Super Rugby Pacific

[Kiwias]

A try wins it

[Insane_Homer]

Tahs win!!!!!

[Gumboot]

Well played, Tahs. Sadly predictable from the Saders.

[Kiwias]

Well played, Tahs. Sadly predictable from the Saders.

The story of our season so far -- some decent play mixed in with some dire shite, and totally poor discipline.

Did not deserve to win this match, but the Tahs really did.

[MungoMan]

Hmmm. Get out of jail card for the Landers. And I take back what I said about Kewee v Aus sides, the Landers are looking increasingly sh*te.

So you should.

FM. There isn't an Aus side that would pick up a single scoring point against any NZ team in this comp.

Not quite working out that way is it?

[Ymx]

Well played, Tahs. Sadly predictable from the Saders.

That wounds me with your comments. Talk about sticking the knife in after a loss.

[Gumboot]

Well played, Tahs. Sadly predictable from the Saders.

That wounds me with your comments. Talk about sticking the knife in after a loss.

[Torquemada 1420]

Just caught up with the Saders' game and plenty of thoughts.

1) Somewhere a lot earlier, one or two of the keewee posters were expressing concerns about the ABs for the RWC: which I poopoo'd. Well, I wish to partially retract. I still think there is enough quality across the piece to win the RWC but I also think this is the lowest depth of quality I can ever remember. For example
- The Landers has to be the worst NZ Soup side ever.
- At FH for the ABs there's Mounga and that's it. So much so that if he's out, I think the ABs can kiss their hopes goodbye.

2) Specifically on the Sader's game
- now we have confirmed what we already knew: Blackadder is the backrow. Without him, they were annihilated at the breakdown until Hooper was illegally killed. Christie was so bad all round that had McCaw been watching, he'd have been a better option.
- at the moment, Burke barely qualifies as a journeyman.
- how thick is Dalzell?
- of greatest interest to me was Taylor. I honestly think on current form he'd struggle to make 5th choice in France. Both Chat and Bourgarit are perfectly capable pie throwers too but they both offer way more threat around the park both offensively and defensively.

I am now really keen to see where the ABs stand versus Ire in the Summer.

[Torquemada 1420]

FM. There isn't an Aus side that would pick up a single scoring point against any NZ team in this comp.

Not quite working out that way is it?

Yup. See my previous post. I was clearly wrong. Keewee sides playing keewee sides had given something of a false perspective. Consider humble pie eaten en masse.

[Grandpa]

Just caught up with the Saders' game and plenty of thoughts.

1) Somewhere a lot earlier, one or two of the keewee posters were expressing concerns about the ABs for the RWC: which I poopoo'd. Well, I wish to partially retract. I still think there is enough quality across the piece to win the RWC but I also think this is the lowest depth of quality I can ever remember. For example
- The Landers has to be the worst NZ Soup side ever.
- At FH for the ABs there's Mounga and that's it. So much so that if he's out, I think the ABs can kiss their hopes goodbye.

2) Specifically on the Sader's game
- now we have confirmed what we already knew: Blackadder is the backrow. Without him, they were annihilated at the breakdown until Hooper was illegally killed. Christie was so bad all round that had McCaw been watching, he'd have been a better option.
- at the moment, Burke barely qualifies as a journeyman.
- how thick is Dalzell?
- of greatest interest to me was Taylor. I honestly think on current form he'd struggle to make 5th choice in France. Both Chat and Bourgarit are perfectly capable pie throwers too but they both offer way more threat around the park both offensively and defensively.

I am now really keen to see where the ABs stand versus Ire in the Summer.

Hi Torquemada I've never been able to work out which country you support? Is it France?

And yes, NZ rugby is at a low ebb...

[Torquemada 1420]

Just caught up with the Saders' game and plenty of thoughts.

1) Somewhere a lot earlier, one or two of the keewee posters were expressing concerns about the ABs for the RWC: which I poopoo'd. Well, I wish to partially retract. I still think there is enough quality across the piece to win the RWC but I also think this is the lowest depth of quality I can ever remember. For example
- The Landers has to be the worst NZ Soup side ever.
- At FH for the ABs there's Mounga and that's it. So much so that if he's out, I think the ABs can kiss their hopes goodbye.

2) Specifically on the Sader's game
- now we have confirmed what we already knew: Blackadder is the backrow. Without him, they were annihilated at the breakdown until Hooper was illegally killed. Christie was so bad all round that had McCaw been watching, he'd have been a better option.
- at the moment, Burke barely qualifies as a journeyman.
- how thick is Dalzell?
- of greatest interest to me was Taylor. I honestly think on current form he'd struggle to make 5th choice in France. Both Chat and Bourgarit are perfectly capable pie throwers too but they both offer way more threat around the park both offensively and defensively.

I am now really keen to see where the ABs stand versus Ire in the Summer.

Hi Torquemada I've never been able to work out which country you support? Is it France?

And yes, NZ rugby is at a low ebb...

Yes. France.

[Grandpa]

Just caught up with the Saders' game and plenty of thoughts.

1) Somewhere a lot earlier, one or two of the keewee posters were expressing concerns about the ABs for the RWC: which I poopoo'd. Well, I wish to partially retract. I still think there is enough quality across the piece to win the RWC but I also think this is the lowest depth of quality I can ever remember. For example
- The Landers has to be the worst NZ Soup side ever.
- At FH for the ABs there's Mounga and that's it. So much so that if he's out, I think the ABs can kiss their hopes goodbye.

2) Specifically on the Sader's game
- now we have confirmed what we already knew: Blackadder is the backrow. Without him, they were annihilated at the breakdown until Hooper was illegally killed. Christie was so bad all round that had McCaw been watching, he'd have been a better option.
- at the moment, Burke barely qualifies as a journeyman.
- how thick is Dalzell?
- of greatest interest to me was Taylor. I honestly think on current form he'd struggle to make 5th choice in France. Both Chat and Bourgarit are perfectly capable pie throwers too but they both offer way more threat around the park both offensively and defensively.

I am now really keen to see where the ABs stand versus Ire in the Summer.

Hi Torquemada I've never been able to work out which country you support? Is it France?

And yes, NZ rugby is at a low ebb...

Yes. France.

You always seem to know a lot about most other country's domestic leagues... it confuses me.

Impressed

[Torquemada 1420]

You always seem to know a lot about most other country's domestic leagues... it confuses me.

Impressed

I do watch as much as I can of Soup and ITM. See a little Gallagher. Next to no Currie or URC though. Obviously, I watch T14!

[Grandpa]

You always seem to know a lot about most other country's domestic leagues... it confuses me.

Impressed

I do watch as much as I can of Soup and ITM. See a little Gallagher. Next to no Currie or URC though. Obviously, I watch T14!

Good to see you have your priorities right

[Torquemada 1420]

You always seem to know a lot about most other country's domestic leagues... it confuses me.

Impressed

I do watch as much as I can of Soup and ITM. See a little Gallagher. Next to no Currie or URC though. Obviously, I watch T14!

Good to see you have your priorities right

LOL. My favourites is ITM.

[Grandpa]

I do watch as much as I can of Soup and ITM. See a little Gallagher. Next to no Currie or URC though. Obviously, I watch T14!

Good to see you have your priorities right

LOL. My favourites is ITM.

Why do you like it so much? As a Kiwi I can understand, but what is the appeal to a Frenchman?

[Torquemada 1420]

Why do you like it so much? As a Kiwi I can understand, but what is the appeal to a Frenchman?

Because it has no money (since Soup took it all) and it forces the bringing through of young players and locals i.e. it's largely unspoiled. In addition, the teams mostly play all out to win: no-one sets out not to lose first which is so often the mentality in France.

[Grandpa]

Why do you like it so much? As a Kiwi I can understand, but what is the appeal to a Frenchman?

Because it has no money (since Soup took it all) and it forces the bringing through of young players and locals i.e. it's largely unspoiled. In addition, the teams mostly play all out to win: no-one sets out not to lose first which is so often the mentality in France.

It reminds how club rugby used to be here, before it went professional. I remember watching Kirwan playing for Marist in the 80s... Bit like NPC or ITM Cup as they call it now. As it was the second tier feeder clubs.

Is there no amateur or semi professional club rugby in France?

[Dan54]

I do watch as much as I can of Soup and ITM. See a little Gallagher. Next to no Currie or URC though. Obviously, I watch T14!

Good to see you have your priorities right

LOL. My favourites is ITM.

Probably to me shows you are a man of good taste to Torq, as I a ITM/NPC fan of it, love seeing the young un's coming through. Was where I first became a fan of Ethan Blackadder etc. And as Grandpa says kind of like Club rugby etc for watching development of players.

[Dan54]

I would perhaps add one thing, I not going overboard about the Crusaders' loss, I not a Crusaders'man or anything, but I do tend to think although one or two players are getting a little old in tooth, is was a loss , and I thinking perhaps the top 10% was a lot of their problem. Don't ever come into a game perhaps thinking you are favourites or you can get bitten.

[Gumboot]

Just caught up with the Saders' game and plenty of thoughts.

1) Somewhere a lot earlier, one or two of the keewee posters were expressing concerns about the ABs for the RWC: which I poopoo'd. Well, I wish to partially retract. I still think there is enough quality across the piece to win the RWC but I also think this is the lowest depth of quality I can ever remember...

I think we're in deep shit and will be lucky to make the Semis.

I don't think Foster has a clue what our best side is...hopefully Schmidt might.

[Guy Smiley]

Just caught up with the Saders' game and plenty of thoughts.

1) Somewhere a lot earlier, one or two of the keewee posters were expressing concerns about the ABs for the RWC: which I poopoo'd. Well, I wish to partially retract. I still think there is enough quality across the piece to win the RWC but I also think this is the lowest depth of quality I can ever remember...

I think we're in deep shit and will be lucky to make the Semis.

I don't think Foster has a clue what our best side is...hopefully Schmidt might.

Beaudy Beaudy Beaudy Bejordie

[MungoMan]

I do watch as much as I can of Soup and ITM. See a little Gallagher. Next to no Currie or URC though. Obviously, I watch T14!

Good to see you have your priorities right

LOL. My favourites is ITM.

NZ provincial games are excellent. I've been fortunate enough to see a few at grounds in Wellington, Hamilton, Rotorua, Palmerston North and New Plymouth. Good quality and v. entertaining.

[Gumboot]

Brumbies vs Canes just kicking off in Canberra.

[Kiwias]

Canes have just fallen apart in the second half

[Gumboot]

Garden-Bachop confirming yet again that he's not a Supe standard 10.

[Kiwias]

Just caught up with the Saders' game and plenty of thoughts.

1) Somewhere a lot earlier, one or two of the keewee posters were expressing concerns about the ABs for the RWC: which I poopoo'd. Well, I wish to partially retract. I still think there is enough quality across the piece to win the RWC but I also think this is the lowest depth of quality I can ever remember...

I think we're in deep shit and will be lucky to make the Semis.

I don't think Foster has a clue what our best side is...hopefully Schmidt might.

Are you assuming that Foz will listen to what Schmidt says?

[Gumboot]

Just caught up with the Saders' game and plenty of thoughts.

1) Somewhere a lot earlier, one or two of the keewee posters were expressing concerns about the ABs for the RWC: which I poopoo'd. Well, I wish to partially retract. I still think there is enough quality across the piece to win the RWC but I also think this is the lowest depth of quality I can ever remember...

I think we're in deep shit and will be lucky to make the Semis.

I don't think Foster has a clue what our best side is...hopefully Schmidt might.

Are you assuming that Foz will listen to what Schmidt says?

I'm hoping that from now on Fozzie is Head Coach in name only.

[Ymx]

Aus teams looking a damned sight stronger this year.

[Kiwias]

I think we're in deep shit and will be lucky to make the Semis.

I don't think Foster has a clue what our best side is...hopefully Schmidt might.

Are you assuming that Foz will listen to what Schmidt says?

I'm hoping that from now on Fozzie is Head Coach in name only.

You and me too.

That YC is harsh, as Rayasi was moving to catch the ball but hit the Brumbie player which stopped him

[Gumboot]

Aus teams looking a damned sight stronger this year.

They sure do.

Brumbies win 42-25.

[Torquemada 1420]

Brumbies v Canes
In perfect conditions, had been looking fwd to Ardie and Rayasi. Instead, Ardie was invisible and the Canes seemed to have adopted a strategy where both wings are to play as fat man, crashers a la Michelin Savea.

Nic Berry
1) How TF was Sangster not a red? Not that red is red when it’s only 20 minutes.
2) Every Brumbies lineout was crooked.
3) Just before Brumbies try, there was a miskick in midfield which was caught a mile in front of the kicker.

Cashman was right in the mid-week pre-amble. The game was to be won in the forwards. And the Canes forwards are little more than military medium and it seem their answer to this is to immediately go wide. Well, for that to work, your passing needs to be perfect. Instead, it was abysmal. Even Rayasi’s try came from an accidental bounce pass. Sangster gifted another although if Garden-Bachop wasn't so slow, it might have been prevented. Meantime, the Brumbies did all the hard work up front to earn the right to go wide but actually, often did not need to as the Canes’ defending simply wasn’t up to multiple phases.

Interested in what the keewees’ views are for a starting pack for the ABs at the moment.

[Torquemada 1420]

It reminds how club rugby used to be here, before it went professional. I remember watching Kirwan playing for Marist in the 80s... Bit like NPC or ITM Cup as they call it now. As it was the second tier feeder clubs.

Is there no amateur or semi professional club rugby in France?

Yes and no. French pro rugby goes deep. Real deep. I mean as far down as the Federales (which is effectively the 4th division) players are practically professional. This goes all the way back to the days of "amateur" rugby when everyone else was amateur but the game in France was called l' amateurisme marron (shamateurism) because players were always being paid.

The irony in all of this was when the game officially went pro worldwide, it took France 2 decades to realise being pro didn't simply mean being paid: it meant working as sports professionals. Notions such as repeated practice, player welfare, fitness and sports psychology (which is still largely lacking) took an age to be bought into which is why France has always failed at intl level.

[Torquemada 1420]

Probably to me shows you are a man of good taste to Torq, as I a ITM/NPC fan of it, love seeing the young un's coming through. Was where I first became a fan of Ethan Blackadder etc. And as Grandpa says kind of like Club rugby etc for watching development of players.

This for me too. I've always had a deep interest in the U21/20/19s rugby and spotting players coming through like Michalak, Szar and Dupont when other have not even heard of them.

Also, as Grandpa says, there is something about semi-pro/amateur: you know the guys are in it for the love of the game. Which is not always true of very many spoiled pros: witness Bath yesterday.

[Torquemada 1420]

Aus teams looking a damned sight stronger this year.

My take from the last 2 weeks is that all the Aus sides are prepared to work their arses off. Even the sh*t ones in terms of ability have gutsed it out to make the NZ sides have to earn every yard. The reverse is certainly not the case at the moment.

[Gumboot]

Aus teams looking a damned sight stronger this year.

My take from the last 2 weeks is that all the Aus sides are prepared to work their arses off. Even the sh*t ones in terms of ability have gutsed it out to make the NZ sides have to earn every yard. The reverse is certainly not the case at the moment.

Nope, and that's largely down to the high number of turnovers from NZ sides. I don't know if that's just down to slipperier surfaces and balls in Australia's heat and humidity, but the standard of our sides' passing, handling and tactical kicking has been largely woeful over the past fortnight.

[Jimmy Smallsteps]

Aus teams looking a damned sight stronger this year.

My take from the last 2 weeks is that all the Aus sides are prepared to work their arses off. Even the sh*t ones in terms of ability have gutsed it out to make the NZ sides have to earn every yard. The reverse is certainly not the case at the moment.

Lets see how the Aussie teams go in NZ.

[Gumboot]

Interested in what the keewees’ views are for a starting pack for the ABs at the moment.

My 'ain't gonna happen' pack + subs:

1. Ethan de Groot
2. Samisoni Taukei'aho
3. Tyrel Lomax
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Tupou Vaa'i
6. Sam Cane (c)
7. Ardie Savea
8. Akira Ioane

16. Coles/Taylor, 17. Tamaiti Williams, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Scott Barrett, 20. Dalton Papalii

[MungoMan]

Interested in what the keewees’ views are for a starting pack for the ABs at the moment.

My 'ain't gonna happen' pack + subs:

1. Ethan de Groot
2. Samisoni Taukei'aho
3. Tyrel Lomax
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Tupou Vaa'i
6. Sam Cane (c)
7. Ardie Savea
8. Akira Ioane

16. Coles/Taylor, 17. Tamaiti Williams, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Scott Barrett, 20. Dalton Papalii

The throwing would need to be laser-guided accurate for that loose trio not to reveal its (ahem) shortcomings at the lineout.

[Torquemada 1420]

Interested in what the keewees’ views are for a starting pack for the ABs at the moment.

My 'ain't gonna happen' pack + subs:

1. Ethan de Groot
2. Samisoni Taukei'aho
3. Tyrel Lomax
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Tupou Vaa'i
6. Sam Cane (c)
7. Ardie Savea
8. Akira Ioane

16. Coles/Taylor, 17. Tamaiti Williams, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Scott Barrett, 20. Dalton Papalii

Thanks.

No place for Lord? Too early? Esp given S Barrett's discipline?
You think Ioane's work rate is enough at the highest level?