The Silver Fern

Too many boys from bad nz 20s teams getting gigs.
Too many 2nd tier players gone.
But realistically highlanders are just reverting back to type after another golden period .

@delicatessen
I think there is many more variables into why NZ 7s dropped off.
The world putting some kind of effort into 7's being the main one.
-More players heading overseas (general depth erosion of NZ Rugby)
-7s becoming its own sport meaning players had to commit more.
-other teams adapting and evolving, which I don't think NZ did.

Under Titch in the end we were playing an awful crash ball wide style which I guess kind of suited the cattle he picked but ultimately didn't work.
He also did nothing special with Samoa that showed he was kind of done. great career but time moves on. The stories I've heard of camps he would train were horrendous on the field and in the kitchen and i know most people think that make players better but, there are clear limits to adaption and thats well beyond it.

@taniwharugby
Every thing you have written there is controlled by the coaches and trainers I think alot of the boys have gone backwards. I too was quite excited by this squad. But I think northland has well underperformed again for the 3rd year in a row.

2017 should have done much better maybe won it.
2018 I believe rangers brilliance covered woefully coached backs.
This year has been dire besides set piece.

@Chris nock is my bolter for the all blacks next year. Really coming of age.

@taniwharugby i never liked him but lam was an absolute freak in the 2015 mitre 10 cup. I think he done his ACL in the preseason of super rugby straight after so bad timing. Not really Tana's fault.

Blues general play attack was just clueless last night. Funny thing is everyone in rugby attacks very similar in the 1-33-1 shape but the blues just can't seem to create anything out of it. The small things like running square and details around passing are just not there. Last night many times they had overlaps but the defense was able to shit it down fairly easy. Dumb miss passes and lack of square threatening running.

@yeetyaah i feel the chiefs connect with there waikato and counties province well. Thats probably the same for for the 5 main cities/franchises where the NPC teams play in front of empty stands. Definitly wellington and waikato anyway

I feel in northland most people are more supportive of the Taniwha than any super Rugby side, and that is probably reflected in our stadium numbers.

I am on record last year advocating for a comp like this. Was the perfect time. Even an NRL type scenario with NZ 10 teams 5 aussie teams. Aussies would be very strong obviously but thatd be great.

@Crucial there's always luck involved In a round Robin comp regardless.

This blues team is still very competitive. Morale is high and the gameplan is going well.

@african-monkey when the offer is Super plus NPC, id say thats a very very easy decision. and the right one, without doubt

@Crucial yep the best one to watch is the NBA guys, they hire multiple personal coaches each to go over the minor details in dribbling shot slections and setups. its really amazing.

Kicking is a massive skill with a number of components that could go wrong, go watch rugby bricks and see peter breens take on alot of the kicking and passing skills. If you dont know what your looking for then you wont find it. Golf swings and kicking are extremely similar skills overall

@kiwi_expat

Jacobson has great fine skills. Off loads and line running. He also is very physical in the tackle and clean out. I rate him highly at 6 or 8. His head knocks have held him back a bit. I think he has a solid chance at the 6 jersey too.

Sotutu, Obviously bigger, probably has better fine skills and slightly more dynamic. But has had an average year. If Sotutu is at potential, he is ahead of jacobson at 8, but right now he is not. Had good game for counties but nothing special

@nepia yea this is retarded. every team in NZ plays either 1-3-3-1 or slight variations of that.
so at any one time you have 2 guys playing that spot out wide

@tim I've never seen anything from riccitelli for me to think he is above mitre10

@Nepia cane is doing a good job there regardless. If he throws too much intent he risks a card as the guy is well chopped.

Can stays high in the line and helps dislodge the ball. See ardie fades off and looks for the jackal, different intents from 2 inside defenders.

The new rule in NPC will be interesting around water breaks, they are limited to one per half.

cutting the amount of props lying on the ground getting a rest is a great idea,

I would go as far as completely eliminating the TMO apart from try scoring actions one phase max. TMO is a huge blight on the game atm and makes everything look bad in slowmo.

Wainui is never going to be a superstar but I really like the things he does for the chiefs. They have enough firepower to keep a glue player on the wing.

@dan54 you take away grandparents and Samoa and Tonga are done. Tthey might even have to add a great grand parent rule for the islands soon.

@taniwharugby andy Ellis has the crusaders record or Bryn hall I think at 420ish.
100kilo men will not run fast Broncos. Those stats are fairly realistic. I think people forget that rugby players are jack of all trade athletes.
They will never pump the numbers of nfl for power or soccer for running distances.

I think this is also a reason many wingers fade earlyish as rugby specific training can de train there speed

I actually like Roger at 12. I also think 12 can be done easy, as in make his role easy. Sonny came at 12 was very one dimensional. Even burgess.

Roger's gainline will be devastating in that space. Especially if beaudy gives him a half break.

He'll have great comms inside and out so I think it can work out. Wing would probably be an easier fit to start but this guy is the real deal I expect Jim to get it done.

Scrafton should be in the team imo. He goes 80minutes and works hard. He's a big lad much bigger than goodhue who's still developing. The locks for the blues have very much underwhelmed

@Bovidae hard to say what guys like Maa get.

Lower level kiwi guys have said 15-25k usd

With all living costs paid for. Not huge wickets. Some guys would get maybe double that.