Olympics Thread

Nepia

Well, that's the Olympics over for me - nothing watched, glad I didn't fork out the $20 for CH7 (although I've just discovered I can get the app and content free on my phone with Telstra).
 
I'm not too down on Titch. The guy has constantly worked out new game-plans that mostly have kept NZ at the top of the tree for nearly 20 years. It sucks that this one wasn't one that worked but that shouldn't diminish the rest of his career.

KiwiMurph

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="WillieTheWaiter" data-cid="604879" data-time="1470868594">
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it all started going south for the team when the Ioanes signed for the Blues over the Chiefs.
 
The thing that blew me away the most was how farking rooted they looked compared to other teams.
 
Our 7's team was always the fittest, now we look like a bunch of fat unfit ba$tards compared to the other teams.
 
Too much weights not enough speed work??
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Good to see that still irks you :yes:
 
It doesn't look like much at all came out of the pre-Olympics preparation for NZ - they looked about the same as they did in the final World 7s Series tournaments - rubbish.

Billy Tell

In other news... 
Boomers leading the yanks at half time in the basketball.

kiwiinmelb

I'm not so sure he needed Allblack stars anyway , 
Guys at the next level down like DMac could be just as devastating , without raiding Allblack stocks , sure he is a fringe Allblack now , he wasn't 12 months ago , it seemed we lacked players of this type .

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="604886" data-time="1470869975">
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In other news... 
Boomers leading the yanks at half time in the basketball.
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Was there a bet for HT/FT Boomers/Dream Team?

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sneakdefreak" data-cid="604869" data-time="1470866301">
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Four years ago we assumed we would be in the finals of both mens and womens - at least the ladies came through with their part of the deal. Biggest problem for 7s is that most players view it as only some nice padding for their CV as they try and get a SR contract and make the ABs. NZ Rugby need to scout better or at the very least get better organised.
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That is fine, as long as it is one of the underlying drivers for performance. I'm not convinced the way forward was touting for AB "stars". As I said earlier this is 7s rugby and in the glory days players like CC and Jonah were not ABs when they played 7's. We have a player pool of such quality how can we not get a squad of young fast ball players to play 7s?

mariner4life

well, that's all a bit disappointing isn't it?
 
Pretty clear Titch had a plan, and picked the guys to execute that plan. But, for what might be the first time in his life, he got it wrong, and he'll have to live with that. Won't change my opinion of one of the best coaches in any sport we've had though. What a legend. 
 
NZ Sevens has been the left-overs of NZ rugby for ever. Making a name for yourself on the sevens circuit was always used as a stepping stone to a 15s contract, not an extended sevens run, so Titch restarted every year. I find his consistent success more remarkable than this loss to be honest. 
 
If big name 15s stars were the answer (and i am far from convinced they are) then why aren't the other, actually good teams packed with them?
 
But, for all that, this should probably generate a rethink at board level about our sevens program. The Aussie girls team looks like a fairly good blueprint (i can't believe i just typed that). Find the right athletes, build a side based around sevens and sevens only. Make it attractive. 
 
It's all very embarassing, and not something we are used to over the last decade.

taniwharugby

I thought that was what the NZRU had done, Forbes would be on 150k+ on a 7s contract wont he?
 
Problem is, I see it being more an dmore about choosing which route to take...the younger guys (like the Ioanes) can make the call early, and next year, focus on 15s, and probably not play 7s again, but for the likes of Forbes, MIckelsen, Kaka, they are 7s players, unlikely to play super rugby now.

mariner4life

Had a look at some other results. Cancellara wins the time trial. Froome in 3rd. That fluffybunny is suss.

canefan

If you pick players on the super rugby fringe there will be problems with divided loyalties and 7's will always lose out. For players outside the super WTGs would fit the bill. You have to pay them a decent wage to make it a viable path rather than skipping off to Europe or Japan

mariner4life

Find touch players and teach them to tackle

taniwharugby

haha, go check some of the frothing on Social Media!
 
People are out for blood!
 
So whats next on the Olympics agenda?

mariner4life

Aus basketball teams both look good. Men are pushing the Yanks hard, they're in front in the 4th

mariner4life

Carmello Anthony has decided enough is enough, and goes boom boom. Yanks by 4
 
 
Dellavadova in this tournament is looking worth the money he's getting paid now

mariner4life

Class showing out now, Yanks up by 8 with 2 minutes to play.
 
Could see this being a medal match down the track

Frank

Akira Ioane really is a Grade A douche.

taniwharugby

Yuss!!
 
So if Fiji win, they will surely win this too!
 
a line in the NZH article.
 
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Don't fret about the missed opportunities in the men's sevens and equestrian â€“ New Zealand still sits near the top of the Olympics medal table that matters most.
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OLYMPICS MEDALS PER CAPITA
1 - Hungary 6 medals, 9,844,686 population, 1,640,781 people per medal
2 - Kosovo 1 1,859,203 1,859,203
3 â€“ Slovenia 1 2,063,768 2,063,768
4 â€“ New Zealand 2 4,595,700 2,297,850
5 â€“ Australia 9 23,781,169 2,642,352
6 â€“ Mongolia 1 2,959,134 2,959,134
7 â€“ Sweden 3 9,798,871 3,266,290
8 â€“ Georgia 1 3,679,000 3,679,000
9 â€“ Switzerland 2 8,286,976 4,143,488
10 â€“ Croatia 1 4,224,404 4,224,404

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Frank" data-cid="604902" data-time="1470872806">
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Akira Ioane really is a Grade A douche.
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Agree, show a bit of class when you've already lost the game.
 
Nobody cares how tough you are.

SammyC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="604901" data-time="1470872393">
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Class showing out now, Yanks up by 8 with 2 minutes to play.
 
Could see this being a medal match down the track
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bugger, was watching and cheering hard for the Aussies.
 
Would be hilarious to see the "dream team" miss out on the gold

Chris B.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Wurzel" data-cid="604882" data-time="1470869124">
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I reckon about 18 months ago when Titch was told by the NZRU that he wasn't going to get access to any stars he developed that godawful, low-risk, look-for-contact, grind-'em-down game plan knowing it was his only chance of countering the pace of Fiji, USA and SA. Titch locked his squad in the gym, and then used the recent World Series to let the new game plane bed in. It was clear to everyone - Titch included - that it wasn't working but he had no other option to see it through.
 
I've not known a top class New Zealand rugby team that was unable to beat a man or create space through instinctual footwork and ballwork. Yet we just saw one stumble their way from Dubai to Wellington to Hong Kong, ending in a screaming heap in Rio.
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I think the comments on the game plan are accurate - it's similar to 1987, when we knew we didn't have the big forwards to counter the NH teams so Sir Brian developed a fast running gameplan. Titch's theory actually looked a possibility when he had his best players together at a couple of tournaments when we finished over the top of the Jaapies a couple of times.
 
Not sure about the "access to stars" comment - he got SBW who's pretty much the biggest name on the shelf, Messam, Pulu, Ardie, the Ioanes. The problem for Titch is that it doesn't really make a lot of sense for someone of AB potential to give up a season to play sevens - which, I think Ardie worked out. One question for the future is how to make sevens attractive enough that the regular squad isn't just made up of the best of the guys who are not good enough to play Super rugby. The other question is how important is winning the Olympics?
 
I'm somewhat inclined to think it's not that important. I'm not sure if this analogy is correct, but in rowing, supposedly the eights is the blue riband event. So presumably there are countries who put all their best rowers in their eight - which means that we by focusing our best guys on singles and pairs do better. Maybe our efforts should be on getting XVs into the Olympics - if we really care.

The Silver Fern

Olympics Thread