The Silver Fern

Bloody amazing year from the Women!
Head and shoulders above the rest of the world, winning 4 of 6 tournaments plus the championship.

And well done to Jorga Miller, doulbe awards, Player of the Final as well as Women's Player of the Year!

It is scary just how good she is and how much better she might well get, absoultely deserved!

As for the Men, best not to mention them except to say this tournament was one of their better ones given a third place finish, their first podium finish for the season.

@Bovidae said in Black Ferns 2025:

@RoninWC said in Black Ferns 2025:

That's a strong lineup for the training camp. Looks like a better squad than that which went to the UK.

A couple of non-selections too, which are justified (e.g., Pip Love).

Agreed, also ommitted from the camp is a personal favourite but someone that hasn't performed to her best since the last world cup final, Joanah Ngan-Woo.

She was coming back from injury but sadly could not earn a start in a side that was the worst performing team in Aupiki.

@Bovidae said in Black Ferns 2025:

Black Ferns unveil first camp invitees player list

Black Ferns selectors have invited 49 players to attend the first Black Ferns training camp for 2025 held at NZCIS, Wellington between April 27-30 in the lead up to the Pacific Four Series (PAC4)

That's a strong lineup for the training camp. Looks like a better squad than that which went to the UK.

Will be very interesting to see who they pick in the initial squad as I've got tickets to watch them play Aus in Newcastle on May 11, can't wait!

@Snowy said in Fernies - Nominations - Best Memer (King of Memes):

@dogmeat said in Fernies - Nominations - Best Memer (King of Memes):

Is it @rembrandt that sporadically posts 20 or so incredibly dark memes and then disappears off the thread again?

Anyway - that guy.

@RoninWC dumped a heap at once a few times. Usually dark or pervy IIRC. Not judging, just describing 😀. Don’t think he’s been around for a while.

Still here, just not posting memes these days.

Another movie my brother has just finished working on, this one for almost a full year on the SFX...

The Gorge, on Apple+ next year, 14 Feb.

@MN5 said in TV Serieseseses:

Just started Dune Prophecy

Decent so far

Spoiler

Anyone know why the Valya Harkonen isn’t bald and pasty like the rest ?

My brother did a lot of the SFX on this production including designing the vehicles used.

He said it was quite challenging coming up with designs for the vehicles such as the spice miner that is 10,000 years before Dune Pt. 1 was set.

They needed to look familiar but ealier tech which applies to the whole series.

@nzzp said in Beer thread:

@MN5 said in Beer thread:

@RoninWC said in Beer thread:

West Coast IPAs are a style that's been around for a long time but coming back into fashion after the rise and slight decline of the East Coast Hazy styles.

A West Coast IPA will be clear and crisp with a strong hop flavour that tends towards a more bitter, dank and piney, resin flavour.

Typically you would use classic hops like Chinook, Simcoe, Cascade, Columbus, Centennial, etc.

Pliny the Elder and now Pliny the Younger are considered the best examples of these. Others are like the Sierra Nevada Torpedo.

Yeah I’m a bit over Hazys……( just a bit, I’ve got one brewing as we speak ) so always keen to sink a West Coast IPA when given a chance !

I get it, but I love them.

I was pissed when the sour revolution was on. Some craft places seemed to only have sour and brown ales ... neither are my bag really. So yeah, hazy awesome, WCIPA fantastic - basically anything hop forward is good for me!

WCIPA were all the rage about 12-13 years ago; people went nuts for the hop bombs and the bitterness balanced with the alcohol. So yeah, watch out for those 9 percenters now (although the hazies are up there too these days)

100% the same and the beer I brew most frequently.

As there are so many variables when brewing a Hazy/NEIPA, I just can't get enough of experimenting with grain bills, yeast and hops and they are where I get the most satisfaction jboth in terms of brewing and then drinking.

West Coast IPAs are a style that's been around for a long time but coming back into fashion after the rise and slight decline of the East Coast Hazy styles.

A West Coast IPA will be clear and crisp with a strong hop flavour that tends towards a more bitter, dank and piney, resin flavour.

Typically you would use classic hops like Chinook, Simcoe, Cascade, Columbus, Centennial, etc.

Pliny the Elder and now Pliny the Younger are considered the best examples of these. Others are like the Sierra Nevada Torpedo.

Wolfs on Apple+

The George Clooney and Brad Pitt collaboration. What a romp, just bloody good entertainment watching two actors who clearly love what they do, do what they do best. Wife and I really enjoyed it on Sunday evening enjoying a bottle of wine.

Two "cleaners" called into the same job and things just go from there.

Tit watch zero

@nzzp said in Beer thread:

@RoninWC said in Beer thread:

In my opinion, Sunrise Valley is the best hazy I've tried.

I agree, it's one of the best.

Wife and I thought Willamette Valley was better. Different - not as ripe mango - but I thought a sensational beer. Fresh on tap is just awesome.

Haven't had the pleasure of tasting Willamette Valley as yet. Will do an active search for it here in Aus.

Thanks for the heads up on that, cheers!

@nzzp said in Beer thread:

Went and got Garage Project valley series. Tasted all 4. Had 2 L last night with my mate ... 8% hits you, but it's damn well worth it.

Was planning to go on Friday to the only venue where the Valley Day was being held in Sydney, the Beer Barrel in Chippendale. Unfortuneately for us in Australia, they only had three beers available:

• Sunrise Valley, brewed with hops from Freestyle Farms.
• Yakima Valley, brewed with hops from Yakima Chief Hops.
• All New Valley expression a new release, brewed with hops from Coleman’s Alluvial Farm, Oregon.

Was showered, shaved and getting dressed when a severity 1 outage hit a major state-wide systems that one of my teams supports. So there went those plans.

I've had Sunrise Valley and Yakima Valley a few times, alwayys in cans, but have never had the experience of trying it on tap along with it's stablemates. In my opinion, Sunrise Valley is the best hazy I've tried.

I've even tried to do a clone of this which turned out pretty good.

What was your favourite of the 4 beers and what was the 4th brew that you tried?

@reprobate said in All Blacks 2024:

@RoninWC said in All Blacks 2024:

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks 2024:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2024 - selection:

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks 2024 - selection:

Oh, get a grip. So Sotutu is now the finest player not to get selected and everyone else is a journeyman. I find it funny how by attacking another player from a rival team who doesn't even get selected as a No.8 is the main focus of the argument. Just so friggen stupid.

you are talking about EB?
Where would you rank him on his 2024 season against the other 6s and 7s?

One of the most effective loose forwards in the comp in a dysfunctional team when playing. Hence pretty much every pundit outside this echo chamber putting his name in the mix.
Being made of glass and a lack of a body of work is a reasonable argument though...

LOL, I call BS on this statement.

One of the busiest, sure, but effective, NFW!

He's there because he's the coaches pet and son of a mate and because the fan boys fawn over the few minutes he plays each season.

Should never have walked into the squad let alone starting given how few minutes he's played and how actually ineffective he is when he plays. Busy doesn't mean efffective.

God you're repetitive and full of shit. He didn't walk into the starting side. The starting loosies against England were DP, AS, SF. EB and LJ had their first starts vs Fiji. EB performed, SF had not, and of the options available he earned the starting spot.
I wouldn't have picked him initially due to a lack of playing time, but he has performed well and justified his selection. Stats back that up.
To say he's been selected because he's the son of a mate paints you as quite the fluffybunny.

HAHAHA, look who's talking. It's my opinion, you have yours and I have my own.

And it's as clear AF that he should never have been picked in the first place. He did walk into the side without merit, that much is clear.

And I completely disagree that EB has "performed" as I have put in only 1 single previous post, I do not believe that he is effective. He's busy but effective, far from it in my opinion.

You have yours, but that is not reason to call anyone a fluffybunny, especially from one such as yourself!

From Allianz Stadium (formerly Twickenham) tomorrow night.

A rematch of the Women's 2022 Rugby World Cup Final.

Interesting stats:

• Great to see the return of the pocket rocket, Ayesha Leti-I'iga, returning for her first match since scoring the winning try in that final
• John Mitchell who took over as Head Coach of England coaches against his native country for the first time
• England are the world’s number one ranked team have won 46 of their last 47 Test matches, including 16 on the trot since the 2022 Rugby World Cup

Very annoying, Stan Sport here in Australia has decided against streaming this match despite having the rights to the game. It does conflict with the Women's Australia v Ireland match but that shouldn't matter.

I've emailed Stan Sports a few times already and I can only encourage other Aussie based Ferner's to do the same and hopefully we can get a replay?

Teams
Black Ferns (15-1):
15. Renee Holmes (18), 14. Ayesha Leti-I'iga (21), 13. Logo-i-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai'i (Sylvia) Brunt (17), 2. Ruahei Demant (37, Co-Captain), 11. Katelyn Vahaakolo (10), 10. Hannah King (3), 9. Maia Joseph (4), 8. Kaipo Olsen-Baker (6), 7. Kennedy Tukuafu (nee Simon) (23, Co-Captain), 6. Liana Mikaele-Tu'u (22), 5. Maiakawanakaulani Roos (25), 4. Alana Bremner (21), 3. Tanya Kalounivale (14), 2. Georgia Ponsonby (24), 1. Chryss Viliko (6)

Reserves:
16. Atlanta Lolohea (1), 17. Kate Henwood (5), 18. Amy Rule (24), 19. Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu (2), 20. Layla Sae (7), 21. Iritana Hohaia (10), 22. Amy du Plessis (17), 23. Ruby Tui (14)

England (15-1):
15. Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins, 44), 14. Abby Dow, (Trailfinders Women, 46), 13. Emily Scarratt (112), 12. Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury, 23), 11. Jess Breach (Saracens, 39), 10. Holly Aitchison (Bristol Bears, 31), 9. Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury, 73), 8. Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury, 68 caps), 7. Marlie Packer (Saracens, 105, Captain), 6. Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs, 6), Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears, 65), 4. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury, 54), 3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears, 62), 2. 2 Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears, 58), 1. Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury, 16)

Reserves:
16. Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers, 75), 17. Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears, 48), 18. Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury, 31), 19 Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks, 14), 20. Georgia Brock (Gloucester-Hartpury, Debut) 21. Lucy Packer (Harlequins, 22), 22. Zoe Harrison (Saracens, 50 caps) 23. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 30 caps)

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks 2024:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2024 - selection:

@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks 2024 - selection:

Oh, get a grip. So Sotutu is now the finest player not to get selected and everyone else is a journeyman. I find it funny how by attacking another player from a rival team who doesn't even get selected as a No.8 is the main focus of the argument. Just so friggen stupid.

you are talking about EB?
Where would you rank him on his 2024 season against the other 6s and 7s?

One of the most effective loose forwards in the comp in a dysfunctional team when playing. Hence pretty much every pundit outside this echo chamber putting his name in the mix.
Being made of glass and a lack of a body of work is a reasonable argument though...

LOL, I call BS on this statement.

One of the busiest, sure, but effective, NFW!

He's there because he's the coaches pet and son of a mate and because the fan boys fawn over the few minutes he plays each season.

Should never have walked into the squad let alone starting given how few minutes he's played and how actually ineffective he is when he plays. Busy doesn't mean efffective.

@Stag said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

@Kiwiwomble you are appropriately named. Blackadder has been in of the best AB’s this season and clearly would have started again.

Hahahaha, you're kidding yourself. Best of the ABs this season, get the fuck outta here!

@Chris said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

Ethan Blackadder is injured that is the reason Sititi is starting and Jacobsen is on the bench.

Well thank fuck!

Broken as usual and as I said before, not world class and added little to a struggling AB team.

@Jet said in Springboks vs All Blacks 2:

Story of the season is surely Blackadder casting off his niggles moniker by being an 80 minute week in week out tyro.

WPOTY incoming. 😀

Seriously, WTF do people see in Blackadder.

INMHO, he's softer in defence than the complaints about Ardie, haven't seen a good solid driving tackle or big hit from him yet.

He's useless with ball in hand and makes little real yards and then clearly his decision making is farking shite given the ball hungus screwing the pooch on a certain try!

Sure, he has an engine and runs all game and is involved but his involvment lacks much impact on both sides of the ball.

Fark me, I honestly watch his game scratching my head and think, "WTF are the coaches seeing in this guy?"!

In terms of changes, I think we clearly need more height in the engine room, start Darry and move Vai'i to starting 6. More height, more grunt!

A daytime TV favourite of our family when we were living in Canada.. RIP Phil Donahue

Aug 19, 2024  /  07:26  /  news

Phil Donahue, talk show host pioneer and husband of Marlo Thomas, dies at 88

His cause of death wasn't disclosed. Loved ones said he'd been suffering from a “long illness.”

@Bovidae said in Olympic Sevens 2024:

@RoninWC You mean Curry? It did seem strange that Webber went from being only a travelling reserve to replacing the injured Ware in the starting team. It doesn't say much about the original team selection.

Yes, I meant Curry, thanks for picking that up.

And yes, the whole selection was an absolute mess for those games.

Tomasi Cama a rubhish coach.

Starting Joe Webber in a knockout match is one of the most stupid decisions I've seen watching decades (and playing) sevens.
He misses far too many tackles (in fact, the only tackle I can recall he made was at the kickoff for the 2nd half, his one and only good play in the whole match), his passes are piss poor, usually going behind the player he's passing to and he pretty much does the same thing every time he has the ball in hand.

To compound that headscratcher, he doesn't start either of the two playmakers used the most thru the HSBC 7s, Cook-Savage and Rokolisoa, yet he starts Collier and Dillon who are both too old and too slow and keeps them on almost the entire match. In fact, Collier played the entire match and contributed almost nothing just because he's the captain he's kept on the whole time... WTF!

And WTF was that from Knewstubb, he was thru the tackle, line open in front of him and he attempts a miracle offload which is intercepted and turned into the match winning score when the SA player looks up, sees only Dillion and Collier in front of him and takes the most logical option, kick and chase when you know you can outpace your opposition, just too easy.