@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2026:

@jimmyb said in All Blacks 2026:
. Razor rang rings around them for years in super rugby and it’s no surprise that if he’s not up to it, the rest won’t be.

Yeah well not according to Crusaders CEO who reckons a lot most it was down to the young talent unearthed by Aaron Webb.
But, as Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge said: “Everyone goes ‘Razor, Razor, Razor’, maybe there should be more ‘Webby, Webby, Webby’.”

Yes, agreed. The crusaders operation ran rings around other organisations. Being better in virtually every aspect of an organisation against your rivals will see you dominate them.

@Crazy-Horse He's only 22 so has a decent ceiling ahead of him as well. Loss of Pledger also opens up the possibility of a Lennox on the bench covering outside bcks, and Pasetoa covering 10 & midfield and then a 6 - 2 split in the forwards.

@Donsteppa said in Ashes 2025/6:

This the bigger Telegraph read referred to in the above:

The inside story of booze-fuelled Ashes tour that divided Stokes and McCullum:
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360922816/inside-story-booze-fuelled-ashes-tour-divided-stokes-and-mccullum

Damning

Brilliant innings from Mitchell gets us a few more than 280.

Actually very happy to stumble upon some news regarding the California Legion - they will be spreading home games throughout the state and will be playing in the Bay area/Sacramento in back to back weekends in May. Will plan on going to both matches.

I'm assuming they are playing around the state as a way of gauging fan interest. Ofc it must be shit for their established fanbase in socal but hopefully the crowds are good enough that at the least they continue to play some matches in Nor cal. Even better would be a permanent team in this part of the state.

Two cracking games today. NFL had been amazing entertainment all season

@mohikamo said in Super Rugby 2026:

Funny that the Horowhenua RFU are the only PU in the region that now has a direct stake in the canes (3%).
All the other PUs are only “stake holders.”
The Horowhenua RFU a little fiscal power-house, who’d have thunk it.

Lol I would mate, been singing their praises for quite some time.
A well run union, books been in the black at last 18 AGMs, and in that time have built own new HQs at the Levin Domain!

Did no one in the Bulls and Bristol teams want to tackle?

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Exodus:

Gloucester Rugby is pleased to announce the signing of hooker, Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia, on a three-month contract. (Injury cover).

A good opportunity. I was surprised he wasn't in the Chiefs WTG again but they chose JJ Pokai.

@Canes4life said in Super Rugby - The Future:

@Dan54 said in Super Rugby - The Future:

@mohikamo said in Super Rugby - The Future:

@Dan54 said in Exodus:

Yep, I want to keep the NPC. Why? Because it probably the best and enjoyable comp in the country. Does it cost NZR money, yep, but I only looking at it as what I want.

Haha
The older ferners can remember when NZ did have a world class domestic rugby comp.
Big crowds, great players, great games.
So sad for the younguns; at least the olduns have the memories.

Mate I pretty keen on our domestic comp now. I prefer to to super.
Not as good as maybe could be, but I find it best we got.
Even that I would be very keen to having (as some have said) 9-10 team comp, or even the old 3 tier system. I also understand why it wouldn't work in this day or professionalism .
I also understand the idea of 9-10 teams in extended Super, but could only work with full rework of world rugby calendar (and perhaps a lot more money) . Perhaps not only moving RC to beginning of year, but also the inbound tours etc. Then go for a proper comp without stopping for tests?
Just a random thought.

If I could go back to any sort of rugby period it would be the early 2000s Super Rugby era. Electric rugby, huge crowds and amazing players. Take me back.

The domestic NPC comp is nothing more than a development comp now unfortunately. The standard has dropped hugely over the last 10 years and with All Blacks barely playing in it, it’s just not a profitable model anymore with very moderate crowds. If nothing is done with Super Rugby it could end up with the same fate unfortunately.

Yep would love it, but we stuck with paying the bills with test rugby now aren't we! The test window moved later etc, and followed by Autumn series etc has surely put ruined things.
F*** professionalism stuffing things up!!

I know we had to have it etc, but it certaily ruins sport really doesn't it?

World cross country champs on rn in Florida, Aussies won the mixed relay event earlier.

Roigard, Pledger, Preston, Hotham, Fakatava all under contract until 2027.

Other options include Viljoen (signed until 2026), Jai Tamati (Hurricanes WTG), Nic Shearer (Highlanders WTG)... then which ever young guy is around camp.

Question is will the Chiefs do with Sinton what the Landers have done with Muliaina and take him off the market early.

Stephen Jones makes the NRL 360 journalists look good with his smugness and just generally being an A grade fluffybunny.

IMG_6622.jpeg

Bellamy and the Storm have been unreal, I would suggest we may have been predicting their demise for longer than a decade but still kill it. Depends on how long Bellamy also stays I guess. Big losses to the make up of that team but lets see

@Cyclops Yep - that's what I meant.

For 2025
Highlights
Most of NPC (especially games I at live) was tops for me, also watching the young ones from Otago etc coming through.. especially the Shield games, even my beloved Naki losing it was a good watch

Low light was a up between last 20 minutes at Caketin against Boks, and perhaps the Pom test?

2026 Looking forward to the AB tour of SA by far, and with a little bit of interest on how the new Nations cup plays out (just something new to get a bit of interest hopefully), also NPC again.
Not a lot else to interest me really, just rugby!