The Silver Fern

    • Register
    • Login
    • Search
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Users
    • Tipping
    • Thread Topics
    • Highlights
    • Team Sheets
    • NPC Results
    • Upvote Leaderboard
        • TSF
        • Home Page
        • Browse Posts
        • Tipping
        • Tipping Home
        • Submit Your Tips
        • Current Tips
          Rugby Info
        • Team Sheets
        • Highlights
        • Rugby Results
        • AB Results
        • SR Results
        • NPC Results
          Forum Links
        • Leaderboard
        • Popular Topics
        • Topic Tags
    1. Home
    2. cgrant
    C
    • Profile
    • Following 0
    • Followers 0
    • Topics 45
    • Posts 1679
    • Best 629
    • Controversial 0
    • Groups 1

    cgrant

    @cgrant

    1181
    Reputation
    1853
    Profile views
    1679
    Posts
    0
    Followers
    0
    Following
    Joined Last Online

    cgrant Unfollow Follow
    Publish

    Best posts made by cgrant

    • RE: All Blacks vs Springboks II

      I still think Akira is the long term AB six. His power in countering the opposition's mauls must not be overlooked, while he was the only forward to make offensive tackles. I can remember one occasion when Malherbe lost about six or seven meters against him.

      posted in Rugby Matches
      C
      cgrant
    • RE: All Blacks vs Pumas I

      I know most of the Ferners prefer Mo'unga to BB but the latter launched his backline perfectly against the Argies last Sunday. It was smooth and direct. I can't remember Mo'unga doing the same with the black jersey. Of course, Mo'unga is a far better goalkicker but with Jordie taking the goalkicking duties, this could not be a problem anymore. Moreover, defensively, BB is superior to RM, IMO.

      posted in Rugby Matches
      C
      cgrant
    • RE: All Blacks 2022

      Current status :

      Hookers : Codie Taylor's loss of form is an issue as Dane Coles is still out with injury. That leaves only ST as international class hooker. Eklund is currently the second best Nr.2.

      LHP : Moody's injury leaves a gap. The contenders are Bower, Karl T (not yet on the scene), Hodgman, De Groot and Ross. I would think the last three are the best bet.

      THP : Ofa T is way above the rest. Newell could be the answer as his backup as Laulala, Ta'avao and Lomax have been very disappointing.

      Locks : Barrett and Retallick are certainties. Vaa'i and Lord should be in the squad. Romano is too old but his physicality would have been helpful against Ireland. Is Whitelock really too old or is it just a lack of form ?

      Blindside : Akira Ioane would be my first on the sheet. Jacobson and Blackadder are versatile and have a good workrate. I'd have them in the squad.

      Openside : Cane is the captain and is playing well, so he won't be dropped. It's a shame for Papali'i who is the best 7 on current form.

      Nr.8 : Ardie Savea is probably considered exclusively as a Nr.8 these days. Sotutu is probably the second best behind him. Sowakula's recent drop of form could alter his chances of winning a call.

      Halfbacks : Smith of course. But who behind him ? Christie is the form Nr.9. Fakatava is regaining some form lately, which is not the case for TJP. Weber was poor before his injury.

      1st Five : big problem here as there are two world class players (Barrett and Mo'unga) but not necessarily two good 1st Fives, and nobody behind them (Perofeta maybe ?). So the cupboard is really bare.

      2nd Five : Havili's loss of form and confidence could cost him his place in the squad. I'd like Foster to try something new with TUJ and/or RTS, along with Tupaea.

      Centre : Rieko and Sullivan are the best performers. I would be glad to see the latter as a bolter in the next squad. Let's see how Goodhue come back during the next week.

      Wings : Reece is consistently good. He'll be on the starting team sheet. Jordan will also be there as there are not a lot of possibilities : Clarke and Bridge (unfortunately). LF is not playing his best rugby, while Savea and Rayasi are rocks and diamonds. Lam as a bolter ?

      Fullbacks : JB with Jordan as his backup. Too early for Moorby and Sullivan. Perofeta ?

      posted in Sports Talk
      C
      cgrant
    • RE: All Blacks v France Test 3

      So the ABs finished the game with the following forwards :

      Karl Tu'inukuafe
      Liam Coltman
      Ofa T
      Scott Barrett
      Jackson Hemopo
      Shannon Frizell
      Matt Todd
      Luke Whitelock

      Who could have guessed that at the beginning of the season ?

      posted in Rugby Matches
      C
      cgrant
    • RE: RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1)

      People in this forum are great fans of Richie Mounga. He's had a mare : missed an easy tackle on Daly who is not the quickest fullback nor the strongest one (this led to England's first try), then could not handle the English rush defence. Let's hope he'll learn from this very disappointing performance.
      The Bounga experiment was clearly a failure with BB's kicking from hand being an issue. Would DMac have done better ?

      posted in Rugby Matches
      C
      cgrant
    • RE: All Blacks vs Fiji 2

      I’d live to see a backrow with Ioane, Jacobson and Papali’i, with Savea off the bench.

      posted in Rugby Matches
      C
      cgrant
    • RE: All Blacks v Ireland, 2021 NH Tour

      I think that Akira Ioane must start against Ireland as the Irish love to make relentless drives with their forwards. He is able to set them on the backfoot with his offensive tackles. Blackadder has a huge workrate but is not as efficient as Akira Ioane in this respect.

      posted in Rugby Matches
      C
      cgrant
    • RE: Blues all time XV

      For me, Olo Brown is another certainty. He was the best tighthead prop in the world in the late nineties while Charlie Faumuina never was.

      posted in Sports Talk
      C
      cgrant
    • RE: Bledisloe Four: Brisbane, 7 November

      A few random thoughts :

      This is the third shit game from the ABs in 13 months (vs England, 1st and 4th Bled).
      No depth at all at tighthead prop since Lomax and Laulala seemed to struggle (4th Bled for Lomax, 2nd Bled for Laulala).
      Akira was on fire till he was pulled out. I'd like to see a starting combo of Ioane - Cane - Sotutu with Savea on the bench. This could be devastating.
      SB was good till his brainfart. His YC card certainly cost NZ the game.
      Vaa'i was good when he came in. Far better than his SRA outings were suggesting.
      Weber added pace to the backline when he came in. He should be given more gametime against the Argies.

      posted in Rugby Matches
      C
      cgrant
    • RE: Foster, Robertson, Rennie etc

      Those who are citing Ngatai or Laumape as potential Jesuses have not watched them in the Top 14 this year. They have been meh at best.

      posted in Sports Talk
      C
      cgrant

    Latest posts made by cgrant

    • RE: 2022 New Zealand U20s

      Players who would probably figure in the future squad :

      Bell
      Bartlett
      Calder
      Holland
      Palmer
      Cahill
      Sititi
      Brial
      Hotham
      Kemara
      Godfrey
      Faleafaga
      Nordstrom
      Hurley
      Springer

      I guess they are going to be selected by Donelly but I might be wrong.

      posted in Sports Talk
      C
      cgrant
    • RE: Blues U20 v Crusaders U20

      @Bovidae
      Palmer (Chiefs) is a big munter. Not very tall (around 1.95) but bigger than most NZ locks.

      posted in Rugby Matches
      C
      cgrant
    • RE: Drua vs Chiefs

      @Crucial said in Drua vs Chiefs:

      @cgrant said in Drua vs Chiefs:

      I'd like a loose forward combo with 6.Finau - 7. L. Jacobson - 8. Sowakula.

      That could go very well against the Drua. Probably not a combo for other games but I like it.

      The other consideration is that BBBR is unlikely to play big minutes (or maybe even start) and with Lord not available (I think) we will be relying on Vaa'i to play 80 unless Finau can shift later in the game. Maybe K.Bosh on the bench allows a back three reshuffle late and some fresh legs for turnovers.

      Don't forget Ah Kuoi who should be in the mix if he is fit.

      posted in Rugby Matches
      C
      cgrant
    • RE: All Blacks 2022

      With Moody out, I guess the LH spot will be given to Bower. Does he have the necessary strength and technique to neutralize Tagh Furlong ? I have many doubts about it. Hodgman would be destroyed by the big Irishman at scrum time, so would Norris. So what are the options left ? Karl T ? He can scrummage but against the Oirish, you may expect to make a lot of tackles, so he is clearly not the best at this. De Groot ? I have yet to see him against a first class opposition. Despite his impressive size, I think he punches well under his weight. Due to a lack of mongrel ? Ross ? He did more than holding his own against Tupou but he won't get the same leniency from the ref at scrum time. So who's left ? I could see a starting combo of Ofa T (though he is better THP) and Laulala, with Hodgman (or Bower) and Newell on the bench.

      posted in Sports Talk
      C
      cgrant
    • RE: Drua vs Chiefs

      I'd like a loose forward combo with 6.Finau - 7. L. Jacobson - 8. Sowakula.

      posted in Rugby Matches
      C
      cgrant
    • RE: Western Force vs Hurricanes

      I'd like to see Tosi start a game for once. He's exclusively seen as an impact player. But he was good in each of his short outings so far so why not try him in the starting XV to see how he can scrummage, lift or move bodies in the rucks. He could add some muscle in a lightweight frontfive.

      posted in Rugby Matches
      C
      cgrant
    • RE: Hurricanes Under 20s vs Blues Under 20s

      @Stargazer said in Hurricanes Under 20s vs Blues Under 20s:

      For anyone who's wondering: Tino Savea is not related to Ardie and Julian.

      IIRC, Tino Savea is New Caledonian.

      So he is French.

      posted in Rugby Matches
      C
      cgrant
    • RE: Crusaders v Fijian Drua

      @kiwi_expat
      I have never seen him make an offensive tackle. He's not a bad player but he does not have the calibre of an international loose forward.

      posted in Rugby Matches
      C
      cgrant
    • RE: NH International Rugby

      Is Seb Davies injured ?

      posted in Sports Talk
      C
      cgrant
    • RE: Crusaders v Fijian Drua

      @Chris
      Brewis is very promising. He is still a youngster but next year, he could leapfrog Bower in the pecking order at LHP.

      posted in Rugby Matches
      C
      cgrant