A bit of an update on league boy, Jordan Mailata, who is trying to get drafted. Apparently he did well at his pro day.

Massive rugby player Jordan Mailata impresses scouts at pro day Massive rugby player Jordan Mailata impresses scouts at pro day

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I can see him being an undrafted free agent and just being a camp body, but hard to see him being anything more. His athleticism for his size will be intriguing for some teams to want to at least take a look at him.

I'm wondering what position they'd try him out in. You'd normally associate someone with his size with either an offensive tackle or defensive tackle.

http://www.allblacks.com/News/32204/all-blacks-podcast-with-conrad-smith

I stumbled across this a few months back as well.

Yep they look like rednecks but get the swish playing uniform. Hadnt seen it before but then a few weeks after I saw what looked to be a cornhole setup being carried in to a place just up the road from ours.

England head coach Eddie Jones retains RFU's backing despite fifth-place Six Nations finish

"Eddie and his coaches have my confidence..."
... not quite "full backing of the board" yet

@jegga said in Dylan Mika - RIP:

Weird article trying to link all these guys deaths
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12017113

Weird article indeed.

@chris-b said in Defining Who We Are ... NZ All Blacks:

They've gone on to list just six players who are overseas who might be called up to the ABs if the rules were relaxed - of which only Cruden and arguably Piutau are certainties. There's literally hundreds of others who wouldn't be protected.

I was a massive fan of Cruden, and thought he was under-rated -- the ABs virtually never lost if he started, and he turned the Chiefs around. Beauden Barrett already has more losses.

But I wouldn't pick him from overseas unless every other 1st-5 option was broken. And maybe not them.

Our experience is that even the best players returning from overseas need time to readjust even to domestic rugby. And many of them fail to do so at all. Putting them straight into an AB side would be a disaster.

@taniwharugby said in Tiger not gooone?:

So apparently Tiger is now 'favourite' for the Master.

I expect his 'favourite' tag is such as he is back playing and not chopping it, they expect an influx of $$$ on him more so than expect him to actually win...surely?

It is amazing that he is even in the conversation. He has a chance but his gradual improvement and health will be more important

Referees

Match Chiefs v Bulls @ FMG Stadium, Hamilton Date Friday 16 March Kick-off 7:35 pm NZT Referee Shuhei Kubo AR1 Mike Fraser AR2 Richard Kely TMO Shane McDermott Match Highlanders v Crusaders @ Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Date Saturday 17 March Kick-off 7:35 pm NZT Referee Nick Briant AR1 Mike Fraser AR2 James Doleman TMO Glenn Newman Match Brumbies v Sharks @ GIO Stadium, Canberra Date Saturday 17 March Kick-off 9:45 pm NZT Referee Glen Jackson AR1 Will Houston AR2 James Leckie TMO Ian Smith Match Stormers v Blues @ DHL Newlands, Cape Town Date Sunday 18 March Kick-off 2:05 am NZT Referee Nic Berry AR1 AJ Jacobs AR2 Cwengile Jadezweni TMO Christie du Preez Match Lions v Sunwolves @ Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg Date Sunday 18 March Kick-off 4:15 am NZT Referee Rasta Rasivhenge AR1 Egon Seconds AR2 Stephan Geldenhuys TMO Willie Vos Match Jaguares v Reds @ Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires Date Sunday 18 March Kick-off 10:40 am NZT Referee Paul Williams AR1 Jamie Nutbrown AR2 Pablo Deluca TMO Santiago Borsani Match Waratahs v Rebels @ Allianz Stadium, Sydney Date Sunday 18 March Kick-off 6:05 pm NZT Referee Brendan Pickerill AR1 Federico Anselmi AR2 Graham Cooper TMO Damien Mitchelmore

@bovidae yeah I've been impressed with his physicality of late, actually starting to seem like a front rower.

@rancid-schnitzel said in Neil Sorensen leaving NZR:

Iti came back with plenty of years still to play. I recall reading that in around 95.What happened to him? Injuries?

I think injury basically finished his Bradford contract.

@mimic said in England vs BCs ODI series:

The problem with Munro is that he hardly ever comes off.

In 42% of his innings in ODI's he is out in the single digits. Averaging 25.85 when you've played ~33% of your innings against Bangas/Windies/Ireland/Zimbabwe is poor..

That's pretty damning when you break it down like that. I think his aura has well and truly gone past his actual ability ( and I'm certainly guilty of talking him up as much as the next man )

Round 4 - Referee appointments

Match Highlanders v Stormers @ Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Date Friday 9 March Kick-off 7:35 pm NZT Referee Glen Jackson AR1 Paul Williams AR2 Angus Mabey TMO Glenn Newman Match Rebels v Brumbies @ AAMI Park, Melbourne Date Friday 9 March Kick-off 9:45 pm NZT Referee Will Houston AR1 Graham Cooper AR2 James Leckie TMO Ian Smith Match Hurricanes v Crusaders @ Westpac Stadium, Wellington Date Saturday 10 March Kick-off 7:35 pm NZT Referee Brendan Pickerill AR1 Paul Williams AR2 Cam Stone TMO Glenn Newman Match Reds v Bulls @ Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Date Saturday 10 March Kick-off 9:45 pm NZT Referee Jamie Nutbrown AR1 Will Houston AR2 Graham Cooper TMO Damien Mitchelmore Match Sharks v Sunwolves @ Kings Park Stadium, Durban Date Sunday 11 March Kick-off 2:05 am NZT Referee Federico Anselmi AR1 Egon Seconds AR2 Archie Sehlako TMO Shaun Veldsman Match Lions v Blues @ Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg Date Sunday 11 March Kick-off 4:15 am NZT Referee Nic Berry AR1 AJ Jacobs AR2 Jaco Pretorius TMO Willie Vos Match Jaguares v Waratahs @ Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires Date Sunday 11 March Kick-off 10:40 am NZT Referee Mike Fraser AR1 Nick Briant AR2 Pablo Deluca TMO Santiago Borsani

Bye: Chiefs