The Silver Fern

@Cyclops said in Black Caps tour of India:

Astle averaged close to 40 as a bowler, and Mitch isn't much better. I don't think opening is as much of a specialist role as it is in tests. I'd drop Astle for Cairns and have Cairns batting 6 with everyone else moving up one (so KW opening - he's been pretty good at it in T20).

I was looking at NZ bowlers ODI averages the other day and Chris Pringle was a remarkably effective ODI bowler. Different eras and all that (defending 2 runs in a final over is surely impossible now) but got to give him an honourable mention.

From memory Pringle was an early pioneer of the slower ball. It developed into a weapon for him.

Didn't he get a start after turning up to training as a net bowler? Not on anyone's radar, but he impressed so much they gave him a go (injuries may have helped his cause too)

While I think Astle's batting would translate pretty well to today's game, I reckon his bowling wouldn't. I can't recall seeing any slow bowlers like him going around at the moment. Slow bowlers seem to be spinners nowadays. Even Mitchell is a bit quicker than Astle was.

I have been walking around with a spring in my step today. Mrs Crazy is in for one hell of a treat when she gets home.

@canefan said in Exodus:

Sotutu, Lam, Plummer. Not saying they would have been the answer, but what a waste of potential.

I was actually thinking George Bridge, but yeah, they'll do as well

Wouldn't it be great if some of those players who left had a 'change of AB coach' clause in their contracts.

@Yeetyaah said in All Blacks 2026:

So might be off topic but where does Razor go if he's sacked? Japan? Another international team?

Imagine how Hoss will feel if Razor and Ryan go coach England.

@Landers92 said in Highlanders 2026:

Super shit news about Pledge, brutal. Hope this doesn’t impact his game at all.

I think his game is strong enough to come back from this. By that I mean his strengths are not limited to relying on speed and agility. He seems to have a very high rugby IQ so, if he really wants to, I am confident he will find a away to excel if does lose a bit physically.

Just saw Mitchell's dropped catch. That was a shocker.

@Nepia said in All Blacks 2026:

@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2026:

@Nepia said in All Blacks 2026:

TBH, I don't believe this conspiracy theory, if Richie Razor Jnr Mo'unga was in NZ all this time he would have been starting.

We'll never know how it would have played out over the last couple of years, but we will get an indication next year. I suspect BB would have still featured heavily if RM was around. I reckon DMac would have been the one missing out.

Well we know RM would have been the number 1 (why pretend otherwise), and I agree with you that DMac would have missed out.

Shit yes, RM would have been number one, no arguement from me. We may well have seen BB at 15 and Jordan on the wing...

@Nepia said in All Blacks 2026:

TBH, I don't believe this conspiracy theory, if Richie Razor Jnr Mo'unga was in NZ all this time he would have been starting.

We'll never know how it would have played out over the last couple of years, but we will get an indication next year. I suspect BB would have still featured heavily if RM was around. I reckon DMac would have been the one missing out.

@Frank said in All Blacks 2026:

Heard from someone on this site that Beauden Barrett was continually preferred because the high ups wanted him picked due to marketability or some shit. (Ardie too). I am not sure if I can believe the process has become that corrupted. If it has, we're screwed.

I guess we can only speculate at this stage until somebody fesses up. It's either that to explain BB's continued selection, or multiple coaches being too thick to see what seems pretty obvious to the average punter.

Maybe it's us punters who are the stupid ones?

@Duluth said in All Blacks 2026:

@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2026:

They might not have expectations on should play, but it would be expected for the ABs to showcase a 'super star' at corporate gigs. It would then be strange if that 'super star' didn't actually play many games. Besides BB, and to a lesser extent Ardie, this AB team arguably doesn't yet have any other 'super stars'.

The other players were ALB and QT. I think they just selected some players who could construct a coherent sentence. There’s not many options

Good point. I forgot about them.

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:

@DurryMexted If it is the case that BB is only there because of this relationship, I doubt this is what Razor decided, this would have come from the top of NZR telling him BB must play...

I would also doubt, the head of that corporate that invested millions would have any expectations on who the ABs should select week in week out, especially as it could potentially impact the eyeballs seeing his brand if the teams he is sponsoring continues to splutter.

They might not have expectations on should play, but it would be expected for the ABs to showcase a 'super star' at corporate gigs. It would then be strange if that 'super star' didn't actually play many games. Besides BB, and to a lesser extent Ardie, this AB team arguably doesn't yet have any other 'super stars'.

@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:

Tried to get Arscott as a replacement but he has had a shoulder operation.

I am assuming Shearer into the main squad.

I rate Shearer at NPC level. It will be interesting to see how he goes if given a chance.

As a pessimist it was always in the back of my mind that something would happen and we wouldn't get to see much of him. Fingers crossed he has a full, hassle free recovery.

@sparky said in Ashes 2025/6:

Joffra Archer has been ruled out of the rest of the tour with a side strain.

I am surprised he lasted this long.

With our bowlers I am not sure we have enough runs. The attack has the bad old days written all over it.

Fuck drinking at games, or concerts, or anything like that. I'll have to go to the pisser all the time and end up missing good chunks of what I paid to see and pissing off those seated near me when I am up and down all the time.

The commentators have mentioned Blundell playing again, so I am guessing Latham forgot about him.

I am confused. Latham said one change from the last test, Patel for Tickner. Yet TV just listed Blundel playing, that would mean two changes wouldn't it?