Rugby Matches

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  • Wales v Australia

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    @duluth And that three-match ban will become a two-match ban ...

    The No.8 will miss the Brumbies’ Super Rugby Pacific trial matches against the NSW Waratahs on January 29 and the Brumbies’ development team the following week plus their competition opener against Moana Pasifika on February 18.

    But Valetini can opt to complete a Head Contact Process Coaching Intervention course to have his ban reduced to two matches.

    That avenue is available to offending players in the hope of modifying specific techniques and technical issues that contributed to the foul play.

    I hadn't realised that that option to complete a Head Contact Process Coaching Intervention replace one of the matches a player is suspended for, had been adopted for the November internationals. Is it part of the law trials, or is it an official rule now? I only remember it being trialled by the the U20s a few years ago.

    By the way, that a game of the Brumbies development team counts towards his suspension is ridiculous.

  • Barbarians v Samoa

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    Cool to see Mike Umaga as a halftime pundit.

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    @smuts said in England vs Springbokke:

    I hope @Catogrande is recovering well. But I’m also hoping the boks are heading home thinking about how critical developing a more incisive attack is.

    Thank you. My recovery was going well but due to recent self medication consisting mainly of Chenin blanc, I may be relapsing.

  • Scotland v Japan

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    @nta said in Scotland v Japan:

    @mn5 said in Scotland v Japan:

    @nta said in Scotland Vs Japan:

    Watched this today. Main notes:

    Top quality skills on display. Like watching both these teams go around but fuck me Scotland can be cynical.

    Scotland should have had a yellow card inside the first 20 minutes. Every time a ruck headed toward their line they invariably infringed. Pickerill bottled that.

    Meanwhile, Williams was on one sideline calling out everything against Japan, ignoring anything in blue - both sides were playing merry hell with the last feet.

    45th minute, Japan are moving upfield with pace. Ruck forms and Blue #4 is never onside - advantage.

    Kick through, regather Japan 14, tackled just short by Blue 11. Ball is popped up for a supporting player but Blue 11, still on his knees, grabs it.

    Clear penalty try. Nothing between Japan support runner but paint - as they say if you took out the offending player, would the try have been scored? Probably-to-definitely. Yellow card as well thanks. It was even replayed multiple times on the big screen and the officials still didn't want to know about it.

    Call me cynical, but if it had gone the other way there would have been a fucking inquest and a YC/PT the way things have gone this tour.

    I’ll just call you a Scotsman instead

    My mother was 25% Scot, so I'm 100% not.

    If you opt out of buying a round one in every four pub sessions you know why.

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    Ronan O'Gara on Irish podcast suggested that AB's defence was outdated -- prime example of why 'manwatching' is no longer used in North is the extraordinary number of times ABs were sucked in by the decoy runners.

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    It was a cool atmosphere too.

    $9 a can opened up the ole wallet a bit but who cares in that situation. Was a very fun evening.

    Book ended the game with beers at the Eastside which I haven't been to in a very long time.

  • France v Black Ferns 2

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    @bovidae said in France v Black Ferns 2:

    I still can't believe that a player can have played 30+ tests as a hooker but still can't throw for shit.

    Anton Oliver?

    seriously, though, it's in the mens game to a certain extent. Halfbacks with 10s of caps who can't pass (Justin, TJP)

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  • France v Black Ferns 1

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    @stargazer said in France v Black Ferns 1:

    @bovidae Yep, I'm definitely going to watch one of the replays of that England v Canada test.

    There are replays on Monday:
    1.25pm (Sky Sport 9) and 10.30pm (Sky Sport 2)

    The scoreline doesn't really reflect the game & worth remembering that Canada were 2 years without a test as well until they met the USA a few weeks back. Canada were well in the mix during the first half - 7-5 up on 23 minutes and brought it back from 15-7 to 15-12 on 35 mins. A good number of the Canadian squad have been playing in England & France recently, so maybe not as rusty as the Black Ferns. Full game is on YouTube (British BBC coverage)

  • Wales v Fiji

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    Some beautiful tries in that match.

    Red was 100% from the highlights vid.

  • England v Australia

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    @nta said in England v Australia:

    @higgins no ruck - play on, unfortunately.

    Further to that: the option for Ikitau was to hit the deck and wait, but it wouldn't have made a lot of difference - only Leota and McDermott were in frame and there were about 8 Poms on their feet.

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    @tim said in Taranaki v Southland (Championship SF):

    @stargazer I think Sione Tuipulotu will cover lock. They only have 4 specialist locks in their squad.

    One of whom (Poloniati) does not even start for the 'Poo.

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    @mikethesnow said in Scotland v Springboks - Raeburn Shield Match:

    @mn5 said in Scotland v Springboks - Raeburn Shield Match:

    @mikethesnow said in Scotland v Springboks - Raeburn Shield Match:

    @mn5 said in Scotland v Springboks - Raeburn Shield Match:

    @mikethesnow said in Scotland v Springboks - Raeburn Shield Match:

    @mn5 said in Scotland v Springboks - Raeburn Shield Match:

    @mikethesnow said in Scotland v Springboks - Raeburn Shield Match:

    @tordah said in Scotland v Springboks - Raeburn Shield Match:

    All over. Finn "Dan Carter" Russell not having his best game, but not helped by Scottish forwards getting absolutely dominated.

    Showed today he’s not a Test player

    Well, aside from 50 odd caps for Scotland, two Lions tours and generally being lauded as the most creative 10 in the UK you’re definitely right.

    International player who blows very hot & very cold.

    That’s not a Test player in my book.

    Spencer v Mehrtens springs to mind.

    So if you have an off game you’re not a test player ?

    He’s had a tad more than one

    Oh for sure but I think an apt description of him and his style of play is “mercurial”…..a bit like Spencer as you mentioned, Quade Cooper and his coach Gregor Townsend. I don’t think you can really label him “not a test player” as just the week before he orchestrated a very good win over Australia.

    He also does extremely well for someone built like a pro soccer player.

    There’s no doubting his talent and skills.

    He may well be remembered as one of Scotland’s greats.

    Shallow pool but yeah. Up there with Townsend, Chalmers and Rutherford.

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    @duluth said in Waikato v Canterbury (Premiership SF):

    I agree. Some goodish players and some potential. But the squad is nothing special.. I think a few people haven’t noticed the change in quality (particularly the Sky commentators)

    the quality of rugby analysis and insight in the commentating teams is woeful.

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    @old-samurai-jack said in Shield Snorters v Ta$man (Premiership Semi-final):

    Friggen brilliant! Didn't expect that at all!
    As a side note, why is Ennor on tour with the ABs and a certain Ta$man centre is not?

    I agree, I reckon the Shield Snorters would have won if he was up there.

  • Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour

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    @no-quarter said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

    @crazy-horse said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

    @stodders said in Wales v All Blacks 30th Oct NH Tour:

    Did anyone read the player ratings today in the Sunday Times by Mr S Jones. Barrett was lucky to get a 6/10 and is almost as overrated as SBW. He does make me chuckle, especially when he's salty 🤣. He did v much enjoy the English win over NZ today. Is he really Welsh still?

    Haven't read what Jones wrote, but I too am not as excited about BB's performance as most seem to be. It was typical BB in that he showed he is a very very good rugby player but an average International 10 in other aspects.

    At the moment we have 2 flawed 10s, so the challenge for the coaches is how to best use their strengths. Right now they appear to prefer Beauden starting with Mo'unga on the bench, and I agree with that approach.

    Beauden handles the physical stuff better, is a solid defender, and is not afraid to run straight and hard when required. He's also worth 1 - 3 tries per game at any stage pretty much out of nowhere. He's a nightmare to defend as you can't take your eye off him for a second or he'll burn you. However, he won't take control of a tight test and drive the team around the park as you'd expect a traditional 10 to do.

    Mo'unga looks a million bucks when his forward pack is bitch slapping the opposition all over the park (Saders), is lethal in open play and comes into his own towards the end of the game when defenses are tiring. He also has a better kicking game from hand. However, he doesn't handle the physical teams well at all, and has gone missing against the English and the Boks when they've had our pack on the back foot, so is also unable to take control of a tight test. He's also a poor defender so doesn't often defend in the line as other teams will target him.

    Given their attributes, I can understand the preference for Beauden starting, though it can be horses for courses a bit depending on the opposition.

    That's spot on in my opinion even though I rank Richie as the better overall 10 (and BB has lost some of his outrageous slinky acceleration). If Jordie is kicking conversions I agree with the selection (sorry, Crusader fans, I can only defend your team for so long).

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    @kiwiwomble Haha, classic!

  • Italy v Argentina

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    @booboo said in Italy v Argentina:

    Something about this match up just screams boredom.

    In fairness, Italy want to play an open game.

  • Wales v South Africa

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    @pakman said in Wales v South Africa:

    I haven't watched a Squidge video for while, forgot what they're like and made the mistake of trying to watch at 1x speed

  • England v Tonga

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    Fine's tour over following three match ban

    Winger Viliami Fine will miss Tonga's remaining tour matches against the French Barbarians and Romania after he was suspended for three weeks following his sending off against England.

    The 23-year-old appeared before an independent judicial committee via video link, having received a red card for striking the head of England's replacement flyhalf Marcus Smith.

    Fine was dismissed 13 minutes after coming onto the field as a replacement for Walter Fifita and admitted the incident was worthy of a red card.

    The Disciplinary Committee ruled the Otago winger struck his opponent with the upper part of his arm, that the strike was not powerful and there was no injury to the player.

    The suspension was halved from six weeks to three, after the committee accounted for Fine's clean record, early guilty plea, apology to Smith and the way in which he approached the disciplinary process.

    Viliame Fine will also be banned for a third match which is still to be determined. He has the right to appeal the suspension within 48 hours.

    Nov 11, 2021  /  Pacific Tonga make five changes for French Baabaas clash Tonga make five changes for French Baabaas clash

    Tonga have made five personnel changes to their starting fifteen to take on the French Barbarians in their latest Northern rugby tour match in Lyon.