He's probably thinking to himself "If Bridge can make the ABs...."

There's two outstanding number 8s in the country that are both excellent lineout exponents. If you had either of them at 8 you wouldn't need to shoehorn in a lock at 6.

At least he won't get benched now.

@Bones said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@Bones said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@Stargazer said in All Blacks v Ireland - 1st Test:

@Bones Those stats only say something about where a player starts. It doesn't give info about a player changing position during a game as a result of substitutions.

We're talking about starting aren't we?

To me starting at 6 is what's weird about his selection. It means either Retallick & Whitelock play the full game or one is replaced by a SB who's played 6 since kick-off.

I think that's the hardest part to swallow for me - after all the talk of the 6's, as well as Vaai playing 6 (presumably at Foster's suggestion) and excelling, we go back to a guy who should be starting at lock and hasn't exactly set the world on fire at 6.

What also annoys me is it takes away another chance to see a young player get some game time.

Vaai was a bolter in 2020 - went better than expected - and has barely been sighted in black since.

Grace picked in 2020 - one test off the bench for a handful of minutes I think (the Bledisloe loss in Brisbane) - never seen again.

Sotutu barely played last year - Hodgman picked and discarded - De Groot picked and discarded - Peter Umaga Jensen impressive cameo then never seen again.

Meanwhile nearly 3 years after the RWC 2019 semi we roll out a forward pack that is pretty damn close to our forward pack then.

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2022:

Christ on a bike, how good would

12 Laumape

look right now.

Considering he did nothing at test level not very?

Ardie Savea saying in his press conference today that he didn't know that the All Blacks had never lost to Ireland in NZ before Saturday.

Seriously wtf?

A senior leader in the team and the ABs home record isn't touched upon at all in the leadup to the series?

What the hell is going on with the AB culture?

The ref saw Bridge so that ruled out the try option.....

@Dan54 said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:

@Stargazer said in All Blacks vs Ireland - series decider:

Taukei’aho didn't have the impact in the Ireland tests that he had last year. I can also understand them not starting Coles, who hasn't played much at all, this year. So in that light, starting Taylor makes a lot of sense. I don't think he's been as bad as people are posting here.

Yep almost seems some players are more effective against super defences etc huh Star?

But Samisoni is effective at test level.

He was effective on the weekend.

He got 25 minutes off the bench when were one man down and made the most running metres of any AB forward in the game.

What a moment.

What a team.

What an era.

Legends.

Sitting through the Black Ferns v Wallaroos XVs game was an absolute treat compared to sitting through the 2018 Blues season.

@Stargazer said in Wales v Australia:

@NTA Maybe if they start him, there won't be anything to fix?

He didn't go very well in his start vs Italy.

He seems better suited to bench impact - they aren't the same role.

@voodoo said in FIFA World Cup 2022:

@KiwiMurph said in FIFA World Cup 2022:

I'm quite amazed at the lack of finishing in most games.

Tunisia are creating plenty and look dangerous but can't turn it into shots on target so it means little.

They're well on top in this half

On top but never looked like scoring.

I'm quite amazed at the lack of finishing in most games.

Tunisia are creating plenty and look dangerous but can't turn it into shots on target so it means little.

@kev said in NZ Cricket 2022:

Does know one watch cricket any more? Spark Sport seems to have reduced interest in the game.

November is rather early for Black Caps.

Same issue in Aus - only 10k turned up to the MCG the other day for Aus-England.

@Catogrande said in All Blacks v England:

Those pop up rugby sites like Rugby Dump and Rugby Onslaught are an embarrassment. Always sensationalising the everyday stuff and giving out “bombshell news” that isn’t.

100% this. So cringe worthy.

@mariner4life said in FIFA World Cup 2022 (men):

Come on Cameroon

Not a great tournament so far for the African teams - 4 games and an African team has yet to score a goal.

Perhaps Ghana can surprise.

A thread on the Fern about an ageing 7 (being overtaken by a young player who looks to have the ceiling to be world class) devolves into an argument about which non-world class 6 option is better. Classic Fern.

Germany would be better unleashing their young players but you get the sense it will be a case of too little too late.

Really pleased to see Cashmore in that group - he's shown more than Mckenzie (admittedly limited opportunities) and Blues will have an open spot the following season once Beauden leaves.

Murray unlucky not to get a full contract somewhere so good to see him selected.

Aren't FIFA shifting to a 48 team comp and 3 team groups next World Cup? Seems overkill