The Silver Fern

Willemse announces his immediate retirement from rugby

France and Montpellier lock Paul Willemse has announced his immediate retirement from rugby after being out of action for almost a year.

I read the headline and thought Damien had decided that after destroying the All Blacks, there is nothing more to accomplish.

@Canes4life said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@jimmyb said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@WoodysRFC said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@jimmyb said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Ardie ain’t just a show pony. Fucccck off

Rocks and diamonds

Explain?

He’ll do soemthing amazing but his general work around the field, particularly the ruck, is very average.

Get out of town. You don’t play 100 tests for the ABs if you’re rocks and diamonds.

ALB has played 86, only 14 more to go...

For me just deleting the cookies for this site solved the issue (I didn't want to clear the cache etc).

@Donsteppa said in Black Caps in Zimbabwe:

Assuming the weather forecast is good, no rush to declare with three days to go. Added bonus (if unlikely needed) of cooking Zimbabwe in the field before batting.

We have the lowest ever test total, may as try to highest ever test total as well.

It really is a shame they didn't use this as an apportunity to give an up and coming player a chance instead of Nicholls.

@Duluth said in Fern Outage:

@Chris said in Fern Outage:

Brilliant work @Duluth and @Kirwan
you don’t know how much you miss this place until it is gone.

It was so strange having a couple of big games to watch without the chat

I've been waiting for days to find out who the man of the match was!

Jeez, didn't even know that the UAE played rugby...

Yep, shocking that Nicholls was even considered let alone actually selected. I can only imagine it is because he is one of the 20 NZC contracted players.

@Windows97 said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

For the non Instagram people.

All Blacks team to face France

1. Ethan de Groot
2. Codie Taylor
3. Fletcher Newell
4. Scott Barrett (c)
5. Fabian Holland
6. Tupou Vaa’i
7. Ardie Savea
8. Christian Lio-Willie
9. Cam Roigard
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Rieko Ioane
12. Jordie Barrett
13. Billy Proctor
14. Sevu Reece
15. Will Jordan

Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. Ollie Norris, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Samipeni Finau, 20. Du’Plessis Kirifi, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Quinn Tupaea, 23. Damian McKenzie

Had to scroll through close to a hundred posts before getting to this one, thank you so much

Real fans would know we are playing two tests against Zimbabwe very soon.

I highly doubt Jordie won't be playing 12, unless he wants to switch back to 15.

What is the benefit of letting RR play prop? wouldn't the blues be better off going to golden oldies?

I thought PUG was supposed to be a hungus???

Was Cashmore only for this season?

@Landers92 said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:

Are we just going to ignore reeces deliberate jump up and knock down. That should be a penalty try and yellow card

I was wondering about that too, looks like he got away with it though

@1kiwi said in NZ Cricket:

Rookie Black Caps Rhys Mariu, Mitch Hay get chance to push for test debut in NZ A squad

Next crop of young ones with a mix of Black Caps experience for the NZ A side.
Surely Rhys Mariu is in with a decent shot of being selected for the test side for the Zimbabwe tour going by the numbers he racked up in the Plunket Shield this season.

Incumbents probably want to pad their averages so if he's lucky he mighy get some batting practise in the nets.

@Nepia said in Bad/Lame Jokes:

@MiketheSnow said in Bad/Lame Jokes:

@LABCAT said in Bad/Lame Jokes:

I knew it was Bruce Lee but I still don't get it, can someone explain?

Drum, don't what the fuck that is, Bruce Lee.

Lol, my thoughts exactly! apparently it's an attic

I knew it was Bruce Lee but I still don't get it, can someone explain?

@canefan said in NZ Cricket:

@nzzp said in NZ Cricket:

@canefan said in NZ Cricket:

He made some mind-boggling decisions at times. But you have to give the guy his flowers

Still reckon we should have played Boult over Scott K against England at the Mount. Yes, I can bear a grudge.

Most egregious was not getting warm up games in Aus for our tour. You cannot succeed without acclimatising.

Like I said, some mind boggling decisions. Mainly regarding selection (I can't recall any specific examples now, but I can recall being quite unhappy with some of them. Bracewell wasting a spot on the test team was one). If it was his decision to forgoe warm up games before the Australian tour, then that was a poor decision

Allowing Henry Nicholls to play on longer than he should have would have been one. It actually seems recently that we have started to promote a lot more fresh talent (maybe this hasn't been by choice) whereas previously we would keep playing the same players regardless of form.

Probably the worst selection was allowing Southee a farewell tour when we should have been going all out for a spot in the WTC final.

Given that Hay is batting at 8, starting to feel like they should be putting the foot on the accelerator.