I'm upset and pissed off that we lost, but nothing like 95 99 03 07. I think this feels different because

• Back to back means we sleep well, no matter what, the monkey is well and truly off our back

• that was a hell of an English performance. We could have got up, but would have been something special. In the past, we've bene beaten by teams that are really not on the same level, dodgy reffing, food poisoning, or choking.

• We knew this wasn't a vintage side. Losing 6 all time greats after 2015, a lot of people thought we'd be lucky to be a 50/50 chance going into the tourney. A year ago we got showed where we were - last week aside, that's pretty much where we were This wasn't a great side, it was a decent outfit with some very good players in it. Perth, Chicago, Dublin, Lions 2+3 --> we're ahead, but only just

• England really put out something special. They arced up, and we just couldn't lift to match them. Getting owned all over the park does happen sometimes, and if it does you have to cop it.

Still frustrated, but not as angry or upset as I have been. Here's to the future, thanks to Shag for the good times, and roll on the rest of the knockouts

Edit: this is also the cycle where we have seen how badly the player drain has hurt us. Piutau, Luatua, Faumauina, Vito - just a few who would have made a difference

Well, damn that is great. A reasonably full Eden Park, no rain, a victory, happy days. Relaxing quietly at home now after a big afternoon out. Really stoked for teh team, and particularly the coaches - turning around a dysfunctional organisation is a big deal.

Highlanders are exceptional at covering their weaknesses. Their scrum was getting pasted, but only conceded one scrum penalty -a nd managed to win one back. Blues couldn't ram that advantage home.

Blues ruck work was outstanding, protecting the ball except for a 20 minute period where we tried to give the game to the 'landers. Really, though, the Highlanders didnt' show much on attack except where they were winning back to back penalties from the ref.

I'm delighted for Plummer, who really stepped up and kicked the clutch kicks. The first (from near the sideline) was a terrible choice - we had the highlanders out on their feet, they were passive, just standing and watching the Blues run at them ... so naturally we kicked the penalty :| No words.

Blues should have won by a thowsand, but a win is a win. Monkey off back, can't wait for next year. Beaudy at 10 will make a difference, and an extended offseason for Leon to work on the 9s will be important.

Delighted to win, such a big releif. I've been a season ticket holder for 13 seasons ,and there's been a lot of shawshank before the redemption. So stoked right now.

Well, so we coughed one up at home. I know there is a lot of wailing and gnashign of teeth - mainly to be fair in the media - but this wasn't anything to get too upset about I reckon.

The Bokke brought a good physical game, and were fully committed. That said, we ripped them apart, scored 6 tries, and made the game look easy at times. It was our farking defence and decision making that really cost us that win; goalkicking could have burgled it, but fark me, 6 tries and you lose?

BBBR is our critical player. What a sensation - you only really see quite how dominant he is in every part of the game when he's gone. Don't forget the much vaunted Canterbury talent identification system passed him over, so he wombled off to the North.

Anyhoo, I really enjoyed the test. A great contest, and nothing in it right to the end. And, as I said, you'd say the ABs played pretty poorly at times, well below their standards, and the Boks played pretty well as well as they can. Result: we lose.

Things I liked

• Dyanti running around people. What an offensive weapon
• Physical commitment around the paddock
• Beaudy's wee pass up to his brother for the early try. What hands - that's worth 5 of the points he left out there
• Refs who let the game go -- while there's an argument for pedantic whistling, it's a much better watch with open running rugby
• Josh Goodhue's impact coming on. That guy is doing all he can to push for a long career in black. Remember - he's the same age as ALB; shows the real youth kicking around the team
• Ben Smith. At 32. Fark me, just made so many metres, so many good decisions. Awesome.
• Teams that don't act like muppets to each other, and will have a beer afterwards. It's what Rugby's about - I'm biased, but you don't have to be a bunch of wazzers to win at the top level (looking at you, Australia)

Things I didn't like so much

• Goalkicking (obvs)
• JB's fast throw to bounce somewhere near some Bokke. Reminded me of Billy Slater's biff back into the field of play in the League RWC Final. You only do that if you don't respect your opponents deeply, and think you'll win no matter what. I don't think he'll do that again soon
• Some of the offside calls (from teh couch anyway) -- very relaxed
• Looooooong advantage. I'm old school for this, but with modern defences that just don't fall apart, I reckon it's 2-3 phases and then back for the penalty. Otherwise you just burn time and don't actually advance the game
• Losing
• Not having good 6 cover on the bench for when Liam gets injured.

Thoroughly good game, disappointing result, but I wasn't gutted - just a bit flat. Still slept like a baby, and I really think we're on the right track with this side.

Blues just emailed and the tickets to teh final are free for members. Well played.

I'm going to assemble a posse anyway - 18 long years, we'll take a group, preload and exert our white middle class influence on the place

well, shit I'm still steaming.

I'm pissed, and the reason is that all of this was called in advance. Players picked out of position, poor game plan and dumb rugby - everything we feared about Foster's All Blacks. We had better players than Australia, but they were clearly better coached and it showed. Up for it? Not sure we were in the same way.

Positives
Cane was outstanding. If you wanted a leader look at that bastard. Worked his guts out.
Defence was really solid. Some freakish tries (following interesting ref calls) to get there.
Um, I'm struggling after that

Negatives
Players out of position killed us. Jordie, Ardie, Goodhue in particular
Forwards were good without being dominant
Mo'unga chose a bad time to shit the bed.
Gameplan was terrible (what gameplan), and the lack of rugby nous in fielding kicks had me yelling at the TV. Seriously, with the wind behind them, how the hell do you let a farking dropout from the 22 go over your head, and basically gift Aus 40 m and possession. My. Head. Exploded.
Lack of a dropgoal at the end. Have we learned nothing from SA a few years ago? Seriously? FFS people, get better

We did well living on scraps, offense looked great in the first 40. Rieko needs to learn how to put the ball down.
Unlike @tim I'm OK with Frizzel; he just smashed into people all night.

Argh, I'm really annoyed. Win here was important. God knows we need to get up next week

@Bovidae said in Refuge for the positive.....:

@Chris said in Refuge for the positive.....:

The coaches are my concern I think the players are in confusion in what we are trying to achieve.
You think with Hansens experience he will strip the game plan back and give the players positive direction to get some confidence in them.
If that happens we spank the wallabies and win the WC.

To put a positive spin on the current situation, that was the talk in the leadup to the 2015 RWC where the ABs weren't impressive in the pool games. We later found out what was happening behind the scenes with inter-squad games etc.

KEEPING OUR POWDER DRY!

Righto, a belated match report.

I left early, with 20 to go. My mate decided he'd rather walk down Sandringham road than watch that bunch of overpaid munters try to play any more. I can handle losing, but stuffed if I'm going to sit there and watch supposed professionals just look hopeless and disorganised.

The team is a shambles. THere are occasions where the defensive line sets, and they look good, but it is a flash of mediocrity in a sea of shambles. Honestly, I'm shaking my head at the state of this so called team. We just look disorganised, disconnected, directionless and dire.

I got a coffee at half time. It's a metaphor for the whole organised - three people trying to serve coffee, looking surprised that people came to get a hot drink on a cold night, and serving so slowly that it took nearly 10 minutes - with no queue. Honestly, those staff would cost $60 per hour, and they can't be making any money. Shambolic and poorly trained - just like the Blues.

Righto, so proper comments. In no particular order:

• Pulu must pass faster off the ruck. Slowish passes just let defences line us up.

• Three years in and we still ahve no discernable game plan. Fair play, JK didn't have one either, but I'm buggered if I know what we're trying to do.

• Maul defence and offence is the worst in the comp I think. It was like watching me trying to dunk - no matter how optimisitic I am, I'm still a white guy, and I'm not tall enough or atheletic enough to slam one down. Every single time we kicked to the corner, we coughed it up. Insane. Optimistic, but insane.

• Refs don't help us, but they aren't why we're losing. I just don't know what the hell is an offense in rugby any more - tipping players is OK now? Running a maul ove rthe line and collapsing it - with Rebesl in from the side? That's no try, and no worries maaaate.

• Perofeta is a problem, but not the problem. Our problems start up front and don't stop until you get to 15. When the hell we got a powder puff forward pack that can't play set pieces, I don't know. Fark me it's frustrating. We not only have no rugby intelligence, we don't seem to have any muscle either.

• Akira looks tired and maybe a bit out of condition. If I were him I'd be seriously considering playing somewhere else to get better coaching.

• We just lost to a team taht i couldn't honestly identify more than one or two players. At home. Where we haven't won all year. In a ground that just got redeveloped, and yet isn't fit for purpose. FML.

• Weak weak tackling at times lets in tries. It's embarassing for professionals.

Look, I sound bitter, but deep down I'm optimistic about life. When we start winning games it's going to be so sweet - and if we can keep talent for a few years, a decent coach could build a team here. BUT I don't think that's Tana, and I don't think that's the current board.

I'm out. Frustrated, cracked a bottle of aussie shiraz - it's not as bitter as I am tonight

@Darren said in Next AB captain?:

No question it will be Whitelock.

Absolutely. Luke's a solid player.

@nzzp said in All Blacks v Springboks:

Thoroughly good game, disappointing result, but I wasn't gutted - just a bit flat. Still slept like a baby, and I really think we're on the right track with this side.

Also, things I don't like: Justin Farking Marshall. That fella needs to get a lawbook sometime,and talk to some referees. Honestly, most times he opens his mouth he is flat out wrong.

Poor commentators lead to misinformation being widely spread in the casual rugby watching public. This is not good for the game, because (wider) it's always hometown bullshit. Example today in the Ferald: missed refs call costs All Blacks game. It's that shit - we lost because of our defence; blaming the ref gets you where the Wallabies are now; not owning their issues.

Morning after thoughts from watching from the best seats in the house yesterday, albeit a little damp

SBW was outstanding. Ran really well, but contributed massively on defence. He is such a physical specimen, skillset good, you can see why the TWM want him in their squad. Played his way onto the plane - and convinced a heap of people who doubted the selectors ongoing faith in him.

Kicking game was simply magnificent. Only a couple of poorly executed kicks, but we generally found space and kicked really well. Kudos to the lads for that, turned round their big wingers and made them look ordinary.

Defence just went to antoher level. Noticeable aggression and was like running into walls a ttimes. Good to see, the physicality wasn' tthere last week. Nic White got covered well, once his running wasn't a surprise, it didn't work. Big shout outs to KR and SBW in this area.

Handling was exceptional. Focussed and intense; it was cold and wet out there - as wet as I've got at Eden Park in the last 10-15 years. Some downpours were that classic big auckland raindrops, that just saturate. Field held up well.

Scrum dominant from the seats we were in. Both Cheika and Hansen spoke about it in the pressers - looks like we figured out what they were doing to us last week, and came up with a fix (by the sound of it, setting close to the opposition to eliminate any semblence of a hit). Good, but needs to be dealt with on the field for the RWC.

Wings - both played well. I think Bridge was better than Reece with positioning and skills work. Some nervy moments when both he and Beaudy were going for the same high ball, but calls got sorted and they didn't stuff up. Attack went as well as you saw.

ALB continues to impress me. Needs a bigger bopper at 12 I reckon, but what a talent.

Crowd was in fine voice. Plenty of voice, plenty of vocal support. Our reputation as a library is probably not deserved any more... we're not shy of getting stuck in now. Would have felt pretty hostile. 3 minutes to go Aussies were leaving, and the whole north stand stood up and farewelled them. Quality.

Refereeing. Well, it's a tough game to referee, but there are real issues with consistency and quality of refs at the international level. Forget the YC, the offsides and side entries to the ruck just frustrate me week after week for both sides. It's a lottery, sometimes you get pinged, sometimes we don't. One time in the scond half with the ABs exiting inside their 22, the entire Wallaby defensive line was halfway up the ruck and no farks were given by the entire refereeing team. Ya just wonder... if it's a chargedown try, they'll review and disallow - otherwise it's just 'whatevs, play on'.

The other one that exploded my head was the blatant horror call on the restart not going 10. FFS Jaco, if they play at it then it doesn't matter how far it goes. There is no place on earth where that's a scrum restart, just a horror application of the laws. It's up there with 'we have a deal', without (thankfully) the impact.

Anyway, great night to be out, proud and delighted for teh ABs and supporters, roll on the RWC.

@machpants said in All Blacks EOYT 2021:

Fixed it, he a lock in until RWC IMO, and a real leader

Careful - the last captain we locked in to the RWC fell off a cliff with form

@mariner4life said in NFL Season 2020/21/22:

@nzzp said in NFL Season 2020/21/22:

@mariner4life said in NFL Season 2020/21/22:

Derrick Henry is really big and really fast.

35 km /h, and 108 km/h. Ridiculous. Forget trying to tackle him.

thing is, he has a side step to go with it. He's insane.

Imagine him at 12?

distribution skills would be pants.

Wing, on the other hand...

look, in a sport full of elite athletes, he makes people look like schoolboys regularly. It's remarkable. I don't know how long he'll dominate, but I love watching him play

@mariner4life said in NFL Season 2020/21/22:

Patriots managed to take the Cowboys to OT (Trevon Diggs has 6 interceptions in 5 games)

Fun game, Jones could be a pretty good QB. Receivers weren't great, and the defence was terrible, but he played pretty well. Belichek always does this - pulls a bunch of no-names, and builds them into some sort of decent defence by the end of the year. Could be one loss too many so far though.

There are very few dud teams, adn a whole lot of good games out there. This has been one of the best seasons I can remember so far.

Loving Aaron Rodgers trash talking the fans - don't taunt the players, taunt the fanbase!

@mariner4life said in NFL Season 2020/21/22:

Derrick Henry is really big and really fast.

35 km /h, and 108 km/h. Ridiculous. Forget trying to tackle him.

thing is, he has a side step to go with it. He's insane.

@voodoo said in Memes:

Either way, it's cold, sub-4.5% alcohol, and that bloke is about to enjoy 15 of them.

and probably drive somewhere

@voodoo said in Coronavirus - Australia:

Admissions to hospital in New South Wales have dipped to the lowest they have been in two months as the state records 273 COVID-19 cases and four deaths

Jeez, might just be something in this vaccination thingee

simple, once you're injected, they control your brain, and stop you socialising ... so therefore Covid can't transmit. Wake up sheeple!

@canefan said in Coronavirus - New Zealand:

@nzzp said in Coronavirus - New Zealand:

94 new cases today. We're on track to crack a hundred really soon. This is going sideways even at L3.whatever

We have a long way to go to catch up with Melbourne's 2000 or so a day. Soon infected people won't be sent to hotels around the city because they will all be full

what @mariner4life said - it really doesn't take long to cycle 20/100/500/2500. They were here a few weeks ago.

I'm also sadly not surprised. Delta is here to stay, L4 won't wipe it out, L3 is barely controlling it. If we're not talking about flattening the curve, we're deluding ourselves ... the options are Delta now, or Delta later I fear.

94 new cases today. We're on track to crack a hundred really soon. This is going sideways even at L3.whatever

@mn5 said in Coronavirus - New Zealand:

Prices are ridiculous at the moment and due to get worse. I’m so fucken thankful I have a fuel card but it’s very sad that this is a genuine financial burden for some people.

Inflation hasn't been part of our life for so long people seem to have forgotten what it does. It's brutal, particularly for low income earners. It can destroy an economy... I see Venezuela just dropped six zeros off their currency ... makes accounting easier, but damn! Economies matter, and we can wreck them with bad policies and good intentions.

@kiwiwomble said in Happiness Scale:

...we like Melbourne a lot, i can move with my job so thats no issue

Key question is probably how you'll both fare in a new, small city. 200k is a massive difference with 5M in Melbourne. That said, there are pros and cons - if you're a self starter who likes getting outdoors, then smaller can be better. If you love lots of variety in restaurants, nightlife, etc, then it'll start to grate quite quickly.

I always wanted to live rural, but realised after a few years in the city that actually the things I enjoyed were linked to big city life - access to lifestyle, people, events, etc. You can do it all rural - but you have to be really determined and make an effort.

So really, weigh up the commuting, house buying, lifestyle tradeoffs. I think there's a lot to be said for living in smaller centres, and being able to get around. You have to be comfortable with a reduced variety of experiences though (that Melbourne sporting complex is truly world class, for instance).

Good luck - and whatever you choose will be the right decision for you I'm sure!