Olympics Thread
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<p>I don't mind that the name "All Blacks" has been extended to all the NZ rugby teams. Good for global exposure to the brand, and some of the aura rubs off onto the lesser teams. Even if they sometimes lose to Japan grits teeth.<br><br>
We're still bloody good at every level/format of the game, and at the top of the tree, the actual All Blacks, we're damn near unbeatable. Glass half full and all that. </p> -
On the plus side for Sevens, the game is short enough and open enough that even if we haven't got it quite right, we've still got a good shot at Gold, Silver or Bronze. <br><br>
One of the reasons I'd resist pulling 15 players out of the entire Super rugby season (as half the callers to Radio Sport wanted to do yesterday afternoon) is that an early intercept pass and a dodgy yellow card can tip you out much quicker than, say, being down 14 - 0 after ten minutes in fifteen aside. -
<p>Agree with the comments about playing the wrong sort of sevens game now.</p>
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<p>Big doesn't matter. Fast with a fend does. Look at someone like Perry Baker for the USA. Skinny as a rake, gangly and awkward, but fast as fuck. The USA are one of the many sevens team who have beaten us now, and it is because they play sevens like sevens, not like half a 15 side.</p>
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<p>It's not about the breakdowns and scrums and set pieces and being a tank. it's about being fast enough so when the guy from the other team takes off, you've got a show in getting there and tackling him, or at least slowing him down until help arrives. And in turn, being fast enough to step the opposition or get an intercept. Quick hands, ball handling, sharp, accurate passing.</p>
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<p>That is where we are lagging behind.</p> -
Bloody sevens team have hurt the aura <br>
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11691212'>http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11691212</a> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Mokey" data-cid="604715" data-time="1470819511">
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<p>Agree with the comments about playing the wrong sort of sevens game now.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Big doesn't matter. Fast with a fend does. Look at someone like Perry Baker for the USA. Skinny as a rake, gangly and awkward, but fast as fuck. The USA are one of the many sevens team who have beaten us now, and it is because they play sevens like sevens, not like half a 15 side.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It's not about the breakdowns and scrums and set pieces and being a tank. it's about being fast enough so when the guy from the other team takes off, you've got a show in getting there and tackling him, or at least slowing him down until help arrives. And in turn, being fast enough to step the opposition or get an intercept. Quick hands, ball handling, sharp, accurate passing.</p>
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<p>That is where we are lagging behind.</p>
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<p>If speed is all that matters then we have as much chance of betting the USA, South Africa and Kenya in 7's as we do of beating them in a 4 by 100 relay. Do people really think we can put out 7 players quicker than those countries can? Can anyone name me one quick guy who wasn't picked for the 7's team and who was available? We could start Kaka over Pulu but I actually think Pulu has been very good. Plus Kaka probably doesn't provide the out and out gas you are talking about.</p>
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<p>Kenya are quicker than us and we just thrashed them. The USA are also quicker than us and we finished ahead of them in the series (although they beat us several times). Speed is an asset and we would love to have a quick guy but we don't. It's a bit like saying why doesn't our basketball team pick more 7ft players or why doesn't our football team pick players who can dribble through the other side? We don't have many of those types of players and the ones we do have aren't good enough.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="604716" data-time="1470820865">
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<p>Bloody sevens team have hurt the aura<br><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11691212'>http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11691212</a></p>
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<p>FFS. We've worked hard to keep aura safe and then the 7s team go and treat her like a cheap stripper and lose to Japan.</p>
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<p>McCaw needs to get her on the plane back to Auckland ASAP.</p> -
<p>Harping on a bit but Usain Bolt's world record is 9.58 and Carlin Isles can run 10.13. The quickest New Zealand sprinter Wyatt ran 10.64 at the Nationals this year. So the gap from Wyatt to Isles is about the same as the gap from Isles to the fastest man ever. I think that just illustrates how we cannot win tournaments just based on speed. We will always have a speed disadvantage which we have to make up in other facets.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="604723" data-time="1470822928">
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<p>Harping on a bit but Usain Bolt's world record is 9.58 and Carlin Isles can run 10.13. The quickest New Zealand sprinter Wyatt ran 10.64 at the Nationals this year. So the gap from Wyatt to Isles is about the same as the gap from Isles to the fastest man ever. I think that just illustrates how we cannot win tournaments just based on speed. We will always have a speed disadvantage which we have to make up in other facets.</p>
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<p>It's not so much the out and out speed that is the problem (IMO). Someone like Ben Smith isn't super fast over 100m but by fuck he's elusive, which is the type of player we need.</p>
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<p>But more importantly we need a coach that hasn't become obsessed with the "physical" side of the game. I saw him on the news saying we dominated the physical aspects like the tackle and rucks against Kenya which is why we won, and that we didn't do that against Japan. That, to me, makes no sense. In a game where there's only 14 players in total on a full sized rugby pitch, surely exploiting space is the name of the game.</p>
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<p>The rucks in 7s are a joke and can go either way regardless of the size of the players competing - if I was coach I'd want to avoid the ruck as much as possible given how much of a lottery they are, and how random the refs interpretations are. You can't just commit 4 - 5 guys to a ruck to ensure you win it like you do in 15s.</p>
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<p>I get the feeling Titch has been in the job too long and has become a bit narrow in his thinking. We need to freshen things up with some new ideas.</p>
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<p>In saying that, as Don pointed out 7s is overall a bit of a lottery so we are still a decent chance of a medal.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="604726" data-time="1470823559">
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<p>It's not so much the out and out speed that is the problem (IMO). Someone like Ben Smith isn't super fast over 100m but by fuck he's elusive, which is the type of player we need.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But more importantly we need a coach that hasn't become obsessed with the "physical" side of the game. I saw him on the news saying we dominated the physical aspects like the tackle and rucks against Kenya which is why we won, and that we didn't do that against Japan. That, to me, makes no sense. In a game where there's only 14 players in total on a full sized rugby pitch, surely exploiting space is the name of the game.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The rucks in 7s are a joke and can go either way regardless of the size of the players competing - if I was coach I'd want to avoid the ruck as much as possible given how much of a lottery they are, and how random the refs interpretations are. You can't just commit 4 - 5 guys to a ruck to ensure you win it like you do in 15s.</p>
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<p>I get the feeling Titch has been in the job too long and has become a bit narrow in his thinking. We need to freshen things up with some new ideas.</p>
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<p>In saying that, as Don pointed out 7s is overall a bit of a lottery so we are still a decent chance of a medal.</p>
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<p>That's a very good response. Do you think the problem is that Tietjens hasn't picked the right players or is he just coaching the players we have poorly?</p>
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<p>I don't really claim to understand 7's on a technical level but it looked to me like Pulu was very good against Kenya. I would take it that you would want to pick Kaka instead?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="No Quarter" data-cid="604722" data-time="1470822925"><p>
FFS. We've worked hard to keep aura safe and then the 7s team go and treat her like a cheap stripper and lose to Japan.<br><br>
McCaw needs to get her on the plane back to Auckland ASAP.</p></blockquote>
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The sevens team licked her butt without paying? -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="604733" data-time="1470825048"><p>The sevens team licked her butt without paying?</p></blockquote>
No, they let Japan lick her butt without paying. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mikedogz" data-cid="604729" data-time="1470824297">
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<p>Maybe from next year Titch could have a role like Director of sevens rugby based in BOP and some one else can take over the mens team. Who would be his successor? Wayne Smith for a new challenge?</p>
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<p>Eric Rush, if he wants it.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="604701" data-time="1470813656">
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<p>front row seats to watch Phelps win his 20th...</p>
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<p><img src="https://scontent-syd1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13900135_1089919064378138_3358664450073082779_n.jpg?oh=48c6d45fd8056e297ba325bad274ae42&oe=581F12A9" alt="13900135_1089919064378138_33586644500730"></p>
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<p>got a mate working over there for getty.. look at the farking size of the kit he's using for shooting the pool!</p>
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<p>no need to worry about cards and crap like that -- cabled straight back to 'nerve centre' where editors havve them online for purchase in mins!</p>
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<p>[attachment=2064:phils camera.jpg]</p> -
Awful day in Rio. Rowing off. Womens time trial is treacherous at best
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hydro11" data-cid="604727" data-time="1470823805"><p>
That's a very good response. Do you think the problem is that Tietjens hasn't picked the right players or is he just coaching the players we have poorly?<br><br>
I don't really claim to understand 7's on a technical level but it looked to me like Pulu was very good against Kenya. I would take it that you would want to pick Kaka instead?</p></blockquote>
Possibly a bit of both. I don't claim to be a 7s expert either but trying to exploit the extra space with limited time on the clock makes sense from a rugby point of view. If you've only got 7 defenders in front of you I don't know why you'd focus so much on the "forward encounters" as he called it.<br><br>
You make good points around available players though, it's bad timing with the Super finals and now TRC kicking off, so I guess he didn't have a big pool to choose from. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mikedogz" data-cid="604729" data-time="1470824297"><p>Maybe from next year Titch could have a role like Director of sevens rugby based in BOP and some one else can take over the mens team. Who would be his successor? Wayne Smith for a new challenge?</p></blockquote>
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To me Titch doesn't seem like the Director type. He's a hands on rah rah type that likes to be in the thick of it during game time. Sitting back and watching someone else do it may not sit well with him. <br><br>
The thing about that Japan game was that some of our key guys weren't involved enough. I thought our ruck work was pretty good, but that we lacked execution. <br><br>
I still think we are a decent show for making the finals and pushing on.
