The Silver Fern

I hope the rumours are true.

The final straw for me was the end of year tour when they didn't pick a single new player in the squad.

Reece, Leinert-Brown, Christie, Jacobson and others were a complete waste of time. The public would a accept the losses if you were picking and developing young guys.

I've posted on here before (usually some dickhead calls me out about not posting my source) that it's pretty common knowledge that Razor has no interest in building depth past the next world cup.

He’s all about his own legacy and wants to win the world cup with NZ and then go and win it with England or
someone else. Becoming the first coach to win it with 2 different countries.

He's obviously got some metric where you need "x number of experienced test players do it"

The problem with that is that those players should actually deserve their place, not just be there because experience.

I would have picked Pledger, Tangitau and Lucas Casey in the squad... all look like future greats to me.

Long time listener, first time caller

This season hasn’t surprised me at all, I’ve been a part of the local rugby scene in Chch for a number of years….. and have had a few dealings with both Razor and Jase Ryan.

Razor has no interest in building depth past the next world cup, he’s all about his own legacy and wants to win the world cup with NZ and then go and win it with England or someone else. Becoming the first coach to win it with 2 different countries.

Rightly or wrongly, he thinks picking all the old blokes is the way to do it.

Jason Ryan is a bit of a prick and hates Hoskins Sotutu.
Jason is very good at holding grudges. There’s a number of people around the traps down here that have been cut off by for disagreeing with him (or just not giving him the accolades he thinks he deserves).

Despite the above, I am still glad we have these guys and not Foster.

So I went to a fundraising dinner last night with Mark Reason and Stephen Jones speaking.

Rattue was supposed to be speaking originally but replaced by reason at late notice.

Firstly I'll comment on Reason.
Terrible public speaker, his whole speech was basically about how the 1971 game between Canterbury and the lions ruined what was a great game forever. Apparently Canterbury and New Zealand rugby teams have acted like arrogant thugs ever since.
In the questions and answers after an old bloke who was mates with Alastair Hopkinson stood up and had a real go at him. Apparently hoppy after the field had 2 black eyes and a broken cheek bone and was furious at the lions tactics that day.

Secondly Stephen jones.
Excellent speaker, talked about how much he enjoys lions tours, loves touring New Zealand and loves the passion we have for the game. Thinks the lions have become far too commercial and is certain we won't see another tour here in 12 years.
Really worries about the game at grassroots level, and talked extensively about that.

Afterwards I had a good chat to both. Chatted with Stephen for several minutes about local club rugby and my passion for that. Also asked him about his writings that seem to annoy so many NZers. We had a good laugh about that.... He said its because he loves the game so much, and with the the amount of articles he writes there's always the potential to someone to disagree with him.

Best part of the conversation is that he told me to give him a wave in the press box tonight. He will come and say hello and let me watch the game in there with him if I want!

In summary .... Mark Reason confirmed piston wristed gibbon, Stephen Jones not a bad bloke

Hansen re Akira:

It’s the same problem he’s always had, came into the season not fit enough. He played every game for the blues and at the same time was trying to get fit so he’s a tired athlete. We didn’t see the best of him during super rugby.

We know what’s under the surface, we just need him to take ownership. You can lead a horse to water but can’t make it drink.

Wait till the arrogant fucks at NZRU appoint foster as the next coach. We are in big trouble then

@pukunui said in TRC squad:

Surely Todd would have asked Hansen if he was in their plans before he signed in Japan. I was under the impression that Hansen said something to that effect when it was first announced. Could be wrong.

Spoke to friend of mine last week that knows Matt Todd pretty well.

He received an offer from japan that was too big not to consider. He had 2 weeks to make up his mind.

So he contacted Hansen and told him the situation. Essentially wanted to know if he was in the plans for AB selection, if so he’d turn down the offer, was very specific that he only had 2 weeks.

2 weeks passes and Hansen hasn’t made contact so he signs the contract.

2 weeks after that Hansen calls and says we want you in NZ. By this time the contract is signed and it’s too late.

Before I get accused of Canterbury bias or some bulshit. I’m not apportioning blame either way, just reporting what I was told

@frank said in 2020 All Blacks Squad:

Definitely Akira (in the wider training reserves for the tour of Uruguay).

Only if he increases his workrate

All jokes aside (there are certain players we must not joke about on here) I was pretty happy with the result.

Best crowd of the season, vocal and involved.

Whacked $100 on under 47.5 total points at the TAB (paid $2.20) as it was pretty obvious to me that conditions weren't right for a high scoring game.

I think this is the first time in quite a while that we came with real line speed and aggression on defense. It's how we've won our last 2 titles and it was good to see it back. Plummer and Nonu had real trouble dealing with it behind a pack that was on the back foot, rurus service didn't help either.

Interesting to compare the way the number eights played.

Whetu Douglas seems to lead us in defense and at breakdown,and is super involved.

Akira seems to run away from the ball a lot, he'll pack down in a scrum or stand in the lineout then when the ball is cleared, jog out into the backline and stand around waiting for the ball to find him. I know it's the team patterns that dictate this, but he's such a big strong bully type player I'd love to see him closer to the ruck hurting people, particularly on a cold wet night like this one.

Moody made a huge difference to our scrum.

Tom Robinson the best blues forward for me, he's a niggly prick. Refs missed a clear swinging arm to the head from him on a crusaders player at the bottom of a ruck, I like watching him play

Both fullbacks were good.... as was George Bridge, a Ben Smith like game from him.

Edit: @KiwiMurph feel free to put your grammar nazi cap on and criticise my post

@broughie said in What's Wrong With Reiko Ioane?:

The rush defense affecting penetration in the midfield and we are not managing it. This is why we need the forwards to win up front and maybe that is why Hansen wants ball running props. The game is still won in the forwards. Just my dos pesos.

Once leinert brown replaced SBW the ball suddenly made it past 12 pretty regularly... SBW affects the whole backline because he's too slow to get it to the outside channels.

Went to the game, great atmosphere

Apart from several piston wristed gibbons in front of us who were "there to watch the game and didn't want to listen to us shouting behind them"

Fucking hell, watch it on tv at home if you don't like it dickheads. Supporting your team is why you go to things like this

In Mexico City for this one... Gonna have the Mrs ring around all the Irish bars in town to find one that’s showing it.

Reading a bunch of trip adviser reviews I reckon this one sounds like a good option.

“It was a good bar until I went to the bathroom and was offered cocaine. Management didn’t seem too concerned about it”

@Snowy said in Stormers v Crusaders:

@Toddy said in Stormers v Crusaders:

RM sounds like a bit of fluffybunny on the booze. Wonder if he fails the no dickhead policy for the ABs.

Maybe - or maybe she has her moment in the limelight and is going to take advantage.

For example I suspect this is a "bit" OTT:
"The woman says it was the worst experience she's had and she will never forget Mo'unga's face."

"I'm not letting this slide because you can do this to me now and I let it slide, he goes to New Zealand and does something way worse...I just want to present it while I have a chance to."

"he does it again and it's something way worse and that person maybe actually commits suicide or does something way worse than what I did, and then it's another story."

spitting beer in a random woman's face is still a dick move regardless of how the woman has behaved since.

Fuck foster is a whinging fluffybunny

You were under pressure because you were doing a shit job, not because of some rubbish conspiracy

Razor deserved his chance, but now also deserves the same scrutiny as the failure before him

Happy he dropped Reece, great crusader but he's never been a good all black,

So fucking good, rivals 1998 for my favourite season ever. I think there's been 5 or 6 games this season I've rated amongst the best ever wins.

Perfect gameplan.... rolling maul defence was outstanding (apparently we haven't conceded a maul try all year). the defense in general shows the biggest difference from last year, we actually care and play with passion.

So bloody happy... will be at the airport to welcome the lads and the trophy home

Too many steroids

The boks aerobic fitness was awful, the faster pace of super rugby this year might have helped the aussies

What a joke, Blackadder wouldn't recognise talent if it punched him in the face.

His recruitment record at the crusaders is testament to that.

@Machpants said in RWC: All Blacks v South Africa (Pool :

So who, exactly, are the players writing these messages on their wrist tape for? Not for themselves, unless they read their watches upside down
https://resources.stuff.co.nz/content/dam/images/1/x/2/f/g/0/image.related.StuffLandscapeSixteenByNine.710x400.1x2e9h.png/1569201729724.jpg
In fact, what does wrist tape even do?

It’s only a guess, but I reckon Sevu Reece wrote it for mum and dad.

Pretty average, but at least they didn't give up like our men's team.

@taniwharugby said in QF 3: Jaguares v Chiefs:

Shame you werent around supporting the Jags when they were struggling and have only jumped on here in the last month to peddle your wares as they were playing well...true fan here.

Jeez there’s a bunch of blokes on here (mainly this thread and the highlanders one) who take themselves way too seriously.

The guys not a true fan, because he’s only shown up on a virtually unknown NZ sports forum in the last month, when he should have known about this place years ago? Give me a break

Likewise in the highlanders thread, an innocuous comment about the highlanders being journeymen (which they are largely) has posters telling c4l to be classy etc and leads to personal criticism of his personality and knowledge of rugby.

It’s a bunch of guys talking shit on the internet, the self appointed moral police should get a life. I love the provincial bias and rivalry, it’s fun.

Well done the Jags, great defense!

Thought Luke Whitelock had a great second half. A very underrated player