|
|
Post by commond on Sept 28, 2024 20:14:58 GMT -5
Yeah, Barrett played first five for Toyota Verblitz (sorry, have a hard time calling the position fly-half.) It wouldn't surprise me if he plays at 10 for the Blues next season. There will be a temptation now to keep Barrett at 10 and have McKenzie come off the bench. I'm sure McKenzie would rather be starting, so we'll have to wait and see how Robertson manages it on the end of year tour. Jordan is starting to put a real stamp on fullback, and they seem to like having the option to put him on the wing late in the game.
I always feel bad for Reiko Ioane. He was a star winger for the All Blacks who was converted to centre out of necessity. This has happened to numerous outside backs over the years as NZ tends to produce a factory line of quality wingers but very few great centres. It's a thankless task. His defensive shortcomings and mistakes with the ball in hand are often highlighted, and when he does have a good game his performance is often overlooked. Jordie also made sacrifices to shift to 12 from his natural position of fullback, but he tends to receive a lot of praise.
TBH, I'll be glad to see the back of TJ. It wouldn't surprise me if he makes the end of year tour, though.
|
|
|
|
Post by berkley on Sept 28, 2024 22:36:50 GMT -5
Yeah, Barrett played first five for Toyota Verblitz (sorry, have a hard time calling the position fly-half.) It wouldn't surprise me if he plays at 10 for the Blues next season. There will be a temptation now to keep Barrett at 10 and have McKenzie come off the bench. I'm sure McKenzie would rather be starting, so we'll have to wait and see how Robertson manages it on the end of year tour. Jordan is starting to put a real stamp on fullback, and they seem to like having the option to put him on the wing late in the game. I always feel bad for Reiko Ioane. He was a star winger for the All Blacks who was converted to centre out of necessity. This has happened to numerous outside backs over the years as NZ tends to produce a factory line of quality wingers but very few great centres. It's a thankless task. His defensive shortcomings and mistakes with the ball in hand are often highlighted, and when he does have a good game his performance is often overlooked. Jordie also made sacrifices to shift to 12 from his natural position of fullback, but he tends to receive a lot of praise. TBH, I'll be glad to see the back of TJ. It wouldn't surprise me if he makes the end of year tour, though.
Ioane did have two outstanding moments in this game - once tackling that huge prop into touch and another time staying in bounds himself when I thought there was no way he'd be able to do it. I probably criticise him unfairly at times, going back to that Ireland series when I thought he and Havili both had weak performances - but then so did a lot of other players. Also, I have to say, if NZ have a deficit in top-level centres, how'd they ever let someone like Bundee Aki get away?
One thing I liked about TJ this game and the previous one was that he kept his emotions under better control with the ref. That was a much-needed improvement. But overall, yeah, he's no longer the player he was, at least not consistently. I wonder if Roigard will have recovered from his injury in time for the Fall tour? I'd love to see him and Ratima competing for the position.
I think there's still hope for McKenzie at 10 but perhaps he needs some time to develop the mental side needed at that position. I think he's too small to be effective as the last line of defence that the full-back sometimes has to be. 15
|
|
|
|
Post by commond on Sept 29, 2024 1:47:42 GMT -5
Bundee probably could have been an All Black, but at the time he had Nonu, Conrad Smith and Sonny Bill Williams blocking his way. He had a family to support and had already quit the game in his late teens to work in a bank. It was Tana Umaga who lured him back into the provincial game and then he was called up to the Chiefs. If he'd stayed in New Zealand beyond the 2015 World Cup there would have been opportunities at test level, but he left at the right time in the cycle and has done extremely well for himself in Ireland. And now he's a citizen.
There are always guys who get away -- Charles Piutau, Nick Evans, Carl Hayman. The NZRU moved heaven and earth to get Hayman back, but it didn't happen.
|
|
|
|
Post by MRPs_Missives on Sept 29, 2024 22:16:54 GMT -5
Congratulations and good luck to Joe Castiglione, the voice of the Red Sox on radio for the past 42 years who retired after today's final game of the season. Joe started as the Red Sox broadcaster in 1983, when I was in 8th grade, and has been the voice of the Red Sox since. Thank you for the memories Joe, and enjoy your retirement.
-M
|
|
|
|
Post by berkley on Oct 8, 2024 1:38:45 GMT -5
I've been trying to see as much as I can of the WXV - that's the Women's 15s rugby tournaments (there's WXV1, WXV2, and WXV3) - but have only managed to see a few games so far. But I did catch NZ vs England tonight and what an entertaining match. England ended up winning by a wide margin but it felt competitive all the way through and the Black Ferns had so many great moments, but England were more consistent in scoring points whenever they had an opportunity. NZ created probably roughly a many chances but weren't as efficient in getting points out of their many exciting line-breaks, etc.
England do seem to have separated themselves from the rest of the world for the time being. It'll be interesting to see next week's match between them and Canada, who have been improving steadily the last few years. NZ has a very young side and I suspect are building more towards the WRWC (Womens Rugby World Cup) after this one coming up in 2025.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ish Kabbible on Oct 20, 2024 11:25:36 GMT -5
Yay Yankees
|
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Oct 21, 2024 8:57:50 GMT -5
I’m really excited about this year’s World Series matchup between the Dodgers and Yankees, as it allows me to stop caring about baseball two weeks earlier than usual. It’s nice when the universe conspires to give you back time, the most-precious of all resources.
That said, I am sort of happy for Shohei Ohtani making it after a bunch of wasted years in Anaheim. Dude is a legit unicorn and he deserves a shot at a title to add to his already ridiculous resume.
|
|
|
|
Post by DubipR on Oct 21, 2024 9:48:13 GMT -5
My Sunday
LA Kings won
LA Rams won
Dodgers advance to the World Series.
To quote Ice Cube, "Today was a good day"
|
|
|
|
Post by Farrar on Oct 21, 2024 12:21:19 GMT -5
My Mets gave it a good shot. Next year is OURS!!!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by commond on Oct 23, 2024 7:40:45 GMT -5
Pretty decent All Blacks side named to face Japan:
All Blacks: Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Billy Proctor, Anton Lienert-Brown, Mark Tele’a, Damian McKenzie, Cam Roigard, Wallace Sititi, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Pasilio Tosi, Asafo Aumua, Tamaiti Williams.
Reserves: George Bell, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Josh Lord, Peter Lakai, TJ Perenara, David Havili, Ruben Love.
I'm excited to see what type of performance they produce.
|
|
|
|
Post by berkley on Oct 24, 2024 3:07:07 GMT -5
Pretty decent All Blacks side named to face Japan: All Blacks: Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Billy Proctor, Anton Lienert-Brown, Mark Tele’a, Damian McKenzie, Cam Roigard, Wallace Sititi, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Pasilio Tosi, Asafo Aumua, Tamaiti Williams. Reserves: George Bell, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Josh Lord, Peter Lakai, TJ Perenara, David Havili, Ruben Love. I'm excited to see what type of performance they produce.
No disrespect to Japan but I would have liked to see even more new names in the squad. For example, I think Sititi's already proven (in just 2 or 3 games!) he should be in the first 15, so why not start Lakai and have another new loose forward on the bench? And I'd save a guy like Lienert-Brown for the upcoming big matches in Europe and try out some other less experienced centre.
But I'm glad to see guys like Perofeta, Roigard, Tosi, Aumua get starts because I think they're the future and need more playing time at the international level. And Roigard needs playing time period, since inexperience is his biggest problem and he's missed so much of the last year through injury. I have to admit that I'm not sure where Perofeta should play but it looks like it's going to be full-back?
I watched the Pacific Nations Final between Japan and Fiji and as always, Japan played a very attractive style, though in a losing cause in this match. I can't remember the names of all the players who stood out for them but there was one centre, South African ex-pat Dylan Riley, who looked really good. You can probably find a highlight clip of the try he scored in that game.
BTW, I've been watching the NPC semi-finals and the two winners, Wellington and Bay of Plenty, both had several very exciting players that I don't remember having seen in Super Rugby. The Final should be highly entertaining as both teams have a high level of skill and seem to like capitalising on broken-play opportunities.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rob Allen on Oct 24, 2024 9:20:24 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by berkley on Oct 24, 2024 18:22:11 GMT -5
That sounds like it would be a fun tournament to see a few games live. Rugby 7s i a very entertaining game, two 15-minute halves so all action. |
|
|
|
Post by commond on Oct 25, 2024 17:13:22 GMT -5
Pretty decent All Blacks side named to face Japan: All Blacks: Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Billy Proctor, Anton Lienert-Brown, Mark Tele’a, Damian McKenzie, Cam Roigard, Wallace Sititi, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Pasilio Tosi, Asafo Aumua, Tamaiti Williams. Reserves: George Bell, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Josh Lord, Peter Lakai, TJ Perenara, David Havili, Ruben Love. I'm excited to see what type of performance they produce.
No disrespect to Japan but I would have liked to see even more new names in the squad. For example, I think Sititi's already proven (in just 2 or 3 games!) he should be in the first 15, so why not start Lakai and have another new loose forward on the bench? And I'd save a guy like Lienert-Brown for the upcoming big matches in Europe and try out some other less experienced centre.
But I'm glad to see guys like Perofeta, Roigard, Tosi, Aumua get starts because I think they're the future and need more playing time at the international level. And Roigard needs playing time period, since inexperience is his biggest problem and he's missed so much of the last year through injury. I have to admit that I'm not sure where Perofeta should play but it looks like it's going to be full-back?
I watched the Pacific Nations Final between Japan and Fiji and as always, Japan played a very attractive style, though in a losing cause in this match. I can't remember the names of all the players who stood out for them but there was one centre, South African ex-pat Dylan Riley, who looked really good. You can probably find a highlight clip of the try he scored in that game.
BTW, I've been watching the NPC semi-finals and the two winners, Wellington and Bay of Plenty, both had several very exciting players that I don't remember having seen in Super Rugby. The Final should be highly entertaining as both teams have a high level of skill and seem to like capitalising on broken-play opportunities.
I like the balance of the side. We were almost rolled by Japan the last time we played them so we can't afford to take them too lightly. Too many changes typically leads to a poor performance. There are a couple of guys jockeying for positions. We have a lot of injuries in the loose forwards at the moment, which is why Lakai received a call up. There was some hope that Hoskins Sotutu would join the main squad, but he's injured. There's rumours floating around about Sotutu's future. |
|
|
|
Post by MRPs_Missives on Oct 25, 2024 22:41:55 GMT -5
Freddy Freeman hits a grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning to win game 1 of the World Series for the Dodgers in extra innings.
Yanks lose!
-M
|
|
