@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

Just not an All Black.

That's how I feel about JRK

I'm not sure on whether JRK is there either. I'm just reading on the basis of timing on announcements, and what isn't being stated. I think he has the potential to be a strong 14/15. He just needs an injury free season.

I get the upside potential of JRK - I just worry about his decision making - he seems a bit flaky to me.

He has also made some really impressive decisions. This season especially he came back into a team that needed him to, not only perform, but potentially perform miracles. That looked like it weighed on him. Hopefully with a more capable 10, there may be less pressure on him. As well as having t Tabgitau alongside him.

@Bones I wonder how much the marketing consultants charged for that one?

Total and utter bollocks if you ask me.

There is a strong narrative around refusal to pay talent well, and closed contracts interms of performing elsewhere though...

It isn't just orange man bad.

@mariner4life said in All Blacks - loosie selections in recent years:

And people.
And holes.

He also has a better passing game.

They would be great together, though. You have Valetini to bring them to the floor and Savea to do his thing at the defensive ruck. You'd just need a number 8 with a lineout game (easier said than done) and you'd have a pretty special loose forward combo.

@sparky 6 to 8 weeks apparently.

@sparky

I agree to a degree. I didn't like the game plan last night and I don't like that he favours Christie over Funaki.

The aimless kicking (aka contestables) sh*ts me to no end.

If you look at the five wicket hauls at Lord's since the late 1970s they've been overwhelming by medium fast bowler or quick rather than spinners.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_cricket_five-wicket_hauls_at_Lord's

None of Warne, Muralitharan or Lyon achieved five-wickets in a Test innings at Lords.

Love to see Scott in final pair on Sunday

Major League Cricket... wait, what?
Look it up - Seattle's got a team! Fucking get in.
Except - I have to cheer for Davie-DumDum. Fuck.
And no home games - that's some wack bullshit.

And it seems to be true - Finn Allen - 19 sixes, 151 off 51, his fun spoiled by Glenn Phillips. What a prick.

@nostrildamus said in Did the new Dunedin stadium make the Highlanders/Otago soft?:

The Highlanders had some scary, hairy, half-bull props in that era and I can just imagine the flaring from their nostrils in the freezing air would have been a bit of a psychological weapon.

Sure, and when the Highlanders had electric backs staring at you with a scrum 60m out, that was a great psychological weapon too.

This whole argument is a bit like the one used about big football clubs not enjoying going away to Stoke on a Cold Tuesday night. The numbers don't back it up.

Really looking forward to game 5.

@nostrildamus said in Hurricanes 2025:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2025:

@Bovidae said in Hurricanes 2025:

Fan favourite Peter Umaga-Jensen departs Hurricanes Fan favourite Peter Umaga-Jensen departs Hurricanes

Obviously knew his writing was on the wall. Higgins is the future and Barrett is coming back in next year so good on him getting out of his contract.

Forgive my ignorance but aren't Higgins and Barrett both 12s or would Higgins play at 13?

Higgins can play both but he’s usually a 12. I’m hoping the Canes play Love at 10 next year, Barrett at 15 and Higgins/Proctor in the midfield.

I'm not too worried about locking stocks. Between Holland, Dunshea and Tengblad you have strong primary locks. Stodart and Haig are big enough as well. Not a problematic spot. We just can't run Holland into the ground.

@Bones my (not uneducated) understanding is that's how the tour is planned. I don't have absolute confirmation on that.

I'm guessing that when the replacement game was mooted by RA, one of the Lions' stipulations to ensure the level of challenge of the tour wasn't affected would have been limiting capped players (maybe a soft limit).

IMG_4901.jpeg

Canterbury halfback shake up will be interesting. Hearing there is some movement with Nic Shearer off to a different region and a swap occurring between 9s from provinces. Interesting that Riley Williams is still playing club rugby in Auckland also

@Boourns I was impressed with their no.7 and co-captain Elijah Solomona. He seems to be another with Warriors links.

George Bridges appears to be signing on for the Western Force for next year.

@gt12 said in Moana Pasifika 2026:

@SouthernMann

As a strategy, being a final place for PIs to come play for a few years at the end of their career, bringing through youngsters, could work as a means for the PI teams.

Get them out there and contracted to teams in Japan etc, go make your money, then come back later to be a senior player who helps the new generation.

It’s a very different strategy but it could be successful if they can bring home one really good aging player each year (eg, Laumape next year, Mo’unga the following).

I don't see them as serious title contenders anytime soon, even more so because of the high player turnover. But maybe success for them goes further than onfield success. The overall pool of PI players will increase as players leave and new players are given an opportunity to shine. Add the return of quality vets and they can continue to provide a good environment

@MN5 said in Stu Wilson RIP:

@Victor-Meldrew said in Stu Wilson RIP:

@MN5 said in Stu Wilson RIP:

@Victor-Meldrew said in Stu Wilson RIP:

@sparky said in Stu Wilson RIP:

Rest In Peace

Forgotten how bloody fast he actually was. Howlett-like.

Yeah not so sure about that. He did play in the pre professional era where everyone was an amateur and wouldn't have known a weight bench or sprint program if they tripped over it.

Howlett had some freakish 100 metre stats.

Maybe everyone else was just much slower.

Jonah was seriously quick.

I recall him racing Olympic 100m champion Linford Christie in a exhibition thing in the late '90s. Jonah absolutely smoked him for the first 40m then Christie caught up and steamed away to the finish line - but Mr Lomu was only a few metres behind

Oh yeah and without hijacking this thread that was his point of difference.

He could also jump much higher than the locks and lift more weights than the props.

Ridiculous human being.

He wouldn't be caught wearing the same coat 4 times, that's for fucking sure.