Roar Pro
Joined October 2012
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Long time rugby nut.
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On Saturday I rolled on in Pukekohe and waved bye-bye to the Ranfurly Shield. Hawkes Bay were deserving winners and the we (Counties) were…
Next weekend's Test against the Springboks is pivotal for the struggling Wallabies. After a loss to England, the end of year tour provided some…
The 51-20 hammering of the Wallabies at Eden Park by the All Blacks was a new points record for the All Blacks against the…
Former All Black coach Bryce Rope died on Saturday aged 90. He coached the All Blacks in 83-84, winning nine and drawing one out…
This year we saw the southern big three initiate Argentina into what is now being called the Rugby Championship. With six out of seven…
A sorry saga all round, but is now in the past. Time to look forward.
Opportunity to appoint a new coach and Lions tour and WC on the horizon.
'I feel terrible, but...: Defiant Eddie Jones unveiled as Japan coach, JRFU reveals their version of THAT Zoom call
Agree in parts, but there needs to be clear limits and rules 5 rucks happened between the lineout and the try, what if there had been 10 or 20?
Anything but a snorefest: Revisiting one of the most fascinating RWC finals ever
The ruling out of the try I found odd.
The ref indicated he had seen the knock on, deemed it OK, and called play to carry on.
The TMO then intervened, on the error after 5 rucks had passed. My understanding was the TMO only went two rucks back.
Rules may have changed in that regard, not sure.
The NRL has a good TMO system, ref if he has a doubt after a try asks the TMO to check, normally for something specific and adds if the thinks he would award the try or not with further information.
Anything but a snorefest: Revisiting one of the most fascinating RWC finals ever
Unfortunately with the season over in our part of the world, there isn’t enough rugby being played to generate other stories.
Would hope that the stories on this fade, he is gone, past can’t be changed.
Favourites for the Wallabies head coach role?
'Who cares?': Eddie has no regrets about Wallabies disaster but takes swipes at RA and media
Is there going to be ” The Brighton miracle” sequel?
'Completely unfair': Eddie sledge that angered Waugh, new coaching contenders emerge to rebuild Wallabies
Rugby like lots of sports is always decided by errors. A perfect game, could be 0-0, no penalties, missed tackles etc.
Every ref in every game makes errors, some are clear and seen, some are not.
I would rather a ref made an honest error than an decision where he favours one side
Yes Barnes made errors, but so did the players and the All Blacks errors cost them points against as well as points for.
Boks made less errors(goal kicking top of mind) and therefore won fairly.
Cane’s red, maybe should been yellow, but if you infringe in such a way, you run that risk If Cane hadn’t committed his error, there would have been nothing to rule on.
Perhaps the occasions of when and what cards needs adjusting, but the players knew how the game is being currently officiated.
As fans, we seem to make becoming a ref as unappealing as possible.
SPIRO ZAVOS: 'Crazy brave' Boks are a team for the ages - but key decisions cleared their path to glory
Rugby in Australia ends the year on a positive note.
Looking forward to seeing who is going be next and hopefully coach through to the next WC.
All Blacks lose lots of their senior players, so with a decent coach, a shorter injury list, sensible selection and some luck, next year should see a good contest for the Bledisloe.
Then you have the Lions the following year and the WC in 2027.
You need to identify a solid long term captain, ideally playing in one of you Super Rugby squads.
Don’t blow heaps of cash on an NRL star, it’s only really outside backs that can convert now and you have OK players out wide. Develop a few more quality forwards.
If the pack is going well, backs get better!
Old Eddie reminded me of a older V8 that you buy, even though you should have stuck with a sensible family sedan.
Sounds really good, but costs heaps to run, let’s you down at the worst moments and the stain in the garage serves as a reminder of the costly fail.
Best part is off-loading it to another smuck down the road.
Eddie Jones quits as Wallabies coach - 'Sometimes you have to eat s--t for others to eat caviar'
It was a shame to have the match influenced by the cards, but as the game is officiated at the moment, if you make contact with the head, then you risk sanction and leave your fate in other’s hands.
The oddest decision was ruling out the try.
The ref saw it and called it play on, can understand if an error was unsighted for the TMO to get involved.
With a try awarded a few minutes later it hasn’t been debated that much.
Really disappointed as an All Black fan with the result, as we outplayed the Boks in the 2nd half, but missed a couple of goals and opportunities, therefore the Boks, who took all their point scoring chances, deserved the win.
Next year, new coaches and pretty different squads and this great contest will be on again
'So many s--t emotions:' Distraught Cane says he'll have to live with red card pain 'forever', Foz questions Kolisi escape
I think the 20 minute red card is a good idea.
But the sanction of a full red should also be retained for intentional foul play.
But as the game is ruled now, Cane’s card was on the threshold, and red was a fair outcome, as a yellow would have been.
SA skipper’s card could have also been red.
In the end we had some opportunities to win and didn’t nail them.
'So many s--t emotions:' Distraught Cane says he'll have to live with red card pain 'forever', Foz questions Kolisi escape
Well done to the Boks.
As All Blacks fans we have plenty to moan about, but if you make mistakes and allow the officials to make a decision, then it can go against you.
Good effort a man down, but we missed two goals and a couple of other opportunities and that cost us the game.
THE GREATEST! Boks beat All Blacks in instant classic to claim record FOURTH RWC in controversial, dramatic final
Bloody wow!
That is an upset for the ages.
Well done Wallaroos. Keep on bringing it.
Woman’s game, growing like a mushroom, we in our hemisphere should celebrate these results, as this branch of rugby will bare many fruit
Let us lead in this level as well.
Southern Hemisphere strong
'F---ing team effort!': Hat-trick hero's classic reaction after Wallaroos stun France
He certainly wears his heart on his sleeve.
Rugby officials, must have the hardest role in sport and having international coaches criticise them after games doesn’t help.
Was he upset about the clear forward pass?
Otherwise, a decent game for the bronze match.
'The players deserved better': Cheika's fury returns as England hang on against Argentina to win RWC bronze medal
Almost no comparison to All Blacks in 2007.
At that point the All Blacks were No 1, and played a fired up French team in the quarters who knocked them over.
The only decision from NZR, was keep Henry or appoint Deans.
Wallabies are where the All Blacks were in 2007 - it's time to look in the mirror or risk more embarrassment
Hope he goes soon.
Then have a summer, a super season and by the time the July tests come round, the focus can be on the game, not the drama.
'I'm so pissed off': Eddie open to walking away from Wallabies if it suits RA, sticks knife into Hoops, Quade
It would be great for Foster to go out on top.
Stephen Donald was hated and ridiculed after the Hong Kong loss to the Wallabies a couple of years prior to the 2011 WC
But after multiple injuries he played the WC final, played really well and became a national hero, Bever, the guy who got the call up while whitebaiting.
So a win on Sunday, and the lasting memory of Foster will be, he won the big one, against the odds.
Funny, fickle bunch we are, the rugby public.
'Mowing lawns': Fozzie reveals next job and future plans, explains 'toughest' selection call of career for RWC final
Doing it for your country is nice hyperbole, and makes the players feel good, but the wrongs and troubles of a nation, will be exactly the same, win, lose or draw.
The potential to make a good percentage of the population happy and forget their ills for a while, is about it.
The All Blacks have the same pride in their jersey and country as the Boks.
Listen to losing Irish and English Captains after their respective losses, both said how proud they were of their countries. So I don’t think any team can claim to have any real extra Spence of purpose.
It’s the World Cup final, somehow I don’t think any player on either team will lack for motivation.
Legacy vs ego: The Springboks are playing for South Africa, the All Blacks are playing for themselves
Springboks have declared their intentions, All Blacks know what’s coming, countering is another story.
A couple of backline injuries and they may have an issue.
About the team I expected from the ABs, Nepo getting the nod on his scrum work.
If we can match in the scrums, then most other areas I see advantage NZ.
However the Boks have the players to break a game open and are quality which ever style they are playing.
In years gone by the ultimate test for the All Blacks was touring South Africa and winning there, which was only achieved in 1996. I guess beating NZ at home was right up there for the Boks as well, only done in 1937.
In the professional World Cup era, this is the absolute pinnacle, All Blacks vs Springboks in the WC final.
Only adding another layer on top is becoming the only team to be crowned world champion 4 times.
To all rugby followers, especially Springbok and All Blacks fans, I hope you saviour the build up, anticipation and the match.
All Blacks by 10.
COMPLETE RWC finals teams: All Blacks' answer to Boks' bold 7-1 bench call, Smith returns for England
Team will be the same as last week, only maybes are bench hooker and swapping a starting and bench lock.
COMPLETE RWC finals teams: All Blacks' answer to Boks' bold 7-1 bench call, Smith returns for England
The English played in a way that gave them a shot in this particular match.
There lead in wasn’t great and they just stripped it back using some of their outside back height advantage.
Would hope they develop their resources over the coming years.
Having 5 teams that can beat each other at the top is better than 4!
SPIRO ZAVOS: England's bully boy, no rugby display against Boks is the game they play in hell. Now for the salvation
I’m a Kiwi, so absolutely biased in my opinion, All Blacks by 10ish.
However I know both teams can win. Plenty of respect for the Springboks as opponents.
I think that the All Blacks have had a good run to the final, are a team rising and all the collective pieces of the puzzle have come together at the perfect time.
Well done both teams and here’s hoping for a game befitting the occasion.
COMPLETE RWC finals teams: All Blacks' answer to Boks' bold 7-1 bench call, Smith returns for England
Don’t think it will make a huge amount of difference. 20 or 24, as it stands only 5 teams have played the WC final including this year’s edition.
NZ-5, SA-4, Aus-4, Eng-4, Fra-3. Those 5 have occupied all 20 spots.
Add Argentina-3, Wales-3 and Scotland-1, are the only teams to compete at the semi finals.
Outside of those 8, only Ireland realistically could/should/would join, the final 4 contenders. But those facts aren’t good or bad, I don’t think, that’s just our game.
The top teams compete to make to the final stages and I can’t see that changing.
For the lower ranked teams, often making it to the tournament is the goal and that helps the sport in their countries.
It will provide a knockout, get out of the pool game for some lesser lights, and while the results may be lopsided, it will be something to celebrate for a minor rugby nation.
Breathe easy Aussies, World Rugby has devalued the 2027 RWC by expansion - and even the Wallabies are safe
Nations cup, while I will watch and enjoy, is probably to much of a good thing.
The test schedule of 12, 13, 14+ games a season means fans can get a increasing amount of their annual rugby “fix” by following their national team.
'It will kill rugby': Minnows feel shafted as World Rugby hails 'historic' revamp with exclusive Nations Championship
Good point and heard.
I guess what I’m trying to say, is 20 years ago, or all rugby history up till reasonably recently, scrum domination didn’t equal penalty and points. Yes the ability to be better in scrums should provide reward, but there is a far greater impact of the sanction than the original intention for scrums. In my humble opinion.
UK VIEW: 'Utter heartbreak' for 'brilliant, cunning, courageous' Poms in WC semi 'undeservedly' won by Boks
I think it fair to say, it could have been France/Ireland, as in those two quarter finals the teams were pretty even, but obviously one team finished with more points at the end.
I think the point with SA and NZ, is they constantly strong, meaning either one or both are favoured to make the final at every tournament, or at least be in the running.
France, England and Ireland are in the conversation at some tournaments, but not all.
The All Blacks for 24 years, seemed to enter as favourites and exit as disappointed.
If Ireland or France can be at the same level at every WC, their time will come.
The Wrap: There's a reason Boks and All Blacks are at the big boys' table - the rest have to earn their way onto it
Strong choice, good organised, methodical coach. Was certainly a big part of the rise of Irish rugby.
Get some Australian assistants with him, with an eye to building the next head coach.
Exclusive: Wallabies to turn to Kiwi Schmidt as Eddie Jones' replacement