Scott Barrett had a great game.

This is a good Fijian side. Big men playing European rugby. The ABs kryptonite is not winning physical battle. Good test.

@hydro11 I think that mindset is endemic in our rugby. The high risk option or the players ( coaching tactics ) that take them are often rewarded at lower levels where you get more space. However test matches can sometimes be a grind, and we don’t seem to want to do the hard work ( play the % ) for long enough. Whether it be 2 or 3 more phases or playing it tight into the 60th or 70th minute. They have to learn how to do that especially if they are behind on the scoreboard after 20.

How did they leave Sam Cane on the bench last week. Dumbest selection of all time.

BBs cross kick in 2nd half was worst play of game

Forgot how much I love watching Northland play. Can’t wait for the rest of the season.

Those that talk negatively about NZ provincial rugby ( and individual teams ) don’t understand how great this competition continues to be for NZ rugby - the jewel in the crown. The talent on display is amazing.

But a bit tired of reading articles from hack journalists and listening to ex rugby players acting as commentators who don’t know the players from the opposition team and have no passion for the game they are watching. The comments about Northland before, and after the game on the radio and in print lack any insight into our team.

I guess that’s why this forum is great 😀.

This has been coming for some time. We keep being told that we can play rugby without the ball. Kicking it away. The Wallabies showed that keeping the ball in hand is what matters. Some of our tight forwards struggle with their hands. Tonight they lost the contact as well.

Read has been quality. Captains knock.

@Entertainer15 disagree. We lost it in the forwards an with poor tactical kicking. Their forwards created go forward, won their lineouts and they were tactically miles ahead.

Next World Cup will be more challenging.

Our Junior rugby teams have been beaten up recent years by sides with big forward packs. Development of our tight 5 depth and loose forwards that can win contact will be our challenge. We always have great footballers but size matters as the game gets tighter and defence dominates.

@jc said in Ukraine:

@kev said in Ukraine:

@kid-chocolate Putin has been all over countries on Russia’s borders. He is an expansionist. You can’t give in to bullies. Ukraine has done nothing wrong. The “free world” has let it down - not honouring treaties ( Obama ) and trading with Russia, allowing Putin to increase his power. The Economists are mostly to blame. Allowing an elite to gain economic power in Russia with asset sales, following up with austerity policies for the people.

Just to be clear, that’s not what economists do. They’re not gatekeepers or powerbrokers, they’re just social scientists. Politicians make policy, economists don’t.

Then you misunderstood the influence that Neoliberalism has had on politics. It’s an economic ideology ( its not fact ) that is now established in the minds of politicians and media. Of course the Economists are to blame, they developed it and sold it to the world. Just like if I was Scientist that came up with a health supplement that made everyone sick.

@kid-chocolate Putin has been all over countries on Russia’s borders. He is an expansionist. You can’t give in to bullies. Ukraine has done nothing wrong. The “free world” has let it down - not honouring treaties ( Obama ) and trading with Russia, allowing Putin to increase his power. The Economists are mostly to blame. Allowing an elite to gain economic power in Russia with asset sales, following up with austerity policies for the people.

@kid-chocolate said in Ukraine:

It’s what friends do..

(This twitter thread is incredible, the replies from blue-check Chinese state officials and the sub-threads especially, geezuz what a can o’ worms, careening from Taiwan to Kashmir in a heartbeat!)

The West should stop trading with Russia and China ( now that would be hard ). The real danger here is most likely China. You can see Russians getting rid of Putin and being worked into a functioning Europe. However China is a whole different story.

@victor-meldrew said in Ukraine:

Feb 26  /  US news

Poll: US majority believes no Russian invasion with Trump as president

Caps-Harris poll shows 62% of respondents believe Putin would not have ordered troops into Ukraine with Trump in White House

So many things fundamentally wrong with the States…just another. Not a country you want to model your democracy on.

@taniwharugby ok my mistake. Point being that comments about players off the field are mostly just gossip. Someone with an easy going nature isn’t necessary a slacker. After a loss, the comments here turn to a player someone doesn’t like and incidental actions in general play are made out to be fatal weaknesses. Last night you had a wing come off his wing in defence when he didn’t need to, and RTS get pushed off with an arms tackle - and if you watched Warriors games you will know that this is an issue for him. Correct those things and the Blues win easily. The rest is just noise.

@taniwharugby said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:

@kev maybe, I know for a fact he used to work fucking hard on his game, as a teen, but from what I hear, I'm not sure that is the case in recent years.

I rate his game when on, IMO his pass is the closest to Smith, has a great box kick (even if I hate them) but there is def something missing, and this is usually between the ears.

My view of the weaknesses in his game are being decisive at ruck time, physicality, not that challenging D enough. But my opinion is he has worked on all of those things and has improved. Those are things I see on the rugby field - I don’t know him.

But you have just said he doesn’t train very well and he his thick - I think those comments are personal. Do you know him?

@taniwharugby said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:

@kiwimurph he strikes me as a guy with all the talent, but slmost like he is there for the social aspect and doesn't put in the work...

That guy in your team, late to training, first to the bar, always messing about

What do you mean? How do you know how he trains? Comments like this are unfair to the players.

@kiwimurph said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:

@african-monkey said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:

I go back to the stupid Nock intercept pass at 32-21 which gave the ball back to the canes which changed the whole thing. Fucken stupid pass to a guy standing in our backline.

Good comeback Canes but we should have closed the fucker out (Nock, I'm looking at you).

Yeah as a Nock fan he was terrible. He's done that before coming off the bench too. Very very loose.

That’s just rubbish. Two tries in 5 minutes is why they lost. Nothing else.

They subbed Clarke and Tele’a rushes off his wing and leaves Rayasi unmarked. Man that was such a poor decision.

RTS gets palmed off at half way and they score.

That’s why the Blues lost.

Some poor plays at the end. Tele’a came off his wing and let Rayasi in and RTS missed his tackle.

@steven-harris said in Blues vs Hurricanes 02/2022:

Canes loosehead with a knee on the ground ..Am i missing something..?

For quite some time