Too long, didn't read.

@Stargazer said in Bledisloe #1:

Ah, another TSF meltdown. Everyone completely overreacting as usual.

If you don’t meltdown after nearly conceding 50 in a Bledisloe game something is wrong with you

@KiwiMurph said in Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November:

@akan004 said in Argentina One: Parramatta, 14 November:

Akira must be feeling great right now. Poor guy.

this has pre-meditated change written all over it - Frizell was always coming back

Conservative selection group, perfect game to test Akira out in with the top team. Frizzell's had three goes and been adequate at best.

Akira had 29 mins against a fired up Aussie side and had an excellent performance. Would make more sense to see if he could sustain it.

At six , is absolutely clear that Akira is now ahead of Frizzel.

@Godder said in Coronavirus - New Zealand:

Level 3 lets more people go to work, but it's hardly a huge improvement on level 4 in terms of the cage doors opening.

However, in good news, apparently, not only is our curve flattening, it's exponentially reducing - halving every 5 days. At this rate, we are probably looking at a total of 6-8 weeks at levels 3&4 (so another 2-4 weeks) and then back to level 2.

The rest of the world is rightly envious of that, because they're generally looking at months of the equivalent of level 3+. 4 weeks seems a bit early to be rolling out the civil liberties flag - human rights and civil liberties are critically important to the NZ democracy, but the most important right is the right to life because the rest are not much use to dead people.

And a cratered economy is a damn sight harder on people on the other side.

This is exactly the sort of scare mongering that drove that poll result.

The original justification for this lockdown was not to eliminate the disease but to prevent our health system from being overwhelmed. That has been achieved and over the last four weeks process and capacity has been added to help even more with that.

So let’s move down the levels fast, test appropriately, contain regional reoccurrence, and get back to normalise life.

Even today Cindy was downplaying the huge impact this is having on the economy. “Doing in tough” is not even close to what’s coming IMO.

So who would have though James Fucking O’Conner would have completely outplayed an All Black ten?

@crucial said in All Blacks Squad for France:

@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks Squad for France:

This thread is starting to resemble the good old days around AB selection time ,

All we need is Toeava to make himself available .

DMac is the new Toeava

Toeava could play ten.

@Winger said in US Politics:

This is becoming a weird election. I just can't see the Democrats even getting close unless they cheat.

https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2020/07/the-democrats-embarrass-themselves-again.php

We are approaching a very weird election in which one of our major parties is taking a stand in favor of rioting, looting, arson, destruction of federal property, and violent attacks on law enforcement. The Democrats seem to think that this is a winning formula. If it is, our republic is doomed. While we may be in deep trouble, I don’t think we are that far gone yet.

I agree with this last bit. But who knows

Of course it's going to be close. You are a prime example of why, people have picked Team A or Team B and no matter what their team does they will vote for it.

Somewhere on cyberspace there is a poster called Fullback that posting as fervently as you are about Biden/Hillary/Bernie.

Helps with disappointment that a quality bloke is lifting the trophy

Nah, you lose the ability for a Japan vs SA or Ireland upset if you do that.

I like the alternative of the plate competition I saw mentioned the other day, so there is more to play for after the top two pool spots.

@mariner4life said in NASA:

@kirwan i think i have watched that video 3 times today

It's pretty amazing all right. Nice to a "first" after decades of what feels like nothing. The fact we could see humans on the moon in the next five years is fantastic.

With the news that SpaceX got the contract to land astronauts on the moon, thought it better to have a more general thread for what awesome-ness is coming our way.

Start with this;

First controlled powered flight on another planet. Amazing.

Rumours are going around that HBO Max want a Battfleck movie and also a TV show.

Important to note that HBO Max is a seperate entity from Warner Brothers. WB are the ones that didn't want to release the Snyder Cut.

Both are owned by AT & T, and both can start their own projects. From all sources, the Synder Cut was a massive success for HBO Max (so much so they crashed their servers with the demand).

Apparantly the CEO of HBO Max is a fan of the Snyderverse, and sees there is an audience out there for it.

Hope it's all true, people that have read the Ben Affleck Batman script really liked it. Now he's sober, he may be willing to jump in again. Less pressure and interference doing it streaming first.

https://reddit.com/r/funny/comments/mtwit5/it_happens/

@antipodean said in Is it War Time?:

@mariner4life said in Is it War Time?:

@antipodean well that was depressing

Quite the opposite, I'd say it's optimistic. I'm more worried about whether we'll ever see growth not driven solely by immigration. Or the rise of Cyberdyne...

Or massive unemployment due to automation before we become a post scarcity society.

@frye said in Michael Jones:

@billy-tell said in Michael Jones:

[edit -split fromt he Highlanders thread]

Dunno why, as medical treatment has improved, but I remain scarred by Michael jones vs Argentina. Each time there is a knee injury I think « career in jeopardy ». Jones came back but he was never as good.

Was playing really well at 9 imo. Gutted and I’m not even a highlanders fan.

It's chalk and cheese honestly, tearing your ACL in the 90s was basically a career ender. The (public) knowledge back when Jones did his knee injury was such that I don't think they even reported which ligament it was! It was just a "knee injury". The advancement of sports medicine has been phenomenal.

I believe they mentioned at the time (this is my memory of it) that his knee was so badly injured it was bending left to right as well. It was a big deal he came back so quickly, over his career he recovered from injuries in super quick time.

@mariner4life said in Michael Jones:

@snowy said in Michael Jones:

@mariner4life said in Michael Jones:

who is on the "AB Mt Rushmore" could be a good thread

Oh,oh,oh. Shit fight.

Actually both of these guys probably make it with Meads and Carter.

I've missed out heaps.

the old fuckers here will come for us hard

I reckon only Richie and Meads are locked in, everyone else will be a fucking shitfight.

Carter and Jones are easily locked in too. Same with Lomu.

@snowy said in Michael Jones:

@taniwharugby said in Michael Jones:

@snowy I think they were different players, obviously different eras too, and I've never been a fan of comparing players spanning eras.

MJ was supremely talented
McCaw was so incredibly focussed and hard working

Both outstanding players that sit at the top of the tree as some of the best ever, if I had to choose, I'd probably lean to McCaw.

Yeah, I said much the same thing earlier re their individual attributes and differences. McCaw also was a leader and Captain, MJ was a pretty quiet bloke (he seems to have come out of his shell now) but could have been a bit different on the field with his team mates.

MJ solely as a player which is why I was questioning @No-Quarter 's reasoning. Just straight out catching, passing, running, defense, pilfers, etc. Mj edges it for me.

Hmmm, decisions, decisions. McCaw due to longevity (well, tests played in total) and leadership.

Oh @No-Quarter I don't take anything a millennial says seriously, absolutely nothing to be gained.

That's where I sit as well. Skills wise MJ is one of a kind.

McCaw has the greatest will of any player I've seen play. He started with weaknesses (mainly handling) but turned that into a strength, to the degree he was taking kickoffs.

Add in his leadership, he's one of the first players you'd put on a Greatest AB team. We got wins from him refusing to lose.

@snowy said in All Blacks 2021:

@stargazer said in All Blacks 2021:

WR already have rules around what constitutes an interruption of residency, and what not. IMO they should/could apply similar rules to those in this situation.

Yes, an exemption due to injury would be reasonable, as mentioned.

As for his specific case and going to Tonga to be with family, or whatever, he should be allowed to do so, without the new / delayed eligibility rules applying. He's broken, he can't play, but he was eligible at the time of breaking. Whether he wants to is up to him.

The tax laws use "domicile" rather than "residency". There is a difference and can be used in law. WR might be better to use it as well.

Surely we should be able to put in writing that we would have selected him if fit, at the very least have him travel with the squad this year to learn, even if he can't play.

That would be us putting our money where our mouth is and stop silliness getting around the rules.

@chris said in Highlanders 2021:

@nepia said in Highlanders 2021:

@snowy said in Highlanders 2021:

@nostrildamus said in Highlanders 2021:

@snowy said in Highlanders 2021:

@billy-tell said in Highlanders 2021:

I remain scarred by Michael jones vs Argentina. Each time there is a knee injury I think « career in jeopardy ». Jones came back but he was never as good.

Didn't he play 6 mostly after that? Had a bit of a different role and wasn't quite as visible? Or has my memory failed me - again...

It is shit news about Fakatava. It looks like most of us thought he was going to be in Black this year. Just have to hope it isn't as bad as we fear.

Yes but Jones speed factor set him apart in that era until the injury. Not a bad tackler though. He also played 8 for Auckland if I recall correctly.

Yeah think I saw him at 8. The move to six was due to the loss of speed you mentioned, and in a very rare Fern occurrence we could both / all be right.
He was better as a seven until his knee was fucked, slowed down a bit, played six. Was still very good. How does that sound?

Best 7 we’ve ever had and then 2nd best 6 of the past 30 years.

In this bloke’s opinion anyway.

Nah McCaw IMO Best 7

It's a good problem to have, arguing between two of the greats. McCaw in the professional era, Jones in the amateur. Sorted.