From the BBC's live scoring:

@Stargazer said in Crusaders vs B&I Lions:

Okay, my 2 cents. I haven't read most of the comments, because to my great surprise (well, not really), all these Ferners who have always expressed their dislike towards the Crusaders (remember the hatiest team thread?) suddenly come out of the woodworks to dish the Crusaders and individual players. The frustration about the Crusaders being unbeaten this Super Rugby season must be huge. And the frustration with some of their players not being selected in the AB squad. Really pathetic.

LOL. You have to take shit for one game this year and you get that worked up.

@Siam said in Coronavirus - Overall:

renowned evolutionary biologist Brett Weinstein

He isn't a renowned anything, and he isn't a molecular biologist, virologist, or bioinformatics expert. He teaches at a crappy university and only has two publications to his name. He's never published anything relevant to this field.

I see that she didn't kill anyone other than herself.

Whether it's mass shootings, running for president, or leading a coalition government, women just can't do anything right.

Someone's got to do it:

When are the teams named?

@Catogrande said in Where are they now? (Past Ferners):

@Kirwan arbitrarily changed his avatar to a picture of a tin of spam.

Back when Kirwan was cool.

@chris-b said in All Blacks v France Test 3:

@kiwimurph So with Squire and Taufua out, does that bring Akira into the selection frame?

They've arguably still got Whitelock, Fifita, Frizzell and Savea to cover 6/8 options.

Four of the greats!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/85015214/aaron-smith-star-halfback-leaves-all-blacks-tour-in-disgrace

The woman said the more she thought about it the angrier she became.

"We want to convey the fact that we're not narking or gossiping."

"They are kings and treated like absolute royalty...We hold these people so high in regard.

"They get paid more money than any other athlete, they're household names, and they're on the Weetbix boxes for God's sake."

The woman's husband also made a recording on his phone from outside the cubicle after he realised what was taking place.```

What a fluffybunny.

@mariner4life There is no worse type of person than the self described social media influencer.

This better not mess with the depth of the existing teams ...

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/124484759/super-rugby-moana-pasifika-fiji-poised-for-2022-inclusion-as-nz-rugby-shares-broadcast-revenue

Not sure what to make of this announcement, do they mean that Afeaki and Halangahu are co-head coach, or that they are both dual Blues/Harbour coaches?

https://www.harbourrugby.co.nz/news-item/new-appointments-at-north-harbour-rugby

NEW APPOINTMENTS AT NORTH HARBOUR RUGBY
8 Mar 2021

North Harbour Rugby is moving forward into 2021 with a number of coaching and performances roles established.

Two new dual-coaches positions have been confirmed for the QBE Harbour men’s team with Ben Afeaki and Daniel Halangahu taking on roles for the 2021 season.

Both have had considerable experience around North Harbour in playing and coaching in the past.

The 33-year-old Afeaki a former prop played 58 games for the Union as well as making 36 appearances for the Chiefs and one Test for the All Blacks.

He hung up his playing boots in 2015 and is currently involved in the Blues set up as scrum coach and is a great addition to Harbour Rugby with his knowledge of the front row.

Former first five-eight Halangahu, 36 is also no stranger to rugby in the region having played 17 games for QBE North Harbour as well as being an assistant coach last season.

He previously played 74 games for the Waratahs. He retired from playing in 2015 and is currently an assistant coach at the Blues and has had assistant coaching roles with the QBE Harbour men’s side in the past.

One more change for Harbour is experienced rugby man, Alex King taking on the role of Head of Performance.

“I’m excited by the challenge to upskill from strength and conditioning to head the Performance Program and to work with the QBE Harbour coaches, Ben and Dan. They are great students of the game and bring a real energy and knowledge to Harbour.

It’s a great opportunity for myself and for Ben and Dan. We’re all keen to take the group of players forward this season and improve high performance outcomes for our QBE Harbour women’s side and newly formed Academy,” said King.

In the newly formed role, King’s core responsibilities will see him have strategic and management oversight across all High Performance Teams and Programs.

He will also have responsibilities in the implementation of the newly formed Blues/ MOU, which aims to create a world class High Performance Development Program in the region.

“It’s an exciting time for Harbour Rugby with both Ben and Dan coming on board and Alex as well,” said Harbour Chief Executive, David Gibson.

“There’s a real vibrancy around the Union and also at the Blues too with our relationship becoming stronger and a great deal of learning being shared.

It’s important we build on the platform that has been developing in recent times through this new approach and look at how we can improve our performance environments for those aspiring to reach the elite side of the game from our community,” explained Gibson.

Grand Final Winner-Super Rugby Aotearoa 2021

Crusaders
1.80

Blues
2.75

Highlanders
13.00

Hurricanes
18.00

Chiefs
20.00

@chris Drilled the Highlander's scrum last week. Should overtake Lomax.

@kiwimurph How has his defence been? Rieko Ioane had a lot of space last week.

@chris We will crush their forwards

@chris As a neutral (if there is such a thing in NZ rugby), I hope the Chiefs are more like the 1st half than the second!

Interesting comment from Grizz Wylie this week: (paraphrased) we got rid of rucking due to aesthetics, but the the clean-outs now have a high threat of injury and concussing players.

@crucial Introducing the Captain's call really seemed off to me. Who wants even more TMO reviews?

@steven-harris Worrying thing is even last year the Canes won this game. This year I didn't bother watching it because it was a foregone conclusion.