Canes vs Chiefs

Dice

It'd be nice if an article came out this coming week saying Fatialofa has signed a 2/3 year contract with the Blues, but we'll probably just get an article saying how the Blues missed another one instead. With Bekhuis going to France, we do have a spot open.

Rancid Schnitzel

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="574423" data-time="1461414538">
Yeah, nah. He still does the same shit that got him dropped down to 3 in the first place. Passes to heads/knees, shitty kicking and a huge pile of dumb decisions. Still think TJP is fighting it out for no. 3 with Weber. 
Also, Weber is around the same size as Aaron Smith.</blockquote>
Why ignore the part where I said TJP lacks a brain and that I was sadly mistaken that he'd turned a corner last year? 
I'm aware that Weber is Smith sized which is why Id prefer the no. 2 9 to be bigger. But I don't think TJP should be there because, once again, he lacks a brain and I was sadly mistaken about him turning a corner last year.

SammyC

Judging by the performance of all 3 halfbacks last night I'd say Andy Ellis is number 2

KiwiMurph

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="sparky" data-cid="574433" data-time="1461426569">
Julian Savea's not on top form at the moment, but stupid to write off his AB chances just yet.</blockquote>
 
To clarify i'm not writing him off and I have no doubt he will be picked for the ABs, but I was just stating he wasnt playing to All Black standard. 
While play didnt go his way, as others mentioned his defence was poor and aside from a couple of bump offs that were easily shut down, he did nothing in attack. He looks slow and lumbering compared to the Julian Savea of 2012-2014.

Frank

I'd like it if Naholo could put pressure on Savea for the 11 spot long term. Kind of sucks that he has no viable competition at the moment.

bobily

James Lowe isn't half bad

Crucial

Just in case nobody has mentioned it today 
Fuck the Chiefs are good!

Higgins

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2016_EN.pdf'>http://laws.worldrugby.org/downloads/World_Rugby_Laws_2016_EN.pdf</a>
Law 22 In-Goal
There are two ways a player can ground the ball: 
(a) Player touches the ground with the ball. A player grounds the ball by holding the ball and touching the ground with it, in in-goal. â€˜Holdingâ€ means holding in the hand or hands, or in the arm or arms. No downward pressure is required. 
(b) Player presses down on the ball. A player grounds the ball when it is on the ground in the in-goal and the player presses down on it with a hand or hands, arm or arms, or the front of the playerâ€s body from waist to neck inclusive. 22.2 PICKING UP THE BALL
Picking up the ball from the ground is not grounding it. A player may pick up the ball in the in-goal and ground it elsewhere in the in-goal.
22.3 BALL GROUNDED BY AN ATTACKING PLAYER
(a) Try. When an attacking player who is onside is first to ground the ball in the opponentsâ€ ingoal, the player scores a try. This applies whether an attacking or a defending player is responsible for the ball being in the in-goal.
( When an attacking player who has possession of the ball grounds the ball in in-goal and simultaneously contacts the touch-in-goal line or the dead-ball-line (or anywhere beyond), a 22m drop-out is awarded to the defending team.
22.4 OTHER WAYS TO SCORE A TRY
(a) Grounded on the goal line. The goal line is part of the in-goal. If an attacking player is first to ground the ball on the opponentsâ€ goal line, a try is scored.
( Grounded against a goal post. The goal posts and padding surrounding them are part of the goal line, which is part of in-goal. If an attacking player is first to ground the ball against a goal post or padding, a try is scored. 
 
Looks like I am going to have to widen my understanding of what constitutes and is included in the word "holding".

No Quarter

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="574498" data-time="1461475271">Just in case nobody has mentioned it today 
Fuck the Chiefs are good!</blockquote>
From a Canes perspective this game was a good yardstick to where we are at the moment against the competition front runners. As it was we could have easily won that match comfortably but for missed kicks and dropped balls with the line wide open. I'm pretty happy with how we are tracking and believe we can beat any team in the comp if we play to our potential. Two 1 point losses is annoying and hurts our chances of winning the conference but come finals time we will be there or thereabouts.

Crucial

In rugby once you are in possession of the ball (holding it) you stay in possession as long as you remain in contact.

taniwharugby

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Crucial" data-cid="574505" data-time="1461478130">
<div>
In rugby once you are in possession of the ball (holding it) you stay in possession as long as you remain in contact.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
yep, he caught it well before the line and was therefore holding it, he remained in contact with it until it came into contact with the ground - TRY.

Unco

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Rancid Schnitzel" data-cid="574449" data-time="1461451061">
<div>
Why ignore the part where I said TJP lacks a brain and that I was sadly mistaken that he'd turned a corner last year? 
I'm aware that Weber is Smith sized which is why Id prefer the no. 2 9 to be bigger. But I don't think TJP should be there because, once again, he lacks a brain and I was sadly mistaken about him turning a corner last year.
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I didn't ignore it, it just sounded like you were saying he'd locked down the no. 2 spot despite lacking a brain and I disagreed. So I guess you were saying "he SHOULD have the no. 2 spot locked down but he didn't cause he's dumb as shit"?
 
I also disagreed that he's got WAY more talent than TKB, who is a different kind of halfback (more of the "4th loosie" type) but has a much better game in some areas (pass accuracy, kicking and defending in particular), is a hell of a lot smarter and is just an overall more rounded player.
 
Fair enough on the size thing.

Crucial

People (and I include you Justin Marshall) also need to take note of what the TMO actually says.
"there is no clear and obvious reason that I can deny the try"
For ages now I wished they would use this term to stop some arguments but it appears that no one listens.
 
The TMO (and ref) should make judgements based on things that they can see as clear and obvious and not be guessing.
 
In this case unless there was clear evidence of separation then the TMO couldn't rule as such.

No Quarter

Yeah I was bitching to my better half about it on the night - it was a close call but the replay clearly showed it was a try. Nisbo, Marshall and even Smithy made idiots of themselves and TBH it's a bit embarrassing that our supposed "top 3" commentators don't know the bloody rules.

taniwharugby

IIRC Marshall thought the Savea try v the Blues was perfectly fine yet had huge issues with last nights...whereas in my mind, the Ardie one was never a try, I can understand peoples thinking if the Tamanivalu one was ruled no try, but I'd think it was a poor call.

Billy Tell

I see Savea has pulled out of Rio.

Rancid Schnitzel

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="574509" data-time="1461480120">
I didn't ignore it, it just sounded like you were saying he'd locked down the no. 2 spot despite lacking a brain and I disagreed. So I guess you were saying "he SHOULD have the no. 2 spot locked down but he didn't cause he's dumb as shit"? 
I also disagreed that he's got WAY more talent than TKB, who is a different kind of halfback (more of the "4th loosie" type) but has a much better game in some areas (pass accuracy, kicking and defending in particular), is a hell of a lot smarter and is just an overall more rounded player. 
Fair enough on the size thing.</blockquote>
TBH I'd take most other Super SHs ahead of him now. He is way too scatter brained for test rugby. 
But I stand by the talent thing. To his credit TKB squeezes every last drop out of what he has. But he's a very limited player. He seems to have absolutely no attacking instincts.

cgrant

Considering this week end's individual performances, and to add my opinion to the ones concerning who will be selected for the All Blacks, I would take :
 
15. D. McKenzie
14. B. Smith
13. Crotty (Fekitoa pretty ineffective these days)
12. Ngatai
11. Savea (he can perform when he is wearing the black jersey)
10. Barrett (in brillant form but must be relieved from the kicking duties by Damian McKenzie)
 
Of course, it is just on current form. Cruden, Sopoaga and Fekitoa are not yet written off. Tamanivalu was impressive and if he keeps on playing like that, he won't be far of a black jersey.

Bones

So Fekitoa is ineffective but Savea gets a pass?

Billy Tell

I think Dagg is right back in the mix. He is proven and he has the best punt of any of the NZ 15s. Hansen has already said it'll be Crotty and Fekitoa who get first shot at the midfield. 
There is no way Barrett can start even if relieved of the kicking duties. He is very talented but doesn't control games well enough for international rugby and his kicking out of hand is also dodgy. He is probably going to just keep the 22 shirt.

The Silver Fern

Canes vs Chiefs