NPR

Grandpa wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 11:37 am I'm worried... watching Super Rugby is like watching rugby from at least ten years ago... I remember when we used to lead the world... what we did, everyone else tried to copy... now we look stuck in a time warp... and I'm not sure what it will take to wake it up...a mediocre All Blacks team most likely...

Yeah this is the sober assessment. The SR level is absolutely dire, and having two filler teams will only make it weaker. Tough times ahead for the ABs

Big Nipper wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 11:39 am

Grandpa wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 11:37 am I'm worried... watching Super Rugby is like watching rugby from at least ten years ago... I remember when we used to lead the world... what we did, everyone else tried to copy... now we look stuck in a time warp... and I'm not sure what it will take to wake it up...a mediocre All Blacks team most likely...

Yeah this is the sober assessment. The SR level is absolutely dire, and having two filler teams will only make it weaker. Tough times ahead for the ABs

I'm not seeing that level of decline. Not from the NZ teams at least. Yes, the standard of the comp is clearly weaker with the Aus sides and the Pac teams getting their feet (and we'll doubtless see some hammerings in NZ v Aus games) but the Blues and Chiefs are playing good rugby with intensity and the Saders are doing what the Saders do = efficient.

That was some spineless defending by the Rebels and arses need kicking in the week. That said, how TF was that tip tackle not a red card? Yet again, player safety having lip service paid.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 12:19 pm That was some spineless defending by the Rebels and arses need kicking in the week. That said, how TF was that tip tackle not a red card? Yet again, player safety having lip service paid.

He was fairly lucky to get yellow. I think the way he looked to abandon the tackle was the only thing that saved him.

Jimmy Smallsteps wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 12:21 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 12:19 pm That was some spineless defending by the Rebels and arses need kicking in the week. That said, how TF was that tip tackle not a red card? Yet again, player safety having lip service paid.

He was fairly lucky to get yellow. I think the way he looked to abandon the tackle was the only thing that saved him.

I thought that made it worse!!! i.e. rather than trying to put the player down, you end up dropping him. Regardless, as you say, lucky. If it were my side, I would have been throwing the remote at the TV in expectation of red.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 12:18 pm

Big Nipper wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 11:39 am

Grandpa wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 11:37 am I'm worried... watching Super Rugby is like watching rugby from at least ten years ago... I remember when we used to lead the world... what we did, everyone else tried to copy... now we look stuck in a time warp... and I'm not sure what it will take to wake it up...a mediocre All Blacks team most likely...

Yeah this is the sober assessment. The SR level is absolutely dire, and having two filler teams will only make it weaker. Tough times ahead for the ABs

I'm not seeing that level of decline. Not from the NZ teams at least. Yes, the standard of the comp is clearly weaker with the Aus sides and the Pac teams getting their feet (and we'll doubtless see some hammerings in NZ v Aus games) but the Blues and Chiefs are playing good rugby with intensity and the Saders are doing what the Saders do = efficient.

It's still old school NZ rugby though... Saders still playing that counter-attack game... Wayne Smith reckoned that after being left behind, NZ rugby would re-invent itself this year to get ahead of everyone else... that Foster would work with the Super Teams to get ahead again... Not seeing it yet. At the moment it's totally reliant on the All Blacks reinventing themselves without any help from the Super teams...

Grandpa wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 12:35 pm It's still old school NZ rugby though... Saders still playing that counter-attack game... Wayne Smith reckoned that after being left behind, NZ rugby would re-invent itself this year to get ahead of everyone else... that Foster would work with the Super Teams to get ahead again... Not seeing it yet. At the moment it's totally reliant on the All Blacks reinventing themselves without any help from the Super teams...

Not really sure how much rugby can reinvent itself. France (and I don't believe they are the best team) are basically playing classic ABs i.e. let the oppos have the ball and kill their mistakes on the counter.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 7:51 pm

Grandpa wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 12:35 pm It's still old school NZ rugby though... Saders still playing that counter-attack game... Wayne Smith reckoned that after being left behind, NZ rugby would re-invent itself this year to get ahead of everyone else... that Foster would work with the Super Teams to get ahead again... Not seeing it yet. At the moment it's totally reliant on the All Blacks reinventing themselves without any help from the Super teams...

Not really sure how much rugby can reinvent itself. France (and I don't believe they are the best team) are basically playing classic ABs i.e. let the oppos have the ball and kill their mistakes on the counter.

Watching France tonight and it's the speed of their attack .. whether in close or out wide, the speed of their rucks.. even against heavy defence is ruthlessly fast.

Speed and power on attack and an aggressive defence. First half tonight.. I am finding it hard to imagine the All Blacks coping with this come the world cup ...

NZ the last few years seem to play predictable prescripted moves... and I am still not sure if it's a foster issue.. or a NZ problem. In saying that we did see glimpses against France and Ireland that they can play another way..

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 12:26 pm

Jimmy Smallsteps wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 12:21 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 12:19 pm That was some spineless defending by the Rebels and arses need kicking in the week. That said, how TF was that tip tackle not a red card? Yet again, player safety having lip service paid.

He was fairly lucky to get yellow. I think the way he looked to abandon the tackle was the only thing that saved him.

I thought that made it worse!!! i.e. rather than trying to put the player down, you end up dropping him. Regardless, as you say, lucky. If it were my side, I would have been throwing the remote at the TV in expectation of red.

It was all he could do at that point. Put it this way, if he'd driven him into the ground, he would have been taking an early shower. I'm not sure how feasible it is to gently place players either, that may have looked bad too.

Grandpa wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 12:35 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 12:18 pm

Big Nipper wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 11:39 am

Yeah this is the sober assessment. The SR level is absolutely dire, and having two filler teams will only make it weaker. Tough times ahead for the ABs

I'm not seeing that level of decline. Not from the NZ teams at least. Yes, the standard of the comp is clearly weaker with the Aus sides and the Pac teams getting their feet (and we'll doubtless see some hammerings in NZ v Aus games) but the Blues and Chiefs are playing good rugby with intensity and the Saders are doing what the Saders do = efficient.

It's still old school NZ rugby though... Saders still playing that counter-attack game... Wayne Smith reckoned that after being left behind, NZ rugby would re-invent itself this year to get ahead of everyone else... that Foster would work with the Super Teams to get ahead again... Not seeing it yet. At the moment it's totally reliant on the All Blacks reinventing themselves without any help from the Super teams...

In those comments Wayne Smith seems to expect a level of vision from Ian Foster that I don't think he has.

Jimmy Smallsteps wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 10:44 pm

Grandpa wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 12:35 pm

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 12:18 pm
I'm not seeing that level of decline. Not from the NZ teams at least. Yes, the standard of the comp is clearly weaker with the Aus sides and the Pac teams getting their feet (and we'll doubtless see some hammerings in NZ v Aus games) but the Blues and Chiefs are playing good rugby with intensity and the Saders are doing what the Saders do = efficient.

It's still old school NZ rugby though... Saders still playing that counter-attack game... Wayne Smith reckoned that after being left behind, NZ rugby would re-invent itself this year to get ahead of everyone else... that Foster would work with the Super Teams to get ahead again... Not seeing it yet. At the moment it's totally reliant on the All Blacks reinventing themselves without any help from the Super teams...

In those comments Wayne Smith seems to expect a level of vision from Ian Foster that I don't think he has.

You'd think he'd know Foster by now

NZ defense is now rush defence in Super Rugby but the breakdown is still the same weak breakdown technique from yesteryear. We constantly spread wide without apply pressure at ruck time, something the Irish and even Italy do very well in these days. France have the ability to break games open in open play and are a threat right around the park. I honestly think next RWC fin will be a France vs Ireland showdown.

Not_Couch wrote: Sun Mar 20, 2022 1:26 am NZ defense is now rush defence in Super Rugby but the breakdown is still the same weak breakdown technique from yesteryear. We constantly spread wide without apply pressure at ruck time, something the Irish and even Italy do very well in these days. France have the ability to break games open in open play and are a threat right around the park. I honestly think next RWC fin will be a France vs Ireland showdown.

Hopefully one team takes the first step and starts playing modern rugby... and forces the other teams to come up with ways to counteract it... Foster should be talking to the Super franchises and imploring them to get their acts together... for the greater good!

Let's see if Moana have improved and can make a changed Canes side work a bit.

{E1} So far....... no. Discipline still looking weak.

MP's offensive tackling and breakdown work has been superb and keeping them in the game. 13 pens to 1 is a killer with so many of them dim plus total lack of patience on the ball (Hail Marys left, right and centre) is preventing any sustained phase play. And the lineout throws....

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 6:53 amMP's offensive tackling and breakdown work has been superb and keeping them in the game.

Yep, it's been impressive.

C'MON

Damn.

BS pen. He's the support runner.

Golden point time after a superb comeback by MP

Dare we hope.... ?

C'mon Northern Mace...pasifika

Pickerel ignores not rolling and then the high tackle too.

Gotcha

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

BRILLIANNNNNNTTTTTTTTT

Well, that was worth getting up for.

Biggest Soup upset ever?

Mauger and co have done a fantastic job on fitness.

Woohoo!

BTW, what does Moana mean?

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 8:11 am BTW, what does Moana mean?

Ocean

Gumboot wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 8:14 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 8:11 am BTW, what does Moana mean?

Ocean

Grandpa wrote: Mon Mar 21, 2022 9:36 am

Not_Couch wrote: Sun Mar 20, 2022 1:26 am NZ defense is now rush defence in Super Rugby but the breakdown is still the same weak breakdown technique from yesteryear. We constantly spread wide without apply pressure at ruck time, something the Irish and even Italy do very well in these days. France have the ability to break games open in open play and are a threat right around the park. I honestly think next RWC fin will be a France vs Ireland showdown.

Hopefully one team takes the first step and starts playing modern rugby... and forces the other teams to come up with ways to counteract it... Foster should be talking to the Super franchises and imploring them to get their acts together... for the greater good!

Sorry Grandpa, can't agree. Foster (nor any coach) should not be telling the franchises how to play the game.The comp has to be left to run it's course , and as a coach you get to see who can play against or with certain styles. Coaches never done it up to now and hope they never start.
Actually talking of coaches etc, the one who has to be impressing obviously is Clayton MacMillan, he seems to be developing a pretty good squad, along with Gatlnd I know, but there is something about the way the man operates impresses me.

Well that was quite pleasing seeing MP get their maiden win! Even as a Canes'man I not too upset! Be intersting to see how they go after breaking duck, could start playing with belief and not give away so many penalties etc, and become pretty dangerous.

Dan54 wrote: Fri Mar 25, 2022 7:36 pm

Grandpa wrote: Mon Mar 21, 2022 9:36 am

Not_Couch wrote: Sun Mar 20, 2022 1:26 am NZ defense is now rush defence in Super Rugby but the breakdown is still the same weak breakdown technique from yesteryear. We constantly spread wide without apply pressure at ruck time, something the Irish and even Italy do very well in these days. France have the ability to break games open in open play and are a threat right around the park. I honestly think next RWC fin will be a France vs Ireland showdown.

Hopefully one team takes the first step and starts playing modern rugby... and forces the other teams to come up with ways to counteract it... Foster should be talking to the Super franchises and imploring them to get their acts together... for the greater good!

Sorry Grandpa, can't agree. Foster (nor any coach) should not be telling the franchises how to play the game.The comp has to be left to run it's course , and as a coach you get to see who can play against or with certain styles. Coaches never done it up to now and hope they never start.
Actually talking of coaches etc, the one who has to be impressing obviously is Clayton MacMillan, he seems to be developing a pretty good squad, along with Gatlnd I know, but there is something about the way the man operates impresses me.

That's often been held up as a big strength of NZ rugby... that the All Blacks work with franchises for the greater good.... so it's not exactly new... Hansen and Henry used to do it a lot.
Wayne Smith talked about it recently how he thought NZ Rugby could reinvent itself... and he expected Foster to be talking to the Super coaches to work out a way to do this...

We don't have SA'n sides any more so we are even more insulated from the outside world.. which was fine when we were the world leaders... now that we aren't... how are we going to catch up... and then forge ahead again? I am guessing by not playing the same way we have been doing the last decade? How are we going to change? As none of the Super sides have shown any inclination to play modern rugby so far...

And to compound matters, what is the motivation to change ? Until someone else plays that way,. everyone can carry on playing old style rugby.

The Blues make hard work of a 32-25 win over the Highlanders.

The curtain raiser is over now. Ready for the main match in a few more minutes.

Fancy the Chiefs winning a tight one tonight.

I wish Weber wouldn't kick. He cannot do that sadly

15 minutes 7 - 5 to the Sadists

Damn - our weak link due to Covid is showing. Havilli of all people makes a break thru the centres due to fragmented line. Easy try Sadists

Nankivell gets one back after giving a try up earlier.

Great pass Tupaea to get him a clear run in

12 to 15 and nearly half time