The Silver Fern

Bitterly disappointed with this selection. Perhaps the most unfathomable one of the past decade in my view.

Plummer might not be the last fringe AB to fly the coop this summer. Have to feel sorry for Ruben Love, Josh Lord, Christian Lio-Willie, Stephen Perofeta in particular, but there are others who have also long awaited a chance to show their wares. And a real kick in the guts for DMac too - " thou shalt not play with Cam Roigard" and show what you might unleash in tandem.
It really looks like there is a desperation to get 2 or 3 players back in ahead of those who fronted for the AB's this year, and to promote some familiar players at any opportunity. Just don't know what to think really.

@MiketheSnow that’s more like it

@Catogrande said in Wales v Springboks:

Costelow at 10. I have visions of @MiketheSnow sitting in a darkened room with a bottle of port and a loaded revolver.

After weeks of defending Gatland, it’s all him

Dropping Winnett ffs and replacing him with a midget who can’t tackle and who has never played full back. Not at international level
NEVER

Thankfully Dyer is back

Drops Anscombe. Excellent

Puts Costelow at 10. FFS

Plumtree comes back in. Excellent

Rests Wainwright. The guy’s only played 4 matches this season ffs

Thankfully I was out in the mountains today enjoying the snow to alleviate my suffering

@Duluth said in Scotland v Australia:

Kerevi suspended so Sua'ali'i should get another start

He should be suspended too

News travels by carrier pigeon to far flung Devon.

@mikedogz Live Fijian Cup Sevens D1 | Sky Sport 9 - Channel 59
Friday 22 Nov | 8:55 AM - 5:00 PM

Fijian Cup Sevens D2 | Sky Sport Pop-up 1 - Channel 600
Saturday 23 Nov | 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM

@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.

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.

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

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.