The Silver Fern

Very good, moving article written by Western Force's Pek Cowan. It illustrates how bad this whole process (and its outcome) is, and has been, for all involved and the utter failure that is called the ARU.

Stress, tears & a club ruined

@No-Quarter said in Western Force v Hurricanes:

Riccitelli fell into the tackle, and it wasn't a shoulder charge. I don't think it was as malicious as you guys are making out - more unfortunate then anything. Under the new interpretation it should have been a yellow but contact with the head was accidental IMO.

Don't think anyone is suggesting it was a shoulder charge and i don't think RR falling into it has any relevance. He got hit in the head with force. I agree yellow would have been the "right" call but red isn't out of the question given what we have seen red cards for this year. Yet he got NOTHING, not even a penalty.
He should get a couple of weeks off with a discount for wearing a tie but i suspect they will totally ignore it.

@Crash said in Force v Highlanders:

The sidestep and shimmy from Halnukanuka was impressive

Thought it was hilarious he went off injured after that, he'd only just come on! Brilliant smile on his face through the whole thing.

Hunt has made some strides the last few games, real classic openside play from him, Kronfeld-esque.

Can't help but feel the highlanders backs made it look a lot harder than it was at times - Faddes, Osborne, Li with some very ordinary phases of play.

Great to see Sopoaga back, didn't miss a beat.

Thought Hemopo put in a surprisingly good shift too.

Barracuda probably lucky not to see yellow.

@Crucial Dumb in as much as he seemed quite near to the Chiefs player's head also

@mariner4life said in Blues v Force:

@Hooroo it's a fantastically poor piece of defending by the winger though. He's outside a prop with a heap of space, he's got to make a decent decision. And his best decisions there was jam in on the centre and force the pass. Given how far he's run, and the dummy was netball-esque, there is a good chance that fucks up. Even if he doesn't, the winger is alone, and there is cover coming. But he decides to go for the ball, takes no one, and turns a one-on-one into a two-on-one and it's a simple run in try.

Showed some really poor defensive communication there. He panicked and looked to think the intercept was his only option. Meanwhile the sweeper was tracking over to be the last man defence and could have got to the outside if the pass had still been freed.
From my little experience that's when you want your fullback screaming at you and claiming the outside man.

@ACT-Crusader And next week he can equal Mealamu's record for number of caps!

<p>Our prop play has improved a lot this season. We've really come a long way in the scrum department compared to last year. We can hang with every scrum in the comp, except a few.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="hurricane" data-cid="575877" data-time="1462001442">
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<p>I was going to tip the Force for an upset until I found out grant was missing. </p>
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<p> :think:  For an upset what? Force fan base?</p>

<p>Only the second time in the last 20 years we've won 3 in a row on tour apparently.</p>
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<p>Bloody good effort from a young team.</p>
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<p>It's so much better to watch this year, I was sick of the attitude of our senior ABs for the last 3 years.</p>
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<p>It looks like we are playing with a heap more passion this year. Saw Taufua kiss the crusaders logo on his jersey before running out onto the field, good stuff.</p>

<p>Any news on the concussion suffered by Bender in friendly fire?</p>
<p>How bad is Sopoaga's groin strain - will he return this week?</p>
<p>And Edmonds was looking the goods - how bad is the knee - went to hospital for scan?</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="cgrant" data-cid="567409" data-time="1458986288">
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<p>I am not too convinced by Weber. He is too eager and this <strong>makes him take the wrong option sometimes. </strong></p>
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<p>A good example was in the 2nd half when Weber butchered a certain try by ignoring a huge overlap to his right and running himself close to the ruck and losing the ball in the tackle.  Weber's other problem is that his passing can be very inaccurate (passes can be too high or too low).</p>
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<p>I was at the game so a few other comments:</p>
<p>Ngatai - nuff said.</p>
<p>Tamanivalu was really poor defensively.  He has a tendency to rush out of the line and miss spot tackles. </p>
<p>I really like this Chiefs loose forward trio - they complement eachother well.</p>
<p>Seu impresses more every week.</p>
<p>The Chiefs got good impact from the inexperienced bench.  A surprise to me.</p>
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<p>BUT the highlight of the night was when Beaver took the field.  Everyone in my area rose to their feet to applaud.  :)</p>

Bit more optimistic about the season now. Some of these young guys are gun players. Some amazing potential there.

<p>If we lose to the Reds in 2 weeks time (which is a high possibility as we have some sort of phobia playing away from home), the players shouldn't be allowed back in the country.</p>

<p>Yes, what was I thinking. Making a separate topic for this game  :wacko2:</p>