Olympics Thread
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<p>It will be interesting to see how quickly Messam adapts to playing XV again. How difficult will the switch be, both physically and mentally? He must be hugely disappointed about his non-selection, so he may be extra motivated to do well for the Chiefs.</p>
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<p>There must be some very happy, but also some very disappointed men and women after the team naming. Just imagine having given your all - the past few years - to sevens, working incredibly hard for it, and then missing out! I have lost track a bit of all the players that have been involved, but players like Kurt Baker & Dylan Collier must be gutted (even though I agree with - esp Collier - not being in the team).</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="593758" data-time="1467530794"><p>Seems a bit odd that Samoa and Tonga arent there.</p></blockquote>
I don't think they were available to Titch. <br><br>
Unlucky for Messam, odd to see Ormond there ahead if him, but he has been on the improve I guess and is more in the mould of Dickson/Curry. <br><br>
Great team, excellent to see Dickson and especially Curry back. -
<p>I think anything less than silver is a failure, even silver will be a bit meh, but silver would be a scrape by pass, while gold is still the expectation.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="593720" data-time="1467511189"><p>It will be interesting to see how quickly Messam adapts to playing XV again. How difficult will the switch be, both physically and mentally? He must be hugely disappointed about his non-selection, so he may be extra motivated to do well for the Chiefs.<br><br>
There must be some very happy, but also some very disappointed men and women after the team naming. Just imagine having given your all - the past few years - to sevens, working incredibly hard for it, and then missing out! I have lost track a bit of all the players that have been involved, but players like Kurt Baker & Dylan Collier must be gutted (even though I agree with - esp Collier - not being in the team).</p></blockquote>
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Although I'm not overly disappointed to see Baker miss out. Man he's erratic at times and has cost us with some brain fades. <br><br>
Messam has made the switch back and forth a number of times in his career so I think he'll be fine -
DJ showed amazing levels of play reading, fitness and accuracy when he played this year. As long as his body is right he is a must select. It may be his swansong but he is needed. <br>
I expect to see Titch use the gameplan from Wellington round (minus Lam). That was very effective. Expect to see Akira appear on the wing more than Reiko, and Reiko to slice through holes in the midfield. <br>
Pulu is there to suck in defenders when necessary as they must cover his threat close to the ruck. Kaka to interchange with Pulu. <br>
SBW demands two defenders as well. -
<p>Even for people who don't like Messam, the guy's ability to bounce back from disappointment and not drop his lip is pretty inspiring. I listened to his interview with Veitch and he said, while he was disappointed, the people he works with who have real life problems (kids with cancer, etc) puts things in perspective for him. He never struck me as the smartest rugby player going around, but I'm sure a lot of other players could learn from that.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Milk" data-cid="593804" data-time="1467569695">
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<p>Even for people who don't like Messam, the guy's ability to bounce back from disappointment and not drop his lip is pretty inspiring.</p>
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<p>A lot of it is in the dropping. This is a credit to both Messam and the AB and NZ7's set ups. Players are dropped in a much more respectful way than they have been previously. Always done personally, always given the key work ons and the door is always open. No nepotism either which helps tremendously. Even as recently as the early 00s guys who you wouldn't think would have a cry like Kronfeld and Cully dropped their bundles. I even remember Michael Jones having a public sulk after missing the 95 RWC squad (I may be wrong on that though). But yes - stellar effort in the way he has handled this. Honestly more worried than how his buddy will handle it than him.</p>
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<p>All that said - glad he didn't make the squad. Always error prone in high-pressure situations and on the biggest stage - to his credit he would usually come through and provide something. Every republic test he would commit some of the most baffling brain farts with ball in hand I've seen - then 30 minutes later plow through the Bok defensive line and set up a try. Thing is at 7s every knockout game is going to be at that pressure level and he won't have 30 minutes to balance the ledger. One error could very well see us out.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="593769" data-time="1467534646">
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<p>I think anything less than silver is a failure, even silver will be a bit meh, but silver would be a scrape by pass, while gold is still the expectation.</p>
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<p>Gold definitely the expectation. After that it really depends on how we go out more than when. The QF->SF->GF will likely be just as difficult as the next, so losing to the eventual champions in extra time in the QF is really no different to me than "winning" silver in a game where we get blown out.</p>
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<p>The game is too competitive and the knockout structure is barely designed for the best team to win, certainly not designed for 2nd and 3rd to be ranked accurately.</p> -
<p>given it is the Olympics with more than just rugby fans watching, many wont understand how close the 7s comp is, and that many teams can beat another on their day, and it'll be this part that will 'accept' silver as a pass mark, yes the rugby community might see us bow out in the semi to SA who go on and take gold and be more accepting of it.</p>
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<p>Was listening to TAB trackside on Saturday monring and they had the rugby hour on.</p>
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<p>I think they made a good point that the AB brand could be severly hurt if the 7's don't win. The brand is starting to be recognised in the US and they won't distinguish between 7's and 15's. They will be expexcting these all conquering All Blacks at the Olympics and may see a team rolled by "unknown" Fiji etc.</p>
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<p>Made me think about it, that is for sure.</p>
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<p>I will be surprised if I make the effort to watch the 7's at the Olympics</p> -
<p>I'm unsure if there is a generic Olympics thread? If there is another, I will merge them.</p>
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<p>How is the golf being played? Stroke or Match?</p>
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<p>I'm kind of hoping Stroke pplay but assuming it will have to be Match play to eliminate ties?</p> -
<p>It's four round strokeplay, like most PGA tournaments. Pretty bland IMO, would have loved to have seen a team-based event. Would have given it a point of difference from regular events, and played up the nationalistic aspect more.</p>
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<p>It's one of the reasons players a pulling out in droves, as they don't have to worry about letting their team down.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Hooroo" data-cid="593828" data-time="1467591876">
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<p>Was listening to TAB trackside on Saturday monring and they had the rugby hour on.</p>
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<p>I think they made a good point that the AB brand could be severly hurt if the 7's don't win. The brand is starting to be recognised in the US and they won't distinguish between 7's and 15's. They will be expexcting these all conquering All Blacks at the Olympics and may see a team rolled by "unknown" Fiji etc.</p>
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<p>Made me think about it, that is for sure.</p>
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<p>I will be surprised if I make the effort to watch the 7's at the Olympics</p>
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<p>I think that's rubbish about the brand stuff given that TV viewer numbers for rugby has apparently been increasing in the USA over a number of years now. Those that will tune into the 7s won't be expecting all the AB stars that win World Cups because they know the difference because they have become more educated over several years of targeted media campaigns for their own 7s team and the tournaments.</p>
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<p>If the NZ 7s are beaten by Fiji or Saffa's I don't think it will be that much of a surprise to be honest or damaging, it will however be massive if someone else does though! </p>
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<p>I will be watching and actually looking forward to it. My daughter loves watching the 7s as well, so she is keen to watch also</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="593886" data-time="1467606921">
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<p>No I imagine there will just be play-offs to determine medals.</p>
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<p>Three hole playoff apparently</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cookie" data-cid="593924" data-time="1467619550">
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<p>I would advise against Googling that at work though.</p>
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<p>Only the English could be that scared of the word "playoff".</p> -
Buuuuurn
