The Silver Fern

@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2026:

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

@Nepia There are several factors stopping people going as frequently as they used to. The price, as you say - and not just the tickets. Better quality streaming and TVs. A bit of over-saturation of rugby. More competition from other entertainment. Lower-quality competitions, with no All Blacks in the NPC, etc.

This one might just be me, but Super Rugby seems to have lost its appeal a bit with all the changes to teams and competition structure, South African teams leaving, Australian teams underperforming.

I also think atmosphere decline feeds on itself. Smaller crowds create a vicious cycle: empty seats reduce atmosphere, poor atmosphere discourages new or casual fans and once a ground feels quiet, people assume it’s not worth going.

MY personal experience is also the time, we had so many years of night games creeping later and later, am i miss remembering they got to 805pm kickoff? it just became a thing lots of families wouldnt do....and if you dont go with your family i think your less likely to go as an adult, i dont have kids but i would struggle to get mate to come to the pub or even at someone's house...clashed with bed time or bath etc...and when people did come it was always talked about "beautiful day this avo and was looking for something to do with the kids"...now we're getting some more day games which is good but its definitely not peoples routine

Taking the kids to a night game does seem like it'd be a bit too difficult. Our one kid is too young to sit and watch a game and, yes, his bedtime is (conveniently for watching at home) bang on 7:00. But people must have used to either go with the family or without them. Something's changed there - the cost, time, a different attitude etc - that wasn't an issue before. There were more afternoon games pre-professionalism but that's now a long time ago.

@Nepia There are several factors stopping people going as frequently as they used to. The price, as you say - and not just the tickets. Better quality streaming and TVs. A bit of over-saturation of rugby. More competition from other entertainment. Lower-quality competitions, with no All Blacks in the NPC, etc.

This one might just be me, but Super Rugby seems to have lost its appeal a bit with all the changes to teams and competition structure, South African teams leaving, Australian teams underperforming.

I also think atmosphere decline feeds on itself. Smaller crowds create a vicious cycle: empty seats reduce atmosphere, poor atmosphere discourages new or casual fans and once a ground feels quiet, people assume it’s not worth going.

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2026:

@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2026:

@game_film said in All Blacks 2026:

Ardie sin-binned for dissent in his first match back in Japan. Make him captain right now and don’t think twice!!

The messiah's team lost 46-0 to Deans' Wild Knights.

No doubt he looked devastated on Insta

He's such an inspirational player and human being. He gives his all for the team week in, week out, never backs down, leaves it all on the field, puts in the hard yards, empties the tank, battles to the end and never gives up. He has the heart of a lion. There's no quit in him. You can tell how much he cares.

@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2026:

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2026:

@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:

Speaking of placating the hordes, normally the ABs losing enrages the hordes. But it might be a sign of how far we've sunk that average fans seem accepting of it all

Looking at social media comments, I’m convinced most people either don’t notice the team’s lost or just don’t watch the games. The sycophantic nature of the comments and ignorance of the overall performance is crazy.

We have to accept the opposition has improved seems to be a common one now ,

I don’t remember seeing that much when foster was coaching , they wanted his head .

Following the game against Wales, I saw a comment from someone pointing out that letting Wales score 26 points wasn't all that flash. There were countless replies claiming that was absolutely fine because Wales are a tier 1 team.

@canefan said in All Blacks 2026:

Speaking of placating the hordes, normally the ABs losing enrages the hordes. But it might be a sign of how far we've sunk that average fans seem accepting of it all

Looking at social media comments, I’m convinced most people either don’t notice the team’s lost or just don’t watch the games. The sycophantic nature of the comments and ignorance of the overall performance is crazy.

One thing I recall from the way Evan’s used to play is that passing was most often his first option and he would pass immediately. He was quick (like Barrett used to be all those years ago) but he’d set himself up for a run once the opposition became used to him always passing without even looking like he was going to run the ball. He could obviously kick more than twenty metres too. It’d be ideal if he could introduce these concepts to the current players, with their run it every time style.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2026:

All Blacks v Italy, Saturday, 11 July, SKY Stadium, Wellington, kick off 5.10pm.

Giving Italy a real shot here.

@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2025:

https://www.thepost.co.nz/sport/360901329/five-all-blacks-under-pressure-keep-their-spots-and-scott-robertsons-standouts

The five ABs are:

S Barrett
B Barrett (and he is a fanboy).
Ioane
ALB
Reece

Under pressure to keep their spots? I’d say two of them are done no matter what they pull out in Super Rugby.

@Frank I heard he’s already come up with the themes for the next two years. 2026 is “Row the Same Canoe” and 2027 is “Swim as One School of Fish”.

@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in All Blacks 2025:

@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:

@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in Wales v All Blacks:

@taniwharugby said in Wales v All Blacks:

@KiwiMurph thats the thing, Parsons has a very analytical eye when it comes to rugby, when he was playing they had him on the radio in a regular spot talking and he was always very insightful, similar to O'Halloran.

Having only listened to a couple of episodes recently, Parsons seems like he's trying to come up with excuses for how poorly the All Blacks are playing. He points to random statistics or moments in the game and tries to make out that's all that's wrong. 'They would've won if it hadn't been for that one little thing there.'

He looks like he's thinking really hard too, so maybe he is trying to find obscure ways to justify how shit we are

I really enjoy the show. If I wanted to just see people pointing sticks and saying so and so is useless, after watching a game on tv, I got rugby forums. I enjoy hearing people who have been in the game at decent level point to reasons for things going right or wrong.

But are those reasons accurate?

Well are they inaccurate? See you can say that about any show or even post about rugby. I would in genera think people who have (or are still ) played at high levels have a pretty good idea what in general coaches and players at that level look to?

Playing ability doesn’t equate to knowledge or insight. If it did, it’d be pretty easy to work out who would make the best coaches.

Parsons is part of a wider media group that seems reluctant to criticise the team, possibly because they’re discouraged from doing so.

@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2025:

I do get where jet is coming from , not sure we need to behave in that way but it does feel like we have lost our ruthlessness,

The win at all costs attitude that we were famous for feels like it has been infiltrated by participation culture where feelings are more important and everyone gets a trophy.

But I’m probably just a grumpy old bastard living in the past .

You're right. It doesn't seem like the players and coaches are all that dissatisfied with poor performances. They don't need to act like dickheads or thugs on the field but it'd be nice if they seemed more determined to perform. 'Ruthlessness' is a good word to describe it.

@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:

@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in Wales v All Blacks:

@taniwharugby said in Wales v All Blacks:

@KiwiMurph thats the thing, Parsons has a very analytical eye when it comes to rugby, when he was playing they had him on the radio in a regular spot talking and he was always very insightful, similar to O'Halloran.

Having only listened to a couple of episodes recently, Parsons seems like he's trying to come up with excuses for how poorly the All Blacks are playing. He points to random statistics or moments in the game and tries to make out that's all that's wrong. 'They would've won if it hadn't been for that one little thing there.'

He looks like he's thinking really hard too, so maybe he is trying to find obscure ways to justify how shit we are

I really enjoy the show. If I wanted to just see people pointing sticks and saying so and so is useless, after watching a game on tv, I got rugby forums. I enjoy hearing people who have been in the game at decent level point to reasons for things going right or wrong.

But are those reasons accurate?

@mariner4life said in New All Black Coach:

Kidwell was a terrible league head coach, but like Kearney maybe a guy far more suited to an assistant role

Same with Tony Brown. And maybe that's the thing. The All Blacks need to find a group of coaches with their own areas of expertise to concentrate on who can work together. Not just a group of mates they can slot into (square peg, round hole) the various roles.

@taniwharugby said in Wales v All Blacks:

@KiwiMurph thats the thing, Parsons has a very analytical eye when it comes to rugby, when he was playing they had him on the radio in a regular spot talking and he was always very insightful, similar to O'Halloran.

Having only listened to a couple of episodes recently, Parsons seems like he's trying to come up with excuses for how poorly the All Blacks are playing. He points to random statistics or moments in the game and tries to make out that's all that's wrong. 'They would've won if it hadn't been for that one little thing there.'

@mariner4life said in New All Black Coach:

not in my eyes. in a normal game you spend half the time defending.

More than half if you’re good enough on offence too and score quickly. It’s not uncommon to see a team well ahead on the scoreboard with under half of the ball. .

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2026:

@antipodean if he does guide us to a rwc win, does that absolve this shit now?

For me, nope, losing in the manner we have is never acceptable.

Had the All Blacks won the 2023 World Cup (and to me that’s one of two World Cup titles for South Africa with an asterisk beside it) everyone still would have though Foster was a terrible coach, with some awful records and firsts. He just would have also happened to have a World Cup win in amongst all the rubbish. Same goes for Robertson, if he manages it.

@No-Quarter said in New All Black Coach:

I'm struggling to understand the shit with Hansen. Has he always been part of the Crusaders setup with Razor? Was he actually the head coach while Razor instilled the vibes into the team?

It feels to me like Razor doesn't want actual assistant coaches who might challenge him, because he isn't the head coach himself? Like if you brought Cotter in, he'd be challenging Razor on a bunch of stuff, but Razor wouldn't be able to respond because he's not actually coaching, so would have to keep deferring to Hansen etc?

If it isn't possible to remove Robertson, could they install an entirely new coaching group 'under' Robertson, but with a wink and a nod make it clear that the new appointee is actually in charge, while telling Robertson to stay out of it?

Don’t worry, guys - I’ve just received some inside information on Robertson’s coaching plans for 2026. Honestly, it all looks pretty bloody effective to me.

@taniwharugby said in New All Black Coach:

@Victor-Meldrew only after he was secretly filmed saving a kitten.

Those are the guys who should be most comfortable speaking truthfully, but won't, younger guys like Love, Lakai, Proctor etc al won't be able to speak truthfully of the process for fear of upsetting someone.

A bit like the players who came out in support of Foster. The guys who he was selecting and wanted to keep hm around to secure their spot in the team.

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@akan004 from that same article; "Personally, yeah, being in 32 hotels and going around the world a few times, but I think what’s required of me every week, how do I set the group up, the management group, the team, we talk about being all in, we talk about serving our jersey on the field and our people off the field, so how can I shape and bring the legacy along with us.

“I feel like I’ve made a real connection to that piece and personally, how can I get those simple messages across to the group? Look, I said before, it’s fine margins, and there’s a lot of expectations that come with it. So how can you refine your messages so the boys are clear and then just go and play and trust themselves.

“I feel like I’ve got a lot better in that regard.”

He's fucking delusional.

Not a pop at Coach Jesus, but am I the only one who hates the use of the word "boys"?

They're not boys, they're grown fucking men.

There's a lot of stuff said by coaches, players and the especially media that comes across as too casual and matey, matey for me.