@Machpants said in A League 2024/25:

So no play off/finals? They've won?

There are playoffs. Auckland have come 1st in the regular season, so they therefore win the Premiers plate, which is also known as the A League Premiership.

Whoever wins the playoffs are awarded the A League Championship.

Interesting, if incomplete read.

Nick Bishop’s replies in the Comments Section are very illuminating!

He comes across as someone obsessed with numbers not nuance.

It’s pretty obvious to anyone with a modicum of rugby IQ (the new buzz phrase) that the ‘two tier’ appearance of the 6N is a direct result of the player base and funding at the club/regional level.

The top three teams finished stronger because the fall off from their starting to finishing players was not as dramatic as the bottom three teams both in terms of ability and experience.

Wales winning the 6N is arguably a bigger achievement than an England, France, or Ireland winning the Grand Slam. I would have included Italy and Scotland in this but as shit as Wales has been the past 2-3 seasons the other two aren’t winning it any time soon.

One thing which wasn’t mentioned/analysed is the impact not competing at the lineout has made to to the game.

Why any defending team inside their own 22 would give the attacking team an uncontested opportunity to win the ball, set up a maul, and more often than not score a try baffles me

Check that, why wouldn’t you compete at every lineout regardless of field position?

@ACT-Crusader said in Current depth at 10:

There was talk of Toeava playing 10 and we ended up bringing those guys in after multiple injuries, plus using Weepu.

Not so crazy in retrospect, Ice debued at 10 for Auckland if my memory/research is correct, scoring 2 tries!
Played there for Auckland and the Blues and then overseas...

Super Rugby, Sport, Rugby Rugby: Blues gem Ice latest target - NZ Herald Rugby: Blues gem Ice latest target - NZ Herald

Latest breaking news articles, photos, video, blogs, reviews, analysis, opinion and reader comment from New Zealand and around the World - NZ Herald

Beaver is very solid.

Maybe Norris and the Moana Pasifika THP whose name I don't remember.

@SBW1 Nothing about Manu exiting that contract has been formally announced by the club or the player's management yet.

@KiwiMurph said in Super Rugby Aupiki 2025:

I was impressed by the halfback too.

A converted winger. We didn't see any kicking game from her as the Blues run everything or rely on Demant to kick. That is the big question mark over Pouri-Lane as well because the box kick is still a weapon at international level. Maybe the BFs will revert to Smith's 2021 tactics again.

Yeah. Imagine the let down if he hadn't...

Final putt certainly got a massive cheer by all those watching it in the Titirangi clubhouse yesterday morning.

I don't know about Springer but:

Tongan - Kautai, Tangitau
Samoan - Kirifi, T and P Umaga-Jensen
Niuean - G and M Wrampling

It's possible some might qualify but the likes of Kautai, the Umaga-Jensens and Kirifi would have been selected previously you would think.

@antipodean said in Ranking the Men's RWC Winners:

@sparky said in Ranking the Men's RWC Winners:

These things are subjective and ultimately meaningless because all ten of those sides achieved their goal and got to drink from the cup of glory that is Bill, but my Top Four because they were first and daylight was second in their World Cups are:

1987 All Blacks. Utterly dominant in every game they played in that World Cup. Daylight was second and third in that World Cup.

2007 Springboks. Dominant. Great set of forwards. Didn't look for one second like losing all tournament, even if they didn't score a try in the final.

2015 All Blacks. Needed a brilliant lineout steal by Sam Whitelock to see them home in epic Semi Final against the Boks, but that could have gone as other way. Nearly embarrassed by Argentina in their first game. But awesome against France in the QF and Australia in the Final. I loved the utter look of despair on Pocock as the ball bounced up for Beauden at the end for the final try. I had picture of it as my screen saver for years.

LOL there was one team that was going to win 2007 until Wayne Blind Freddy McFuckstick Barnes got involved. The Springboks were donkeys coming dead last in the TriNations two years running leading up to the RWC.

It all fell into place for the Boks in 07. They got Fiji in the QF who they struggled with, Argentina, and then an awful England side in the final who they already smashed 36-0 in pool play, and lets not forget that they almost lost to Tonga in pool play too.

How we didn't win the world cup in 07 is a mystery (obviously Wayne Barnes but still).

@Rapido that sounds about right...knew there was some change and figures bandied about...memory ain't what it used to be....

Gerwyn Price could be my new sporting hero.

Playing pro Rugby and League and having a pro boxing bout scheduled ( unfortunately cancelled ) is very SBW so far but this guy has since become one of the best darts players in the world ! Knocked out in the quarters in Manchester but still…….

That’s a pretty cool resume

A 1 camera set up would mean there will be no changing of camera angle mid-play, usually just as a player is running down the side line close to the try line. That really annoys me.
Save the fancy editing for the replay.

I think it was the NZ v SA game last year where they changed to the side line camera just as some was about to score, but all we could see was the back of the touch judge.

Slightly off topic I know...

Tusi Pisi named as new Manu Samoa head coach.

Manu Samoa Manu Samoa

#MediaRelease 𝐋𝐀𝐊𝐀𝐏𝐈 𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐀 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐋𝐄𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐔, 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐔 𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐀 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐂𝐇 𝙏𝙪𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙤 𝘼𝙥𝙞𝙖, 𝙎𝙖𝙢𝙤𝙖 – [10 𝘼𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙡 2025] – Lakapi Samoa is pleased to announce the appointment of Lemalu Tusiata Pisi, as the...

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@LABCAT said in Black Caps v Pakistan:

Given that Hay is batting at 8, starting to feel like they should be putting the foot on the accelerator.

Yeah scoring rate still seems a touch slow given we're losing 8 overs.

Still, series won so probably not too much of an issue.

Spain being heavily touted as the hosts of the 2035 Rugby World Cup with the knockouts in Madrid and Barcelona.

Nou Camp gives Spain edge over Gulf states for 2035 Rugby World Cup

Will Kelleher, Deputy Rugby Correspondent  /  Sport Nou Camp gives Spain edge over Gulf states for 2035 Rugby World Cup Nou Camp gives Spain edge over Gulf states for 2035 Rugby World Cup

Spain’s bid, which includes matches at the revamped 105,000 home of Barcelona and Real Madrid’s Bernabeu, has momentum over the Qatar-UAE-Saudi Arabia option

@booboo you calling it out is poetry

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