The Silver Fern

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

@sparky

It’s now being touted around that Sexton’s appointment means Russell is less likely to be picked to start or maybe even tour. I know he doesn’t rate him but he’s only a junior coach. It is quite possible that Russell doesn't get selected as it is a position with a bit of depth. We have the two Smiths, Prendergast,, Kinghorn as back up and of course that Welsh guy (sorry, poor joke). If he doesn’t go though it will be due to him not fitting the game plan rather than Sexton having a dig IMO.

From watching the six nations, the Aussies will have their fingers crossed that he is starting. Was absolutely abysmal

@Machpants said in Crusaders v Blues:

@KiwiInLondon said in Crusaders v Blues:

@Bones said in Crusaders v Blues:

@frugby said in Crusaders v Blues:

@Mauss said in Crusaders v Blues:

@frugby said in Crusaders v Blues:

@akan004 If Holland played for the Blues, and Beehre played for the Highlanders, this wouldn't even be a conversation.

Beehre looks a good player for the future, but he has got some bulking out to do. Certainly does more around the field than Josh Lord ever has though.

Holland and Beehre are completely different players, though: Holland has a dominant defensive profile while Beehre's stand-out quality is his ability to make metres in attack. They wouldn't be competing for the same spot.

Neither are particularly dominant lineout players.

That is pretty much what the stats suggest, though Holland is a defensive lineout threat (4 Steals)... I suspect in a better side, Holland would look way more dominant. Beehre to me still looks a little lightweight for the style of player that he is.

I don't see that with Beehre at all - he seems to me to be right up at the top ball in hand, always impressed at his drive.

Beehre isn’t from an exotic European country so slightly harder to hype up

England is exotic

South Croydon does have some interesting plants and fauna

@Bones said in Crusaders v Blues:

@frugby said in Crusaders v Blues:

@Mauss said in Crusaders v Blues:

@frugby said in Crusaders v Blues:

@akan004 If Holland played for the Blues, and Beehre played for the Highlanders, this wouldn't even be a conversation.

Beehre looks a good player for the future, but he has got some bulking out to do. Certainly does more around the field than Josh Lord ever has though.

Holland and Beehre are completely different players, though: Holland has a dominant defensive profile while Beehre's stand-out quality is his ability to make metres in attack. They wouldn't be competing for the same spot.

Neither are particularly dominant lineout players.

That is pretty much what the stats suggest, though Holland is a defensive lineout threat (4 Steals)... I suspect in a better side, Holland would look way more dominant. Beehre to me still looks a little lightweight for the style of player that he is.

I don't see that with Beehre at all - he seems to me to be right up at the top ball in hand, always impressed at his drive.

Beehre isn’t from an exotic European country so slightly harder to hype up

@Gunner said in Crusaders v Blues:

Good comeback from the Blues, ruined by poor kicking options and really poor decision making in the last 5 minutes

A good 20mins doesn’t make up for 60mins of dogshite

@Landers92 said in Crusaders v Blues:

@KiwiInLondon said in Crusaders v Blues:

Aumua is genuinely awful with his body height. It’s not u12s where you’re twice the size of everyone

He’s shit. Can’t believe they persist with him

Signing him in the first place made no sense. He’s always been shit

Aumua is genuinely awful with his body height. It’s not u12s where you’re twice the size of everyone

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Blues:

@KiwiInLondon said in Crusaders v Blues:

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Blues:

but they should have taken the 3.....

And they could be in front if they took all their opportunities. 2 tries for all that possession and territory is woeful. They blues are tactically incompetent

It's not tactical incompetence it's average attack and poor execution

The Blues aren’t tactically incompetent?

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Blues:

but they should have taken the 3.....

And they could be in front if they took all their opportunities. 2 tries for all that possession and territory is woeful. They blues are tactically incompetent

@Steven-Harris said in Crusaders v Blues:

@KiwiMurph 9 points available not taken in an arm wrestle🤦🏻

It’s honestly so stupid. Could be 19-15/12.

The forward back is being beaten to a pulp and they still go for the pick and go

@KiwiMurph said in Crusaders v Blues:

@KiwiInLondon said in Crusaders v Blues:

CLW has pretty much out played the entire Bluds pack

Til a bad miss on Riccitelli.....

I’ll take one bad miss over 50mins of incompetent unenthused crap

CLW has pretty much out played the entire Bluds pack

@Machpants said in All Blacks 2025:

@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks 2025:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:

That means giving players like Love & Holland some real game time to see how they go. Sure, there'll be so

Well my response to that is that this is the All Blacks, not a super rugby team. You don't select a young player hoping they'll be ok in two years. That young player has to demonstrate they are worth selecting now, and they should be dropped if they aren't performing well. That is how any national team should operate and is how the All Blacks have operated in the past.

Yeah all blocks never take in those that haven't proven themselves in at least couple of years of top flight domestic rugby...

Like Jonah lomu (0 mins super rugby) and Richie McCaw (8 mins super rugby)

Ahh yes two of the best rugby players ever. What an argument

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:

That means giving players like Love & Holland some real game time to see how they go. Sure, there'll be so

Well my response to that is that this is the All Blacks, not a super rugby team. You don't select a young player hoping they'll be ok in two years. That young player has to demonstrate they are worth selecting now, and they should be dropped if they aren't performing well. That is how any national team should operate and is how the All Blacks have operated in the past.

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2025:

@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks 2025:

Yes so many of the young and up and coming players have justified everyone sentiments about Robertson with their continued and improved form in this super rugby season....

Any position in mind? Tough to think of any 10's that haven't improved except for Miller and Hohepa.

More a lot have gone backwards or have stagnated. When you look at the ABs XV squad, it’s actually quite disappointing how many haven’t kicked on to another gear (Kirifi has been good but seems to be slipping as the season goes on). Holland, who was a big prospect last season, hasn’t showed the same level (aside from one game against the bottom team).

As for the up and coming ABs from last season. Aumua, Roigard, Ratima, Tosi, Laki, and Love haven’t exactly been setting the world on fire.

The only players that have noticeably improved imo has been Jordon (has played more like a fullback), Vai’i and Finau have got better.

I am critical of Robertson but I do feel a bit sorry for him. If Barrett continues to show good game management and McKenzie shits the bed in another semi/final, who is he supposed to select? ALB and Reiko are the only real options at 13 despite Reiko being bang average and ALB being injury prone and slow. Reece, despite being terrible last season, continues to outshine every winger through sheer enthusiasm. For all the criticism of Jordon at 15, what exactly has Love shown to provide any competition at all? Still don’t have a clear option for our backup hooker with Taylor still the obvious no. 1. Lock is ok but one injury there and we have no idea who the third lock would be. Literally only have one out and out six pushing for selection. We don’t have an 8 if Savea is sensibly selected at 7.

Jesus mate, I'm as negative as the next guy, but Taylor, Taukei'aho, Aumua is hardly a weak trio of hookers.

I didn’t say it was a weak trio of hookers. It’s that Taukei’aho and Aumua should be bashing the door down for a starting spot. They’re so hot and cold

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@KiwiInLondon said in All Blacks 2025:

Yes so many of the young and up and coming players have justified everyone sentiments about Robertson with their continued and improved form in this super rugby season....

Any position in mind? Tough to think of any 10's that haven't improved except for Miller and Hohepa.

More a lot have gone backwards or have stagnated. When you look at the ABs XV squad, it’s actually quite disappointing how many haven’t kicked on to another gear (Kirifi has been good but seems to be slipping as the season goes on). Holland, who was a big prospect last season, hasn’t showed the same level (aside from one game against the bottom team).

As for the up and coming ABs from last season. Aumua, Roigard, Ratima, Tosi, Laki, and Love haven’t exactly been setting the world on fire.

The only players that have noticeably improved imo has been Jordon (has played more like a fullback), Vai’i and Finau have got better.

I am critical of Robertson but I do feel a bit sorry for him. If Barrett continues to show good game management and McKenzie shits the bed in another semi/final, who is he supposed to select? ALB and Reiko are the only real options at 13 despite Reiko being bang average and ALB being injury prone and slow. Reece, despite being terrible last season, continues to outshine every winger through sheer enthusiasm. For all the criticism of Jordon at 15, what exactly has Love shown to provide any competition at all? Still don’t have a clear option for our backup hooker with Taylor still the obvious no. 1. Lock is ok but one injury there and we have no idea who the third lock would be. Literally only have one out and out six pushing for selection. We don’t have an 8 if Savea is sensibly selected at 7.

@Grooter said in Highlanders 2025:

@KiwiInLondon hasn't Haig lived in Dunedin since he was 13? As for Holland he's going to be the 1st landers & Otago All black since god knows, Josh Ioane? So I would hope the lad shows some loyalty to the the environment that gave him opportunity as a young man.

You'd hope so but I think the environment in professional rugby is becoming increasingly transactional. So you never know.

Yes so many of the young and up and coming players have justified everyone sentiments about Robertson with their continued and improved form in this super rugby season....

@frugby said in Highlanders 2025:

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:

@frugby pointing to the guys currently not winning regularly doesnt help things

You have to be patient. This squad (particularly in the forwards) is still two years off coming into its prime.

Because I am so confident in this, a Potential Highlanders Squad by 2027 (Bold Indicates Local/U20):

Hookers:
Vikena (25)
Bell (27)
Taylor (23)

Props:
de Groot (28)
Bartlett (24)
Loosehead

Ma'u (26)
Kautai (30)
Tighthead

Locks:
Holland (24)
Tengblad (21)
Dunshea (31)
Lock

Loose Forwards:
Haig (25)
Withy (26)
Howden (26)
Stodart (23)
Lasaqa (25)
Number Eight
Openside
Loose Forward

Halfbacks:
Pledger (21)
Fakatava (27)
Lennox (23)

First Fives:
Millar (24)
Robinson (27)
Muliaina (20)

Midfielders:
Tavatavanawai (29)
J Whaanga (23)
Harvey (22)
Midfielder
Midfielder

Outside Backs:
Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (25)
Hurley (21)
Tangitau (24)
Nareki (29)
Winger
Winger

If 2026 was to be another improvement, then you might even see some guys stick around as squad options for 2027 rather than heading offshore. Tangitau is going to be the big piece of the jigsaw if you want to compete for the title, because he is impossible to replace. I genuinely believe this squad is as good as you can cope for in this day and age where talent ID is so much better.

This is all assuming that these guys stick around in Dunedin. That’s a big if. Loose 3-4 key players to other clubs and the whole plan goes down the drain.

There comes a point in a career where you can either stick with the small up and coming team that’s building or jump ship somewhere that’s already there. How many of the players bleed Otago through and through? Haig and Holland come to mind as two players that have limited connection to the region.

@Canes4life said in Highlanders 2025:

@KiwiInLondon said in Highlanders 2025:

Perhaps to get the thread back on track (not hypocritical at all). We still have what seems like an obvious route to the top six. It will require the team to really step up but injured players are coming back and the top 23 is finally insight.

Can we beat the chiefs this weekend? Maybe. But a loosing bonus point and no injures is a must.

Crusaders at home. Definitely vulnerable and at home, the highlanders have a real chance and I back them. Close win

Moana: this has to be a bonus point win.

Bye: perfect timing after three big games. Injured players are back, a good rest before the final three games

Hurricanes: a must win. Back the team to do it. Close win

Crusaders: tougher at home. Has to be a bonus point loss at least

Chiefs: Chiefs will likely be fighting for a top 2 finish in this game so will come out firing. Tough one at home, bonus point loss.

Leaves the Highlanders with 33 points with hopefully a positive points differential. May be enough to sneak into 6.

Can’t see you guys beating us at home with our best side on the park. Maybe a bonus point defeat would be a fair estimate.

It’s the second “easiest” game on the highlanders schedule. So it is a must win. Hurricanes have been far from convincing and the best players have been flaky. Think it will be a bit closer than you think.

Perhaps to get the thread back on track (not hypocritical at all). We still have what seems like an obvious route to the top six. It will require the team to really step up but injured players are coming back and the top 23 is finally insight.

Can we beat the chiefs this weekend? Maybe. But a loosing bonus point and no injures is a must.

Crusaders at home. Definitely vulnerable and at home, the highlanders have a real chance and I back them. Close win

Moana: this has to be a bonus point win.

Bye: perfect timing after three big games. Injured players are back, a good rest before the final three games

Hurricanes: a must win. Back the team to do it. Close win

Crusaders: tougher at home. Has to be a bonus point loss at least

Chiefs: Chiefs will likely be fighting for a top 2 finish in this game so will come out firing. Tough one at home, bonus point loss.

Leaves the Highlanders with 33 points with hopefully a positive points differential. May be enough to sneak into 6.