While it's a tradition to be positive and full of Christmas cheer around this time, not to mention cherish those we love, I think we need to follow the actions of our self-proclaimed betters and engage in some serious navel-gazing and self flagellation.

It is clear that this website lacks diversity. And that is problematic. There is only one poster who identifies as a woman and while being bisexual is a plus, she isn't a POC and most posters here are straight (white - problematic) males anyway. Clearly the poster who identifies as Mariner4life is a homosexual, but there are no others who will dare to come out on this site. There are certainly no trans people and that is a tragedy. There is an oriental tooth doctor and a goat fucker, but they don't compensate for the overwhelming whiteness that pervades here. That is problematic and I would hope that the mods (mostly straight white males - also very problematic) fix this problem in 2019.

Nah fuck that.

This site is great. For me it's like Cheers: "Where everybody knows your name and you're always glad you came". You can act like a fool and speak utter crap and all is forgiven next time you rock up. I've had a very tough couple of years and unfortunately I sometimes let that out here and I apologise for that, but mostly I just love coming here every day and reading some very informed (and not so informed) views about rugby, other sports, movies, TV, fitness, movies and politics etc. The advice and kind words I've received here have helped me massively (even the dp discussion). It's a cracking site with a cracking group of people and I wish you all the merriest of Christmases and happiest of New Years and I thank you once again for putting up with yet another year of my shit!

God Jul alle sammen.

@virgil said in Convicts v Marxist Land Thieves - Crucket:

Smart move by Warner to face the media for the first time with his wife and girls
Hard to kick him further when he’s holding one of his little girls.

I hate him even more for that. He's effectively using them as a shield. Cowardly tosser.

Let's keep this civil. As much as I love a good circle jerk, these threads are much better with the Lions fans involved. Don't want them to leave before the tests.

Game was a bit ordinary. Looked like it was going to be 30 nil at half-time, but the yellow card (what the hell was that for?) changed things and then of course the ref kept blowing for tries and then changing his mind. They have to fix this shit. The entire crowd, Reds fans included, went apeshit when he annulled that TJP try. Ultimately people want to be entertained not witness that kind of bullshit. That was goddam farcical.

Anyway result was great and the Canes are a seriously impressive team. J Savea is an utter beast. I won't hear any criticism of the non-fat version. He was Lomu-like tonight. His brother was bloody awesome as well. 8 suits him to the ground. Hope his injury isn't anything serious. Barretts were of course ridiculous. What an incredible double-team. Fark we Canes fans are lucky right now. And I agree with above rating of Proctor. He was all class.

But, while the game was pretty shit, it was a magical evening for a little kid who desperately wanted a selfie with Beauden. I speak not of myself (even though I would very much like one), but my 8 year old son who refused to leave after the game. We were going to wait for TJP who was closest, but we saw BB further away and my son ran in that direction. He managed to sneak forward as only kids can and his day was made.

Seriously what a champion. He gave everything during the game (that dude seriously covers some distance during the course of a game), then immediately had to give interviews. But he then went straight to the crowd and was giving dozens of selfies. He was still doing it when we left, so God knows how long he was out there. A great player and true gentleman. Never thought my man crush could get stronger but it certainly did tonight!

@gt12 said in All Blacks v France Test #2:

@taniwharugby

I'm having an afternoon at home today, so I'm planning to watch the game again, but I'd agree that he tends to make tackles, but not necessarily dominant ones. At least, that's my impression. However, I've wondered whether he is like Nayman on the Wire (season 4), where his ridiculous hairstyle makes everything he does so visible. He's clearly one of the players, who has had time invested in him, who hasn't made the next step. However, I agree that he still has the tools if he can be used right. My problem with him right now is that he seems to be hanging around looking for turnovers, when he could have a much simpler role, which is high energy tackles and runs, like a energizer Cane.

Mate, if I had the afternoon off I can think of thousands of better things to do than to watch that dross again.

@Kirwan said in US Politics:

I've unlocked the topic, but under the following condition; no more personal comments.

I'll just delete anything with even with a hint of playing the man instead of the ball.

No problem dickhead.

@No-Quarter said in The Things Kids Talk About...:

Oh no not creepy at all...

The atheist in me puts it all down to his imagination. But about 2% of me wonders if there's something more to it...

That would make a great headline:

"Militant atheist finds religion due to reincarnated son"

Proctor was killing it at 13 before he got injured. Definitely first choice 13 (although Jordie seems to be some kind of arsey lucky charm there). He wasn't the best player in the team though. That's taking it too far.

@jegga said in Bledisloe II:

I’d suggest carrying the weight of the world around us probably more responsible for his aches and pains

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/106582382/wallabies-must-protect-pocock-more-coach

This happens to pretty much every player reaching in to steal the ball. It happens to Pocock all the time because that's all he farking does. It's quite indicative of the type of player he is that he stands out every time we pump them. In other words when getting hammered he's good at getting his team a little less hammered. Awesome, he made 5 turnovers in a 40 point loss! God forbid he actually make an effective hit up and do something with the ball. Or win a line out.

@bones said in Alternative needed from the absolute crap of stuff.co.nz:

@taniwharugby plus the huge number of shit blokes on there means the women end up giving up and a shit bloke like me ends up punching waaaaay high.

Hi Five.

Yep, the Neanderthals there don't stand a chance against blokes who can spell at a primary school level and resist sending cock pictures.

@Nepia said in Exodus:

@Machpants said in Exodus:

Anti exodus. Good news. I reckon razor should challenge himself, get out of his comfort zone, and coach another SR team. I nominate the Canes!

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/300116814/crusaders-coach-scott-robertson-set-to-stay-loyal-as-nz-rugby-ramp-up-talks

The Canes lost half their homegrown ABs and half their support base the last time they parachuted in a Cantab coach. Probably best he goes to the bottom of the table Chiefs.

To be fair, that particular Cantab had no head coaching experience and couldn't break dance.

@MN5 said in Building myself back up:

@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Building myself back up:

Ordinary night's sleep so tough to get up to when Kenny Loggins blasted out Danger Zone, but I got up in the end. Good swim session. Intervals after were tough but they always are. There's a new swim coach. Only 19 but very innovative and very sharp. Good lad. No mucking around and good sets.

Feeling that I'm not getting enough grub into me during the week so gf suggested a steak meal one night a week. Sounds good to me. Definitely not quite getting the balance right RE diet. But no issues with the cheat meal today. Four schnitzels

I had three times this week. On the pan but I seared it well.....sorry I’ll save that kind of wank chat for the food page.

Swimming is a great workout, I’m immensely proud of my boys for battling through their lessons on Saturday like they do.

It has to be done properly. Can't stand chewy steak.

Yeah swimming is the bomb. Certainly got the bug. Can do a mean 25 free but am generally a crap swimmer. Still the best workout though. Great your boys are involved

Ordinary night's sleep so tough to get up to when Kenny Loggins blasted out Danger Zone, but I got up in the end. Good swim session. Intervals after were tough but they always are. There's a new swim coach. Only 19 but very innovative and very sharp. Good lad. No mucking around and good sets.

Feeling that I'm not getting enough grub into me during the week so gf suggested a steak meal one night a week. Sounds good to me. Definitely not quite getting the balance right RE diet. But no issues with the cheat meal today. Four schnitzels

@MN5 said in Building myself back up:

@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Building myself back up:

@MN5 said in Building myself back up:

@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Building myself back up:

@MN5 said in Building myself back up:

@taniwharugby said in Building myself back up:

@Rancid-Schnitzel TR Jnr is 15, up until now he has done more bodyweight stuff, but a few of his mates go to another gym, he wanted to join, so I did too.

He has alot of potential, but is a bit lazy, thought having his older brother up recently who is a solid unit who spends alot of time at the gym, would inspire him to go a bit harder, but is his inspiration is sporadic.

His best mate who goes to the gym and has been for a while, his dad is an Orthopaedic surgeon, so assume if he thought it was bad kids doing gym, he wouldnt let him do it.

At 12 and 10 I’m getting my boys to do push ups and negative chin ups. They both do much better when my other half is critiquing their form and they were shocked ( as was I ) when she busted out 25 good form push ups for the FB challenge ( but she didn’t put this online cos she didn’t want to upset her more out of shape friends, she’s such a girl )

How is she at pull-ups? My gf is a bit of a gym junky but can barely do 2.

Shit. Great at running though

Yeah the difference in upper body strength is pretty huge. Makes those Crossfit women even more impressive.

She blames her ‘massive thighs’ cos she weighs all of 54kg or whatever.

As I said, such a girl.

You'll be running marathons together soon

@MN5 said in Building myself back up:

@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Building myself back up:

@MN5 said in Building myself back up:

@taniwharugby said in Building myself back up:

@Rancid-Schnitzel TR Jnr is 15, up until now he has done more bodyweight stuff, but a few of his mates go to another gym, he wanted to join, so I did too.

He has alot of potential, but is a bit lazy, thought having his older brother up recently who is a solid unit who spends alot of time at the gym, would inspire him to go a bit harder, but is his inspiration is sporadic.

His best mate who goes to the gym and has been for a while, his dad is an Orthopaedic surgeon, so assume if he thought it was bad kids doing gym, he wouldnt let him do it.

At 12 and 10 I’m getting my boys to do push ups and negative chin ups. They both do much better when my other half is critiquing their form and they were shocked ( as was I ) when she busted out 25 good form push ups for the FB challenge ( but she didn’t put this online cos she didn’t want to upset her more out of shape friends, she’s such a girl )

How is she at pull-ups? My gf is a bit of a gym junky but can barely do 2.

Shit. Great at running though

Yeah the difference in upper body strength is pretty huge. Makes those Crossfit women even more impressive.

@MN5 said in Building myself back up:

@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Building myself back up:

@MN5 said in Building myself back up:

@Bones said in Building myself back up:

@MN5 after seeing your vids, sounds like a great idea if she is in charge of push-up form...

Mine were perfect and my variations showed great power and poise.

You must have been bored to watch them though, I’m sure no one else did.

I watched them and was very disappointed when you stopped. The singing was the highlight.

I was sick of being ignored. I think only you and one other bloke did it out of about 15 nominations. Included in that bunch were a Ferner or two as well. The pathetic excuses were just that....sore wrist, bad shoulders, Heart murmurs.....

That’s before I even got to @Bones

Yeah I stopped nominating. It was getting embarrassing.

@MN5 said in Building myself back up:

@taniwharugby said in Building myself back up:

@Rancid-Schnitzel TR Jnr is 15, up until now he has done more bodyweight stuff, but a few of his mates go to another gym, he wanted to join, so I did too.

He has alot of potential, but is a bit lazy, thought having his older brother up recently who is a solid unit who spends alot of time at the gym, would inspire him to go a bit harder, but is his inspiration is sporadic.

His best mate who goes to the gym and has been for a while, his dad is an Orthopaedic surgeon, so assume if he thought it was bad kids doing gym, he wouldnt let him do it.

At 12 and 10 I’m getting my boys to do push ups and negative chin ups. They both do much better when my other half is critiquing their form and they were shocked ( as was I ) when she busted out 25 good form push ups for the FB challenge ( but she didn’t put this online cos she didn’t want to upset her more out of shape friends, she’s such a girl )

How is she at pull-ups? My gf is a bit of a gym junky but can barely do 2.

@MN5 said in Building myself back up:

@Bones said in Building myself back up:

@MN5 after seeing your vids, sounds like a great idea if she is in charge of push-up form...

Mine were perfect and my variations showed great power and poise.

You must have been bored to watch them though, I’m sure no one else did.

I watched them and was very disappointed when you stopped. The singing was the highlight.

@Snowy said in Building myself back up:

@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Building myself back up:

Got the Viking genes from his mother.

Hey hey hey, that is my heritage too and I'm not a blob (yet). Also:

Just put that in there really.

I meant the Viking genes in the most positive, crazy jealous way. Kid only has to look at weights to get jacked. But even Vikings are no match for Coca Cola and Krispy Kreme.

@Paekakboyz said in Building myself back up:

@taniwharugby get the brown before you put it down. Lyrical gangster lol.

I still remember my dad telling 18 year old me that he really regretted not playing sport after college or training to keep fit. I reckon you guys have all stuck a good balance between support via a gentle (or not lol) nudge rather than being dicks about it. I'm yet to try it out but I'm thinking we'll expect the kids to be doing something, but its up to them to decide what it is (as long as it's rugby of course). Then I guess it's on us to give them options shit, this sounds like work!

It can happen in weird ways. I was desperate to get my youngest to play rugby. His enthusiasm was lukewarm at best and I just bit the bullet and gave up. But suddenly this year he's going nuts about rugby and wants to pass and kick the ball all the time. I think it helps that he's gotten very tall and discovered how to run fast again (he was like Bambi for a while there). So I guess, ultimately, unless you start them really young it's hard to pressure them into something. They have to find their own path and you just have to hope it isn't the fooking iPad.