World Cup Final match thread

Sambo

still can't believe i'm 5" taller than the average and i'm hardly tall.

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="JC" data-cid="538289" data-time="1446425421">
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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!
 
<img src="http://www.daimenhutchison.com/rugby/public/style_images/master/attachicon.gif" alt="attachicon.gif"><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' 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.
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Issues:
1) Average overall height of Australia listed as 6'
BUT
2) Average height of Forwards is listed as 5'9" (despite none of them being that short)
3) 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.

ACT Crusader

Yeah, how can the average be 5'6'' when not even one player is 5'6'' or below. That's the sort of math that would have even Blackdragon scratching his head....
 
Genia, Pocock, Foley, etc are "short" but they would all be 5'8 and above.

OzKiwi

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="538153" data-time="1446415299">You're probably alone in thinking that.</blockquote>that's ok

voodoo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Immenso Rapido" data-cid="538302" data-time="1446426029">
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From voodoo's post: 
Is this really the rule now? 
Mitchell's run was not anywhere near a straight line to the ball. He angled in at about 45 degrees and intercepted Savea about 5 to 10 m from where the ball landed/was caught. 
I had this as 1 of 2 clear penalties missed in the phase in lead up to our forward pass penalty. So swings and roundabouts and all that etc. 
Do I have to revise my opinion? Please tell me 'no'.
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The bit in bold is the bit I understand to be the issue. The defender just has to run a straight line I think, there doesn't have to be any intention to run towards the ball. As you say, Mitchell was running 45 degrees to the ball, but because he set his line early and didn't deviate, I don't think its obstruction.

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="538313" data-time="1446428080">I'd suggest this data was assembled by someone unfamiliar with mathematics.</blockquote> Or the same level of professionalism they've adopted with journalism lately...

taniwharugby

Aaron Smith is listed as 1.71m, which is about 5 feet 7?

taniwharugby

Paul Ackford says the ABs are cynical buggars....
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' 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?

voodoo

So Owens wanted the kick taken in 60 seconds - and Carter the cynical bastard, just went right on ahead and took 69. What a cnt.
 
That said, I do agree about A Smith - I hated that penalty milking, where do you draw the line between what he did and an outright dive?

antipodean

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="voodoo" data-cid="538332" data-time="1446431372">So Owens wanted the kick taken in 60 seconds - and Carter the cynical bastard, just went right on ahead and took 69. What a cnt. That said, I do agree about A Smith - I hated that penalty milking, where do you draw the line between what he did and an outright dive?</blockquote> You don't. Gregan was excellent at throwing passes into retiring players. Players he could have easily avoided, but that wouldn't get him a penalty. The attacking team should get the benefit of the doubt around the ruck.

voodoo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="538335" data-time="1446431834">
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You don't. Gregan was excellent at throwing passes into retiring players. Players he could have easily avoided, but that wouldn't get him a penalty. The attacking team should get the benefit of the doubt around the ruck.
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Not saying it was Owens fault, I was disappointed in Smith's actions.

No Quarter

I wasn't. Players often take longer then they should to retire onside. They get in the way of attacking rugby. Milk it for all it's worth I say, if only to deter players from just jogging back.

voodoo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="538340" data-time="1446432142">
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I wasn't. Players often take longer then they should to retire onside. They get in the way of attacking rugby. Milk it for all it's worth I say, if only to deter players from just jogging back.
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Talking about the "trip" no passing into retiring players

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="voodoo" data-cid="538332" data-time="1446431372">
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That said, I do agree about A Smith - I hated that penalty milking, where do you draw the line between what he did and an outright dive?
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Up to the ref I guess - you see situations where a player is trapped by a leg or something at the back of a ruck, and lies still away from the ball so it can be cleared. Some refs will let it go, some won't.
 
I think if you're at the back of a ruck then you are putting your fate in someone else's hands.

No Quarter

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="voodoo" data-cid="538341" data-time="1446432215">
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Talking about the "trip" no passing into retiring players
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Moore was in the way, stopping Aaron Smith from having the option to run. Tough shit IMO.

voodoo

Sure, I'm not crying about it. I'd just prefer us to not milk them at all costs you know, try and play the better rugby and all that. One day after a cracking finals qin, and I'm already picking holes...

taniwharugby

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 ;)

KiwiMurph

While Aaron Smith definitely made the most of it, from what I remember Moore actually lifted his leg up right at the time the ball was crossing the line of S Moore - it may have been purely concidental - it may not have been.

Rancid Schnitzel

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="538213" data-time="1446421250">
Jeez guys can we let the reffing go? It's a bit sad. You won, deservedly. Each side can point to places where they feel hard done by. That's rugby. 
This business of raking through decisions and non-decisions with a fine tooth comb just gets in the way of talking about the 30 blokes that really mattered.</blockquote>
 
Too right. The only decision that had a major impact on the game was the yellow card and that was 100% correct. Nearly had a heart attack when Owens removed what looked like a red card from his pocket. Thankfully it was just his little card case with the cards inside.

No Quarter

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="voodoo" data-cid="538347" data-time="1446432520">
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Sure, I'm not crying about it. I'd just prefer us to not milk them at all costs you know, try and play the better rugby and all that. One day after a cracking finals qin, and I'm already picking holes...
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There were other times in the match where A Smith passed the ball over a Wallaby player lying on the ground. I think "milking them at all costs" is going a bit far - Moore was definitely in the way in that instance so he made sure the Ref pinged him. It's what a good half-back does, nothing cynical in it at all IMO.

The Silver Fern

World Cup Final match thread