The Silver Fern

@Bones said in 2024 TOTY from elsewhere:

Look, I can understand he's maybe better than I give him credit for - but what drugs do you have to be on to think he's the best fullback in the world? I want some.

I think it's because he "looks" good.
Runs very smoothly.
Hair always in place.
Nice looking guy who gets all the chicks etc.

Alternatively, a lot of rugby commentators are just what they are when they were playing - absolute meatheads.

Mark Cavendish wins BBC Sport Lifetime Achievement Award.

Fair enough. A genuine spirit cycling legend and a cool nickname. The Manx Missile.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/articles/c0475w65054o

@mariner4life we were top tier on half way for the Bledisloe

@Billy-Webb said in World rugby chair from the SH for the first time?:

@mohikamo said in World rugby chair from the SH for the first time?:

for those who dont know who benazzi is
he had a match winning try disallowed in WC95 semi vs SA
monsoon game, he definitely scored imo
no tmo in those days
would have meant a NZ v france final, and whole different rugby history
i wasn't concerned at the time, thought we were easily good enough to beat anyone

It certainly was close.
Having watched that game and that incident a few times - not sure whether he did or did not score.

Unlike Reuben Kruger in the final though 😛

Kruger didn't score ... it's not on the score sheet ...

As for Benazzi, agree it was not "clear and obvious". I recall he talked about it afterward (press conference?) and kind of played it down. Said something like "it was 'this' close".

@Machpants said in Olympic Sevens 2024:

One of the things I have enjoyed most about the BF7s is Waaka, and she is almost always grinning ear to ear - and still owning the plays.

Love seeing smart NZ halves/playmakers get her 1 on 1 in a major final and then watching her turn on the jets and blast by whoever on the outside.

@Bones said in 6N 2024 England v Wales:

@Dodge yeah but the ref shouldn't have to study Ford's kicking style. He stands and lines it up, then takes a step to the left, to what...line it up again? That's how most kickers begin their approach. If it quacks like a duck then go for it I say.

Yep, fair point.

@W32 said in Springboks 2024:

@KiwiMurph said in Springboks 2024:

@W32 said in Springboks 2024:

@Machpants said in Springboks 2024:

@W32 said in Springboks 2024:

The respect is not returned

LOL you honestly think the ABs don't respect the Boks?

Not as much as the boks respect the ABs.

Based on?

Just a reality with the mostly one sided results over the last 30 years. The boks were often a little star struck by playing the abs. Not good.

The pearl clutching is funny though

It's 2025 not 2017

@Bovidae said in Pacific Nations Cup General:

3rd/4th game
Samoa 18 - 13 USA

Final
Japan 17 - 41 Fiji

Another loss for Jones.

He reckons he'll be back on the wagon when the ABs come to town

@KiwiMurph said in NZR+:

@nzzp said in NZR+:

@Machpants said in NZR+:

@Bones said in NZR+:

@Machpants said in NZR+:

I'd like something like 1064 rugby, they was great.

Yeah I found it boring and didn't buy into a lot of what they were spouting.

But at least it was different, that's the point we need a variety for different audiences. Not old abs talking bollocks cos they are so out of touch

`spot on.

One of the things I love about NFL is the commentators are competing for insightful analysis. They call bad play, they call good play. Rugby ... doesn't have that.

Ironically Tom Brady has sucked as a commentator.

Can't be good at everything I guess

@Duluth or has "blocked" whoever started the thread?

@Steve said in 2022 All Blacks NH tour:

@TheMojoman said in 2022 All Blacks NH tour:

@ACT-Crusader said in 2022 All Blacks NH tour:

@TheMojoman said in 2022 All Blacks NH tour:

@Stargazer said in 2022 All Blacks NH tour:

Official:

allblacks 🚨 SQUAD UPDATES | Unfortunately @samcane7 & Dane Coles will be returning to New Zealand after picking up injuries in last nights match. Sam - fractured cheekbone, Dane - calf. All the best with your recovery fellas 💪

@pattytuips, @damianmckenzie_, @tuivasasheck & @braydonennor will join the @allblacksxv in Dublin

@leicester_f will rejoin the squad and @billy_harmon has been called in.

Telea and @asafoaumua will stay with the squad.

That stuff article posted in other threads clearly missed a bit of info.

They must be confident Retallick will escape suspension if they’re sending Tuipulotu to AB XV.

Positive is Papali’i will get an extended run in the 7 jersey. He was dynamite off the bench last night.
Happy for Aumua. Keeping Coles around has hindered his development.

Was he? I’m not sure I can watch it again, but I didn’t think he stood out (other than the hair of course).

I’m a fan of what he can bring though.

If we assume that Ardie is going to start all three tests, the question they may be considering is, do we start Papali’i or Sotutu? It’s not beyond the possibility with Cane injured that they move Ardie. They’ve done it before.

Papali'i was very good, I think 9 tackles in 14 mins plus the turnover which iced the game. He and Tuipulotu (as with most of the bench) did their job in bringing energy.

I think to reduce disruption they'll straight swap Papali'i for Cane and keep Ardie at 8. That way they can free up a bench spot for Sotutu who I thought, barring the turnover on the tryline was generally good.

I can't see Frizell backing up against Wales. He's turning into the modern day Reuben Thorne which is not all bad, you need solid blindsides who do the dirty work, make their tackles, solid carries, rucks/mauls. Akira does that and provides much more with ball-in hand.

Love Papalii but not sure I can cope with our open side flanker looking like Billy Idol.

Hopefully he doesn’t miss the starting XV after putting in the hard yards at training: tries without a place.

@SidBarret said in Argentina v Bokke 1:

@Bones pretty sure i saw the rule clarification posted somewhere online. Doleman applied a stupid rule correctly I think.

not this section? Doesn't seem clear to me

World Rugby Passport - Laws by number

@Bones "late switch got us both"

I hope @Stargazer doesn't stumble into any other thread on here, I'm pretty sure all have been used at some stage for a dissection of 2019 RWC. It will blow their mind.

A Smith-Fakatava combo offers a nice contrast. Fakatava used to run too often and tried to take on the opposition by himself, but he has learnt to temper his enthusiasm and when he has a snipe. That makes him a much more dangerous halfback.

It's Planet Rugby. A quick scan of the comments are more interesting than the team named.

@mn5 said in Scotland v Australia 2021:

@gibbon-rib said in Scotland v Australia 2021:

I just checked the 6N odds out of interest. Clearly the bookies / betting public don't think this is a new dawn for the Scots

France 48/29
England 5/2
Ireland 9/2
Wales 6/1
Scotland 12/1
Italy 1000/1

12 is better than 1000 though

True. And probably better value too.