The Silver Fern

It's going to be a Northampton - Bordeaux final on 23 May.

Bordeaux - Toulouse 18 - 11 at HT but the Toulouse forwards are marginally beginning to dominate their opponents.

@Tim said in Hurricanes 2025:

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2025:

Ngane Punivai

Imagine how slow he'll be at 28 ...

It's a bit harsh on him. He isn't a speedster and will never be but he has been playing very well lately. I can understand why he is in the starting XV every week.

@MiketheSnow said in European Club Rugby:

@Dodge said in NH club rugby:

Semi finals this weekend, think Northampton will get stuffed, also backing Bordeaux to beat Toulouse without Dupont, hope I'm wrong on both counts, Toulouse definitely have a chance.

Leinster to win but closer than you think
Bordeaux to sneak it

Bath to win away with strong second half
Racing with the away win, just

One good prediction out of three so far. Lyon OU has won comfortably against Racing 92 (29-15).

Selecting only two genuine locks for the whole squad has been hitting the Highlanders very hard this season . This is a position where four locks, at least, must be available. This was asking too much of Dunshea and Holland.

Ruben Love is getting better at 1st Five week after week. I think there are now three options for the All Blacks in this key position. Despite their errors (the missed tackle on Rona and the intercepted pass), I wouldn't mind having Higgins and Proctor as a midfield combo for the All Blacks. They are the best for creating space for the wingers. Imagine Caleb Tangitau outside them !

@Left-Right-Out-0 said in U20 Rugby Championship 2025:

They have 90% of the right selections in the squad.

I am surprised they did not select the big Highlanders wing (Rangitutia).
Scrum is another surprise to me as the U20s had dominated the Hunters in this peculiar phase a few days ago.

My answer was concerning your word "underpowered". I do know that scrum is also a matter of technique.

The Blues are hard to watch. Too many dumb decisions. Thank god, they have a number of players who have stepped up : Papali'i, BB, Sotutu, Ioane and Lam when he came on. Funaki did well too.

Nah, IWL and Gallagher are physically huge, as is Will Tucker.

Huge game for Norris. If he can achieve parity against Lomax at scrum time, he should earn a selection within the AB squad as he is the form prop in the loose.

What about Siale Lauaki ? He is stuck behind Lomax, Tosi and Mafileo. He could be a good recruit. Or Logan Wallace ?

Everybody picks De Groot as the reserve LHP. His form has been abysmal this season. He hasn't shown any sign of physicality. Is he carrying a niggle ? On current form, my bench LHP would be Norris who has improved a lot at scrum time. He has a huge workrate and is certainly the most dynamic prop in NZ at the moment, Xavier Numia not being the same player he was last year.

@Frank said in All Blacks 2025:

@cgrant said in All Blacks 2025:

Norris could be the third LH prop.
Tangitau could thrive outside a good passing centre, but not outside Rieko as far as attack is concerned. He could do well outside Billy Proctor but I cannot imagine the All Blacks' selectors choosing two inexperienced players at international level at the same time. This is why I think Tangitau's time will not come this year.

What ?
Tangitau isn't picked because Rieko can't pass?

I fear this will happen.

Jordan Way is not bad, he is just a great patriot.

I may be wrong, but Parker's lack of speed could be a brake to his international aspirations. But I like his carries around the rucks where he always seem to make the hard yards.
Finau is having a better season than last year IMO. Nothing flashy but good workrate and safe lineout target.

Norris could be the third LH prop.
Tangitau could thrive outside a good passing centre, but not outside Rieko as far as attack is concerned. He could do well outside Billy Proctor but I cannot imagine the All Blacks' selectors choosing two inexperienced players at international level at the same time. This is why I think Tangitau's time will not come this year.

When Godfrey is back ?

Jacomb and Norris were very solid, Tupaea into everything. They were the Chiefs standouts IMO.

Post 2027 1st Five : Cole and Simpson should be in the mix. I have serious doubts about Jacomb, Godfrey and Kemara TBH.