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Super XV 2015 General Discussion Thread

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    #632
    matthew8
    Registered Users Posts: 9,599 ✭✭✭matthew8


    sydneybound wrote: »
    Hooper got the better of Pocock!

    Wouldn't say that at all. Tahs won but Pocock had another cracker.

    Game had good intensity all the way, but both teams struggled to turn the screw in the second half. Thought the Brumbies should have had a penalty try, Horne completely came in at the side of a maul that was going very quickly towards the line and got himself a yellow.


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    #633
    skippymac6
    Registered Users Posts: 1,025 ✭✭✭skippymac6


    matthew8 wrote: »
    Wouldn't say that at all. Tahs won but Pocock had another cracker.

    Game had good intensity all the way, but both teams struggled to turn the screw in the second half. Thought the Brumbies should have had a penalty try, Horne completely came in at the side of a maul that was going very quickly towards the line and got himself a yellow.

    Yeah it was probably just a tad bit out to give a peno try but the drive was certainly on. I think refs in general don't really know what's going on at maul time and a lot of teams aren't able to exert their dominance because the defending team are allowed to "swim" in from the side or get away with pulling it down.


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    #634
    Swiwi.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,415 ✭✭✭Swiwi.


    sydthebeat wrote: »
    It's the sopoaga show, probably the form 10 in nz right now.

    Some rugby!

    Still vulnerable to the saffer power plays, but damn exciting stuff

    Just watched the first 40 there, that was sublime from Lima. The complete package, including the dainty touch finders. He has gone from dynamic but flaky, to being the complete 10. If he keeps this up, I reckon he might even get into the ABs ahead of the departing slade. I'd love to know what Hansen thinks about Naholo.


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    #635
    stl.ire
    Registered Users Posts: 240 ✭✭stl.ire


    Swiwi. wrote: »
    What do you reckon??

    I'd have the same 4 centers, with Crotty missing out, although I'd want Williams ahead of Nonu at 12. The problem with that is that Conrad and him haven't started alongside each other for any significant time (even Smith and Fekitoa got a few games in a row at the last rugby championship). So if Williams and Smith didn't gel quickly in the warm ups I'd be very quick to go back to the tried and tested nonu partnership.

    Even though Jane hasn't been as excellent as others I think your right to suspect it would be savea and him on the wing with smith at 15 right now. I like Piutau, I think he's been pretty decent in a thankless role this season, and would have him ahead of Jane if it didn't mean shifting Smith from his best position. You only needed to watch yesterday's game to see that it's a priority to have Ben Smith at fullback, he's so far above anyone else right now (including Folau imo). So Piutau would be my 4th guy. After that it's chaos. Dagg has experience but no form due to his injuries. M-Skud and Naholo are both incredible prospects but unknown at the AB level. I'd love for the 2 of them to battle for the the final squad place in the warm up games, maybe with Lowe in the mix too. As you said, Hansen will go with Dagg if he gets his form right but I'd have him beihind the young guys right now. Poor old Hosea Gear is struggling to even get on the Chiefs starting team I had such high hopes for his return!


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    #636
    stl.ire
    Registered Users Posts: 240 ✭✭stl.ire


    sydthebeat wrote: »
    I dont think either piutua or dagg have done anything special this season to make them have one foot on the plane.

    personally i think B Smiths best position is 15 and id prefer to see him there than 14, which would open up a position for a specialist 14
    im not sure if naholo would get a look in seeing as hes moving north (great business clermont!)
    NMS at 15 is a real exciting talent but perhaps a year too soon, given the choice of dagg / b smith.... but id have him ahead of Piutua.

    maybe james lowe could switch over? hes having some season.

    Agree on Dagg. Think you're being a little hard on Piutau.

    Naholo on that expansive clermont side will score a million trys. The Top14 is all juggernaut packs that get exposed by going wide. The fact their getting him at his peak years is crazy. It could very well be the best bit of business this summer as they probably didn't give him close to the money the likes of Piutau is getting.


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    #637
    Morf
    Registered Users Posts: 3,822 ✭✭✭Morf


    Watched the Landers v Sharks earlier.

    Wow. They are phenomenal off turnover and aimless kicks which Sharks gave them in spades. The first proper game I've caught of them this season. B Smith is a delight and the wingers being used either coming in off the wing and not even having really to smash holes to gain huge yards with delightful hands.

    Fekitoa was quiet enough from my memory the performances last year that got him AB selection. A Smith's service was in his own words "f**cking beautiful" and it allowed Sopoanga to show the previous highlight moments I was used to with far more control on position and a better use of the backline (see wingers).

    The pack completely new to me in general. Reddish I know a bit from Wellington ITM and possibly Canes a while back but they've gone from barely surviving games to being very solid without being spectacular certainly in comparison with the back division.

    How is MacIntosh getting on after heading to the Chiefs?


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    #638
    stl.ire
    Registered Users Posts: 240 ✭✭stl.ire


    Was hoping the Blues Force game would be a nice warm up for the big Canes Crusaders game but this is pretty dire. Both teams struggling to get continuity going.
    Bowden just had an embarrassing miss. And now Kaino's gone down! Shoulder injury!

    Edit: Wait no, just a finger injury. That's a relief!


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    #639
    stl.ire
    Registered Users Posts: 240 ✭✭stl.ire


    Ah come on!
    Piutau down with what looks like a serious knee/ligament injury. Hopefully that's not him out of the WC.
    Their saying Kaino's broken fingers so he'll be out of action for the rest of the season. Should be okay for the All Blacks though.
    Now this game has lost 2 of it's best players! Can the Blues possibly have a worse season?


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    #640
    Swiwi.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,415 ✭✭✭Swiwi.


    stl.ire wrote: »
    Ah come on!
    Piutau down with what looks like a serious knee/ligament injury. Hopefully that's not him out of the WC.
    Their saying Kaino's broken fingers so he'll be out of action for the rest of the season. Should be okay for the All Blacks though.
    Now this game has lost 2 of it's best players! Can the Blues possibly have a worse season?

    That looks bad for Piutau, can't remember which knee it was last season. I'm going to guess that he's ruptured an ACL. In which case his RWC is over.

    Edit: Commentators saying medial ligament.


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    #641
    stl.ire
    Registered Users Posts: 240 ✭✭stl.ire


    Swiwi. wrote: »
    That looks bad for Piutau, can't remember which knee it was last season. I'm going to guess that he's ruptured an ACL. In which case his RWC is over.

    Edit: Commentators saying medial ligament.

    As far as I can remember it's the exact injury he had before.
    Maybe Hansen will gamble on a Naholo or Skudder in his place.

    As for the game, the Force are just a disaster. The Blues aren't doing much but have blustered their way to a 2 try lead. Some of the handling errors and penalties have been ridiculous - that yellow card was so stupid it was funny.

    But hey, Luatua got on and got a try. Maybe he got your message Swiwi!


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    #642
    Swiwi.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,415 ✭✭✭Swiwi.


    stl.ire wrote: »
    As far as I can remember it's the exact injury he had before.
    Maybe Hansen will gamble on a Naholo or Skudder in his place.

    As for the game, the Force are just a disaster. The Blues aren't doing much but have blustered their way to a 2 try lead. Some of the handling errors and penalties have been ridiculous - that yellow card was so stupid it was funny.

    But hey, Luatua got on and got a try. Maybe he got your message Swiwi!

    Ioane looks very promising at 6 and this is luatua's best game in a long while. Also moala at 12 might be a good career move for him, there's too much talent on the wing in nz. Reminds me of alapati leiua.

    If piutau is out of the rwc, and of his own choice he is out of the Olympics and lions tour, I wonder if he'll regret it in a few years? I'm amazed he didn't wait until 2017 to move, I'm sure he could still have found a lucrative contract then.


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    #643
    skippymac6
    Registered Users Posts: 1,025 ✭✭✭skippymac6


    Jasus that kid Ioane from the blues is some prospect


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    #644
    matthew8
    Registered Users Posts: 9,599 ✭✭✭matthew8


    Force tackling is hopeless but it doesn't help them that Ioane seems faster than any of their players.


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    #645
    Swiwi.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,415 ✭✭✭Swiwi.


    skippymac6 wrote: »
    Jasus that kid Ioane from the blues is some prospect

    He's 19. I hate to be cynical, but I reckon in Ireland that would mean another 4 to 5 years in the academy.


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    #646
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 41,074 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    There are more turnovers in this game than a game of football


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    #647
    stl.ire
    Registered Users Posts: 240 ✭✭stl.ire


    Swiwi. wrote: »
    Ioane looks very promising at 6 and this is luatua's best game in a long while. Also moala at 12 might be a good career move for him, there's too much talent on the wing in nz. Reminds me of alapati leiua.

    If piutau is out of the rwc, and of his own choice he is out of the Olympics and lions tour, I wonder if he'll regret it in a few years? I'm amazed he didn't wait until 2017 to move, I'm sure he could still have found a lucrative contract then.

    Yeah Luatua is doing well but Ioane is overshadowing him (and pretty much everyone else) again. Amazingly powerful try he put over. Serious prospect by the looks of things.

    According to twitter Piutau's done the same knee ligament he was out with before. He was gone 2 months last time.


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    #648
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 41,074 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    Hey lads, if your going to stand off the line out drive you HAVE to send a shooter in to tackle the ball carrier.

    Madness on your own 5m line


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    #649
    Swiwi.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,415 ✭✭✭Swiwi.


    stl.ire wrote: »
    Yeah Luatua is doing well but Ioane is overshadowing him (and pretty much everyone else) again. Amazingly powerful try he put over. Serious prospect by the looks of things.

    According to twitter Piutau's done the same knee ligament he was out with before. He was gone 2 months last time.

    Last time it was a strain, no surgery required. Today looked like a surgery job to me.

    Looking forward to the next game, although with some trepidation for my side, could get caned so as to speak.


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    #650
    stl.ire
    Registered Users Posts: 240 ✭✭stl.ire


    Swiwi. wrote: »
    Last time it was a strain, no surgery required. Today looked like a surgery job to me.

    Looking forward to the next game, although with some trepidation for my side, could get caned so as to speak.

    Let's hope so!


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    #651
    Swiwi.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,415 ✭✭✭Swiwi.


    Ihaia West has been a disappointment. A bit of the Madigan about him, can do some amazing things and a good goal kicker but not good enough game management. Just shows the step up from ITM to Super Rugby.


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    #652
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 41,074 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    Jesus that's mad stats for ioane.

    127m made from 10 runs!
    For a flanker! !!


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    #653
    Swiwi.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,415 ✭✭✭Swiwi.


    Kirwan is a poor coach, but his man management seems good. Morale appears to remain high at the blues. A timely result with his coaching future in doubt.


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    #654
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 41,074 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    Swiwi. wrote: »
    Kirwan is a poor coach, but his man management seems good. Morale appears to remain high at the blues. A timely result with his coaching future in doubt.

    Seems that they are close to clicking, it's just their ball retention and breakdown play is pretty poor.
    They've been there or there abouts for a lot of games so i expected a result like this eventually, just a pity about those injuries today when they seem to have turned a corner


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    #655
    stl.ire
    Registered Users Posts: 240 ✭✭stl.ire


    Haven't watched much of the Force but what happened to Nick Cummins in Japan? He's totally off the pace. Really disappointing.
    Is 7 in the OZ squad the deepest position in Rugby? Hodgson is nowhere near the team and looks excellent.


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    #656
    Swiwi.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,415 ✭✭✭Swiwi.


    Aussie have the most quality 7s in world rugby. Pocock, Hooper, Gill & Hodgson all very good. Yeah Cummins not hitting the heights of last year so far.

    Defence a bit optional in this game.


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    #657
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 41,074 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    Bit of a mad game Ted.

    65 pointer with a losing try bonus point to the force.


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    #658
    matthew8
    Registered Users Posts: 9,599 ✭✭✭matthew8


    I don't think losing teams should be allowed try bonuses. There is no way that Force's effort today is worth as much as the Bulls' effort against the Stormers.


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    #659
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 41,074 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    At this stage has Cummins more or less played 14 months of continuous rugby?


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    #660
    Swiwi.
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,415 ✭✭✭Swiwi.


    01060336975206123407661784782603.jpg

    Nehe time!


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    #661
    sydneybound
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,557 ✭✭✭sydneybound


    Swiwi. wrote: »
    He's 19. I hate to be cynical, but I reckon in Ireland that would mean another 4 to 5 years in the academy.

    +1

    An Irish player is generally 24 before he breaks through. The Welsh love pushing through young players, the Irish players don't seem to be as well developed at a young age.


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