Olympics Thread
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<p>I was in Fiji recently and a rugby mad guy I talked to said that Ben Ryan has been the major game changer for them. He's overhauled everything around the team from trainings to diet, the professionalism he's brought is there for all to see in the results</p>
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<p>The problem with NZ losing to Japan is that even with a win over GB, and winning the group on PD, we could still end up with a tough QF and facing one of Fiji or SA early in the knock-out stages. Our best chances of going far was to avoid SA or Fiji until a final (assuming this team advances to the final).</p>
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<p>Webber is made of glass. I always knew his selection would be a risk. As Messam can't be used NZ only has a squad of 11 to use tomorrow.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="604505" data-time="1470776873">
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<p>Webber is made of glass. I always knew his selection would be a risk. <strong>As Messam can't be used NZ only has a squad of 11 to use tomorrow.</strong></p>
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<p>Why is that?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="604499" data-time="1470776200"><p>
good to see you back too!<br><br>
We missed you and Mister G!</p></blockquote>Didn't want to miss the occasion. Tournaments are not won in the first game, but at playoffs. Long way to go still. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="604508" data-time="1470777806">
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<p>I'm relying on Quinn here so take that with a grain of salt but I assume there is a limit on how many replacements can be made. Both Stanaway and SBW have been replaced from the original squad.</p>
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<p>after the Japanese loss, Tew was saying he wasn't sure if they could replace both SBW and Webber, sounded like they thought we might only be able to replace 1 person</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="604505" data-time="1470776873">
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<p>The problem with NZ losing to Japan is that even with a win over GB, and winning the group on PD, we could still end up with a tough QF and facing one of Fiji or SA early in the knock-out stages. Our best chances of going far was to avoid SA or Fiji until a final (assuming this team advances to the final).</p>
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<p>If medalling is the main concern then it's not ideal, but if it's gold or bust it's probably better. We have a better shot playing the better teams over the standard 7 minute halves rather than the final. The longer the game the more likely talent wins out.</p>
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<p>Honestly we are likely better off a man down than with Messam playing significant minutes - we need a cool head under pressure out there and he is not that.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="604486" data-time="1470773388"><p>
The stubbornness around not selecting guys like Barrett and Smith who wanted to player Super Rugby was the clincher for me. We should have made it to the semis without dropping a set if we had focused on getting the best result at Rio rather than whatever Titch decided on this year.<br><br>
Hansen has never seemed terribly cheery about the 7s set up when asked about it over the past year - I suspect if we bow out on the pool stage there will be a lot of stuff leaking out about how this campaign was lock - seems like plenty going on behind the scenes and not a lot of it positive.</p></blockquote>
Really?<br><br>
Do you honestly think Barrett coukd have come off the Super Final and 3 days later been in Rio to play 7s?<br><br>
Or even Ben Smith with a whole 10 days recovery from flying round the world twice.<br><br>
It was a one or other scenario. They chose 15s despite protestations that they were available for 7s.<br><br>
I was more pissed off at Savea's flip flop. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="604486" data-time="1470773388">
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<p>The stubbornness around not selecting guys like Barrett and Smith who wanted to player Super Rugby was the clincher for me. We should have made it to the semis without dropping a set if we had focused on getting the best result at Rio rather than whatever Titch decided on this year.</p>
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<p>Hansen has never seemed terribly cheery about the 7s set up when asked about it over the past year - I suspect if we bow out on the pool stage there will be a lot of stuff leaking out about how this campaign was lock - seems like plenty going on behind the scenes and not a lot of it positive.</p>
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<p>Imagine if we picked Barrett and Smith and lost? Many of the same people having a go now would say we were disrespecting the Olympics by thinking players can just turn up without conditioning and win gold. As it turns out, Barrett would have to pull out with a couple of days notice as he was just winning the Super Rugby title. You can't have that for a major play maker.</p>
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<p>There was a comment before about how people thought it was an automatic gold. The administrators have never thought that. I just watched the USA play. Carlin Isles could come to New Zealand get citizenship and represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games 100m. We just don't have players that can do that. The 25th fastest sprinter in the USA isn't going to the Olympics in sprinting but he is faster than anyone we have got and can happily go in 7's. We will always be a good 7's team but now the sport has matured.<br>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="604488" data-time="1470774232"><p>
Wow , I can picture this poor bugger waiting furtively for anything that might represent some sort of redemption for the embarrassment of the rwc .</p></blockquote>Karma can be a bitch at times. Or just a Japanese word? Lol. -
<p>Would the Hurricanes have won without BB & Ardie for the past 3 or 4 weeks?</p>
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<p>I think they will rest easy with their decisions, even Ardie who copped a bit when he pulled out.</p>
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<p>Tew said this morning they were never going to force players.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="604515" data-time="1470778254"><p>
Really?<br><br>
Do you honestly think Barrett coukd have come off the Super Final and 3 days later been in Rio to play 7s?<br><br>
Or even Ben Smith with a whole 10 days recovery from flying round the world twice.<br><br>
It was a one or other scenario. They chose 15s despite protestations that they were available for 7s.<br><br>
I was more pissed off at Savea's flip flop.</p></blockquote>
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Was also going to say ironically there seems less space in 7s. Perhaps less opportunity? Maybe due to the consequences of loss of possesdion? -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MiketheSnow" data-cid="604451" data-time="1470759564"><p>
Argentina v USA<br>
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TMO, Joubert, Eddie Butler & Clive Woodward all take a bow. All four of you fucking useless. Great tackle to dislodge the ball. No try<br>
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You have to save some love for Inverdale too. During the intro to the GB v Japan game, having literally only just interviewing a Scottish player's father he then immediately referred to GB as England. Knob.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
Time for Joubert to retire<br></p></blockquote> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="604521" data-time="1470778803">
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<p>Would the Hurricanes have won without BB & Ardie for the past 3 or 4 weeks?</p>
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<p>I think they will rest easy with their decisions, even Ardie who copped a bit when he pulled out.</p>
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<p>Tew said this morning they were never going to force players.</p>
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<p>Not without Barrett, no.</p> -
<p>i don't give a shit about 7s, but losing to japan is still a disgrace.</p>
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<p>i've long been opposed to the tactic of picking 7s specialists when there are 15s players available who are just better footy players. it's not a complicated game, as evidenced by the rapid success of teams throwing a bit of money/attention at it - or just picking sheer pace - and our style of 15s produces guys who are a natural fit for 7s.</p>
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<p>i think it would be a serious possibility that you could pick a team of guys from our super teams, give them 2 weeks in camp and beat our 7s team. </p>
