Field Theory: The other game
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I think Israel Dagg was the big news out of this game. Boy, did he look like he belonged there.
I thought the All Blacks' structure started to wobble after Kaino was subbed off, but I gather Tracey Nelson's stats will show that Vito did make a lot of tackles.
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Interesting that Benson Stanley apparently missed 4 tackles when we've heard so much about his phenomenal defence.
Good to see C Jane getting the recognition he deserves. He is one helluva player.
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Interesting that Benson Stanley apparently missed 4 tackles when we've heard so much about his phenomenal defence.
All in the second half, I think, but yes, odd. OTOH, Carter seemed enthused about having a thinking, talking player outside him.
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Can I just say I clean forgot about this game on the night? I know the other football was on, and there is the running storyline of my brain rot. Nonetheless, I used to look forward to the first All Blacks test of the season more. I wonder if others feel the same way.
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Carter seemed enthused about having a thinking, talking player outside him
Fair point, but I'd still have Nonu in there for his line-breaking qualities and the fact defences seem to concentrate on him leaving space out wider.
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Between the World Cup and an Alp d'Huez ascent, the All Blacks' first test kind of lost out in my TV viewing scheduling. Having watched highlights and read about the match it seems we did OK in an odd contest.
I'm interested in how people thought our midfield defence shapes up - it seems the Stanely / Smith pairing isn't as physically formidable as having Nonu in there?
And is it just me, or will Barnes' All Blacks reffing performance always be judged with 2007 in mind? When I head he sent an Irish player off after 15 minutes, first thing I thought was 'it'll take more than that before we're back on speaking terms, fella'.
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Good to see C Jane getting the recognition he deserves. He is one helluva player.
Yeah I'm glad they stuck with him despite early wobbles with the ABs. I also enjoyed watching him yell at the other backs when he went to make a run with only Dagg in support. It really was a 2 Fullbacks 1 Wing set up.
Interesting that Benson Stanley apparently missed 4 tackles when we've heard so much about his phenomenal defence.
I think defence is what we have to worry about (how much we worry about it will no doubt be determined by whether the sports media can be bothered whipping it up).
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Stanley's defence came across as being very average to me - he may have only missed four tackles but there were several others he should have made that he let go or backed off too much.
I'm glad Barnes awarded a yellow instead of a penalty try as the crowd at the Bristol were baying for - when CJ toed that ball through [god that was brilliant] it was in no way certain he'd score, so that would have been a horrid decision. Barnes had a very good night.
5 weeks for Heaslip seems fair, but I wonder how long Sir Richie would have had off if the knee had connected?
My thoughts:
http://dropkicks.co.nz/rugby/irish_eyes_arent_smiling
Meanwhile, SA are scaring me.
http://bit.ly/9K2JGA -
Can I just say I clean forgot about this game on the night? I know the other football was on, and there is the running storyline of my brain rot. Nonetheless, I used to look forward to the first All Blacks test of the season more. I wonder if others feel the same way.
I was the exact opposite. Haven't cared all year. But was very excited about the prospect of an All Black test.
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If you go into the match with the intent to injure your opponent then you have no right to be out there in your national colours.
Don't watch much rugby eh?
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If you go into the match with the intent to injure your opponent then you have no right to be out there in your national colours.
Don't watch much rugby eh?
I'm with Hadyn on this, and I watch a lot of Rugby. Ask the other people in my house. We don't need this in the game.
Overall it was a very positive start, but I was also impressed with the Irish resolve in the second half. For the important parts of the first they played with 13 players, and probably everyone shaking their heads thinking 'why the hell did Heaslip do that?' It sort of changed the game, just a little bit.
Oh, and go the Warriors.
[The other other game] -
I'm with Hadyn on this, and I watch a lot of Rugby. Ask the other people in my house. We don't need this in the game.
Quite. Barnes had no choice but to show the red card there.
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I'm with Hadyn on this, and I watch a lot of Rugby. Ask the other people in my house. We don't need this in the game.
I agree there's no place for foul play.
I do, however, believe there is a need for players in rugby (and other contact sports) to have an intent to hurt the opposition. And injury may be a consequence.
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I do, however, believe there is a need for players in rugby (and other contact sports) to have an intent to hurt the opposition.
Still no. 'Winning' (with superior skill, and yes maybe strength) and 'hurting' are not compatible in any sport other than boxing, that I'm aware of. If everyone had that attitude we would never get to watch the world's best players as they would be injured all the time.
The fact that this is the case in some codes is not what I like about the game. And is it a necessary part of it? Not in my book. It's why a red card was fully justified, and 5 weeks isn't too harsh either.
Back to football, apparently sprigs up Tim Cahill got his just rewards during the Australia/Germany game, although I didn't see it.
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“The reason sport became a worldwide phenomenon can be summed up in three words,” says Professor Joe Maguire. “The British Empire.”
Or Was it?.
Andrew Jennings, scourge of FIFA, has a theory about this. “When we’re enjoying sport, we’re all open, we’re vulnerable, we’re small children again. And that’s how big capitalism likes us to be. Antonio Gramsci said: ‘How can you have a revolution when the enemy has an outpost in your head?’ Well, sport gives the corporations that outpost in our heads.”
Interesting article.
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Antonio Gramsci said: ‘How can you have a revolution when the enemy has an outpost in your head?’
Marx had the theory that a popularist, successful sports team can distract the oppressed masses and prevent an uprising. A theory I had drummed into me by an old colleague who couldn't understand why my response to 'why do you watch so much sport' could be as simplistic as 'because it makes me happy'
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Marx had the theory that a popularist, successful sports team can distract the oppressed masses and prevent an uprising.
It doesn't seem able to prevent riots, though, does it?
'because it makes me happy'
Happiness is counter-revolutionary, obviously.
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And Orwell defined sport as 'war, minus the shooting'.
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Jim Kayes called it "pathetic" that Waynes Barnes refused an interview.
I agree. Since when the hell is a ref obliged to give an interview ? Kayes is generally ok, but that comment made him look arrogant and conceited.
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The essence of sports is that while you're doing it, nothing else matters, but after you stop, there is a place, generally not very important, where you would put it. - Roger Bannister
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Still no. 'Winning' (with superior skill, and yes maybe strength) and 'hurting' are not compatible in any sport other than boxing, that I'm aware of. If everyone had that attitude we would never get to watch the world's best players as they would be injured all the time.
Well, even Michael Jones probably went into tackles with the intention sometimes of making it hurt, but that's not the same thing as seeking to disable an opponent by injuring him in the head. Boxing's the only caper where that's acceptable.
The fact McCaw has suffered concussion problems before makes it worse.
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apparently sprigs up Tim Cahill got his just rewards...
In my completely non-expert opinion I didn't think that the tackle this morning deserved anything more than a yellow card, but imho, he got just reward for his work against NZ.
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Well, even Michael Jones probably went into tackles with the intention sometimes of making it hurt, but that's not the same thing as seeking to disable an opponent by injuring him in the head. Boxing's the only caper where that's acceptable.
The horrific descriptions of what Colin Meads used to do to people at the bottom of rucks have always made me wonder why he's so revered
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The horrific descriptions of what Colin Meads used to do to people at the bottom of rucks have always made me wonder why he's so revered
I would add this to that as well:
"1 Sir Colin Meads, former All Black: Do you think you are doing too much for the Maori people? Is it just to keep their votes?"
In my completely non-expert opinion I didn't think that the tackle this morning deserved anything more than a yellow card, but imho, he got just reward for his work against NZ.
Was definitely not a red card, but who cares he deserved it. Gets a one match ban for his troubles also.
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And Orwell defined sport as 'war, minus the shooting'.
I have wondered what the nexus of sport and international relations is. This rather fascinating literature review seems to give an insight.
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