The Silver Fern

Stevenson off to Japan.

Jared Wright  /  Dec 9  /  New Zealand

All Blacks back makes 'bombshell' move 'effective immediately' after Scott Robertson snub

After being snubbed by All Blacks boss Scott Robertson, Chiefs star Shaun Stevenson has left New Zealand effective immediately before the 2025 season.

Poop. James Lowe like kicking and brilliant at putting people into space. Shit defender, yeah, but most current AB back three are

@Trig said in NZ and World Rugby Awards 2024:

Was Damian McKenzie really the worlds best first 5 this year.

I would have Albornoz and M Smith (despite his apparent tackling inability) ahead of him

Happy for Lomax! DMac,Marx and Jordan not even close this year

poor defence from Wilson there. That should not have become a try

what annoyed me a bit there was that the ref obviously only looked at it again because a) the crowd was booing and b) the Scot acted like a soccer player. Ref saw it live and waved it away but felt he had to make sure his decision was correct and went to the TMO. Don't really blame him but annoys me nevertheless

Good refereeing.

At least Havili will get out of this game with his head held high, having decresed his intercept rate

@African-Monkey said in Italy v All Blacks:

@KiwiMurph said in Italy v All Blacks:

This game will really convert the locals to rugby.....

Reminds me a bit of the Italy test in Milan in 2009.

Except the scrums went the other way around and Crockett got raped

@African-Monkey said in Italy v All Blacks:

This Italy scrum is shit.

To be fair, AB scrum is probably joint best scrum in the world with Boks.

Ref doesn't care about players rolling away or not. Italy taking full advantage. ABs aren't

Italy are motivated but a bit over eager. Will fatigue a lot and are shit with the ball. ABs are just shit and Robertson has been a very, very bad boy.

@sparky said in Italy v All Blacks:

Let's be honest, how many of these current All Blacks are either the best player or the second best player in their position in the world?

Not many.

Lomax & Taylor (I gave Taylor lots of shit during the Corona years but he's been excellent recently)

@No-Quarter said in Italy v All Blacks:

We all looking forward to the impact Havili will bring from the bench? Such an inspired selection

Need to make sure to be up by at least 8 before giving Havinterceptli the ball

@Darth-Sader said in Italy v All Blacks:

Also, time will tell whether Barrett is a captain.

Time has told and it said nah

Fun start, ITaly coming to play, Roigard having an absolute shitter so far

@Bones said in Italy v All Blacks:

In theory, Havili should be better suited to 13 with his skill set, but outside a player like Lam/McLeod....

Throwing intercepts and kicking cross field into touch were skills Conrad Smith didn't need during his tenure as best centre in the world

Robertson started the year disappointing me and ended it alike.

Learnings:

• Don't sub Roigard at 51 minutes if there's no need, Robertston you cock
• Don't take the three (which wasn't even a super easy kick) when you're down by 4 with 5 mins to go while dominating the set piece, Scott you dick
• Don't have Scott Barrett be captain, Robertson you wang
• Don't have Beauden Barrett take any kicks for touch, Robertson you penis. He just can't do it properly. They are so shit.
• Don't let these random neck roll calls come from a TMO, World Rugby you shafts. They are annoying as fuck and so inconsistent it isn't funny. There was a clear neck roll on A Savea shortly before the French first try
• Don't tackle with your head first into a player's knee, Samipeni you prong
• Don't let Will Jordan near a rugby ball if he's on your team, unless he scores immediately thereafter, Robertson you rod

The referee was intent on coaching the offendig players at the ruck instead of blowing his whistle. Very poor display. Add to that his penchant of calling "use it" immediately after the ruck has formed, and that was a very bad performance from him.
Even test match between two good teams. Taking three at 75 minutes was an unbelievably stupid decision.

don't go for a shot here, noooo