The Silver Fern

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?

Being away all weekend I didn't get to see any of the tests live so didn't read this thread until now, after finally viewing the game.

On a couple of important decisions:

For the Ofa neck roll, Lakai cleaning from the side of that ruck made it look far worse than it was. If anyone should have been penalised it was him.

Sititi owes Ratima an apology (and beer). The knock-on at the lineout is on him. I doubt any halfback catches the ball when it lands at your toes. Secondly, why did Sititi join that ruck when the ball was already in front of Tuipulotu? Extending the caterpillar ruck even longer only made Ratima's job harder to get the ball back. Stand to the side of the ruck as a pillar. It was symptomatic of some of the poor ball presentation we've seen. I remember Roigard stuffing up a pass in the 1st half for the same reason.

As many have said, starting BB ahead of DMac was a mistake. We all knew that before the test. Still leaving BB as the main playmaker when both were on the field only compounded their poor decision.

@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).

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.

This applies to both the ABs and AB XV, but the following article says that Holland is available for selection now.

Otago and Highlanders lock Fabian Holland is eligible for All Blacks or All Blacks XV selection with immediate effect, the Sunday Star-Times can reveal. In August, World Rugby announced a change to Regulation 8 for national team eligibility that stated: “From August 1, 2024, any player with a genuine, close, credible and established link to a union is no longer required to complete 60 months [five years] of unbroken residency in the relevant country right up to the first time that player represents the union.

“Under the revised approach ‘rugby registration” over a 60-month period will need to be demonstrated via registration with a rugby body, including a national union or club.“

The Sunday Star-Times asked New Zealand Rugby if Holland would be covered by the change, and the national body confirmed that he would be given the green light.

The Post

Entirely predictable, and disappointing.

So England are the only undefeated team left now.

I'm not sure why Marc Hinton keeps writing that it is a choice between Reece and Clarke as the "power winger". Firstly, Reece isn't a power winger. Secondly, Telea is the winger most under threat in the starting XV.

@ploughboy said in All Blacks 2024:

Sami T has been spotted in a Hamilton gym with no moon boot on and walking freely

I spoke to him last Sat. He is aiming for the EOYT. It was a rupture.

@sparky said in Bledisoe #1:

@Bovidae Opps, I forgot about Matt Tood.

Easy mistake.

@Bones I saw that article. Isaac isn't a Kiwi anyway. He's from the Pacific Island of Tokoroa.

If I was in Dunners I'd be heading to Josh's house tonight.

I am blaming Foster and Ryan too. To get the best out of Taukei’aho, and use his strengths, he should be starting, but they won't do it.

@W32 said in RWC Final: All Blacks v Springboks:

Further to this, after the Ireland win Foster was asked who he would rather have in the final, England or SA. He answered " I don't care".

You're reading far too much into that reply. If Foster said, England, the media would have asked why. The same if his answer was SA. Maybe the wording could have been better (e.g., we have no preference) but I saw it as not giving the media any fuel.

Blackadder was scanning tickets at the gate. I hope he didn't injure himself.