I'm upset and pissed off that we lost, but nothing like 95 99 03 07. I think this feels different because

• Back to back means we sleep well, no matter what, the monkey is well and truly off our back

• that was a hell of an English performance. We could have got up, but would have been something special. In the past, we've bene beaten by teams that are really not on the same level, dodgy reffing, food poisoning, or choking.

• We knew this wasn't a vintage side. Losing 6 all time greats after 2015, a lot of people thought we'd be lucky to be a 50/50 chance going into the tourney. A year ago we got showed where we were - last week aside, that's pretty much where we were This wasn't a great side, it was a decent outfit with some very good players in it. Perth, Chicago, Dublin, Lions 2+3 --> we're ahead, but only just

• England really put out something special. They arced up, and we just couldn't lift to match them. Getting owned all over the park does happen sometimes, and if it does you have to cop it.

Still frustrated, but not as angry or upset as I have been. Here's to the future, thanks to Shag for the good times, and roll on the rest of the knockouts

Edit: this is also the cycle where we have seen how badly the player drain has hurt us. Piutau, Luatua, Faumauina, Vito - just a few who would have made a difference

Well, damn that is great. A reasonably full Eden Park, no rain, a victory, happy days. Relaxing quietly at home now after a big afternoon out. Really stoked for teh team, and particularly the coaches - turning around a dysfunctional organisation is a big deal.

Highlanders are exceptional at covering their weaknesses. Their scrum was getting pasted, but only conceded one scrum penalty -a nd managed to win one back. Blues couldn't ram that advantage home.

Blues ruck work was outstanding, protecting the ball except for a 20 minute period where we tried to give the game to the 'landers. Really, though, the Highlanders didnt' show much on attack except where they were winning back to back penalties from the ref.

I'm delighted for Plummer, who really stepped up and kicked the clutch kicks. The first (from near the sideline) was a terrible choice - we had the highlanders out on their feet, they were passive, just standing and watching the Blues run at them ... so naturally we kicked the penalty :| No words.

Blues should have won by a thowsand, but a win is a win. Monkey off back, can't wait for next year. Beaudy at 10 will make a difference, and an extended offseason for Leon to work on the 9s will be important.

Delighted to win, such a big releif. I've been a season ticket holder for 13 seasons ,and there's been a lot of shawshank before the redemption. So stoked right now.

Well, so we coughed one up at home. I know there is a lot of wailing and gnashign of teeth - mainly to be fair in the media - but this wasn't anything to get too upset about I reckon.

The Bokke brought a good physical game, and were fully committed. That said, we ripped them apart, scored 6 tries, and made the game look easy at times. It was our farking defence and decision making that really cost us that win; goalkicking could have burgled it, but fark me, 6 tries and you lose?

BBBR is our critical player. What a sensation - you only really see quite how dominant he is in every part of the game when he's gone. Don't forget the much vaunted Canterbury talent identification system passed him over, so he wombled off to the North.

Anyhoo, I really enjoyed the test. A great contest, and nothing in it right to the end. And, as I said, you'd say the ABs played pretty poorly at times, well below their standards, and the Boks played pretty well as well as they can. Result: we lose.

Things I liked

• Dyanti running around people. What an offensive weapon
• Physical commitment around the paddock
• Beaudy's wee pass up to his brother for the early try. What hands - that's worth 5 of the points he left out there
• Refs who let the game go -- while there's an argument for pedantic whistling, it's a much better watch with open running rugby
• Josh Goodhue's impact coming on. That guy is doing all he can to push for a long career in black. Remember - he's the same age as ALB; shows the real youth kicking around the team
• Ben Smith. At 32. Fark me, just made so many metres, so many good decisions. Awesome.
• Teams that don't act like muppets to each other, and will have a beer afterwards. It's what Rugby's about - I'm biased, but you don't have to be a bunch of wazzers to win at the top level (looking at you, Australia)

Things I didn't like so much

• Goalkicking (obvs)
• JB's fast throw to bounce somewhere near some Bokke. Reminded me of Billy Slater's biff back into the field of play in the League RWC Final. You only do that if you don't respect your opponents deeply, and think you'll win no matter what. I don't think he'll do that again soon
• Some of the offside calls (from teh couch anyway) -- very relaxed
• Looooooong advantage. I'm old school for this, but with modern defences that just don't fall apart, I reckon it's 2-3 phases and then back for the penalty. Otherwise you just burn time and don't actually advance the game
• Losing
• Not having good 6 cover on the bench for when Liam gets injured.

Thoroughly good game, disappointing result, but I wasn't gutted - just a bit flat. Still slept like a baby, and I really think we're on the right track with this side.

Blues just emailed and the tickets to teh final are free for members. Well played.

I'm going to assemble a posse anyway - 18 long years, we'll take a group, preload and exert our white middle class influence on the place

well, shit I'm still steaming.

I'm pissed, and the reason is that all of this was called in advance. Players picked out of position, poor game plan and dumb rugby - everything we feared about Foster's All Blacks. We had better players than Australia, but they were clearly better coached and it showed. Up for it? Not sure we were in the same way.

Positives
Cane was outstanding. If you wanted a leader look at that bastard. Worked his guts out.
Defence was really solid. Some freakish tries (following interesting ref calls) to get there.
Um, I'm struggling after that

Negatives
Players out of position killed us. Jordie, Ardie, Goodhue in particular
Forwards were good without being dominant
Mo'unga chose a bad time to shit the bed.
Gameplan was terrible (what gameplan), and the lack of rugby nous in fielding kicks had me yelling at the TV. Seriously, with the wind behind them, how the hell do you let a farking dropout from the 22 go over your head, and basically gift Aus 40 m and possession. My. Head. Exploded.
Lack of a dropgoal at the end. Have we learned nothing from SA a few years ago? Seriously? FFS people, get better

We did well living on scraps, offense looked great in the first 40. Rieko needs to learn how to put the ball down.
Unlike @tim I'm OK with Frizzel; he just smashed into people all night.

Argh, I'm really annoyed. Win here was important. God knows we need to get up next week

@Snowy said in Coronavirus - Overall:

@Catogrande said in Coronavirus - Overall:

@R-L said in Coronavirus - Overall:

@Catogrande why?

There are three certainties in life my Father told me.
Death.
Taxes.
Nurses.

You could try a hospital? They hang out there, although your timing isn't great.

'if coronavirus doesn't take you out, can I instead?'

@Bovidae said in Refuge for the positive.....:

@Chris said in Refuge for the positive.....:

The coaches are my concern I think the players are in confusion in what we are trying to achieve.
You think with Hansens experience he will strip the game plan back and give the players positive direction to get some confidence in them.
If that happens we spank the wallabies and win the WC.

To put a positive spin on the current situation, that was the talk in the leadup to the 2015 RWC where the ABs weren't impressive in the pool games. We later found out what was happening behind the scenes with inter-squad games etc.

KEEPING OUR POWDER DRY!

Righto, a belated match report.

I left early, with 20 to go. My mate decided he'd rather walk down Sandringham road than watch that bunch of overpaid munters try to play any more. I can handle losing, but stuffed if I'm going to sit there and watch supposed professionals just look hopeless and disorganised.

The team is a shambles. THere are occasions where the defensive line sets, and they look good, but it is a flash of mediocrity in a sea of shambles. Honestly, I'm shaking my head at the state of this so called team. We just look disorganised, disconnected, directionless and dire.

I got a coffee at half time. It's a metaphor for the whole organised - three people trying to serve coffee, looking surprised that people came to get a hot drink on a cold night, and serving so slowly that it took nearly 10 minutes - with no queue. Honestly, those staff would cost $60 per hour, and they can't be making any money. Shambolic and poorly trained - just like the Blues.

Righto, so proper comments. In no particular order:

• Pulu must pass faster off the ruck. Slowish passes just let defences line us up.

• Three years in and we still ahve no discernable game plan. Fair play, JK didn't have one either, but I'm buggered if I know what we're trying to do.

• Maul defence and offence is the worst in the comp I think. It was like watching me trying to dunk - no matter how optimisitic I am, I'm still a white guy, and I'm not tall enough or atheletic enough to slam one down. Every single time we kicked to the corner, we coughed it up. Insane. Optimistic, but insane.

• Refs don't help us, but they aren't why we're losing. I just don't know what the hell is an offense in rugby any more - tipping players is OK now? Running a maul ove rthe line and collapsing it - with Rebesl in from the side? That's no try, and no worries maaaate.

• Perofeta is a problem, but not the problem. Our problems start up front and don't stop until you get to 15. When the hell we got a powder puff forward pack that can't play set pieces, I don't know. Fark me it's frustrating. We not only have no rugby intelligence, we don't seem to have any muscle either.

• Akira looks tired and maybe a bit out of condition. If I were him I'd be seriously considering playing somewhere else to get better coaching.

• We just lost to a team taht i couldn't honestly identify more than one or two players. At home. Where we haven't won all year. In a ground that just got redeveloped, and yet isn't fit for purpose. FML.

• Weak weak tackling at times lets in tries. It's embarassing for professionals.

Look, I sound bitter, but deep down I'm optimistic about life. When we start winning games it's going to be so sweet - and if we can keep talent for a few years, a decent coach could build a team here. BUT I don't think that's Tana, and I don't think that's the current board.

I'm out. Frustrated, cracked a bottle of aussie shiraz - it's not as bitter as I am tonight

@Darren said in Next AB captain?:

No question it will be Whitelock.

Absolutely. Luke's a solid player.

@nzzp said in All Blacks v Springboks:

Thoroughly good game, disappointing result, but I wasn't gutted - just a bit flat. Still slept like a baby, and I really think we're on the right track with this side.

Also, things I don't like: Justin Farking Marshall. That fella needs to get a lawbook sometime,and talk to some referees. Honestly, most times he opens his mouth he is flat out wrong.

Poor commentators lead to misinformation being widely spread in the casual rugby watching public. This is not good for the game, because (wider) it's always hometown bullshit. Example today in the Ferald: missed refs call costs All Blacks game. It's that shit - we lost because of our defence; blaming the ref gets you where the Wallabies are now; not owning their issues.

@crucial said in Beer thread:

@mn5 said in Beer thread:

@crucial said in Beer thread:

Back to beer and another picked up today was a Saison from Sunshine Brewing in Gisborne.
Nice surprise. First because I have never been a fan of the brewery (just a bit average IMO) but also because there are few kiwi attempts at a Saison that I would really feel fit the bill.
This one really does. Funky, farmhouse flavours with the right level of “sourness “. Just a touch in other words.
Would be a nice food match. Pipi fritters, Salt and pepper squid etc

“A bit average” sums it up well, they settled for some solid beers and stayed there. Pretty refreshing when I was up there for work on a stinking hot day though I must say, it’s a shame the brewery isn’t overlooking the water, they missed a trick there.

They were one of the early independent breweries IIRC and have been around a long time. The old Gizzy Gold was quite sought after when the options were Lion, DB then Macs, Monteiths and GG

there was always Mikes,and Macs. And monteiths (which you mentioned, before they got bought)

Edit: and Croucher, and Emersons...

@bones said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:

@nzzp you're gonna ruffle people's hair if they say anything about it eh

is there another way?

just ordered up my 2021 Champions Blues hoody. Great to troll folks at work with... and looks super styley as well

@crucial I eventually found the extended highlights buried in the basement (@snowy)

https://www.skysportnow.co.nz/category/cricket

@no-quarter said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:

Or are Sky just that fucking terrible?

they've only just figured out that VOD and streaaming could be a thing their customers want.... and maybe the sunset industry they are in could improve. I hope htey change up, as Spark are a generation ahead in tech right now

@damo said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:

I am serious that we should try and score at 4 an over + from the start tonight and see what happens. The risk is worth it imo.

This pitch is hard to bat on. Agree we should play assertive cricket (rather than aggressive), but expecting 4/over from the outset is a big ask.

CDG could be a key person for us... 50 quick runs in the context of this game would be sensational. Althouhg - if Pant can't score runs quickly, who can?

Sky Sport is a step backwards in terms of easy access to watch this game. Spark had hour long highlights packages, and full replays on demand. Sky don't seem to have this, it's pretty annoying

@kiwimurph said in SR T-T FINAL: Blues v Highlanders:

Yeah the Breakdown is awful. As is the pre-game and post-game. Then during the games you get TJ and Marshall. Yikes.

It's not the best wya to attract new people to the sport we love, is it

@mariner4life said in The new wine thread:

I'm done with Pinot, it's waaaay more miss than hit (even from Central Otago) and you need to spend to get even half decent.

preach it dude, nailed it

I don't love it, will drink it at a pinch, but generally just give it to my dad when I get gifted it. It's not 'bad', it's just not in my wheelhouse...

@chris-b said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:

If the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune not so blatantly favoured the New Zealander, Stokes, King Kane would be safely ruling over that Empire as well!

I, for one, welcome our new Kane overlords