Scott Barrett had a great game.

How did they leave Sam Cane on the bench last week. Dumbest selection of all time.

Forgot how much I love watching Northland play. Can’t wait for the rest of the season.

Those that talk negatively about NZ provincial rugby ( and individual teams ) don’t understand how great this competition continues to be for NZ rugby - the jewel in the crown. The talent on display is amazing.

But a bit tired of reading articles from hack journalists and listening to ex rugby players acting as commentators who don’t know the players from the opposition team and have no passion for the game they are watching. The comments about Northland before, and after the game on the radio and in print lack any insight into our team.

I guess that’s why this forum is great .

This has been coming for some time. We keep being told that we can play rugby without the ball. Kicking it away. The Wallabies showed that keeping the ball in hand is what matters. Some of our tight forwards struggle with their hands. Tonight they lost the contact as well.

Read has been quality. Captains knock.

@Entertainer15 disagree. We lost it in the forwards an with poor tactical kicking. Their forwards created go forward, won their lineouts and they were tactically miles ahead.

Next World Cup will be more challenging.

Our Junior rugby teams have been beaten up recent years by sides with big forward packs. Development of our tight 5 depth and loose forwards that can win contact will be our challenge. We always have great footballers but size matters as the game gets tighter and defence dominates.

It’s a complete overkill. Franks tried to clean out, made contact with head. Yes red card but accidental, and some coaching on technique required. Unfortunate that refs missed it but with so much happening on field this will happen. No problem with judiciary giving a couple of weeks for accidental contact. It’s not tiddly winks and sometimes stuff happens. This doesn’t make the Crusaders dirty. It does mean any players involved need to take note and work to improve technique.

@booboo yes, those two drop goals were under advantage. Opportunity missed. Reads decision to take 3 when we needed a try to be able to win game. Those last few minutes when we had guys everywhere - in pods, out of pods, running lines, standing still - but we went side to side with nothing happening. Those endless box kicks which left us defending in our own half. Those 3 instances in the second half with running front foot attack ball and the player chose to grubber. In each case we hand the ball over. Something is wrong with our mindset.

The coaches should give themselves an uppercut as well. Aaron Smiths selection and performance for these two important Irish tests didnt work. The first you understand the second?

@rotated The dropping of Southee for the Sydney test was clearly a surprise to commentators, selectors and players. In the shorter formats that is always an option. For the NZ team in test matches, it would be like dropping Taylor as a batsmen. The call was made by Coach / Captain who was Latham for that test. People always trust those they have worked with before, hence Henry was given a shot. However, as a Coach you have to be better at decision making than that don’t you?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/cricket/black-caps/121584123/kane-williamson-remains-allformat-black-caps-skipper-coach-relationship-still-work-in-progress

Not sure skipper coach not being on same page works. Interesting to see how this plays out.

Checkout the interview by Steven on facebook, the Driving Maul...

Seems like someone who is a good positive leader - respects his team / people, has some ideas for future. Liked what he had to say. Difficult times though.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=229192648152565&id=100276311637950

@junior Black lacks a bit of power with his kicking. How many times did he miss the line on penalty kicks? Really poor executing there but great tactically in general play.

@Yeetyaah Blues showing they still don’t have enough Senior players directing the traffic. Perfect chance to put a team to the sword but no one took control and accuracy was poor. But a win.

Brainless kicking by Blues.

@Steven-Harris those missed touch finders off penalties are unforgivable

@Number-10 individually maybe but the competitions are run by the governing bodies. Doesn’t matter what the sport is, the bidding war for top players never serves the sport well.

@junior NPC was only one form of provincial based rugby that together with club rugby that has provided a wide base for success at the top over a very long period of time. More importantly Rugby In NZ because of its high participation rates has enjoyed a very privileged position in NZ society. You remove support for that wide base and the layers in between and you will (have been) ruin the long term future of the sport. Any short term success will be overtaken by impacts of reduced participation.

The problem Rugby has is it is paying its professional players too much. You have Clubs all around the world living beyond their means and inflating salaries for players. It’s just like the housing market. The fundamentals aren’t there and World Rugby needs to manage the game.

@Kirwan couldn’t disagree more. You keep pushing all the money and resources to the elite of the game and you will be left with nothing. If provincial rugby dies, so does club rugby then all you will be left with is elite school boys, academies and Super 15 rugby for large cities.