The Silver Fern

I'd like to see what they can do with IWL in the AB environment. He's playing his guts out this year, seems to have a different attitude to previous years.

Is that Charlie Faumuina I see lining up for Papatoetoe tomorrow?

@dogmeat

Unfortunately, the big 6 (actually I don’t think city are that much of a draw) are the draw for all the broadcasting rights.

As it is, the season is an overcrowded mess with multiple clubs having their worst injury crises ever and in some periods , having to play up to 8 games a month in the process.

If you want to see the danger for a club trying to break into CL places artificially. Click on the link above around Everton. They are in financial dire straits. And Everton are big club.

The hope for the footballing pyramid is
that the deal they are trying to agree will be a consistent increase in revenue sharing that can be distributed down all of the clubs, which was a bargaining chip when it came to scrapping replays. I won’t hold my breath on that if I was in the 4th tier.

Yes it does take away some of the romance of the FA Cup but realistically, how many clubs actually manage to get replays with a big side? Very few.

@mariner4life I don't generally give Kent much of my viewership but I don't remember this type of carry on when Lomax signed with the Eels

Definitely the pool of death for the men after Argentina's struggles in HK.

Weather looks a bit dicey for tomorrow, which is a shame with 2 big games on the card that sees 1 v 3 and 2 v 5.

Not yet seen any team sheets.

Match of the round will be unbeaten MN (1st) taking on unbeaten Moerewa/United Kawakawa (3rd) MN are tracking well despite not being as strong (on paper) as last year, while MM/UKK is chock full of veteran players with a sprinkling of youth, while I expect MN to be too strong, I thnkn M/UKK will be there at the business end of the season Wellsford host Hikurangi, after a heavy home loss last week, Wellsford will be out to get back on track, however if Hikurangi have big Matt Letoga at 8 again, I think they will sneak past Wellsford. OBM fresh off their big away win over Wellsford will want to keep rolling against HH, who I must say aren’t as good as I thought they should be, although without a decent front row, they will battle, I think this will be tight, but OBM to win it Kamo (2nd) still undefeated host 5th place Western Sharks, I think Kamo should take this, while they aren’t the biggest, fastest or best, they have a solid looking team across the board, although their lineout is a bit of a weakness IMO Waipu, who defaulted in their away fixture last week, host Kerikeri, the visitors should be too strong for Waipu, who seem to be battling on and off the field this year and last year, after making the final in 2022

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@Daffy-Jaffy said in Black Caps vs Pakistan T20Is:

Live now on YouTube - Edit: Well that was a waste of time. Abandoned to rain after two balls with NZ 2 for 1 wicket.

That’s a hell of a lot of action for two balls I have to say

Just watching some footage of Blues practice on CGW and Jason O'Halloran was there. I hope he is well and fully back on deck.

NZR and the provincial unions are all set up as Incorporated Societies. They get an exemption from paying tax because they are set up to promote amateur sport.

@Winger I read IWL as 2028 initially as I was looking at it off a small screen.

@taniwharugby The Brumbies seem to be the most aggressive in looking for talent in NZ. They also have the largest representation in the Aust U20 squad. I don't know if others have NZ links.

@mariner4life said in AFL 2024:

@barbarian said in AFL 2024:

to some extent cricket

i don't trust hawkeye

No, neither. But I trust hotspot, snicko and side cameras to adjudicate on runouts.

Why isn't it red...?

It's not like dark gold is a particularly ANZAC-y colour so no reason why they had to go with that... They could've done a big poppy design or something.

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Fifteen-cap All Black Ngani Laumape has switched international allegiance to Tonga, it has been revealed.

The Kobelco Kobe Steelers centre earned the last of his 15 caps in November 2020, but, given the 30-year-old has Tongan parents, he has now committed his international future to his parents' country of birth.

He first declared his interest in playing for the ‘Ikale Tahi when the birthright ruling was introduced by World Rugby in 2021. He has been eligible since November last year, however it was too late for him to be involved in the World Cup. He will likely line up in the centre alongside another former All Black in Malakai Fekitoa.

“Our priority now is to qualify for the World Cup so there is still a use for those players and bringing their leadership into the group. And at the same time, we have got guys like Ngani Laumape, who has put his hand up to come in,” assistant coach Nili Latu told RugbyPass.

“Over 80% of the World Cup squad are over 30 and as we’re looking to build some of those players may give us a year or two.

“I think it is really important that we do keep some high-profile players to lead the way for the next generation. A few of the boys have already asked for time off for family reasons and, for me that gives opportunity for the next person.”

Four years after getting a taste of international coaching, Geoff Parling will return as the Wallabies’ new lineout coach.

The Roar can reveal the Rebels assistant, who coached alongside Dave Rennie in six Tests during the 2020 campaign, is set to be unveiled as Joe Schmidt’s latest recruit to his coaching team in the coming days.

Portugal appoint ex-All Black Simon Mannix as new coach Portugal appoint ex-All Black Simon Mannix as new coach

Former All Black and current Biarritz director of rugby Simon Mannix will take the reins of the Portugal men’s team for the next four years...

George had his best result in quite a while in the Giro d'Abruzzo - coming in 3rd in the GC, 2nd in the KotM, and 2nd in the final stage.

Solid throughout.

Behind Lutsenko and Sivakov, but ahead of Adam Yates, Ulissi, Pozzivivo and a few other decent names...and everyone else.

Warriors played like trash today. Was pretty lack lustre. Gave up too many offensive rebounds and gave away too many turnovers.

Klay was brick city. Kerr was messing with the lineups. Not enough out of Kaminga, Wiggins, CP3.

It’s a tough old road in the West and this version of the Dubs got found out.

Predictions:
Tomorrow - Heat and Bulls win
Saturday - Pelicans and Bulls win