The Silver Fern

@akan004 said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@Dan54 said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

Well, don't know whether to shake my head or be pleased they trying things. Surprises me Vai'i at 6, but also think it a pointer to how good they thing Holland will be, and Vai'i being best lock in NZ, maybe they felt they had to play him?

I really hope that Holland lives up to the hype. I'm not convinced myself from what I have seen of him. Hope to be proven wrong.

Yeah fair enough mate, but I been saying for about 3 years now I see him as 100 test AB, so I got to stick with it.

Well, don't know whether to shake my head or be pleased they trying things. Surprises me Vai'i at 6, but also think it a pointer to how good they thing Holland will be, and Vai'i being best lock in NZ, maybe they felt they had to play him?

@antipodean said in Reds v British Lions:

I wasn't impressed by Fin Smith at 10 when he came on. Doubt he'll start, nor will Bundee Aki on that performance.

Daly at fullback staking a claim.

The way the Lions playing they got to have Russell at 10 with Marcus Smith as back up. By gees they playing some attractive rugby to watch. I didn't really see them running up 50 on the Reds, but looked to desrve it.

@Bones said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

@Jet we are when it knocks you on your arse for 3 days. It's a right fluffybunny.

Yep and only someone who is a bit moronic goes to public stuff and spreads it around. Same with flu keep your bugs at home. We have had 3-4 the old fellas at Golf club just got over covid ,knocked the shit out of them for first 4-5 days. Real crook.

Didn't I see Razor announces it at 11.45am tomorrow?

@Duluth said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

He uses a lot of hairspray to keep that combover in place

Mrs Dan reckons he has hair transplants

@Mr-Fish said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

@Dan54 is that insider info, or just going off the various outlets that reported he couldn't play because he had a broken hand?

No insider info mate, just what I read about them trying to sort out insurance etc.

@Mr-Fish said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

@Landers92 said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

David Havili, Shannon Frizell, Shaun Stevenson and Folau Fakatava all confirmed to be playing for the AUNZ Invitational XV against the Lions

Interesting. I'd heard that no one from outside Super Rugby was going to get selected.

Na mate they been trying to get Richie Mo too. Thought they were looking at a few from Japanese comp.

@MiketheSnow said in 2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia:

For those in the UK with Sky but not Sky Sports all the matches are free to air on S4C the Welsh language channel

Most games seem to be on that Welsh language FTA channel don't they Mike? Noticed it when I was there last year.

Also beside the point a bit, but I enjoyed commentary on TV. I think Cruden and Hall both made good jobs of being the comments men!

Well good game I thought. MABs looked a bit scratchy at first, especially in defence through midfield, but as they gelled they came on well. They would be pretty happy I think with just a few days together, looked promising.

By geez I enjoyed that game. Lions look a not bad team don't they, and certainly more effective playing that style with Russell at 10 than Finn Smith.. Force weren't bad, just got worn out by a fairly relentless Lions team. Very good, got up this morning and watched the 2nd half of Maori's game (got a bit late for me last night so went to bed at oranges), and then watched this one. Loved it, hell and next week we get Maori's./Scotland, followed by French test, Lions and Wallabies/Fiji on Sunday. I am set! Well of course club rugby first on Saturday!

I wonder if Dearns coming was part of reason for letting PUJ go early, to release a little more cash, as I don't think he will be cheap?

@DaGrubster said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@brodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@ACT-Crusader

He had the same issues with turnovers against SA last year too.

Yeah, he clearly was rushed back too early and had little confidence.

Still can have very poor games though.

I think we will see him play a lot better rrom fullback this year

I think Jordan has developed into a bloody good fullback. I was all for at 14, but honestly think he has improved (mainly under high ball) as an out and out 15, though can still play 14 if needed.

Jordie was a 12 before he was a 15 really, just had the skills that also transferred to 15. He still has, and can probably still could fill in at 15 if required. Just with Jordan (who I used to be very iffy about at 15) has now developed or matured into a 15 so well, I can't see Jordie being needed there.

@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@Dan54 said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

How is Narawa injury cover for ALB? On what planet does that make any sense?

Well he is a wing/centre, so really probably there to cover both.

Playing centre at NPC isn't a qualification on your CV to cover that position in Test rugby. I'd have a different opinion if he'd spent some time there during the SR season and acquitted himself well.

Well he has played centre for Chiefs too.

@antipodean said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

How is Narawa injury cover for ALB? On what planet does that make any sense?

Well he is a wing/centre, so really probably there to cover both.

@Canes4life , mate I was reading a comment of yours on AB thread (I think), and you were saying next year Laidlaw should/would play Roigard/Love as 9-10. Just thought I would answer in here and ask do you think Godfrey will miss out? I would be happy with Love at 10, but can also see Roigard/Godfrey going well, with JB, Proctor in midfield and Love at 15. Understand also the Higgins think, but I still remember how well JB and Proctor went, especially in defence last year, and perhaps I see Barrett as maybe a better option at 12. Higgins I like, but tends to be a little frail injury wise, and not sure I am convinced on his defence. But once again just an opinion anyway, and no more correct than yours.

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2025:

@Dan54 not that I am advocating Reihana, but have been more than a few saying he could be a bolter for a few weeks at least.

Will be interesting to see how bold Razor is this year though.

Have to think Razor had 90% of his team picked, with a couple of tight calls maybe waiting to see how the past 2 weekend matches panned out.

As I said mate, I not against him being picked, if the selectors believe he is as good or better than other options,
Just saying not just because he younger,

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@Dan54

Wallace Sititi only started 8 out of 15 games last year. He's started 13 Super Rugby games his entire career. Not even a full seasons worth

Also Hoskins Sotutu was Super Rugby Player of the year and helped his team win a title. Something Sititi is yet to do.

Sititi was a player of potential with a handful of good games but he wasn't obviously the best which is why his selection was controversial in the media.

Do you think Sotutu missed out on Sititi's potential, or just because rightly or wrongly as Ryan said, they didn't think he was good enough for test rugby. Something about both sides of ball? And perhaps because Sotutu was seen as an 8 only, and Ardie was considered the one for that job. All I say is I think the AB selectors should go for young one if is as good as current ones, not saying Reihana is or isn't but I notice all the calls have come out after one pretty good game.
Same as players you mentioned, they were probably at least as good as the players they were vying for in their positions.
I will add, maybe I old fashioned, but I want us to try and win every test we play, we don't or won't but we should be trying too.