The Silver Fern

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@brodean said in Italy v All Blacks:

@Canes4life said in Italy v All Blacks:

Someone just posted this team in the Stuff comments (yes I know it's not reliable) but it's interesting.

AB team: Love, Tele'a, Lam, ALB, Clarke, Perofeta, Perenara, Sititi, Cane, Lakai, Holland, Tuipolotu (c), Tosi, Taylor EDG.

Subs: Williams, Aumua, Ofa, S Barrett, Savea, Roigard, B Barrett, Reiko

I don't see it happening. If they're giving Perofeta a start at 10 at least give him Roigard at 9.

Interesting - that's what would make it more believable for me. Throw in a guy to give him an opportunity but make sure it's in a thrown together combination so you come out looking like you made the right decision all along.

@pakman said in AB missing piece:

@Bones The source was Scooter, who when asked said BBBR and Niggles were the two NZ players he least wanted to be cleaned out by. "Possibly" indicates my scepticism!

You should know by now, we can't trust any of the none speak these guys say! As Razor's captain he's not exactly going to speak poorly of the teacher's pet, is he?

@Bones Maka has some wheels too. The tactics seem to have Collier on one flank so there needs to be one of the speedier players on the other.

@bayimports said in All Blacks v France:

@Mauss said in All Blacks v France:

The variation works, as Ramos is caught in no man’s land, allowing Ioane to put McKenzie into space who still has Jordan on the outside.

09f753d6-5d50-4ef6-9b9a-4da5d8b291c7-image.png
Bielle-Biarrey seems fixed but isn’t.

The only thing that saves France is Bielle-Biarrey’s ability to act as two defenders at the same time. First, he is in position to make a tackle-assist on McKenzie but as soon as the latter passes to Jordan, he uses his incredible pace to shut down the space in the corner. Jordan is unable to finish against the French scramble defence and the AB trump card, the Hurricane lineout strike, is successfully foiled.
.

For me, while I agree I also think if Jordan was more aware he gets into a better position to take that ball flatter (at pace), hence it doesn't have to be thrown so deep and easier for him to beat cover defence. He should have scored if he was good enough in my opinion

My first impression was why's he so deep?

I was considering Magic Round next year anyway, but Warriors v Cowboys as the Saturday twilight game makes it even more appealing.

@frugby said in NZ Cricket:

@Chris said in NZ Cricket:

@frugby said in NZ Cricket:

@Cyclops said in NZ Cricket:

I see youngster Rhys Mariu made 240 opening for Canterbury. That pushes his average in the 60s in his 9th match with 3 centuries (including this one) and 4 50s. Pretty handy start - haven't heard anything about him before but see he's been in the youth setup. Anyone else know much about him?

I'm not sure the Plunket Shield is always a great barometer... I suppose Toole, Tickner and Patel is a better attack then some teams have, but it is quite a step down from anything you'll ever face at the international conditions (particularly in these conditions.

What barometer do you wish to use to identify NZ talent it is the domestic comp.
Rhys has succeeded at every level he has tried at.
Was the leading NZ bat in the under u/19 World Cup in SA still only 18 then
9 First class matches for Canterbury 3 100'sand 4 50's a good strike rate.

Wasn’t meant as a slight on Mariu, more of a general statement. The two best batters in the Plunket Shield in the last 10 or so years statistically are probably Munro, Hay and Bruce, all of whom never played test cricket.

Probably due to the BC bats not getting much game time.

Bell looked weary. Team was a bit disjointed in the first half due to changes in combination.

And it's predicted to rain and/or snow.

It'll be tough

Won SR and briefly became an All Black. With the lack of genuine interest from these selectors the choice was basically made for him

If there's 50/50 selection calls the Blues have to make this year I think they should go against the guy leaving

On at a good time for NZ viewers. 9am on Sat morning

@Mr-Fish Any chance of another stint at Super Rugby in NZ?

The biggest concern for us in Wales at the moment should be the apathy among the supporters.
Many of my friends don't bother even watching games on TV anymore never mind buying a ticket.
It's a slippery slope. 😟
As for the game, it's a foregone conclusion.
We struggle against anyone with a degree of physicality and we're playing the most physical side in world rugby.
Again some strange selections but whatever the team it'd be like rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic!!

PSDT should be Player Of The Year, but I think it will go to Kolbe.

Wallace Sititi should be Breakthrough Player Of the Year, but I think it will go to the South African 10.

@stodders was he appointed after or before their Argentine tour?

@Canes4life My impression of Flanders in previous seasons was that he played pretty soft, but he appeared to make improvement this season.

@Nepia said in Super Rugby 2025:

@Steven-Harris said in Super Rugby 2025:

@Canes4life 💯..it’s quite an irony that when Godfrey was on the field for HB they looked more threatening.
I have just that got that feeling that he’s got another ceiling

He was great after he came back into the side at 15 after we'd been running that non tackling Welsh dude, but as this discussion is about 10 let's not pretend he was good there in the game he played in that position.

Jury is still out on him as a 10, cracking fullback though.

Yeah in that game against North Harbour I think it was, he was pretty disappointing in the 10 jersey.

If the Canes persist with him at 10 he’s going to have a few shockers but hopefully his performances will get more consistent over time. They just have to back him and ride the waves. No better player to play outside than Roigard.

@mikedogz said in 2024 UNDER 85KG NATIONAL CLUB CUP:

I read a while ago that they will play an Asian country that we have history with. I am guessing Sri Lanka.

Correct.

New Zealand Under 85kg team to tour Sri Lanka New Zealand Under 85kg team to tour Sri Lanka

couple of guys played yesterday that sort of illustrate that regular season wins are not a QB stat.

For a few years people have tried to claim Justin Herbert isn't amazing because the Chargers invariably stink. This wrong because he's a fucking baller. Now the Chargers have a decent coach and an improving defense, the Chargers are a wildcard team, and suddenly Herbert is a good QB. Bullshit, he's always been amazing, he throws it as well as anyone in the league, absolute cannon for an arm.

Joe Burrow is having an MVP level season, and yet the Bengals are 4-7. Through those 11 games, his numbers are 3,028 yards, 27 touchdowns and 5 interceptions.
Those kind of numbers through 11 games have only been thrown up by Brady (twice), Rodgers (twice) Mahomes and Brees. On every occasion their teams finished the season no worse than 13-3. The Bengals defense stinks.