Olympics Thread

KiwiMurph

Looks like timings are roughly the following:
 
Day 1 and 2 - 2am nz time = first game of the day, 9.30am nz time = last game of day
 
Day 3 - 3.30am nz time = first gamer of the day, gold medal game = 10am nz time.

Stargazer

The Olympic Sevens match schedules have been released:
 
NZ Women â€“ draw in NZT:
 
Sun 7/8, 2.30am: v Kenya
Sun 7/8, 7.30am: v Spain
Mon 8/8, 2.30am: v France
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.worldrugby.org/sevens-series/stage/1671/fixtures'>http://www.worldrugby.org/sevens-series/stage/1671/fixtures</a>
 
 
NZ Men â€“ draw in NZT:
 
Wed 10/8, 3.30am: v Japan
Wed 10/8, 8.30am: v Kenya
Thu 11/8, 3.30am: v Great Britain
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.worldrugby.org/sevens-series/stage/1672/fixtures'>http://www.worldrugby.org/sevens-series/stage/1672/fixtures</a>

KiwiMurph

Are those times meant to be AM Stargazer?

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="KiwiMurph" data-cid="594428" data-time="1467773715">
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Are those times meant to be AM Stargazer?
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</blockquote>
 
Ah, yes, I'll change that in my post. Thx.

taniwharugby

Kurt Baker on not making the Olympics...
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11671571'>http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11671571</a>
 
Kurt Baker: 'I feel a bit used by All Blacks Sevens'
 
Kurt Baker has opened up about his shock omission from the New Zealand sevens squad to compete at the Rio Olympics, suggesting a personality conflict with coach Sir Gordon Tietjens may have played a bigger role than on-field form.
"I don't think you have to be a rocket scientist to work out I played every tournament this year and played more minutes than anyone else," Baker told Tony Veitch on Newstalk ZB.
"I definitely challenged him on certain issues. I think that's healthy in a rugby environment."
Baker, along with All Black Liam Messam, were the two key talking points of the New Zealand squad named last Sunday and the rugby community appeared more surprised by Baker's omission then Messam's.
 
<div style="margin:0px 0px 12px 20px;font-size:16px;color:rgb(119,119,119);font-family:Calibri, Candara, Segoe, 'Segoe UI', Optima, Arial, sans-serif;"> </div>
Highlanders forward Joe Wheeler, a former teammate of Baker, took to Twitter saying: "I'm no expert and have never played the game but Sir Gordon has had an absolute blowout!" Wheeler's Tweet was 'liked' by a number of high profile New Zealand players including Aaron Smith, Marty Banks and Jason Emery.
Baker said he was "peeved" by the situation.
"I felt a bit used during the season," he said. "I just think sometimes there is a bit of division between what the players think and what some of the management think."
Baker said it was disappointing the All Blacks didn't commit to the Olympic programme and suggested the current environment may be a factor in that.
 
"Yeah, I think it's quite sad those guys didn't feel comfortable in the sevens environment."
Karl Te Nana, a multiple Commonwealth Games gold medallist for New Zealand and one of the country's best sevens players, said he couldn't fathom the decision to drop Baker.
"I feel for him. I thought he'd done enough to warrant selection. He's our best stand-off and a huge piece that is missing from our line-up," Te Nana said.
"Kurt spoke about challenging Gordon Tietjens and I know, having played for him and captained for him over a long period, you have to choose your battles. I think with Kurt challenging Tietjens in front of teammates is probably not the place to do it."
Tony Veitch talks to Karl Te Nana:
Te Nana admits rumours have been swirling around for a number of months about a fractured sevens environment, which may have impacted on New Zealand's star All Blacks not committing to Rio.
"That's disappointing to hear, and our ethos on why the 15s guys would always like to come back is because of that environment.
"I mean, if the players are butting heads with the management and the 15-a-side guys say that, it's pretty disappointing."
Te Nana believes not picking Ben Smith, who was made available to Tietjens after the June series against Wales, is another big mistake.
"I'd love to have Ben Smith any day of the week. Five weeks is probably long enough for him to be introduced to the sevens campaign. With him and Kurt Baker, you would have a pretty good first-five combo."
Gordon Tietjens responds with Tony Veitch on NewstalkZB at 1pm today.

booboo

Knowing absolutely nothing but this seems like sour grapes to me. I reckon he got dropped as he wasn't as good as the others. 
Reckon there's a bit of shit stirring going on here. 
Titch has delivered over years. He must know a bit about 7s. 
And I back him for not picking Ben Smith. 
And I'm convinced that Savea was given the word to drop out to make the ABs.

taniwharugby

yeah you'd have to think given Titch success with a wide range of players over such a long period, if "rumours have been swirling around for a number of months about a fractured sevens environment" you would have to thnk it is more likely a player or players that have fractured the environment

booboo

Listening to Baker and now Te Nana. 
Te Nana seems to be suggesting the Baker shat in his own nest. Overdoing the conflict with Titch.

booboo

And i don't think he was that good this year.

booboo

Ha! Baker was named as travelling reserve. Massive chance of actually playing. Cutting his nose off to spite his face.

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="595325" data-time="1468033008">
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Ha! Baker was named as travelling reserve. Massive chance of actually playing. Cutting his nose off to spite his face.
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Baker wasn't one of the original travelling reserves named. That was Molia and Ormond.
 
He seems to be a bit of a prat but I still thought he would be picked. Obviously the injury-prone Webber has been picked in that position. 
 
I was surprised Stanaway made the cut too. My only memory of him in the Sevens series was costing NZ a game (vs Samoa?) with a brain implosion with time up.

Stargazer

Veitchy talking to Sir Gordon Tietjens:
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/veitch-on-sport/audio/sir-gordon-tietjens-defends-rio-sevens-squad-selection/'>http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/veitch-on-sport/audio/sir-gordon-tietjens-defends-rio-sevens-squad-selection/</a>

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="595326" data-time="1468033613">
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Baker wasn't one of the original travelling reserves named. That was Molia and Ormond.
 
He seems to be a bit of a prat but I still thought he would be picked. Obviously the injury-prone Webber has been picked in that position. 
 
I was surprised Stanaway made the cut too. My only memory of him in the Sevens series was costing NZ a game (vs Samoa?) with a brain implosion with time up.
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He was! Listen to the interview with Titch.

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="595331" data-time="1468034033">
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He was! Listen to the interview with Titch.
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Before the official announcement? I don't listen to talkback radio.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.allblacks.com/News/29404/new-zealand-sevens-squads-named-for-olympics'>http://www.allblacks.com/News/29404/new-zealand-sevens-squads-named-for-olympics</a>

Stargazer

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="595335" data-time="1468034351">
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Before the official announcement? I don't listen to talkback radio.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.allblacks.com/News/29404/new-zealand-sevens-squads-named-for-olympics'>http://www.allblacks.com/News/29404/new-zealand-sevens-squads-named-for-olympics</a>
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I just posted the link to the interview. Here it is again: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/veitch-on-sport/audio/sir-gordon-tietjens-defends-rio-sevens-squad-selection/'>http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/veitch-on-sport/audio/sir-gordon-tietjens-defends-rio-sevens-squad-selection/</a>

reprobate

as far as i'm concerned you've got to be a self-centred fluffybunny to come out and talk about that before the olympics. it just isn't helpful at all to the guys that have been picked who are going there to represent nz.

Milk

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="595335" data-time="1468034351">
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Before the official announcement? I don't listen to talkback radio.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.allblacks.com/News/29404/new-zealand-sevens-squads-named-for-olympics'>http://www.allblacks.com/News/29404/new-zealand-sevens-squads-named-for-olympics</a>
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</blockquote>
 
Apparently Baker turned it down the spot before the announcement.
 
As Booboo says, had a massive chance of playing. With our recent luck it's highly unlikely all players will make it through.

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="reprobate" data-cid="595338" data-time="1468036136">as far as i'm concerned you've got to be a self-centred fluffybunny to come out and talk about that before the olympics. it just isn't helpful at all to the guys that have been picked who are going there to represent nz.</blockquote>Contrast that with how Izzy took missing out on rwc 15

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="reprobate" data-cid="595338" data-time="1468036136">
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as far as i'm concerned you've got to be a self-centred fluffybunny to come out and talk about that before the olympics. it just isn't helpful at all to the guys that have been picked who are going there to represent nz.
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Seems entirely within his character given he's a fluffybunny on the field.

Stockcar86

My Olympic hero #droody
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.runnersworld.com/olympic-trials/meet-the-mustachioed-beer-drinking-hero-who-crashed-the-trials-10k'>http://www.runnersworld.com/olympic-trials/meet-the-mustachioed-beer-drinking-hero-who-crashed-the-trials-10k</a>
 
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CmUq9b8UEAESJj1.jpg" alt="CmUq9b8UEAESJj1.jpg">

The Silver Fern

Olympics Thread