The Silver Fern

@Stargazer said in All Blacks 2023:

Fainga'anuku instead of Narawa gives that extra 13 cover.

That's true. I just have a feeling that LF has shit in that bed.

@Frank I take your point but also wonder if a roaming back 3 set up could be a plan.

Not convinced that a power winger is that valuable at the moment. They can be a liability in getting too easily isolated. What we definately need is skilled finishers. That ability to dot in the corner under pressure is very valuable.

@Crucial said in Super Rugby 2023:

Brumbies would need a huge (80 plus) win against Rebels and a Blues loss OR Blues to win without a bonus.

Brumbies are only a point behind the Blues

If the Blues lose and Brumbies win they swap positions. The huge win to change points diff only comes into to it if the Blues win without a bonus point

So Leicester joins Blackburn Rovers in the exclusive club of 'EPL champions to have been relegated'.

I wonder how many times two former champions have been relegated is the same season.

@SouthernMann said in 2023 New Zealand U20s:

I understand Finn Hurley is also with the squad again.

The squad named in April had plenty of fullback cover:

Tangitau
Nordstrom
Godfrey
Springer
Spencer

Moved some generic selection posts to this thread:
https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/topic/5796/all-blacks-2023/935

Lets keep this one about possible bolters

@Duluth Think realistically the Landers need a win. Can't see all three losing.

I would rest Retallick and Taukei’aho. Is Lord available again? The same for Boshier. Selby-Rickit can be used, assuming he is now part of the larger touring squad.

If that was park footy, you'd be getting 4-6 weeks/games

RIP your tipping comp

Sydney beating Carlton by 4 goals?
Hawthorn beating the Saints?
Freo over Melbourne at the G?
GWS over Geelong in Geelong?
Suns over the Dogs?

The less said about yesterday the better. If you are going to kick 18 behinds what do you expect?

Fuck i hate McLean Park

On another day the Warriors win that easily. To have that many tries (rightfully) not given is pretty rare. And we just didn't create scorebaord pressure to go with the good play. And the Broncos made us pay.

That hurt.

@MiketheSnow said in Sports Memes:

Mind blown

AWJ.jpg

NZ have played 625 tests according to Wikipedia.
Sir Richie McCaw, god of the game, played 148.

That's 23.7% - so even more than AWJ. Ridiculous - and highlights how many tests are played in the modern era

@Jailbreak7 I didn't see the game, but the Twitter commentary from the Barbarians account was entertaining, as usual.

Sounds like Saturday nights in a light industrial area in Upper Hutt (except for the 'incredible setting' part)

Have to say that it is great to see WR not blindly following the men’s game structure and the regular high level games are very welcome.
One of the aims though is to develop the game and without investment into getting more pro teams the gap could conceivably grow.
As it stands I see Australia potentially lifting their investment to stay in the top tier but it is Wales, Canada,USA, Japan,Fiji that I would like to see a lift from and that’s going to take money to allow full time training.

Edit: Don't mean that to come across as negative. Hopefully these countries see this as an incentive to invest.
Ireland, Wales, Scotland have all announced player payment contracts for the top tier but are almost lip service at this stage and not what it would take to be a full time pro.
I really hope that WR offer support to places like Fiji.

Top highest paid female teams Top highest paid female teams

We take a look at the highest paid female rugby players in the world.

According to Clubrugby.co.nz and despite announcing his retirement after Wellington's NPC title win, Pek Cowan is the next in line if any more props go down for the Crusaders.

@Dan54 said in Brumbies v Chiefs:

I have to say ,I thought the performance od particulary Jacobson, but also Cane were bloody good. Also I was impressed with whole forward pack, and it's great to see that kiwi teams are learning to counter the driving maul off lineout. We seemed to be unable to find the answer for a while there.

I do wonder if the Brumbies maul is a fairly simple one to defend once you work it out though. They don’t roll much or look to break off.
We also got very good maul reffing that was calling the initial backward move as “once”

https://thesilverfern.com/tipping/
A good week to pick scorelines, many scored 6/6 results. Category picks were much harder though and the top score was only 52 for both Duluth and Dan54. 51 for Kruse, Waynes World & Dogmeat. Hydro11 closed the gap by 3 more points so Higgins now leads by 15 with 2 rounds left. Winger 6 behind Hydro11 in third and Tim another 5 back. Bartman blasted himself out of the top 10 by scoring only 10 - either he was using the wrong form or he was going for the miracle catch-up play.

Tim wins the Sequel Cup by just a point over Sportboy.

No change in the second legs of the play-offs so BOP Chiefs and Barbarians will meet in the final over the next 2 weekends.

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@Bones said in NZ justice system 2.0:

@gt12 said in NZ justice system 2.0:

Yikes.

Crowbar and a hammer and you don't get time. WTAF NZ?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/300888716/youths-who-beat-78yearold-in-home-and-left-him-for-dead-avoid-jail--heres-why?fbclid=IwAR3n5c3ne2NL2mE7jKc0E90yFMs995H8HknrhhR5HRKMMKObj8PGb032Vm4

Lock them up, they only get out when the fella dies of natural causes. Fair to everyone.

Perhaps when the youngest of his children dies, and I’d consider that a reasonable deal.

I seriously can’t fathom this one, they attacked him because they thought he was a nark, and the authorities rewarded them with no time in jail.

Damn shame for the kid but would he have seriously made test rugby at 18?

More an issue for our u20

I'm a little sceptical of GDP but it seems far more useful and transparent than many surveys of happiness.

GDP – is it really the best measure of wealth?

@nzzp said in Aaron Smith:

@Victor-Meldrew said in Aaron Smith:

@Kiwiwomble said in Aaron Smith:

i think he truly will go down as one of the greats, his commitment and attitude have been a huge part of NZ rugby over the last 10-12 years

I think he could have been up there with Carter, McCaw etc but for his toilet cubicle exploits - which seemed to hit him quite hard for a season or two.

Probably, along with peak Sid Going & Loveridge, the best AB halfback I've seen. Hugely committed to the team, almost zero brain-farts, brave and with all the skills in the world - and head and shoulders above any other AB 9 in his era.

What I loved is that he redefined the 9 role, from the trend to go towards the Justin Marshall physical halfback with a compromised pass, to someone who just had a beautifully executed core skill. Peak Smith with his ability to get the ball out in space was insane. Kept the Highlanders in so many games, opened up attack in outer channels, just awesome.

Had it all; the pass, the success, the longevity. Still get a chubby with some of the consistently fast, accurate passing he throws.

Much like Nonu, that handling and vision wasn't something he came to the table with. He clearly worked unbelievably hard to elevate himself to a level above everyone else.

I remember when he first turned up at super rugby and he just looked like an elite touch player, massive step and acceleration, fairly decent short pass.

@Canes4life I'd be really tempted to a back three of Telea, Stevenson, Narawa with Clarke backing up and Jordan working his way back from injury.

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2023:

really, where did you hear that from?

Planet rugby. Its been mentioned on a Canes thread

@Stargazer what's the bet he absolutely carves up for Landers next week.

@Duluth said in Quote collapse:

Maybe. Or maybe another way of dealing with huge quotes. I’m busy at the moment, but I’ll get to it eventually

In the meantime, perhaps we can relentlessly bully people who over use the quote button?

Test ignore.

That's great! Thanks @Duluth.

@Dan54

I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times

Wow, Celtics coming all the way back. On paper they should have never let it get to this point, getting into a 0-3 hole against a depleted Miami team. Looks like they might have woken up just in time

@Derpus said in Highlanders v Reds:

@Kirwan can't find a clip of it sorry. Was late in the first half though I think.

To be fair he was definitely going in low and I think you could justifiably argue it down to penalty only.

But you'd need to have a look first to do that.

Yep he it wasn't Frizzel that did tackle, was Makilio and Vest seemed to actually fall into Frizell , but I will be happy if he cited and it looked at I am proven wrong.

I think sanitarium we're happy to go, but NZR rightly said we can't have players deciding what goes on our commercial contracts. It could become a mess

John Afoa back for the NPC. It will probably be Auckland but would be cool if he turned out for Counties where he grew up.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/300890957/i-need-some-boots-how-dan-carter-helped-john-afoa-make-shock-super-rugby-return

@sparky said in NH club rugby:

Great stuff, Tom Curry.

Nice, a curry takeaway

@friedrugby first one down. I think that level of competition is right for Paea. Good luck to him.

Gutted for G but fair play Primoz

To dominate like that even with dropped chain is impressive

Altherm Napier Tech Old Boys: 87
Tries: Damien Scott, Ted Walters (2), Nik Patumaka (2), Falealii Popoalii (3), Manaaki Aranui, Xavier McCorkindale, Phagen Clarke-Winiata (2), Mark Braidwood Conversions: Falealii Popoalii (6), Xavier McCorkindale (4), Phagen Clarke-Winiata
Tamatea: 14
Try: Tane Cooper Penalties: Darcy Gilbert (3)

Hastings RS: 36
Tries: Vikta Tevita, Jordan Thompson-Dunn, Dennis Tapusoa, Oscar Sowman, Patrick Tuifua, Neria Fomai
Conversions: Danny Toala (3)
M.A.C: 29
Tries: Meni Manase, Elia Bari, Lexus Greening (2), Damarus Hokianga Conversions: Joshua Coward (2)

Havelock: 41
Tries: Kaihau Pasikala, Ben Morgan (2), Avian Rihia, Brett Bakkerus, Reuben Allen Conversions: Cam Burgess (4) Penalty: Cam Burgess
Clive: 29 (1 try scorer info missing)
Tries: Te Aranga Hakiwai, Aminiasi Koroi, Antony Wilson, plus one other Conversions: Te Aranga Hakiwai, Jayden Falcon (2)
Penalty: Te Aranga Hakiwai

Taradale: 27
Tries: Iakopo Petelo Mapu (2), Dylan Gallien, Majella Tufuga (2) Conversion: Ezra Malo
Pirate: 14
Tries: Konradd Newland, Al Momoisea Conversions: Ryo Kikkawa

CHB: 34
Tries: Kaliova Mocetadra, Jeri Kavekai, Maximillion Fryatt, Semi Vodosese, Daniel Hardwidge
Conversions: Tom Beachen (3) Penalty: Tom Beachen
Aotea: 26
Tries: Tama Petera (2) Conversions: Hoera Stephenson (2) Penalties: Hoera Stephenson (4)

The SM photos showed that Moli, Proffit, Thompson, Parker and Tahuriorangi were also in Australia. Adam Lennox might get a call up to provide halfback cover for Weber for the Force game. MSR should be involved again, and maybe some of the WTG players.

@KiwiMurph Good to see Akira get a mention. His work on defence and breakdown was crucial.

@Tim said in British Politics:

@Victor-Meldrew

I would almost say that the failure to transform British science into industry in the postwar period was an all time historical tragedy.

British science and engineering were exploding with new results. Antibiotics, Jet Engines, Electron Microscopes, DNA, nuclear power, applied mathematics to materials science, electronics, computers, you name it. They needed a DARPA and a West German style industrial re-investment programme.

Recommend Corelli Barnett's The Lost Victory (if you haven't already read it). Governments, Unions & much of industry were more concerned with keeping smoke-stack industries & coal mines running rather than encourage investment in new industries and products.

Some truly insane stuff went on like still designing new classes of steam engines into the 1960's. Add in 95% tax rates on profits from investment (yes, really) and you had a recipe for disaster.