@canefan Roger Moore was the James Bond I grew up watching in the 1980s so I was saddened to hear of his passing despite his age.

I read this on another forum.

Time for Paddy T to have a big game at home as the senior lock. I didn't think he imposed himself at all in game 1.

The irony is that MacDonald could take Umaga's position again and Mitchell and Deans have nothing to do with it this time.

@nzzp said in Ireland Vs All Blacks:

Ireland have been seriously good for some time. They should have beaten us in Christchurch a few years ago. They should have beaten us in Dublin in 13. They did beat us in Chicago.

That win in Chicago was the catalyst for this victory in Dublin. Ireland now has the belief they can win these games, and that is half the battle.

The disappointing thing from an AB perspective is that Ireland played exactly how everyone expected them to so Hansen and co should have had a game plan to counter that.

@number9

How can you talk about work rate and then want Tu'inukuafe in your starting XV?

I haven't read the comments yet but this game was an example of how a ref's interpretation of the breakdown can have such an impact. So different to last week.

Anyway, rapt for Cane to put in a performance like that.

@98blueandgold said in All Blacks Squad for France:

As Selectors pointed out its work rate and energy levels for Akira. ABs need the forwards to work, clean out rucks, link etc so backs can finish which is probably why Akira not chosen

Is "workrate and energy levels" a euphemism for masquerading on the wing ala Fifita?

I'm 2 days late reading this thread so I'll only make a few comments.

I was high up in the stands in the corner where Jordie scored so had a good view of the other chances at the same end of the ground. Both BB and Laumape could have also scored tries as they were in gaps but fumbled under some defensive pressure. But no excuses for Savea - that was a definite try if he had caught the bloody ball. As many have said, if we had taken 1 or 2 of those chances the ABs would be well ahead at HT and in control of the game, as the Lions were never going to score multiple tries.

The thing I was most pissed off about was that the officials let the Lions slow the game down all the time as not all the injuries seemed to be genuine. It was like watching a RL game when the support staff run onto the field at every opportunity. Read should have spoken to Poite about this too.

Now for something about the Lions tour in general. I picked my father up from the airport earlier in the day as he had been working in Europe and was going to the game with me. He travelled back to NZ via London and was sitting next to a guy who was flying into Auckland to attend the 3rd test and flying back to the UK the following day - that's dedication. And at the test there was a South African guy (wearing his Bok colours) next to me who also flew to NZ especially for the game. That is what makes these tours unique so long may they continue.

@taniwharugby said in Foster, Robertson etc:

heard a soundbite on the radio this morning from David Moffat with a simple message to Mark Robinson over this debacle..."Leave"

And Moffett knows an ineffective CEO when he looks at one (in the mirror).

@Stargazer What I read about the fundraiser on the Hamilton BHS FB page was the first I had heard of them attending, so maybe it was a late decision to go.

Is Napier BHS not going to the Sanix now? Or are both Top 4 finalists going?

SANIX World Youth Rugby Tournament 2023 is once again happening in Japan in April and the HBHS First XV is invited. They sit on top of the ALL TIME winners chart having won three times before and they'll be doing their very best to stay there.

It looks like a July return via the NPC for Tupaea.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/131629806/injured-all-black-quinn-tupaea-still-angry-over-darcy-swains-cleanout-that-caused-acl-injury

Really? Surely there are plenty of other coaches who are better options.

Laidlaw to lead New Zealand Under 20s

All Black Sevens Head Coach Clark Laidlaw is set to make his return to the fifteen aside format after being confirmed as the New Zealand Under 20 Head Coach to lead them through to the 2023 World Rugby Under 20 Championship in South Africa later this year.

The New Zealand Under 20 squad will be named in April.

New Zealand Under 20 Schedule:
Vs. Australia Under 20, Monday 29 May, Wellington
Vs. Australia Under 20, Saturday 3 June, Wellington

2023 World Rugby Under 20 Championship
Pool matches:
Vs. Wales Under 20, 24 June, Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl, South Africa
Vs. France Under 20, 29 June, Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl, South Africa
Vs. Japan Under 20, 4 July, Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl, South Africa

Knock-out matches:
Match day 4: Sunday 9 July
Match day 5 (final): Friday 14 July

This has upset Gould, so that's a good thing.

Joseph Sua'ali'i was on the right wing for the Aust Schools team that beat NZ Schools in 2019. He must have been very young then.

@Stargazer What was the deal with Matt Monaghan? He didn't play a lot from what I saw. Injured?

The big question will be if eligible players involved in SR squads will be released for the NZ U20s. There shouldn't be too much of an overlap.

If NZ can't beat Wales (5th in the 6N) we don't deserve to go any further. Aust have Ireland and England in their pool. Good luck with that!

Look to last year's NZ U19s for that answer.

I would expect the props to include Toby Taylor (who didn't play in Taupō), Siale Lauaki, Gabe Robinson, and perhaps the Blues LH, if there is a newbie. Hookers to be Jack Taylor and Raymond Tuputupu.

The top locks could be Tahlor Cahill and Hunter Morrison. Fiti Sa gives you a 2 m+ lock.

Andrew Smith and Rory Woods aren't that tall to play as genuine locks.

So the final placings were:

1st Blues
2nd Hurricanes
3rd Highlanders
4th NZ Barbarians
5th Chiefs
6th Crusaders
7th Fijian Drua
8th Moana Pasifika

I finally had a chance to watch this game. Good to see Wrampling have a strong game until he had to leave the field with cramp. I hadn't realised he was still so young, being eligible for the U20s next year too. Gabe Robinson did his NZ U20 chances no harm either.

@Higgins said in 2023 School Rugby:

@Bovidae Looks like just a straight Final between the top two qualifiers. I thought they maybe had semis as well but maybe that might just be for the Super Rugby Regional Top Four playoffs?

It was only a final last year too, so maybe that is the new format with the congested schedule.