@Jet said in Crusaders v Moana Pasifika:

Scott Barrett Allblacks captain.

Deary me.

Useless.

He was in our top 3 most important players prior to getting the "Armband".

Non existent since.

I wonder if his back still isn’t right?

I agree but I fear he will wear the 15 jersey. IMO, the best back three could be Love - Jordan - Tangitau.

Imagine it'll be Lolesio starting with Donaldson on the bench.

@Dan54
The no-arm tackle on Hastie was a game decider. 40 meters in front of the Brumbies posts. This could have led to 3 points for the Highlanders. But the Ponies scored a few phases later from their scrum.
And the Lasaqa's turnover which was penalized just a few meters from the Highlanders try line. It also led to a Brumbies score.
And the three turnovers which seemed perfectly valid and which did not lead to Highlanders penalties : they allowed the Brumbies to keep on playing and to score the winning try.
However, I agree with you that the Highlanders made stupid mistakes (two out on the full restarts and one penalty kick which failed to find touch are the ones which come to my mind plus the ball they kept in their going forward scrum which they should have cleared out). BTW, the ensuing penalty was very harsh as it did seem that Bartlett was pushing straight.

@Bones I can see Beehre getting a shot but not McWhannell. With four or five 'experienced' options in the mix I imagine the selectors will go for a young gun, even if they aren't in especially impressive form, knowing they can mould them into a long-term All Black.

@MiketheSnow said in Force v Drua:

Magic from Harry Potter

Twice

He's a literal boy wander.

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders v Reds:

@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders v Reds:

Slug out it out for this season. Then two words. Better Recruitment.

Our recruitment is miles better than what is has been. We have actually recruited players who have made a difference.

Good recruitment is not bringing starting players in. It is bringing the right young guys through.

Seems we were quick to sign U20 talent. Some may have not been the right guys.

Yes in retrospect I didn’t quite make my comment clear. The recruitment this year has been good and getting some players with actual super rugby experience has been incredible beneficial.

It was more a reflection on the past 2-3 years. I’m just incredibly frustrated that a group that has largely been together at NPC and super rugby has made very little progress. Everyone was very confident 2-3 years ago that we had a lot of up and coming talent and it really hasn’t resulted in many gains

20572 attendance I believe

Local derby but that's still good

Bulls win. Leinster suck

Follow the NH club comps on instagram and their highlight tries almost always have comical defending involved.

@nzzp said in Chiefs v Blues:

@Machpants said in Chiefs v Blues:

That should be a points loss, disgusting

You can't ding the team for that. The individual should lose pitchside privileges for some time though - it's a muppet thing to do... twice!

The rot starts at the top: “We have co-operated fully with Sanzaar on this matter and accept responsibility for the technical breach and the outcome of this process,” Graafhuis said. “As this is an employment matter, we will not be making any further comment.”

What a great catch-all comment that is as practically everything can be considered an employment matter.

@Dan54 said in Crusaders v Force:

@DaGrubster said in Crusaders v Force:

How did Scott Barrett go?

Was ok I thought, 2 best locks in NZ so far this year are Holland and Vai'i.

I've really liked what Beehre has brought to the Blues. High work-rate and feel like he should be a regular starter for them.

@Dodge

Because “grow the game”.

From a mate

Deb and me were there for the previous lowest point in Welsh rugby - the Debacle in Nantes in 2007. Yesterday’s nadir was more surreal.

Picture the scene. Having left the ground early we are on the train back to Aberdare, with one AirPod each, watching on my phone, as England rack up more points, and all hopes of Welsh British Lions evaporate.

The only consolation is that we have a £1 bet at 80-1 for England to score 5 or more tries in each half. But with 78 minutes gone England need to score 2 more tries. Impossible? No. Pollock scores and England hurry the conversion so the game kicks off again with about 20 seconds left. I nudge Deb and say “Deb, England need to score from this kick-off for us to win £80.” A few moments later Double-Barrelingham-Smith scores England’s 10th try and the near empty carriage erupts with me screaming with joy.

The guard comes up to us and says “What’s happened? Are Wales back in the game?”

An unenthused Deb replies “No.”

@Victor-Meldrew said in 6N 2025, Italy v Ireland:

Menonchello (sic) is giving the Irish midfield a hard time. Fantastic effort today.

Menoncello. He was the form centre in the Italian league playing for Benetton. Ran great lines and angles.

Very disappointing that Italy put themselves into a winning position and some poor decisions let them down. Their 3/4 line are superb.

@canefan said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:

@frugby said in Highlanders v Hurricanes - round 5:

Maybe sour grapes, but not sure either side goes out of that game with much credit - I thought attacking wise it was absolutely dour.

As expected the Canes loose forwards were too good for the Landers ones, and that was ultimately where the game was won and lost (outside of the missed kick/missed penalty).

Not really sure the Landers have the solutions to fix it either… IMO, Bell and Renton come back in, because both will offer more defensively/around the ruck.

I think it's a good win for us. We still wait to insert our first choice midfield, so any win with PUJ and Sullivan is meritorious

Yeah the Canes will look like a completely different side with Higgins and Proctor in the centres. Our outsides will see a lot more ball as well.

Screenshot 2025-03-12 121830.png

Eddie Jones  /  Mar 11  /  Six Nations Eddie Jones: Le Bomb squad criticism 'plain daft', Ireland sorely missed their 'glitter man' and the 'elephant in the room' regarding Antoine Dupont Eddie Jones: Le Bomb squad criticism 'plain daft', Ireland sorely missed their 'glitter man' and the 'elephant in the room' regarding Antoine Dupont

Planet Rugby welcomes back one of the world's leading coaching minds, Eddie Jones, to examine the key battlegrounds from the Six Nations weekend.