Topic: General Rugby Union Thread

[Crosby Nick]

What’s the story with Sonny Bill? He was a League sensation wasn’t he, at Canterbury Bulldogs? Then he defected out of the blue and ended up at Toulon but I don’t think it worked out for him. Did he go back to League for a while or did he go from there into Super 14/15 rugby back in NZ?

[whtwht]

Sonny Bill, great hands on him. Need to wrap him up tight when you tackle him!

[kelevra]

Dagg gets his second try. ABs look impressive

[fefs]

another for Dagg

[Aidy D]

Hate rugby but loving nz ripping Tonga apart

[whtwht]

Dagg gets his second try. ABs look impressive

They usually do dont they .Lets wait till the knockout games when the pressure is on 

[Notayesman]

Christ, they really need to trim this tournament down. Yes the AB's are impressive but games at this stage of the RWC makes the Champions League Group stages look tense such is the difference in quality between sides.

[kelevra]

They usually do dont they .Lets wait till the knockout games when the pressure is on

Yep. Peaking too early? Far too early to say but my main worry is that they won't play a tough team till the group stages with the rumours that France will play a weakened side

[Crosby Nick]

Yep. Peaking too early? Far too early to say but my main worry is that they won't play a tough team till the group stages with the rumours that France will play a weakened side

Doubt France would do that (although you never know with them, cliche #37!)...Sounds ridiculous but given France's recent record against England surely they'd rather try and win the group and play Scotalnd or Argies instead.*

*I know this will come back and bite me on the arse. Just speaking hypotehtically about England winning the group!

[sinnermichael]

Christ, they really need to trim this tournament down. Yes the AB's are impressive but games at this stage of the RWC makes the Champions League Group stages look tense such is the difference in quality between sides.

in all fairness i thought this game would be more competitive. been disappointed with tonga. they seem to lack intensity which is strange for them. they also keep turning the ball over which doesn't help.

[Cleary]

Loads of posh middle class men watching some fella kick a ball over a bar
Bit like stamford bridge when Torres is playing

[Notayesman]

in all fairness i thought this game would be more competitive. been disappointed with tonga. they seem to lack intensity which is strange for them. they also keep turning the ball over which doesn't help.

Why? Their record in the tournament is pretty poor and they would still be considered a step above the likes of Georgia, Romania etc.

[sinnermichael]

not convinced by cowan at all

[greenone]

Loads of posh middle class men watching some fella kick a ball over a bar
Bit like stamford bridge when Torres is playing

In England maybe, not seen as middle class in any other country.

[sinnermichael]

right decision there. like cueto 2007 all over again

[greenone]

Christ, they really need to trim this tournament down. Yes the AB's are impressive but games at this stage of the RWC makes the Champions League Group stages look tense such is the difference in quality between sides.

After less than 1 game? Get a grip! have been some great games over the years involving the minnows. How do you expect them to getter better if they don't play?

Edit: It would also help if the minnows didn't have their best players cherry picked by the bigger teams.

[cal_liverpoolfc]

Tonga have done very well in the 2nd half. I just wish they started like this.

[nicholasanthony]

Highlights were the kiwi scrum's collapsathon specifically McCaw's efforts that stopped once the ref changed his side, and McCaw's surprising offside call as he pretended he had no idea. Such game intelligence. 

[kelevra]

Doubt France would do that (although you never know with them, cliche #37!)...Sounds ridiculous but given France's recent record against England surely they'd rather try and win the group and play Scotalnd or Argies instead.*

*I know this will come back and bite me on the arse. Just speaking hypotehtically about England winning the group!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/5262666/Fears-All-Blacks-could-face-French-B-side

Stranger things have happened

[weebroalan]

By the look of these stats Tonga had a good crack at it:

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/matches/match=10920/statistics.html

Possession and territory was pretty even and Tonga spent much more time in the opponents 22.

[Gojedo]

Highlights were the kiwi scrum's collapsathon specifically McCaw's efforts that stopped once the ref changed his side, and McCaw's surprising offside call as he pretended he had no idea. Such game intelligence. 

A mistake to bring Woodcock and Thorn off because up till that point the All Black scrum was totally dominant. I love the look of the pack especially with Read to come back. It was a good learning curve for Ben Franks though, would have done him the world of good to be under pressure like that. That second half was frustrating but I saw enough to think by the time the Blacks hit the playoffs they'll be primed.

[nicholasanthony]

A mistake to bring Woodcock and Thorn off because up till that point the All Black scrum was totally dominant. I love the look of the pack especially with Read to come back. It was a good learning curve for Ben Franks though, would have done him the world of good to be under pressure like that. That second half was frustrating but I saw enough to think by the time the Blacks hit the playoffs they'll be primed.

Yeah their scrum was definitely effected by the changes and Tonga seemed willing scrumers, but once it was decided I thought it was a fair call to bring them off. Don't know about totally dominant though. Par score for the Kiwis I thought and a few nice performances too.

[DangerScouse]

By the look of these stats Tonga had a good crack at it:

http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/matches/match=10920/statistics.html

Possession and territory was pretty even and Tonga spent much more time in the opponents 22.

We all know stats are irrelevant in sport ffs Alan!

[weebroalan]

We all know stats are irrelevant in sport ffs Alan!

[Trump's tiny tiny hands]

A mistake to bring Woodcock and Thorn off because up till that point the All Black scrum was totally dominant. I love the look of the pack especially with Read to come back. It was a good learning curve for Ben Franks though, would have done him the world of good to be under pressure like that. That second half was frustrating but I saw enough to think by the time the Blacks hit the playoffs they'll be primed.

I think there is a real issue with the looseforward balance. McCaw has changed his game. He is no longer the pill-winning scrounger of old. Read, Kaino and McCaw offer similar attributes now. Looking to the bench and it's much of a muchness again with Thompson or Vito. Unless the coaches think the game has moved away from needing a proper ball winner (Australia and Sth Africa don't think so with the excellent Pocock and Brussow) then I fail to see the harm in including Todd in the squad over Vito.

[Gojedo]

To my amateur eyes it seems like an unfamiliar NZ back 3. So used to seeing Mileuna at full back I guess.

Is Cowan any good? Seems like one area where NZ aren't as strong as the Aussies and Saffers.

Cowan is very good but that's just me. The problem with our half back options is that not one of them get a consistant run of games. Cowan, Weepu, Ellis, Leonard to name a few. New Zealand have good depth in this area. On par with South Africa if not better but certainly more depth than Australia.

[Chavvie]

After less than 1 game? Get a grip! have been some great games over the years involving the minnows. How do you expect them to getter better if they don't play?

Edit: It would also help if the minnows didn't have their best players cherry picked by the bigger teams.

I agree, also that was the smallest winning margin ever between these two teams and the first time Tonga have got double figures. I think all the mid-level teams will be a lot more competitive than they have before and it will only continue in future RWCs. Gone are the days of the top teams racking up 90 points or more on teams (perhaps Namibia will be the one exception).

I thought it was a good game to kick off the tournament and hopefully a sign there will be a lot more competitive group games than before.

[Gojedo]

I think there is a real issue with the looseforward balance. McCaw has changed his game. He is no longer the pill-winning scrounger of old. Read, Kaino and McCaw offer similar attributes now. Looking to the bench and it's much of a muchness again with Thompson or Vito. Unless the coaches think the game has moved away from needing a proper ball winner (Australia and Sth Africa don't think so with the excellent Pocock and Brussow) then I fail to see the harm in including Todd in the squad over Vito.

There is no denying McCaw has lost a bit of zip but I think where he differs from Pocock, for example, is that he has rounded his game out. He is an effective ball winner in the lineout, a strong ball Carrier but Kaino is absolutely immense in this area. He was brilliant tonight. It was obvious we missed him in Brisbane. Read is a great on field leader, the next All Black captain in the follow me boys mould. I think our loosies are the best three in the business and McCaw still the benchmark for the openside but Pocock is not far from being the best number 7 in rugby. I certainly agree about Todd, he is our next world class 7.

[jason42]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14725789
Most of the linesmen wouldn't last 10 minutes on a rugby pitch. Their too big to run around.

And some of them aren't. Have you seen the likes of Ndamkong Suh? I am not saying that every one would be good at rugby but certainly some of them are exceptional athletes.

[jason42]

apart from the lack of stamina the problem with a lot of NFL players crossing over would be game intelligence and decision making. as in NFL players are told what to do by their coaches and very few players apart from the quarterback have any real decisions to make in the game whatsoever

They are trained to become explosive and dynamic. Rugby fitness could be drilled into them. Like I said above, it wouldn't be every player but there are certainly quite a few of the top college players who could make very good rugby players.

[jason42]

There is no denying McCaw has lost a bit of zip but I think where he differs from Pocock, for example, is that he has rounded his game out. He is an effective ball winner in the lineout, a strong ball Carrier but Kaino is absolutely immense in this area. He was brilliant tonight. It was obvious we missed him in Brisbane. Read is a great on field leader, the next All Black captain in the follow me boys mould. I think our loosies are the best three in the business and McCaw still the benchmark for the openside but Pocock is not far from being the best number 7 in rugby. I certainly agree about Todd, he is our next world class 7.

McCaw is much more prominent in the loose than either Pocock or Broussow but all 3 are fabulous players. The new tackle and release law has hampered the masters of the jackal as they can no longer drag a player to the floor and spring up, taking the ball with them at the same time.

[jason42]

That was a classic example of the ABs getting the job done and then coasting through the second half knowing they didn't have to kill themselves to get the job done. Job well done by the ABs.

[Gojedo]

That was a classic example of the ABs getting the job done and then coasting through the second half knowing they didn't have to kill themselves to get the job done. Job well done by the ABs.

Most likely. But they should have put the foot on the throat. Losing a bit of ascendancy up front didn't help but I guess they did enough without clicking through the gears. The first half was very impressive though. Good enough to give me some renewed confidence in how much better we will get.

[jason42]

Most likely. But they should have put the foot on the throat. Losing a bit of ascendancy up front didn't help but I guess they did enough without clicking through the gears. The first half was very impressive though. Good enough to give me some renewed confidence in how much better we will get.

Safety first no doubt. They will get better.

[Bangin Them In]

Most likely. But they should have put the foot on the throat. Losing a bit of ascendancy up front didn't help but I guess they did enough without clicking through the gears. The first half was very impressive though. Good enough to give me some renewed confidence in how much better we will get.

relax, relax

Second half big lead, no-one wants to get injured early tournament in a done deal. Also subs always disrupt flow of game, and credit to Tonga, showed class and heart.

World Cup is all on now for the ABs and a massive easy win would have done nothing for the team at all, good run out this.

[RedmeisterOZ]

Loads of posh middle class men watching some fella kick a ball over a bar
Bit like stamford bridge when Torres is playing

[Gojedo]

relax, relax

Second half big lead, no-one wants to get injured early tournament in a done deal. Also subs always disrupt flow of game, and credit to Tonga, showed class and heart.

World Cup is all on now for the ABs and a massive easy win would have done nothing for the team at all, good run out this.

I'm not really talking about them running up a cricket score, more so being more clinical throughout the 80 minutes. If they had played as such but Tonga had kept the score respectable through a staunch and spirited defence I would have been more than happy with the hitout. As it is and like I said before, I saw enough overall to be excited about our prospects over the next few games.

[Crosby Nick]

I didn’t see the game but don’t think you can read too much into it, especially the 2nd half half. Seems like NZ had a good cutting edge and eased up a bit 2nd half.Only France can trouble them in that group so as long as they beat them it doesn’t matter if they win all their games by 1 point or 50 points really. 6 tries was it? Can’t argue with that.

[Danny Boys Dad]

Supposed to be getting a couple of pies and a beer tomorrow off O2, don't think I've ever looked forward to the postman this much since I used to get a giro.

[Bangin Them In]

Supposed to be getting a couple of pies and a beer tomorrow off O2, don't think I've ever looked forward to the postman this much since I used to get a giro.

Pies and Beer in the Post ?

Good luck with that