The Silver Fern

The SA depth is currently incredible. They are only matched by France as far as the number of talents is concerned. But France has a big weakness at LHP and THP, which is one of the SA strengths.

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

This is the average salary, of course. I do not have the explanations for these differences. I also thought - like you did - that THP was one of the top salaries.

@Steven-Harris
Maybe but given the presence of Genge and Baxter plus Obano's emergence, I still have some doubts about his capacities to be selected.

French annual salaries in the Top 14 by position :

LHP : 245 000 euros
Hooker : 247 000 euros
THP : 260 000 euros
Lock 4 : 290 000 euros
Lock 5 : 302 000 euros
LF : 242 000 euros
Nr. 8 : 296 000 euros
Halfback : 261 000 euros
1st Five : 343 000 euros
Centres : 274 000 euros
Wings : 223 000 euros
Fullback : 251 000 euros

He is a good prop but not good enough for the current English squad IMO.

Tom Jordan is excellent at 1st Five for Bristol. How could his talent be ignored by NZ provincial teams ?

@DurryMexted said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Canes4life From the post looks like Zach Taulapapa is tagged. Wonder if hes a relation of Jack Taulapapa who played a fair bit of club footy in wellies and played for Samoa I

He looks quite big for a winger !

@canefan
It's for the 2026 - 2027 season. So yes, he still has the possibility to play for the All Blacks before August 2026. But usually, players who are leaving are not selected.

Sevu Reece has signed a three year contract with Perpignan (USAP) so the game against Wales was his last with the black jersey.

@OomPB
Bayonne fielded a B-C team too.
For those who haven't watched the Saracens vs Clermont game, Harry Plummer had a mare. From what I have seen, he could not have been the answer for the All Blacks at first five (meh kicking, weak tackling, kick directly into touch from a restart, unseen with ball in hand, standing still as a first receiver ...). But maybe it was an off-day for him.

@cgrant said in NH Club Rugby:

@sparky said in NH Club Rugby:

@Duluth From what I've seen he fits very much in the "club legend" model. A very good player but not world class.

He's had the benefit of playing for France's and probably Europe's best team in recent years.

When fit, he's been Toulouse's top choice 12 for about about seven years. He looked very good during Covid times. A mid-fielder in the Garry Ringrose model. A very good organiser who others like Dupont and Ntamack could play around. He's won five French Championships and two European Championship with Toulouse.

That's said I can't remember him shining on a big occasion. He went off early in the 2024 European Cup Final and he's had a lot of injuries in the last 18 months.

He's a solid signing for the Blues, especially as they will miss Reiko's calmness in midfield next year. But I don't expect him to play the house down.

I agree. He rarely sets the world on fire but he is a good distributor, defends well and has a good vision of the game. At 31, after multiple injuries, he is on the downside IMO. He could be as valuable as Bryce Heems was a few years ago.

downslide (not downside).

@sparky said in NH Club Rugby:

@Duluth From what I've seen he fits very much in the "club legend" model. A very good player but not world class.

He's had the benefit of playing for France's and probably Europe's best team in recent years.

When fit, he's been Toulouse's top choice 12 for about about seven years. He looked very good during Covid times. A mid-fielder in the Garry Ringrose model. A very good organiser who others like Dupont and Ntamack could play around. He's won five French Championships and two European Championship with Toulouse.

That's said I can't remember him shining on a big occasion. He went off early in the 2024 European Cup Final and he's had a lot of injuries in the last 18 months.

He's a solid signing for the Blues, especially as they will miss Reiko's calmness in midfield next year. But I don't expect him to play the house down.

I agree. He rarely sets the world on fire but he is a good distributor, defends well and has a good vision of the game. At 31, after multiple injuries, he is on the downside IMO. He could be as valuable as Bryce Heems was a few years ago.

@Canes4life said in 2025 The Silver Fern Team of the Year:

My 1st XV for the year:

1. Ox Niche (South Africa)
2. Malcolm Marx (South Africa)
3. Thomas Du Toit (South Africa)
4. Maro Itoje (England)
5. RG Snyman (South Africa)
6. Pieter Steph-Du Toit (South Africa)
7. Pablo Matera (Argentina)
8. Harry Wilson (Australia)
9. Cam Roigard (New Zealand)
10. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (South Africa)
11. Louie Bielle-Biarrey (France)
12. Len Ikitau (Australia)
13. Huw Jones (Scotland)
14. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa)
15. Damian Willemse (South Africa)

Excellent team ! Maybe Earl or Wiese instead of Wilson.
Here is my becnh :

16. Sheahan (Ireland)
17. Fischetti (Italy)
18. Louw (SA)
19. Holland (NZ)
20. McReight (Australia)
21. Gibson-Parkes (Ireland)
22. Carreras (Argentina)
23. Kriel (SA)

@Bovidae said in Chiefs 2026:

These training jerseys look better.

Who is the big guy on the left ?

@NTA said in France vs Australia:

@cgrant said in France vs Australia:

Wallabies not clinical enough. Two big try-scoring opportunities were wasted (Valetini dropping the ball and Tizzano with a stupid ruck clearing). Despite NTA's claims, I still think that the Wallabies depth or rather lack of depth is costing them dearly, especially up front. When Skelton is not there, their locks lack the required physicality at this level. They should look at Staniforth (Castres) who is a real enforcer, one of Top 14 best locks.

One player is not a Test team

Sure, but some of your players are not up to the task : you lack the necessary depth to find players who could be an upgrade. One player is not a test team but several better players can make things going better.

Argentina > All Blacks in 2025.

@booboo said in 2025 The Silver Fern Team of the Year:

Jet has posted some food for thought.

@Jet said in All Blacks 2025:

Damian Willemsee at 2nd Five ? De Allende and Esterhuizen are standing in front of him the Boks selection. Same with Tagh Beirne. He spent most of the season at lock, Ireland's blindside loose forward being Ryan Baird. Kremer or Matera should be in this team. Furlong and Jordan are nowhere near the best in their respective positions IMO. Du Toit and Louw were better than Furlong in 2025. Ramos is the best fullback.

My All Blacks / All Blacks XV team of the year :

Williams
Taylor
Tosi
Holland
Tuipolutu
Flanders
Papali'i
Sititi
Roigard
DMac
Clarke
Barrett
Ennor
Jordan
Nanai-Seturo

I'd like a Cotter - Bleyendaal combo.