Field Theory by Hadyn Green

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

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

That's also true

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.