The Silver Fern

@SouthernMann said in Exodus:

Sotutu now confirmed as goooone.

No doubt he will continue to be one of the most frequently mentioned players in All Blacks threads.

https://www.newcastleredbulls.com/en/articles/hoskins-sotutu-to-join-newcastle-red-bulls?fbclid=IwdGRzaAO302tjbGNrA7fTZmV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHm4oGDFUrpYY0Q7rKZz7_mPwRM4tBXW5Hub_v8CavPBeuo7ILtLKzDx_9RyB_aem_tL8AaQUsrjUPfjo0azrlyg

Think he's made a mistake to take up a contract in the north of England rather than a cushy French or Japanese contract.

He might be trying to prove the haters wrong by making the England side but there's a good chance Borthwick has no genuine interest in him. Zach Mercer won Top 14 POTY (the same time Sotutu was super rugby player of the year), moved back to England to make the test team and was subsequently completely ignored by old Borthers. They have a surplus of loosie talent already and there'll be skepticism around him considering he was snubbed by the ABs.

Should have chosen Fiji, in fact I hope he still does! Good luck to him regardless.

@MiketheSnow said in NH club rugby:

I can’t wait for Jones’ column if/when the SA teams are involved at the pointy end

Lmao.

Didn't even make the quarters. Brutal.

No greater argument for keeping Test selection within national borders then watching your local franchises get embarrassed week to week and be completely shut out from the playoffs.

@MiketheSnow said in NH club rugby:

I can’t wait for Jones’ column if/when the SA teams are involved at the pointy end

By pointy end do you mean bowing out in the QFs again?

@game_film said in New Zealand v Italy:

100% have to play the best team available though.

Why? Italy are hopeless. Ring the changes.

Happy to see Cane and TJ sit in the stands. No reason to waste even more minutes on these guys than they already have. They can present jersies and give a rousing speech in the sheds.

@canefan said in All Blacks v France:

After they sent their B team down here earlier in the year it's only fair we go into their house and fuck them up

What? Are you posting from 2018 or the future?

@NTA said in England vs. Australia (2024):

According to someone

Angus Bell:
Carries: 14
Defenders Beaten: 9
Passes: 5
Offloads: 1
Tackles: 14
Turnovers: 1
Most defenders beaten by a Wallaby since 2019 (Koroibete against Georgia).
Most defenders beaten by a loose head prop for a T1 nation ever.

Those are some good numbers

Ridiculous amount of tackle breaks from Bell. Got to be close to the most ever by a prop in a test? Sitting down Curry(?) was a highlight.

@Dan54 said in All Blacks vs Ireland:

By the way,did I imagine it, or was only half our Anthem played. I was in a pub here, so may have missed it, Mrs Dan said same as me.
If it was only half, I even more happy with win, you don't really f*** with anthems.

It was just the instrumental so I assume not much point in playing it twice? I'd assume AB management was informed of the order and manner of proceedings so can't really get too hot and bothered about.

@kpkanz said in All Blacks vs Ireland:

@Frank said in All Blacks vs Ireland:

Shane Horgan - "South Africa on their day would have pumped this All Blacks team tonight"

What a moron comment.

No one cares, we could end up number 1 within the fortnight.

Scottish victory this weekend would put NZ straight into first place again.

@nzzp said in Poll: Ireland result!:

@voodoo said in Poll: Ireland result!:

@nzzp said in Poll: Ireland result!:

@voodoo said in Poll: Ireland result!:

Us in a close one. 45m droppie from Sititi to clinch it in the dying seconds

Zinzan Sititi has a certain ring to it

You've saved me some time if I have another kid

my mate named his kid with Zinzan as a middle name. Top effort.

Your mate is Chris Harris' old man?

@Kiwidom said in All Blacks vs Ireland:

Who will lead the haka ? Reiko should it just to send the crowd into a frenzy

I'd love this.

Would be classic if the Irish crowd booed the Haka considering their self-righteous stance on booing kicks.

Will be disappointing if the clear 3rd choice halfback is included for the sole purpose of Haka leading duties.

There's been plenty of non-Māori who have led it before (Tana, Mealamu). Ardie would have the requisite mana within the squad you would think. Ratima and Williams are young but would be excellent candidates too IMO.

Fall from grace from one of the great rugby renaissance men.

https://greenandgoldrugby.com/rocky-elsom-renaissance-man/

Speaking of renaissance men. I see Anton Oliver is keeping his nose clean at least. A bit of nude modelling the extent of his exploits.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/oliver-in-twist-over-his-naked-ambition/IUSBFNB2OF3UNT53XFRI5PVPXM/

"I did it because I didn't want to do it"

Legend

Two red card offences from Genge that were missed.

One an assist tackle on Whitelock. No arms, head on head contact, with force.
The other a cleanout on Papali'i. Again head on head contact, no binding, with force.

This has got to be my biggest gripe with the game right now. It's an absolute lottery with who gets these calls and who doesn't. Outcome altering decisions that are completely at the whim of the ref or TMO.

Raynal would have blown a penalty in that last minute if we tried to run the clock I'm also certain.

Lineouts and kickoffs were poor. Lots of praise for Ryan around scrums and driving play but aerial set piece needs a lot of work.

Fitting result for a shit season.

@Damo said in All Blacks v England:

@akan004 said in All Blacks v England:

Hate that dropkick option. So dumb, BB never learns.

Yes it doesn't make sense to go for 3 with a dropgoal like that. You can always go back for the PK if the attack fails.

Would have preferred the lineout drive.

@Damo said in All Blacks v England:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v England:

Apart from 1-2 throws, Taylor has been pretty good

Yes, I don't deny that. However in most games this year ST has been very good.

Agreed. Taylor threw TWO not straights and also got dinged for time wasting. That's 3 turnovers conceded. Not good enough.

Best players should get most minutes. It's really fucking basic. Anything else is just over-thinking.