The Silver Fern

They won't be beat on fitness this season

The field seemed at least a.metre and a half short width AND length wise so it was akin to a phone booth boxing match
Not much sweeping backline plays apart from the Landers try to Renton which was a beauty, counter from inside their 22 quick hands Millar Tele'a Gilbert to give Tangitau early ball and in space and he used his speed to full advantage.
There's life in Nareki yet, very dangerous w every touch.
Manson as well. Only had a cpl of touches but threatened everytime with his speed off the mark. He is RAPID! There is speed and then there us Manson.
The wing battle this season will be interesting. Overall the Landers did.look very fit, just couldn't get much going w drop ball loose passes etc. If it was a straight 23 v 23 I think their fitness advantage would've been more obvious. They are VERY lean. Not much size in the forwards. Not a bad performance considering their full on training week including Thursday full sessions and the 4.30am early rise on Friday.

@SouthernMann 1pm kickoff

@Steven-Harris I've heard the same re Ozich and Pivac.
Same sauce also confirmed Bates has thrown his hat in the ring....but it will likely be thrown back out.
Unlikely he will be appointed apparently.
Tai Lavea was also sounded out to apply but declined

@Yeetyaah said in Highlanders 2025:

@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2025:

Mika Muliaina

Any relation to Mils?

He's the son of Mils' brother I believe

@Kiwiwomble said in Super Rugby 2025:

@Yeetyaah said in Super Rugby 2025:

@Kiwiwomble said in Super Rugby 2025:

I saw a Classic Sports post with this years crusaders Jersey so im assuming we're not getting new ones this year, same as 2024. A little disappointing as they felt a bit rushed, and i believe they came in late so that makes sense but though we might get something new a year down the track

Most years it's a 2 year jerseys cycle. 96, 97-99, 2000 and 2013 are the only years we didn't. Chiefs are the only exception with a different jersey in 97 compared to their 98/99.

just saw Classic reply with "stay tuned " when asked if they were doing new jerseys next year

I heard they were going to do a Marvel collab same as what the NRL did a few years ago

@reprobate said in Blues 2025:

@brodean said in Blues 2025:

@reprobate said in Blues 2025:

@Duluth said in Blues 2025:

Won SR and briefly became an All Black. With the lack of genuine interest from these selectors the choice was basically made for him

If there's 50/50 selection calls the Blues have to make this year I think they should go against the guy leaving

If you make the All Blacks for the first time (and it was the first time you deserved to), and the guys ahead of you are significantly older with one of them looking well past it, but you decide to cash in and go to France immediately...
That's on Harry, not the selectors.

edited: just to say that I feel a bit sick having defended the idiots.

At the end of the day most people want to be rewarded for a job well done and get paid their worth. That's clearly not happening with players like Havili and Blackadder getting special treatment off the back of little play in a losing team.

I'm talking about Plummer only. If, when rated as the 3rd best 10 in NZ, he has the attitude that he's being undervalued so much that he has no option to leave - on the back of one decent but hardly amazing Super season - I'd be surprised and disappointed.
Guys like Sotutu, even Riccitelli on the other hand - they've been absurdly under-rated by the selectors. Oh and I guess every outside back not named Fihaki too.

Hoskins has advised the Blues that 2025 season will be his last in NZ

@nzzp said in All Blacks v France:

Wha'ts the status of EB and Dalts? Both still injured? And with the squad?

The ABs kept DP on the same RTP rehab program for a cpl week's when hes felt he should've progressed quicker.
Hasn't been getting much coms & been left in the dark. Razors basically ghosted him.
He had a feeling a cpl week's ago he wouldn't be going over.

And still not the front (back) page main story in the Herald today 🙄
Instead it's about the All Black's bench 🙄🙄

@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2025:

@frugby Can confirm Manson has been promised atleast a bench spot.

What does that even mean? He'll get first shot at the bench?
He's promised bench spot for the whole season?
So even if he's shite he'll still be on the bench?
That's pretty arse if that's how they've 'enticed' him to sign

Just heard Sefo Kautai IS Landers bound

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2025:

I have updated the squad list at the top of this thread to include Perofeta and Tuifua who are rumoured to be on there way to the Canes.

You can add Ere Enari to the list

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2025:

google tells me he's S & C coach for Highlanders and Otago

He was....
New (old) S&C coach Andrew Beardmore incoming.
JJ getting his old Sgt at arms back into the fold...and the boys are shiting themselves apparently.

@Daffy-Jaffy hearing Heem may be forced into retirement due to injury

@brodean Lam is a top shelf wing and played awesome for the Blues at the back end of SR at 12.
Telea had probably his best season as a pro at 13 in SR.
Why TF did we never see a Lam 12, Telea 13 combo?

We should try and lock in Jack Howarth.

@Landers92 yup. Plummer on the bench.

@pakman BB and Rieko are the only Blues players this week. There's a little bit of sauce.

@Bovidae is there such a thing as ball tampering in rugby? Ha

Wow! Anyone see what Kemara was doing just before that scrum??
That's gotta be the most hail Mary thing in the history of rugby