The Silver Fern

@SouthernMann Yes, hence why I say in a couple of years time I can see him settling into a really strong leader

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:

@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:

Looking forward to Lasaqa that is for sure. On EDG again, he is about the same age Smith was when he had his toilet incident, and nobody thought he'd ever be a leader... wasn't till he was about 30 he became captain.

I guess what I am really saying, is I don't think it will be EDG. Withy certainly the frontrunner...

I don't understand the conclusion you are drawing between EDG with Smith and the toilet incident. At the time, Smith was near on the best players in the world. Nothing could go wrong for him on the field. Anyone one with a contact or two in the rugby world knew he was constantly playing away games off the pitch. His personal life caught up with his professional life with a bang. Sadly it did derail his captaincy aspirations. If you are saying what happened in the northern hemisphere on the AB tour, which still hasn't been stated publicly is going to have the same impact. That is a baffling conclusion to reach.

Having heard what he did, it hardly screams leader…

Looking forward to Lasaqa that is for sure. On EDG again, he is about the same age Smith was when he had his toilet incident, and nobody thought he'd ever be a leader... wasn't till he was about 30 he became captain.

I guess what I am really saying, is I don't think it will be EDG. Withy certainly the frontrunner...

@Landers92 True on Manu... I guess it was more so the fact he had been out injured nearly all of 2013, and Brad Thorn and Josh Bekhuis were still there.

With his off-field indiscretion with the ABs, and then not being there for pre-season until late in the pace, I get the feeling EDG will not be in the running. Withy is the other obvious one, but I am not sure Joseph will view him as a nailed on starter.

@SouthernMann on Dunshea, I am not sure Manu was necessarily a huge communicator either, but he was someone who was as tough as nails, and was a model professional, in other words an embodiment of Jamie. Not sure short-term nature is a huge issue... EDG will be able to step up after that.

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:

@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:

@Canes4life They have, seems to be a combo deal. Sammy G Design is listed as head of content on the website, and she designed the graphic for the squad naming.

There is another company who I believe is helping with broader marketing and has done the videography stuff.

Sam Gilchrist, if it is the same person I think it is... is a bloke. Not a woman. Doesn't take away from the fact the Highlanders are not in the same financial position as other franchises and make cuts on roles that others prioritise. I also believe they utilise students as well in these roles.

Samara Gallaher. Used to play for the Spirit I think.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the captain pick might be really left field.

I think 2014 is a decent thing to base it off, Nasi Manu was relatively leftfield at the time, and he was paired with Ben Smith.

Realistically the captain has to be someone who is a nailed starter, which leaves EDG, Ma’u, Holland, Dunshea, Withy (?), Fakatava, Millar, Tele’a, Tavatavanawai

My bet is on Dunshea.

@Canes4life They have, seems to be a combo deal. Sammy G Design is listed as head of content on the website, and she designed the graphic for the squad naming.

There is another company who I believe is helping with broader marketing and has done the videography stuff.

@Tim Note the Highlanders honourable mention...

@Canes4life said in Black Caps vs Sri Lanka:

With the Champions Trophy coming up I hope Young keeps his spot ahead of Conway. Williamson will likely come in for Chapman which is hard to dispute but Conway has chosen to commit to other leagues so by default he should lose his spot.

I would also like to see Bracewell come in for Phillips. I feel like Bracewell is a little more devastating with the bat and Phlllips has been pretty poor of late.

They will both play I think. Bracewell will come in for Smith, and will bat at 7.

@Landers92 think we are the only team without a dedicated social media person... which is braindead behaviour. There is an outsourced company + an independent who makes a few graphics.

@KiwiMurph Of course, it won’t be perfect at first, but how nice is it going to be to get relatively accurate injury reports, and some easily accessible baseline stats?

Opta had some nice stuff but that was an independent and even that was difficult to use.

@taniwharugby said in Super Rugby 2025:

@Canes4life as I and many others have mentioned before, the accuracy and availability of stats (in and out of game) in rugby in general are shite!

I know Fantasy leagues in the US and Soccer are huge and drive the production of stats, but we know rugby has them, what is the benefit of not releasing them?

The talk is that the Official Fantasy game could be a game changer for all of this.

Despite the negativity from some quarters, I do actually think with the commission SRP is headed in the right direction.

In other news JRK is in Dunedin and was at training yesterday. Unsure whether he is training to any level.

I don't really know why this has gotten so much airtime. I can categorically say this is a bullshit rumour from a website that is probably a scam lol.

The other question is what impact will the Lions Tour have? Will Australian sides be resting players in anticipation?

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2025:

@SBW1 would be nice to hear a bit more enthusiasm about coming back to NZ rugby

His comments before he left made me question him also... just seems like a bit of a dick for a lack of a better term.

Can only think he was promised a special bench would be built for Michael Manson.

@Kiwiwomble The classic resigned v re-signed I reckon.

@Kiwidom said in All Blacks 2025:

@frugby The other wingers from the last few NZ under 20s squads have hardly set the world on fire either :

Macca Springer
Nik Vikena - moved to Sydney
Codey Vai - 7s
Stanley Solomon
Isaac Hutchinson
Frank Vaenuku

All these guys are way too young to be writing off yet

@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:

I think Tangitau needs to worry about getting into the Landers 23 first before we even mention him as a contender. Julian Savea was a school boy / under 20 super star and he only made his AB debut at 21, Tangitau is no way near that and he hasn't even played Super yet.

With so many other contenders in the outsides, he's going to have to play one of the best seasons we've ever seen from a rookie to even get a look in. Just can't see it happening, especially because he didn't set the NPC a light either.

Think you are forgetting Tangitau was equally a hyped school boy and U20 Star... his progress his been slightly stunted by going to 7s for a year, and the sheer talent ahead of him in the pecking order.

Wasn't perfect in shit Auckland team, but lets see. As I mention, I'm tipping him as a bolter, so obviously he is going to need to have a great season, but I think it is eminently possible then your making it out to be.

We aren't talking about a Mosese Dawai or a Ngane Punivai. He could turn out to be the next Tevita Li, but playing the law of averages, NZR is due a winger flying through from nowhere.