Posts by Jimmy Southgate
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There is also the options to have multiple audio tracks on the one channel (so some shows have a track for Maori occasionally) so the alt commentary could've been on that.
No way?! I had no idea such miraculous technology existed - alt commentary in sync on that would be the best.
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I had this crazy hope that with the multiple channels Sky had to devote to showing ABs games, that they might just offer the ARC some kinda dealio to do their thing.
As awesome as it was to be there live, the slight delay would annoy at least half of the people I was with whenever I watched the alternative commentary at someone's house, so having an actual proper broadcast with Jed doing commentary live over the top would have been just too awesome.
As other's have mentioned - and no doubt more will agree - a lot of the commentary we're subjected to is pretty awful. Of the bigger broadcasts the only person I like is Ian Smith.
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Not de Villiers, but i'd consider if you offered me whoever is really coaching the boks ;-)
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Lineout issues were timing ones from my perspective, which has to reside in the hands of the caller & thrower - I don't know enough to pick who was out of sync. Logic would tell you just to start going to the front, where you might be more at risk of getting disrupted but at least you're going to be near your jumper.
The coaching staff could do with a shake up, our attack isn't going well and our forwards haven't been brilliant this year either. I think the attack has struggled due to the latter, so would look at finding a new coach for the big guys, preferably one with a lot of lineout experience.
I think Thorn may have had his day in the sun, he's still good but not fast enough to play blindside flanker, and we really could do with another jumper in the lineout.
I realised on Saturday that McCaw has been playing for around 7 years, and I think he's starting to slow down a bit, he was on par with Brussow in the latest game, but over the tournament was outplayed. I'd like to see him take 6 or 8, keeping Read in the team as I don't think Kaino brings enough to the breakdown (though he'd be good impact player in the last 20-30). This should give us an opportunity to blood his replacement as we'll be lost if we just go straight from him to the next guy without a transition period.
It might also be time to replace Muliaina and Rokocoko; or at the very least give their replacements exposure as well. And yeah, a backup to Carter would be nice - Cruden looks the best of the younger guys so take him on the end of year tour along with McAllister (who covers 1st & 2nd 5/8 whether he likes it or not).
I'm unhappy that we didn't win the Tri-Nations, and we're not ranked #1. But at least there's room to improve in this 4 year cycle, the All Blacks are a long way from peaking, but there's promising signs in their running game at the moment, despite the handling errors.
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Yes, we gave the ball away something like 30 times in this match. I thought we were too often slow to the breakdown, or we were knocked off the ball at the breakdown.
This is one of the reasons im wondering if McCaw really is the 7 we need; compare his technique to Brussow's and its no wonder he gives away so many penalties these days.
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Anyone else catch the news that since a peak during the Lions tour, the public's interest in Rugby has begun to wane - probably a bit to do with the World Cup misery of 2007.
Strikes me that since 2007, Rugby has seen a revival in some areas around the country - Southland and Hawke's Bay are good examples. Yet, how many Super games get played in these areas? When was the last time any of them hosted a test?
Its pretty much no surprise that Hawke's Bay tried to go for a Super team - if the Hurricanes or NZRU aren't going to bring them top rugby, I guess they feel they have to get it themselves.
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if you try one and it misses then the opposition should be allowed a free kick, not a drop out.
If you punt the ball over the dead ball line does it go to a scrum where you kicked it from? Think it would make sense to do the same for a drop-goal as getting a 22m restart rewards not being able to score a try with additional possession.
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In a way, I actually approve of Graham Henry's approach - rugby is afterall a game meant to be played by 15 men, not 10. The unfortunate thing is that those with control over the game aren't about to make any changes that might make it more possible to play a 15 man game.
Its also worth remembering that in this game there was some pretty ordinary officiating, both from the man with the whistle and the assistants on the sideline - who despite their promotion from touch judges really aren't doing a whole hell of a lot. They're certainly not policing the offside line well. I don't think Isaac Ross's binning was the correct call as the ball was out, and I also think it was pretty dubious as to whether the ball came out of the scrum, or du Preez pulled it out.
Despite that, and despite some pretty appalling play at times, the ABs still were in touch for much of the game so its not all doom and gloom.
Still, personnel changes are in order:
Rokocoko needs to go back to AirNZ Cup and learn the basics of rugby, he should be replaced by Corey Jane as we need an extra kicked. Sivivatu should be given some training as well but was the most dangerous of the back three on attack so keep him. With Jane on the wing, Mils needs to stay, though he too could do with a game or two with Waikato.
Donald does not look worth persisting with, but Dan Carter shouldn't be rushed back so the reins should be handed to Luke McAllister and left there until the end of year tour.
Weepu should be given a chance to get right by starting, Cowan looked lost in the weekend and Leonard needs to put the ball in straight.
With Mealamu's injury we're kinda stuck at hooker, and I think the rest of the front row are the right players, they just need to get stuck in a bit more.
Also happy with the locks as well, until Ali gets better anyway.
Loose forwards are tricky. I am starting to wonder whether McCaw can keep playing openside for us. I think Heinrich Brussow has shown what the new breed of 7 is going to be like, and McCaw strikes me as too tall - how often is he getting tipped over & penalised for being all over the ball in rucks now? We need him as captain, but is he big enough, with the right amount of mongrel to play 6? And are there any good 7s coming through? (I really like the look of Karl Lowe).
I'd maybe consider swapping Keiran for Rodney who hasn't looked his usual self; but perhaps the better option for now is to stick Kaino at 8, and bring in Thomson to give McCaw a hand at the breakdown.
As to why we're in this state here, I think you can look at the Rugby being played in the middle of winter here for one thing - actually you can't because there's just a handful of ABs games and that's it. Its absurd that the AirNZ Cup starts in August, instead of a few weeks after the Super season ends. Club rugby should be played during the last 10-12 weeks of Super instead of this daft window its currently got.
I also think we should start paying more attention to the AirNZ Cup than Super rugby - after all, its working pretty well for South Africa with their Currie Cup.
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Taranaki, hmmm, I have a harder time believing they would succeed in Super rugby than HB. But then again, aren't they already signing up Australians to play for them?
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You know what might work, (and I can't believe I'm saying this): another Super 14.
So you have a "Super 10" say with the best teams from the SANZAR nations. And then, run at the same time, a "Top 10" with the next best teams. that way you could have HB, Otago, Melbourne, Perth, a couple of SAF teams and possibly even a PI or Japanese team. And naturally auto-promotion/relegation between the two.
Oh and the "Top 10" could play during the daytime!
I think this would be the way to go. If we accept that the NPC is now and forever a 2nd class competition; then the true answer to whats bad about Super Rugby is to turn it into a proper competition - two (or more) divisions would be ace. And if they played home & away as well!! I can but hope.