New Zealand Vs Tonga

by nathan Fri 09 Oct 2015, 8:09 pm

First topic message reminder :

NZ are so far playing pretty.... well crap. Tonga looking good but i doubt it will last

by Guest Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:24 pm

Who said yellow card, can't you read mate?

by goneagain Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:24 pm

No ruck formed there.

by ME-109 Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:25 pm

ebop wrote:Who said yellow card, can't you read mate?

He couldnt understand the Kiwi accent...

by Guest Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:25 pm

Another try

by ME-109 Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:26 pm

Holding on first which Lacey ignored...

by goneagain Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:28 pm

A Tonga ruck infringement? Well I never.

by Sgt_Pooly Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:29 pm

I'm surprised Barrett hasn't had a shot at 10, Carter looks really out of sorts

by nathan Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:30 pm

ebop wrote:Who said yellow card, can't you read mate?

yes thanks, are you 12?

by nathan Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:31 pm

New Zealand sat on their arses at that scrum but lacey has given up blowing for Tonga's better scrum

by nathan Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:32 pm

wish Mafi was still at Tigers, great player

by Guest Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:33 pm

Another try

by nathan Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:35 pm

Tonga looking tired now

by goneagain Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:35 pm

At least someone explained the ruck laws to the ref this half.

by ME-109 Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:36 pm

goneagain wrote:At least someone explained the ruck laws to the ref this half.

Yes ...let the ABs do whatever they want...its in the rule book. Pity he forgot the scrum laws though

by Sgt_Pooly Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:36 pm

NZ have been awful. Better conditioning coming through in the 2nd but this is far from a good performance

by nathan Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:36 pm

Jonathan Kaplan isn't happy about this ref performance

by ME-109 Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:37 pm

Whats he saying

by goneagain Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:37 pm

I didn't know Joe Marler had a Tongan cousin.

by nathan Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:37 pm

Jonathan Kaplan wrote:Sam cane played ball twice .. on his knees after being tackled ... 7.points

by nathan Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:38 pm

goneagain wrote:I didn't know Joe Marler had a Tongan cousin.

He's got a Welsh one too

by nathan Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:38 pm

he has to be in the bin

by Guest Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:39 pm

Some pretty impressive skills shown by the ABs in this game.

by ME-109 Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:40 pm

nathan wrote:he has to be in the bin

Of course he's not an AB

by Guest Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:41 pm

Another try

by nathan Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:43 pm

ME-109 wrote:
nathan wrote:he has to be in the bin

Of course he's not an AB

you can't say that, you may upset a sensitive little fella on here

by goneagain Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:43 pm

Normal service has been resumed.

by Guest Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:44 pm

by mikey_dragon Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:46 pm

Lacey awful again. The majority of ref's at this tournament have been well below par and that's probably going to be a major talking point in the coming weeks.

by ME-109 Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:47 pm

I always knew Kieran Read is a sh!t player...

by Guest Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:49 pm

Another try

That was a nice one

Awesome Nonu, you are a legend.

by ME-109 Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:51 pm

Stopped watching...ABs will not win this WC...away from home on a tournament environment the pressure will eventually get to them. No possibility of a homer ref etc....It aint the harlem globetrotters...

Fush and chups anyone?

by AFewTooManyKnocks Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:54 pm

ME-109 wrote:Stopped watching...ABs will not win this WC...away from home on a tournament environment the pressure will eventually get to them. No possibility of a homer ref etc....It aint the harlem globetrotters...

Fush and chups anyone?

The bitterness is strong in this one

by Scottrf Fri 09 Oct 2015, 9:54 pm

That was a quality flat pass for the try. Milner-Skudder is brilliant.

by ME-109 Fri 09 Oct 2015, 10:00 pm

AFewTooManyKnocks wrote:
ME-109 wrote:Stopped watching...ABs will not win this WC...away from home on a tournament environment the pressure will eventually get to them. No possibility of a homer ref etc....It aint the harlem globetrotters...

Fush and chups anyone?

The bitterness is strong in this one

Love the ABs and their rugby. Just a little windup...but there are certain signs that the pressure is on...will be very interesting to see how they react
.

by TightHEAD Fri 09 Oct 2015, 10:04 pm

16 Refs on the field tonight, 15 wearing the traditional black!

I thought refs were meant to have a zero tolerance policy on back chat?

by Scottrf Fri 09 Oct 2015, 10:05 pm

The Tongan captain said 'ridiculous' to their clear yellow at the end too.

by TightHEAD Fri 09 Oct 2015, 10:11 pm

Scottrf wrote:The Tongan captain said 'ridiculous' to their clear yellow at the end too.

He was referring to St James park being called the sports direct arena!

by SecretFly Fri 09 Oct 2015, 10:11 pm

Hmmm...there you go. The real ABs give a glimpse. Just a trailer in that second half. Yes, Tonga knackered and ranked how they are. But the pace of New Zealand's attack and their workrate at the breakdown is not dependent on the opposition on the night.

Stopping them finding their rhythm will be the task of either France or Ireland. Long day at the office game.

by goneagain Fri 09 Oct 2015, 10:11 pm

Not really sure what to make of them really. Normally they turn up at the start of the tournament, blow teams away and run out of steam towards the end. Maybe this time their tournament started tonight.
Good game first up against a very good Argentina side (who I think will make the semi), then 3 games up and down with quite a bit to work on.
What's better, go to the business end underdone after racking up cricket scores and learning nothing or knowing full well you better pull your finger out?
On balance, I'm not too worried, the team knows what to work on and I don't think they will need much motivation to lift the intensity from the first whistle in the next game. second half tonight was a bit of a pointer I think.
Selection-wise, Woodcock has to go, Retallick obviously starts, NMS and Savea on the wings, there's a case for SBW and even Ritchie at 6 with Cane at 7.

by yappysnap Fri 09 Oct 2015, 10:16 pm

One day it'd be nice to see NZ get reffed as strictly as the teams they play...

by goneagain Fri 09 Oct 2015, 10:18 pm

Imagine the cricket scores then.

by Guest Fri 09 Oct 2015, 10:19 pm

The sum up the All Blacks attacking play: pass the ball quickly and accurately. Simple stuff, but not exactly simple to perfect. But they have perfected it, are better than everyone at it, and that gives them time, space, overlaps, etc. Lovely to watch.

by Cyril Fri 09 Oct 2015, 10:21 pm

yappysnap wrote:One day it'd be nice to see NZ get reffed as strictly as the teams they play...

Good luck with that. The All Black mythos and advertising won't ever let it happen. I don't think World Rugby could afford the lawsuits.

It would be nice though. After all, FIFA is finally taking Blatter down so there is some hope in the sporting world.

by Cyril Fri 09 Oct 2015, 10:33 pm

Having said all that if NZ don't win the whole thing (and their sphere of influence doesn't seem to extend outside home World Cups) then we've got a whole load of ELVs to looks forward to soon. Joy.

by kiakahaaotearoa Fri 09 Oct 2015, 10:47 pm

Scrum a worry and starting props look below par along with Read.

Better defence but basic errors too plentiful, notably in first half. Fortunate not to concede a try before time and Tonga's good goal kicking probably hurt them as they didn't press their one man advantage and they took 6 points before the game got away from them.

Let's see how this scratchy pool play works out for the knockout rounds. They're definitely not firing like Australia are at the moment and France have been more consistent so go figure!

Hopefully the press have a field day and savage NZ. Phil Waugh has proclaimed Australia RWC favourites and that seems fair and fine by me.

by aucklandlaurie Fri 09 Oct 2015, 10:50 pm

Its far too early to think about winning the "whole thing", NZ have to get victory over France next week, I cant see anything but an Ireland win.

by goneagain Fri 09 Oct 2015, 10:54 pm

Think the same about Read, but think blind side is more of a worry and would like to see Cane on the field, not sure I would want a completely rejigged back row next up.

by maestegmafia Fri 09 Oct 2015, 10:56 pm

TightHEAD wrote:Let's see how well aus do tomorrow before we crown them champions!

I think last week was a fluke!

If you watch the game again

England lost it and went belly up. Showed no dog or spirit. They gave up, lost conviction.

Tonight Tonga competed so well against a fantastic team. Tonga deserved so much more than the result showed.

I thought Lacey started well but as the ABs gained ascendency he buckled in his impartiality.

by kiakahaaotearoa Fri 09 Oct 2015, 10:58 pm

Precisely Laurie. Which is why I'm quite happy to see the media blow smoke up the Wallaby arses.

I don't see an Ireland win. At least not a guaranteed. Out of Scotland Samoa France Ireland Wales Australia we all might think Scotland, Ireland and Australia might win but I wouldn't bet the house on all three of those results.

The loser of France and Ireland have two fewer days recovery as well. Let's see how attritional the game is. A lot more than tonight's game I'm sure.

by aucklandlaurie Fri 09 Oct 2015, 11:00 pm

I couldnt fault Lacey, without the benefit of the big screen he was a little disadvantaged.

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