@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”

What about stupid people that think they can coach and select the ABs but have no clue about it. They can piss right of!

@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?

@dogmeat what’s a S5?

Anyone else struggled with the hurdles of the MIQ booking system?
Son and partner have been trying to secure a Iso slot to book for return from UK.
Have been waiting for new allocation dates in April to come up (by 22/4 according to website) which has meant around the clock checking in case they are added in. We are doing the overnight shift for them.
Anyway they caught onto a released date in early March last week which made us all scramble to try and secure a flight. A flight was listed and able to be booked from Singapore so we got excited except to find that both MIQ and SA had listed a scheduled flight into ChCh which simply doesn't exist. Long story short is that there wasn't a flight into AKL that day (there was one at 2345 the day before which would have them hopping on the Iso bus on the booked day but that wasn't allowed). We released the Iso booking anyway, which turned out to be a lucky move as Singapore stopped transit travel from UK that day.
Anyway a slot was released by someone on 29 March so we jumped on it then went to travel agent to confirm a flight through Dubai. Airline confirmed flight would be operating (at present) so we shelled out. Went back into Iso booking but that flight wasnt listed in the dropdown. Contacted MIQ (long wait) to be told that, yes they knew the flight was arriving but the system hasn't been updated yet and we would have to keep checking back for the update. What happens if they don't update before the iso booking expires? We lose the iso slot AND the booking fees on the flight.
I know that things are changing but there is no system in place to cover when you have the two correct bookings but waiting on someone to update the database. Aaaaaargh!

@dogmeat said in Beer thread:

@Crucial Their website says they still brew themselves from their pub in Mt Eden??

https://www.behemothbrewing.co.nz/about

After a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2019, Behemoth moved into their "forever home". With the help of 635 Chur-holders, a brewpub (Churly's) & production brewery now sit on the corner of Dominion Road and Charles Street. With 24 taps there's plenty of space for trying our most recent brew!

Interesting. I'm not sure if that brewery is doing the tap fresh stuff only or their whole supply. I was told only recently by someone in their production chain that the cans come from elsewhere.
I possibly have it all wrong. Depends on size of the brewery I guess.

@JC said in US Politics:

@Kiwiwomble You can check them out yourself if you want:

https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefings-statements/statement-press-secretary-regarding-executive-grants-clemency-012021/

One thing that I found quite shocking was the number of old men on the list who were imprisoned for unconscionably long terms for non-violent marijuana related offences. There are guys on the list who have served 2 or 3 decades of a life sentence for handling something that is now legal in many parts of the US. I have no problem with a grant of clemency for something like that, but I'm amazed it has needed the President to step in to right something that seems to me to be obviously wrong.

Stupidity in legal systems is widespread. I read an article yesterday about a woman in France who was declared dead by the courts during some endless complicated legal issues and now struggles to do anything including prove she is alive because she is officially dead.

@dogmeat said in Beer thread:

@Bovidae I thought Murica and Freedom Juice were also Trump themed beers. Dump the Trump & Im-Peach-ment are no longer produced (according to my local)

I enjoyed the former too often but I usually find Sours disappointing. Great at first but quickly wane.

I do like Behemoth

Simply a brand name now. They contract out everything hence the reason they have endless different brews. They just tweak a recipe and draw up a label for it.
The beer is OK but that's because it is made by a fairly good brewery (Epic I think)

@Tim said in Political Memes (memes only):

@Kiwiwomble Merkel is afraid of dogs, so Putin brought a huge dog to a meeting.

Huge? It’s a bloody Labrador! Fat maybe.

@Kiwiwomble said in Star Wars VII ****contains spoilers****:

@ACT-Crusader I know I haven't been here long but that sounds far too balanced an opinion to be allowed

Balanced opinions are tolerated. It is opinions based on knowledge and fact that are frowned upon.

According to the Steelers Roigard and Leger have been brought into Canes squad as cover

Not sure if I am slow on this news but Lindenmuth and Vialame Taulani have been added into the Chiefs training as cover (Steelers news says 'Chiefs Squad').

@Gunner said in World Test Championship:

I saw something on one of the cricket sites, the simplest way for the BC's to make the final is for SA to win one test against the Aussies.

Yes. As above. SA to win one or draw two.