Rugby World Cup general discussion
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@kiwiinmelb said in Rugby World Cup general discussion:
That trend is about to change, looking like a smart move by South Africa with hindsight
the move is driving the change. We miss them - and I think they miss us.
Reality is the best comp to prepare you for Tests is no longer Super. We have a long road to get back - the NH did it in 8 years; we can do it and do it quickly, but we have to really re-look at the whole structure in NZ to make it work.
My confidence that this board will do that well is approximately zero.
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@nzzp said in Rugby World Cup general discussion:
My confidence that this board will do that well is approximately zero.
Be less than zero if Fozzie manages to orchestrate what would currently appear, impossible...
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@sparky Well, the NH is pretty certain to top all four pools, now.
On the other hand, hopefully all of the runners-up will be SH sides.
Let's wait and see how it all pans out.
In 2015, the SH won all four QFs, so will be interesting to see how strongly that trend reverses.
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so tasty. I can see Fiji giving England a hard time. I genuinely wouldn't tip any game with any confidence.
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Argentina have looked like dogshit so far, so it would be big for them to suddenly tip up Wales.
I can't see Fiji getting past England twice in a row.
France / SA will be a cracker.
I think we can and will beat Ireland. They are rightfully the best team in the world right now, but from what I saw today, we can beat that team if we get our kicking game and discipline right.
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@gt12 said in Rugby World Cup general discussion:
Argentina have looked like dogshit so far, so it would be big for them to suddenly tip up Wales.
agreed, but Wales have been poor for a while, and Aussie served the game up on a plate today. Wales will start deserved favourites but seeing them tipped over would not surprise.
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@gt12 said in Rugby World Cup general discussion:
Argentina have looked like dogshit so far, so it would be big for them to suddenly tip up Wales.
I can't see Fiji getting past England twice in a row.
France / SA will be a cracker.
I think we can and will beat Ireland. They are rightfully the best team in the world right now, but from what I saw today, we can beat that team if we get our kicking game and discipline right.
I reckon Englands rediscovered 10-man kicking game will see the game played mostly in Fiji territory and Fiji will beat themselves trying to win - comfortable 15pt England win for me
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@mariner4life said in Rugby World Cup general discussion:
@gt12 said in Rugby World Cup general discussion:
Argentina have looked like dogshit so far, so it would be big for them to suddenly tip up Wales.
agreed, but Wales have been poor for a while, and Aussie served the game up on a plate today. Wales will start deserved favourites but seeing them tipped over would not surprise.
Agree. Given where we were less than 12 months ago - losing to Georgia in Cardiff, coach being fired, general chaos - the idea that we have a shot at making a semifinal is barely believable.
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@GibbonRib said in Rugby World Cup general discussion:
@mariner4life said in Rugby World Cup general discussion:
@gt12 said in Rugby World Cup general discussion:
Argentina have looked like dogshit so far, so it would be big for them to suddenly tip up Wales.
agreed, but Wales have been poor for a while, and Aussie served the game up on a plate today. Wales will start deserved favourites but seeing them tipped over would not surprise.
Agree. Given where we were less than 12 months ago - losing to Georgia in Cardiff, coach being fired, general chaos - the idea that we have a shot at making a semifinal is barely believable.
this might be one of Gatland's biggest achievements. United the team, gave them some clear direction, and they are reaping the benefits. They were so professional dismantling Australia today.
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@mariner4life said in Rugby World Cup general discussion:
@GibbonRib said in Rugby World Cup general discussion:
@mariner4life said in Rugby World Cup general discussion:
@gt12 said in Rugby World Cup general discussion:
Argentina have looked like dogshit so far, so it would be big for them to suddenly tip up Wales.
agreed, but Wales have been poor for a while, and Aussie served the game up on a plate today. Wales will start deserved favourites but seeing them tipped over would not surprise.
Agree. Given where we were less than 12 months ago - losing to Georgia in Cardiff, coach being fired, general chaos - the idea that we have a shot at making a semifinal is barely believable.
this might be one of Gatland's biggest achievements. United the team, gave them some clear direction, and they are reaping the benefits. They were so professional dismantling Australia today.
Like most things done well, it looked simple too. Kick long within your 22, kick contestables outside but put them in their half, and ensure they can't use their set piece as a platform.
I'm not surprised that Gatland said they had clarity and a good training week for this game. It looked it.
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territory is everything at this world cup. The best teams are doing nothing in their half. And they are waiting on errors made by the team that is playing in their half. The SA v Ireland game was played between the 40s almost. France kicked us to death. England are kicking the ball constantly.
Kick very high or very long, don't play phases until you get past half way, turnover ball gets put in behind. Then squeeze on defence.
Our issue will be we don't kick well, and we can't get at the opposition set piece, so we lose the territory game.
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@mariner4life Also our kick chase has been poor
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@Duluth said in Rugby World Cup general discussion:
@mariner4life Also our kick chase has been poor
yeah, weirdly. Some of it is decision making, like v France where we put up a high kick to the wing of the guy who took the previous run. I also don't think we kick high enough to give ourselves a chance.
The flip side is we don't protect our wingers well then teams kick to us.
Fuck, we're bad at detail aren't we?
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@mariner4life said in Rugby World Cup general discussion:
Our issue will be we don't kick well, and we can't get at the opposition set piece, so we lose the territory game.
Yet the only decent kicker in the squad is Roigard who can't crack the 23 and if he does is unlikely to get many minutes.
Edit - I'll add DMac shows some ability with punting but likewise he can't crack the 23
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@KiwiMurph said in Rugby World Cup general discussion:
@mariner4life said in Rugby World Cup general discussion:
Our issue will be we don't kick well, and we can't get at the opposition set piece, so we lose the territory game.
Yet the only decent kicker in the squad is Roigard who can't crack the 23 and if he does is unlikely to get many minutes.
Edit - I'll add DMac shows some ability with punting but likewise he can't crack the 23
DMac is easily our best 10 for this Cup but will not make the 23
I have very high hopes for he and Roigard next year
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@mariner4life also one of our better chasers, instead of contesting in the air as he usually does, stayed on the ground (at least 3 occasions that I can recall) and got carded for clattering into the man in the air.
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@mariner4life said in Rugby World Cup general discussion:
territory is everything at this world cup. The best teams are doing nothing in their half. And they are waiting on errors made by the team that is playing in their half. The SA v Ireland game was played between the 40s almost. France kicked us to death. England are kicking the ball constantly.
Kick very high or very long, don't play phases until you get past half way, turnover ball gets put in behind. Then squeeze on defence.
Our issue will be we don't kick well, and we can't get at the opposition set piece, so we lose the territory game.
This 100% and exactly how the Chiefs played this year only to fail at the end. If Foster cannot see the meta every other top coach can then he really is a muppet.
Penalties for holding on has almost become a strategy and viable option and where NZ really struggles. IRE and SA are two of the best at this and even they could not protect the ball carrier on every carry, if you get pinged in your 50 for holding on and its 3 points or 5 meter lineout. That is what makes spreading it wide in your 50 so dangerous, Telea got caught a number of times and others too.
I would argue exiting is getting as important as set piece, the inability to exit your half just lead to pressure and points. Of all the teams at the WC you will notice they will almost always have someone who can exit to halfway. For us Jordie, Dmac, Roigard are arguably the best, Stevenson of course at home could also play this roll. Having Telea, CC and BB means we simply don't have anyone back there that will win a kicking territory contest.
I think the AB's rate players on attacking ability far too much, whereas NH sides seem to build their teams around defence, exits etc.
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@mariner4life said in Rugby World Cup general discussion:
territory is everything at this world cup. The best teams are doing nothing in their half. And they are waiting on errors made by the team that is playing in their half. The SA v Ireland game was played between the 40s almost. France kicked us to death. England are kicking the ball constantly.
Kick very high or very long, don't play phases until you get past half way, turnover ball gets put in behind. Then squeeze on defence.
Our issue will be we don't kick well, and we can't get at the opposition set piece, so we lose the territory game.
It seems simple, doesn't it!
A basic tenet of rugby - don't fuck around in your own half and especially not in your own 22.
