The Silver Fern

@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2025:

@frugby said in All Blacks 2025:

It should be remembered that the guy dropping out of the loose forward trio is Sam Cane - who, for all his criticisms hits as hard as anyone in the tackle, and did the dirty work. Ardie played at 7 will somewhat fill that void, but I still think they will be looking for a grafter - preferably with some meat on them. Could easily be Lakai at 8...

A backrow of Savea, Lakai and Sititi secures no lineout ball. You need a Hoskins and Samipeni sized individual in there. Preferably two.

No point picking someone just because they are big though. Samipeni hasn't exactly nailed down the blindside jersey for the Chiefs, and there is no point discussing Sotutu.

I wouldn't get hung up if your are on bench or starting for the chiefs , Mcmillian has used more rotation than other teams plus looking at who can lift the team off the bench.

@reprobate said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:

@steelpotato said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:

Love was fairly solid at 10. Nailed a couple of critical goal kicks from out wide, general play kicking was also good with penalty line kicks in particular good. Squared up and ran onto the ball nicely and distribution was excellent creating time and space for his midfield. Not sure if his balance of kick vs pass vs run is quite there yet in terms of game management though. His defence was good but sometimes he comes up a bit too hard acting like a rush midfielder so quick recycles then gave space to the Highlanders due to his eagerness. Arguably even better at fullback (and funnily enough defensively he played a lot of fullback taking many of the high balls sent through by the Highlanders even prior to Cameron coming on) with a critical scorching run towards the end of the game that got the Canes right where they needed to be to win it.

I'm not 100% it was Love, but I thought it was him who gave Lowe his second try. Lowe drew a defender and passed to JRK - but the defender didn't complete the tackle, leaving Lowe in position to take the return pass and score. Whoever it was, it was pretty poor play and undid the good work from the other cover to get JRK.

i believe you are correct . thought same thing at the time

wings no prob Reece ,Fihaki,Springer

you know robertson will pic bower

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks 2025:

Thought both Norris and Dyer stood up for the Chiefs this weekend. Could be the next cabs off the ranks.

was going to be a test on how they were progressing .certainly in the conversation now

glorious reading comments after game.a few comments aren't ageing well

@Bovidae said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:

@Yeetyaah said in Crusaders vs Chiefs:

Nice to see McKenzie and McAlister back. I think McAlister has been a pretty underrated signing tbh. Should be a belter of a game. Crusaders favourites for sure.

With BOK as ref that is a guaranteed win for them.

you have to be fucken kidding me

Liam Coombes-Fabling, Knee, Returning Soon
Etene Nanai-Seturo, Hamstring, Returning Soon
Kaleb Trask, Ankle, Mid-term
Anton Lienert Brown, Collarbone, Mid-term
Malachi Wrampling, Hamstring, Mid-term
Fiti Sa, Shoulder, Long-term
Rameka Poihipi, Knee, Season

when the chiefs play shit they play really shit and tonight that were shit

needs to move on he's number 3 now more money overseas

taine kolose will probably be with the chiefs

Tizzano got no turnovers against chiefs . will be interesting if blues can do the same

carnt see the chiefs getting close . hurricanes have to much class

ALB still in sling, doent look good

@bones yeah might of. could have been preseason? end result is he is pretty good

@Bones said in Moana Pasifika v Drua:

Lalomilo is such a well balanced player, is he available for NZ?

nearly got picked up a few years ago by the chiefs but got injured and they went with rona

Players unavailable due to injury:

Damian McKenzie, Hand, Returning soon
Leroy Carter, Foot, Returning soon
Etene Nanai-Seturo, Hamstring, Returning soon
Liam Coombes-Fabling, Knee, Mid-term
Fiti Sa, Shoulder, Long-term
Rameka Poihipi, Knee, Season

@Steven-Harris said in All Blacks 2025:

@African-Monkey dont disagree with anything you have posted pretty much on point
I am unashamed fan of Stevenson but believe he has a far better alround game than Fihaki has defence aside
Over the years the All Blacks have managed to hide some very average tacklers in defensive systems , Alan Hewson comes to mind but on the upside could be a match winner with his boot on the day

richie mounga a more resent example

lakai s problem isn't what he does with the ball its missed tackes. I quick browse of stats for this weekend, paps 0 LJ 0 finau 1 lakai 3 EB 5

@Steven-Harris ardie to the bench?