@Derpus said in 'Super Rugby' 2021: @gt12 how does that work for Japan's current domestic comp which is owned and controlled by their major corporations? They could keep the Top league on at a different time to Super Rugby, and have the two top red and white league placegetters join Super rugby (perhaps with some allowance to get a bigger squad). Or they could pick winners and get bids from 4 teams to join Super rugby, which would leave them with a 12 team competition for the Top league - whether those teams could join other competitions would be another conversation. Given that the Top League was designed to bring up the standard of Japanese rugby, I'm reasonably sure (I only know a few people involved in a roundabout way) that teams would want to be in Super Rugby if they could be, and there would be some support for it in the JRFU. I spoke with a coach of TL team not that long ago and he was telling me that the SWs were great, but always destined for failure because they didn't open up enough spots to get some of the strong company teams involved - and the better players that they have available. It was somewhat understandable though as picking one winner (probably Panasononic) would have been very hard. However, choosing four well-financed squads though some application process would, I hope, be more manageable and would lead to Japan having a gradation in the professional leagues of its players. If they scheduled the games right, they could make the Top league the premier domestic competition, and Super the international competition. Plus, of course, the All Blacks could offer to support Japan joining the Rugby Championship, which would be a massive boost to Japan if it happened. That's a lot of dollars and sold out stadiums for the Japan NZ and Oz games, and with SA being World Champs, that would sell out too. Whether it would work or could happen, I obviously don't know - I'm not in the industry, but if the NZRFU hasn't been actively trying to make it happen, they are idiots.

@ACT-Crusader said in NBA season 2019/20: @raznomore said in NBA season 2019/20: not going to get it done without Dragic dammit The Dragon is a massive loss. Especially given Spoelstra really only plays 7 Apparently you can have steroid jabs and play through his injury. Fingers crossed.

Not sure whether this has been posted already, but Teihorangi Walden has now officially been ruled out of the remainder of the Mitre 10 Cup (ruptured achilles tendon). https://www.trfu.co.nz/newsarticle/95957

@Frank is that the cast for the real life version of Archer?

Interesting to see NMS is stringing a few games together, makes a nice change. Any comment on his form? From the brief bits I've seen he's not exactly standing out...

There are very few albums I've listened to more than The Real Thing, but Angel Dust would be one of them.

@Stargazer probably an easy win coming up for Exeter

@ACT-Crusader said in Anybody else still miss ReUnion?: @Bovidae said in Anybody else still miss ReUnion?: Meg should be used more on a show like Breakdown to analyse games. While he knows SFA about the laws of the game I enjoy his insight about how the backs are aligned and what was done to manipulate the defence. Mexted was the same on Re:Union in an analysis role, but was poor as a commentator. I agree. Mex offered very good insight and analysis when he was away from the emotion/activity of a live game. On 1014, I thought they were too dry. You have to bring some entertainment value as well as the analysis and good oil. Re Mex: he lost me with "psychic energy"

I'm actually surprised the Dogs are favourites

@Rembrandt said in NZ Politics: Warning, contains scenes of violence that may offend some viewers. Crusher lived up to her billing. Gower also very good. Jacinda very sharp on Covid but floundering on gritty issues.

FAB Jacob Pierce is the obvious answer!

Seems to be a new chapter in this saga every day, look forward to tomorrow’s edition. This is like back to the John O’Neil days. NZR don’t seem to be covering themselves in glory currently, come back Steve Tew? If the All Blacks don’t perform on the field the shit is going to get real and real quick. The way the Super Rugby review fundings were released was a shambles, seems to have been down hill since.

Scotty Curry and Ware as the starting midfield, would not have picked that. Let’s hope they see some ball, if the tight forwards do a little better than last week....

@Rembrandt said in US Politics: @sparky I agree. That is partly why this woke movement is so awful. If everyone who has a slightly different point of view on complex topics is a Nazi/racist then no one is. Those words lose all meaning and when there are literal racial supremacist groups out there what are they then called? Yep. That why it matters to make that accusation honestly and not as a political weapon. Calling groups or politicians white supremacists when they aren’t is pretty disgusting. Its moving discourse to a win at all costs mindset, and the media know exactly what they are doing. Label someone a racist, deplatform them, “cancel” their ability to earn a living. Not many steps left to rounding people up to gulags.

Cobra Kai is a fun show

@JK said in JK vs BigRed: Geee been almost a week! Friday - shoulders and arms in the am and then in arvo shot out to the forrest for 20km of trails. Always a good workout - approx 500m in hill climbs and 1200 cals sweated out. Sat/Sun - no nothings Monday - pull + 10km ride Tues - push + 10km ride Weds - legs + 10km ride. Squats good today. Weight going up. Finished with a nasty 20 repper at 80kg....hadnt done that for a while! Bro, do you not even care about your gainz ? I wouldn't even run across the road if it meant I might lose some muscle mass.

@Bovidae Maybe they combine the best from the Crusaders and Highlanders U18 squad to play Hurricanes U18?

I like that 23. Only thing I would change is Macilai to 11 and Gregory to 12. I don't understand why coaches are reluctant to play him at 12, it's the ideal position for him. Happy with Hawkins keeping 10 Jersey. Haven't been a big fan but he went well last weekend and don't think the others have shown enough to oust him yet. We need to start well, all 3 games we've been slow to get started. I don't think Taranaki will roll over and let us back in like Manawatu and C-M

@Number-10 said in Otago v Hawke's Bay (RS): I guess everyone has to be somewhere. Thought of the week.

Angelica Bengtsson Swedish polevaulter  

NSFW

Speaking of legs. Solid session today even though I didn't quite hit the numbers I wanted. Band work on ankles and hips. Then barefoot sets of 5 at bar, bar, 60kg, 80kg, 100kg. Nice and controlled stuff. I've been working on my foot contact - where I'm trying to get that sweet midfoot set up rather than sitting too far back on my heels. It's a minor form thing but fun to work on. Shoes on and the plan was 5 sets of 10 at 100kg. I really wanted to ramp up the volume but I got pretty gassed part way and dialed back on a single set. Ended up doing 3 sets of 10, then a set of 6 and a final set of 10. 2-3 min break in between to keep things moving along. Made myself take the break as I tend to go at a faster clip when training solo. Did 3 sets of wide grip pressing, just the bar but something to fire up the shoulders. Single leg extensions + hammy curl super set next. 3 sets of 12 each leg. Quads were screaming on the last set. Good fun! Did a bicep/tricep superset next. Rope curls for biceps and close grip push down for the triceps. Decent weight for both and 3 rounds of 15 reps each set. Then I did two sets of cable bicep curls. 15 reps to get that burn going. Finished up with 2 sets of 15 KB goblet squats. These were fuckers as my legs were tanked. Mid 95's and happy with that given training has been a wee bit patchy. But feeling good aside from that

@Kiwiwomble said in Star Wars VII ****contains spoilers****: @canefan said in Star Wars VII ****contains spoilers****: @MN5 she'd tear you in half mate worth it Being an ex-wrestler, she'd clench and rip your imperial probe droid right off

just another mouthy doolan with a coke problem...

This was actually a good read ( I was sent it, I don't visit the guardian site); I may even read a couple of these books: Feminists do not need to have read Butler or Beauvoir to be influenced by them; many Marxists, after all, have not read Marx. And of course, the trans experience did not begin with Butler. Any discussion of trans identities and politics must start with trans authors. But if the impasse between Beauvoirian, gender-critical feminists on the one hand, and Butlerian and queer feminists on the other, is ever to be overcome, it is essential to acknowledge the philosophical basis as well as the practical implications of their disagreement. In particular, it should be recognised that, as the scope of the terms “trans” and “transgender” have expanded to include a range of identities, no longer referring only to people who have undergone a medical or surgical transition, the relationship between trans activism and feminism has also shifted. That’s because of the importance placed by gender-critical feminists, including me, on the body. Of course we don’t agree on everything, any more than LGBTQ activists do. But broadly speaking, our analysis is that women’s lives are shaped by their physical differences from males as well as the cultural meanings derived from these. The exploitation of women’s domestic and caring labour, for example, is linked to (though not justified by) our role in reproduction. Female anatomy makes us vulnerable in specific ways to sexual violence, such as pregnancy from rape. Our breasts are the most common site of cancers among women. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/30/feminists-anti-trans-idea-sex-gender-oppression?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other&fbclid=IwAR2GZQbirbjKi2CEkHTC83mLIvAcHKL2IwJSqFsmxzNylhHGW-bu7wN2h4Y

@Tim This video, which the retard uploaded, makes it look even worse:

Got some rain in Sydney last night, was hoping that was also in Melbourne with a front sweeping the South East, unfortunately not likely, or even enough to soften the track

Been listening to 'Relative Unknown' which is based on a guy who was part of one of the first Hells Angels Chapters and he ends up as a state witness against the gang with his family in Witness Protection, story is told by his daughter decades later. Good listen. @Nepia some of them I dont think I'd be interested in a multi ep series about them, so works for me.

This would be big news, if it were to come about. https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/38421/premiership-may-not-return-until-2021-in-risk-to-lions-tour-schedule/ Premiership clubs may seek to delay the start of the 2020/21 season until the New Year unless Government officials relax their policy on crowds. With a spike in Covid-19 cases forcing the abandonment of plans to allow spectators to attend sporting events from October 1, Premiership clubs are facing a financial Armageddon that could force further redundancies and player wage cuts. Sale supremo Steve Diamond went as far as suggesting on Friday that rugby could cease to exist as a professional sport, while an increasing number of clubs are reaching the conclusion that starting next season on November 20 may not be a viable proposition. One leading chairman told The Rugby Paper: “The situation is dire. Where a player pre-Covid would have been able to demand a contract worth £250,000-a-year, he’d be lucky to get £90,000 now and that situation could last for the next five to eight years. “How many players across the Premiership are we going to lose if clubs are unable to pay them? “Premiership clubs will have to take harsh decisions to reduce their squads and that will be the next move. If they can’t have crowds until next March or April, you either have to cover those losses out of your own pocket or you’ve got to reduce your numbers. “There are clubs with lots of money and an element who can just about balance the books, but some are on the verge of breakdown. It’s almost inevitable you will see some failures and if there are going to be no crowds, it really makes no sense to be playing.” With further high-level meetings between government officials and leading sports bodies due to take place in early October, the outcome of those talks will be crucial in determining whether the 2020/21 Premiership season can begin on its planned date. Delaying the new season would create a massive conflict with the British & Irish Lions but some clubs feel there may be no choice if they are to stay afloat. Our club source warned: “Clubs can reduce wage bills and cut numbers, but without crowds we’ll still be haemorrhaging money so what are we going to do? “We’re playing with no crowds at the moment to keep the TV companies happy, but my guess is that we could delay the new season until the New Year. Unless the government allows crowds or comes up with a rescue package, the whole thing isn’t viable.”

He interviews really well, smart guy.

@Bones Nah mate my son had his 1st Birthday party so had that I kept looking at the score on tribe though.

@Bones said in Coronavirus - UK: @MajorRage haha! Dick joke about a guy named Hancock! Sharp stuff. Yep pretty shallow and puerile. It's no surprise I find it amusing.

@MiketheSnow oooh Big Mike's getting serious with his memeing now...

Just watched Class Action Park. Great watch about a crazy New Jersey water park in the 70s-90s called Action Park. The brain child of a disgraced New York stock trader. I know the point of this doco was to point out how dangerous it was supposed to me it just looks like insane fun.

@voodoo said in Covid-19 and keeping fit: @nzzp said in Covid-19 and keeping fit: @voodoo damnit, I thought you were Polish! I am, don't be racist sorry mate, I assumed you were scandinavian as it said 'vikings'

The reverse jinx works my friends, NZ get up and win by 5 wickets. Fantastic knock from Satterthwaite and Martin getting us right back into it before Amelia Kerr won it for us. Great to see live cricket, even better to see NZ winning

@nzzp said in NFL Season 2020/21: @mariner4life it's like KC are playing on easy mode. Ridiculous, but fun Their defence is good too

@taniwharugby said in TR vs the future: @MN5 I’m sure there’s a middle ground ( he said hopefully )