@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.

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in Crusaders v Reds:

Zero analysis, just snide comments.

Sounds like the perfect ferners.

England 42 Italy 24. Not a great game but it's beautiful spring afternoon in London.

That'll have to go down as MP's best-ever performance. Not the first time they've taken the scalp of a bigger team (not even the first time they've bested the Canes), but it's the strongest performance they've put on the park by some margin.

@MiketheSnow tmo was correct but I don’t like the law.

It was noticeable from about the 60min that the Chiefs were sucking in the big ones... I'd imagine the air would've been heavy in the humidity .. not an easy place to win

Other comment - Home ground advantage is basically +10 Fiji

@KiwiMurph said in Waratahs v Force:

Tahs ticking along very nicely

Up to Brisvegas next week. Hopefully Sandcorp is in better shape than Allianz