The Silver Fern

I'm ready for the call Razor, I've been preparing for this moment for years by listening intently to audio recordings of TJ Perenara and Nic White in my sleep and channel other ABs halfbacks by going down to the beach three times a week to practice waving my arms like a seagull while forgetting to protect my towel from the incoming tide. I can kick just as well off my left as my right, same with passing. The Boks will certainly be confused by the unpredictability and Fern contributors will love the fact very few passes from set piece will make it to Beaudie, in fact muscle up forwards we'll be keeping things close...

Joking aside, this is becoming a real test of depth in a key position.

Papali’i
Sotutu
Fakatava
Perofeta

Were all in pretty good form two months ago…

Too much trying the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result!

If Roigard has to be subbed I wonder if the coaches have considered just having 14 men on the park instead? Recent weeks are showing it’s just too bigger penalty to the team having Booth and Morgan on the field together.

Ref and touch judge instructed to do their best to ensure an Aussie team makes the semifinals…

Can’t help feeling like that result could have been quite different if Perenara and Coles had been on the field a little longer, or at least had Perenara not been subbed until Barrett was back. Complete lack of direction and clear heads from the Canes after that.

Congrats Brumbies, not sure you were the better team but you definitely played smarter both in general and with the refereeing interpretations and that’s what knock out games are all about.

I hope Taylor straightens up his line out throwing before the ABs tests, not all referees will be so accomodating.

Bit of a shame, surely business end of the competition deserves a bit more consistent officiating than what’s on display in this game.

@mikey07 I thought it was good that he made it clear to Shields that the two stand alone offences did not alter the overall penalty pressure and re-put the Hurricanes on a warning. Foul play and a professional foul treated separately seems fair?

Wow.

Some long penalty advantages…

Boo to no promotion/relegation (from a very biased point of view... haha) Seriously though, good to get some rugby continuing for the provinces that can.

@His-Bobness said in All Blacks Vs Springboks RC Week 2:

Someone is going to have to explain to me what Foster sees in Christie.

He’s really good at flapping his arms, one day he’ll fly?

The McLaren surprised having that race pace on two quite different circuits. Bit unfortunate for Piastri losing track position to his team mate Norris in order to cover Hamilton's first pit stop, but definitely proved to be a good overall team strategy call. Always fun to watch a race where different cars are 'in the zone' in different phases and not all just tyres, the low fuel Mercedes on slightly fresher tyres in this case. And some good old well fought Perez overtakes.

Wilson in commentary “it does bring a smile to my face” haha

Great result for Lawson, looking quite at home under the ‘bright lights’ of F1. Riding a positive wave and that’s what being a rookie in F1 is all about! Onwards and upwards, would be amazing if he could pick up a points finish in one of these two opportunities he probably has left this season.
Piastri hasn’t looked quite as comfortable on track at Singapore so far, few good laps but not consistently comfortable. No doubt will be looking forward to also having the full set of upgrades Norris was running on his car for Suzuka.

@Machpants he passes to any normal winger and he scores from there

Also, nice to see Verstappen and Red Bull are not unstoppable. Not hooking it up in practice doesn’t usually stop them hitting the right lines come qualifying. Will make for an interesting race where overtaking is not so easy.

Really not getting the McKenzie love here. Thought his game pretty such summed up the overall, especially of the backline!