The Silver Fern

@taniwharugby Mate, you don't know how true that is. Me and mrs genuinely wake up some days and need to work out what day it is.

@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:

@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:

I pretty happy with whoever they take out of Darry or Lord, like em both. Along with Holland very much the future of AB locking stocks until 31-35 WC.

They want to keep them all close, we don't want anyone leaving the country to play overseas

Yep mate, I love the fact we got it seems some genuine size coming through!!

By geez that some shrewd signings by Joseph. Like both Pledger and Solomon, and admit to knowing nothing of Tengblad. Not sure how true about trying to get Jacomb (as he already contracted) but by geez would be a great buy for both the Clan and ABs going forward. (Just think him being a starter in super would develop him so well).

I pretty happy with whoever they take out of Darry or Lord, like em both. Along with Holland very much the future of AB locking stocks until 31-35 WC.

@UpTheHarbs said in Super Rugby 2026:

@Dan54 Started in 2015, also happened in 2020 and 2021

As I said Harbs I lived in Aus for a few years, came back late 2020, and to be honest as I had retired I didn't take notice in 2021.
Us poor retired buggers don't get any extra days you see, lol everyday the same, we don't get even weekends or anything off. I don't know how I keep going

@UpTheHarbs said in Super Rugby 2026:

ANZAC Day is Mondayised

When did that start? Never used to be did it?

Ok I just googled it and it started in 2014, I was in Aus, and been retired since I been back so haven't taken any notice.

@Frank said in All Blacks v Argentina II:

@Dan54 said in All Blacks v Argentina II:

but even more size would genuinely excite me.

A phrase often heard

Hope it wasn't my wife you heard uttering that Frank!

@Canes4life I would be keen on more or less same team too, though admit to be almost keener on having a peek of Parker at 8. Sititi fan etc, but even more size would genuinely excite me.

Obviously going up to game. Should be good as weather forecast not to bad. Naki can do with no more injuries at lock, as Lord in ABs and with Sa the older out. Obviously a couple missing in midfield , though I think the one we couldn't afford to lose is Jacomb at 10.

@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:

Considering the lack of talents in the backline (10, 11, 13, 14), the All Blacks should revert to a 9 man game. Don't throw the ball wide and insist with the big ball carriers in the tight. The main problem with this kind of tactic is to find a 1st Five with a massive and precise boot.

Mind you that easy to defend, just have back 3 well back and run everything back. If you don't run the ball back you will find the outsides of opposition will just cover. I think you underestimating our backline .

@mariner4life said in All Blacks v Argentina I:

@Dan54 Dan, you're making my point for me. We can't on one hand say that the talking heads have to report a certain way to keep their jobs, and then be expected to rely on what they say as "expert analysis".

It's head office PR

I never really take a lot of notice except find them good when discussing tactics etc. Mainly because they all been through it.
Matfield on podcast was obviously talking about Boks most, and said he thought Libbock etc stuffed up by not sticking to gameplan once they got ahead. So maybe that was fair enough, so I never need more than that anyway.
I not sure how that PR, saying he thought they needed Pollard etc to control game?
I agree with what you say in general, they can't say too much, and we can say what we like as we under non de plumes and noone remembers what we said 5 minutes after reading it.
I will add the only ones that matter are the coaches really isn't it?

@canefan said in All Blacks v Argentina I:

@Dan54 said in All Blacks v Argentina I:

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks v Argentina I:

@mariner4life said in All Blacks v Argentina I:

i would put a lot more stock in what the ex-player talking heads said if they just once had the nuts to call out an established player. Never fucking happens.

Newbie? Then it's a fucking free-for-all, but the established guys get a free ride from the media.

I was about to say much the same. Ex-players don't want to criticise current players and a lot of the media seem like they'd just love to be mates with the players so spend most of their time acting like absolute sycophants towards them.

For sure up to a point, also they actually write under their own names, so have to stand by what they say. Look at Campese for instance, ex player who rips into everyone etc, and now saying he obviously got it wrong and may have to stop commenting on Aus rugby. So loss of income etc, on a forum we all just do it under non de plumes etc, and so few read it, we can't do any damage to anyone .

Campo isn't a great example, the man can't resist putting his foot in his mouth

Yep I know that, but you get my point. Anyone we don't agree with in media, we tend to think is an idiot, so it's a lose lose really isn't it.

Also remember a few years back when Rod Kafer was putting boot into AB players? He turned up at test match, the AB coaching staff ignored him and he wouldn't do any interviews with him? So stuffed up his job.

As I say we can rubbish anyone with very little knowledge with no comebacks , and none taking any notice, they can't.

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks v Argentina I:

@mariner4life said in All Blacks v Argentina I:

i would put a lot more stock in what the ex-player talking heads said if they just once had the nuts to call out an established player. Never fucking happens.

Newbie? Then it's a fucking free-for-all, but the established guys get a free ride from the media.

I was about to say much the same. Ex-players don't want to criticise current players and a lot of the media seem like they'd just love to be mates with the players so spend most of their time acting like absolute sycophants towards them.

For sure up to a point, also they actually write under their own names, so have to stand by what they say. Look at Campese for instance, ex player who rips into everyone etc, and now saying he obviously got it wrong and may have to stop commenting on Aus rugby. So loss of income etc, on a forum we all just do it under non de plumes etc, and so few read it, we can't do any damage to anyone .

@No-Quarter said in All Blacks v Argentina I:

The criticism of BB here is both valid and a bit over the top. A lot of the criticism centres around the chip kicks, but as I've said a few times on here, that's a team wide gameplan. Beauden does it most as he's at 10, but DMac does it, Jordan did it last weekend, many others have as well. It's 100% gameplan to keep the rush defense guessing. Not sure I agree with it, but it's not a Beauden problem.

The main issue I see with him is the distance on his clearances, but the coaches obviously see his upsides as outweighing that negative. If we have Roigard starting at 9 then that negates that issue somewhat.

Because outside of the kicking from hand, Beauden has been fucking excellent overall and created a lot. People really overlook some of the outstanding work he does to create tries, and focus on a chip kick gone wrong instead.

Unfortuantly NQ, when a lot make a decision on how they feel about a player, they see exactly what suits their prejudice or whatever it is. If a player who they against does 14 good things in game and four bad , the 4 bad is what is pounced on.
This is not just a BB thing or this site, but I have seen on most sites , poster will remember a cock up or bad game a player (or refs etc) had quite sometime ago to boldter argument. I think it human nature?

@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks v Argentina I:

@Dan54 how do they justify the 10 giving away possession through ineffective kicking

I don't ask them, I don't even really have an opinion. All I was saying that it seems pundits and coaches seem to think he best option.
I just guessing they see something some of us don't.

@antipodean said in All Blacks v Argentina II:

@mencey said in All Blacks v Argentina II:

@antipodean said in All Blacks v Argentina II:

@mencey said in All Blacks v Argentina II:

@antipodean said in All Blacks v Argentina II:

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks v Argentina II:

@antipodean I don't disagree but I can't see Savea being subbed off or starting on the bench any time soon.

Unfortunately neither can I, and the All Blacks are the worse for it.

What the fuck are U talking about. Ardie is world class. He has proved himself time after time for years .

At hitting rucks? Putting in a hard shoulder that turns into a dominant tackle others can driver through to win a turnover?

Or are we talking about seagulling to carry a ball, often with defenders hanging off him with the resulting slow ruck clearance for the next phase? Chip kicks from 10m out of our own line? His abysmal defensive reads? His low effort in running back into the defensive line? His giving up metres in defence trying to scrag players to the deck in the hope he gets a turnover?

He looks all the world a back that's been asked to play in the forwards.

Or maybe I'm wrong and his highlight reel clearly puts me back in my box.

Obviously all the experts including the ones that chose him as world player of the year are wrong and all the "experts" on here are right. I stand corrected.

I'm not sure you're aware of the process, but the rugby loving community vote on the nominees. The same people getting all excited over the highlight reel...

Think someone lead you up garden path mate, public have no vote on WR player of the year.

Apologies, just saw mency has already posted that.

@canefan said in All Blacks v Argentina I:

@Chris-B I'm not sure exactly what BB is giving the coaches that DMac wasn't. The last game he started we beat Ireland away,and he was close to man of the match wasn't he? Since then he's not played 10 at all that I can recall. So BB must be an amazing trainer....

I understand you and a few of us aren't sure what Beaudy is giving coaches that DMac isn't cane, but funnily enough most of BB criticisms come on forums.
Almost all pundits , ex coaches and test players seem to be saying he doing great job. We all I think see differences, I think it too easy to say he must be a great trainer, he obviously controls game how they want.
I also wonder if at the moment we going back to thought we have a bloody good forward pack and they want our 10 to keep ball in front of them?

@Chris-B said in All Blacks v Argentina I:

Interestingly, Uncle Laurie thinks Beaudy over DMac - though he doesn't really say why - other than that DMac is predictable in what he does. Which isn't what I'd have thought, but maybe if you watch him more closely than I have he is.

Laurie's got a decent maverick streak to him, though - but, he used to be worth listening to. Haven't seen him pop up for a decade.

Laurie Mains' 'gripe' with All Blacks' mismanagement of Beauden Barrett

The former NZ coach says the All Blacks have been paying the price since 2019 for the decision to remove Barrett from his strongest position.

Funny you should post that Chris. I just watched a podcast where Victer Matfield said almost exactly same thing. Reckons he is fantastic 10 and was wasted when he was played at 15. In fact most pundits seem to be on the BB bandwagon, I have seen very few being anti. Another thing is what Matfield was saying about experienced game drivers , and how he thought the Saffas missed that and having one to put their test away on weekend.

@canefan said in All Blacks v Argentina II:

@Dan54 said in All Blacks v Argentina II:

@Frank said in All Blacks v Argentina II:

Tupaea is the obvious replacement for ALB.
Big Jim hasn't earned anything internationally except a couple of nicknames

Yep and ir you talking about Tavatavanawai, his nic is Jim the Difference, DMac has always been Big Jim,

Isn't DMac, DMac?

Anyone who has watched NZ rugby for more than a year or so should know that DMac's nic was always Big Jim, it's what players used to call him in interviews etc. I think it a Chiefs one for quite sometime. I have never heard Tavatanawai called Big Jim, but we see it on net , but comes from hiw nic at Ta$man where he was Jim the Difference. I know that's why some called him Big Jim, because it was easier etc and probably just changed from the Ta$man one. (and I called him Big Jim by mistake on an Auusie rugby site, and Aussies all jumped on me reminding me who the original Big Jim is)

@MajorRage said in TSF Book Club:

David Baldacci - a calamity of souls.

Very Grisham like, absolutely fantastic. Certainly in the top 5 books I’ve ever read.

On this recommendation Major, I have got this book from library, and am absolutely enjoying it. So thanks mate, and agree about Grisham like too.
Cheers mate.