Team of the Week - Round One

DMac a little stiff to get overlooked?

@mariner4life said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

DMac a little stiff to get overlooked?

I think he's a long way off his pre-injury best. His timing is off and he's still putting people on his own side under pressure. He's probably trying too hard.

@antipodean said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@mariner4life said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

DMac a little stiff to get overlooked?

. His timing is off and he's still putting people on his own side under pressure. He's probably trying too hard.

You've summed up his talents perfectly there. Not just this game, his whole career.

@antipodean said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

Teething problems aside, it is clear to me that the benefit of the law interpretation amendments is space. More space for attackers to get over the gain line which compounds with quick recycled ball and pick and goes. The obverse is a well drilled defensive team is rewarded for beating the support to the breakdown. Good technique and decisions making looks to be rewarded.

Four teams and for me the team of the round would be dominated by the Blues. Their forwards set a magnificent platform and were punishing in defence:

1. Alex Hodgman
2. Dane Coles
3. Ofa Tuungafasi
4. Patrick Tuipulotu
5. Isaia Walker-Leawere
6. Tom Robinson
7. Dalton Papali'i
8. Hoskins Sotutu
9. Aaron Smith
10. Otere Black
11. Caleb Clarke
12. Sio Tomkinson
13. Rieko Ioane
14. Shaun Stevenson
15. Beauden Barrett

IWL made a big impact from the bench and a strong case the Canes would have more possession and impact if he had started. Blake Gibson started very well - punishing in defence but again limited time on the paddock goes against him. Absolutely no difference once Dalton came on early in his place. Special mention to Dillon Hunt who played well for the Clan. Shaun Stevenson carried more than Telea and made more clean breaks. The rest pick themselves IMO.

Difficult to argue too much there.

Wrt Papalii v Gibson. Agree re Gibson was excellent early, but Dalton was more than "no difference". I thought he was a measurable step up. Best I've seen from him.

@antipodean said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

15. Beauden Barrett

Can't comment on the other game as haven't seen it yet, but this wasn't Beauden's best outing. Some really average option taking, not sure he sparked much, and was solid without being outstanding. Didn't really seem to get a chance to stretch his legs.

So, if either 15 in the toher game played well, they'd be strong contenders.

Tuipolotu hurt some people out there. IT was awesome to see, the defence was solid all day (alhtouhg we were outflanked a couple of times).

Black played really well.

@voodoo said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@antipodean said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@mariner4life said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

DMac a little stiff to get overlooked?

. His timing is off and he's still putting people on his own side under pressure. He's probably trying too hard.

You've summed up his talents perfectly there. Not just this game, his whole career.

pre-injury last year he was reigning it in and with his ball skills and speed was creating some great opportunities. I'm a fan, happy to white knight all you like

@nzzp said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@voodoo said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@antipodean said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@mariner4life said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

DMac a little stiff to get overlooked?

. His timing is off and he's still putting people on his own side under pressure. He's probably trying too hard.

You've summed up his talents perfectly there. Not just this game, his whole career.

pre-injury last year he was reigning it in and with his ball skills and speed was creating some great opportunities. I'm a fan, happy to white knight all you like

I've never been a fan. So helter skelter. I just don't trust him in black, he can wear the Chiefs kit all he likes.

Hope he proves me wrong, but I'd be terrified to see him starting in a major test match

Great first round and a lot of positive performances. Not easy to select team of the round, so here goes:

1-Joe Moody
2-Codie Taylor
3-Oli Jager
4-Scott Barrett
5-Luke Romano
6-Ethan Blackadder
7-Billy Harmon
8-Whetu Douglas
9-Bryn Hall
10-David Havili
11-Leicester Faingaanuku
12-Jack Goodhue
13-Inga Finau
14-Sevu Reece
15-Will Jordan

@ACT-Crusader said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

Great first round and a lot of positive performances. Not easy to select team of the round, so here goes:

1-Joe Moody
2-Codie Taylor
3-Oli Jager
4-Scott Barrett
5-Luke Romano
6-Ethan Blackadder
7-Billy Harmon
8-Whetu Douglas
9-Bryn Hall
10-David Havili
11-Leicester Faingaanuku
12-Jack Goodhue
13-Inga Finau
14-Sevu Reece
15-Will Jordan

Mistake free

@booboo said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@ACT-Crusader said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

Great first round and a lot of positive performances. Not easy to select team of the round, so here goes:

1-Joe Moody
2-Codie Taylor
3-Oli Jager
4-Scott Barrett
5-Luke Romano
6-Ethan Blackadder
7-Billy Harmon
8-Whetu Douglas
9-Bryn Hall
10-David Havili
11-Leicester Faingaanuku
12-Jack Goodhue
13-Inga Finau
14-Sevu Reece
15-Will Jordan

Mistake free

Yet not much in the way of point generation?

@voodoo said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@antipodean said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@mariner4life said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

DMac a little stiff to get overlooked?

. His timing is off and he's still putting people on his own side under pressure. He's probably trying too hard.

You've summed up his talents perfectly there. Not just this game, his whole career.

Could equally be a discussion about J Barrett

@shark said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@voodoo said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@antipodean said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@mariner4life said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

DMac a little stiff to get overlooked?

. His timing is off and he's still putting people on his own side under pressure. He's probably trying too hard.

You've summed up his talents perfectly there. Not just this game, his whole career.

Could equally be a discussion about J Barrett

Fair

@voodoo said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@nzzp said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@voodoo said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@antipodean said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@mariner4life said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

DMac a little stiff to get overlooked?

. His timing is off and he's still putting people on his own side under pressure. He's probably trying too hard.

You've summed up his talents perfectly there. Not just this game, his whole career.

pre-injury last year he was reigning it in and with his ball skills and speed was creating some great opportunities. I'm a fan, happy to white knight all you like

I've never been a fan. So helter skelter. I just don't trust him in black, he can wear the Chiefs kit all he likes.

Hope he proves me wrong, but I'd be terrified to see him starting in a major test match

Oozed talent pre-injury. Created tries from nothing. Amazing player, cut down the error rate and there's a reason he was a locked in member of the matchday 23. Hansen seriously rated. him.

@nzzp said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@voodoo said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@nzzp said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@voodoo said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@antipodean said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@mariner4life said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

DMac a little stiff to get overlooked?

. His timing is off and he's still putting people on his own side under pressure. He's probably trying too hard.

You've summed up his talents perfectly there. Not just this game, his whole career.

pre-injury last year he was reigning it in and with his ball skills and speed was creating some great opportunities. I'm a fan, happy to white knight all you like

I've never been a fan. So helter skelter. I just don't trust him in black, he can wear the Chiefs kit all he likes.

Hope he proves me wrong, but I'd be terrified to see him starting in a major test match

Oozed talent pre-injury. Created tries from nothing. Amazing player, cut down the error rate and there's a reason he was a locked in member of the matchday 23. Hansen seriously rated. him.

Shame he didn't rate Cane so high...

@voodoo said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@nzzp said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@voodoo said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@antipodean said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@mariner4life said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

DMac a little stiff to get overlooked?

. His timing is off and he's still putting people on his own side under pressure. He's probably trying too hard.

You've summed up his talents perfectly there. Not just this game, his whole career.

pre-injury last year he was reigning it in and with his ball skills and speed was creating some great opportunities. I'm a fan, happy to white knight all you like

I've never been a fan. So helter skelter. I just don't trust him in black, he can wear the Chiefs kit all he likes.

Hope he proves me wrong, but I'd be terrified to see him starting in a major test match

I'm not his biggest fan, but i feel like ypu are doing his 2018 end of year tour a massive disservice. He was just about our best player

@mariner4life said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@voodoo said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@nzzp said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@voodoo said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@antipodean said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@mariner4life said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

DMac a little stiff to get overlooked?

. His timing is off and he's still putting people on his own side under pressure. He's probably trying too hard.

You've summed up his talents perfectly there. Not just this game, his whole career.

pre-injury last year he was reigning it in and with his ball skills and speed was creating some great opportunities. I'm a fan, happy to white knight all you like

I've never been a fan. So helter skelter. I just don't trust him in black, he can wear the Chiefs kit all he likes.

Hope he proves me wrong, but I'd be terrified to see him starting in a major test match

I'm not his biggest fan, but i feel like ypu are doing his 2018 end of year tour a massive disservice. He was just about our best player

There was no EOYT tour in 2018, in particular no trip to Dublin, and nothing you say can change that. [inserts ear blocking gif/emoji if I was able]

@nzzp said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@antipodean said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

15. Beauden Barrett

Can't comment on the other game as haven't seen it yet, but this wasn't Beauden's best outing. Some really average option taking, not sure he sparked much, and was solid without being outstanding. Didn't really seem to get a chance to stretch his legs.

So, if either 15 in the toher game played well, they'd be strong contenders.

Agree. DMac was better than Barrett.

Sotutu has to cut ties with Fiji? Yeah good one.

All Blacks coach Foster may have Kieran Read's replacement in 22-year-old Mikaele-Tu'u

The All Blacks are in search of a new No 8 following the retirement of Kieran Read. Could Marino Mikaele-Tu'u be the man to take the jersey on?

@Bones Were the article not referring to Pita Gus. Although he's probably not even in the ball park re All Black selection

@Rebound both.

@nzzp Failing to understand the lack of love for Beauden from Blues fans. I thought he was very solid for a guy playing his first game back.

@sparky said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@nzzp Failing to understand the lack of love for Beauden from Blues fans. I thought he was very solid for a guy playing his first game back.

Oh he was solid. But 15 of the round? That's a stretch unless the other two in the game played poorly.

He was solid, but if you'd told someone new there he was World Player of the Year they woulnd't believe you. Rieko, Telea, Clarke all looked really sharp

@nzzp tough pickings. DMac didn't exactly set the world on fire and Koroi had a pretty forgettable debut. So that leaves Tiatia...

@nzzp said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@sparky said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@nzzp Failing to understand the lack of love for Beauden from Blues fans. I thought he was very solid for a guy playing his first game back.

Oh he was solid. But 15 of the round? That's a stretch unless the other two in the game played poorly.

He was solid, but if you'd told someone new there he was World Player of the Year they woulnd't believe you. Rieko, Telea, Clarke all looked really sharp

At the ground, and I haven't watched on TV yet (apart from finding myself and the wife in the crowd pics!), Sotutu was there pick of the games imo

The article mentions Sowakula having a good game and rugbypass rated him at 7.5 or 8 in the game on Saturday. Surely no one else thinks he played well, I thought he was awful.

@Yeetyaah said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

The article mentions Sowakula having a good game and rugbypass rated him at 7.5 or 8 in the game on Saturday. Surely no one else thinks he played well, I thought he was awful.

He conceded 3 quick penalties, threw a stupid pass on attack, and totally fucked up that attacking scrum with Weber. I think he will be relegated to the bench for the Blues game.

@Bovidae said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@Yeetyaah said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

The article mentions Sowakula having a good game and rugbypass rated him at 7.5 or 8 in the game on Saturday. Surely no one else thinks he played well, I thought he was awful.

He conceded 3 quick penalties, threw a stupid pass on attack, and totally fucked up that attacking scrum with Weber. I think he will be relegated to the bench for the Blues game.

or does he get forgiven for a complete mare?

@mariner4life said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

or does he get forgiven for a complete mare?

If Cane is back 4 doesn't go into 3.

6 Boshier
7 Cane
8 Jacobson

@Bovidae said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@mariner4life said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

or does he get forgiven for a complete mare?

If Cane is back 4 doesn't go into 3.

6 Boshier
7 Cane
8 Jacobson

I'm cool with that. But then I'm not that master coach.

@mariner4life said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

observation from the weekend

vision of the various coach's boxes were just absolutely stacked with the ghosts of failed world cups past.

That is sadly very true.

@antipodean Dixon and Parsons were both better than Coles.

@Tim said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

@antipodean Dixon and Parsons were both better than Coles.

As hookers yes. As wingers, no.

@antipodean said in Aotearoa SR Round One:

Teething problems aside, it is clear to me that the benefit of the law interpretation amendments is space. More space for attackers to get over the gain line which compounds with quick recycled ball and pick and goes. The obverse is a well drilled defensive team is rewarded for beating the support to the breakdown. Good technique and decisions making looks to be rewarded.

Four teams and for me the team of the round would be dominated by the Blues. Their forwards set a magnificent platform and were punishing in defence:

1. Alex Hodgman
2. Dane Coles
3. Ofa Tuungafasi
4. Patrick Tuipulotu
5. Isaia Walker-Leawere
6. Tom Robinson
7. Dalton Papali'i
8. Hoskins Sotutu
9. Aaron Smith
10. Otere Black
11. Caleb Clarke
12. Sio Tomkinson
13. Rieko Ioane
14. Shaun Stevenson
15. Beauden Barrett

IWL made a big impact from the bench and a strong case the Canes would have more possession and impact if he had started. Blake Gibson started very well - punishing in defence but again limited time on the paddock goes against him. Absolutely no difference once Dalton came on early in his place. Special mention to Dillon Hunt who played well for the Clan. Shaun Stevenson carried more than Telea and made more clean breaks. The rest pick themselves IMO.

.
Agree with most of this. I'd make the following changes, and not because they play for the Magpies:

2. Ash Dixon, who was much better than Coles (except as a winger)
3. tie between Sotutu and Marino Mikaele-Tu'u

In several positions, not a single player really stood out much for me.

@Stargazer Yes, if I went to the trouble of using an extra synapse I'd have include a bench where both of those players would be included. But I can't type that quickly without breathing.

Jun 14, 2020

Super Rugby Aotearoa: Best of the round

Super Rugby Aotearoa kicked-off with a bang and did not disappoint as it delivered on all fronts.

A good point raised...I want one of those Highlanders jackets.

Team of the Week from Stuff. Seems pretty good to me. Not a single Crusader made it!

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/121833120/super-rugby-aotearoa-team-of-the-week-otere-black-justifies-blues-selection