@Stargazer said in 2023 Hawke's Bay Club Rugby:

Ted Walters on the bench.

I'm disappointed about that. All the effort last Saturday night I made to bribe my way onto the bench obviously to no avail! I'll still be taking my boots though just in case!

@dogmeat said in NZ All Time XI:

That guy Sobers looks pretty good.

Buggered back and can't bowl fast? No problem - just switch to world-class left-arm spin....

@KiwiMurph said in Super Rugby 2023:

@Stargazer said in Super Rugby 2023:

@mariner4life Yes, and ...?

I believe it's an example of why NZ Rugby are stuck between a rock and a hard place.

5-6 teams is too few (Super)

14 teams is too many (NPC)

Any attempt in between will alienate supporters who miss out.

Yep and why I think we got the best of what we can do. I understand when people say there is quite a gulf between top and bottom, I would say much the same in any rugby (or most sports I have seen over years). NZ have 3-4 strong teams with Clan not to far off, Aus have a couple of teams that are capable of going deep in comp. Watch any comp. the premiership, top 14 etc all have got 4-6 teams stronger than rest, have a lot of players from certain clubs that play the best part of 8-12 tests a year, iin rugby it's a fact, Test rugby is peak and I actually like we got another level right behind it. But even in EPL soccer etc, there is only 3-4 teams in it with occasional upset. NBA basketball have the big teams usually near the top, and they have the top players and most money etc to pay them. We live in a world where professional sport is not about fair, but who can get best set up together.And anyway I enjoy it myself, and happy to admit it, while saying as any sport improvements can always be made.

Only just noticed that they streamed that cricket game.

Ex-Blues player reportedly set to be sacked by French Pro D2 club Ex-Blues player reportedly set to be sacked by French Pro D2 club

Former Super Rugby player Jonathan Ruru has reportedly played his last match for Provence in the French Pro D2.

“The facts occurred during a party between players after the winter break. Everyone was gathered to celebrate the new year, just to strengthen ties before the return phase of the championship. The companions and wives were there, but the evening escalated when Jonathan Ruru sank into alcohol.

“An argument then broke out after the 30-year-old scrum-half struck… the wife of one of his teammates! Immediately after this incomprehensible and intolerable gesture, an Aix player inflicted a real correction. Verdict: broken jaw and shoulder. Hospitalised and then operated, Ruru was sent a few weeks later to the European Centre for Sports Rehabilitation in Capbreton for treatment.

I watched some of the AB 7s game at HT. It's wet in HK. They beat Kenya 29-5 with Vai scoring with his first touch of the ball. The BF 7s beat HK 50-0 earlier.

@Cyclops said in Blackcaps v Sri Lanka:

Pretty comfortable in the end. I have no idea what our likely world cup squad is but Young helped his claim tonight.

Hard to know as it seems our top players are always rested from ODI’s unless it’s the World Cup.

You’d have to assume Conway, Williamson, Phillips, Santner, Southee, Ferguson, Boult (maybe) all walk straight into the starting team if they’re fit.

@Higgins Haha, that would be something.

Now I'm thinking about it. Don't they need a new coach? @Chris-B?

@Bovidae Seems he's at Massey University down there, so maybe he'll finish his studies at their Albany campus.

@voodoo said in Sports Memes:

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Sports Memes:

2fb95a48-b8b5-42a1-9dab-b10a51dc8f7e-image.png

WTF!!!

Second row in school with me was that size at 13

He was useless

@Bovidae said in 2023 New Zealand U20s:

@Chris What about Kemara and Springer?

Both have injuries atm Springer high ankle sprain and Kemara a broken hand,I suppose they will see what happens with recovery etc.

@voodoo said in NBA Season - now 22/23:

Hell of a line from Tatum, 40 & 8 on 12-18 shooting and zero turnovers.

in 31 minutes...

A slightly clearer image:

alt text

@cliff said in Chiefs 2023:

@Bovidae perhaps most of them will be playing against the blues A in the curtain raiser before the main game

I didn't realise there was another Dev match, as the Chiefs don't publicise these games. I might go along earlier then.

@mariner4life yeah, i assumed it was something like that, just thought the free to air games would be different

They are trying to use Tedesco in the way Bennett used Lockyer when he was still a fullback. Not going to work.

He is at his best running the ball back and then running off the shoulder. His playmaking is only regulation - not terrible but nothing to shout about.

the thing that table doesn't make clear is people like donnelly, herring and the browns have those win percentages whilst being in the championship where as Gilbert, ross, mains, cooper and hunter had better ones whilst in the full comp...to a man theyre better coaches i'd say but we also just had better players

@Stargazer Based on the team lists for the Waikato clubs released so far, Latrell Smiler-Ah-Kiong is still at TA Sports and is playing 1st 5 now that Taha Kemara is with the Crusaders.

Malachi Wrampling has jumped ship to Hamilton OB, and replaced by Tai Cribb. Hopefully WR publishes the full team lists, like previous years.

@Bones said in All Blacks 2023:

So many posts and no mention of Ennor? Come on people, you know that's the Fozzie answer.

Downvote

Haha this is hilarious. Look I wouldn’t put it past Breakers owners, they are very well connected, but it seems a stretch.

LiAngelo is playing G league (or barely playing) and is probably looking for a career reset and LaVar really rates the NBL.

Translation for who doesn't understand French:

#TOP14 #FanDays
When coach O'Gara gives a private tackling lesson to a young ball boy... In the middle of a match 😍"

Mar 29  /  Sport RFU told London Irish can pay staff with potential US takeover moving closer RFU told London Irish can pay staff with potential US takeover moving closer

London Irish have debts of more than £30m amid growing concerns over the club’s finances in a season that has already seen Wasps and Worcester fold

@Duluth said in All Blacks jersey sponsor:

There was a solid rumour that Nike was going to take over.. I guess Adidas had to increase their payments to keep this

id missed that rumor, in fact id heard a couple of years back that nike were pulling out of rugby....but then continued to sponsor argentina

Christy Doran  /  Mar 28 State of the Game: Every Wallaby's contract status - and the big risks to head overseas revealed State of the Game: Every Wallaby's contract status - and the big risks to head overseas revealed

Joseph Suaalii has naturally attracted the headlines over the past week following his mega three-year deal with Rugby Australia. The widely held view is…

@Bovidae said in NCAA championship game:

@ACT-Crusader Who have you got to win it? UConn?

It would be great to see a first-time winner.

Really hoping Florida Atlantic. Love how they play and they are the unlikely F4 team, even though 3 out of the 4 are playing in their first F4.

That Miami v UConn game is a flip of the coin matchup. Both can catch fire. UConn have dominated their opponents in the tourney with all winning margins 15+ points. The switch has flipped since that heartbreak loss in that Big East semi to Marquette. Sanogo and Hawkins are tough covers because not only can both score but they pass well.

Good to see the Lions have named their first couple of Shield challenges, bit of bad luck for Soth Canterbury, as they got 2nd challenge, first one is Horowhenua, so obviously the shield will be resident in Levin after that!!!😁
Have informed Mrs Dan a trip to Levin on July the 12th is being booked already!

@kiwi_expat said in It’s Razor. Robertson New All Blacks coach.:

@Dan54 said in It’s Razor. Robertson New All Blacks coach.:

@ACT-Crusader wasn't he suspended for some shit as a coach? But it's not really that even worries me. lets keepit to kiwi coaches is my main theme,I do think O'Gara seems a bloody good coach though.

I don't think it should matter. Mick Bryne was an All Black assistant coach between 2005-2015, he wasn't a Kiwi.

I do, Byrne was never going to coach a tier 1 team , O'Gara will.

@Chris again story of his rugby career at this stage thanks

@Stargazer I included Chelsea, hence the "different reasons". The others in that list are age-related. Hohepa is 37, for example.

There is certainly no shortage of midfielders and outside backs to choose from, but as @Crucial says, 9 and 10 are a worry, with general play kicking a concern.

@Stargazer What I read about the fundraiser on the Hamilton BHS FB page was the first I had heard of them attending, so maybe it was a late decision to go.

@Crucial Thanks, I had seen those documents, but that's not what I'm looking for.

@Bovidae I don't know about Monaghan, but Morrison has a NDC (training with the senior Canes) and Allen is probably seen as a bigger talent.

Yeah, will be interesting to see if SRP players will be released. A few years ago, Jordie wasn't. Caleb Clarke may have been in the same boat, but I'm not sure about that.

I assume there will first be an Oceania U20 Championship?

It was interesting to see In the bit of pre game time footage in the Crusaders dressing room for the Brumbies game,Razor was having a big chat to LF, whatever was said seemed to have worked.

@Dan54 purely to spark conversation, not an argument because in general i agree, but....is that going to hinder rugby in NZ...just because NZ isn;t really big enough and our nearest neighbour is losing ground quickly. Maybe im misremembering but i thought league was really on the back foot in the 2000's but seems to have very much turned things around

Meanwhile in the only league that matters, Notts are 2nd favourites to gain automatic promotion.

25780662-59f9-4e60-bf25-b8e87deebff3-image.png

But they are guaranteed to be in the top 2, it is ludicrous that they may have to go into the play-offs with teams 30 points behind them. Langstaff has 39 goals for Notts, no penalties.

@Steven-Harris McNamara wasn't on the teamsheet either, Jonah Ma'u was on the bench too assume MP have him on limited minutes, so well understrength.