TT Rd 2 - Chiefs v Brumbies, Sat 22nd May, 5.05pm AEST, FMG Waikato

[Dan54]

Another thrilling iteration of the highly competitive TT competition

Why do you watch then?? I know it's fun in your world to continually whinge, but any chance of doing it elsewhere? We understand you don't like it!

 

[Derpus]

Some sick, self flagellating part of me still loves rugby

 

[Dan54]

Some sick, self flagellating part of me still loves rugby

Fair enough then!!! Can't really argue with that can I ???

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Some sick, self flagellating part of me still loves rugby

Welcome to 15 years of the Auckland f**** Blues.

Weber should be utterly spewing at shelling that with the line open. After all the hard slog a golden opportunity to nail the coffin shut.

Bumblies bumbling around a bit.

To finish this post on a brighter note for Australian rugby, ACT have a very smart away jersey.

 

[KOB1987]

I’m about as hardcore a rugby supporter as they come. Contemplating switching it off and watching the NRL. I don’t blame anyone they are just too good and it’s just a glutton for punishment to keep watching. There is little engagement to see smashing after smashing

I’m actually switching between the two because my kids are at school with Sua'ali'i and my mate’s Kayo account is still active from when he stayed here a couple of weeks ago. I can report that it’s boring as fuck.

 

[Derpus]

I’m actually switching between the two because my kids are at school with Sua'ali'i and my mate’s Kayo account is still active from when he stayed here a couple of weeks ago. I can report that it’s boring as fuck.

Crichton showing what we missed out on though.

 

[SteveWA]

Some sick, self flagellating part of me still loves rugby

The beatings will continue until morale improves?

 

[KOB1987]

Crichton showing what we missed out on though.

That’s been evident for a while now. Still doesnt make league two dimensional.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

DMac to Boshier was backwards out of the hands but Boshier to Nankivil was surely forward?

 

[SteveWA]

Umm - 1m forward pass for try is OK? Allriiight.

 

[Derpus]

That’s been evident for a while now. Still doesnt make league two dimensional.

Eh the collisions are better and the skills much, much higher than the current Rugby playersin Aus. Its really growing on me.

 

[Dan54]

Geez Atu Moli looking good!

 

[SteveWA]

Correct decision - unlike last night's farce

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

I think the High Tackle Framework needs another tweak or three........

 

[KOB1987]

Eh the collisions are better and the skills much, much higher than the current Rugby playersin Aus. Its really growing on me.

The skills part is debatable, better accuracy with passing maybe but in league you go into contact trying to hold onto the pill, in union you are always looking to retain possession in other ways. 90% of the attempted offloads in contact in league end up on a patch of grass nowhere near anyone. From that perspective their skills are terrible.

 

[KOB1987]

I think the High Tackle Framework needs another tweak or three....

i didn’t mind that it was only a yellow though. A year or two ago it would have been a red. I liked that they walked through all the mitigating factors to reach the decision. But yes, given the foot and a half difference in height a penalty would have been sufficient.

 

[eastman]

The skills part is debatable, better accuracy with passing maybe but in league you go into contact trying to hold onto the pill, in union you are always looking to retain possession in other ways. 90% of the attempted offloads in contact in league end up on a patch of grass nowhere near anyone. From that perspective their skills are terrible.

League is becoming increasingly specialised much in the vein of NFL. The players have very specific roles and train exhaustively at their core role (e.g. fringe backrowers practice running slight variations of the same line and defence to death but do very little else).

So while on average their players can be appear limited in their skillset, they are generally much better than their union counterparts if the skill is within their role; this includes their playmakers being better passes and ball-players.

They are generally better athletes too.

 

[Derpus]

The skills part is debatable, better accuracy with passing maybe but in league you go into contact trying to hold onto the pill, in union you are always looking to retain possession in other ways. 90% of the attempted offloads in contact in league end up on a patch of grass nowhere near anyone. From that perspective their skills are terrible.

They have to execute a narrower variety of skills but their execution is light years ahead of the union lads

Edit: in Aus, the Kiwis etc can do it.

 

[Up the Guts]

The skills part is debatable, better accuracy with passing maybe but in league you go into contact trying to hold onto the pill, in union you are always looking to retain possession in other ways. 90% of the attempted offloads in contact in league end up on a patch of grass nowhere near anyone. From that perspective their skills are terrible.

Bad take, League are light years ahead in terms of the quality of their skills in their core rolls.

 

[Rebels3]

Average league skills is higher than a lot of our players but I think the main reason for that is the basics can have more time been practiced because there is less facets of the game to worry about. For instance there is no line outs or scrums to allocate time to complete.