Field Theory by Hadyn Green

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Field Theory: You play to win the game

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  • Naly D,

    Keven Mealamu *

    I think Mackintosh's problems come down to the fact that in ANZ Cup the referee's have stopped using the word pause. It's just 'Crouch. Touch. ENGAGE'

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report Reply

  • Naly D,

    Keven Mealamu *

    I think Mackintosh's problems come down to the fact that in ANZ Cup the referee's have stopped using the word pause. It's just 'Crouch. Touch. ENGAGE'

    But I do agree with you that it is up to him to change the way he plays to suit the referee.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report Reply

  • tim kong,

    His first test though - and he would have learned a lot from the experience. Far more than using his hotel bed as scrum machine - as was pointed out last week.

    A heap of potential there - lets just hope he doesn't turn into our version of Andrew Sheridan and never show the goods.

    A front row of Hayman and him, with Hore in the middle would do nicely come 2011.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 153 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Rowe,

    From memory, in the olden days, because rugby was a gentleman's game for amateurs, the home team wore the change strip (think of the waterpolo test, and Scotland wore orange at the 1999 WC semi final).

    As for sending out the B team? meh, I thinks Epsom Girls' under 13s would give the Scots a run for their money. Declining player base, reliance on imports in the 90s and 00s, SRFU leadership that makes the NZRU gang look like tactical geniuses is killing the game up north of the border. Apparently the game wasn't sold out (neither was the 99 QF) - a result of over pricing, probably, (no jokes against tight fisted Scotsmen, please).

    Hopefully the day will come when Nonu finally has a nightmare of Lauaki proportions and is never selected again, or some cashed up Frenchman with no eye for talent entices him to Europe to indulge his eyeliner passion. That's a collection I'd contribute to.

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report Reply

  • Angus Robertson,

    This means that some players had eight Adidas logos on them! One on the jersey, one on the shorts, one on each sock, one on each long sleeve and one in each number on their back

    Ten, unless adidas have stopped putting logo's on their boots.

    Auckland • Since May 2007 • 984 posts Report Reply

  • mike.riversdale,

    Scotland NOT shouting and whistling and booing when the kick takes place - TOP WORK SCOTLAND

    But I'm old skool when the game was above ONLY about winning. If it's ONLY about winning then why not allow handguns?

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 27 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    I think it would be helpful to give the score when writing about a sporting event, just for those of us who don't really care. Like the Guardian does.

    The Herald does this as well. They also didn't have actual election results on Sunday morning. Lots of smug gloating, but no summary of the voting (as all the US sites had on a realtime basis).

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    And speaking of the white jerseys, I thought Scotland played in Navy at home and only donned the white when playing the All Blacks on the road. Do I have that backwards?

    I believe so. All Blacks always seemed to play in white when Scotland came here.

    I presume that the ABs, as top qualifier, were technically 'home' in Cardiff against the French last year, so had to change their tops, unless the rule has changed.

    Ice hockey (at least in the NHL) has a very sensible rule for this. Each team has a dark top, and a light top. You wear your dark top when playing at home, and your light top when playing away. It's impossible to get a uniform clash as a result.

    And gives you more variety in merchandising as well.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I think it would be helpful to give the score when writing about a sporting event, just for those of us who don't really care.

    Can I just mention Prime TV here.

    30 minutes into their delayed coverage of the All Blacks/Scotland match yesterday, ad break, they promote their 5.30 news and say "All Blacks beat Scotland". Duh. Having avoided radio and internet news all day, the channel showing the game gives away the result. Thanks.

    (Later ads for the news said "All Blacks and Kiwis have tough battles", so presumably someone got hit over the head)

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Richard Irvine,

    Not shouting at kickers is classy, and something I've only experienced overseas. Feeling big stadiums like Lasnsdowne Road or Twickenham going quiet is eerie and moving. Not to mention polite.

    On the other hand, hearing Rugby Park / Waikato Stadium go absolutely nuts when Grant Fox / Carlos / etc are lining one up makes me *so* proud.

    Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 242 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    Scotland NOT shouting and whistling and booing when the kick takes place - TOP WORK SCOTLAND

    But I'm old skool when the game was above ONLY about winning. If it's ONLY about winning then why not allow handguns?

    As a fan of the home team I am there to support my boys and hope that the competition will be fair and that, in the end, my team shall prevail.

    If I can do something to prevent the opposition from scoring points (and as long as it is not a projectile onto the field or some awful taunting) then I'm totally going to do that.

    I will always applaud any points scored by the opposition, but only after I groan. I will never boo an opponent (unless they have done something unsportsmanlike, in which case I shall chant "off")

    The best ways to put off a kicker would be orchestrated random movements or sounds, but I think that's probably going to far.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    30 minutes into their delayed coverage of the All Blacks/Scotland match yesterday, ad break, they promote their 5.30 news and say "All Blacks beat Scotland". Duh. Having avoided radio and internet news all day, the channel showing the game gives away the result. Thanks.

    Which is why when I heard the announcer say "and in sports the All Blacks..." I just started yelling loudly and blindly scrambling for the remote.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    Ten, unless adidas have stopped putting logo's on their boots.

    Good point i forgot to mention this. While the New Zealanders all have Adidas boots the Scots were wearing Reebok and Adidas (and possibly Mizuno?). It was most notable during scrum time.

    I also think I may have miscounted Scotland's logos, the one on the back was a Scottish Rugby Union logo.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Curtis,

    As for the election stories ( or sport stories) not mentioning the result.
    Thats for a very good reason, they are written before the result is known... I kid you not.

    A classic example from Deborah Hill Cone this morning about all the confusion we are having over who will form the next government...

    oopps.... that was quick they flicked it off the net allready

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 314 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Rowe,

    I presume that the ABs, as top qualifier, were technically 'home' in Cardiff against the French last year, so had to change their tops, unless the rule has changed.

    I think they drew lots prior to the tournament to determine change strips. Of course, if the French had kept their traditional blue jerseys it wouldn't have been an issue.

    From the Herald:

    The French team sponsor Nike has revealed a new strip with a new darker navy jersey, which is a departure from the traditional light blue.

    It is a move believed to try to give the French a psychological edge as if the teams meet at the tournament - and France wins the coin toss - the All Blacks would be forced to wear their away strip which is predominantly silver, as the black would clash with the dark blue.

    here

    Lake Roxburgh, Central Ot… • Since Nov 2006 • 574 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Thats for a very good reason, they are written before the result is known... I kid you not.

    Yeah, I was called by HoS reporters on Friday and asked to offer comment on alternative scenarios for the election result.

    I did predict that Helen Clark wouldn't hang around if she didn't win.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Now to the game. Wayne Barnes blew his whistle a lot, however, for the most part he was correct in his rulings.

    I actually thought he was so consumed with the IRB's new "punish players for falling over" edict at the breakdown that he failed to spot a fell of a lot of offsides in the tackle. Still not impressed.

    Other thoughts: Adam Thompson -- so fast to the breakdown, so useless once he gets there. But he does seem to be improving a bit. If he can improve his effectiveness in that respect, he'll be a useful player.

    Toeava: finally delivering on all that age-grade promise. His positional play at fullback rivals Mils' and he's electrifying on the break. The collission where he hurt his shoulder was the second third where he'd come up to make a crucial tackle that snuffed out a move. Glad he's not crocked after all.

    Joe: industrious and aware (ie: things Sivivatu hasn't been lately), but will we ever see him just back his pace again?

    In general, I thought the newbies grew in stature as the game wore on. It will have been a useful experience all round.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    I actually thought he was so consumed with the IRB's new "punish players for falling over" edict at the breakdown that he failed to spot a fell of a lot of offsides in the tackle.

    He was bit. And I was particularly vocal when the Scotsman came through illegally and pushed Ellis back off the ball at the ruck while looking at Barnes who was telling him to get out of the way.

    Barnes is particularly precise though in knock-ons and (ironically now) forward passes. Perhaps he trained up after World Cup.

    I did love how he kept directing the players. Like when he told the Scots to be quiet so the All Blacks could get their line-out call.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Hadyn Green,

    Adam Thompson -- so fast to the breakdown, so useless once he gets there. But he does seem to be improving a bit. If he can improve his effectiveness in that respect, he'll be a useful player.

    Totally agree. He's like a spaniel running about and being exciting and grabbing things but not really getting much done. Or if he does it's by sheer providence

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report Reply

  • Evan Yates,

    On the other hand, hearing Rugby Park / Waikato Stadium go absolutely nuts when Grant Fox / Carlos / etc are lining one up makes me *so* proud.

    Guilty as charged your honour.
    Waikato Stadium: The only place in the world where "more cowbell" is a legitimate command and not a reference to an SNL sketch...

    Hamiltron, Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Nov 2006 • 197 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    Barnes is particularly precise though in knock-ons and (ironically now) forward passes. Perhaps he trained up after World Cup.

    He still seems on occasion to get carried away in the heat of the moment. Before Borich was sent off he seemed to be getting excited and it was probably only a matter of time until it happened. He makes some good decisions but the pickiness still doesn't sit completely well.

    Also, the fact that he's so pedantic makes it doubly strange that in the RWC 1/4 final he couldn't come up with a single damn infringement against the French in almost 50 minutes of being camped on their own line defending wave after wave of All Black attack. I bet he never repeats that stat for the rest of his reffing career.

    I'll get over it one day...

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Peter Darlington,

    Weird, Gravatar seems to be picking up my image from somewhere, automatically. I presume it's either Last.fm or Facebook?

    Nelson • Since Nov 2006 • 949 posts Report Reply

  • Evan Yates,

    Weird, Gravatar seems to be picking up my image from somewhere, automatically. I presume it's either Last.fm or Facebook?

    Anywhere that you used the same email address to register a gravatar as the one you used when registering for PAS.

    Hamiltron, Te Ika-a-Māui • Since Nov 2006 • 197 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Adam Thompson -- so fast to the breakdown, so useless once he gets there. But he does seem to be improving a bit. If he can improve his effectiveness in that respect, he'll be a useful player.

    From the little I've seen of him, he's a very good open field runner. Was it against Wellington in the Air NZ Cup he got a couple of tries? - one an intercept, but one a clean line break running like a number 13 should.

    If he can spend more time next to McCaw learning to be the most hated man on the other side of a ruck/maul, he'll be a good #7.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    And gee Messam looked good running around the field too.

    Loose forwards in NZ, we need to patent those genes or something.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

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