SBW out? Rieko to 12!

TSF version of Godwin’s law:

“As a thread grows longer, the probability of discussing the RWC failure or Akira Ioane approaches 1”

There's been some comments in the media that the current situation is similar to all the other Blues coaches. I thought I would check out the win percentages vs other NZ sides

Yes, the form of the NZ teams has ebbed and flowed but they are generally strong. Also, they are the one constant across the various number of teams, competition structure etc

Umaga 6.7%

15 games 1 win

The one win was the first game vs the Highlanders (33-31)

If his team the next 5 NZ games (2 vs Crusaders, 2 vs Hurricanes, 1 vs Highlanders) he can just edge in front of Kirwan

Kirwan 29%

24 games 7 wins
(3 Hurricanes, 2 Highlanders, 2 Crusaders)

Crap

Lam 37.5%

24 games 9 wins
(4 Highlanders, 2 Chiefs, 2 Hurricanes, 1 Crusaders)

I think there has to be a note about the injury crisis in Lams fourth season. Crazy number of injuries, players with no NPC experience starting... locks in particular, we were starting our 7th choice lock with a loosie next to him etc

First three seasons prior to that injury crisis:
9/16 56.3%

This included the best streak since Henry: 6 in a row versus NZ teams. The streak Included all other NZ sides. That season was the last time the Blues made the playoffs

Nucifora 50%

6/12
(2 Chiefs, 2 Highlanders, 1 Hurricanes, 1 Crusaders)

A bad first season cemented reputation then his team went ok (0-4 in that first year)

Sloane 52.9%

9/17
(3 Crusaders, 2 Chiefs, 2 Hurricanes, 2 Highlanders)

Various 1 season coaches all got 50%

Yes, even Jed Rowlands

Henry 92.9%

13/14

13 in a row before losing the final in 98

Clearly Henry belongs in his own category.

From 1999-2011 all of these coaches had a minimum of 50% success rate against NZ teams:
Rowlands 50%
Hunter 50%
Oliver 50%
Sloane 52.9%
Nucifora 50%
Lam 56.3%

Sure, thats not good enough, but they were competitive. They all got a lot of criticism in the press compared to the current coach.

Then came the injury crisis in Lam’s fourth season. I have never been convinced the right action was to sack Lam after that amount of injuries. He had very little support in the media and from the board so he had no chance.

The new normal of shittness has settled in under Kirwan/Umaga

I want to have a thread where I can make my political points and no one can disagree with me.

At the moment the only punishment is some public humiliation and going to whatever anger management course his lawyer enlists him in.

I would like to see him removed from the current AB squad. At least then there would be a financial penalty. It also serves as a warning to others

We have a perfectly good squad replacement in Robinson. He should've made the original squad IMO

After that I don't really care. It sounds like a low level incident - he can come back later if he's good enough (..and based on his efforts at Test level so far, he is not good enough)

@frank said in Depth at 10:

Zarn Sullivan is the obvious guy to try.
Problems
-he won't get game time there because of BB playing for Auckland
-he is being used at fullback
-Fozzie is way too conservative to think outside the box and pick him

I think this is getting a bit silly. Sullivan hasn't even had a single start as a ten at NPC level

He's unlikely to get a run at ten because he's been very good for the Blues at fullback. MacDoanld (a decent fullback himself), has raved about Sullivans natural lines from fullback. Maybe his best position is actually fullback?

Maybe he becomes a ten, maybe he doesn't. But the rating he is getting in thread based on almost no adult rugby in the position is over the top

Merry Christmas. I hope there isn't too much covid talk during your family gatherings

I'll mention a positive

Great to see Hodgman get a bench spot. He's been on a steady improvement for a few years now. A well earned debut

Plenty of other spots to disagree with.. in particular Sotutu should've got a start

Just cancel it. The current ground is good enough for Canterbury. The Crusaders should move to their new power base of Nelson

Cane/Sotutu/Ioane

Savea on the bench

Not a surprise unfortunately. I think S Harris posted the rumour recently

In the last few years he kept breaking just before the first AB squad of the year was named. Last year he missed the NPC too.. probably not a bad time to cash in given the injuries and head knocks

@Machpants

It's still here:
https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/topic/2752/exodus/2032?page=51

I could see it in the search url you posted too? Maybe you have saved search preferences limiting the results?

@Higgins

No idea

I have doubled the chat limit to 2000. Refresh and try again. It might be worth clearing your browser cache too

@paremata

Thanks

@paremata

Can you stop using that 'tr' word please? Personally I don't give a fuck however I know NZ hate speech laws are currently under review. The purpose of the review? To expand the awful law into more areas, specifically trans stuff

I fully expect the state to make a big deal of that word shortly

Telea beat 9 defenders. Unfortunately he had a few errors on top of that

@KiwiMurph said in Blues MOTM v Force:

Suafoa

He’s having a very good season so far. He was a 60min player at the start of the year but he’s extending that every week

Some rusty performances

Perofeta easily. Suafoa got through a lot of work. Segner edges out Sotutu who was a little inaccurate. His best game at SR level

Blues player of the day voting:
https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/topic/5902/blues-motm-v-force/