<p>Yes.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Talisker" data-cid="573720" data-time="1461174318">
<div>
<p>No love for Tommy the Tank Waldrom? Top try scorer in the English premiership last year and leading scorer this year - Toot Toot.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>John Hardie has been going very well up here - he stands a very good chance of playing in New Zealand next year would you believe?</strong></p>
<p>Nasi Manu has been crocked almost all season so we haven't seen too much of him at Edinburgh, Burleigh has been playing out of position at 10 because we thought it would be great to embark on a season without a fly half - we wouldn't want to make it too easy.</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>I would believe that - Hardie is a quality player and would not have let anyone down in black, he just happened to be behind about 5 other guys at the time. I always rated him very highly.</p>

<p>I remember for quite awhile Emile Ntamack was Frances "big" back but even then he was under 100kg. I think things have petered off now, I don't see the likes of Nadolo, Tuilagi, Banahan etc becoming the "norm".....after all guys still have to be reasonably nimble as well which was also Jonahs weakness at times.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="573459" data-time="1461041151">
<div>
<p>Imagine if Ardie played like he was 6ft 3!</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>It's well known fern logic that the Saveas are this eras Stu Forster.....</p>

<p>ah that's right, that's a bit unfair then isn't it, surely a pact is up there with drug use?</p>

That's what happens when you take a week off the Fern! Think with Hoeft's input he could be very handy for Chiefs.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="573171" data-time="1460941731">
<div>
<p>Don't think so. It's Bonney Field in Sacramento. </p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>I meant the one in Denver all covered in snow.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>As for the fitness and team cohesion - they've got to start somewhere. A lot of these guys didn't have a high school program on par with NZ Schools First XV etc.</p>

<p>I've been to Albany once. Was staying in One Tree Hill, and the ground was packed (Japan v France in the World Cup). We drove, and didn't have a problem getting in or out afterwards. Certainly no worse than any other ground i have been to. Travel time wasn't that bad from memory. </p>

<p>More has emerged over the weekend regarding the issue of mechanical doping. A french TV programme has made some claims about recent high profile races</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mechanical-doping-used-in-strade-bianche-and-coppi-e-bartali-claims-investigation/?utm_content=buffer02b68&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer'>http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mechanical-doping-used-in-strade-bianche-and-coppi-e-bartali-claims-investigation/?utm_content=buffer02b68&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>If you can speak french, the programme is here in 2 x 15 min sections.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://cyclinghub.tv/'>http://cyclinghub.tv/</a></p>

It's a pity everyone is so far apart because splitting the whole comp into two divisions would result in two pretty interesting comps. However the travel factor kills that as a viable option.

<p>Also -</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-premier-league-2016/engine/match/980909.html'>http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-premier-league-2016/engine/match/980909.html</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Mitch Mclensahan is now an allrounder & its probably good Timmy didn't get a bowl in the T20WC</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="572054" data-time="1460584674">
<div>
<p>Yeah name rings a bell, can't find Cullens book, I'm sure I have it somewhere. I did think it was a stroke though. Our ol boy Paeks should be able to confirm if he reads this thread.....</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<div>Can confirm bro - they were a primo combo for Kapiti College's first 15. I was a few years behind Cully and those two were giants. I remember <span style="color:rgb(40,40,40);font-family:helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Daryl </span>was bigger and just as talented. I think he'd left school by then (Cully stayed as he was eligible for another year of NZ schoolboys) but everyone who played rugby at our school went to his funeral. Fark, that's a distant memory - that was the first funeral outside of family passings I'd been too. Really sad.</div>

I'm more concerned about the captain and team selection.<br><br>
For me, give the captaincy to Frans Malherbe and if he goes well then we have a captain for the next 8 years.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="572062" data-time="1460588040">
<div>
<p>well we all know Rotated was very anti the AIG thing, so his pre-conceived ideas spread to ignoring facts to allow him one more stab.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Isnt it now just the larger Provincial Unions that are still struggling to balance their books, with the obvious higher overheads?</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p> </p>
<p>For FY14 it was Wellington and Waikato in the red, Counties, Canterbury and NH managed to just get into the black. BOP, Poo and Ta$man had good results.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I think some Unions are breaking even only because of returns on accumulated funds.</p>

<p>Sad to read.  RIP.  </p>

Aren't Canes on lookout for a reserve halfback? hall may get a job there.

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gollum" data-cid="571772" data-time="1460469090"><p>Thats fricking tragic, just cemented his place in the ODI side & got a run in the test team.<br><br><span style="font-size:10px;">Its Phil Hughes all over again. Only he's in the test & ODI team. And not dead.</span></p></blockquote>
<br>
Yup far too young, he will be missed<br><img src="http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160412/8ef81fe2de6db5ffd67670ea8f793af6.jpg" alt="8ef81fe2de6db5ffd67670ea8f793af6.jpg">

<p>So has Nelson actually looked impressive yet at senior level?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Because Akira Ioane was ripping it up last year in Super rugby. And I'd imagine he would be a weapon at NRL level too.</p>