Glad I missed that one

As I mentioned previously my weekend was mainly taken up with turning myself in a rockstar (separate post and photos on that coming soon). As such I missed Wellington lose the game that, really, deep down, they knew they were going to lose. Feel free to bitch about the game in the comments.

But I did see part of the netball and the Monday-night sports news where (for some reason) a fantastic win by New Zealand over Australia (netball) was the second item behind a stupid loss by New Zealand at the hands of Australia (league).

Actually I'm not really sure how New Zealand losing to Australia in league even counts as "news" anymore.

I did yell at Ricky Stewart (well at his image on the TV) about the boots up slide by Billy Slater. It says in that Stuff article that Stewart takes the charges seriously, however, on the news last night he said:

[Slater]'s been warned about it, but if he does it successfully, would I tell him not to do it? No

The actual answer should be "yes". Because nothing sucks more than not getting try AND getting your face cut open by someone's spikes.

Back to the netball, don't we have some awesome midcourt and defensive depth? I'm a little worried with our shooting options if we lose van Dyk (Wipiiti still hasn't convinced me). Here are the stats:

Progressive (& Quarter) Scores
1st Qtr: 15-7 to Australia
2nd Qtr: 21-20 to Australia (13-6 to NZ)
3rd Qtr: 33-31 to New Zealand (13-10 to NZ)
4th Qtr: 46-41 to New Zealand (13-10 to NZ)

Shooting Statistics: Australia - 72% overall
Natalie Medhurst -, -, 8/8, 4/6 (12/14, 86%)
Kate Beveridge - 6/8, 5/6, 2/6, 6/8 (19/28, 68%)
Susan Pratley - 9/11, 1/4, -, - (10/15, 67%)

Shooting Statistics: New Zealand - 88% overall
Irene van Dyk - 4/5, 9/10, 9/9, 7/7 (29/31, 94%)
Maria Tutaia - 3/3, 4/5, 4/6, 6/7 (17/21, 81%)

And for those (literally) taking score, the five point difference is inside the statistical significance bounds.

Undoubtedly there was other sport this weekend (such as Liverpool beating Chelsea at home and the Phillies on the brink of a World Series victory) but I was too busy trying to not screw up the guitar solos in Gimme Shelter

LegBreak, 11:14 Oct 28, 2008

Typically, close matches won by Canterbury are dire turgid affairs. Saturday was no exception.

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

Emma Hart, 11:18 Oct 28, 2008

My partner and I taped the rugby, and due to a whole bunch of things, didn't get to watch it until quite late on Sunday afternoon - so late that we watched the first half, stopped and watched the netball, then watched the second half.

Switching back to the rugby was like swallowing a fist-full of mogadon.

There was only one injury break in the netball and that was for a genuine injury. Both teams got five-goal runs on without the other side suddenly developing an urgent blister. And that game that stops all the time and has too much whistle? Does NOT have breaks long enough to show a replay. I'd really like TVNZ to work that out.

Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

Kyle Matthews, 11:46 Oct 28, 2008

I did yell at Ricky Stewart (well at his image on the TV) about the boots up slide by Billy Slater.

The commentators at the time were interesting.

"Well that should be a penalty, it's dangerous."
"Not a try though."
"Well if it's a penalty that prevented a try being scored, shouldn't it be a penalty try?"
"Well, good point."
"Guess it depends if what he's been told in the NRL carries over to the international game."

"Oh 20 metre restart. Well that's silly."

It really is stupid. We're just going to wait until someone gets kicked in the head by the fullback, and then we'll ban them for 20 weeks, rather than just telling them not to do it now, and then backing it up with an ordinary penalty/penalty try if they do it.

Talk about ambulance at the bottom of the hill.

Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

Hadyn Green, 11:52 Oct 28, 2008

Totally agree. Considering a head-high tackle will result in a ban of some kind (even if the person who received it wasn't hurt) because it's dangerous play.

"Well if it's a penalty that prevented a try being scored, shouldn't it be a penalty try?"
"Well, good point."

I wasn't sure if they had penalty tries in league. Do they get to take the kick from in front of the sticks?

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report

Hadyn Green, 11:54 Oct 28, 2008

And that game that stops all the time and has too much whistle? Does NOT have breaks long enough to show a replay. I'd really like TVNZ to work that out.

I think that's because it doesn't really stop all the time and when it does the breaks are really short.

They should be like the professional wrestling (which I never watch myself) and have picture-in-picture replays

Kyle Matthews, 13:00 Oct 28, 2008

From wikipedia:

In both rugby league and in rugby union, if the referee believes that a try has been prevented by the defending team's misconduct, he may award the attacking team a penalty try. Penalty tries are always awarded under the posts regardless of where the offence took place. In rugby union, the standard applied by the referee is that a try "probably" would have been scored. The referee does not have to be certain a try would have been scored. In rugby league, the referee must be left in no reasonable doubt that a try would otherwise have been scored before a penalty try can be awarded.

Yes to under the posts. Interesting to see in rugby union the rule is "probably have been scored", in rugby league "definitely". Maybe that's why you see less in league.

LegBreak, 15:19 Oct 28, 2008

Interesting to see in rugby union the rule is "probably have been scored", in rugby league "definitely". Maybe that's why you see less in league.

Good to see League still leaves no stone unturned when it comes to having rules subtly different from those in union.

Even when they go against logic.

Don Christie, 10:27 Oct 29, 2008

As such I missed Wellington lose the game that, really, deep down, they knew they were going to lose. Feel free to bitch about the game in the comments.

No bitching. It was a good game to attend. Nerve wrecking finals rugby, probably boring to watch on TV.

Richie McCaw made the difference between Wellington drubbing the Cantabs and the actual result. He was awesome.

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1645 posts Report

Megan Wegan, 13:35 Oct 29, 2008

Really? Cos all I've heard is what a big cheater he is, and how Canterbury don't even try to play rugby etc etc etc.

And I haven't even gloated.

Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report

Hadyn Green, 17:52 Oct 29, 2008

That's also true

Don Christie, 22:39 Oct 29, 2008

Really? Cos all I've heard is what a big cheater he is

He is quick, strong, intelligent and reads the ref to an extent that seems like cheating if, like me, you are supporting the wrong team :-)

But really, all credit to the guy. I am just glad he is an All Black and not playing for the Aussies.

Field Theory by Hadyn Green

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