The Silver Fern

@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

Just not an All Black.

That's how I feel about JRK

I'm not sure on whether JRK is there either. I'm just reading on the basis of timing on announcements, and what isn't being stated. I think he has the potential to be a strong 14/15. He just needs an injury free season.

I get the upside potential of JRK - I just worry about his decision making - he seems a bit flaky to me.

He has also made some really impressive decisions. This season especially, he came back into a team that needed him to, not only perform, but potentially perform miracles. That looked like it weighed on him. Hopefully with a more capable 10, there may be less pressure on him. As well as having t Tabgitau alongside him. Plus having someone like Hurley coming on with 30 minutes ot go as a miracle worker. JRK can focus on being a good fullback.

@KiwiMurph said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@SouthernMann said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

Just not an All Black.

That's how I feel about JRK

I'm not sure on whether JRK is there either. I'm just reading on the basis of timing on announcements, and what isn't being stated. I think he has the potential to be a strong 14/15. He just needs an injury free season.

There is a strong narrative around refusal to pay talent well, and closed contracts interms of performing elsewhere though...

It isn't just orange man bad.

@sparky said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

I think Leroy Carter is worth a shot on the Wing, but I've no idea if he's in the selectors thinking. He's raw but he's got potential.

Clarke's out of from.
Tangitau is injured.
Telea is going offshore.
Reece is in decline.
Jordan is a fullback these days.
Not sure JRK is Test quality.
Not sold on Fihaki.
Narawa's not really busy enough for me. But he might be worth another go.

Thin pickings on the wing.

They are probably really selective of who the debutants/new players are. There is a bit to read into contract re-signings/lengths. Carter has been great. Especially at the end of a quality backline. He is a speciality winger though. If they view Tangitau is a better option. There is enough coverage to not have to blood another debutant. JRK is a 14/15. He hasn't had the opportunity to play on the wing. I think Carter is similar to a Tavatavanawai top quality player. Just not an All Black.

What says to me JRK is right in there is the timing of his re-signing announcement and the period it is for. It was at the same time as several other All Blacks were being announced and for three years. Most other Super players just get re-signed for 1 - 2 years.

In a hardly surprising turn of events. If you are not a main event fighter. Life is pretty shit in the UFC

@nzzp said in Did the new Dunedin stadium make the Highlanders/Otago soft?:

@SouthernMann said in Did the new Dunedin stadium make the Highlanders/Otago soft?:

Also Forsyth Barr is not warm. It may not be wet. But the stadium is not warm. If it is 4c outside during an evening game. It is 4c inside the stadium. Only time it can be is when the team plays afternoon games and it gets the glasshouse effect. Not many of those though.

Still air - and humans pump out about 100W each. 10,000 people = 1MW of heating. It must be warmer inside than out.

Certainly in the stands. Not at ground level with massive gaps at the corners for the nice southerly to blow through.

I'm not too worried about locking stocks. Between Holland, Dunshea and Tengblad you have strong primary locks. Stodart and Haig are big enough as well. Not a problematic spot. We just can't run Holland into the ground.

@brodean said in Did the new Dunedin stadium make the Highlanders/Otago soft?:

@gt12 said in Did the new Dunedin stadium make the Highlanders/Otago soft?:

@brodean said in Did the new Dunedin stadium make the Highlanders/Otago soft?:

@gt12 said in Did the new Dunedin stadium make the Highlanders/Otago soft?:

@brodean said in Did the new Dunedin stadium make the Highlanders/Otago soft?:

@gt12

Where are the results for the last 8 years?

Linked above, but since you asked, they aren't actually that bad at home.

This year sucked (as did 2022) but before that they were still a better chance to win at home than not.

2025: 2/5 (29%)
2024: 4/3 (57%)
2023: 4/3 (57%)
2022: 2/5 (29%)
2021: 3/0 (100%)
2020: 2/2 (50%)
2019: 4/1/3 (50%)

BTW, your premise is:

Carisbrook was known as the house of pain and it was tough to win down there.
The new stadium doesn't have the same rep.

Not that bad but not that good either.

Yes. I don't think the new stadium has the same reputation as Carisbrook as being a place tough to win at. Do you disagree with that?

Yeah, it's a shit take.

Carisbrook was a shithole and teams hated playing there, but that wasn't necessarily because of the quality of the Landers teams and whether they could get a win or not. It was just a freezing shithole.

That's my point that the freezing shithole gave them an edge and made them tougher. It may have been a freezing shithole but it was their freezing shithole.

The current crop of players don't have the same kind of edge. You show some great results in the mid 10's but a bunch of those players were probably forged at Carisbrook.

You have been proved wrong with stats and results.

Also Forsyth Barr is not warm. It may not be wet. But the stadium is not warm. If it is 4c outside during an evening game. It is 4c inside the stadium. Only time it can be is when the team plays afternoon games and it gets the glasshouse effect. Not many of those though.

Also, they get one training session there per game week. Every other session is run at Logan Park. Outside. Potentially in the rain and wind.

Then players who aren't in match day squads. Head off to their clubs for training nights. Off to shitty Shark Park, Hancock, down to Port Chalmers. About 200 minutes of stadium time, give or take a week. Isn't the deciding factor.

Fluffybunny thread.

@brodean said in Did the new Dunedin stadium make the Highlanders/Otago soft?:

@gt12 said in Did the new Dunedin stadium make the Highlanders/Otago soft?:

@brodean said in Did the new Dunedin stadium make the Highlanders/Otago soft?:

@gt12

Where are the results for the last 8 years?

Linked above, but since you asked, they aren't actually that bad at home.

This year sucked (as did 2022) but before that they were still a better chance to win at home than not.

2025: 2/5 (29%)
2024: 4/3 (57%)
2023: 4/3 (57%)
2022: 2/5 (29%)
2021: 3/0 (100%)
2020: 2/2 (50%)
2019: 4/1/3 (50%)

BTW, your premise is:

Carisbrook was known as the house of pain and it was tough to win down there.
The new stadium doesn't have the same rep.

Not that bad but not that good either.

Yes. I don't think the new stadium has the same reputation as Carisbrook as being a place tough to win at. Do you disagree with that?

Shit take. Our teams have generally been poor/mid level. The results reflected the capability of the players.

As said earlier. Carisbrook was a cold, shithole. The last few years of it were bloody bleak.

No.

Highlanders in 2010 won three games. Last season in 2011 they won eight from 18.

Otago's last season at Carisbrook finished deadliest with two wins.

There have been good seasons and bad at the stadium. the team still trains outside. Dirt trackers still play club rugby in Dunedin in shit conditions.

Carisbrook was a cold, isolated shithole of a stadium. Good ridence.

Question is how do you change the momentum from signing top quality players for 1 - 3 years. To a more sustainable approach. The current one with is great for building excitement. It just means that the capability and performance of the team is likely to swing wildly from year to year.

@Bovidae said in School Rugby 2025:

Some midweek games:

Wellington College 15-16 St Pat’s Silverstream

This game was played in heavy rain with a field that reminded me of 1970s and 1980s rugby in the wet. A very good DG to win it in those conditions.

Southland BHS 43-12 Otago BHS

Palmerston North BHS 38-20 New Plymouth BHS

Interestingly the winger who scored three tries for SBHS is in the Warriors system.

@Steven-Harris said in NPC 2025:

@SouthernMann Not at all Lachlan I believe turned down a big money contract with an Australian team to cut his teeth in NZ

Did Joe Brial plenty of good down in Canterbury.

There is a kid doing it in Dunedin as well. Zach Nicol who was in the midfield for Aussie Schools last year. Didn't make the Landers U20s, and seems to be injured. A curious move none the less.

@Steven-Harris said in NPC 2025:

Hearing Northland have signed the younger brother of Brumbies utility forward Tom Hooper , Lachlan Hooper 21 years old 6’5 112 Kgs
Lachlan who played for Australia U20 in 2023 like his brother can play 6 or lock equally well is considered by many observers in Australia as an outstanding prospect and I believe the Blues and the Highlanders will be keeping a close eye on his progress

We are well known collectors of 6'5 six-locks. He will fit in well with Will Sotdart, Oli Haig, TK Howden and Quinten Holland.

Do the Hooper boys have NZ links?

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2026:

@Bones really? since being involved with a club i've heard several versions of a saying, "first name on a squad list is tight head prop...second name on the squad list is reserve tight head prop"

Like the saying the most important people in hospitals are nurses. Yet, a long way from the highest paid in the health system.

@Tackle-and-Drive said in Highlanders 2026:

@frugby Agree with your comment. It takes time to "grow" front rowers, particularly props. They generally don't reach their peak til mid to late 20s. Its crazy to expect the young guns to be the finished product at this point.

Props, locks and first fives are the most in-demand players in world rugby. Everyone is after them.

I've read the Jacomb name in one speculatory ODT article as well. But, who knows seems from a few stories that reporters lurk around on here and fern rumours pop up in news articles

@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:

@SouthernMann You’re missing the point. As we have seen with Taylor, it takes the young guys time. Can’t keep contracting children.

If you can get the best in class young guy, make the exception, but otherwise just wait. O’Reilly isn’t the answer as the third choice. Guys like that are no good for squad stability.

I'm not missing the point. We are perfectly capable of throwing out other guys who aren’t up to standard. Yet when it is Henry Bell. We stand steadfastly behind him, apparently.

You asked me to list hookers who are better than him. Which I did. Also noting that Vikena is off contract in 2026. If he needs a rocket and doesn't get renewed. We may need to replace two. Surely we would be better off starting with moving Bell on. With Coltman coming back, who knows how much time he gets watching NPC rather than playing.

Better hookers than Bell.

Both the Crusaders U20s boys, O'Reilly, Basson, most provinces have better hookers than Henry Bell. Bell wasn't even the no1 for Otago last season. I know you are loyal to him. But jeez. He did his job for a year in 2024. Time to move on.