@canefan Roger Moore was the James Bond I grew up watching in the 1980s so I was saddened to hear of his passing despite his age.

I read this on another forum.

@nzzp said in Ireland Vs All Blacks:

Ireland have been seriously good for some time. They should have beaten us in Christchurch a few years ago. They should have beaten us in Dublin in 13. They did beat us in Chicago.

That win in Chicago was the catalyst for this victory in Dublin. Ireland now has the belief they can win these games, and that is half the battle.

The disappointing thing from an AB perspective is that Ireland played exactly how everyone expected them to so Hansen and co should have had a game plan to counter that.

The irony is that MacDonald could take Umaga's position again and Mitchell and Deans have nothing to do with it this time.

@98blueandgold said in All Blacks Squad for France:

As Selectors pointed out its work rate and energy levels for Akira. ABs need the forwards to work, clean out rucks, link etc so backs can finish which is probably why Akira not chosen

Is "workrate and energy levels" a euphemism for masquerading on the wing ala Fifita?

I'm 2 days late reading this thread so I'll only make a few comments.

I was high up in the stands in the corner where Jordie scored so had a good view of the other chances at the same end of the ground. Both BB and Laumape could have also scored tries as they were in gaps but fumbled under some defensive pressure. But no excuses for Savea - that was a definite try if he had caught the bloody ball. As many have said, if we had taken 1 or 2 of those chances the ABs would be well ahead at HT and in control of the game, as the Lions were never going to score multiple tries.

The thing I was most pissed off about was that the officials let the Lions slow the game down all the time as not all the injuries seemed to be genuine. It was like watching a RL game when the support staff run onto the field at every opportunity. Read should have spoken to Poite about this too.

Now for something about the Lions tour in general. I picked my father up from the airport earlier in the day as he had been working in Europe and was going to the game with me. He travelled back to NZ via London and was sitting next to a guy who was flying into Auckland to attend the 3rd test and flying back to the UK the following day - that's dedication. And at the test there was a South African guy (wearing his Bok colours) next to me who also flew to NZ especially for the game. That is what makes these tours unique so long may they continue.

@sparky said in Bledisoe #1:

@Bovidae Opps, I forgot about Matt Tood.

Easy mistake.

@Bones I saw that article. Isaac isn't a Kiwi anyway. He's from the Pacific Island of Tokoroa.

@Nepia said in [Poll] Next All Black Coach:

WTF! Mains was only 46 when he took over the ABs.

He always looked old didn't he.

I hope WR was thorough and viewed all camera angles.

I'm still not comfortable when TJP comes on in a tight test. It's like watching Phipps replace Genia.

Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant Ref 1:Brendon Pickerill
Assistant Ref 2:Angus Mabey
TMO : Shane McDermott

@mariner4life To be perfectly clear, I wasn't talking from personal experience. I wish I turned left when boarding a plane.

The look on O'Brien's face says it all.

@Tim said in Meatless BK Burger:

I'm only interested in trying the "Impossible" burger, which sounds better than the others.

I assume no one here was a business class customer when Air NZ had these on their menu?

I agree.

While the current generation has had great success at home, winning tests away from home in Aust/India/SA remains elusive.

@OleOleOle Yeah, IIRC Randle was the coach then. I went to the final when they lost to Marist. Koloamatangi was part of their propping rotation as well.

@Snowy said in Planes:

And another valuable load of, ah, "bananas" leaves South America. Didn't appear to have any reg markings, either. I'm sure they just forgot.

None of any of that is suspicious at all.

The first thing I thought of too. Off to the USA I'm sure.

@Steven-Harris said in Blues 2020:

I think it’s refreshing that someone has obviously taken notice of Joe Walsh’s form on the loose head side of the scrum regardless of the team he is playing for.

Walsh was part of a dominant University scrum in Waikato club rugby with Faiva and Moli before moving south. He wouldn't have had the same opportunities if he remained in the Waikato with other props ahead of him.

@Hooroo I would say most injuries are from contact, and that is more likely to happen early in the season (or preseason) when players are not as conditioned to the physicality.

The Ruakura field that the Chiefs train on is bloody good.