@number-10 Yes, I agree with that. I have noticed on several occasions how, for example, Mikaele-Tu'u tried to gather the ball from the back of the scrum but either failed to pass to Weber, delivered a hospital pass or dropped the ball. All due to the scrum going backward. Not having a big lump in the scrum like Ben May, really makes a difference.

Speaking of props, I wish the Canes would sign Farrell (and R-S). I think the SR environment could really help him in his development. If you just look at how Lowe has developed this year, both in the way he plays and physically (he has bulked up a lot), a season just training with the Canes has been really beneficial. I assume Falcon will get that experience in 2018 with the Chiefs (I can't imagine him playing SR in 2018, the way he's going at the moment).

Damn, what am I saying. I wish a SR franchise would pick up Mikaele-Tu'u as well. I really rate him.

well as I have mentioned before, I am a huge fan of Matich, love that he just gives 100% for every minute he is out there whether it is with the ball, knocking people over at rucks or in tackles, as good as Matiu has been, we work better with Matich out there.

after NH: Matiu 5, Wright, Hyland & Macilai 1 each

Tamati Tua 7
Ross Wright 6
Jack Goodhue 5
Rene Ranger 5
Jaycob Matiu 5
Kara Pryor 4
Solomon Alaimalo 4
Matt Matich 2
Jack Ram 2
Jone Macilai 1
Jordan Hyland 1
Dan Pryor 1
Sam Nock 1

Very good, moving article written by Western Force's Pek Cowan. It illustrates how bad this whole process (and its outcome) is, and has been, for all involved and the utter failure that is called the ARU.

Stress, tears & a club ruined

@snollygoster ha I did expect Southland to get to maybe 15, as I think I had you guys with a 35 point margin

@nzzp said in B&I Lions 2017:

@majorrage said in B&I Lions 2017:

SOB is having a pretty sharp dig at Gatland / Lions mgmt. Thats it nothing else.

Ryan Bailey  /  Sep 21, 2017 O'Brien: 'We should have beaten the All Blacks 3-0. The coaches have a lot to answer for' O'Brien: 'We should have beaten the All Blacks 3-0. The coaches have a lot to answer for'

In a typically honest and straight talking interview, Sean O’Brien has strongly criticised the methods of Warren Gatland and his coaches during the summer’s Lions tour.

A more extensive interview. His credibility takes a bit of a hit as he says the buildup to test 2 was perfect. A 3 point win over a 14 man side with a 'perfect buildup' doesn't suggest you'd sweep the series, but I'm just another arrogant kiwi fan (JAAKF)

Not necessarily though. You can have the perfect buildup and then the coach selects the wrong players to execute on the night....

Eye-gouging (or friendly fire)? It looks like Hugh Renton is lucky to still have his right eye!

alt text

@gt12 I put "on the bench" inadvertently - what I really meant was "miss out on the bench". So five miss out of which, for me, it's Harris, JTA, TKB - plus a loosie and an outside back Savea or Fifita and Havili or (perhaps) Naholo.

@nta fucken oath. they must be hard work to play for, coach or support - as someone who doesn't even care whether they win or lose they frustrate the shit out of me. so much almost really good stuff which they fuck up, and so much crumbling after looking shit-hot.

@Tordah said in Wayne Smith: Ian Foster primed to take over as All Blacks coach:

@Rocky-Rockbottom said in Wayne Smith: Ian Foster primed to take over as All Blacks coach:

What happened to a transparent interview process?

Wft is with this illuminati mafia-style succession / coronation closed-shop bullshit?

I’d like to hear Fozzie’s interview….

Foster: Hi. Here for the interview. I’m pals with Steve.
NZRU: Um, have a seat please Mr Foster. Now then. What makes you the best candidate for the job?
Foster: Pals with Steve.
NZRU: Uh, anything else?
Foster: Um, let’s see. I have also put a great deal of effort into walking like Steve and talking like Steve and even eating like Steve. As you can clearly see, I am now a fat bastard, just like Steve. My commitment to becoming the next Steve is obvious. Did I mention Steve and I are pals? If you just give him a call, I am sure he will put in a good word for m
NZRU: Mr Foster, please detail your past coaching successes.
Foster: Uh, let’s see, I coached the Chiefs but then the next bloke came in and immediately won back-to-back Super Rugby titles.
NZRU: Crikey. So why don’t we just hire that guy? He sounds awesome.
Foster: Uhhh, that’s a tricky one. Can I use a lifeline and call Steve for this one?
NZRU: No.
Foster: OK. Um, I’d say because that winning coach isn’t pals with Steve and furthermore he doesn’t walk like Steve and talk like Steve and eat like Steve like I do. Does that answer your question?
NZRU: We'll be in touch.

You should write for a living. Certainly better than some of the stuff that passes as stand-up comedy on Netflix these days

Don't encourage him..... 😎

@kiwiinmelb said in Triple G v Canelo Alvaraz:

Canelo is a good boxer but there are question marks over his natural cardio ,

at junior middle weight where he was the physical beast , he always took breaks , but he got away with it there, that was always the concern stepping up to fight GGG,

Early in the fight where he occupied centre ring he troubled GGG with his skills and looked to have the upper hand ,

But it faded and there wasnt enough of it in total, GGG just kept coming forward and threw and landed more often ,

All set up for them to go again I guess ,

Canelo at 26 , first fight at 160 lb , GGG 36 and showing signs of slowing up ,

Watch Golden boy try and drag this one out to Canelos advantage

Gone past caring now with boxing.

Good work Chainsaw and Higgins (for turning the tide)!

We'll take any win we can take at any level these days - although we do have the best school team in the country ;).

I agree on the rotation - what really gets me is that in some positions, there never seems to be a first choice developed. What I want to see is the first choice 23 that plays most of the games and then rotation in and out of that when there are injuries or to nurse a player through the busy period.

I do get that if we want to finish top 4, then playing the best team on Wednesday is critical as we never win at Taranaki and we have to beat Southland. But still, there are 4 locks in the squad and in my view there's one of them who should never start unless injuries demand it. And Delany must always start if fit.

@Steven-Harris Thanks for your impressions of the game. Always good to hear from someone who was at the ground!

Despite our terrible season, and the high error rate in games, I think some of our young players are coping reasonably well, all things considered. Just out of interest, I looked up the age of the players in today's line-up:

1 Jason Long (25)
2 Ash Dixon (c) (29)
3 Pouri Rakete-Stones (20)
4 Nick Palmer (25)
5 Geoff Cridge (22)
6 Tony Lamborn (26)
7 Hugh Renton (21)
8 Marino Mikaele-Tu'u (19)
9 Brad Weber (vc) (26)
10 Tiaan Falcon (20)
11 Mason Emerson (21)
12 Richard Buckman (28)
13 Jonah Lowe (21)
14 TJ Vaega (20)
15 Ihaia West (25)
16 Jacob Devery (18 or 19)
17 Tim Farrell (19)
18 Jarvy Aoake (29)
19 Josh Eden-Whaitiri (27?)
20 Fa'alemiga Selesele (28)
21 Ellery Wilson (27)
22 Pasqualle Dunn (23)
23 Cardiff Vaega (25)

Rakete-Stones & Mikaele-Tu'u were never meant to start every game, but they do because of injuries to Ben May and Gareth Evans. Three of our six frontrowers are 19-20 years old. Our reserve lock isn't a squad member but a member of our development team. Two of our four loosies are 19 and 21 years old. Of our starting backs, four players (10, 11, 13 and 14) are 20 or 21 years old.

We're having a frustratingly bad season, but looking at the age of many of these players, you could see this as a development year for those players. It's a pity though, that some of the senior players they are supposed to learn from are either injured (May, Allardice, Evans) or have just returned from injury after a long injury break (particularly Weber). Some of these young players also have themselves struggled with injury (Cridge, Farrell & Emerson in particular). All these losses are also bad for self-confidence; while some losses can teach valuable lessons, you don't want these young bucks starting their rugby career without wins either. For the players who debuted last year (Mikaele-Tu'u, Emerson, Lowe and Falcon), it has been two bad seasons already.

It would be nice if we could have at least one more win this season, but I doubt it will happen. Even the Turbos are playing better than us 🤢

Watched a litttle bit of the tournament. with that in mind here is a possible squad going into next years under 20 WC. Obviously might be a bit off, also includes any playing in Mitre 10.
Auckland pretty dominant, just too big really. Was disappointed with Wiseguy though.

Props

Sione Asi (Manawatu)
Tim Farrell (Shield Snorters)
Robb Cobb (Auckland)
Xavier Numia (Wellington)
Ben Aumua-Peseta (Wellington)

Hookers

Flynn Thomas (Southland)
Jacob Devery (Shield Snorters)
Ricky Jackson (Otago)
Tuipolotou Tapa (Waikato)

Locks
Lachlan Mc Whannell (Waikato)
Waimana Reidlinger-Kapa (Auckland)
Will Tucker (Canterbury)
Cameron Suafoa (Auckland)

Loose Fowards

Tom Florence (Taranaki)
AJ Mua (BOP)
Tom Cristie (Canterbury)
Brayden Iose (Manawatu)
Hoskin Sotutu (Auckland)
Nathan Vaatausili (North Harbour)
Slade McDowall (Otago)
Isiah Miller ( Ta$man)

HalfBack

Carlos Price (Wellington)
Jay Renton (Southland)
Tim Hogan (Otago)

1stV

Cairahn Matoe (Taranaki)
Harry Plummer (Auckland)
Kaleb Trask (BOP)

Midfield

Scott Gregory (Northland)
Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato)
Tanielu Tele'a (Auckland)
Ngane Puinavai (Canterbury)
Billy Proctor (Wellington)

Outside

Caleb Clarke (Auckland)
Will Jordan ( Ta$man)
Bailey Simonsson (BOP)
Siave Togoiu (Auckland)
Viliami Koroi (Otago)
Jamie Spowat ( Ta$man)

@Steven-Harris ha I thought it was Murray I saw in the moon boot...but if that was Bond in the moon boot, MUrray also has a bit of a limp going on to go with his head knock.

Stuff had that headline yesterday too...cnuts.

my vote was Jordan of the Hylands, not Jordan of the Olsens....