The Silver Fern

@booboo said in Blues vs Waratahs 2025:

@gt12 said in Blues vs Waratahs 2025:

Jesus Rieko where is the pace?

Yeah. The fuck?

He's forgotten how to score

@sparky yeah I suspect they will go for Ratima and Roigard, and I will be happy enough with that because Ratima did well last year. We're well stocked at 9.

Those plugging for big Jim, do you really think he will suit the way the ABs play? While he would bring some handy skills to the team, I have my doubts as to whether he would fit in. He tends to run sideways a fair bit, and with Dmac still prone to doing that from time to time, will we end up with a sideways problem? Ball playing is not his strength, as in putting others in space with his passing, so if he is paired with RI our midfield will not exactly be creative. And God help us if he is combined with BB.

@Dan54 said in All Blacks 2025:

@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2025:

And there is definitely one other on the coaches radar, but don’t want to jinx it by calling it out early

Oh come on. Kemara is injured and JOC is ineligible isn't he? So that leaves Rihanna.

A few weeks ago an Aussie commentator mentioned Harkin was in the mix for AB selection. That would be interesting.

Wouldn't take any notice of an Aussie commentator. Someone has a good half of rugby, or even starts in super they seem be in mix for test rugby.

Yes I'm well aware of that.

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2025:

And there is definitely one other on the coaches radar, but don’t want to jinx it by calling it out early

Oh come on. Kemara is injured and JOC is ineligible isn't he? So that leaves Rihanna.

A few weeks ago an Aussie commentator mentioned Harkin was in the mix for AB selection. That would be interesting.

Is Finn McLeod related to Dallas?

There seems to be an assumption lately that Roigard and Ratima are fighting it out for starter and bench. Hotham will be very much in the mix and it would not surprise me in the slightest if he is the bench half.

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks 2025:

@Canes4life said in All Blacks 2025:

@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:

@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2025:

@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:

@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2025:

@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:

@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2025:

@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:

@Landers92 said in All Blacks 2025:

@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:

All speculation its not what I hear, very destructive talk.
The Captain will be Scott Barrett 100%.

It most probably will be because at the end of the day Razor gets to make the decision. Doesn’t mean the players don’t gravitate and look to someone else though… and that’s a fact. Nothing destructive at all.

The captain is also supported by the leadership group who endorse that selection and they have including Ardie so no issue.

You can defend your boys as much as you want mate and that’s totally fine. I’m just stating that it doesn’t mean the players don’t gravitate and look to someone else and that is a fact. Nothing else to be said.

We all know who Razor is picking mate. It is what it is. Just hope Barrett can pick his game up because as of right now based off form there’s an argument he shouldn’t even be in the starting XV.

Sure you are entitled to your opinion as I am.
Yeah it’s done deal Scooter will be Captain.
A couple of current ABs are on thin ice and maybe dropped.

Facts are opinions now? Yes I along with the rest of the country outside of Canterbury have no doubt he’s still the captain. I’m not going to be a broken record just so you can get my point though.

Be interesting to know who are on thin ice. You have any names?

Amua form, De groot other things off the field.
I hear patience is wearing thin.

Both will be in the squad.

not so sure

While they are at it, drop Blackadder then. We are all wearing thin at the fact he keeps getting selected. Let me guess Razor will pick Bell over Aumua?

Would be pretty funny if it did happen.

Not sure it would be that funny. Some reckon Aumua is on thin ice and there are no clear stand outs to replace Aumua. Bell is in the group that is next in line and they rated him enough to include him last year.

@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:

Amua has played himself out of contention and i agree Christie should not even be in the picture

The good thing for Aumua is that the next one in line is not obvious. The selectors might also see him as a bit of a 'project'. He's still young enough.

@nonpartizan said in Super Rugby 2025:

Just watching the Chiefs game now.... Some of their backline play is pure poetry.
Ratima to Mackenzie to Stevenson entering the line, inside ball to QT who passes to Mackenzie on the loop. It's why you watch rugby. I know Stevenson is leaving but I hope the nucleus of the team is kept intact.

I have been enjoying their back.play for a few seasons now, the way they get others in space with their passing and the way the runners aim for space. I have noticed some of the backs have a similar passing style. I am guessing there is a talented backs coach in the Chiefs. Randle or someone else?

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@Darren I would wager he's quicker than Telea and Reece, at the very least.

You may be right, but I have been a little disappointed with Love's pace this year (and towards the end of last year I think). For some reason I thought he was faster.

@Chris-B said in Crusaders v Highlanders:

@Crazy-Horse yeah - work in progress. Drummie got closer to being number two for play-off games last night IMO - but, I suspect Penney is building for the future.

It will be interesting to see. Drummond's experience with be valuable.

@Chris-B said in Crusaders v Highlanders:

@Crazy-Horse Preston's kicking in the final 10 minutes was a bit short of what I'd expect from Dupont (I think Justin was promoting his kicking as being similar) - three poor kicks in a row. Some pretty poor options all round from a team that currently sits atop the ladder.

On the plus side, the team that sits bottom of the ladder really should have tipped us over at home, so that bodes well for the comp!

Yeah, Preston is still number 2 for the Saders in my mind. Definitely needs to polish up a fair bit, but the tools are there.

I agree with those saying Howden had a big game. If Haig had a game like that I would finally be seeing what some people say about him.

From Crusaders perspective, it was weird. I didn't think they played too badly. I thought they defended well, but when they managed to get the ball back it was often in a shit position and they either made an error or were unable to clear the ball far enough up field.

Rivez did well, but he did make a few errors with his passing. Hopefully that doesn't become the norm.

And Preston's pass was noticeably sharper than Drummond's. Preston has the tools to be handy at a higher level, but he needs to show he can tidy up poor ball, something he has struggled with at Super level.

@Chris said in Crusaders v Highlanders:

Degroot maybe in trouble with the judiciary after footage of a head butt on Jamie Hannah during a clean out has come to light

Yeah I saw that when it happened. Well off the ball.

@Bovidae I can't see the video. Is that the same game that @gt12 posted?

Obviously talented in space, and runs like a gifted back, but is he any good at core 7 duties?

@Yeetyaah said in Chiefs 2025:

@Crazy-Horse he was great at NPC level on the wing and at 7. Right now he'd be a handy player on a 6/2 bench. Defs has some growing to do physically as he's still young.

Cheers. I don't recall him playing 7 in the NPC, but then again I didn't see every game.

@gt12 said in Chiefs 2025:

I'm getting angry just thinking about Mathis at the Saders. That better not fucking happen when we've still got Boshier running around and needing to move Jacobson to 7 because we don't have a specialist.

Maybe you have seen more of him than me, but do we have any idea how good Mathis is at 7 beyond age grade stuff? My memory tells me he played some NPC on the wing and that he is not exactly a big guy.

I would have Lomax in the front row.

But that is one hell of a backline.