RWC: New Zealand - Tonga (09-09-2011, 20:30)

[Surefire]

I really want to participate in the discussion, and was all set to stay up and watch this. However I am in San Diego, and we had a blackout last night. Power did not come back in time to watch it on Universal Sports. All I saw was some highlights, and not enough to get a feel for the game. I will say I wish I could take a tackle like SBW and still get off a nice pass, he seems so casual about it.

 

[alexrugby]

yeeeeeeah! ABs crashed Tonga against wall, they have trampled the under feet, they are suuuper and untouchable

actually they always start this way and spoil their fans in semis or quarters

I hope they will keep this way an willn't dissapoint NZ fans like they did on past 5 RWCs

 

[Dougydeluxe]

NZ played well, but still have some work to do

Tonga looked good, just needed more ball... will be a great match against Canada

 

[alexrugby]

yes, NZ is team with great demands all the time, so their demands and high class put additional eyes on them, criticizing and expecting more and more from match to match

Unfortunately they start amazing and then spoil matches, that is bad experience of NZ on RWCs

I hope they will improve this bad tradition here in NZ

 

[Gavin]

Totally agree with you hitman51, SBW was a FREAK not only in the offloads but his strength in the tackle and quick ruck in the tackle. He is a SUPERHERO! I have not seen anything like this guy since Lomu's big bash entry into the RWC 1995.

He is unselfish and is the equivelant of Christiano Ronaldo of SOCCER, only difference is he does not seek the limelight by scoring but sets everyone around him up to score! He made the outside back look amazing... how freakin good were those offloads, the behind the back flip and the dummy pass come chip off the outside of his foot. This guy has SKILLS!

Bit of an over-statement

 

[Sixesandsevens]

Bit of an over-statement

Understatement

 

[Logorrhea]

I'm surprised you Kiwis were so outraged with George Clancy? Didn't you already know he's a ****ing awful ref?

In general Clancy is abslutely awful, but I thought he was actually alright tonight. I dont think he got too much wrong and he tried to keep it going throughout.

There is not much he can do when both sides were making so many unforced errors. I'd look there first, before pointing a finger at the ref (who I agree is an ass).

 

[Black Heart]

It's really easy to understand why Tonga lost this one.

First try : Moa and Maka missed their tackle on Kahui, then Morath missed a tackle on Kahui, then Lilo missed a tackle on Dagg.
Second try : After beautiful Williams offload, Maka and Lutui missed their tackle on Toaeva, then Kalamafoni missed one of his rare tackle on Kahui.
Third try : Mailei missed on Toeava, geat offloads from Toeava and Williams.
Fourth try : Mailei missed a tackle on Dagg, offload from Dagg, then amazing missed tackle from Lilo on Kahui.
Fifth try : Only NZ try scored without Tongan tackling error !!
Sixth try : Lilo and Iongi missed their tackle on Slade.

12 missed tackles on their 18 were on tries !!!! No comment.

Then I'll comment for you. I'm not trying to burst your bubble but most backline tries are generally scored off missed tackles - it's a difficult concept to grasp I know but if you play with the idea for a minute it actually makes a lot of sense:
Player slips tackle, player scores try.

The stats say all that it must say. NZ win that game only because their big offloads numbers and missed tackles from Tonga.
Tonga could have win it if they were playing a yearly tournament with NZ.

Dreams are free so I won't argue with you too much.
New Zealand won that game because they capitalised when it counted. Tonga played most of the rugby in the second half and still only managed one try.

 

[Darwin]

Very scratchy performance by the AB's. They will be happy to get the win and a couple of aspects of their game, but they certainly have a lot to work on.

Not sure at all why people seem to think the AB's had a weak scrum - they had the dominant scrum for 60 minutes of the game! People seem to believe that how the scrum goes is entirely linked to who is in the front row, but this is not the case. It wasn't Taumololo coming on for Tonga, nor Ben Franks coming on for the AB's that changed the scrum dominance, but rather Brad Thorn coming off for New Zealand. Thorn is regarded by many as the best scrummaging lock in the world, and he was replaced by Sam Whitelock, who is in average (at best) scrummaging lock; this also meant the AB's had two loosehead locks on the field. It was no surprise that Tonga had the dominant scrum when this happened - the only other time the AB's scrum has gone backwards this year is when these two were paired versus South Africa! Not sure why Whitelock replaced Thorn in the first place - Boric is a genuine tighthead lock and a strong scrimmager (you only have to look at how the AB's scrum always improved last year when he replaced Whitelock). As long as Brad Thorn (or even Anthony Boric) is on the field the AB's scrum will be fine, as it has been for the last 6-7 years.

I thought Owen Franks had a pretty good game, and Woodcock was ok. Hore was pretty quiet, apart from one great turnover which lead to an AB's try. Ali Williams was again disappointing; I wouldn't have him in my matchday 22 versus France. Kaino was easily the pick of the forwards for me. He really thrives on these sort of physical games; his defence was huge (and his line speed very impressive too), and he almost always broke the advantage line with ball in hand... then ran forward several more metres with a couple of defenders hanging off him. McCaw was pretty quiet, as was Vito.

Cowan and Carter were pretty quiet, but I though SBW had a pretty good game. He pulled off a couple of big hits on defence, and he did set-up a couple of good tries with some nice off loads. Nonu looked dangerous, but didn't look that comfortable at centre. As others have mentioned Kahui was exceptional. He just always seems to play well at test level; he may well have secured himself a spot on the wing to play France (possibly the left, with Jane on the right). I can't really understand he criticism of Toeava. I didn't think he had a bad game at all. He made one mistake that I can recall (a basic knock-on early on), and just failed to finish off a try, but he was rock solid on defence, and looked dangerous with ball in hand (particularly a first receiver from set play). Dagg was ok - he scored a couple of good tries, but did make a few errors. Not sure whether he did enough that game to secure the 15 jersey off Muliaina.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

I agree Darwin, except that I think you are being generous with Cowan. I hink he had an awful game, with slow ball, many bad passes and terrible kicking.

I think the main problems the ABs had was the use of the boot. They seemed to be giving away possession too easily with too little pressure. A back three like the French could have done some damage there.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Just finished watching the match (had to work today so downloaded it when I got home) and have to say I am impressed by especially Kahui an Kaino. SBW had some nice offloads but all in all he was just above average. He needs to bring something more in attack, some more variety.

 

[Darwin]

I agree Darwin,except that I think you are being generous with Cowan. I hink he had an awful game, with slow ball, many bad passes and terrible kicking.

I think the main problems the ABs had was the use of the boot. They seemed to be giving away possession too easily with too little pressure. A back three like the French could have done some damage there.

Perhaps, but Weepu didn't look any better when he came on in my opinion. That suggests to me that the quality of the ball the halfback was getting wasn't very good (and the ref seemed to let the Tongan players grab the halfback whenever they wanted too <_<). Cowan's kicking was strangely pretty poor (either over or underkicking the ball), so perhaps you are right in saying he just had a poor game.

 

[187]

id go tonga, i really dont think its going to be that much of a blow out, maybe 30-40 points.

You were pretty much on the money there mate.

Thought I'd throw up some photos of us down at the Wellington RWC fanzone.

 

[Black Heart]

You were pretty much on the money there mate.

Thought I'd throw up some photos of us down at the Wellington RWC fanzone.

So which Jihadist are you? lol.

 

[kovana]

Clancy should have given the Tongans a penalty try for the constant scrum collapses on the ABs line.
He should have given the PT on the 3rd or 4th Infringement by the ABs so that the game could continue.
Also.. Tonga in the first half were abysmal.. Honestly, so many missed tackles. Are those really Pro players? Luckily in the 2nd half, the coach rang in the changes and finally the defense started looking good for Tonga.
Soane TongaUiha.. Overrated.. Taumalolo should have started… Also the replacement hooker needs to learn how to throw a lineout straight!
Rant over!

 

[Black Heart]

Clancy should have given the Tongans a penalty try for the constant scrum collapses on the ABs line.
He should have given the PT on the 3rd or 4th Infringement by the ABs so that the game could continue.

The scrum was collapsing on the hit and at the bind. They never collapsed on the back pedal so in other words, no, there was no grounds for a penalty try.

And the end of the day it was Tonga's decision to keep trying the scrum.

 

[kovana]

Okay.. Am going into RL mode.
TV ratings in NZ for the RWC have just been announced.
http://www.throng.co.nz/ratings/tv-ratings-9-september-2011
The Opening Ceremony

Total of 1,387,770 tuned in over the 3 channels of TV1, Maori and Sky


The RWC Match between NZ vs Tonga total = 1,635,780… Woot.
The NZ population est = 4,393,500…. So 1 in every 4 NZers were watching the match..


Will hope to see the Aus and UK figures later.. Anyone knows where french TV ratings can be seen?

 

[Muzzy]

Originally Posted by Muzzy
i'm going to predict 40 - 18 but i hope tonga do really well, i even hope they pull off a miracle upset and win. Tonga have huge forwards and NZ have small forwards compared to past NZ teams, so Tonga might be able to bully them in the forwards,Tonga also have very good backs like Iongi, Taniela Moa, Fatafehi and a great goal kicker in Morath. I just hope they don't get penalized to death

40-18?.. I'd be happy with that scoreline. I think NZ will field close to full strength but will sub players a lot sooner than usual.

was pretty close

 

[.me]

Okay.. Am going into RL mode.
Will hope to see the Aus and UK figures later.. Anyone knows where french TV ratings can be seen?

Australian FTA Metro TV ratings:
Rank: 24
Description: Nine’s Rugby: World Cup: New Zealand Vs. Tonga
Network: Nine
Sydney: 202,000 (9:45pm, 3 and quarter hour delay - whole game)
Melbourne: 16,000 (1:40am - 2:00am, 7 hour and 10 min delay - first 20 min)
Brisbane: 95,000 (9:45pm, 3 and quarter hour delay - whole game)
Adelaide: 5,000 (1:40am - 2:00am, 7 hour and 40 min delay - first 20 min)
Perth: 3,000 (1:40am - 2:00am, 9 hour and 10 min delay - first 20 min)
Total (from above): 322,000
http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/09/week-37-4.html

Was shown live in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth on FTA (on Gem) - though don't have figures because it was a late change to show the game live.
Don't have figures for Pay TV (Fox Sports) but will come on Monday (earlier if press reports it).

 

[kovana]

Australian FTA Metro TV ratings:
Rank: 24
Description: Nine's Rugby: World Cup: New Zealand Vs. Tonga
Network: Nine
Sydney: 202,000 (9:45pm, 3 and quarter hour delay - whole game)
Melbourne: 16,000 (1:40am - 2:00am, 7 hour and 10 min delay - first 20 min)
Brisbane: 95,000 (9:45pm, 3 and quarter hour delay - whole game)
Adelaide: 5,000 (1:40am - 2:00am, 7 hour and 40 min delay - first 20 min)
Perth: 3,000 (1:40am - 2:00am, 9 hour and 10 min delay - first 20 min)
Total (from above): 322,000
http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2011/09/week-37-4.html

Was shown live in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth on FTA (on Gem) - though don't have figures because it was a late change to show the game live.
Don't have figures for Pay TV (Fox Sports) but will come on Monday (earlier if press reports it).

So that was on FTA 9 right?

From most Aussie TV ratings, it seems Foxtel gets most of the Rugby Ratings.. So i will wait for the Foxtel and GEM ratings.. and perhaps the regionals.