The Silver Fern

Please no........
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/99886732/former-all-black-helping-out-injuryhit-crusaders

Did the Mitre 10 Cup throw up any other (new) contenders at 8 that might be worth looking at?

Our stocks must be running quire low - I see Sanders is now added to the lengthening injury listfor the Saders

Good second half from both teams.
About fitting that Hadleigh 'Jones' Parkes fella was MOTM
Navidi and AW Jones played well.
Jantjes will be kicking himself for sure for those 2 knock-ons. SA are a shadow of their former selves, reckon we may see an even greater exodus of SA players to these shores shortly.

Man, that Hadleigh 'Jones' Parkes fella looks a million dollars...

This is what I like to see - back to business as usual

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/99396021/sweat-set-to-flow-as-crusaders-launch-into-preseason-training-ahead-of-super-rugby-title-defence

On the loose forward combo...
I had high hopes for Akira, Blake Gibson and Blade Thomson, but Akira seems to be not quite the finished article - Gibson is a tireless workhorse who punches way above his weight but also maybe undertall for what is required these days and Thomson seems to be continually injured...
I'm hoping Akira makes the grade...

Chalk that down to Ioane try assist

Cane is tackling like a madman

Wales going down like ninepins - deliberate ploy?

Naholo taken out?

Fuck the wrong midfielder went off, shoulda been SBW, am afraid he's more of a hindrance to our backline than help now.

@westcoastie Yep sure thought so

Jesus I 'm so sick to death of these hometown refs listening to the crowd

@chimoaus Well we keep kicking possession away to them for a start

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.

@nzzp said in AB's v Wales:

@chris-b said in AB's v Wales:

I don't for a minute think our coaches are beyond reproach in terms of the way they've handled the succession of various positions. At hooker, for instance, they persisted on and on with just Mealamu and Hore, and eventually got lucky that Coles came along - with no discernible Plan B.

Probably not the best example - they looked at a bunch of hookers, and very deliberately worked with Coles to lift his game. He became a far far better player after time in black with the coaching staff.

I'd say deliberate planning contributed more than luck

For a moment I thought you were talking about K' Rd...

@crucial Yep and that's what we need more of....attitude and commitment.

@mn5 The Scots are funny buggers though. Anyone who calls themselves"Doddie Weir" or "Dusty Hare" can't take themselves too seriously..

@marty I think what irks me is that we were asleep for 3/4 of that game, and only pressed into action a couple of times. I would really like to see us go hard out and concentrate for 80+ minutes.

@talisker liberal use of the word "cheating" there. you're not Cheika in disguise are you?