The Silver Fern

Did Recce Hodge just become George Bridge?

@rotated
Broken play - but yeah what else at the moment

I've started referring to Super Rugby as " Super Rugby Entertainment" bit like the WWE business model and I wonder if once Oz were so far behind they changed to the Super Rugby let's have a go instead of the let's treat this like a serious test

The last 2 teams has reminded me of way back when the All Blacks could actually do that, silly thing is though they at least did it over a period of time and brought in new players with experienced and form players. I think when a team is picked like this it's actually not fair to point the finger at individuals, but would like to see more support in roles ie Blackadder with 2 other form or experienced loosies or Patrick T with Sam W and Carl T with Ofa etc etc - yes I Know injuries but you hopefully get the concept (stop setting up players to fail)

Seen as this was actually a hard game to rate players on what they did well given Tonga included club players etc maybe look at the needles penalty's given as some were quite concerning and there was also a few times the AB's were offside.

I mean when the game is so easily won try to get something more out of it - does anyone have a list of all the penalty's?

@kirwan the only funny thing is when people realize just how biased TJ is but before then have thought he was A OK

@kirwan ha! No not a pity vote! A drinking vote or a stirring vote as I thought the comments at the end summed it up with how average he was but just how amazing he was in 2 commenters eyes

Couldn't resist and voted G. Bridge - sorry as you were

Here's a novel thought let's stop calling them "Team NZ" maybe "Dalton's Hero's", "Wind Hoe's" "South Something Sails" basically anything but not Team NZ,

if they want NZ's support and $$ but don't think NZ has any value for having the event here! Then maybe it's time we stopped funding them and look back at the good times we have had and smile but move on

@chris And A game = a win, I was talking about the game and every game the blues/Auckland play for jeez I actually don't know how long but it's been a very long time, long enough for an employer to notice at any rate

@chris and I agreed

@chris to be fair he hasn't been such a douche as long as TJ, also to be fair he's said some pretty stupid stuff and really it's a shame on one hand that sky don't rein in the stupid stuff (ie stop turning off subscribers) and on the other hand don't muzzle them because of the crowd

Don't get me wrong I met TJ in an Auckland box once and he seamed very pleased to mingle with everyone after but really when you start hatching possibilities and getting very excited about Auckland losing when it's an unlikely event! Then perhaps after how many years? It might just be time for a wander down to somerset

@chris JK or the Kirwin on here?

Poor old TJ he do hoped that the force would win and the crusaders would then rightly be in the the final to then go on and win, whilst some would say it's sad that I look upon TJ this way, just think how sad it is to be so involved in rugby that not only do you live and breathe rugby but your so tainted by your bias that even as a "professional" who is saturated by rugby you still get excited at the remote possiblity that Auckland/Blues might lose but then they don't

He's a player who almost got to the top spot, personally I thought he had overtaken Aaron Smith 2 or 3 years ago - but then again to me he dropped off and that seamed to coincide with more of a media role - funnily enough maybe the media needed to stop putting a microphone in front of him ala Israel Folau

What a great final kick Otere Black, over and out

Interesting choice from tvnz immediately after the racing was finished and with a lot of families watching they choose to promote their own program, one minute were all looking at a positive race and then boom were into criminals

Did Jordie Barrett use arms in the tackle at just past 3 mins in?

@nzzp
I know he's a machine right! But then instead of thinking of the next play he puts himself in a nucance position and then has to wait to get back onside, it happens way too much and he loses effectiveness. Good for the All Blacks though

If Hooper and Scott Barrett actually focused on rugby they would be a lot better. Here's a way to test my statement,
if either of them end up on the wrong side of a ruck skull your drink, if they then proceed to stand there with a stunned look on their face is "oh how did I get here" then it's another skull
Then again I shouldn't be encouraging people to get shit faced