The Silver Fern

@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:

@Machpants said in All Blacks 2025:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:

@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:

@Victor-Meldrew I don't think the cupboard is as bare as it was in 2011.

Yeah, but if DMac or BB go down who - with even minimal Test experience - steps in?

NZR and Robertson need a kick up the arse for not developing players like Plummer but instead arguing about Mo'unga's eligibility.

Hardly NZR fault for categorically saying 'he's not eligible and is not going to change' at every opportunity. That's all on razor

I'd argue NZR should have told him to stop wanking on about Mo'unga and do what he'd been paid to do, though.

They indulged him by entering in negotiations to bring him back, leaked the news to the press, which upset the club and player thst it was leaked.

Not a great negotiation tactic

Now we just need to work out if Godfrey can be the answer at 10

@antipodean said in Hurricanes 2025:

Love extends contract

Now he's got to get fit, back to form, and Razor has to give him a go

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:

@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:

@Machpants said in All Blacks 2025:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:

@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:

@Victor-Meldrew I don't think the cupboard is as bare as it was in 2011.

Yeah, but if DMac or BB go down who - with even minimal Test experience - steps in?

NZR and Robertson need a kick up the arse for not developing players like Plummer but instead arguing about Mo'unga's eligibility.

Hardly NZR fault for categorically saying 'he's not eligible and is not going to change' at every opportunity. That's all on razor

I'd argue NZR should have told him to stop wanking on about Mo'unga and do what he'd been paid to do, though.

Robinson doesn't look like a "just shut the fuck up and so your job" kind of guy

Either that or he was still trying to work thru the PowerPoint pack....

Making Steve Tew look awesome

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:

@Machpants said in All Blacks 2025:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:

@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:

@Victor-Meldrew I don't think the cupboard is as bare as it was in 2011.

Yeah, but if DMac or BB go down who - with even minimal Test experience - steps in?

NZR and Robertson need a kick up the arse for not developing players like Plummer but instead arguing about Mo'unga's eligibility.

Hardly NZR fault for categorically saying 'he's not eligible and is not going to change' at every opportunity. That's all on razor

I'd argue NZR should have told him to stop wanking on about Mo'unga and do what he'd been paid to do, though.

Robinson doesn't look like a "just shut the fuck up and so your job" kind of guy

I was more gutted about losing the ODI final in England. We was robbed that day

@MN5 said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

@LABCAT said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

Fuck them. It’s only ODI.

This’ll be forgotten by the end of the week but we’ll never forget 3-0 in the most important format in their own backyard.

I was thinking the same thing. It was a disappointment to lose, but hey the deck was loaded in their favour, and I wouldn't swap that trophy for either of these

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:

@Frank said in All Blacks 2025:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:

Any update on BB's injury?

Fracture so could be gone for about 6-8 weeks.

This is a bit of an evil thought, but I hope the AB selectors are forced to look at other 10 candidates and that his hand takes ages to heal.

Other than DMac there's not many 10s putting their hand up

Jacomb looks more comfortable at 15 and floats in/out of games

Perofeta yet to play

Godfrey has a good running game and poor kicking game

Kemara has been relegated to about the 4th playmaker for Crusaders (behind Preston, Havili and Jordan) and is not really playing the role of a 10 (from a Crusaders point of view I understand it - I'm just talking about evaluating 10 play)

Robinson has been a nice surprise so far for Highlanders

Perofeta's strategy of manning the bench before an AB squad bid would be perfect if he was playing for the Saders... He should have come to the Canes and walked into the 10 slot. Reminds me of the logjam at the Crusaders years ago

@No-Quarter said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

@canefan said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

@LABCAT said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

We really needed one more accurate spin bowler, not sure Sodhi would have been the right guy but he definitely would have had more to offer than Smith.

In hindsight the selection of 3 seamers was folly. Should have tried not to compound the mistake and just bowled all of our slow bowling part timers instead

I have a lot of sympathy for the coaches and selectors. We prepared for and selected for Pakistan, and we won every single match we played in Pakistan. One team didn't have to do any of that, all they had to do is put their feet up at a ground they already knew extremely well and wait for the other sides to turn up weary from travel and try and beat them against the odds in different conditions.

Agree 💯. They will celebrate, but it's a hollow victory to me

@LABCAT said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

We really needed one more accurate spin bowler, not sure Sodhi would have been the right guy but he definitely would have had more to offer than Smith.

In hindsight the selection of 3 seamers was folly. Should have tried not to compound the mistake and just bowled all of our slow bowling part timers instead

@ACT-Crusader said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

@bayimports said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

Well 251 is still higher than the average batting first on this pitch. We still have a chance but spin needs to be prioritised and hopefully some early wickets

If any of our quicks go for more than 6 an over in their first two, then SatNav needs to drag them and bring on the spinners.

I know we picked 3 seamers. But maybe he needs to channel Martin Crowe and bowl spin right from the off... Overs from Satnav, Bracewell, Rachin, Phillips and Mitchell, and maybe even Kane

So we go one better than the Aussies. Huge underdogs to take this out now

Nice 50 by MB

Bracewell is trying hard

After an almost perfect innings in the SF, we have run into an Indian spin bowling buzz saw. I can't see us making 250 from here, but it would be a nice (albeit unltimately probably futile) psychological milestone for the chasing team

Come on Satnav

With only 5 overs left we have to go for broke now. Need to take over 10 off Shami per over

@LABCAT said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

@canefan said in ICC Champions Trophy 2025:

Bracewell looks every bit a walking wicket

Your on fire today

I'm trying mate, but the boys are making it hard work

Is that Varun limping?

Bracewell looks every bit a walking wicket