@sparky said in Sam Cane - All Blacks Captain:

Which test was Andrew Hore ABs captain for?

It was a club game.

@cantab79 said in AB Test Team v France.:

Can't believe people are seriously suggesting that Steve Hansen has not called up Akira Ioane because he is saving him for the Maori team. Is there any precedent to back up this theory? Luke Whitelock has outplayed Ioane at both Super Rugby and Mitre 10 Cup levels this year, and that's why he's been selected.

How does that pie taste?

Took a drive yesterday (only 5 km over the regional border) to a farm in the Wairarapa and picked up a new pup. 3 month old black lab. Very cool little fella. This will keep me busy.

Look. Tana and BOD have buried the hatchet and are sharing a laugh.

Next on Tana's list are @Kirwan and @Duluth

@jegga said in RWC: Japan v Ireland (Pool A):

@booboo said in RWC: Japan v Ireland (Pool A):

@jegga said in RWC: Japan v Ireland (Pool A):

@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: Japan v Ireland (Pool A):

@jegga said in RWC: Japan v Ireland (Pool A):

Apparently BOD was a pundit on the Irish coverage and didn't take the result well. If anyone has the footage and can post it I will be eternally grateful

Was on the ITV coverage.

He had the look of a man who's swallowed a wasp during during a live TV interview and that distracted him from the fact he's also having a severe bowel spasm.

Excellent.

A quarter final exit is an Irish tradition isn’t it?

Planet Rugby’s Ireland fans are still delivering gold

“We knew all of this in advance.
That’s why Joe player what he felt was his best team.

In cooler weather, better ref, neutral location both teams given the same amount of rest and our B team puts 40 points on them.

Do we really think that Japan making the quarters wasn’t just what WR wanted?

At this rate Japan might make the semis or better.

Reminds me of Korea/Japan WC in the football.”

Also a whole thread about how bent Gardner is

http://forum.planetrugby.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=91481&sid=5594db999ca625c55956a0becc14a9dc

I don’t remember bok fans being this graceless at all and their team came back and gave ours a hell of a game in the semis.
I hope Heneke Meyer had a smile on his face last night .
The only downside for Japan is no one in their pool is going to take them lightly so they’ll be playing their top side if possible.

As a neutralish observer (I was obviously backing Japan) I didn't notice any obvious issues with the officiating. Did anyone? (Haven't read the thread.)

What are their specific whinge? Or is it just victim mentality?

Some of them have been saying Japan had an advantage because they play in the super rugby comp and are more used to the way Gardner refs .

Victim mentality, delusions of grandeur or just ungracious arseclowns? Take your pick

According to comments on the42 Ireland were beaten by some fella called Hugh Middity.
He wasn’t on the team sheets but must have been there because everyone is saying “Hi, Hugh Middity”

@allblacksfan72 said in Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?:

How about George bridge? Has all the qualities needed for test rugby

A red and black jersey?

Can someone please correct this thread title. It is doing my head in.

@Catogrande said in Are you watching the death rattle of all authentic sports?:

@MajorRage said in Are you watching the death rattle of all authentic sports?:

@Victor-Meldrew said in Are you watching the death rattle of all authentic sports?:

@Crucial said in Are you watching the death rattle of all authentic sports?:

Freedom of speech still exists - anyone (in most countries) - anyone is free to say anything. What happens as a consequence is the debated point

A society where you can lose your job for legally expressing an opinion is not a society which has freedom of speech.

Sportsmen and woman who express an opinion and speak out for gay rights (rightly) aren't dropped from their teams - but those with an opposite view are.

As you say, sport reflects society.

Legally, I can call my boss a fucking piston wristed gibbon. I can shout it from the rooftops if I want, legally.

Freedom of speech means I can’t lose my job?

It would help us enormously if we knew who you worked for.

Self employed?

SBW is there over Laumape for a number of reasons (experience in general, experience at RWCs) but most importantly he is the better player for the gameplay and structure.
He is there to be in pod one which involves bending the line and recycling quickly out to the second playmaker.
NL is great at bending the line but his ball handling is not at SBWs level.
I probably would have had NL there over Crotty but concede that loses some squad flexibility.
NL is just unlucky not undeserving

@SynicBast s next art project

@SynicBast said in Lockdown Check In:

Status Update:
Job hunting has been interesting, and the interviews even more so - I'll leave it at that, although I am not surprised at the lack of basic reading and listening comprehension skills of several interviewers.
Highlight of the last fortnight: someone actually apologetically told me I looked like Lenin, but I took pity on them and didn't admit that was the exact plan.

I have a part time gig cleaning the lodge five days a week - minimum wage, but it keeps me focused and active. Plus I get to be THAT GUY when I see people ignoring basic hygiene and not cleaning up after themselves in the kitchen and dining room.

Some decent new arrivals lately, including a young woman from the same part of France where my daughters are living - nice to be able to get my spoken french back on track and up to speed, although she did make the point that my French betrays my age nicely.

Missing some important details there man.
Like how hot the french chick is.
You are denying us!

@Kiwiwomble said in Top Ferners underrated players:

@Crucial see, i feel we have people like frizzell for throwing themselves at the defense with five meters to go

I think a wing that can split the defense from range is some good variety

Those breaks need to get results though. Your best chance of scoring after a break is for the player that made the break to be able to go all the way. Second best chance is to link with good support.
We are talking about wingers being finishers though and finishers need exceptional finishing skills against good defences

@raznomore said in The hot takes and unpopular opinions:

My apologies if this has been raised, the All Blacks are refereed differently and more advantageously than other teams.

Yeah, nah.

@dogmeat said in The hot takes and unpopular opinions:

OK let me refrain - Meat with sweet fruit is the devils work but nah Duck a l'orange is so sixties. Don't have apple with pork or do the cheeries with venison thing.

I don't have a sweet tooth. Don't eat biscuits, chocolate, cakes, desserts, sweets - have sugar in anything except a mojito.

....or a whiskey sour

@raznomore said in Top Ferners underrated players:

Don't understand the Bridge hate. He's Ben Smith in the early days. I never saw Caleb Ralph score tries like Bridge does either..

If he is to be equated with Ben Smith then he should be honing his fullback skills.
I don't hate him, just think we can do better on the wing.
At high international level you need wingers that can battle through that last 2 metres to the line. Whether by strength, fend or swerve.
I get the feeling that Bridge requires more of a clear run. He does have skills to give himself that opportunity and those work against lesser teams.
I just get the feeling that he will find himself bundled out often.

@taniwharugby said in Coronavirus - New Zealand:

I guess test results out today and tomorrow will determine just how bad the spread is...or not (hopefully)

Yeah, the three day thing isn't just to allow time to try and trace. They wanted an indication of spread by getting people tested as well.

If the tests from yesterday and today show up unrelated cases then it will be a big concern. If nothing comes up they are back to trying to decipher where the cases came from.

@Bovidae said in AB Captain:

@booboo said in AB Captain:

If not Cane then who?

Props. None play 80.
And who is a guaranteed starter? Moody?
Not even SR captains

Hooker. Again will be subbed.

England with Hartley is the only major team I can remember that subbed their captain. Not ideal.

Didn't Australia do it for a while with Moore? Still not ideal.

Looks especially bad if you have to pull the captain when they are most needed in a tight game.

@antipodean said in AB Captain:

@shark said in AB Captain:

I've never been a fan of the Cane appointment. Completely uninspiring choice and Savea should be the starting openside flanker.

Is that bait or humour? I forget which thread i'm in.

One of the big contributing factors in last year's failures was a lack of dominant tackling. Made even more puzzling by Cane's omission in the semi.

2019
draw v SA - Cane didn't play
loss v Aus - Cane subbed after 50 minutes with Ardie remaining on
loss to England -Cane played the second half with Ardie at 7

@antipodean said in Top Ferners underrated players:

@Crucial said in Top Ferners underrated players:

@antipodean said in Top Ferners underrated players:

@Crucial said in Top Ferners underrated players:

@antipodean said in Top Ferners underrated players:

@ACT-Crusader said in Top Ferners underrated players:

For what it’s worth, I didn’t really rate TJ Faiane but the positive difference to the Blues set up and play was very noticeable when he was on the field as opposed to when he was out.

A genuine second five-eighth.

Say whaaat ?

You mean a genuine inside centre?

This is still a New Zealand forum?

The name used is relevant to the style of player.

A genuine second five is like when DC wore 12

A centre is like Laumape, Goodhue or Faiane.

Goodhue is out of position - he's a centre. Laumape doesn't have the skillset. You might want to watch TJ Faiane's game.

Fair enough. I probably hold my view of him because I haven't noticed him doing much as a 'second controller'. I will watch out for it.