World Cup Final match thread

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="538545" data-time="1446463378">
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Sort of. I agree. If it's available get it out and get on with it. 
But scrums are about dominance and setting a platform. 
Unfortunately it's become about scrumming for a penalty. Personally i Only really noticed that or taken particular note of that this year. Don't like that. Something to be said for the old league dogs who used to have the Differential Penalty for scrum infringents (effectively a free kick).
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The Italians were doing it a few years ago I remember - didn't really like it then. A small, evil part of me liked seeing us destroy England :biggrin: of course.
 
But if you establish that dominance early to let the ref know you're going to be aiming up there, then use it to put the opposition on the back foot, I think its a lot more effective. Depends on field position and need of course. 5 metres out from your own line, relieve pressure. 5m out from their line, go for the pushover/penalty try. Midfield, turn them to the blind and use your backs.

Siam

I said this ages ago, so chopped! (big saying in late 70's and early 80's, remember?)
 
After the quarter against France I cast off all the modesty and false spirituality that has been beaten into gen X kiwis (with a wooden spoon) since we were young and thought to myself :
 
"Why wouldn't the next 3 weeks be looked back on as one of the best examples of a number 1 team blitzing through a world cup in imperious fashion and taking the lot, simply by being a visible step up from the rest of the participants?"
 
One that you look back on and go, "well that's the perfect campaign, don't know what we were worried about."
 
One in which the opposition is almost irrelevent, with the benefit of hindsight
 
 
 
A dominance brought about by having talented players, innovative coaching and rock solid, meticulous planning. :)
 
I also suggested Vito could replace JK, but no one listened to that either

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="JC" data-cid="538289" data-time="1446425421">
Oh yeah. I don't know if anyone noticed this cracker graphic from the DT. Look at the average height of both the AB and Wob backs! <a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.daimenhutchison.com/rugby/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=1898">Screen Shot 2015-11-02 at 1.47.13 PM.png</a> 
And the height of the Aussie forwards explains why they got done in the lineouts I suppose.</blockquote>
 
If yhe Aussie backs and Aussie forwards both average under 6 foot how does the team average 6 foot 1? 
???

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="538313" data-time="1446428080">
Issues:

Average overall height of Australia listed as 6' 
BUT
Average height of Forwards is listed as 5'9" (despite none of them being that short)
Average height of backs 5'5" 
:think: 
So unless I'm reading that completely wrong, or there is another rugby position outside "forwards" and "backs" that isn't represented, I'd suggest this data was assembled by someone unfamiliar with mathematics.</blockquote>
 
Ahh ... i see others have spotted that. 
Same with the weights. 
Wonder if someone muxed ip the overall team and forward stat

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="538329" data-time="1446431089">
Paul Ackford says the ABs are cynical buggars.... <a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/73583674/all-blacks-are-a-cynical-bunch-of-b">http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/73583674/all-blacks-are-a-cynical-bunch-of-b</a> 
Apparently doing what every other team does, makes us cynical? 
One thing he did point out which made me wonder: the time limit to take your kicks, why did they ditch that or stop enforcing it?</blockquote>
Recall Genia doing similar to Smith firing a (forward) pass at someone (woody?) Who was technically offside in Dunners a couple of years ago. So not exclusive to us. And why should the half be made to avoid someone who is offside and in the road. Slowing down the play and being cynical. Works both ways. 
1 minute for kicking starts from when the tee arrives i thought. 
Unless Liam Messam had turned into Usain Bolt im not sure he could have got the tee on within 10s. (ie he states pen awarded at 73.04 and kick taken at 73.14). 
Just looking to whinge. 
Not sure how we cynically made the Aussie scrum slip ... 
And Nige was right to remind Kepu to keep the tackles down.

Siam

Random from the match:
 
Owens and his team decided to swallow their whistles by and large. Probably a good thing all said. 2 teams that like to run it, (i.e. not teams that play for penalties) and overall the teams sorted it out. A couple of glaring misses at the breakdown, McCaw did come through the gate when he kicked it away and Fardy looked all over a ruck before our first try.
 
 
Moment of the last 4 years - screaming at Ma'a to "Go On Ma'a" (would never feel right calling him "boy", but Meg knows him personally so whatevs
 
"What have you done Daniel??!!" was the involuntary cry laced with wonderment after the droppie
 
"Thank you Dan, that'll do Dan that'll do" after the 50m kick. Would love to hear the reaction at that time from someone at Twickers
 
 
If they'd replayed and looked at the attempted tackle of Kepu on McCaw for NMS try, Oz would be a prop down for at least 10 mins of the 2nd half. 
 
Actually Kepu was a dick all game and the much vaunted Aussie scrum?
 
If not for Ben Smith, and judging by Aus body language after Nonu scored, that final could have blown to a 43-3 type affair. 
 
Daniel just sort of went "well fuck knows what you blokes are doing but I'm not letting this one go" then got a nice kick from Folau, got a run up and put the ball on the Oz 10 metre line, turned to the team and rallied "lets' go fuckers!!"
 
then proceeded to be involved in just about every tackle
 
Reckon Waisake got the stink eye for jumping on the back of our lordship?
 
 
Bob Dwyer must be livid with that team - there was so much "cheating", and Aussie sides don't cheat according to his article last week. He'll no doubt publicly condemn Pocock soon.
 
I've watched about 5 replays of the game, that's not sad is it?

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="538348" data-time="1446432528">
There are plenty of cases where a 9 has the opportunity to clear it but simply passes it into the player as he is trying to get out of the way and milk a penalty, gamesmanship bordering on being a cock ;)</blockquote>
 
Halfback. Cock. Tautology.

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Ben" data-cid="538381" data-time="1446439018">
You're obviously annoyed about Kepu staying on, right? You've brought it up a number of times. 
So, given you're pissed about that, you can surely see why Aussies will be pissed about the decisions that went against them. But If you can't, fine. I won't try to convince you any further as I'm not really that bothered.</blockquote>
 
I thought your point was they didn't get the rub of the green. I took that as meaning that the ABs got more decisions go their way. Neps point was they did get some decisions that somewhat balanced the ledger. Or am i missing something?

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="canefan" data-cid="538393" data-time="1446442105">
You know what's cynical? Defenders lying around the back of the ruck or lazy retreaters to coin a Kaplan phrase. These guys know exactly what they are doing, it is subtle but has a significant effect. I've noticed in some instances where the retreating player does just enough to force the pass one way only. If you don't want to get pinged, don't hang around there. If that infringement goes unpunished what do you think will happen on future occasions until the ref gets wise?</blockquote>
 
Lazy runners not retreators. And Watson not Kaplan. 
Everyone loves a corrector...

Sambo

Kepu's rake across Skuds face, what the fuck was that all about. Saw it again in the highlights of Nonu's try. Very dodgie. Deserves a citing IMO.

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="538559" data-time="1446465613">
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Lazy runners not retreators. And Watson not Kaplan. 
Everyone loves a corrector...
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I knew it was lazy runners, I just changed it up. However good call on Andre, or as I wish to call him "the Saffa that didn't fuck us in the Bledisloe match at the Tin in 2008"

red terror

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Sambo" data-cid="538560" data-time="1446465739">
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Kepu's rake across Skuds face, what the fuck was that all about. Saw it again in the highlights of Nonu's try. Very dodgie. Deserves a citing IMO.
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"Dodgie...," oh, I thought you said "doggie." Sekope a very lucky boy. He palms his face, and possibly excessively, but no contact between fingers or thumb with eye. Pretty damned close. Brief warning - be more careful. Play on.

kiwiinmelb

jegga

"Dodgie...," oh, I thought you said "doggie." Sekope a very lucky boy. He palms his face, and possibly excessively, but no contact between fingers or thumb with eye. Pretty damned close. Brief warning - be more careful. Play on.
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Not only raking his face dragging him down with his arm around his neck. This is what I was talking about earlier when NTA mentioned Kaino.

red terror

True enough, that is a head-high tackle got him 'round the neck into a Bulldog / Samoan side-slam finisher.

taniwharugby

He should get A YC and made to sit in cattle class by himself!

red terror

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="538600" data-time="1446486479">
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Not only raking his face dragging him down with his arm around his neck. This is what I was talking about earlier when NTA mentioned Kaino.
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Here's a better updated revision....

(I might have to re-watch the whole test for the 5th time and isolate a Kepu highlight reel package from the final, an audition tape like that could buy him lunch with Vince McMahon...)

jegga

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="red terror" data-cid="538607" data-time="1446488861">
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Here's a better updated revision....

(I might have to re-watch the whole test for the 5th time and isolate a Kepu highlight reel package from the final, an audition tape like that could buy him lunch with Vince McMahon...)
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Got to love the unbiased commentary "thats almost high again for Kepu". For the most part the posters at g and g have been good sports , out of all of them there's only a couple moaning about being hard done by by the ref and saying the abs got the rub of the green. I'd be interested in seeing their thoughts on that.

Immenso Rapido

From the ackford articke <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
After Ma'a Nonu's try, which put New Zealand 21-3 in front, Owens found himself alongside Sekope Kepu, whom he had penalised twice in the first 25 minutes for poor tackles. 
"Are you keeping those tackles down," Owens said. "I hope so." 
"It was four minutes into the second half, Kepu hadn't touched the ball and it was Owens talking for talking's sake, with no consideration for the player or the game situation." </blockquote>This of course being 30 seconds after Kepu tried to take NMS's head off in the breakdown before the try. His 4th act of foul play so far in a match at that point only 44 minutes old. But, but .... he hadn't touched the ball in the second half .... ? 
Ackford reveals a lot about himself in that article. 
He is terrible at his job. That's some of the worst analysis I have read. 
Someone on that field was abusing Owens' good will and trying to make him look like Howard Webb.

taniwharugby

not to mention if your team hasn't got the ball, all you will be doing is tackling...

The Silver Fern

World Cup Final match thread