@sparky said in Sam Cane - All Blacks Captain:

Which test was Andrew Hore ABs captain for?

It was a club game.

@snowy said in RIP Phil the Greek:

One more year and he would have got a message from his wife.
Wonder what that would have been?

Actually feel quite sorry for the old girl. She really did love him.

A couple of years ago the son and his partner were doing the Windsor Castle walkthrough while we were in the pub. ('Two Brewers' if you are looking for a good one there) and while others in their group went rushing from item to item they stopped to just look out a window onto a courtyard. A door opened and out came Lizzie with a couple of dogs, a car pulls up and out hops Phil. She has a big smile and goes and gives him a hug. They luckily witnessed a totally real and candid moment between the two.

My own little experience was more formal but we got an invite to one of the garden parties at the big London house and then got selected to meet the old girl as she wandered through the garden. Anyway it is all quite formal and you get introduced etc. The wife and I use different surnames and because of a quirk in the way it was set up ended up standing on either side of a couple of friends. Anyway she has her little chat along the line to the others. Work talk. Then gets to me. 'and what brings you here Crucial?'. I pointed to the wife and said 'I'm just here as support and logistics for her'. She actually laughed and said 'Oh, I have one of those as well'.
After she moved on to the next group and we were released we had so many people come up and asked how we made her smile and laugh. The 'joke' was weak so I can only assume it was thinking about the silly old bugger.

@cantab79 said in AB Test Team v France.:

Can't believe people are seriously suggesting that Steve Hansen has not called up Akira Ioane because he is saving him for the Maori team. Is there any precedent to back up this theory? Luke Whitelock has outplayed Ioane at both Super Rugby and Mitre 10 Cup levels this year, and that's why he's been selected.

How does that pie taste?

Look. Tana and BOD have buried the hatchet and are sharing a laugh.

Next on Tana's list are @Kirwan and @Duluth

@jegga said in RWC: Japan v Ireland (Pool A):

@booboo said in RWC: Japan v Ireland (Pool A):

@jegga said in RWC: Japan v Ireland (Pool A):

@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: Japan v Ireland (Pool A):

@jegga said in RWC: Japan v Ireland (Pool A):

Apparently BOD was a pundit on the Irish coverage and didn't take the result well. If anyone has the footage and can post it I will be eternally grateful

Was on the ITV coverage.

He had the look of a man who's swallowed a wasp during during a live TV interview and that distracted him from the fact he's also having a severe bowel spasm.

Excellent.

A quarter final exit is an Irish tradition isn’t it?

Planet Rugby’s Ireland fans are still delivering gold

“We knew all of this in advance.
That’s why Joe player what he felt was his best team.

In cooler weather, better ref, neutral location both teams given the same amount of rest and our B team puts 40 points on them.

Do we really think that Japan making the quarters wasn’t just what WR wanted?

At this rate Japan might make the semis or better.

Reminds me of Korea/Japan WC in the football.”

Also a whole thread about how bent Gardner is

http://forum.planetrugby.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=91481&sid=5594db999ca625c55956a0becc14a9dc

I don’t remember bok fans being this graceless at all and their team came back and gave ours a hell of a game in the semis.
I hope Heneke Meyer had a smile on his face last night .
The only downside for Japan is no one in their pool is going to take them lightly so they’ll be playing their top side if possible.

As a neutralish observer (I was obviously backing Japan) I didn't notice any obvious issues with the officiating. Did anyone? (Haven't read the thread.)

What are their specific whinge? Or is it just victim mentality?

Some of them have been saying Japan had an advantage because they play in the super rugby comp and are more used to the way Gardner refs .

Victim mentality, delusions of grandeur or just ungracious arseclowns? Take your pick

According to comments on the42 Ireland were beaten by some fella called Hugh Middity.
He wasn’t on the team sheets but must have been there because everyone is saying “Hi, Hugh Middity”

@allblacksfan72 said in Are there any All Blacks wildcards left ?:

How about George bridge? Has all the qualities needed for test rugby

A red and black jersey?

What about stupid people that think they can coach and select the ABs but have no clue about it. They can piss right of!

Took a drive yesterday (only 5 km over the regional border) to a farm in the Wairarapa and picked up a new pup. 3 month old black lab. Very cool little fella. This will keep me busy.

@Canes4life said in Bledisloe 1:

Our best player not being there next week is a huge loss. Big chance for Hoskins though.

Is something wrong with Sami?

Geoffrey Dean  /  Jul 21, 2021

Doddie Weir: the true story behind Doddie’5 Red Blend 2019

Geoffrey Dean talks to former Springbok, Schalk Burger, about Doddie’5 Red Blend 2019 he has made to help ex-Scotland No.5 Doddle Weir

Doddie’s fund raising red. Made by Schalk Burger. Great story.

@sparky said in RWC 2023:

It's totally absurd that the top 4 teams in world are stuffed in two groups and stacked on one side of the draw of this tournament. Why was the draw done so early?

We have known this for ages which is why the cries about our chances need to be tempered with the knowledge that two of the top four teams in the world are guaranteed a quarterfinal exit.
Here’s hoping Ireland take their traditional spot at least.
Another way to look at it is that two teams ranked 5 and below are guaranteed a ride to the semifinals and are two performances away from winning the cup. That’s just silly.

@Mattasaurus said in England vs Springboks:

These water breaks just add another entry on the blight on the game list

The idea is ok, it needs tweaking though.
The idea was to cut down the number of times water runners came on (like at scrum times etc). So when a player takes an “injury” break, everyone gets their water.
Maybe get rid of the time minimum and make it so that if everyone is on their feet that get a sip and 30 seconds to get started.
Agree that aerobic attrition should be part of the game and keeping things moving should be a priority

@MN5 said in What are you listening to, right now................:

@Tim said in What are you listening to, right now................:

Well, it’s better than the last song of his you shared at least.

You listen to @Tim s shares?

Brave man.

@broughie said in All Blacks 2022:

@Crucial Not disagreeing with you. I think he is an option although unlikely And this is probably get me thrown under the bus but he does kind of run in the line like cruden.

Another favourite of mine. Had weaknesses but also brought a certain amount of style and difference.
If that Cruden and SBW combo wasn’t ruined by injury it showed brilliance.

Going by ROTJ much of the inside is the power generation and propulsion systems needed to move a small moon. Quite feasible that the populated part wasn’t that massive.
I’m sure there are diagrams out there in nerd land.

@broughie said in All Blacks 2022:

@Crucial would like to see him at 1st five. At FB he is rocks or diamonds. Can he kick for territory and control the game that way. Always thought he would have been a brilliant halfback. Do we need one of those :-).

Halfback would reduce his opportunity to do some of the things he did well but I agree that it would be interesting.
I’m not saying he should be AB 10 just that he has some of the qualities that the others lack.
As a bench option instead of BB (with Jordan at 15) he could be the ideal spark.

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2022:

@Crucial said in All Blacks 2022:

@Windows97 said in All Blacks 2022:

@Crucial So I bought up 8 points in regards to his play - but because I didn't include 1 point you feel should be in there your going to rubbish the entire post.

Delightful...

Touchy.
I didn't rubbish your entire post at all. However I do think some of your points are bit dated.
Running sideways does still happen but not as much as it used to and it isn't away from support it is buying time and looking for a hole. When you are a little fella the last thing you want is to get caught where there isn't support so sometimes you take a step back and dodge until you know someone is ready behind you. 2017, 2018 yep he still used to try to go by himself too much.
As for running too often instead of kicking, I'm not sure where you are coming from on that unless again you are picturing years ago when he had licence to have a crack from the back (often to great effect). At 10 he mixes up his kicking game a lot keeping defences on their toes.

From recent games I saw he doesn't have the same acceleration as of old, doesn't run as much, but doesn't crab as much and distributes, kicks, passes, and strategizes better (seems to make quicker and better decisions) than our incumbent 10s (but at a lower level and hasn't had too many physical challenges).

The big difference between DMac and the others is that DMac will run the show, boss the backs. Yes, it can have a downside too when decisions don’t work out but all the best 10s are “generals”. The backs have to react off the 10, and most backs like that, especially instinctive ones.
I never get the feeling that RM or BB have control. They are either shoveling or reacting.

As for acceleration that brilliant try to Stevenson against Ireland says DMac still has it. Comes from nowhere to poach the ball, stays around to be the link a second time.

@Bovidae said in Star Wars VII ****contains spoilers****:

It was good to see Cinta take matters into her own hands, and the vulnerability of Dedra when the shit hit the fan.

The Dedra and Syril 'moment' though. Like that reality show, The Undateables.

@mariner4life said in Uncool music you like:

@MajorRage said in Uncool music you like:

@Tim said in Uncool music you like:

Not sure about BC, but I can get on with the BMW M Power ...

Belinda Carlisle did Playboy and looked fantastic

educate yourself

Looks like she was showing off some new additions. Certainly not unpleasant.