The Silver Fern

@Victor-Meldrew only after he was secretly filmed saving a kitten.

Those are the guys who should be most comfortable speaking truthfully, but won't, younger guys like Love, Lakai, Proctor etc al won't be able to speak truthfully of the process for fear of upsetting someone.

@pakman said in Bokke vs Ireland:

I don't believe JvdF makes a huge difference, as Kolisi isn't huge, but the first half did make me wonder how good Sheehan is at scrum time.

I think people overstate how much a good scrum is just down to props. Hooker is also very key, and Argentinians used to consider more important than LH. TH lock absolutely crucial, and LH becomes very key if down to seven men.

On the importance of the hooker front, it was noticeable in Boks 2 that ABs started to push Boks back when McAlister replaced Taukei'aho. Mind you, at that stage we had three locks in scrum and RG had played 50 minutes, which is long for him!

I agree that the unwashed punditry generally overemphasize individual props when discussing scrum performance. All 8 have a role to play, especially if like Ireland your props are weak as Yank piss.

My point re JvdF & the Irish hookers is that they’re luxuries that can only be accommodated because the Irish front row has not been properly policed. If they start to be then relatively mobile Irish props would start practicing their throwing and JvdF should, at least for matches involving SA, NZ & France, expect to find himself riding the pine to allow a bigger body to man the pumps early doors.

@antipodean said in 14. 2025 TOTY RIGHT WINGER:

Jordan. Name a right winger that has more tries. Cuts teams open for fun. Is so good he doesn't have to pass to others nor worry about skills other wingers need to be in the discussion.

If LRZ played for NZ he’d be on a similar trajectory

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks MOTM v Wales:

@antipodean said in All Blacks MOTM v Wales:

@Toddy said in All Blacks MOTM v Wales:

Rieko was poor. Was it two bad defensive reads leading to two tries

No. If he hadn't turned in when Holland was coming across the attacker likely wouldn't have passed and his momentum would've got him well over the line.

The other I'd have to recheck - I think that's the one he turned in because it was the "world's best fullback" next to him.

That was a poor read and he didn’t trust the inside (who had the ball carrier covered).

Other than those, he was pretty solid.

While I agree that he should have stayed on his man, after watching it a couple of times I don't think it was conclusive at the time he turned in that WJ was going to get the attacker - he only really scragged him.

And 100% agree with your following post.

Thought I should post this as nobody else will - the final leaderboard for Superbru NPC. Super Rugby table is below, well done to @Joan-and-Mary

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@MN5 I have 2 eps to go, and moving along at a decent pace.

Also been watching S2 of Peacemaker, enjoyable stuff.

Gotta say poor old Cena doesnt look like he will move to freely in 10 or so years.

Thought I'd give some CPR to this thread.

As per usual life threw me another hospital pass (probably more a spear tackle) earlier this year. Doing well considering but it's one of those things that will hit forever.

Anyway, training has been my safe space and saviour and diet is pretty darn good too. Have reigned in the silly cheat days although had an insane obsession with watermelon recently. It was 69 cents a kg!!! Now the price is up I'm avoing it but damn....I would putting away like 2 of those things a week.

Anyway Anyway, still looking for that elusive balance but getting there. Dating once again which has served up some great fun but also more weirdos than usual. It's frustrating and extremely sad rocking up a date and seeing their profile pic was from 10 years prior and 10-15kg lighter. Seriously? But these days I have a healthy case of not giving much of a shit. Women (at least the ones on the apps) are a mystery wrapped in an enigma. I've been called too nice, too fit, not proactive enough (for giving space and being open to work around their busy schedules), not serious, too serious.
Ah well. At least I have my health! Went to a 30 year school reunion the other day and that freaked me out. So many fat old men there. Reminded me that I have to keep this up for as long as I can. Damn

Attempting to do AM and PM sessions every day. Son is in last year of school and smashing it so have quite alot of time these days. Hopefully ramp up the swimming when summer hits.

@Nepia It would be more relevant if there was a home and away breakdown. It has not escaped my attention that BoP hold the honour for the worst flogging suffered!