I could hear that bloody music on TV yesterday and wondered what the hell was with the volume!

Possibly has to do with pulling all the islands together under one roof. Concept similar to the Lions. Sometimes it works, other years not so much. Coaches make a huge difference. Lealifano is the glue for the team though.

Gutted for Willison. The Chiefs Manawa's game-drivers failed to turn up in the 2nd half.

If I was Bunting I would be getting Greg Smith on my coaching staff as the scrum coach.

I think you'll have 6 of the starting backs for the NZ U20s from this game. The Hurricanes 9, 10 and 11, and the Blues 12, 13 and 15. Add Nordstrom to the right wing and that will be a lethal backline. The forward pack isn't so obvious.

@ploughboy said in Waratahs v Chiefs:

i feel we are strugling at tighthead this season. ryan not us good as last season and dyer finding his feet.

Yeah, Ryan is finding the scrummaging is different in SR compared to Europe. The main thing is just to have a solid platform on your own ball.

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders v Drua:

Every one that made it in the pitch deserves credit , I don’t think anyone had a bad game and several people shone

One person that hadn’t been mentioned is CGB, I think seeming he has largely been sidelined this season he came in and sparked, made meters with ease, I’d be starting him at 15 next week and put Gilbert in the midfield

And Marshall can get tucked, if that was done to the crusaders he’d be calling for a long ban, he often the first to claim there aren’t accidents, players need to predict this stuff, not put them selves in positions to hurt others

Marshall's comments are so inconsistent and random that I'm surprised anyone takes any notice anymore.
Agree with CBG tonight.

@Crucial said in Crusaders v Brumbies:

@Canerbry said in Crusaders v Brumbies:

Crusaders play like shit and win, normal service restored in round robin play. I'm a bit disappointed in the Bumboys though, teams either grow another leg playing the Crusaders or spin the wheel picking a squad management 22 strategically and hoping for the best. Given the Crusaders absences you'd think picking the another leg team might have been an opportunity.

But no, look at the scoreboard.

You did see that the whole core of the Brumbies side were rested? They flagged this one as a development game in their season planning by the looks of it.
Dumb decision IMO as they aren't going to get a home semi without beating the Saders and it turned out that they painted themselves into a corner as with the reshuffled (but still strong starting XV) 23 the Saders listed the game would have been there for them to take.
I would find it funny except it did no favours to other NZ teams handing the Saders an easy win.

That seems to be exactly what he means. I think you and @Canerbry are just using different words to say the same thing.

@Damo said in Hurricanes v Waratahs:

Frankly, it is still cricket season.

Couldn't agree more! Thanks though

@MajorRage said in 6N Ireland v England:

@MiketheSnow Did they say it was the wrong decision? genuine question!

Unequivocally a sending off now.

At the time, most felt it was a YC

First point of contact was back to the ground

more seriously...how good were the jerseys, hoops looked great and we stuck with wearing maroon in southland, the only time i was happy for both teams to be wearing change strips

@Duluth
If he’s running like that, which flanker’s catching him? 😆

@MN5 said in 6N 2023 - Italy vs Scotland:

@Catogrande said in 6N 2023 - Italy vs Scotland:

@MN5 said in 6N 2023 - Italy vs Scotland:

@Catogrande said in 6N 2023 - Italy vs Scotland:

@MN5 said in 6N 2023 - Italy vs Scotland:

@Catogrande said in 6N 2023 - Italy vs Scotland:

@MN5 said in 6N 2023 - Italy vs Scotland:

Whew thank goodness the good guys won and secured their standard newly found and expected to be short lived, mid table finish

Anything above the wooden spoon is mid table.

I like your ambition

Scotland > England

Enjoy the moment

It’s lasted a few years now. The Calcutta cup is awesome !

I can just about remember!

Wales best game of the tournament, but not enough to beat a strong and confident French team. N'tamack was sublime. Is he the world's best 1st Five ? Russell can be brillant but is rocks and diamonds. You rarely see N'tamack make blunders.

Stating the obvious, but Talea looked good ball in hand again last night. I do wonder about his pace when it comes to higher honours though. I never noticed it before he played for the ABs last year, but he did look a little slowish in the tests he played. I know his brother plays in the midfield, has Mark any experience there or has he always been a Wing?

Haha Vest with the knock on.

@Stargazer said in Chiefs v Rebels:

@KiwiMurph said in Chiefs v Rebels:

Late change

DMac in for Ioane on the bench

Not because of an injury. Sad to read on Ioane's instagram that his father passed away (cancer).

The black armbands suggested someone had died.

@nostrildamus said in 6N 2023 England v France:

@Catogrande said in 6N 2023 England v France:

Don’t assume my gender, bitch.

Don't assume @Bones' species!

That is far too difficult to call.

@TJ Well by your logic, you may as well be talking about every side as virtually everyone has talent in their side that are prone to making dumb mistakes.

Pretty grounded and humble interview in my opinion Steve. From both 🤷‍♂️

The respect between these two is so apparent and that's all down to Farrell. What a great coach he's been for Ireland.

@ARHS said in Blues v Brumbies:

@Steve I think we are a bit lacking in all-round skills on the wings. I see Jordan, Telea and Reece all as good enough for test level (and Clarke and Fainaganuku in next tier), but Rieko is better than each as a winger, so that is his 'best' position. So, if we have a good test centre, then put him on the wing. Perhaps ALB is our best test centre, so he gets first dibs. But, if he is not there, then Rieko is next best currently in my view. Maybe Shaun Stevenson, Bailyn Sullivan, Quinn Tupaea, RTS or Jack Goodhue can change the options and pecking list?

ALB doesn't seem the same player based on his recent brief AB showings IMHO.

@Bovidae said in Rebels v Waratahs:

The Rebels will have some confidence before playing the Chiefs in Hamilton next weekend.

They'll get smoked.

@Steven-Harris said in Chiefs v Highlanders:

Dawai has been good

His best game for the Highlanders I thought. Not a big sample size so far though. 🙂