As far as tackling is concerned, Finau is the most Kainoesque loose forward in NZ.

that Romano try is classic. He looks and moves like Homer Simpson crashing over for teh try. Awesome. He looks good in Blue (white)
767d20f3-e86b-4493-b17c-86d1a7df618d-image.png

@ACT-Crusader said in Highlanders v Waratahs:

@Machpants only concern with that is that the broadcasters love more ‘finals’ because they rate higher and they can sell to advertisers.

Yeah it's never going to happen but the comp would be much better

Paddy Ryan issued a Warning

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee has examined a matter relating to Paddy Ryan of the Waratahs for contravening Law 9.13 - A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously, after he was Red Carded during a Super Rugby Pacific Match at the Weekend.

Ryan has been issued with a Warning for his actions. A Warning may be issued by the SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee for foul play incidents that are very close to, but in their opinion do not meet the Red Card threshold.

The incident occurred in the 76th minute of the match between the Waratahs and Hurricanes played at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney on Saturday 14 May 2022.

The SANZAAR Foul Play Review Committee of Michael Heron QC (Chair), Stefan Terblanche and John Langford assessed the case.

In his finding, Foul Play Review Committee Chair Michael Heron QC ruled the following:

"Having conducted a detailed review of all the available evidence, including all camera angles and additional evidence, including from the player and submissions from his legal representative, Aaron Lloyd, the Foul Play Review Committee found the foul play did not breach the red card threshold."

"With respect to sanction the Foul Play Review Committee deemed the act of foul play merited a Warning as it was close to, but did not breach the red card threshold. The Foul Play Review Committee deemed that the significant mitigating factors, including the ball carrier significantly dropping in height, rotation, and additional players being involved within the tackle, mitigated the sanction to a Warning."

"The player is therefore free to resume playing.”

Tavatavanawai has beaten 42 defenders in 5 games.

Will Jordan is 1st for defenders beaten with 45, but he's played 9 games.

@kiwi_expat said in Waratahs v Crusaders:

@Billy-Tell said in Waratahs v Crusaders:

Terrible display. The forward pack is a mixture of journeymen and once-great players past their peak. Best forward was newell, that guy has a big future. Best back imho was Jordan. Thought goodhue did ok but Havili was poor. I think he’s a busted flush as a midfielder. This is the weakest crusaders side in along while. No way they win the comp.

I highlighted this at the end of last year in the 2022 squad naming's thread and was promptly labelled a nut-case.

Hilarious that you all have suddenly changed the narrative, in the SR squads thread it was deluded misinformed surface level comments along the lines of: 'Crusaders have all the best talent, look how stacked they are!' while I calmly pointed out that the Blues & Chiefs squads were at least on par & if you studied them closely actually significantly better in multiple areas.

My recollection was more that the Saders had a potential 13 AB starting XV with another on the bench.
Point was correct that the next layer of Saders didn’t look so flash and the next level of players in the country were sitting in other teams.
Depth has been the key to NZ teams this year. Previously the Saders had some but maybe the cycle has finally changed a little. This happens usually when positions 1 and 2 are filled and up and comers opt to be number 2 elsewhere rather than 3 with a blocker.
Remarkably the Saders management have dealt with that for a long time but it can’t sustain forever.

@gt12 said in Chiefs v Waratahs:

How fucking good is Lord?

That line out take in the 23rd minute was sweeet.

alt text

@taniwharugby said in Drua v Waratahs:

@nta and he copped a bit of a shot on the deck after scoring.

What is it with players in situations like that?

TBF they both dived at the same time. A bit lazy

@nta Came across that way in a few interviews/articles I read about him.

@antipodean said in Brumbies v Waratahs:

This is a hard watch.

Improved significantly in the second half because the Tahs decided to join in the "rugby" thing.

Their try to Bell was Brumbies-like - march upfield on the back of penalties then phase play to score once you isolate some forwards.

The try to Harris was a cracker. I thought it was very Kiwi-like in that it showed good support lines and some patience, striking from halfway.

Discipline stil needs work.

I just saw the try the 10 bombed by ignoring the short pass and using hands, instead trying the hero ball that fucked all momentum and brought the only reds defender in to play

Reserve grade shit

@duluth said in Waratahs v Drua:

@tim it’s just the usual shitty Tahs crowd

Biggest crowd of the weekend so far 😎

@bones said in Waratahs v Chiefs:

@nostrildamus already plenty of turnover "specialists" in the squad weren't there, what else did he offer? It's not like others (including Kirifi) weren't also doing brilliantly at turnovers, as well as excelling in other areas.

He has a fantastic surname, ripe for puns.

@kiwiwomble I like the idea of being unbeaten. That'll do me. But I gave up on respecting the TT trophy as anything highly treasured a few weeks ago, sadly.

@higgins said in Waratahs v Crusaders:

@kiwimurph A indictment on the Australia education system perhaps? Obviously cultural/sexual sensitivities take just as much presendence over traditional education learning skills over there as they do here.

Indeed

Calls for teacher to be sacked over black lives matter posters Your browser does not support HTML5 video.

@damo said in Blues v Waratahs:

@kruse said in Blues v Waratahs:

@daffy-jaffy said in Blues v Waratahs:

Now thats a good lift -
dadf6eb0-93af-493f-94aa-7b98de7dac2b-image.png

Genuine question... why did they ever change the laws to allow lifting?
It's always seemed to me that it just caused more problems than I can think of ever existing pre-lifting.

You're just looking back with rose tinted glasses. Lineouts used to be an absolute shit fest. Scrappy forwards elbowing at each other to win rubbish ball for the halfback to deal with or get smashed by the opposing players.

Lifting in lineouts is the best change they ever made.

Fair 'nuff
Like I said - honest question... I think a few people have said similar things - I'll bow to the masses.
Could the same effect have been achieved done other ways? Probably.
Doesn't matter... we are where we are, and it is better than before. Like so many things, I sometimes wonder if it could have been fixed by just proper application of the laws at the time.

@toddy said in Waratahs v Hurricanes:

@machpants Like TJ vs Namibia?

Haha! When I saw MPs comment I immediately facepalmed thinking of that. Way to read the room...

Isi Naisarani suspended for 3 weeks:

https://super.rugby/superrugby/documents/judiciary/round-10-au-naisarani-suspended-for-three-weeks/

Pone Fa'amausili also suspended for three weeks.

https://super.rugby/superrugby/documents/judiciary/round-10-au-faamausili-suspended-for-three-weeks/

Identical situation to Chiefs last night with a defensive penalty with under a minute to play. But unbelievably bad throw to ultimately cost match. Ironic.

@nta fuck that is so dangerous! If someone did that to me we're fighting

Pure filth

@kiwimurph said in SR Australia Round 6: Waratahs v Reds:

@chris he's so small he's not a running threat either.

Yeah must be a better HB in Nsw

@nta

He "has the full confidence of the board", so he'll likely be out before the end of the season.

@african-monkey Brumbies and Reds maybe close. Probably not.

@booboo said in SR Australia Round 3: Waratahs v Western Force:

@nta said in SR Australia Round 3: Waratahs v Western Force:

Having slept on it, I'm happy with the improvement. Again it was a step up from last week, tho against a weaker opponent. It is still going to be a long season, and a lot of these guys aren't going to feature in Wallaby gold this year.

Just hope NSWRU HQ get over their complete lack of self-awareness and leave Penney in place.

Read an article on Fox I think. It's all NZ's fault: Hore, Gibson, Penny ...

Checks out. 😉

I wouldn't blame Penney tho.

@nta Swinton will definitely help. Harris at 6 was anonymous.

I wonder what's going to happen with captaincy with Gordon presumably out - Sinclair seemed to take over the captaincy but he was off the bench - does Sinclair start at 8?

Old man Kahui is the best Force back

Wow only 45-12 talk about going to sleep glad I didn’t stay up to watch the 2nd half...not that I would’ve of course

The young lock from the Rebels, Trevor Hosea looked really impressive . Another quality youngster from the 2019 u20s team.

Good finish after the Tahs controlled they final quarter, but a late try to seal it for the Brumbies.

@barbarian I'm with you till the last bit. They only got half the known crowd size. Now they've got a win, the crowds might start coming back.

@antipodean said in Brumbies v Waratahs:

I've given up supporting them. Couldn't be bothered going to the ground to see what I knew would eventuate. Went for a ride instead.

Well you just missed the last game of pro rugby for a while!

@NTA said in Waratahs v Lions:

@SidBarret said in Waratahs v Lions:

@Stargazer
You mean complete and utter bullshit the wrong way.

Holding guys down like that should earn you a slap and sit down.

Yeah. Wonder what set Simmons off?

Bet Owen Franks had a laugh at that.

@Tim yep, not looking good for the two big cities.

@RoninWC said in Waratahs vs Blues:
With Beaudy to come in and steer the cutter behind that pack has me looking forward to the remainder of the tournament.

And... Akira who?
Sotutu played really well and didn't deserve that yellow card. What has impressed me most is his work-rate. With him and Patty T working in tandem we have two imposing defenders.

Akira came on and looks fat and disinterested, yet again. That guy just doesn't seem to have it between the ears. All the talent in the world but doesn't look to have the drive.

There was that one tackle where his jersey got pulled right up exposing his trunk and quite frankly, what you saw was very disappointing for what should be a first class athlete.

So he's fa..., sorry, "working on his conditioning".