Olympics Thread
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="604926" data-time="1470877578">
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<p>I agree with it being a lot easier for women. For men we have already seen that most All Blacks aren't interested and only a couple of Super Rugby players are. The way the team went isn't going to inspire many young rugby players to want to go to Tokyo.</p>
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<p>If I were the ARU/NZRU I'd be trying to get a few photos of the lads pissing it up in the Village with Swedish handballers/Ukrainian gymnasts/Brazilian volleyballers.</p>
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<p>Reckon that might do more to attract blokes to Tokyo than anything that happens on the field...</p> -
<p>It's very disappointing, but if building an awesome 7s teams means weakening the 15s in any way then forget it. 7s is a sideshow and always will be.</p>
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<p>Interestingly enough my Norwegian wife (who normally doesn't give a shit about rugby despite always checking the results to check my moods - bless her) rather enjoyed the 7s. She felt it was much easier to follow and much more exciting.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="604913" data-time="1470874182"><p>
To whit:<br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="http://www.daimenhutchison.com/rugby/index.php?app=core&module=attach§ion=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=2065">bigscreenwork.jpg</a></p></blockquote>
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That looks a familiar building Nick. Is that by chance in Martin Place? -
Interesting point RS, my JP wife is the same - she'll go watch the sevens when it's in town, but good fucking luck getting her to watch a full game of 15s.<br><br>
Having said that, I could not give a fuck that we lost. We've been mostly shit all year. I was kind of supporting Fiji anyway (I know, I know). <br><br>
I'm so totally over the olympics anyway, with all the fucking ridiculous swimming events, the first week is fucking boring and stupid.<br><br>
Phelps has the first two places on the most medals won, and four in the top 20 now (I think) with a bunch of other swimmers (and a few gymnasts from back in the days when specialization wasn't as common). <br><br>
There are just too many swimming events. If you're great at 200 meter freestyle you're likely to also be good at 400 meter freestyle. If you're the best butterfly swimmer over 100 metres, it's fucking likely you'll be the best over 200, or at least medal. How many specialist 200 meter butterfly swimmers are there? What's the fucking point of this? And it's all over the program, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 1500 just for freestyle, plus relays, plus 100 & 200 for others plus medleys and medley relays. <br><br>
There are too many chances for strong programs to get medals and too many chances for strong swimmers to get medals. I'm totally over it and don't get why sports that would be good there (eg, squash or other smaller sports) can't get in while this over bloated shit is there.<br><br>
And don't get me started on tennis, golf, or soccer. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gt12" data-cid="604942" data-time="1470882873">
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<p>Interesting point RS, my JP wife is the same - she'll go watch the sevens when it's in town, but good fucking luck getting her to watch a full game of 15s.<br><br>
Having said that, I could not give a fuck that we lost. We've been mostly shit all year. I was kind of supporting Fiji anyway (I know, I know).<br><br>
I'm so totally over the olympics anyway, with all the fucking ridiculous swimming events, the first week is fucking boring and stupid.<br><br>
Phelps has the first two places on the most medals won, and four in the top 20 now (I think) with a bunch of other swimmers (and a few gymnasts from back in the days when specialization wasn't as common).<br><br>
There are just too many swimming events. If you're great at 200 meter freestyle you're likely to also be good at 400 meter freestyle. If you're the best butterfly swimmer over 100 metres, it's fucking likely you'll be the best over 200, or at least medal. How many specialist 200 meter butterfly swimmers are there? What's the fucking point of this? And it's all over the program, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 1500 just for freestyle, plus relays, plus 100 & 200 for others plus medleys and medley relays.<br><br>
There are too many chances for strong programs to get medals and too many chances for strong swimmers to get medals. I'm totally over it and don't get why sports that would be good there (eg, squash or other smaller sports) can't get in while this over bloated shit is there.<br><br>
And don't get me started on tennis, golf, or soccer.</p>
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<p>Swimming doesn't keep out squash though. The IOC asks a city to build a swimming pool that can fit heaps of media and fans. You need to have a proper programme because of that. I also don't see why events that someone doesn't would take away from events that people do.</p> -
<p>I love watching the swimming, have been far more into it than the sevens as an example.</p>
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<p>but then again I'm a life long swimmer myself, still training with a Masters squad 4-5 times weekly.</p>
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<p>the camera angles and the commentators are excellent, really great discussion on different techniques etc.</p>
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<p>And yes, there are plenty of swimmers who specialise in 200 fly. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="604921" data-time="1470876370"><p>And the occasional hip n shoulder ;)<br><br><a class="bbc_url" href="https://vine.co/v/5bwdt0X3MiD">https://vine.co/v/5bwdt0X3MiD</a></p></blockquote>
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Yeah that was a really hard foul give where Bogut landed his shoulder. Ol' Gaze was at his cheerleading best on that play, "that's just a little man running into a big man" [emoji846] -
<p>Fuck it, if you're going to foul, you may as well do it properly. </p>
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<p>Taking a wider view - i'd say mens 7s Olympic debut has been wonderfully successful so far - some real upsets, it is truly competitive. 3 out of the 4 quarterfinals were nail biters, the quarterfinal placings came down to the last play of the last pool game and were decided by 1 for/against margin point.</p>
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I've watched the 7s and enjoyed it, but the basketball is where my main attention is at. Some of the games have been intense in that Pool B like that Serbia v France, Brazil v Spain and Croatia v Spain. <br><br>
Some huge games coming up to with Lithuania yet to play Argentina and Spain. And then the big Sth American game of Brazil v Argies. <br><br>
Can't wait for the crossover games also. -
<p>Olympic golf starts tonight with the men up first. Should be pretty interesting as its a relatively immature course with not a lot of trees at all an no real rough, just a huge amount of bunkers, lots of water and about 30-40 of the worlds biggest rodents making themselves at home on the course.</p>
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<p><img src="http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/d/f/f/b/z/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1dffdk.png/1470830227196.jpg" alt="1470830227196.jpg"></p>
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<p>Danny is in the 2nd group so an early start at 7.41am local time (so 10.41 here I think) and playing with Harrington and Manassero so not a bad group.</p>
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<p>Foxy is off at 10.36am with Cjehka of Germany and Olsesen from Denmark.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="604949" data-time="1470883799">
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<p>Fuck it, if you're going to foul, you may as well do it properly. </p>
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<p>contrary to popular belief basketball is not tiddlywinks</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Ben" data-cid="604968" data-time="1470889140">
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<p>What the fuck is that?</p>
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<p>Capybara. Largest rodent in the world. They have them at Auckland zoo, they are about the size of a medium sized pig</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="604937" data-time="1470881409">
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<p>It's very disappointing, but if building an awesome 7s teams means weakening the 15s in any way then forget it. 7s is a sideshow and always will be.</p>
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<p>Interestingly enough my Norwegian wife (who normally doesn't give a shit about rugby despite always checking the results to check my moods - bless her) rather enjoyed the 7s. <strong>She felt it was much easier to follow and much more exciting</strong>.</p>
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<p>For the casual I am sure this is almost 100% true. It appears to have been a great success and well received so far, hopefully it stays at the games for a while</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="barbarian" data-cid="604934" data-time="1470879565">
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<p>If I were the ARU/NZRU I'd be trying to get a few photos of the lads pissing it up in the Village with <strong>Swedish handballers/Ukrainian gymnasts/Brazilian volleyballers.</strong></p>
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<p>Reckon that might do more to attract blokes to Tokyo than anything that happens on the field...</p>
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<p>You do mean the girls right? :think:</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="JK" data-cid="604960" data-time="1470886139">
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<p>Olympic golf starts tonight with the men up first. Should be pretty interesting as its a relatively immature course with not a lot of trees at all an no real rough, just a huge amount of bunkers, lots of water and about 30-40 of the worlds biggest rodents making themselves at home on the course.</p>
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<p><img src="http://www.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/d/f/f/b/z/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.620x349.1dffdk.png/1470830227196.jpg" alt="1470830227196.jpg"></p>
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<p>Danny is in the 2nd group so an early start at 7.41am local time (so 10.41 here I think) and playing with Harrington and Manassero so not a bad group.</p>
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<p>Foxy is off at 10.36am with Cjehka of Germany and Olsesen from Denmark.</p>
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<p>There's a little rivalry between Lee and Manassero (unbeknownst to them): Manasser broke Danny Lee's record as the youngest ever winner on the European Tour. Go get revenge Danny!</p>
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<p>With such a small field there is no really bad afternoon tee times where a golfer has to play all 18 holes battling the wind. So scoring should be low throughout.</p>
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<p>The course is relatively short, too, so should suit Foxy who could bomb his way around. Really unfortunate that it's not a team's event with alternate shot. Foxy could crush it off the tee and Danny's short iron and wedge game could then knock near the hole.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="tubbyj" data-cid="604828" data-time="1470862388"><p>
Seems Sir Clive Woodward has been laughing it up on the BBC coverage which alot of other countrys pick up and really hammering home 'The All Blacks' lost to Japan, 'The All Blacks' are out at the quarter finals, 'The All Blacks' only won 1 out of 4 games .</p></blockquote>
I thought Lord Bald used to tell his players to refer to them as New Zealand not the All Blacks.
