The Silver Fern

Can't really see anyone getting past the Blues, just a solid, well - coached team with a smart gameplan that gets results.
Chiefs and Canes will be close, but the gameplan relys a little too much on X factor to get results rather than a solid gameplan.

@African-Monkey Yeah when the local commentator takes one look and says "Oh - that'll be disallowed" and then the goal still stands you know somethign isn't quite right.

Shocking miss form the defender on the cross though, but glad they snaffled a point at the end. Compelling stuff!!

Maybe it's a clause that SS wanted? Give himself one more crack at making the AB's in 2025??

Because yes from an NZR perspective it's odd to have special clauses for someone that isn't even in the wider training squad.

@Bovidae So the Chiefs will get 1 more year out of him by the looks of it. Such a pity he didn't kick on in 24, it was his year to make a real push for the AB's and he just failed to materalise

@canefan said in EPL 2024/2025:

I see David Moyes has returned to Everton as coach. IMHO he did his best work there, they love him, probably should never have left

I genuienly felt sorry for Moyes (though this is recalling acient history) he always seemed to be able to wring the best our of Everton's limited roster (especially compared to what Man U had at the time) and I thought he was a great replacement for Sir Alex.

But the poor guy got crucified there and to be fair in the fullness of time it's not like any other manager has gotten remotely close to the glory days for Man U since Sir Alex.

Anyway if he does return to Everton I wish him well.

Well it was always going to be the case really, Sky would have over-paid for the last deal to ensure that they get the broadcasting rights as their own business model would die if they don't have the rugby (and I believe they'd already lost the cricket to Spark sport?)

Now that Spark sport is dead Sky can do the right thing by their sharholders and squeeze the price on the deal, as we have noted - it's not like theres anyone else fighting for the rights atm?

Don't follow NFL too much but in regards to the coach's being axed do they genuinely bring in new talent or is it more of a coaching merry-go-around where all the established coach's just swap franchises with each other?

I think part of the Toeava hate came from him becoming synomous with the All Blacks ability to choke on the world stage. The absolute "possum in the headlights" look of panic on his face as he got subbed onto the field in that infamous 1/4 final against France made him the poster boy for All Black mental fraility.

Probably a bit of a been asleep at the wheel question but has a replacment for McDonald actually been named or looked for? Or his duties just been absorbed into the rest of the coaching group?

Bought it up with a 6 as well, classy!

@delicatessen As long as he's not getting out thats the main thing

When was the last time the AB slectors picked on form? 2015?? It almost seems like but a distant memory...

It's a pity Shane Bond didn't have a longer career, at his peak he was easily amoung the best in the world but his lack of longevity makes him one of those "if onlys".

It's just depressing seeing the AB's play test after test at the graveyard of dreams/competency that is Wellington

@canefan said in All Blacks 2024:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024:

@dogmeat said in All Blacks 2024:

It's more his intransigence and apparent lack of coaching nous that concerns me.

That is what has really surprised me.

Always thought he'd struggle initially (despite his fluffers claiming there was no difference in SR Test coaching) and take a few Tests to come right, but the continuing inconsistency and lack of player development together with his hankering for mediocre overseas players - at the end of the season - has been really unexpected.

His reputation for being a players' coach, and an innovator have not been apparent. Yet. Watched Scott Hansen on Aotearoa Rugby Pod last night. Boy he spouts some shit when you actually listen. It's all layers, and shit

Yeah I saw that as well and was throughly underwhelmed, one of those guys that says a lot of words but doesn't say anything of substence or insight. Also couldn't look at the camera directly when he was talking his eyes kept rolling to look at the ceiling which is a body tell that while thinking/talking the person is trying to access the creative part to of their brain - or in other words lying.

Still his stocks went up as a used car salesman in my mind.

We can't compare ourselves to SA here.

SA saw an economic oppertunity to shift from SANZAR to the north that fitted with their already exisitng TV audience and could fill the coffers even more, while allowing the flexibility to pick players from overseas (the vast majority of which are playing in the same competition already). It was a win/win scenario for them.

Given NZ teams will not be in the northern hemisphere competion, or our union reaping the financial rewards of being in that competiton all we have set to gain is the loss of our players overseas.

It's not a like for like, or apt comparision.

I think the Aussies have got their tails up and are building in confidence, their attacking play has been excellent in the last 2 games.
Scotland also like to give the ball some air so I'm expecting a fast paced and entertaining game, I think Aussie will just shade the Scots and keep their grand slam alive.

10 new players, but Sititi is the only one in the starting XV and even then being played out of position to favour the old war horses.

The reluctance to blood new players this year has left me baffled.

The biggest missing piece in the AB's in recent years has been a stubborn insistence to select certain "favourite" players regardless of their form, and not give players that are in good form a shot.

Predictable selections lead to predictable game plans which lead to predictable losses.

Thank goodnes we got in a new, innovative coach to fix this.

This is Fozzie 2.0 - BB is going to be our first 5 at the next RWC?

No innovation, only injury enforced changes and talent such as Soututu, Laki, Love, Lord, Proctor, Plummer all get left behind.