C
@mikedogz Charles Piutau and Steven Luatua don't appear to be in this guy's lists.
They're probably the two that I would most have liked to keep.
Based on these lists, anyway, we haven't been too badly hurt by the exodus to Europe. Some guys who turned out to be very handy, but not many superstars.
Bundee was one who got away.
@akan004 said in All Blacks v France:
@kpkanz said in All Blacks v France:
I'm also confused by this narrative that we were cowards for taking the 3, and it was un-All Black like.
To me it seems much more brave and confident to say "We're not going to camp out here and hope to sneak a try in with pick and go or maul for the next 5 minutes.
Instead, we're so confident we can get back here and you can't stop us getting here, that we'll take the 3 and be back here within 5 minutes to win the game."
Which btw we actually did get back near their 22 within the 5 minutes, only for Beauden/Rieko to screw up.
I guess Scott didn't take that into account unfortunately.
Not sure if anyone on here has called them cowards, it was definitely not a cowardly move. I just think it was a stupid call.
What would the French have preferred? Defending a lineout 5-10 metres from their line and potentially being pinned in their red zone for the next few minutes, or to be 1 point ahead with a deep kickoff into the opposition half against a team that doesn't exit well? I think they would have been extremely relieved when we took the 3.
Don't know about the French, but Sir Richie would have been relieved.
At 26-22 down, Gavin Henson stepped up to put Wales one point behind with four minutes remaining. But they were unable to make any further headway.
McCaw said he was relieved at the Welsh captain's decision: "Wales could easily have had a crack at our line from their 76th-minute penalty if they had kicked for a line-out, but I was quite pleased that they went for goal because if they'd had a crack who knows what would have happened.
"It was a tough decision but they always say that in Test matches you take the points on offer. "But I guess for us there was a bit of relief that they took the shot at goal instead of going for the try."
Doug Bracewell been out partying with the rugby boys?
Disappointing to lose that one - a bit of coulda, woulda, shoulda.
For a while, in the first half it looked like the floodgates were on the verge of opening. Unfortunately, a bit of a momentum shift and the French got on top a bit in the third quarter and we never quite headed them.
I thought too that we should and would kick that last penalty into the corner - didn't think there was enough time left on the clock to ensure we'd get another chance to win it. I wonder if taking that shot was a bit of a hangover from last week, where repeatedly taking the three led us to winning comfortably?
Rugby has definitely changed in terms of the value of taking the three. While nominally it's worth three points - it's actually worth three points minus the 50+ metres you automatically give the other team. So it's quite a low value return. And with two evenly matched teams, kicking off is almost like serving in tennis - if the receiver can get out of their territory and regain possession it's like breaking serve. But, more often the "server"is going to get points down the other end. And if they get seven then it's a poor exchange.
I guess that I usually (though not always) prefer the opposition to take the three is a warning that you should be thinking hard about when you do so.
@booboo said in All Blacks v France:
@canefan said in All Blacks v France:
@MN5 said in All Blacks v France:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks v France:
12: Jordie, Lam, or Proctor I'd have before DH. Jordie is more of a weapon at 15 and can be (emergency level) back up at 10-I don't see DH's utility value.
….and if there’s an emergency after that emergency Havili can step in at 10 as well.
David should be stood down...
Begs the question about who comes after David...
Any signs?
@Snowy said in Ireland v Argentina:
Worth remembering that Argentina also beat the Boks this year. They are quite good when they get their shit together. There really isn't much between the top sides, so that is about the only perspective that I'm getting out of it. Doesn't really change my view of our win at all.
Yep - and Ireland also beat the Boks, in SA this year.
As results go on, there's starting to be a bit of clarity, but it can all change quickly
It's all a bit like panning for gold right now - got to wait for the end of the year to see quite what's there at the end.
Be nice if we don't slosh half our gold over the edge of the pan tomorrow morning! 
@MN5 said in NZ Cricket:
@dogmeat said in NZ Cricket:
@MN5 Fuck you're a tough audience mate. According to the ICC Test ranking Roscoe's the 62nd best batter of all time . What's your definition of world class?
Timmee's the 71st best bowler FWIW.
Well, clearly the top 61 of all time is World Class, I stand by what I said.
Southee misses out by heaps by that measure…..
Interesting to look at the guys around them.
Allan Border, Richie Richardson, Michael Vaughan, Rohan Kanhai, Alistair Cook, Adam Gilchrist, Colin Cowdrey, Graham Gooch, Ross Taylor, Gundappa Vishwanath, Ted Dexter, Inzamam Ul Haq.
@mariner4life said in All Blacks v France:
Can I just say, I fucking love how deliciously French it is to go on strike because you were put on thr bench.
Bien jouè
Fuck this vingt trois hommes game idea!
@Billy-Tell said in All Blacks v France:
@george33 said in All Blacks v France:
@Billy-Tell isn't Gros out also, concussion.
No idea tbh. The possible team I posted is what a French mate suggested they will pick. We see.
Yes - Cros and Penaud both out - parallels with Cane and Tele'a.
Penaud and Cros ruled out of France test against the All Blacks
France winger Damian Penaud and flanker Francois Cros have been ruled out of Saturday’s rugby test against New Zealand in Paris.
@Canes4life He's listed at various heights - I'm pretty doubtful he's 1.99m. I thought during the season that his height looked a problem, so I'll stick with that observation for now.
I agree he looked good in general play.
The lineout certainly improved when Shalfoon took over in partnership with Strange - but, that was also around the time Taylor came back from sabbatical.
@Canes4life said in Crusaders 2025:
@Chris-B said in Crusaders 2025:
@Chris Don't disagree with much of that.
Except if Fergus Burke had stayed fit, I think we would have done much better - and we need O'Çonnor or Reihana (most probably) to step up. So in terms of overall squad strength, I think that's the main question mark - someone needs to be as good as Burke (was at the back end of the season). To be honest, it's not that high of a bar.
Among the locks, I wish we had a young guy in the mix who is more than two metres. But if Scott is fit, we can pair him with probably any of the others and be highly competitive.
Williams, Taylor, Newell
Barrett, Strange
Blackadder, Kellow, Lio-Willie
Hotham, Reihana
Havili, Ennor
Reece, Fihaki, JordanBell, Brewis, Bower, Shalfoon, Grace, Preston, OÇonnor, Aumua.
Pretty decent if they're all fit!
You wouldn't have Jamie Hannah starting?
I'm not convinced he's tall enough to play lock. I think he was a part of the lineout problems last year.
@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks v France:
From Hansen's comments, it sounds like that's exactly what they're going to be doing.
Yeah - I wonder whether that's a bit of purposeful misinformation, or whether they're going "next man up!"
Looking forward to seeing the team!
@Chris Don't disagree with much of that.
Except if Fergus Burke had stayed fit, I think we would have done much better - and we need O'Çonnor or Reihana (most probably) to step up. So in terms of overall squad strength, I think that's the main question mark - someone needs to be as good as Burke (was at the back end of the season). To be honest, it's not that high of a bar.
Among the locks, I wish we had a young guy in the mix who is more than two metres. But if Scott is fit, we can pair him with probably any of the others and be highly competitive.
Williams, Taylor, Newell
Barrett, Strange
Blackadder, Kellow, Lio-Willie
Hotham, Reihana
Havili, Ennor
Reece, Fihaki, Jordan
Bell, Brewis, Bower, Shalfoon, Grace, Preston, OÇonnor, Aumua.
Pretty decent if they're all fit!
Mqinly a good squad.
If one of the first fives plays decently and we don't have too many injuries it should be well capable of winning the title. To me, the odds @Duluth posted elsewhere don't seem like a vote of confidence in the coaches - but, we will see.
Seems like the propping rotation is as good as we can do. No quibbles there.
The locks don't really enthrall me. Beyond SBarrett, which of them are future All Blacks? Cahill? I don't see the next Sam Whitelock.
Some future proofing in the loosies though. Looks like a good group - can't racall seeing Saifoloi, but he looks to be the right size of unit!
Halfbacks - I guess I'm OK with Drummie getting one more year, but I hope the other two guys get most of the game time. Hope Louie Chapman is in the WTG.
Frst fives - are what they are - Bridge to Teri...Mo'unga. Hopefully one of them is decent Super standard.
Midfield more or less as expected. Maybe a player light - with an extra loosie.
Outside backs - same. We need Jordan to stay fit, because otherwise there's a shortage of X-factor in the backs.
@bayimports said in All Blacks v France:
So Robert Van Royen either asked but didn't get a direct quote or has just assumed. Either way Ardie at 7, gets a mention.
Confirms that neither Blackadder nor Papali'i are joining the tour.
We're going to be dipping a fair way down the depth chart for this one.
I can't see them doing anything but shifting Ardie to 7 and Sititi to 8. Don't think this is a test for a newbie to start at 7.
Probably means Finau at 6, unless they do something unusual and play e.g. Vaa'i there.
Then Lakai on the bench.
The plan will obviously be for Ardie and Wallace to play the full 80, but whether they bring him on to play 6 or they shift Ardie and Wallace back to their regular positions and play Lakai at 7, who knows.
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks vs Ireland:
Jordan's strike rate is absolutely incredible. Ireland contained him well overall but he just always manages to find a way to get over the try-line - Cullen like in that regard.
Currently has the second highest strike rate (tries per game) of any player with more than 30 tries - behind Ohata (who comes with the minnow caveat).
Will doubtless come back to the pack a bit toward the end of his career, but a decent shot not just being NZ's highest try scorer, but all time - although that Georgian will doubtless score lots more.
Will has drawn level with Jonah and Rieko today, played fractionally under half Rieko's games.
@Kruse said in All Blacks vs Ireland:
What a fucking stupid time for a game. Noon on a Friday. I only realised it was on at the 3/4 mark... had to rush to nearest brewery and watch last 15 minutes on dodgy stream on work laptop. Curious as to what viruses I've picked up.
You've got to be a bit more discerning in how and who you celebrate with!
Ball like soap causing lots of problems for everyone. But, we had much the better of that half until the last 90 seconds.
Lineout going well - especially defensively (I presume that we saw no replay of the not straight indicative that the TV Director didn't think the Irish sent up a jumper either).
Scrum looks to be getting on top.
Need to keep playing down their end.
@Machpants I think 18 from Ireland who played in that QF, but only 10 from NZ (Tele'a was left out for protocol breach).
Actually, 17 and 9 because neither Crowley nor DMac got off the bench.
List of leading rugby union test try scorers - Wikipedia
