my post was that there was a trend in roof-covered stadiums having issues for rugby union tests, and Otago's embarking on a stadium in a similar fashion (although I believe the roof is not retractable and therefore a different material, if that was the point you were making).
Hurricane
Hall of Fame Member
Pocock was man of the match for me - but you can't give it out to a losing player I guess. Thought he just managed to outplay McCaw.
Genia needs a kick up the backside. With his team hot on attack Genia likes to build up the drama by waiting with the ball at the back of the ruck for 3-5 seconds before finally passing it out. The ABs can see he is going to pass it - his team can see he is going to pass it. He waits - and then he passes it.
I think it takes away from the momentum of the attacking team.
Australia would be better off if Barnes didn't have as strong a kicking game - with the ball in hand and numbers to burn Barnes did a little grubber kick into touch instead of running it. Run the ball already Berrick. Also felt that Giteau passing the ball to Berrick for him to make a clearing kick rather than Giteau kicking himself was a mistake when it lead to that charge down.
I think the bounce of the ball favoured the ABs in this game. I am hoping for a closer game in the rematch.
Genia needs a kick up the backside. With his team hot on attack Genia likes to build up the drama by waiting with the ball at the back of the ruck for 3-5 seconds before finally passing it out. The ABs can see he is going to pass it - his team can see he is going to pass it. He waits - and then he passes it.
I think it takes away from the momentum of the attacking team.
Australia would be better off if Barnes didn't have as strong a kicking game - with the ball in hand and numbers to burn Barnes did a little grubber kick into touch instead of running it. Run the ball already Berrick. Also felt that Giteau passing the ball to Berrick for him to make a clearing kick rather than Giteau kicking himself was a mistake when it lead to that charge down.
I think the bounce of the ball favoured the ABs in this game. I am hoping for a closer game in the rematch.
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JBH001
International Regular
Some of my random thoughts on the game.
I think this AB team is looking like it might be our finest since Fitzy's ABs of 95-97. This team has a strong spine in terms of skill and experience in key positions, for example, Woodcock, Mealamu, Thorn, McCaw, Carter, Smith, and Muliaina. What is even better is that all that experience is starting to show in composure and leadership on the field, in a way it did not in Cardiff in 2007. It is a bit ironic for Deans that some of the core players of the AB spine were picked by Mitchell and himself during their tenure as AB coaches 2001- 2003.
Unless they have an off day, or the opposing team has a blinder I don't see any other team beating us this year. Only SA at home qualify as any sort of threat. I'd even go so far as to say this team represents our best chance of winning the WC since 95 but it is a whole year away and a lot can happen.
As to Australia, they simply weren't good enough but they didn't help themselves by making silly mistakes (not finding touch or claiming lineouts for instance). Although I was glad they didn't run up the white flag like they did in Wellington last year and toughed it out when a man down - it would have been so easy to crumble. But only their backrow looked to be of a similar calibre to the AB backrow and that, more at the breakdown and with ball in hand than on defense. Their backs hardly figured on attack, and their tight 5 simply dont have the mobility and power to pose a consistent threat in the tight or the loose.
Big issues for them next week. The key, I think, is to focus on the tackle area and maybe even implement league style gang tackling backed up by swift clearing by supporting players in order to slow attacking play and even strip possession. Easier said than done, of course.
I think this AB team is looking like it might be our finest since Fitzy's ABs of 95-97. This team has a strong spine in terms of skill and experience in key positions, for example, Woodcock, Mealamu, Thorn, McCaw, Carter, Smith, and Muliaina. What is even better is that all that experience is starting to show in composure and leadership on the field, in a way it did not in Cardiff in 2007. It is a bit ironic for Deans that some of the core players of the AB spine were picked by Mitchell and himself during their tenure as AB coaches 2001- 2003.
Unless they have an off day, or the opposing team has a blinder I don't see any other team beating us this year. Only SA at home qualify as any sort of threat. I'd even go so far as to say this team represents our best chance of winning the WC since 95 but it is a whole year away and a lot can happen.
As to Australia, they simply weren't good enough but they didn't help themselves by making silly mistakes (not finding touch or claiming lineouts for instance). Although I was glad they didn't run up the white flag like they did in Wellington last year and toughed it out when a man down - it would have been so easy to crumble. But only their backrow looked to be of a similar calibre to the AB backrow and that, more at the breakdown and with ball in hand than on defense. Their backs hardly figured on attack, and their tight 5 simply dont have the mobility and power to pose a consistent threat in the tight or the loose.
Big issues for them next week. The key, I think, is to focus on the tackle area and maybe even implement league style gang tackling backed up by swift clearing by supporting players in order to slow attacking play and even strip possession. Easier said than done, of course.
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