The Silver Fern

Sporting highlight was seeing England finally playing some rugby over in Argentina. Everyone on the same page and showing some ball in hand, attacking intent. Blooded some new guys who looked the part in the absence of the Lions but seemed to go back a wee bit for the AIs. It does show us the direction we could be going in. More on that in the "looking forward to" bit.

Low light has to be the God awful start to the Ashes. In retrospect the whole tour seems a mirror of the approach on the field. Selection was really a gamble on doubtful fitness and some poor form, with no real safety net. Preparation was far too insular.

Live event has to be the level 6 National Community Cup final at Twickenham where my club, Topsham RFC, triumphed against a good Lutterworth side, playing some attractive attacking rugby. Promotion to level 5 had already been achieved and only 4 more promotions to get to Premiership status...

I'm most looking forward to England casting off the shackles in the 6N and hoping that Lee Blacket can assert his influence a wee bit more

@cgrant said in NH Club Rugby:

@OomPB
Stormers and Bulls are not exactly in the NH.

They're in an NH competition though...

@Catogrande said in Ashes 2025/6:

@NTA We've got the pace attack to do the job IF both Wood and Archer stay fit. After those two I struggle to see how we will take 20 wickets unless Bashir has one of his moments, but even then he won't run through your line up cheaply.

I'll just leave this here.

When you talk back to an Hispanic Mother.

@DaGrubster

Can't argue with any of that.

@game_film

Duckett has credit in the bank, plus of course we don't have a back up opener. Planning huh? Pope I agree must have the doors of the Last Chance Saloon slapping him on the arse on the way out. The Brook thing is probably a bit more nuanced. It is difficult to discipline someone for playing in an overtly attacking manner when that has been the oft spouted preferred way. Some of the quotes from the England team over the last year or two have been cringeworthy and then to castigate a batsman for playing in the way suggested is a bit unfair just because it didn't come off.

I really like the attacking intent England have been playing with over the last few years, it certainly beats the negative methodology of previous regimes. However the going down all guns blazing all the time does need reigning in. There must be some middle ground.

@nzzp said in Ashes 2025/6:

@game_film said in Ashes 2025/6:

@sparky come on mate that survey’s a joke. Tennis FFS. Who they kidding.

Crawley, Pope and Duckett not good enough. And they’re 2 top line bowlers short. That’s about it.

Fielding has been sub-par. Catches win matches and England have dropped too many, too often.

So, aside from batting, bowling and fielding...

Yeah, this looks to be a deeper issue than simply a poor approach or skills. It looks like a degree of mental fragility backed up with some intransigence on strategy and a dash of muddled selection.

When your main strike spinner is not trusted and you fall back on a guy that has been tried and found wanting purely to bolster your batting (Hmmm...) - it's not really teh Stokes/McCullum blueprint is it? Then back this up by having your two front line pace bowlers being known for breaking down, with one not having played any recent cricket on his way back from yet another injury, it does not inspire much confidence or suggest that the hierarchy have any great confidence themselves.

@taniwharugby said in Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw - LIVE:

@Catogrande wasnt one of the RWCs where some minnows had 3 games in 10 days scheduled?

I seem to remember something like that. There was an outcry about it and quite right too.

@JA said in Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw - LIVE:

It's odd to me when people bring out the argument that World Rugby need two years to plan everything. As mentioned, FIFA can do it in half that time so surely World Rugby can, especially with the difference in scale.

Perhaps the argument is that FIFA knows every game sells out many times over so they don’ t need to give a toss about travelling fans. (I have no idea if the soccer pool games sell out though)

I reckon that's a consideration but another one would be recovery. You can fairly easily play three games of soccer in a week (ish) but rugby need a much longer turnaround.

Whatever the result of the match, we won't have to see Hayden with all his kit off. That's the real bonus for both sides here.

@KiwiMurph said in Ashes 2025/6:

@NTA said in Ashes 2025/6:

@African-Monkey said in Ashes 2025/6:

These commentators on fox are fucken annoying.

FTA on channel 7 are good.

I imagine you've got Brendan Julian et al

Ponting on 7 is an excellent listen.

Whist I always admired him as a batsman, I didn't warm to him as a player or captain (though I guess i would have if he'd been English), however as a pundit and comms man he's shown a much more human side of himself and provides interesting and thoughtful analysis on the play. One of my favourite cricket pundits to listen to.

@sparky said in Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw - LIVE:

@Catogrande The game that England lost 16-3 to Wales in Brisbane at the 1987 RWC was a Quarter Final, not a pool match.

Indeed. Dodge did not make that distinction

@sparky said in Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw - LIVE:

@Dodge said in Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw - LIVE:

well we've never been beaten in a world cup game in Australia,

Apart from this one......

And v Wales

@Dodge said in Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw - LIVE:

well we've never been beaten in a world cup game in Australia, so I reckon we'll win our pool, beat Italy in the R16, Australia in QF, Argentina in the SF and then one of the also rans in the final.

Cough. Cough. 1987. Cough.

@Canes4life said in Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw - LIVE:

We’ve just got to stop being pussies and beat everyone in our path, you know.. like we’ve done before.

That's the best way to ensure you win the thing.

@MiketheSnow said in Bokke vs Wales:

@Catogrande said in Bokke vs Wales:

@MN5

One of the main areas of concern for Wales has been a lack of physicality. It has meant that they are more often than not playing on the back foot or behind the gain line or scrabbling in defence. I do fear that this Bok side might do to this Welsh side.

Cue something I never thought I'd say or feel, but c'mon you Gogs! Cymru am byth!

Fuck the Gogs

Come on the Taffs

From this side of the Severn, there is no distinction.

@MN5

One of the main areas of concern for Wales has been a lack of physicality. It has meant that they are more often than not playing on the back foot or behind the gain line or scrabbling in defence. I do fear what this Bok side might do to this Welsh side.

Cue something I never thought I'd say or feel, but c'mon you Gogs! Cymru am byth!

@Dodge I hear you brother.

@bayimports Yep. 15 letter with only 1 recurring vowel would have done it.

@MiketheSnow @bayimports

Points lost for not knowing their names.