The Rugby Championship - Buildup

by Pete C (Kiwireddevil) Mon 24 Jul 2017, 10:23 am

First topic message reminder :

Seeing as there's only 3 matches left in Super Rugby, time to start thinking about TRC

Fixtures:

The Australian squad are already in camp (except for their Brumbies' players), with all their Super Rugby commitments finished - Quade Cooper and Scott Higginbotham notable squad omissions, thought Quade may get a reprieve as Karmichael Hunt is out for the next 2 months

Wallabies Squad:

by eirebilly Sat 07 Oct 2017, 6:25 pm

It was one of the best games I have seen for some time. Watching the Boks today makes me very nervous for Irelands game against them in November.

The Boks just very unlucky with a couple of decisions which went against them.

by emack2 Sat 07 Oct 2017, 7:10 pm

Well done the Boks,great game and down to the wire pity either side
had to lose.Lest said about Jerome Garcia`s really seems to have no
idea.
AS an AB fan glad of the win good they had to work for it again,looks
a bit like 2006,hopefully not like 2007.
Third Bledisloe could be the next loss.

by Guest Sat 07 Oct 2017, 8:05 pm

Great game

That red card was ridiculous

by yappysnap Sat 07 Oct 2017, 8:36 pm

Great game, and a bit weird.

SA played with passion but little skill or control at times. They looked pretty clueless most of the game but still could and maybe should have won.

The AB's seemed disinterested most of the game, couldn't stop making mistakes but still lead at key times.

Garces (auto corrected wanted to change him to farces, appropriate maybe) allowed a lot at the breakdown and beyond it, a proper free for all.

by **Biltong** Sat 07 Oct 2017, 8:53 pm

That is about as good as it will get for SA.

Selection issues won't be sorted , so you won't get a better team on the pitch.

Good intent and heart from the Springboks though.

Pack is becoming formidable, Dreyer the weak link.

Back line not as good as it can be.

by **Biltong** Sat 07 Oct 2017, 8:55 pm

yappysnap wrote:Great game, and a bit weird.

SA played with passion but little skill or control at times. They looked pretty clueless most of the game but still could and maybe should have won.

The AB's seemed disinterested most of the game, couldn't stop making mistakes but still lead at key times.

Garces (auto corrected wanted to change him to farces, appropriate maybe) allowed a lot at the breakdown and beyond it, a proper free for all.

Boks main issue is they attack with stationry players in the red zone, they need to run onto the ball at pace, makes defence easy when players aren't running at pace at you and predictable angles.

Will disagree though with the skill level, their offloading is vastly improved.

by stevetynant Sat 07 Oct 2017, 9:32 pm

New Zealand still have the X factor players other sides don't,at least not in the backs.New Zealand's back three are just amazing. Marks , Etzebeth,Dutoit and the red head prop were excellent just not sure where the real threat is in the backline.fantastic game though well played both sides.

by Gwlad Sat 07 Oct 2017, 11:31 pm

Good job the dreadful French ref was corrupt eh NZ otherwise you'd have lost.

by eirebilly Sun 08 Oct 2017, 9:54 am

Watched the first 30mins of the Puma's - Wallabies game. Was surprised to see the score this morning as I thought that the Puma's were well in that game.

by aucklandlaurie Sun 08 Oct 2017, 1:05 pm

Thing is, Argentina losing that means they have suffered 5 losses in 5 games, if they cant pick up home games they will become like Italy in the 6 nations.

by emack2 Sun 08 Oct 2017, 3:59 pm

In this RC we have seen all 4 sides hit by injuries,and by cards.WRU rules now mean that
things in the past that at worst a penalty and a warning.Now mean a yellow or red card
for what look to us fairly straight forward.
Argentina anywhere has only been an odd win now and then just like Italy,but this
year they`ve been a card magnet.
Having watched Nz v SA again the following thoughts occur,"Corrupt Ref"NO,Pedantic
at the Scrum YES.not one completed without a collapse.NZ only awarded 1 in the
whole match,lineouts each side lost one.
Breakdown/offside not policed but at least it was the same for both sides,losing
key players early.Means going to the bench early too,both sides played well
Nz managed to win ugly just,so many missing faces hard to know what to say.
4 starters in the pack alone Coles still seems to be carrying an injury Cane
hardly seen,Todd when he came on was everywhere.
SA on evidence so far this year very much on an upward curve,Australia too
beginning to gel.

by No 7&1/2 Mon 09 Oct 2017, 10:15 am

I'm still undecided what I make of that red card. It's another which seems to fall a bit on the middle. Of the laws. One of the most deliberate stupid hits that was slightly high so by that it's a red. But it doesn't look like it was that ferocious. Probably could be a yellow and to tell sopoaga to ensure he doesn't make a meal of things.

by **Biltong** Mon 09 Oct 2017, 12:29 pm

De Allende was cleared by the SANZAR judicial, their reasoning the elbow hit the chest and slid up, barely touching the face.

Should not have been red by their standards.

He was issued a warning for his stupidity though

by aucklandlaurie Mon 09 Oct 2017, 4:51 pm

Great to see SANZAR stand up and call it for what it was.

Now I'm really struggling here, but can we say that the red card only had the effect of being a yellow be cause the player was not off the field for more than ten minutes or am I just defending a stupid referee?

by Gwlad Mon 09 Oct 2017, 5:18 pm

Stupid ref? NZ won QED he is not corrupt Very Happy

by **Biltong** Mon 09 Oct 2017, 6:04 pm

aucklandlaurie wrote:Great to see SANZAR stand up and call it for what it was.

Now I'm really struggling here, but can we say that the red card only had the effect of being a yellow be cause the player was not off the field for more than ten minutes or am I just defending a stupid referee?

I think with 4 minutes left the card in itself although a seriously freaky call didn't really influence the match.

The stupidity of De Allende cost 3 points regardless of the colour of the card. Effectively ensuring the Boks couldn't win.

by No 7&1/2 Mon 09 Oct 2017, 6:22 pm

Was it that freaky? It's a close call that could go either way really. It's just brain dead play. So deliberate and obvious I have no idea what he was thinking. He's actually denied he did it on purpose as well and not sure how he did that with s straight face.

by **Biltong** Mon 09 Oct 2017, 6:54 pm

If you don't think that red card was a freaky call then just accept our opinions on what is deemed red cardable differ.

by No 7&1/2 Mon 09 Oct 2017, 7:02 pm

Even sanzaar indicated it was a close call. Like I said originally it's the severity of impact who is he mitigation but for me balanced by the fact it was so deliberate it's embarrassing. That's why I feel it's not that freaky but thanks for not expanding your thoughts!

by Guest Mon 09 Oct 2017, 9:54 pm

Even a yellow card would seem a bit harsh. Only deserved a penalty imo. Vunipola and his diving forearm smash on Barrett's head only got a yellow card and that was done with 100% more intent. And it was the same bunch of wierdo referees that made both decisions.

by Gwlad Tue 10 Oct 2017, 3:22 am

Didn't even make contact with Barrett you big baby, but then with your myopia no wonder you thought he did.....if you're looking for a dirty move try SBW.

by Guest Tue 10 Oct 2017, 3:52 am

You should go pat a lion tough guy

by No 7&1/2 Tue 10 Oct 2017, 6:56 am

You should read he law book a bit more!

by Guest Tue 10 Oct 2017, 7:39 am

You should open your eyes

by No 7&1/2 Tue 10 Oct 2017, 8:06 am

Great point well made.

by Guest Tue 10 Oct 2017, 8:12 am

I'd ask you to explain your point but I don't have 5 hours and a crystal ball.

by **George Carlin** Tue 10 Oct 2017, 8:13 am

ebop wrote:You should go pat a lion tough guy

by No 7&1/2 Tue 10 Oct 2017, 8:26 am

And you don't understand rugby that well ebop as you've demonstrated over the lions tour!

by Guest Tue 10 Oct 2017, 8:31 am

Really, over the Lions tour?

Ok mate

by cascough Tue 10 Oct 2017, 8:38 am

Biltong wrote:If you don't think that red card was a freaky call then just accept our opinions on what is deemed red cardable differ.

It wasn't though was it.

I mean, we all have differing opinions on what we personally would like to see, but world rugby have issued directives to their referees that say if there's contact with the head/neck, they risk a red card. We all know that don't we? It's certainly been mentioned enough times on these boards.

So again, I understand you don't want to see things like that penalised with a red card, but it really shouldn't come as a surprise that it was.

by Guest Tue 10 Oct 2017, 8:50 am

cascough wrote:
Biltong wrote:If you don't think that red card was a freaky call then just accept our opinions on what is deemed red cardable differ.

It wasn't though was it.

I mean, we all have differing opinions on what we personally would like to see, but world rugby have issued directives to their referees that say if there's contact with the head/neck, they risk a red card. We all know that don't we? It's certainly been mentioned enough times on these boards.

So again, I understand you don't want to see things like that penalised with a red card, but it really shouldn't come as a surprise that it was.

How do you explain the same incompetent referee/ARs doing diddly squat about Vunipola

by Scottrf Tue 10 Oct 2017, 8:53 am

Because it was a standard clearout, albeit clumsy and one of the most exaggerated events in rugby history.

by Guest Tue 10 Oct 2017, 9:01 am

Right, it was 'clumsy'

No worries then eh

de Allende was also clumsy and he saw red

by cascough Tue 10 Oct 2017, 12:20 pm

ebop, are you saying you HAVEN'T heard of the world rugby directives that mean head/neck contact risks a red?

by **Biltong** Tue 10 Oct 2017, 12:35 pm

cascough wrote:
Biltong wrote:If you don't think that red card was a freaky call then just accept our opinions on what is deemed red cardable differ.

It wasn't though was it.

I mean, we all have differing opinions on what we personally would like to see, but world rugby have issued directives to their referees that say if there's contact with the head/neck, they risk a red card. We all know that don't we? It's certainly been mentioned enough times on these boards.

So again, I understand you don't want to see things like that penalised with a red card, but it really shouldn't come as a surprise that it was.

The sanzar judiciary said on record there was no contact with the head.

Hence no red card, and only a warning.

by **RDW** Tue 10 Oct 2017, 2:21 pm

I've done a bit of tidying up on this thread

by Gwlad Tue 10 Oct 2017, 4:24 pm

ebop wrote:You should go pat a lion tough guy

Ah you still having that nightmare where you're being chased by a large pussycat...Rub Ebop Run!! Run

Perhaps when you wake up you should read the IRB rules of Rugby union. thumbsup

Here's the link...not sure which language you use though

http://laws.worldrugby.org

by Guest Tue 10 Oct 2017, 7:28 pm

cascough wrote:ebop, are you saying you HAVEN'T heard of the world rugby directives that mean head/neck contact risks a red?

Of course I have

So why wasn't Vunipola red carded just like de Allende cascough?

These referees should be stood down from international duty because they've been shown to lack consistency and choke in the big moments. Garces called an SA player offside in the 11th minute in the exact same scenario as Owens was in Test 3 of the Lions series where he talked Poite out of it. These jokers aren't fit for the role.

by Gwlad Tue 10 Oct 2017, 7:53 pm

Lets face it when it comes to choking you are probably an expert. thumbsup

by Gwlad Wed 11 Oct 2017, 3:08 am

You still running ebop, keep going lad all the fat will fall off eventually.

by Scottrf Wed 11 Oct 2017, 8:42 am

Gwlad wrote:You still running ebop, keep going lad all the fat will fall off eventually.

How old are you?

by Gwlad Wed 11 Oct 2017, 4:15 pm

Scottrf wrote:
Gwlad wrote:You still running ebop, keep going lad all the fat will fall off eventually.
How old are you?

MYOB

by Collapse2005 Thu 12 Oct 2017, 5:09 pm

Biltong wrote:
cascough wrote:
Biltong wrote:If you don't think that red card was a freaky call then just accept our opinions on what is deemed red cardable differ.

It wasn't though was it.

I mean, we all have differing opinions on what we personally would like to see, but world rugby have issued directives to their referees that say if there's contact with the head/neck, they risk a red card. We all know that don't we? It's certainly been mentioned enough times on these boards.

So again, I understand you don't want to see things like that penalised with a red card, but it really shouldn't come as a surprise that it was.

The sanzar judiciary said on record there was no contact with the head.

Hence no red card, and only a warning.

I think red was harsh but I'm not a fan of players taking out the out half after they have kicked or passed the ball. I also believe that De Allende struck Lima Sopoaga intentionally. It irks me that he came out later and apologized but claimed he didn't mean to hit Sopoaga. I believe it completely intentional and he could easily have pulled out if he wanted to.

by emack2 Tue 17 Oct 2017, 8:16 pm

The final game of SH sides before the AI`s Bledisloe 3 a dead rubber?
NZ injuries mean a2009 like side both first choice props/locks missing
no Ben Smith,Dagg,Milner Skudder,Jordie Barrett,Retalick,Moody,Franks
Romano and probably Beauden Barrett.
Aussies at home with there tails up very much a winnable game for them,
NZ IF they are on there gam a win,if not?

by lostinwales Sat 21 Oct 2017, 12:07 pm

OK so the AB's lost the dead rubber vs the Wallabies.

The referee was Wayne Barnes. I haven't seen the game but Brian Moore said he had a good game. Can't wait to see the comments that will follow here.

by Guest Sat 21 Oct 2017, 12:17 pm

Apologies for the wait

Australia won, well done to them

by David-Douglas Sat 21 Oct 2017, 12:18 pm

No such thing as a dead rubber between these teams.

The score flattered the AB's. Foley left a lot of points out there.

Barnes was fine, missed SBW using his shoulder at the tackle, but most do.

Vindication for SOB....

by Guest Sat 21 Oct 2017, 12:21 pm

What do you mean vindication for SOB

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 21 Oct 2017, 12:22 pm

Big loss for NZ, are we starting to see a slight decline?

by Guest Sat 21 Oct 2017, 12:24 pm

Big loss is SA losing 57-0 to the ABs not a 5 point loss in a dead rubber. The ABs slept walked through that game. Good for Australia rugby though. They’re over the moon.

by Sponsored content

Day & Date	Match	Venue	Match Official	Kick Off (Local)
Week One
Saturday 19-Aug-17	Australia v New Zealand	ANZ Stadium, Sydney	Jerome Garces (FFR)	20:00
Saturday 19-Aug-17	South Africa v Argentina	Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth	Romain Poite (FFR)	17.05
Week Two
Saturday 26-Aug-17	New Zealand v Australia	Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin	Wayne Barnes (RFU)	19.35
Saturday 26-Aug-17	Argentina v South Africa	Estadio Padre Ernesto Marlearena, Salta	Pascal Gauzere (FFR)	16.40
Week Three
Saturday 09-Sep-17	Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth	Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth	Angus Gardner (ARU)	19.35
Saturday 09-Sep-17	Australia v South Africa	NIB Stadium, Perth	Glen Jackson (NZR)	18.00
Week Four
Saturday 16-Sep-17	New Zealand v South Africa	QBE Stadium, Albany	Nigel Owens (WRU)	19.30
Saturday 16-Sep-17	Australia v Argentina	Nib Stadium, Perth	John Lacey (IRFU)	20:00
Week Five
Saturday 30-Sep-17	South Africa v Australia	Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein	Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)	17.05
Saturday 30-Sep-17	Argentina v New Zealand	Estadio Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires	Jaco Peyper (SARU)	19.30
Week Six
Saturday 07-Oct-17	South Africa v New Zealand	Newlands, Cape Town	Jerome Garces (FFR)	17.05
Saturday 07-Oct-17	Argentina v Australia	Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza	Mathieu Raynal (FFR)	19.30
Extra Bledisloe Cup
Saturday 21-Oct-17	Australia v New Zealand	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane	Wayne Barnes (RFU)	19.00