@Crazy-Horse I think he still has the class, but his lack of pace is now a hindrance and wonder if he is at that point where he is making decisions based on what he used to be able to do, but his mind hasnt quite adjusted to what his body isn't able to do it now...

I said last year I'd be surprised if his window in the ABs hadn't passed him by.

@cgrant said in Moana Pasifika v Chiefs:

There is also Finau in contention for a bench spot. I like his physicality.

I'm a fan too, but I was still surprised he made the bench in game 1.

The Chiefs are short on THP

Yes, and the injuries to Ta'avao and Moli haven't helped, which is why there was an SOS to Ryan. Dyer is only 23. The majority of the young props in the Chiefs system that I am familiar with are LHs.

WTF?
That puts them above the Saders in the table.

@canefan said in Rebels v Hurricanes:

@Crucial said in Rebels v Hurricanes:

Hopefully the hearing asks what blue 10 was even doing where he was for Ardie to pull him out of it. If anyone escalated the situation it was him. Comes from 20 metres away to push his way through a melee and get over the top of players on the ground.
He is the aggressor here and gets rightly pull out before doing something even stupider than he already has.
Refs first line of thought should have been to see who was mixed in there that shouldn’t have been.

He and the assistants had a pow pow didn't they? They just reached a different conclusion. Strayans... 🙄

It’s always a problem when the ref calls in the ARs and before asking them what their view was says “I see this. Do you agree?” They never contradict.

I managed to watch a replay of this game this morning. Good to see the Chiefs backs more involved as the back three are all threats. It is strange that you can somewhat manufacture props in the women's game but it appears that the Chiefs have major injuries there.

The Blues are a dangerous team when they get their off-loading game going. Their scrum held up better than I thought it would.

@NTA
Gleeson looks like a cross between Willie Viliami Ofahengaue and Toutai Kefu
Good to see this sort of talent coming out of Oz Rugby ,scary as well from a NZ point of view

@KiwiMurph said in Reds vs Hurricanes:

@Canes4life said in Reds vs Hurricanes:

@Bones said in Reds vs Hurricanes:

@cgrant Salesi probably did something ghastly for everything gold. Luckily it was only the Reds.

Yeah I felt Salesi was really up and down in that game aswell. He really needs to find some consistency in his game where he doesn't clock off in moments and stays switched on for the full 80.

He is who he is and it's been the same since he had the breakout season with Auckland back in 2018 - I wouldn't expect him to suddenly change now .

It definitely keeping him from pushing for higher honours. Fine if he’s happy being a Super player only but some of the mistakes he makes wouldnt cut it at the next level.

@Crucial said in England v France 6N:

If he was a kiwi I definitely think he’d have a fair few supporters.

New Zealand doesn't have a shortage of highlight reel fans.

@Crucial Any idea if Alex Harford will feature this year for the Saders?

I still haven't watched this game and don't know the score, but judging by the fact the thread doesn't have 800 posts, Italy didn't win.

@mariner4life said in Highlanders v Blues:

@gt12 said in Highlanders v Blues:

Choat on the other side making 13

Choat was bloody good.

Party at the front and party at the back, he has it all going on.

@MiketheSnow But where to now for Wales, Mike? Ok get players contracts/pay sorted, but after that? Coaches have already been swapped out. Some older players need to be dropped but not all. Wales is a proud rugby country. Need a new direction/thought pattern and fast.

Wallabies prop Angus Bell is facing a second consecutive season on the sidelines and a race against time to make his first World Cup squad after re-injuring his foot in the opening round of Super Rugby. Bell ruptured the ligament in the big toe on his right foot in the first half of the Waratahs’ opening-round loss to the Brumbies in Sydney on Friday night Scans over the weekend revealed it was the same injury that ended his Test season last year. He faces four to six months on the sidelines and was considering further surgery on the foot, the Waratahs said.

There was a bit of talk about him coming in without any warm up games beforehand. Not a great look for the back office if he's returned with...

@Bovidae said in Chiefs Manawa v Hurricanes Poua:

@Crucial said in Chiefs Manawa v Hurricanes Poua:

Santo Taumata injured before the game. They had to quickly fly in a WTG replacement to make the 23 as they already had a couple of prop injuries. I think they ended up with a prop at hooker but still smashing the Canes scrum.

Vici-Rose Green was the replacement player. IIRC she ended up at flanker when she came on, even though she is a hooker.

Hadn’t trained with the side much at all. The WTG players don’t get much group training and she only arrived the day before the game.

@Tim said in Force v Rebels:

@KiwiMurph how did Ekuasi go?

Didn't do much. Got on second half but couldn't make much of an impact.

Bot coach and whoever is forwards coach go sit in naughty corner right now

Big on paper advantage to Matatu in the front row stocks. More experience across the board as well