The Green Zone

Discussion in 'Rugby Union Discussion' started by Hurricane, Apr 29, 2015.

  1. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    I want to make a post about the Green Zone and our defeat against SA at the end of the last 4 four nations.
    For the All Blacks the green zone starts at about the 40 metre mark and continues to the opposition 22 before we enter the red zone.
    The defensive zone, to keep the colour scheme going, the blue zone, runs from the goal line to the green zone.

    Essentially if you give the ABs the ball in the green zone we will run it at you.
    If you give us the ball in the blue zone we will kick it back as deep as possible and hope that instead of you trying to kick it back as far as possible, that instead you do a garry owen that will land in our green zone for us to run.
    This tactic has been working like clockwork for the past 5 years. The ABs just play patient percentage rugby and prey upon the opposition not watching any video footage of us, which no one actually appears to do.

    But South Africa did last year. They had watched us and had a battle plan laid out for us. SA defined their green zone as starting at the 30 metre mark and they just didn't kick to us period. And when they did kick they often found touch.
    We didn't adjust well to these tactics and we lost.
    Many Kiwi Internet forumers noted that we were going to have to recalibrate our game plan for next time. Specifically by adjusting the definition of where our green zone starts.

    England's green zone starts 55 metres away from their goal line, based on the games I have seen. *
    Wales appears to start 65 metres away from their goal line as they are less enterprising than England and prefer to kick and chase as much as possible.

    France simply don't have a green zone. They are not built that way. They are, and forever will be, the brazil of world rugby. Kicking vs running is an intuitive decision for them that they make by gut feel.

    England actually appear to vary against different opposition and will run more against the ABs than NH opposition. Don't take me to task on that comment as I am extrapolating.

    How each team will define its green zone will be of much interest and will play a bearing on the world cup outcome and understanding and combatting how the other team uses its green zone will be even more important.
     
    Last edited: Apr 29, 2015
  2. Starris ER Starris

    Interesting read.
     
  3. Fiery GR Smith

    I've always heard New Zealand being referred to as "the Brazil of rugby", not France.

    Never heard of this green zone stuff either. Are these your own ideas, Hurricane?
     
  4. Fiery GR Smith

    Google "the Brazil of rugby" in quotes and you'll see...it's always the ABs
     
  5. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    Thanks for the feedback lads.

    They are just my personal theories. They have been stirring in my mind since last year.

    I feel like the ABs really do have a green zone, they won't call it that obviously, but we seem to be very consistent about where on the field we will execute our running plays from.

    I rewatched the World Cup final today and Grant Fox of all people was hammering the ABs for kicking away too much possession when they were in the green zone. He didn't use the phrase green zone, I just observed that is where they were on the field.
    The greatest test match I have ever seen.
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2015
  6. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    yep you are right. I just googled :)

    I think it should apply to France
     
  7. Fiery GR Smith

    Maybe it should.

    This is all very analytical and they are quite interesting theories. You obviously think deeply about the game. :thumbsup:

    That AB team of the 1987 World Cup were so dominant, and so far ahead of the rest of the world at the time it wasn't funny. And a great deal of that success was because Grant Fox was at his peak at that time, controlling the game will his boot, tactically, and territorially. He also had a superb pass on him when he felt like feeding the backs, who were all outstanding players in their own right. I remember the thrill of watching John Gallagher ghost into the backline from a Joe Stanley short ball and open up the defence. JK was also brilliant at that time and his try against Italy is still one of the best ever. Oh the memories.
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2015
  8. Fiery GR Smith

    You probably didn't see this game while you were in Canada but wow...check out the 3 AB tries in the first 5 minutes...

    <iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/heoO_5MvZ0w" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2015
  9. Starris ER Starris

    We are probably more like the spain or Germany. France is like the Netherlands.
     
  10. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    In remember the game sketchily as it is 28 years ago. Kirwan doing the business to go over for a try and David Kirk getting an important one as well.

    I think an interesting moment of the tournament was the commentator-pundit predictions prior to our Wales pool match.
    Wales had been a fierce competitor for us over 70 or 80 years leading up to that tournament. One pundit, possibly Bernie Fraser said we would win by 40 points and got pooh poohed. He ended up being vindicated and that is when we all realised we were the favourites to win it.
     
  11. Fiery GR Smith

    The thing I remember most about that game was Buck Shelford decking Huw Richards with a vicious right cross after he punched Gary Whetton. Knocked him out cold...and not only that...when he regained consciousness he was sent off :lol:

    I'm not one to advocate onfield violence but that was the best punch I have ever seen on a rugby field tbh. Even the sound of it was brutal on TV too. Here it is:

    <iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JXOIhPVhSGo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2015
  12. Pretzel P Retzel

    That Larkham pass after his linebreak in Fiery's video is insane. Fuck he was good.
     
  13. Fiery GR Smith

    He was
     
  14. Alex Mediocre MBE A Mediocre

    Or like the France.
     
  15. Madness B Morganpola

    I really doubt if the current French team could really play 'old school' French rugby especially in a world cup!! But suppose the fear keeps the All Blacks on their toes!
     
  16. Starris ER Starris

    Ha ha ha... yeah!
     
  17. Howe JHF Howe

  18. Furball G Furball

    No it shouldn't, you're demonstrating a complete lack of understanding of football if you think that.

    Brazil were always this mystical, fabulous side who were the best in the world and unbeatable at their best. The All Blacks have that same aura.
     
    Last edited: May 1, 2015
  19. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    The comparison is based on both teams' expansive style of play rather than France's winning record
     
  20. Furball G Furball

    But that's missing the point about Brazil - they were both expansive and successful.
     

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