The Silver Fern

David Kirk when asked if it was too risky making a change this late in the cycle replied with " no, we felt it was too risky not to make a change now"

A brave move by the board and the right move.

We have been pretty much treading water since around 2017 and we all had high hopes that change was coming from 2024.
What has happened though, in my view, is that we have gone backwards and seen things that I thought I would never see.
Most disturbing to me is the acceptance of mediocrity that so many scribes, punters, players and coaches have tried to ram down our throats.
This is why what David Kirk said on Thursday excites me.
He wants to bring Aura back, baby.

@taniwharugby This is just getting embarrassing.
Can he please now concentrate on being a bloody coach.

@Victor-Meldrew Could not agree more with this statement.
It has been bloody embarrassing listening to an AB coach pining for a player who knew when he left NZ for Japan that Razor would be the coach.
Just do your job Razor.

@Yeetyaah I agree.

Fuck AI.

How the hell can a fucking robot understand the emotions involved in being an AB supporter.

I want to be on here with people who know the joy and the angst that comes with bleeding black.

@allblackfan2 Nope, not what I said.

A robot cannot possibly understand a battle scarred and passionate AB fan.

I read stuff in other places but there is nothing else that I have found that even comes close to this joint.

Long live the Fern.

@akan004 I loathe Mark Robinson just as much

I really want to see some angry ABs out there this week.

I would love to see Jamie Joseph in if only to bring some bloody mongrel back.
We are so passive now and that’s not what the black jersey is about.

Hey Rapido, I agree with the first line but not the second. I do not need to harden up and I am not a princess.
This was not the game to do that. In the leadup to this game we had all and sundry from the AB camp talking about how good a side Ireland are and also how this AB side wanted to set new standards on and off the field and add to the legacy. A 111 year old record is something to treasure and not to give up without a fight.

This game demanded the best we could put on the field.

Aaron Smith got yanked against the WBs for getting flustered and has been seriously stuffed up by the well known shenanigans in Christchurch. TJP has really stepped up this year and copes miles better with aggression around the breakdowns and scores tries that Smith can't. He is the form 9 and should have started.

ALB has amazed all of us with his maturity and his play for someone so young. He is to the manor born. I refuse to believe the bs that he is tired and not to have him on the bench defies belief. Fekitoa has been around for a while and has just not improved his game at all which is inferior to the variety in ALB's game. In no time at all ALB has formed a good partnership with Crotty and should have started. Again, in a game of such massive importance you DO NOT fucking rest and rotate. Moala is definitely worth persevering with but with his shortcomings this was not the game for him.

Two big bruisers on the wings, WTF, both of whom have limited skillsets. I thought we gave this away in 2009. Again, we knew what the Irish would bring and they did. Dagg on the right wing has added balance to the side this year and the Irish would have got a lot less change from their efforts if he had been there. Apart from his bust for the first try Naholo looked all at sea which for me pretty much sums up his season in black. Again, Shag, why ?

Jerome is the world's best 6. I don't buy the reasons for not starting Barrett at lock. He is a lock. Why weaken the blindside to plug a hole at lock because you have then successfully weakened two positions. Squire for all his potential is not a starter yet and we really missed Kaino at 6.

Read made a comment about their heads not being 100% right. You said what Keiran. I have said for ages that my biggest worry at McGod's retirement was the captaincy. Read was quoted last week as saying that he has demanded that he and his leadership team are in control of the team from Thursdays on. The coaches pull their heads in apparently from that point. To my eyes there was a deficiency of captaincy smarts in Chicago. That seriously needs to be addressed. All well and good when you are winning but captaincy in adversity is a much tougher gig.

Anyway, just my views. If we were going to lose to Ireland I would rather have done it in a less insipid manner. I am an old geezer and probably get the shits too easily but geez I would have liked to have been able to say that I was immensely proud of a losing effort when the Irish won.

Just referring to the ABs as a team I used to play for is enough for me to agree with the passport withdrawal.

We should really fuck him up and name our team on Saturday morning.

Cannot listen to Hansen anymore.
He should have gone in 2017 as he said he would and his strenuous efforts to have Foster installed as his successor enraged me at the time and still do.

@broughie and that is something that Foster is clearly never going to acknowledge which is why we are where we are.
His constant references to learnings is a joke and intended to fool us into thinking he has some analytical skills which he will diligently apply to the next game plan.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2023:

@sparky you cannot ever have a perfect combo with Savea at 8

Bloody hell has anybody checked to make sure the Ferret wasn't in the coaching box with Colin Cooper.

@Chris said in All Blacks 2023:

@frugby

I put it in perspective 4 years in charge as HC, 8 years previous as an assistant coach 12 years in the AB environment as a coach.

That would make you think we would have come to this WC in a better state game plan,Selections etc.If Foster was up to the job he would have been better He would have achieved bugger all of his KPI's.
We have lost a lot of Respect as a Rugby nation under Fosters reign.

Should he not be put under the spotlight as HC for the state we are in.
I blame Foster for most of the shit we are in.

I wish I could give this post multiple upticks as it says everything that should be said.
After 12 years in the environment all we get is “ gee we’ve got to be better “ and “ we were taught a few home truths tonight” and he says these with a straight face.
Just go please Fozzie, just go.

Mr Boo Boo, apologies for my slackness in not replying to your welcome to the Fern about 600 posts ago. You asked if an olive branch had been extended and the answer is no. Is there one ?

It has taken me a while to move from reading and loving the Fern to contributing and I am sure I will have fun. Thanks again.

Really good drive from Liam.
Speed and maturity and stayed ahead of some serious dudes tonight.

@nzzp this and more. Reappointing a guy ahead of a planned review smacks of arrogance and dodginess.
If the review had been done at the agreed time Foster probably would have been gone after the 2021 EOYT.