For the record: I'm supporting you guys.

just threw up in my mouth a little

Wow. Just when you thought everyone had the complacency knocked out of them, Ireland Schmidt the bed.

@Frank said in RWC: Japan v Ireland (Pool A):

Schmidt is on to "Hometown."

Ireland are usually the most disciplined team on the pitch but they came out on the wrong end of a 9-6 penalty count, with Schmidt hinting at some frustrations at referee Angus Gardner – who the Ireland head coach had curiously decided to criticise as recently as Thursday.

“We’ll go back and have a look at it,” said Schmidt. “I certainly understand the frustrations of some of the players and in discussing things with them based on what I saw on the monitor, it’s not too dissimilar from the last time we had this referee.

Murray Kinsella

Another dismal day for Ireland at the World Cup as Schmidt's side crumble

The Ireland head coach was most frustrated by his side’s inability to push on from a 12-3 lead.

"Our brand of cynical bullshit finally got called on us. It happened with this referee last time but we were too stupid/arrogant/complacent to understand and rectify this either in our preparation, or during the game"

@chimoaus said in Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November:

@NTA As a neutral are we overreacting or were we really that shit?

I can't speak for all of you as a collective but some of you may be egging it a bit too much in terms of this game being a disaster beyond all disasters. The fact is, this has happened before (RWC2019 SF) and will happen again.

EDIT: I mean in terms of this being rugby. You have to accept losses. Just makes it hard for you bastards you only lose occasionally.

Argentina won the way you always beat the All Blacks: minimise your errors, make your tackles, and don't take any shit at set piece.

I've said it a few times the last month, but I think as fans you guys occasionally get carried away with the freakish skills some of your guys possess, and think that is the difference i.e. that they're just better as a group than everyone. Really, its just that the fifteen individuals you put on the park at one time (fourteen is S Barrett is playing ;)) are probably better players than the other blokes, but what is that saying about Champion Team versus Champion Individuals? Doesn't always work.

@mariner4life - in the same period - has pointed out a few times that when under the pump, the ABs haven't really looked that special. Nothing more than good even in Sydney - it was either dinky kicks breaking things open for you + counterattack (26-0 at halftime), or getting whacked (first part of the second half).

I count one set piece try in the period - and that was a 5 metre scrum where our flanker didn't get off in time at ANZ, leaving the wing stranded.

That has been the AB game plan since Henry / McCaw left: defend, counterattack, and (occasionally) pull off your skills and fitness, complemented occasionally by the odd piece of streaky bullshit. And I'm not saying those skills and fitness aren't great, because the winning record over the last decade speaks for itself.

BUT these skills and fitness aren't really built around any structure besides "You're the Fucking All Blacks, go out and win".

Looking at the last few weeks, maybe the depth isn't as good as everyone thinks. I'll talk about the tight five, because that's my jam.

Big concern for the Wallabies was second row in particular, but we generally stood up physically with Philip, LSL, and even Simmons. On the flipside, guys like Tuipolotou have not shown up with consistency. Whitelock is still a stalwart but looked a helluva lot better with BBBR (as would any of us!)

Your props are fine around the park but getting a bit of a lesson at scrum time, as a collective - that also comes back to your second row being a little frail. The combination there is important, and what stands out is you're not learning on the run. A couple of times the Wallabies put the ABs under pressure and you didn't adjust.

Must say that Coles is a fuckwit who throws his toys when he's not allowed to just swan around on the wing while everyone else does the hard yards (like Codie Taylor).

The backs are going through the motions, and look it isn't park footy and you can't always have a highly structured plan, but "play what's in front of you" has dangers of its own, especially when half the backline changes in the space of 2 weeks from A to B and back again.

Maybe making 9+ changes two weeks in a row wasn't the right decision. Maybe the selections and combinations are just wrong.

Regardless, you haven't really moved the needle in close to a decade, tactically speaking. It makes the ABs an easy target for coaches to plan for: front up physically, don't miss your tackles, and don't give away cheap ball. Of course, that relies on players executing and the Wallabies continue to be plagued by inconsistency.

Contrast Brisbane and Wellington versus ANZ and Auckland from a Wallabies point of view. Chalk and cheese in terms of execution.

The most burning example of this was Caleb Clarke: breaks 8 tackles on his way to setting up a try in Auckland, but was well looked after tonight. Simple game, really.

I've played suburban rugby in Sydney.

Every fucking Kiwi I played with or against was an All Blacks trialist.

Just ask them.

@geebee said in RWC Final: England v Springboks:

@NTA nah its true,and remind me where you are from and why you are here please?

Australian. Long time contributor here, and I've had my share of disagreements with these kiwi bastards but I'm not about to spout fuckwit statements like "not world champs to me".

Wind your neck in, you've got school tomorrow

Watched the game this afternoon.

First point to get out of the way: the bitching and fucking moaning from everyone. Pearce has the patience of a saint. I'd have been carding people left, right, and centre for some of that shit. Sexton was the worst (and yes Dane, he is a mouthy fluffybunny, you mouthy fluffybunny) but several on both sides weren't far behind.

The Ref: I saw a few things that went against the ABs early I thought were a bit rough but they didn't make a difference to the result IMHO; none of them were unrecoverable.

The game: Ireland won through intensity, accuracy, and cohesion. A lot of these guys have spent a lot of time together, and it shows.

The All Blacks' constant rotation shows in the lack of connection between a lot of players. Losing Beaugan early was a bit of a blow but all he'd done to that point was kick badly. Mo'unga continued the trend.

That was the story of the AB possession stats: kicking what little ball they had without purpose. The worst part was they'd do that around halfway, but inside their 22 they're taking dumb shit taps. Looked panicked and rudderless.

Some genuine stupidity in hitting Sexton late a couple of times, and TBH Blackadder was lucky not to escape harsher sanction; the ref was well within his right to explain to Whitelock that it was a clear professional foul and it had to stop, therefore yellow card was the lesson. There was a later one from Lomax on an Irish reserve which was just petty and stupid. Again: ref would have been well within his rights to go harder on that given repeat offences.

Foster must have a fucking airtight keg of powder in a secret volcano lair, that he's keeping dry for RWC2023, because the same basic, through-the-hands attack line happens again and again and again. No subtlety. No work off the ball. It is great when it is Aussie falling off tackles, making Akira Ioane look like a superstar, but looks utterly amateur when it is someone who doesn't miss very much.

The AB defence is built off waiting for a turnover (big de ja vu moment here as I type this), but they got fuck all in that department and so the rest of the plan - just score more points when the other side fuck up - fell to shit.

AB defence was outstanding in terms of tackle percentage BUT it was all down the wrong end. And add in that Ireland pick and choose their moment to go into contact that stands out, using their hands to create yards post-breakdown. The ruck is accurate and quick. The backline has bodies in motion, all players across the squad, with hands dropping the ball short and/or in behind to sweeping backline moves with varying depth, pace, and angle. Beautiful to watch, and similar to Scotland.

This isn't just the Wales-under-Gatland 2 dummy runners with a ball out the back that won a couple of 6N because NH sides didn't do back play back then. It is ambition and shows the work and planning to get that execution right when they're in their green zone - centre field - with what looks like no set ruck count like some over-engineered plans.

The Kiwi imports helped turn the screws. Lowe was great. The halfback was awesome. It shows the depth NZ is gifting to the world, but these guys played far better than their opposites.

Ringrose was the best on ground for me - always threatened, always hard to put away. Made the right decisions, stretched the defence.

But fucking hell their forwards put in some work. Utterly bitched the AB pack who looked like they'd just met in the carpark, and forgot to tell their backrow they were required for 80 minutes besides.

I'm not saying Whitelock and Retallick are a spent force, but you look at their effect on a game and think their best years are behind them besides pushing at scrum. Laulala is so hit and miss. Taylor is the guy you want to grind out the first 60 and then bring Coles on to be a niggly fluffybunny for 20. Moody needs to improve.

To me it was a great game to watch, and the right team won by at least the correct margin.

@duluth said in Wallabies vs Springboks I:

Anyone picking the Aussies?

@dogmeat said in 2018 Football World Cup:

So how bad must Saudi be?

@canefan said in Happiness Scale:

@nta said in Happiness Scale:

@canefan said in Happiness Scale:

@nta said in Happiness Scale:

@mariner4life said in Happiness Scale:

We've optimistically booked Fiji for April with the kids.

Just had a look at Denarau for June long weekend - pricing is pretty keen for a 4-night stay including flights.

I'd love that. Sadly I can't spare 2 weeks in MIQ on my return, even if I could get slots

Still a risk that'll happen in NZ? I would have thought some kind of timeline would be in place.

We aren't open to Fiji, Oz or anywhere other than the Cook Islands right now. So who knows when we can fly there and back without isolation on return.

Raro, then?

@canefan said in Happiness Scale:

@nta said in Happiness Scale:

@mariner4life said in Happiness Scale:

We've optimistically booked Fiji for April with the kids.

Just had a look at Denarau for June long weekend - pricing is pretty keen for a 4-night stay including flights.

I'd love that. Sadly I can't spare 2 weeks in MIQ on my return, even if I could get slots

Still a risk that'll happen in NZ? I would have thought some kind of timeline would be in place.

@mariner4life a lot of them are doing free cancellation by the looks - not much choice I guess...

@jc said in Happiness Scale:

Mrs JC went real strange and I thought I'd gone past some point of no return, then we talked and it turned out that she was avoiding mentioning it because she thought she had let me down and I would leave her. Funny, you get inside your own head and disappear up your own arse! It never occurred to me how much worse it was for my wife. We were both grieving but she felt guilty and scared as well.

Fucking bingo. The guilt factor is huge in couples when something isn't going right with procreation.

And not falling pregnant would be hard as shit. I can't imagine. Having a kid with a serious illness at birth, or genetic issues, etc...

When the boy was born 6 weeks early and had no end of health problems, we were both depressed and barely speaking because we were just so exhausted. The nurse we contacted after a month got us to see a counsellor and she eventually broke down with "... I feel like we should be happy but I've given you this broken little thing!"

At that point, what can you say?

@mariner4life said in Happiness Scale:

We've optimistically booked Fiji for April with the kids.

Just had a look at Denarau for June long weekend - pricing is pretty keen for a 4-night stay including flights.

@hooroo and how much space there is in the Pacific Ocean!

Those early Pasifika exporers going hundreds of miles in the centuries before European exploration... they were some hearty people...

He goes on to look at the modelling:

Stats from Casey Briggs who does the numbers at the ABC.