Un-Australian Activities 2019

[Dan54]

My argument was that the finals are redundant. If the best team always wins, i.e. the team coming first, why have them? It doesnt really blow it to bits.

I don't disagree with that premise Derpus, provided every team plays each other, finals should never be needed in any sports!!

 

[Brumby Runner]

He hasn't said where yet but Matt Todd has confirmed* what pretty much everyone expected, that he's heading offshore:

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/s...tt-todd-confirmed-as-another-departing-player

(*Actually, technically it was Sam Whitelock who confirmed it in his post-match).

Unlucky to have his career overlap with that of the GOAT & more recently Cane or he'd have surely played way more than 17 Tests. A great Cantab & CruSadist.

Really thought Todd was close to MOTM. He was in everything.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Stand out point for me was the jags woeful kicking.

Just watched the extended highlights on Rugby Nation & it was really evident how dangerous Jags were when their 10 was standing flat & putting guys into space vs how unthreatening they were when he started dropping back into the pocket & putting in nothing kicks straight to Havili, Bridge etc. Hard to tell whether that was the 10 taking it upon himself to make the change or whether it was communicated by El Medico who seemed to be having a good old chat with Creevy at pretty much every lineout.......

 

[wamberal]

I think the Jaguares performance is being a bit under-appreciated here. They deserved at least one try, and could have scored more than one, with a bit more discipline.

 

[wamberal]

Really thought Todd was close to MOTM. He was in everything.

I thought it was Sam Whitelock. Or maybe it was Matera. What a wonderful display in a beaten side.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^ there were times you had to wonder if there were multiple Matera's out there. With SO'B injured he's surely the best six in the game right now, what NZ would give for a guy with those skills & work rate.

 

[wamberal]

^ there were times you had to wonder if there were multiple Matera's out there. With SO'B injured he's surely the best six in the game right now, what NZ would give for a guy with those skills & work rate.

Bugger. You want ALL the best players? Who will you play against?

 

[Finsbury Girl]

The real final was last weekend & a far better example of great rugby.

Congrats to the Crusaders. We'll get you next year

 

[ACT Crusader]

^ there were times you had to wonder if there were multiple Matera's out there. With SO'B injured he's surely the best six in the game right now, what NZ would give for a guy with those skills & work rate.

We have one. He wears number 8, we just need him to rediscover some of it....

 

[Dismal Pillock]

lol so the Cantabs have now had a 3-peat that started the INSTANT Toddy toodled off.

​

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Fiji 27-10 Maori AB in Suva.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...uva-losing-to-fiji-for-first-time-in-62-years

Rematch in RotoVegas next Saturday.

 

[Dan54]

Just finished watching it WOB, can't say too many Maori boys enhanced their reputations. Hall , Havili, and Tainui went well i thought and Fiji looked pretty good. Shit coverage, one camera and a bit of commentary from studio didn't help.
Oh another to enhance his rep was Akira (unfortunately not the rep he wants), when Shag said he was unfit and had been passed by a number of players Akira seemed determined to prove him right. I not sure I can remember him playing worse, or looking less interested, and I think he will struggle to get a start next week!!

 

[Gnostic]

Currently watching the Maori V Fiji. 20 minutes in and first try. Major take away for me is the continuation of the failure by Refs and ARs to police the offside at the ruck. On nearly every ruck during the Fiji endless phases in the first 15 the MABs were offside. Looking at he referee position behind the ruck he is relying on his ARs to police the defensive line accurately with the as with his angle the defensive side can be a metre or more offside, especially if they hold a nice flat line to aid the illusion. This greatly reduces the attacking space. Referees simply must police this area better. All sides are doing it and that just makes the situation worse. If the refs wish to persist with the positioning behind the ruck the ARs must police the offside line and call it, the option is the refs take a more traditional position on the ad line.

Ironically the MABs created the defensive hole for the Fiji first try with the centre offside and he rush up leaving the hole for Fiji 15 to accelerate through.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

NZ Maori square the ledger in RotoVegas:

Must say the International Stadium is looking much better since they replaced all the corroded steelwork.

 

[Blake]

lol so the Cantabs have now had a 3-peat that started the INSTANT Toddy toodled off.

​

Todd’s downfall was his obsession with getting the best players on the field - no matter what, which was a big issue as he had a log jam in some positions. I 100% backed that idea at the time but I was wrong too.

Just pick blokes in their preferred position and if that means benching AB’s so be it.
Robinson’s gone completely the other way extending that idea by creating specialist bench player like Luke Romano. The guys training program is based on only playing 20-30 minutes, hence we saw Dunshea leapfrog him with the Scott Barrett injury.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Gatland confirmed after what was clearly a thorough & global search for Cooper's replacement [insert sarcasm emoji here]:

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/s...-replace-colin-cooper-as-chiefs-coach--report

I just hope they made it worth his while to step aside.

I think this pretty much confirms that Cooper didn't resign:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...-cooper-to-be-paid-out-final-year-of-contract

Again, no problem with them head-hunting Gatland if they believe he's a better option than Cooper but be honest about it ffs.

 

[Ulrich]

Argy v Bokkies next.

Some pilfer training

http://ulrichh.com/temp/Rugby Championship The art of stealing the ball with the Springboks.mp4

 

[Dan54]

I think this pretty much confirms that Cooper didn't resign:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby...-cooper-to-be-paid-out-final-year-of-contract

Again, no problem with them head-hunting Gatland if they believe he's a better option than Cooper but be honest about it ffs.

Way I hear it WOB, Cooper did say he going next year, and chance for deal with Gats came up, so hence the pay out.

 

[Ulrich]

Argentina
15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Marcos Kremer, 4 Matias Alemanno, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro

Substitutes: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Tomas Lezana, 21 Gonzalo Bertanou, 22 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 23 Joaquin Tuculet

 

[Ulrich]

The Bokkies

South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Tendai Mtawarira

Substitutes: Malcolm Marx, Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, RG Snyman, Francois Louw, Herschel Jantjies, Frans Steyn, Jesse Kriel.