Guinness has retired for the evening.

@sparky said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:

Sparky's All Black RWC squad

Props: Nepo Laulala, Joe Moody, Atu Moli, Angus Ta'avao, Ofa Tu'ungafasi

Hooker: Dane Coles, Liam Coltman, Codie Taylor.

Locks: Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuitupolou, Sam Whitelock

Back Row: Sam Cane, Luke Jacobson, Kieran Read, Ardie Savea, Matt Todd

Half Backs: TJ Perenera, Aaron Smith, Brad Weber

First Fives: Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo'unga

Midfield: Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Anton Leinert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams

Back Three: Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Reiko Ioane, Sevu Reece, Ben Smith

Some very tough decisions ahead for the selectors to get it down to 31..

Proof that a stopped clock is right sometimes.

His name is spelt "Ma'a Nonu" but it can be pronounced as "Living Legend".

This is a guy who made his NPC debut in 2002 and his Super Rugby debut in 2003. In his distinguished international career he donned the famous Black Jersey for 104 Tests, contributing to two World Cup wins with tries in the 2011 Semi Final and the 2015 Final.

Tonight he set up Tom Robinson for the first try with a superb pass, he set up Caleb Clarke for the second with another superb pass and had the instincts honed by nearly two decades playing and training at an elite level to be in the right place to take the offloaded from Reiko Ioane to run in and score a try himself.

A great signing for the Blues. Their young players must be learning so much from playing with perhaps the greatest ever 12 to play the game.

New Zealand have won the Netball World Cup!!!!

Classic Ted:

My happy life has been turned upside down to be honest. Worst thing I've been through apart from the death of immediate family. Missing Rugby and Cricket. Missing the normal routine. Really tough to be working fulltime away from place of work and trying to home school the kids at the same time. Lots of people I know are sick. I'm worried about everyone.

Really proud of the resilience of my kids. The dog seems really happy to have us around more. Listened to a few good podcasts. Able to go for a run around the park as a family each day. Great banter from 2 metre plus from neighbours. Heard from a few friends I've not heard from in ages. Glad not to have the constant background rumble of motorway traffic. Those are the postives.

We'll get through all of this, but it feels like a prison sentence. I go to sleep each night hoping normal will return very soon.

Ngani Laumape re-signs with the Hurricanes and NZRU until 2021:

@Chester-Draws Honestly, mate if you're looking for "top-quality analysis", you should skip my posts.

It seems unlikely the Springboks who play for English and French clubs will be involved in the Rugby Championship this year.

Krusty's back.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/54293519

@Victor-Meldrew Very sad to hear. He was Head Coach at East Grinstead Rugby Club. Dreadful news for all his friends and family. Heartbroken.

Horrible news from Croydon. Sgt Matt Ratana sounds like a great guy:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-54302266

A long-serving police officer shot dead in a custody centre in south London has been named as Sgt Matiu Ratana aged 54.
New Zealand-born Sgt Ratana was two months away from retirement when he was shot in the chest in Croydon on Friday.
The 23-year-old suspect is then thought to have turned the firearm on himself. He remains in a critical condition in hospital.
Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick described the police sergeant as "a big guy" who was "big in heart".
"He was very well known locally and he will be remembered so fondly in Croydon and missed there, as well as in the Met and the rugby world," she said.
A minute's silence was held at 16:00 BST at New Scotland Yard and Croydon Police Station to pay tribute to the officer.
Sgt Ratana, who was known as Matt, had served with the Met for almost 30 years having moved to the UK in 1989.
The 54-year-old was originally from the Hawke's Bay area of New Zealand and was educated at Palmerston North Boy's High School's, a town north of the capital, Wellington.
He had served with the Met in various parts of London including Hackney and Selhurst, with his last posting as custody sergeant in Croydon, where he managed suspects who are brought into the cells.
He was on duty in that role at the Windmill Road centre when he was shot dead at about 02:15.
The BBC has been told the shooting happened during questioning of the suspect about Covid-19.
Outside work Sgt Ratana was a highly experienced rugby union coach, leading teams in Worthing, close to Goring-by-Sea where he then lived and in East Grinstead, where he was living when he died.
Ryan Morlen, assistant head coach at East Grinstead Rugby Club, described the 54-year-old as "an absolutely lovely bloke".
arlier, BBC Home Affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said it was believed the suspect was known to counter-terrorism police having been on their radar in the past, though the Met has not officially confirmed that.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the man was arrested on suspicion of possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply and possession of ammunition.
He was handcuffed with his hands behind his back and taken to the Croydon Custody Centre in a police vehicle, before being escorted into the building.
The shots were fired as officers prepared to search the suspect, who was still handcuffed, with a metal detector, the IOPC said.
"A non-police issue firearm, which appears to be a revolver, has been recovered from the scene. Further ballistic work will be required," said IOPC regional director Sal Naseem.
The Met have said a murder investigation was under way.

@Stargazer said in Wellington v BOP:

Oh geez, Welly have a showpony. Don't overdo that Ruben.

Loved it. Great to see a number of talented youngsters so excited about wearing the Wellington jersey and winning.

@Stargazer Financial corruption in French Rugby? Next thing they'll be reporting that water is wet.

Just play the footy, lads, and stop whinning.

All trials in the UK involving spectators returning to stadiums are now suspended. The reminder of the 6 Nations and the 8 Nations tournament to happen behind closed doors.

UK goes up from Level 3 (virus out there, restrictions being removed) to Level 4 (virus in general transmission and growing exponentially).

Up to the devolved administrations to decide what to do now. COBR meeting tomorrow.

Looking at some highlight reels. If he played Union, RTS should play Right Wing and be used in a similar way to the All Blacks did Nehe Milner Skudder in 2015.RWC. His massive step would be a handful one-on-one. Could use his passing to link with supporting Back Row players.