The Silver Fern

I could tell we weren't playing South Africa because the game wasn't stopping every 5 minutes for a 130kg prop to get "medical attention".

@virgil said in Convicts v Marxist Land Thieves - Crucket:

Smart move by Warner to face the media for the first time with his wife and girls
Hard to kick him further when he’s holding one of his little girls.

I hate him even more for that. He's effectively using them as a shield. Cowardly tosser.

Had to chuckle that we were criticising the Boks for their bomb tactics but that was literally all we were doing for most of the first half.

Absolutely clueless shit. No depth, no structure. Been the same for a few years now. Guess what? It doesn't work.

Let's keep this civil. As much as I love a good circle jerk, these threads are much better with the Lions fans involved. Don't want them to leave before the tests.

The only consolation is that Akira has been selected. Unfortunately he'll probably be subbed after 20min when Scott Barrett gets sent off.

Its pretty damn horrible that we've gotten to this point. I've always felt the book Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby brilliantly captures the mindset and agony of a hardcore fan. That book is about Arsenal from the 70s and their less than stellar run up until 1990 but I strongly identified with it. I'm sure I probably speak for most of us when I say I was absolutely captivated the first time I saw the ABs play (in my case 1985). I bawled my eyes out when they lost to Aus in 86. I'd hitched my wagon and there was no getting off it. Every loss was absolutely gutwrenching. So obviously there were the periods of agony (world cup drought) and ecstacy, but I don't think I could complain as much as Nick Hornby could about Arsenal in Fever Pitch. They had some absolutely dire times. One part in particular I found impossible to contemplate at the time. There was a stage when Arsenal were so shit and the whole set-up so pathetic, that the fans started cheering for the opposite team en mass. They'd had a gut full of shit results and could no longer give a fůck. I would never believe it but I'm feeling that I'm approaching that stage. I've gone from suffering depression from any loss in any situation to finding a potential loss to Italy amusing. Obviously I'll never cheer on the opposition or want us to lose, but it's amazing how much you lose that passion when excellence turns to mediocrity. When hope and optimism morph into dejection and a type of fatalism. Maybe it had to happen one day and maybe there are more glory days ahead. Maybe I'm just getting older. But I've never given less of a fůck about an AB team that during these past years.

Game was a bit ordinary. Looked like it was going to be 30 nil at half-time, but the yellow card (what the hell was that for?) changed things and then of course the ref kept blowing for tries and then changing his mind. They have to fix this shit. The entire crowd, Reds fans included, went apeshit when he annulled that TJP try. Ultimately people want to be entertained not witness that kind of bullshit. That was goddam farcical.

Anyway result was great and the Canes are a seriously impressive team. J Savea is an utter beast. I won't hear any criticism of the non-fat version. He was Lomu-like tonight. His brother was bloody awesome as well. 8 suits him to the ground. Hope his injury isn't anything serious. Barretts were of course ridiculous. What an incredible double-team. Fark we Canes fans are lucky right now. And I agree with above rating of Proctor. He was all class.

But, while the game was pretty shit, it was a magical evening for a little kid who desperately wanted a selfie with Beauden. I speak not of myself (even though I would very much like one), but my 8 year old son who refused to leave after the game. We were going to wait for TJP who was closest, but we saw BB further away and my son ran in that direction. He managed to sneak forward as only kids can and his day was made.

Seriously what a champion. He gave everything during the game (that dude seriously covers some distance during the course of a game), then immediately had to give interviews. But he then went straight to the crowd and was giving dozens of selfies. He was still doing it when we left, so God knows how long he was out there. A great player and true gentleman. Never thought my man crush could get stronger but it certainly did tonight!

@tim said in All Blacks vs Springboks II:

Havili/ALB midfield lacks a ball carrier. We really could do with a physical 12.

Havili is simply not a top class 12. He's done ok but he's not a long-term solution.

@KiwiMurph said in Australia v All Blacks - Bled I:

@TheMojoman said in Australia v All Blacks - Bled I:

@KiwiMurph said in Australia v All Blacks - Bled I:

@TheMojoman said in Australia v All Blacks - Bled I:

Cam is the 3rd option. Let him develop as such. Unless he can be outstanding and give us something we don’t have now I’d stick with Smith/Christie.

Roigard offered something different to Christie last night. His speed and accuracy of pass was a huge reason the ABs didnt have their typical late game fade.

20mins against a fading Wallaby side down to 14 for most of that time probably isn’t a great benchmark. I think we should get away from the whole “shiny new object” whenever someone has a good cameo.

They’ve invested time into Christie. He’s performed well and now has the experience. I’d feel more comfortable with Christie coming on in a big game behind Smith rather than a raw Roigard.

This isn't shiny new toy stuff. I've watched Roigard and Christie both play twice live this year and the difference between the two is stark. The mechanics of Roigard's game are superior to Christie. He's a far more accurate passer, he's a far better kicker, he's a better sniper and he makes far fewer errors.

I have no doubt you are correct and Christie is penciled in as the bench 9 for the big games but I don't agree with it.

Most importantly, he's also not a ginga. Those people can never be totally trusted.

@Machpants said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:

@game_film said in All Blacks v Australia - Bledisloe II:

Still think the mindset for this game is to crush the Wallabies. Can’t lose it. One more game, then it’s the B team vs Boks in London. Nobody will care about the result there as it’s just a money game. Wallabies at home in Aaron’s final home game matters though. Turn up for France in the group then they can rotate the rest of the pool stages.

No, that's not the abs attitude. It's the boks, they might take more risks, but they will still care. The same reason that foster is not coach going forward, winning the RWC use great, and the pinnacle, but you can't just be shit in between them.

There won't be too much experimentation, as the abs will have to hit the ground running versus Frances in the next one. There is likely to be a few more versus Oz, as they are an easier beat, imo

Yep. This whole "don't care about the result" thing is the antithesis of what the ABs have always been about. Every game should matter, regardless of the stakes. Even if we win the RWC, all those limp dick losses to Argentina and Ireland will still be a stain on the record. Way too much focus is placed on the RWC. Rugby isn't fŭcking soccer with friendlies and all that shjt.

A team wins by almost 40 points (could easily have been 50) and apparently the ref was a factor? Retarded doesn't do that justice.

One thing I would add, and maybe this is because the ref was Georgian, but that test actually flowed. They didn't review every single farking tackle or movement. I felt I actually watched a game of rugby and not the stop-start-review trash from recent years.

My wife was expecting any day around the 2nd Lions test so going to the pub early in the morning (in Norway) was something of a risk. But thankfully my son stayed put for a few days and I could witness history. What a performance.After that there was pressure from the family to call him Daniel.

Most legendary 10s seem to be brilliant at certain aspects of the game but not everything. Some are amazing kickers and great at controlling the game, but not the best at running (Fox, Botha, Wilkinson). Others are ridiculous with ball in hand but not great at kicking (Carlos, Barrett). But Carter was different. He was brilliant at everything. Easily the best 10 of all time and I’m not sure we’ll ever see another quite like him.

Such a shame he was injured in 2011. He was absolutely on fire. But 2015 was epic. That was him giving a massive fark you to the haters.

He also appears to be an absolute champion bloke and role model. We were so lucky to have him.

@gt12 said in All Blacks v France Test #2:

@taniwharugby

I'm having an afternoon at home today, so I'm planning to watch the game again, but I'd agree that he tends to make tackles, but not necessarily dominant ones. At least, that's my impression. However, I've wondered whether he is like Nayman on the Wire (season 4), where his ridiculous hairstyle makes everything he does so visible. He's clearly one of the players, who has had time invested in him, who hasn't made the next step. However, I agree that he still has the tools if he can be used right. My problem with him right now is that he seems to be hanging around looking for turnovers, when he could have a much simpler role, which is high energy tackles and runs, like a energizer Cane.

Mate, if I had the afternoon off I can think of thousands of better things to do than to watch that dross again.

@Bovidae said in Justin Marshall gone:

Mils isn't an improvement in that role. Slim pickings in the current Sky rugby crew.

They could put a plank of wood on screen and you wouldn't even notice Mils wasn't there.

Stopped watching after the RC. I'd seen this film before. If everything goes 100% right then this team can beat anyone, but are royally fůcked otherwise. Whatever happened to booting the shit out the ball when camped on your line? To win the RWC you have at least one game that's a trench warfare grind fest. I cannot see this team winning a game like that.

@MajorRage said in Campbell Johnstone:

I am so sick of he questioning around if "NZ is ready for a gay All Black".

It's so demeaning to the general population. A bloody socialist was voted in overwhelmingly in the last GE. Why on earth would it not be ready for a gay All Black?

It's pathetic.

Exactly, the general population doesn't give a shit and the few that do would be destroyed for even hinting their disproval. If Ian Roberts can come out in the bogan league environment of the 90s, the idea that a gay AB will face backlash in 2023 is absolutely and utterly absurd.

@jegga said in Bledisloe II:

I’d suggest carrying the weight of the world around us probably more responsible for his aches and pains

Stuff

This happens to pretty much every player reaching in to steal the ball. It happens to Pocock all the time because that's all he farking does. It's quite indicative of the type of player he is that he stands out every time we pump them. In other words when getting hammered he's good at getting his team a little less hammered. Awesome, he made 5 turnovers in a 40 point loss! God forbid he actually make an effective hit up and do something with the ball. Or win a line out.

I can't believe people have the energy to keep this up every day. Pace yourself. You'll need that energy once Schmit is announced as coach.

Proctor was killing it at 13 before he got injured. Definitely first choice 13 (although Jordie seems to be some kind of arsey lucky charm there). He wasn't the best player in the team though. That's taking it too far.