The Silver Fern

My Dad was at Eden Park in 1956 when the All Blacks secured that famous series. I have listened to and watched hundreds of All Blacks games with him.

He died on Tuesday.

That one was for you, Dad.

Party at Josh Ioane's tonight then.

ARDIE!!!!!!!!!!

Guinness has retired for the evening.

The latest edition of The Breakdown was one of the weakest I’ve seen and frankly it’s embarrassing that it gets put out on the All Blacks’ YouTube Channel.

South Africa beat the ABs 35-7, no analysis of what the Springboks did well, just constant deluded whining about the referee. Lots of moaning about the pace of the game as if no one involved has watched the Six Nations in recent years. Why should the game be played at tempo the All Blacks want to play at? What God-given right do they think they have to make diktats to World Rugby and every other Rugby nation?

Jeff Wilson’s assertions about the second Scott Barrett card were slapped down by the video footage in front of him which showed what has been judged as a Yellow Card in Rugby around the world for some time now.

Then at the end lots of half-witted crowing at the England national team’s current misfortunes. Jeff Wilson and the journalist they had on looked really smug about it all.

At least Kirsty and Mils appeared a bit sheepish about what they had been asked to do.

It will be watched around the Rugby world. No wonder Rugby fans outside NZ think we’re an arrogant bunch of fluffybunnies seeing that.

If any of the producers of The Breakdown are reading this, give yourself an upper cut please.

The AB’s starting props were outstanding. Demolished the Argentinians’ scrum. They did shed lots of work in defence.

@sparky said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:

Sparky's All Black RWC squad

Props: Nepo Laulala, Joe Moody, Atu Moli, Angus Ta'avao, Ofa Tu'ungafasi

Hooker: Dane Coles, Liam Coltman, Codie Taylor.

Locks: Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuitupolou, Sam Whitelock

Back Row: Sam Cane, Luke Jacobson, Kieran Read, Ardie Savea, Matt Todd

Half Backs: TJ Perenera, Aaron Smith, Brad Weber

First Fives: Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo'unga

Midfield: Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Anton Leinert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams

Back Three: Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Reiko Ioane, Sevu Reece, Ben Smith

Some very tough decisions ahead for the selectors to get it down to 31..

Proof that a stopped clock is right sometimes.

Fuck you Bundee Aki, fuck you Bono, fuck you James Lowe, fuck you Jamie Gibson-Park.

Big problem for me is how slow the game has become. Too many breaks and stoppages. Too much emphasis on power, not enough on fitness and agility.

His name is spelt "Ma'a Nonu" but it can be pronounced as "Living Legend".

This is a guy who made his NPC debut in 2002 and his Super Rugby debut in 2003. In his distinguished international career he donned the famous Black Jersey for 104 Tests, contributing to two World Cup wins with tries in the 2011 Semi Final and the 2015 Final.

Tonight he set up Tom Robinson for the first try with a superb pass, he set up Caleb Clarke for the second with another superb pass and had the instincts honed by nearly two decades playing and training at an elite level to be in the right place to take the offloaded from Reiko Ioane to run in and score a try himself.

A great signing for the Blues. Their young players must be learning so much from playing with perhaps the greatest ever 12 to play the game.

New Zealand have won the Netball World Cup!!!!

Big Sam Whitelock with the last turnover. What a legend.

Thinking about the great Martin Crowe and how much he would be enjoying this.

The NZ Rugby Media establishment: "The Crusaders will go top of the table this weekend."

Moana Pasifika: "Tear up that script. Here's a new one!"

Kirwan ‘I am a little bit worried about the balance of loose forwards against outside backs.’

Understatement of the year.

@pakman I'd argue the doom and gloom about that performance is, if anything, under done.

The ABs missed 40 tackles. The backline made only one line break and between them just 72 minutes. The ABs were stuffed in terms of territory, possession and the aerial battle.

It wasn't an unlucky defeat. It was an absolute mugging by the side ranked Seven in the world. The score line massively flattered the All Blacks.

It was one of the very worst All Blacks I've seen in 40 years of supporting the side in bad and mostly good times.

And no amount of spin by Scott Robertson's pals on TV will change my mind.

Which brings me to the central point. Our current Head Coach seems exceptional at media management and spin, but not nearly so good at getting the best out of his players in the test arena.

Congratulations to Wallace Sititi on being named men's world rugby breakthrough player of the year 2024.

To be fair Jonny Sexton, he never lost a RWC Semi Final or Final.

A series that ended 2-1. A series that turned, in the end, on one play and one missed tackle. Sell out crowds of nearly 250,000 people at iconic sporting venues. Millions of dollars made for the Aussie economy. Tens of thousands of British and Irish tourists going home after a trip of a life time. Much debate about referees and TMOs. Thousands of yarns told over jugs of beer. Friendships forged between good rugby folk.

Let's stop right now all talk of the British and Irish Lions not touring Australia again.

Roll on 2037!