@booboo said in Italy v All Blacks:

I'm guessing probably Havili (to bench) for JB. Not my preference but he was an original squaddie.

A perfect summary of this season's selection strategy.

@bayimports said in All Blacks v France:

@Mauss said in All Blacks v France:

The variation works, as Ramos is caught in no man’s land, allowing Ioane to put McKenzie into space who still has Jordan on the outside.

09f753d6-5d50-4ef6-9b9a-4da5d8b291c7-image.png
Bielle-Biarrey seems fixed but isn’t.

The only thing that saves France is Bielle-Biarrey’s ability to act as two defenders at the same time. First, he is in position to make a tackle-assist on McKenzie but as soon as the latter passes to Jordan, he uses his incredible pace to shut down the space in the corner. Jordan is unable to finish against the French scramble defence and the AB trump card, the Hurricane lineout strike, is successfully foiled.
.

For me, while I agree I also think if Jordan was more aware he gets into a better position to take that ball flatter (at pace), hence it doesn't have to be thrown so deep and easier for him to beat cover defence. He should have scored if he was good enough in my opinion

My first impression was why's he so deep?

Bell looked weary. Team was a bit disjointed in the first half due to changes in combination.

And it's predicted to rain and/or snow.

It'll be tough

On at a good time for NZ viewers. 9am on Sat morning

The biggest concern for us in Wales at the moment should be the apathy among the supporters.
Many of my friends don't bother even watching games on TV anymore never mind buying a ticket.
It's a slippery slope. 😟
As for the game, it's a foregone conclusion.
We struggle against anyone with a degree of physicality and we're playing the most physical side in world rugby.
Again some strange selections but whatever the team it'd be like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic!!

@stodders was he appointed after or before their Argentine tour?

@African-Monkey said in Autumn Test 2024 : Wales v Australia:

Random thought, but how has Gareth Anscombe only played 39 tests! Thought he'd be between 60-70 tests minimum by now. He's been there forever.

Injured and fucked off for a while

@Jet said in Ireland v Argentina:

@MiketheSnow said in Ireland v Argentina:

@Jet said in Ireland v Argentina:

Ref hatcheted Argentina, particularly in the final drive. Repeated green infringements.

Im getting sick of how normalised players getting carded is though....Rugby is a bit shit these days isnt it.

Im fed up of listening to refs and TMO's talk to each other.

Its fucking insufferable.

Slowly but surely we’re seeing more and more censure for human ‘Exocet missiles’ entering the ruck with abandon

That is a train I can get on board with

Always wondered why Exocet became the missile of choice for ruck entry descriptions....seems to be ubiquitous at this stage.

Particularly eye brow raising when Argentina are one of the teams under discussion.

Mike the Snow playing 4d chess.

Because it's a sea skimmer that came into UK, and therefore Anglo speaking rugby, consciousness in 82!

@Snowy said in Scotland vs Springboks:

@Machpants said in Scotland vs Springboks:

Henry IV.

Macbeth one I know is not so relevant for a time of release

How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags?

A Springbok thread so:

"Is this a dagger which I see before me up Victor Matfield's arm band?"

I beg for justice, which you, Prince, must give. World Rugby banned Bakkies; World Rugby must not live

@antipodean said in All Blacks vs Ireland:

@Machpants said in All Blacks vs Ireland:

@antipodean said in All Blacks vs Ireland:

@Machpants said in All Blacks vs Ireland:

Algerian VPN works

with?

ExpressVPN

No, I meant what are you trying to achieve?

Oh watching the NZ v Ire Squidge vid

@NTA said in England vs. Australia (2024):

I’ve never seen anyone shadow off loading before

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/articles/cn8g2m4e0jvo

@NTA said in All Blacks XV v Georgia:

Saw highlights. How did Naholo not get a yellow card just before half-time?

Wearing a black jersey innit

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks Vs England, Twickenham:

But is it?

Yeah, I think that attitude is there and is important to maintain, so good on England's players there. I think a bit of the PR is overdone, and some player (e.g.Sexton) don't seem to get the idea but it's a key part of the game.

Video of the haka is on the FB page. Silence from the crowd, led by Renata.

@Nepia said in Scotland v Fiji:

WTF happened for the Darcy Graham's second try? The highlights I watched didn't show a close up of what happened.

The one that looked like a knock on?

Front on slowmo showed he went gutter the chip/grubber but shinned it. Legitimate try

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/news/daily-news-1723786396818-f183-1723941497988/chaos-in-all-blacks-untidy-win-against-average-japan-side-in-depth

Same as most people here, they not giving that performance vs 14th ranked Japan a pass at all

@DurryMexted said in NPC Final: Wellington vs Bay of Plenty:

You know your 7 is awesome when every other teams supporters hate him. Kirifi a lions legend

There aren't many players that put their body on the line like Kirifi. Two championships as a Lions captain, he'll always be a Wellington legend.

You know we've finally got our shit sorted when we've been able to finish the business. A winning % of 85% over the last three seasons is pretty good going. Hopefully we can keep the core of this group together for another couple seasons yet.

Pleasently surprised, the BOP has always had the danger out wide but lacked startch/execution up front to really match it with the big boys consistently.

The final presents the neutral fan with a golrious oppertunity to watch two teams famous for losuing things up as soon as they get tagged as favourites desperatly trying to out-do each other on the big stage,

I'll be watching this one from behind the couch...

@ARHS said in Wellington vs Waikato (SF):

Pleased that was such a close contest.
I think Mathis truly has dibs on the nickname Kwagga! Future AB for sure.
Kirifi, Preston and Savea all great for Wellington. Waikato awful lineout decided the game though. It was so poor without Mcwhannell and with average throwing and calling.
Unlike other posters, I thought Roe and Cruden were brilliant in controlling the match given the lineout woes and forwards inexperience. Don't get all the criticism of Roe. He has better field vision than any other 9 in NZ and possibly the best boot. He will throw the odd dodgy pass because he is in two minds while evaluating. But his 50 22s this year have been regular and his wide cutout pass is great. He jackals well too, but often only scrag tackles. If he improves technique there I feel he is the closest challenger to Roigard and Ratima, and is a good leader to boot.
I hope Ollie Norris can improve his scrummaging because everything else is top notch and compares well to Numia and Co.
I presume that Wellington fans have seen far better displays from Harkin, Solomon and Clarke. BOP will take heart there.
I wonder whether Wellington can contain Ah Kuoi, Narawa and Carter next week?

Yeah Harkin, Clarke and even Higgins were all pretty poor in that Semi Final, I can't see them being that poor again. Hopefully they can bring their best for the final next weekend.