The Silver Fern

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.

@KiwiMurph said in SF Crusaders v Blues:

Fusitia gone

I thought he was lucky not to get done earlier I thought

This was the crux of the game. Watched replay last night. Fusitua didn’t advance. Barrett lunged forward suddenly leading with head.

The physics was that Barrett butted Fusitua.

@frugby said in QF Chiefs v Blues:

@Tim If Papalii put on 5kg, he could turn himself into a bastard of a blindside.

I always assumed long tern he'd be a 6 so was surprised when he specialised at 7, but I guess it was the best way for the Blues to keep their best loosies on the park.

Papalii, Lam, Ioane.

@KiwiMurph said in Blues vs Waratahs 2025:

@Jet said in Blues vs Waratahs 2025:

No sleight of hand. No swerve, no nous. He didnt construct any of them himself.

Did you actually watch the full tries or simply the final outcome?

The first try came from a huge break which was the result of a perfectly timed pass by Rieko in midfield to put Beauden in space.

Yeah haha he started and finished off the play.

Sotutu, Tuipolutu, then I voted for Riccitelli.

@MiketheSnow said in Moana Pasifika v Blues:

Great watch, great result.

How Gardner didn't flash a YC for repeat infringements inside the 10m line by the Blues is beyond me.

Riccitelli got away with some no-arms tackles near the goal line. I've no idea how Gardner didn't see that.

@Steven-Harris said in Drua v Blues:

Has there ever been a game where the co commentator has talked up a losing team and suggested the winning team have all the luck
Sam Wykes your an idiot

He looks like Isa Nacewa from temu.

@canefan said in Cameron Suafoa:

@Darren said in Cameron Suafoa:

‘Ribs removed, spine shaved, steel rods to stabilise back’

Wow and congratulations if you can come back from that, and be healthy, let alone play rugby.

He's trying to win the game of life right now

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

@booboo Auckland has a similar amount of rainfall in a year to Cardiff and a bit more than Manchester which I think is why eventually they will need to build a stadium with a roof in Auckland.

3dd61f14-72aa-4496-ae72-7184ed5d815b-image.png

Sauce = Chat GTP

Eklund and AJ Lam v good.

@booboo said in Reds v Blues:

I did give up at half time as I was getting fucked off with the officiating.

Just into second half and Ta'avao's try gets wiped out. Seriously?

Genuine question: is the restriction on the number of phases you can go back no longer a thing?

I'll continue to grumble through the rest of the game ...

Way is always like this.

@nostrildamus said in Crusaders v Blues:

@reprobate said in Crusaders v Blues:

So, the Blues have more AB backs than can fit on the park in Christie, Barrett, Ioane, Telea, Clarke, Perofeta, Plummer. And yet AJ Lam is their best back?

Half of the ones you mentioned may have already mentally packed for overseas.

Which would be a sad indictment for any pro player who is still contracted to play at the level they have been selected for.

I hope this isn’t the case for these Blues players or any other player in this situation.

Went Riccitelli Dalton and Lam but was very difficult - so many players in contention this week

@African-Monkey said in Blues v Moana Pasifika:

Surpised Moana are going with Garden-Bachop and Matavao as their 9-10 this week. I would have backed them to win this, but with those 2 there, it's cause for concern imo. Matavao is a good 20 minute player, but doesn't have a great kick or a great pass. I refer to him as the Samoan Fin Christie for a reason as he's virtually a clone of his (doesn't defend as well as Christie though). Garden Bachop, although he made a positive impact last week coming on, makes me nervous coming on and isn't in the same class as Pellegrini.

Totally agree. Ridiculous that Pellegrini was dropped to the bench. Matavao was there by default due to the injury to Taumateine but yeah he's bang average in 15s.