Olympics Thread

Donsteppa

You know it's grim when the four yearly articles start appearing that try to take the moral high ground on a per capita basis...
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/olympics/83056367/rio-olympics-2016-new-zealand-near-top-of-medal-table-that-matters-most'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/olympics/83056367/rio-olympics-2016-new-zealand-near-top-of-medal-table-that-matters-most</a>
 
"Table that matters most": Yeah Right.

Donsteppa

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="604903" data-time="1470873033">
<div>
Yuss!!
 
So if Fiji win, they will surely win this too!
 
a line in the NZH article.
 
 
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 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
On an economic basis, Kosovo and Mongolia for the win big time...

Mokey

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Donsteppa" data-cid="604908" data-time="1470873662">
<div>
You know it's grim when the four yearly articles start appearing that try to take the moral high ground on a per capita basis...
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/olympics/83056367/rio-olympics-2016-new-zealand-near-top-of-medal-table-that-matters-most'>http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/olympics/83056367/rio-olympics-2016-new-zealand-near-top-of-medal-table-that-matters-most</a>
 
"Table that matters most": Yeah Right.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
It's just embarrassing when they start saying things like that. So cringey little sibling ish.

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="604907" data-time="1470873516">
<div>
I don't usually watch basketball, but its Australia so everyone at work is watching on the FO big screen in the main atrium. 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
 
To whit:
 
[attachment=2065:bigscreenwork.jpg]

mariner4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="604905" data-time="1470873210">
<div>
bugger, was watching and cheering hard for the Aussies.
 
Would be hilarious to see the "dream team" miss out on the gold
</div>
</blockquote>
 
yep, me too.
 
Aus look good, Lemanis is a good coach, and they have some talent (Delly and Mills both great) but smashed in the rebounds, and the Yanks have so many guys who can repeatedly hit big threes.

ACT Crusader

Great bball game between OZ and US. With Delly and Mills they have an awesome combo of quickness and smarts, passing and getting to the basket, and defensive hustle. 
Melo was on fire and then the 3rd and 4th qtr play of Kyrie and KD was big. 
Bogut is so important. Defensive presence and rebounding creates opportunities down the other end. Anderson was excellent on the offensive end. 
High quality game. 
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

barbarian

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="WillieTheWaiter" data-cid="604876" data-time="1470868257">
<div>
fark me the argies.. golden point, GB have a man in the bin. You win a pen, tap it, then boot it out.
 
Gives the ball back to GB, guy back from the bin. They score, you lose.
 
Easily one of the most retarded things I've seen on a rugby field.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I reckon the Argie player didn't realise his bloke was back on the field. 
 
Thought he was doing the smart thing by booting it out and allowing him to come back on, when actually he was doing the worst thing possible.

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="SammyC" data-cid="604904" data-time="1470873137">
<div>
Agree, show a bit of class when you've already lost the game.
 
Nobody cares how tough you are.
</div>
</blockquote>
I cared how tough he was for the other 13 minutes of the game but sadly he didn't show up!!

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ACT Crusader" data-cid="604918" data-time="1470876004">
<div>
Bogut is so important. Defensive presence and rebounding creates opportunities down the other end. Anderson was excellent on the offensive end. 

</div>
</blockquote>
 
And the occasional hip n shoulder ;)
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://vine.co/v/5bwdt0X3MiD'>https://vine.co/v/5bwdt0X3MiD</a>

barbarian

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="604890" data-time="1470870361">
<div>
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. 
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I don't actually think the model will work in Men's. Or it certainly won't be as easy.
 
The Women's 7s had a number of advantages. The players didn't have 15s as a viable option, let alone having it as the pinnacle of the sport. They also didn't have other sports to compete with, and could recruit top amateurs from across the country by paying a decent (but not outstanding) wage.
 
Male rugby players are still going to grow up wanting to be All Blacks, or Wallabies, or Springboks. 15s is still going to be king, and creating a successful 7s team is going to involve a big series of compromises. It's also going to involve a lot of cash for a very limited return.
 
There is no easy answer here, sadly. Not that you are saying there is. 
 
I think centralisation is the obvious answer for NZ. Get them living and training in the one city, paid a decent enough wage. That's step 1 for me, and what most other big nations are doing.

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="tubbyj" data-cid="604828" data-time="1470862388">
<div>
Seems Sir Clive Woodward has been laughing it up on the BBC coverage which alot of other countrys pick up and really hammering home 'The All Blacks' lost to Japan, 'The All Blacks' are out at the quarter finals, 'The All Blacks' only won 1 out of 4 games .
</div>
</blockquote>
They aren't the ABs, no matter what it says on the jersey

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="604922" data-time="1470876704">
<div>
I don't actually think the model will work in Men's. Or it certainly won't be as easy.
 
The Women's 7s had a number of advantages. The players didn't have 15s as a viable option, let alone having it as the pinnacle of the sport. They also didn't have other sports to compete with, and could recruit top amateurs from across the country by paying a decent (but not outstanding) wage.
 
Male rugby players are still going to grow up wanting to be All Blacks, or Wallabies, or Springboks. 15s is still going to be king, and creating a successful 7s team is going to involve a big series of compromises. It's also going to involve a lot of cash for a very limited return.
 
There is no easy answer here, sadly. Not that you are saying there is. 
 
I think centralisation is the obvious answer for NZ. Get them living and training in the one city, paid a decent enough wage. That's step 1 for me, and what most other big nations are doing.
</div>
</blockquote>
I agree with it being a lot easier for women. For men we have already seen that most All Blacks aren't interested and only a couple of Super Rugby players are. The way the team went isn't going to inspire many young rugby players to want to go to Tokyo.

antipodean

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="604922" data-time="1470876704">
<div>
Male rugby players are still going to grow up wanting to be All Blacks, or Wallabies, or Springboks. 15s is still going to be king, and creating a successful 7s team is going to involve a big series of compromises. It's also going to involve a lot of cash for a very limited return.
 
There is no easy answer here, sadly. Not that you are saying there is. 
 
I think centralisation is the obvious answer for NZ. Get them living and training in the one city, paid a decent enough wage. That's step 1 for me, and what most other big nations are doing.
</div>
</blockquote>
The ABs will always be the pinnacle of the rugby union code in NZ. But there are players who were on the fringes of Super or even ITM rugby plying their trade for clubs in Europe and probably Japan. It may be a matter of scouting out that type of player offering those with little hope of making it all the way in 15s another path that allows them to stay in the country while earning decent money. Guys like Te Nana and Forbes have been career 7s players, surely there are many others out there who could follow on in the same vein.
 
As for style of play, we have shouldn't totally abandon the power game (it is a strength), but clearly a shift is required in terms of mindset, tactics and personnel

barbarian

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="604926" data-time="1470877578">
<div>
I agree with it being a lot easier for women. For men we have already seen that most All Blacks aren't interested and only a couple of Super Rugby players are. The way the team went isn't going to inspire many young rugby players to want to go to Tokyo.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
If I were the ARU/NZRU I'd be trying to get a few photos of the lads pissing it up in the Village with Swedish handballers/Ukrainian gymnasts/Brazilian volleyballers.
 
Reckon that might do more to attract blokes to Tokyo than anything that happens on the field...

Rancid Schnitzel

It's very disappointing, but if building an awesome 7s teams means weakening the 15s in any way then forget it. 7s is a sideshow and always will be.
 
Interestingly enough my Norwegian wife (who normally doesn't give a shit about rugby despite always checking the results to check my moods - bless her) rather enjoyed the 7s. She felt it was much easier to follow and much more exciting.

Milk

My ineptness at understanding the breakdown is heightened in sevens. I just can't see any consistency between penalties for not releasing the ball, and not releasing the tackled player. I'm assuming it's my eye patch?

RoninWC

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="604913" data-time="1470874182">
To whit: <a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.daimenhutchison.com/rugby/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=2065">bigscreenwork.jpg</a></blockquote>
 
That looks a familiar building Nick. Is that by chance in Martin Place?

gt12

Interesting point RS, my JP wife is the same - she'll go watch the sevens when it's in town, but good fucking luck getting her to watch a full game of 15s. 
Having said that, I could not give a fuck that we lost. We've been mostly shit all year. I was kind of supporting Fiji anyway (I know, I know). 
I'm so totally over the olympics anyway, with all the fucking ridiculous swimming events, the first week is fucking boring and stupid. 
Phelps has the first two places on the most medals won, and four in the top 20 now (I think) with a bunch of other swimmers (and a few gymnasts from back in the days when specialization wasn't as common). 
There are just too many swimming events. If you're great at 200 meter freestyle you're likely to also be good at 400 meter freestyle. If you're the best butterfly swimmer over 100 metres, it's fucking likely you'll be the best over 200, or at least medal. How many specialist 200 meter butterfly swimmers are there? What's the fucking point of this? And it's all over the program, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 1500 just for freestyle, plus relays, plus 100 & 200 for others plus medleys and medley relays. 
There are too many chances for strong programs to get medals and too many chances for strong swimmers to get medals. I'm totally over it and don't get why sports that would be good there (eg, squash or other smaller sports) can't get in while this over bloated shit is there. 
And don't get me started on tennis, golf, or soccer.

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gt12" data-cid="604942" data-time="1470882873">
<div>
Interesting point RS, my JP wife is the same - she'll go watch the sevens when it's in town, but good fucking luck getting her to watch a full game of 15s. 
Having said that, I could not give a fuck that we lost. We've been mostly shit all year. I was kind of supporting Fiji anyway (I know, I know). 
I'm so totally over the olympics anyway, with all the fucking ridiculous swimming events, the first week is fucking boring and stupid. 
Phelps has the first two places on the most medals won, and four in the top 20 now (I think) with a bunch of other swimmers (and a few gymnasts from back in the days when specialization wasn't as common). 
There are just too many swimming events. If you're great at 200 meter freestyle you're likely to also be good at 400 meter freestyle. If you're the best butterfly swimmer over 100 metres, it's fucking likely you'll be the best over 200, or at least medal. How many specialist 200 meter butterfly swimmers are there? What's the fucking point of this? And it's all over the program, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 1500 just for freestyle, plus relays, plus 100 & 200 for others plus medleys and medley relays. 
There are too many chances for strong programs to get medals and too many chances for strong swimmers to get medals. I'm totally over it and don't get why sports that would be good there (eg, squash or other smaller sports) can't get in while this over bloated shit is there. 
And don't get me started on tennis, golf, or soccer.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
Swimming doesn't keep out squash though. The IOC asks a city to build a swimming pool that can fit heaps of media and fans. You need to have a proper programme because of that. I also don't see why events that someone doesn't would take away from events that people do.

The Silver Fern

Olympics Thread