Sitting through the Black Ferns v Wallaroos XVs game was an absolute treat compared to sitting through the 2018 Blues season.

Clearly the punishment should be that the Crusaders are forced to start Brett Cameron at 10 this week vs the Blues.....

@cgrant No they'll just look short compared to the towering height of Ardie on the opposite side.....

@Tim said in Blues 2020:

Anyone know when Parsons will be available?

There's no rush...

@wreck-diver said in Bledisloe II:

@mimic said in Bledisloe II:

@rancid-schnitzel said in Bledisloe II:

@nzzp said in Bledisloe II:

@antipodean said in Bledisloe II:

I just don't see the Wallabies being that bad the week after. The lineout is solvable and even if you lose a couple, try something else... The scrum will be bolstered with Sio back and Tupou on the bench. A couple of sessions on running lines and catch-pass for the backs. Hey presto, they're competitive.

They were damn good for the first half. Aggressive hard defence, straight running. On a different night with a different ref, you're looking at a healthy half time lead.

I keep saying it; ther'es not much between these sides at the top level. I don't think the Wobbles will be as bad at set piece, and I reckon supporters should be heartened by the non-set piece effort last week.

All true but they don't have the heart and lungs to do it for 80. They were absolutely gone after 35 minutes. The ABs blew several opportunities in the first half as well and also lost line outs. I agree that it's a decent Aus team, but Cheika is just a shit coach.

This can be easily fixed if they amend their game plan to slow the game down in certain areas. They were trying to play at pace when they didn't have the fitness to last the full 80. Losing Tongan Thor was a huge loss.

Please he's not a Norse God he is a fat Sth Auckland kid that didnt have the balls to have a go in NZ after leaving school. In his own words he said he was used to running over skinny little white boys so move to Aussie to play rugby. I dont see him adding anything to their team let alone his youtube page.

This seems harsh. He's a 22 year old tighthead prop who really improved this year in Super Rugby. He looks a serious talent.

@sparky Beaudie has chosen the four year sabbatical....

Who the fuck would want to watch the Black Caps right now.

Stuff that - bring on the rugby

@canerbry said in Hurricanes vs Crusaders:

We'll take that considering the third-rate roster and random ref and feral crowd could have been a lot worse.

The game wasn't in Canterbury

@kev said in All Blacks v France Test #2:

@no-quarter Akira hasn’t been selected because for all his talent he still wants to play like the game like he is 5 years old. Picking up the ball and running around the whole team to score a try. Not sure his approach would have helped today.

Here is an idea. How about the coaches get him up to speed. Isnt that their job?

World class talent - nah lets pick some journeymen players instead. Performances like tonight is what you end up with.

Really not surprised by that performance when you look at the players out on the field. A lot of average out there.

Actually it makes sense to post a picture of Jordie in the Blues thread considering how much Jordie contributed to the Blues winning the game vs the Canes.

@Canes4life keep your Canes mitts off

@shark Not taken by Christie's 2020 form?

@mariner4life said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

what ever way you want to look at it, we dropped a loose forward, picked an extra tight forward, and decided to play a wide game. That's muddled overthinking if ever i saw it.

And still fucked the lineout.

To add to this -

When looking at horses for courses - the opposition England were really strong in the loose forwards during the RWC in the leadup to the semi final with their 6/7 combo - its not like they were running a lock at 6.

Really strange.

I actually think defensively Rieko did a very good job vs Canes in Welly (up against Aso) and against Lions at Eden Park.

After he had a week to settle in (v Stormers) his defence was really good.

He has the chance to develop into a world class centre.

AFL season suspended until end of May at least.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejilian has announced the state will move to enforce major lockdowns of non-essential services, in the first state to strike out without federal backing.

"Tonight I will be informing the National Cabinet that NSW will proceed to a more comprehensive shutdown of non-essential services. This will take place over the next 48 hours," Ms Berejiklian said in a statement.

"Supermarkets, petrol stations, pharmacies, convenience stores, freight and logistics, and home delivery will be among the many services that will remain open.

Cane would be favourite to be captain I would assume.

@Crucial said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@KiwiMurph said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@Duluth I think that squad at the bottom of the article will be pretty close to mark.

Possible All Blacks squad for 2020:

Forwards: Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Asafo Aumua, Joe Moody, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Nepo Lauala, Atu Moli, Tyrel Lomax, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Mitchell Dunshea, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu, Cullen Grace, Dalton Papalii.

Backs: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber, Richie Mo’unga, Beauden Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ngani Laumape, Jack Goodhue, Braydon Ennor, Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, Damian McKenzie.

True. It is the logic used to get there that is often screwy though. Discarding players then supplanting them with someone with the same weakness.
I don't see Aumua standing out enough ahead of others. I don't see Bridge doing anything to warrant holding his place. Ennor? Hasn't stepped up yet.

I wonder in some close calls he's gone for players that are part of the ABs rest policy (Papalii, Ennor)

@Duluth I think that squad at the bottom of the article will be pretty close to mark.

Possible All Blacks squad for 2020:

Forwards: Codie Taylor, Dane Coles, Asafo Aumua, Joe Moody, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Nepo Lauala, Atu Moli, Tyrel Lomax, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Mitchell Dunshea, Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Hoskins Sotutu, Cullen Grace, Dalton Papalii.

Backs: Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara, Brad Weber, Richie Mo’unga, Beauden Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ngani Laumape, Jack Goodhue, Braydon Ennor, Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Sevu Reece, Rieko Ioane, Damian McKenzie.