The Silver Fern

Compare and contrast the fortunes of Havili and Sotutu. It ain’t right, I’m telling ya, it ain’t right.

I don’t know how I can watch this game anymore. Ta’avao is a red. Porter a yellow and Farrell is…. this. I have no idea what’s going on!

World Rugby and the RFU in particular have spent years telling us one thing then do the other.

They got exactly what they deserved. A Rennie coached team would have made the QFs at least, I’m convinced of that. Anyone responsible for his hiring needs to go.

The collateral damage to the careers of blossoming #10s and former captains who deserved much better is a disgrace.

Let Larkham achieve something first. His time will come. They just need a good leader with a coherent plan. And NZ needs them to have that too.

Telling Coles he wasn’t playing must be the toughest thing Fozzie’s done. Can only imagine how much fire he’s going to put into the lads this week.

Look at Foley’s team mate screaming at him to kick it. He knew

@stodders This drives me absolutely nuts.

The players weren’t injured when the ball was in play but the ball goes out and suddenly they’re hurt.

World Rugby need to address it. The ABs were guilty of it last year at the end of a close game when Aumua went down. Everyone does it.

Something like in football when if you receive treatment you go to the sideline and play restarts without you. If it’s a scrum and it’s a front rower then give the opposition a FK. Probably a far better solution than that but it is infuriating to watch. Other leagues wouldn’t tolerate it but Rugby seems to revel in this kind of junk.

If the ABs do play the Boks in a knockout game - then in the days leading up Foster needs to front up to the media and go on the offensive about their players time wasting. And then Cane needs to get at the ref aggressively before the game has even started.

Nice guys will finish last in the next couple months.

@pakman Red: Loose head fake injury. Amber: Hooker fake injury. Green: Tighthead fake injury.

Fozzy cackling and rolling a blunt

Is there a way to convince them that they lost the last game against the Wallabies before the next one?

Who knows where they go under Eddie, maybe they get the Bledisloe back, maybe they make the RWC final, but Dave Rennie is cackling and rolling a blunt right now.

Guys like Laulala and Havili - I’ve seen enough.

Telea doesn’t leave the hotel til the bus goes to the stadium next week

SA perspective : Went through 3 tight games, did just enough, almost blew a final against 14 men. Relief. Know that any of the 3 teams could have them so they are humble and gracious. Smartest team in the tournament.

NZ Perspective : Overcame their nemesis. Made it to the final, albeit surprised to. Didn’t get the the rub, but fought valiantly with a man down but couldn’t execute through mind and body in critical passages. Felt like they left it on the table.

That’s where we’re at, isn’t it?

@pakman Great comparison. And still, like Cardiff 07, should have won despite the referee due to poor decision making from the leadership on the field.

Special place in hell for those whose only intention at a sporting event is to start a Mexican wave.

Simultaneously fascinating and joyless

Somewhere in NZ Angus Ta’avao is shaking his head

@Bovidae I’ve watched it. Said he was hurt that the guys never got back to him. Fair enough, you’d like to think the relationship goes both ways, but he needs to show some empathy there.

If the head coach believes that Perofeta is only good for 60 seconds a test match then deep down he also believes he’s not good enough to play at this level. It ain’t a development squad. Quit f’n round and pick the best players. If you want to rest players then fine, but don’t pick someone who you don’t have the confidence in to play when it counts. Pero isn’t gonna learn anything coming on with 20 to go if they’re up 30 is he? Fozzy knows he’s not gonna play Pero off the bench in the QF next year so why bother now?