@W32 said in Springboks:
@DaGrubster said in Springboks:
@W32 said in Springboks:
@mariner4life said in Springboks 2024:
time for the #justice4respect armbands
Thanks for making my point
Ill help you out here.
As soon as this little period for the boks is over you will be back to being crap and everyone will be against you again!
You’re welcome.
True, the little period of two straight world cups and world #1 ranking will probably come to an end at some point. Thanks for the reminder
So needy
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2025:
@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks 2025:
Everyone should really have a look at JB form at Leinster. He has been v v v good. Wouldn’t be surprised though if he’s a surprise selection at fullback, rather than centre. His game management at 15 for Leinster has been v good
He needs to be a lot better than he was in his last stint as AB fullback if he's the answer going forward.
I don't remember these rock solid performances NQ mentioned.
Have you tried comparing him to the incumbent?
I dont think Razor will move away from Jordan at fullback.
@Mr-Fish said in Chiefs v Brumbies:
The Brumbies have always been the standard for Australia. They've been their top-ranked side in cross- Ta$man competitions since 2021. So they're not really the litmus test for Australian strength...
Good point but it looks as though they might be 3rd best Aussie team this year
@akan004 said in Chiefs v Brumbies:
Aussie teams are no longer the easybeats they once were.
About time too
@ACT-Crusader said in Springboks:
One of the dirtiest, flop on to the ruck off his feet players of the last decade.
I wish him all the very best with his health and post rugby life.
Good career, wasnt as good as saffas thought he was.
Good luck to him.
@W32 said in Springboks:
@mariner4life said in Springboks 2024:
time for the #justice4respect armbands
Thanks for making my point
Ill help you out here.
As soon as this little period for the boks is over you will be back to being crap and everyone will be against you again!
You’re welcome.
@booboo said in All Blacks 2025:
@DaGrubster said in All Blacks 2025:
Yes, you are correct - the continued success/Brand of ABs/NZR requires success. Ideally at a world cup level.
Just a thought. The All Blacks built the brand off 92 years of dour amateurism, a bare 70% winning record (I'll check exact numbers later), and being worse than South Africa, compounded by a 24 year gap between World Cups.
A game or two per year in neutral territory is not destroying the brand.
‘The Brand’ needs to do more than the above now because the NZR requirements have changed what they need from it.
Rightly or wrongly, the ABs are the vehicle that drives all profit and revenue opportunities.
The brand is about excellence wrapped in mystique of AB’s and rugby success is increasingly about world cup success. Certainly when you want to be out in the market signing bigger deals to fund all aspects of the game in Nz
@sparky said in EPL 2024/2025:
Liverpool FC can book an open top bus voyage for the end of May in Strand Street. No one is catching them in the league this year.
Yes this win feels very significant in the title race. Especially after West ham winning at Arsenal yesterday.
11 points ahead with 11 games to play. 7 of those games are at Anfield. One of them is against Arsenal.
Its looking very good for Liverpool to win No. 20
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:
@Darren Putting aside the ground can't meet the requirements, I believe outside of tournaments that they should be held in the country of one of the participants.
I genuinely don't see why Americans should get to see this fixture over Kiwis and the Irish.
What annoys me is the "milking" of a brand thats in danger of becoming irrelevant.
It's all well and good selling out to Ineos, Altrad and playing games in the U.S if you are the "Harlem Globetrotters" of your sport. But we are now losing regularly to France, Ireland and South Africa and even Argentina and still strutting around like we are the cock of the walk.
We could do with winning the odd tournament to justify our lofty sense of self worth these days.
The modern day iteration of the Allblacks are all fur coat and no knickers.
Winning is all that matters and the rest is superfluous.
The first Chicago expedition was the start of the current malaise.
I think it is more commercial realities where the AB brand is the growth engine for NZR.
Yes, you are correct - the continued success/Brand of ABs/NZR requires success. Ideally at a world cup level.
I dont think it is becoming irrelevant, its amazing how quickly the aura is restored after a period of non domination of the sport - which we are in now. Besting the boks at home would help of course and is a must for a number of reasons
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2025:
I like this tour, unsure how this can make someone think it shouldn’t be referred to as a grand slam.
Because we're playing Ireland in the USA, not at their house. That's the only difference. And then it's perspective as to whether you think that disqualifies or not
We did a grand slam in 3 weeks against the home nations in 1995. On saffa soil.
@Yeetyaah said in Super Rugby 2025:
@Kiwiwomble yeah the champions website has been shambles for ages. The official Chiefs store has less than Sports Safari.
Crusaders Super Rugby Warm-Up T-Shirt #2 2025 | Champions Of The World
Elevate your pre-game routine with the Crusaders Super Rugby Warm-Up T-Shirt #2 for 2025. Featuring a striking black design accented with vibrant multi-colo ...
Looks like a LBGTQ+ shirt
@KiwiMurph said in The Breakdown (TV Show):
Kirwan seems like a nice guy. Punditry and commentary did not suit him.
He is the only one with a bit of personality on the show and was not afraid to upset people.
Clearly not what they want from their team
8th not a bad start.
I havent really played many fantasy leagues before but it did help with interest levels for this round
@Canes4life said in Fantasy Super Rugby:
@Bones said in Fantasy Super Rugby:
@Canes4life it's telling me I'm 13th on 580 points, I can't really understand what's going on then when looking at the table.
I had 221 before this game I think, dmac got me 208 alone 🤣
Yeah same, glad I made him my captain.
I’m on 577, a few people have already used all their players for this round which is why they’ve scored higher at this stage. A good chance we should both creep up a bit more after this next game.
Dmac is my captain today. Points machine
@KiwiMurph said in NZ rugby new sponsorship:
@Dan54 said in NZ rugby new sponsorship:
@KiwiMurph said in NZ rugby new sponsorship:
At what point does Mark Robinson's position become untenable?
How many things has he messed up since taking over for Tew?
How is Robinson responsible for INEOS not paying money? Genuine question, if you booted any CEO because a company they has agreement with didn't come up with coin, I imagine there wouldn't be many CEOs lasting long.
Ultimately it's on NZR/Robinson who they engage with as sponsors
Optically this is a terrible look.
I never said you would boot the CEO for this matter alone - if this was an isolated incident that would be one thing but Mark Robinson's track record is not great.
This is not on NZR. Its not on Robinson.
Everything that happens is not always their fault
I have joined the League under the name ‘Booze Athletic’
Dont ask…🤦♂️
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:
@SBW1 said in All Blacks 2025:
Article did say talks had stalled.
That means money.
RM would love to come back for the right $$$ I'm sure. But buying him out is expensive and NZR have no money.
Right decision to not pay, but I am very disappointed at how long this has taken and how much of a distraction this has been in the media. Coaches should be publicly backing their players, not squeezing one out for an overseas player who didn't set the world on fire at Test level.
Yup, it’s pretty predictable. They were never going to pay extra for him but try and find ways to make it easier for him to come back.
Of course, they went public with this news they were trying to bring him back early - why? No idea.
Then of course players here like DMac would have lost confidence in their place in this new regime. He was asked to play a run at all costs gameplan and then was dropped for Barrett.
From the outside looking in, it just seems a bit all over the place
@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:
@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:
@Bones The right one is Hotham
Another strike against Jordan, he's a fucking midget.
Hotham is listed at 1.81cm, so not quite 6ft
Must make Jordan about 4 ft 11 in that photo
@Bovidae said in Next Broadcasting Deal:
Back on topic.
NZR is tipped to accept a 33% cut in broadcasting rights payment from Sky. Currently they receive $111M per year (previously it was $52M per year). This article says that NZR is leaning towards accepting $75M per year without the rights for the Nations Championship due to start in 2026. The community game will be most affected by this reduced income.
Does the broadcasting deal also include the newly created Nz-Sa series?
I thought the aim was to get a separate deal for that that would rival Lions broadcasting revenue?
@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:
@nonpartizan said in All Blacks 2025:
Why did Piutau end up leaving NZ? I seem to recall he was an absolute stud.
Was it just a case of the ABs being stacked with back 3 talent or did he fall out with the coaching staff?
Was basically the highest paid player in the world for a good 5 year period. Ulster, Bristol and Wasps paid him top dollar.
And he also left prematurely, which wasnt the norm.
He had loads of good rugby left in him.
Thats why I was comparing Toeava to him.
Charles eked out a great career, albeit not on these shores.
Toeava was a gun but his body failed him. Could have been an all time great.
Could do it all (and maybe that was part of the problem).
His ommision from the 2015 RWC was contentious wasnt it? Because I think he did not leave for the NH until after the tournament.
Obviously Ben Smith & Savea were nailed down starters but I think Naholo was coming off an injury and NMS was like an up and comer but a bit of an unknown quantity.
I could be wrong on the above but I just remember thinking it was crazy that such a talent could not get into the squad.
He announced he was leaving in March 2015
The Post