The Silver Fern

Fuckin halfbacks getting away with/being allowed to roll the ball half a mile along the ground from the base of the ruck

On Whitelock’s captaincy….
About time Samwise of the Whitelocks was handed the captain’s armband.
I was at the Principality Stadium in 2015 for the RWC quarter final against France, and I was most impressed with Sam Whitelock – he was simply outstanding.
With his partner in crime BBBR - he just kept trucking it up into heavy contact (those French boys were pretty big units) all night, they marked up on him too, often 2 or 3 in the tackle. And he didn’t shirk his defensive duties in the tight either; tackling, hitting ruck after ruck, shifting bodies, getting up, tackling again, seeking out the next contact area.
This season for the Crusaders he was a revelation - commanding respect, when the chips were down, he gathered the team together, gave a few pointed comments (seemingly something like just farking get on with it and lets win this thing) and simply rolled up his sleeves himself. Definitely a captain in the mould of “over the top with me, boys”
He is a better option to captain the ABs than Read IMHO. Read is just too smiley. I just don’t think he has the gravitas to press his claims with the Ref at vital times as much as he should, and equally for the team when the going is tough. He is just too well…nice. I think Sam will say it how it is. A no-nonsense approach.
Can’t wait.

@Crucial said in All Blacks v BI Lions Test #2:

I'll be surprised if Vunipola doesn't get cited. Surely Ayoub will try and defend himself because he was clearly being ignored by Garces. He will have to put that in his post match report.
Garces was being a real arrogant fuck at times. Too hot headed to ref at this level.

I've watched that Vunipola YC several times and that was clearly a deliberate act - a shoulder to the head (of Beaudy) in the cleanout. In the interests of fairness If SBW's was a RC then the Vunipola card should also have been the same colour.

Big ups to GCT and Scrafton who were up against an England test locking partnership. They held their own I thought and weren't cowed at all.

Fuck send DMac to FB, Lowe to wing

We can't do anything without a forward pack

The english comms kept saying how well France had played how valiant they were pulling off some beautiful moves etc etc - yeah but they still lost the game...

I can't understand the Landers tactics. They've basically kicked the ball away at every opportunity.
Either way this was always going to be one way traffic.

Samoa missed a trick there - they could and should have won that - game was there for the taking

I knew as soon as they announced John Kirwan as co-commentator the Blues were farked...

Why can't the commentators say Ioane properly? Fed up with hearing eyeohniii

Finally a not straight called

@westcoastie Itoje is like that - big chest pumps and fist pumps - runs in to slap players on the back etc, etc, seems to be rated in the NH, but not enough dirty work in the tight for mine

Thing is, Rieko Ioane reminds me of how Jules used to be when first selected for the ABs - lean, hungry for the ball, always looking for work and keen to get involved

Todd looking like an AB

Thank fuck - Jimmy Tupou looks injured and is dragged, he is not up to Super level.
Akira - this is your moment..

I'm starting to think Tana must shoulder a lot of responsibility for this. Blues seem to turn up week after week with little thought on how to attack let alone how to approach each game.

I'm not sure its so much altitude that addled the Canes heads, as pressure. They're a free-spirited team which thrives on unstructured and broken field play. They eked out a draw with the BIL when the result didn't really matter, likewise they downed the Saders in the last round when they were already assured of a quarter final spot.
Seems like they don't deal that well with pressure of finals football when the heat is on and the result really matters.
Brain-farts from some of the senior players didn't help their cause when all they needed was to take back the control, keep the focus and show a little patience.
That said, there have been some bright spots this season, JB's and Laumape's rise and rise is set to continue, there have been decent showings from Aso and Goosen, and Lousi looks to be a keeper and Fatialofa was doing well until his injury, Plus, Coles is back.
Roll on next season.

Jules should put more effort into catching passes rather than dissing players

Fark Dillon Hunt has put in a good shift tonight, as has Seuli