@Jet Yeah, some genius decided the All Blacks must have a "League-style 10" and made that the great shibboleth of New Zealand Rugby, when a 10, who can catch, pass, kick, tackle and above all make the correct decisions under pressure, is what we really need.

And as I predicted:

5.9K views · 259 reactions | “An amazing place to play” 🇯🇵 | All Blacks 5.9K views · 259 reactions | “An amazing place to play” 🇯🇵 | All Blacks

“An amazing place to play” 🇯🇵.

@Canes4life A superb final, a fantastic advert for New Zealand provincial rugby.

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.

Whole lot of changes at that end to upgrade. Just seems logical to put a grandstand between the club rooms and the entrance... Where the temporary ones went up for the national sevens.

@MiketheSnow said in Taranaki v Waikato (QF):

@mariner4life said in Taranaki v Waikato (QF):

In some cases I would entirely agree with you. Cane in the world cup final was too high (though red was harsh). The guys who started low and launch high? Obsolete.

And for the most part those guys are learning.

This? This is a blindside flanker bent completely at the waist, not driving up, making a hard shot. The tackler knows he's fucked and drops his height/slips, and gets rocked.

The tackler aims low, stays low, what else is he supposed to do? And add in its open field at pace, not one off the ruck at a jog. Both players moving forward. To me this is the very definition of a rugby accident. Which you are going to get no matter how many frivolous cards you hand out. This is a dynamic, fast, continuous game. Sometimes shit is going to happen.

And super slo mo in HD is not real life and should never be used for this kind of ruling

Agree with a lot of what you're saying, and for this particular example

Make a legitimate tackle with both arms wrapped where the shoulder doesn't come into contact with the attackers neck or head

He didn't

And if that is him bent completely at the waist, then standing up straight he must be close to being Ardie's height

Are you watching only in slow mo? SF is no midget either.
Tackler prepared for a big legitimate hit. How could he anticipate or adjust for the ball carrier dropping into the tackle so late?
Even with the drop the initial contact point was OK, with the head contact incidental.
That sort of tackle happens near the goal line a lot. And it usually escapes a penalty because the player dipping towards the line gives the tackler little chance to adjust.
IMO foul play is all about intent and recklessness.
Now people are calling for a ban from that tackle on social media... Slow mo analysis does rugby no favours

@DurryMexted said in Wellington vs Counties (QF 1):

@Canes4life i missed this game due to travel, how much time did Love play at 10? How he look?

He played about 5-10 mins right at the end of the game. I reckon he would go well at 10 if he wanted to play there, definitely has all the skills, just needs time in that position.

@SBW1 said in Ta$man v Canterbury (QF):

Are the any highlights to this game on Youtube?

A much improved performance by the BFs to beat France 39-14 but this tactic of running everything from your 22 always proves costly.

I've just watched this game. Good to see Fineanganofo brought out his pink headgear from his school rugby days.

McGrath and Bates didn't want to use their bench.

@darylmitchell said in Ta$man v Taranaki (RS):

It will be a fucking farce if Razor selects Ennor and Havili ahead of Daniel Rona. at all.

How did EDG look?

Finau dink kick something certain AB midfielders couldn’t manage.

@SouthernMann said in Northland v Otago:

@frugby said in Northland v Otago:

@SouthernMann said in Northland v Otago:

This experiment of Whaanga on the wing needs to stop.

I don't rate it at all... having said that, need to go out and get some actual wingers for next season, because every 'actual' winger we tried was atrocious.

At least Whaanga can guarantee decent carrying, decent aerial ability, and (generally) good defence. No doubt his long-term home is in the midfield though.

I'm firm we do not recruit. Too expensive. Kyan Rangitutia is a decent up and coming winger. Is only 19. Jeremiah Asi was out for the whole year. Nareki, of course missed most of the year. The NPC is not a competition you recruit seasoned players for. Whaanga's future is as about a 105 - 110 kg centre. Player who can stand in the tackle and off-load. He should be a similar build to SBW. Not a winger.

Guess it depends what you want to do, but I actually think as you eluded to in the other thread next year we should actually have the squad to have a crack at things. That window is only going to be a one year opportunity I think (though a good new coach might get way more out of the players of course)... I would personally bury my head in the sand and would recruit a winger. Bring the Junkyard Dawg to the glasshouse!

@Machpants That's an uncomfortable conversation the next day.

Rugby's gone soft.

An outside back gets done for roughing up a prop.

@SidBarret oh I thought Faure Stadium has been named after your Oupa? I can be wrong , blame the age.