@Cyclops said in Cricket: NZ vs England:

@gt12 said in Cricket: NZ vs England:

@Godder

Wow, so Watling is heads and shoulders in our top team then. Good on that man.

The only question you'd have to ask as the selector is whether you want Watling who will dig you out if your top order is in trouble or Baz coming in at 300/5 and torching a bowling attack that's been worn down.

For all normal purposes, Watling is a dream keeper. Almost like clockwork you can rely on him to dig us out of a hole. The only weakness is that he doesn't seem comfortable coming out when we're already in a dominant position. I think it doesn't suit his game and as a result of his selflessness he tries to play a different way to try and progress the game and in doesn't work for him.

For a side with an all time top 6, Baz just slips in because we're much less likely to need a rescue job. For any real selection, Watling is the man for the job.

I'd go with Watling.
If we have our all time top 6, we would be playing against the all time top bowlers from others teams too.
We will definitely find ourselves in trouble against all time test bowlers from other nations.

BJ averages 43.10 as designated keeper, compared to Baz with 34.18

Jesus Christ, the Ravens look unstoppable. Ravens v 9ers looking likely for the Superbowl.

Their matchup next week will be a banger.

@nzzp said in Blues 2020:

@Bovidae said in Blues 2020:

Rieko is a midfielder now?

Clearly spent too much time listening to Tana

Seriously, though, whatevrer works for the player. If he thinks his career is at 13, who am I to disagree. Tana did it and nailed it. It still feels a bit weird, mind

Rieko played his schoolboy rugby at 13. IIRC, he didn't play wing until he made the ABs.

@Cyclops said in NFL 2019:

@KiwiMurph said in NFL 2019:

@Cyclops yep. Seahawks meanwhile are suddenly real contenders. They have the best QB in the league this season, they have Clowney playing like the #1 overall pick he was and theyve picked up Josh Gordon. Of course Carroll is a class coach as well.

People talk about the conferences in Super Rugby lacking balance - the divisions in NFL are just as bad.

The NFC West is incredibly strong meanwhile some of other divisions have multiple awful teams (NFC East, AFC East etc).

Yeah the draws can be so unequal sometimes it's crazy. (Pats get the rest of AFC east twice and NFC east, and the Bengals). There's almost always one team that's 10-6 or 9-7 that misses out. But they don't seem to care as much. Maybe because it's always been like that?

The league usually evens out.
NFC West is so strong atm, but there was a time when they were all complete trash (The winner of their division had a losing record).

Patriots place Flash Gordon on IR.. Looks like the Pats are letting him go..

Patriots pick up Mohamed Sanu for a 2nd round draft pick, fresh after moving to 7 and 0.

@Sneakdefreak said in NFL 2019:

Took time out from work to watch the 49ers go 4-0 at my local pub.

Our running game is pretty much up there with the best as the Breida/Coleman combo provides them with speed and strength in both the running and passing game.

Browns QB Baker Mayfield must have rooted 49ers DE Nick Bosa's mother or something because Nick was hunting him all game. Mayfield finished with 100 yards passing, two INTs and a few fumbles thanks to the 49ers defence.

Only Patriots and 49ers are undefeated. Superbowl right there.

That would be a great Superbowl matchup. The stories leading up to it would be great too, with the QBs and the coaches.

But don't get excited just yet.
9ers opponents have a record of 5 and 15.
Patriots opponents have a record of 5 and 18.

9ers still have 4 games against the Rams and Seahawks. They also gotta play the Packers and the Saints (imo, NFC favourites who should have Brees back). All should be cracking games.
9ers are unlucky they are in a loaded division/conference. Good luck picking the playoff teams from the NFC.

@Stargazer said in 2019 NZ Schools:

@mimic I don't know about sevens. He looks too big for sevens and not fast enough. But definitely one you want to keep in rugby!

I heard from some in camp that he has the fastest 40, faster than the backs.

@Stargazer said in 2019 NZ Schools:

FT: NZ Schools Barbarians 52 - 22 Fiji Schools

To me, the best forward was no. 8 Sosaia Moala and the best back Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong.

The 10-12 combo between Smiler-Ah Kiong and Cook-Savage worked well. The latter kicked well.

Saia is an absolute beast. I'm really surprised that he didn't make the NZ schools team.
He is quick (could easily play winger) and it's surprising that he was a prop.
If the Blues don't look after him, he could be off to league. I hear the Roosters (as well as other teams) are after him.
If NZRU are smart, they'll fast track him in the NZ Sevens team like they do with all the other promising talents.

@Stargazer said in 2019 NZ Schools:

@Chester-Draws Apart from 5 to 6 players, all players from this year's Hastings Boys 1st XV will return next year. So the majority will be eligible. Several players are year 11.

Also, if they are eligible to play the Top 4 finals, doesn't that also mean they are eligible for NZ Schools?

IIRC, I think they picked the main team that was mainly Year 13s, and the Baabaas were mainly Year 12s.
So if they are Year 11, I'm assuming that's why they weren't picked.
That was in the past, so not sure if it's still the same.

Does anyone have a breakdown of the Year Levels of the players?