Olympics Thread

WillieTheWaiter

is titch secure? guess we'll see how they progress first.
 
not holding my breath from what I saw. Saffas look blimin awesome.

KiwiPie

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="WillieTheWaiter" data-cid="604692" data-time="1470808242">
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is titch secure? guess we'll see how they progress first.
 
not holding my breath from what I saw. Saffas look blimin awesome.
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I always thought he would retire after the Olympics win or lose.

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="WillieTheWaiter" data-cid="604685" data-time="1470806440">
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gonna be controversial here and say I believe to a certain extent that the game has moved on and Titch hasn't kept up... and the above comments are tantamount to nothing more than an ar$e covering exercise.
 
NZ normally leads the way in how to play footy, but I reckon we're lagging behind now - we're stuck in a frame of mind that bigger bodies win games. Noticed in both the womans and the mens games that the teams are inclined to take the ball into contact a lot - was especially noticable in the nz aus chicks game. The thing is you don't need to be big to get over and nick the ball so it's frikkin dangerous.
 
Other teams have spread the net wider and have roped in 'athletic' types and taught them how to catch a ball.. maybe the point above stops titch doing that, or those people just don't exist in nz
 
summed up by womans coach (when winding up the aussies)
Kiwi coach Sean Horan claimed: "The Australians don't like pressure, they don't like the physical side,"
 
they couldn't give a sh*t about the physical side, cause they know they can gas us on the outside every time. same for the mens.
 
anyway our thinking is currently wrong - you just need to look at this years results for proof. we are too slooooooooow.
 
you can't train genetics, but you can train someone how to catch the ball.
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This is the NZ track and field champs 100m result: <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://athnz.imgstg.com/Results/nztf2015/160304F002.htm'>http://athnz.imgstg.com/Results/nztf2015/160304F002.htm</a>
 
Someone like Julian Savea could run about 11.5 seconds when he was at school so could probably do 11 seconds now. Savea is quick but doesn't provide the sort of gas you are referring to. I think we have gone physical because those are our strengths. What speedsters do we have in New Zealand who want to be a 7's player and weren't picked?
 
33 Americans competed at the 100m at the US trials and they all went quicker than the NZ champ <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2016/U-S--Olympic-Team-Trials---Track---Field/Results.aspx'>http://www.usatf.org/Events---Calendar/2016/U-S--Olympic-Team-Trials---Track---Field/Results.aspx</a>. USA had as many women who can go sub11 as we do men. If we want gas, we basically have to hope that of the maybe 10 people who run sub 11, 1 of them can tackle, pass and catch a ball.

Wurzel

The thing is grinding down opposition with big guys is a very un-New Zealand way of playing rugby. New Zealanders in any grade or form of the game are taught to find space through ballwork and footwork - it's almost instinctual for any kid growing up in the game is this country. It's as if Titch has trained the natural instincts out of the NZ 7s boys.

taniwharugby

front row seats to watch Phelps win his 20th...
 
<img src="https://scontent-syd1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13900135_1089919064378138_3358664450073082779_n.jpg?oh=48c6d45fd8056e297ba325bad274ae42&oe=581F12A9" alt="13900135_1089919064378138_33586644500730">

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="604682" data-time="1470805029">
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It's more about centralisation than being 'in camp' as such.
 
They are full-time professionals here in Aus, so it makes sense they all live in the same city. They have a training base on the Northern Beaches of Sydney which is where they are based when they aren't on the road.
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There was a story about Amy Turner, originally from the Pacific Island of Tokoroa, in my local newspaper. She left her high-paying job in the mines to move to Sydney so she could focus fulltime on sevens.

Disgusted of TW

Just saw the swimming results from last night. My niece's boyfriend (Andy Willis) won his 200m breaststroke semi and is a good shout for a medal, whilst her friend won silver in the 200m medley (Siobhan-Marie O'Connor). 
That's my "six degrees of separation" answer for "Olympic medallist" sorted at last.

dogmeat

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Disgusted of TW" data-cid="604702" data-time="1470814286">Just saw the swimming results from last night. My niece's boyfriend (Andy Willis) won his 200m breaststroke semi and is a good shout for a medal, whilst her friend won silver in the 200m medley (Siobhan-Marie O'Connor). 
That's my "six degrees of separation" answer for "Olympic medallist" sorted at last.</blockquote>
 
Pah 
My massage therapist has rubbed the calves of at least 3 gold medalists 
He specialises in elite athletes ðŸ™„

Disgusted of TW

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="dogmeat" data-cid="604704" data-time="1470814676">Pah 
My massage therapist has rubbed the calves of at least 3 gold medalists 
He specialises in elite athletes </blockquote>
 
Do you have his contact details? Now that I'm an elite-swimmer-by-flimsy-association I feel my calves becoming more tense.

mikedogz

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.rampagingrugby.com/the-beaver-has-been-called-up-to-join-the-nz-sevens-after-shock-loss-to-japan/'>http://www.rampagingrugby.com/the-beaver-has-been-called-up-to-join-the-nz-sevens-after-shock-loss-to-japan/</a>
 
beaver got the call

canefan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mikedogz" data-cid="604709" data-time="1470816683"><a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.rampagingrugby.com/the-beaver-has-been-called-up-to-join-the-nz-sevens-after-shock-loss-to-japan/">http://www.rampagingrugby.com/the-beaver-has-been-called-up-to-join-the-nz-sevens-after-shock-loss-to-japan/</a> 
 
beaver got the call</blockquote>Richie McCaw is there too...

TeWaio

I don't mind that the name "All Blacks" has been extended to all the NZ rugby teams. Good for global exposure to the brand, and some of the aura rubs off onto the lesser teams. Even if they sometimes lose to Japan grits teeth. 
We're still bloody good at every level/format of the game, and at the top of the tree, the actual All Blacks, we're damn near unbeatable. Glass half full and all that.

Donsteppa

On the plus side for Sevens, the game is short enough and open enough that even if we haven't got it quite right, we've still got a good shot at Gold, Silver or Bronze. 
One of the reasons I'd resist pulling 15 players out of the entire Super rugby season (as half the callers to Radio Sport wanted to do yesterday afternoon) is that an early intercept pass and a dodgy yellow card can tip you out much quicker than, say, being down 14 - 0 after ten minutes in fifteen aside.

Donsteppa

... Given somehow Samoa didn't even qualify for the Sevens too...

Mokey

Agree with the comments about playing the wrong sort of sevens game now.
 
Big doesn't matter. Fast with a fend does. Look at someone like Perry Baker for the USA. Skinny as a rake, gangly and awkward, but fast as fuck. The USA are one of the many sevens team who have beaten us now, and it is because they play sevens like sevens, not like half a 15 side.
 
It's not about the breakdowns and scrums and set pieces and being a tank. it's about being fast enough so when the guy from the other team takes off, you've got a show in getting there and tackling him, or at least slowing him down until help arrives. And in turn, being fast enough to step the opposition or get an intercept. Quick hands, ball handling, sharp, accurate passing.
 
That is where we are lagging behind.

jegga

Bloody sevens team have hurt the aura 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11691212'>http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11691212</a>

hydro11

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mokey" data-cid="604715" data-time="1470819511">
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Agree with the comments about playing the wrong sort of sevens game now.
 
Big doesn't matter. Fast with a fend does. Look at someone like Perry Baker for the USA. Skinny as a rake, gangly and awkward, but fast as fuck. The USA are one of the many sevens team who have beaten us now, and it is because they play sevens like sevens, not like half a 15 side.
 
It's not about the breakdowns and scrums and set pieces and being a tank. it's about being fast enough so when the guy from the other team takes off, you've got a show in getting there and tackling him, or at least slowing him down until help arrives. And in turn, being fast enough to step the opposition or get an intercept. Quick hands, ball handling, sharp, accurate passing.
 
That is where we are lagging behind.
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If speed is all that matters then we have as much chance of betting the USA, South Africa and Kenya in 7's as we do of beating them in a 4 by 100 relay. Do people really think we can put out 7 players quicker than those countries can? Can anyone name me one quick guy who wasn't picked for the 7's team and who was available? We could start Kaka over Pulu but I actually think Pulu has been very good. Plus Kaka probably doesn't provide the out and out gas you are talking about.
 
Kenya are quicker than us and we just thrashed them. The USA are also quicker than us and we finished ahead of them in the series (although they beat us several times). Speed is an asset and we would love to have a quick guy but we don't. It's a bit like saying why doesn't our basketball team pick more 7ft players or why doesn't our football team pick players who can dribble through the other side? We don't have many of those types of players and the ones we do have aren't good enough.

No Quarter

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="604716" data-time="1470820865">
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Bloody sevens team have hurt the aura <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11691212'>http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11691212</a>
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FFS. We've worked hard to keep aura safe and then the 7s team go and treat her like a cheap stripper and lose to Japan.
 
McCaw needs to get her on the plane back to Auckland ASAP.

hydro11

Harping on a bit but Usain Bolt's world record is 9.58 and Carlin Isles can run 10.13. The quickest New Zealand sprinter Wyatt ran 10.64 at the Nationals this year. So the gap from Wyatt to Isles is about the same as the gap from Isles to the fastest man ever. I think that just illustrates how we cannot win tournaments just based on speed. We will always have a speed disadvantage which we have to make up in other facets.

No Quarter

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="604723" data-time="1470822928">
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Harping on a bit but Usain Bolt's world record is 9.58 and Carlin Isles can run 10.13. The quickest New Zealand sprinter Wyatt ran 10.64 at the Nationals this year. So the gap from Wyatt to Isles is about the same as the gap from Isles to the fastest man ever. I think that just illustrates how we cannot win tournaments just based on speed. We will always have a speed disadvantage which we have to make up in other facets.
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It's not so much the out and out speed that is the problem (IMO). Someone like Ben Smith isn't super fast over 100m but by fuck he's elusive, which is the type of player we need.
 
But more importantly we need a coach that hasn't become obsessed with the "physical" side of the game. I saw him on the news saying we dominated the physical aspects like the tackle and rucks against Kenya which is why we won, and that we didn't do that against Japan. That, to me, makes no sense. In a game where there's only 14 players in total on a full sized rugby pitch, surely exploiting space is the name of the game.
 
The rucks in 7s are a joke and can go either way regardless of the size of the players competing - if I was coach I'd want to avoid the ruck as much as possible given how much of a lottery they are, and how random the refs interpretations are. You can't just commit 4 - 5 guys to a ruck to ensure you win it like you do in 15s.
 
I get the feeling Titch has been in the job too long and has become a bit narrow in his thinking. We need to freshen things up with some new ideas.
 
In saying that, as Don pointed out 7s is overall a bit of a lottery so we are still a decent chance of a medal.

The Silver Fern

Olympics Thread