Field Theory by Hadyn Green

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Field Theory: Four Years Ago

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  • DexterX, in reply to Sacha,

    Playing pin the sorry tale on the Donkey???

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Geoff Willmott, in reply to Marcus Turner,

    Marcus - I think the easiest way to learn tackle/ruck is to think in terms of the chronological order things happen.

    If a 'tackle' happens (=ball carrier brought to ground by an opponent), then:
    1. Any opponent who brought that player to ground must release that player and/or roll off him. Infringements occur when an opponent wants to slow the play down, or when they think they have complied but haven't
    2. The ball-carrier must release or immediately play the ball (place it or pass it, not get up again unless he is 'not held' by an opponent) Infringements typically occur when an opponent is doing everything right, tugging on the ball, and the tackled player is 'holding on'. c.f. Heinrich Brossouw
    3. Everyone arriving has to do so from the direction of their own goal line, i.e., not in the side [Exception: any 'tackler', who brought the ball-carrier to ground AND went to ground themselves, can come from any direction] Infringements typically occur when a team is going backwards quickly and a player takes a short-cut
    4. Everyone arriving is supposed to support their own weight on their feet. Infringements are very frequent because there is often a fine dividing line or you can't help falling over, and generally the lower your body position, the better you do in the contest
    5. Once a 'ruck' is formed (= at least one player from each team on their feet in contact over the ball on the ground), players are not allowed to use their hands, and anyone not involved has to get back behind the offside line.

    Once a 'maul' forms (= ball carrier + at least one player from each side in contact on their feet), there are 4 likely reasons to blow the whistle
    - intentional collapse of the maul = penalty
    - players joining the maul from the side instead of the back = penalty (see 3 above), or similarly, players standing in front of the offside line (like 5 above)
    - obstruction. This occurs when the ball-carrier's team break away from the maul with a non-ball-carrier in front ... usually ruled accidental (= scrum) and known as 'truck and trailer'
    - ball not emerging. If the ball is locked up, not coming out and the maul isn't going anywhere, then the team who didn't take it in gets the feed to a scrum. This also applies to mauls which have collapsed unintentionally.

    When the whistle is blown, it can most often be explained by the offences above, although you will see plenty of times these things aren't blown up because the offence wasn't material to the contest.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 15 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    That's sad. I wonder where that man playing the er hu will go, or those very talented music students who often busk in the tunnel.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    I have to say, the coverage of the actual games has been decidedly average.

    How is it that - in 2011 - we don't have a second angle of that Welsh penalty? Also, when super-slo-mo has been around for a few years now, they don't seem to have even normal slo-mo. And no rail-cam either. It all looks kind of ten years ago.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Marcus Turner, in reply to Geoff Willmott,

    Thanks Geoff. Some of those things I had a good grasp of; others, I'll watch out for later in the week.

    I suppose a referee has to go through all your paragraphs in the blink of an eye, and it's not surprising that confusion occurs.

    Since Nov 2006 • 212 posts Report Reply

  • dc_red,

    he sounded drunk and meaningless

    I've been assured this is just how Key sounds independent of any actual imbibing of the latest JK vintage.

    Meanwhile, one elements of a compliant media buy the line that chaos is all the Auckland Council's (and more specifically the mayor's) fault.

    Oil Patch, Alberta • Since Nov 2006 • 706 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Have finally watched all the games now, I conclude that the spread in skill levels between top and bottom has indeed reduced a lot. Only Italy didn't score a try, and even then, only because of bad luck, their pushover had an unlucky spill out. Awesome tournament so far. Strikingly good performances from Romania, Argentina, and Wales. Very promising work from Japan, USA. Tonga had a great game. Solid performances from most of the favorites, making the best of lengthy ball denials, in most cases only running away at the very end. Some good looking running play from Ireland, Scotland and France. Grinding (but to my eyes dull) professional play by England and South Africa. Only Ozzie and NZ played as they always do, hard, fast, interesting rugby, crushing lesser teams with dynamic back play and excellent forward defense.

    But everything can change so fast. I think all teams will grow during the tournament.

    ETA: I left out the excellent improvements made on previous form by Namibia, and exciting play by Fiji......too many games now, have blurred....Also, I was busy making sure my house hadn't been destroyed by a freak tornado at the time.

    Looking forward to seeing what Samoa, Canada, Georgia and Russia have to offer.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Rich Lock,

    There's a huge element of luck to these things.

    The train stations were closed around Hyde Park at 10pm after the Live 8 Concert in London in 2005 causing a bit of a major also.Several hundreds of thousands had no transport that night too. T'was a bit of mayhem. I think after a lot of walking we found one open.But at least it was finished and not yet to begin :)

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to dc_red,

    Meanwhile, one elements of a compliant media buy the line that chaos is all the Auckland Council’s (and more specifically the mayor’s) fault.

    Then again…

    PS. That was before Len Brown was elected, too.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    the coverage of the actual games has been decidedly average.

    We don't have interactive in NZ?

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

  • Yamis,

    After carefully considering what happened last Friday night I can confidently say that the Government effed up, AT effed up, and Veolia (?) effed up. I don't know why they haven't ALL taken responsibility. The mayor has said sorry and that's about it. The government and council centralised everything when they should have spread the party zones out. AT should have clicked that those coming into the city for the celebrations would be putting demands on the PT that the fans going to the games would need, and Veolia shouldn't have trains where you have to inspect all 30 emergency stop buttons to know which one was activated before re-setting the brakes. How antiquated is that? My crappy 5 year old computer probably has better technology in it.

    The whole afternoon/evening was like the perfect incompetence storm.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Labour --> National
    National --> AT & Veolia
    AT --> unprecedented demand
    Veolia --> unprecedented demand

    But nobody seems to want to say what created this "unprecedented demand" and why it wasn't planned for given it was entirely constructed and promoted by central government and Auckland Council. It wasn't an act of god. A Taniwha didn't rise up out of Rangitoto and tell people to hope on a bus, a train, a skateboard and head to the waterfront.

    hot potato hot potato...

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Yamis, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    That's funny Sofie. For a minute I thought they'd flown to the wrong country altogether.

    Since Nov 2006 • 903 posts Report Reply

  • Grant McDougall,

    My money's on it being Murray McCully

    Dunedin • Since Dec 2006 • 760 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to Rich of Observationz,

    We don't have interactive in NZ?

    There seems to be a problem with the wireless link. I had my Wii controller on 'Jonny Wilkinson', but I couldn't seem to get it to kick straight - the ball was going all over the shop. Is it something in the settings, or is there a patch I can download?

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Yamis,

    But nobody seems to want to say what created this "unprecedented demand" and why it wasn't planned for given it was entirely constructed and promoted by central government and Auckland Council.

    They did plan for it. Nearly all capacity was directed to the event, which became enormous due in no small part to public transport, and the suggestion to use it, and they do deserve some thanks for the hundreds of thousands of people who were successfully delivered. I think that given the history of Auckland on PT, that what was unexpected was that people followed the advice given in such numbers. Also, how can you really plan for events when Kiwis are so bloody non-committal about their interest in things? Just as public transport in Auckland has no experience coping with such numbers, so also Aucklander have no experience coping with public transport in such numbers.

    At the end of the day they delivered about as many people into Auckland and Eden Park as it was feasible to do, and it was only through good weather and good will that that number was not far too many people, leading to really serious incidents. People missing out on events when they are incredibly popular just isn't that serious an outcome, frankly, it takes a pale second position to public safety. Imagine how packed the central city could have been, if there actually *had* been the capacity to deliver all the people left behind straight to Britomart.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Any bets to lay on who the Minister for Bad Manners is? My money is on Wayne Mapp.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock, in reply to BenWilson,

    My money is on Wayne Mapp.

    I think that's long odds. Mapp is about the only cabinet minister I'd give the time of day to. Could be any one of the rest of the incompetent fools, though.

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Carol Stewart, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    There is a ban on buskers?
    On Sunday night there was an entire string quartet playing in the tunnel under the bus station! They were glorious.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic, in reply to BenWilson,

    Any bets to lay on who the Minister for Bad Manners is? My money is on Wayne Mapp.

    I'd say Dr Mapp comes across as too urbane for that sort of thing. McCully, though, does add up.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • DexterX, in reply to BenWilson,

    The lift in play of the minows is in no small part to the the roll of ex All blacks in coaching positions developing the game and skill levels.

    It would be great to see Warren Gatland and Todd Blackadder go forth as the next great AB coaching dynasty - I don't think the ozzies will be willing to let Deans go.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1224 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Yamis,

    Queuey bono...

    But nobody seems to want to say what created this “unprecedented demand” and why it wasn’t planned for given it was entirely constructed and promoted by central government and Auckland Council.

    I'm just wondering what this unprecedented spike in train users converts to in earnings for Auckland Transport/Veolia?
    And did I hear right in the interview on Close up last night (with the man and his elderly mother-in-law who were stuck on the train and sadly didn't get to the game at all) that the RWC tickets included "Free public train or bus transport" ? and if so didn't the RWC company then contribute to the random factors of numbers travelling by train?
    And also how were those trips costs to be reimbursed to the provider?

    Joyce is impressive at rushing to close the stable doors after the horse has bolted - this friday's game will not have an opening ceremony or downtown harbourside spectacular in the mix, but he'll probably take credit for fixing it when it all goes smoothly...
    Will the TAB be taking bets on this?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    Move over Buster Bloodvessel...

    ...the Minister for Bad Manners...

    Terry Gilliam's new movie 3 Monkeys ?...

    "I saw no sign of anything," Williamson said.
    "I enjoyed the game, it was an excellent match, there was no controversy and I've talked to everybody that I sat with now, and no one knows anybody that did anything. So where I was - there was nothing.*
    I have no idea what has generated [the story] but all I know where I was [with the] the Australian High Commissioner, several other ministers, I saw nothing, heard nothing, of even the slightest [controversy]."

    (from the Stuff article linked to above)

    *never a truer word spoken!

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson, in reply to Rich Lock,

    I think that's long odds.

    Seems like long odds whether the incident actually happened at all.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

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