Posts made by Smudge

Currently on the bank at Cazaly's Stadium with @mariner4life after a slightly boozy lunch and a very boozy three days. This is quite tedious watching, especially in this heat...

@Smudge said in Travel:

I have a week in Cairns and 5 days on the Gold Coast next month. I've been told to stay well clear of the locals in Cairns but one guy has invited me for a BBQ and a nice chianti, and I do like to live dangerously.

Can confirm I'm still alive after said meal but I fear the next 3-4 days of drinking are just a way for him to pickle my liver...

@Crucial said in 2022 School rugby:

What’s in that Herald article (paywalled) about the SP v Kelston game? Expose of schools rugby or shit stirring?

Here's the main part of it:

At this point in a match preview we would normally be quoting the thoughts of one of the coaches.

Perhaps we might have asked Kelston's Matt Howling what it would mean to win the title via knockout stages, as opposed to earning it through having been round robin leaders when the season was brought to a halt by Covid-19, as was the case last year.

Or inquired as to what they may need to do differently to avoid a repeat of their 23-3 loss to St Peter's on May 21.

We might have asked St Peter's Dave Thomas how his team compares to the school's champion team of 2018. Or maybe his thoughts on whether loosehead prop Sika Pole and halfback Etu Fokufuka can again score critical tries against Kelston, or the prospect of flanker Dylan Petaia turning in another player of the day performance.

Or, more generally it may have been a chance to name-drop a few of the individual players from both teams who have enjoyed stellar seasons. Or contextualise the occasion in terms of the schools' proud history in 1A competition.

For this article, Kelston's director of sport, William Howling, was contacted on the advice of Auckland Rugby's communications manager James Johnston, who did his best to facilitate media access with reluctant schools.

"We won't be making any comment," Howling said. He could not explain why Kelston wouldn't comment. Kelston has a stated school vision of "inspiring growth through wisdom and honour".

Meanwhile the St Peter's camp offered comment for over half the season - before belatedly advising they had been instructed by the principal to desist. No reason was given why.

Nic Slade is director of sport at St Peter's, whose mission statement says: "We work with the community in setting our goals and objectives and in assessing our effectiveness."

Slade was approached for comment via email and phone message. There was no response.

According to the same mission statement, St Peter's adopt Jesus Christ as their model in all they do. At this point, for anyone who ever went to a Catholic school, Proverbs 1:28 may spring to mind.

"Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;

"They will seek me diligently but they will not find me."

So here we are.

Auckland has one of the best first XV competitions around in terms of rugby production. But in terms of understanding how "the product" is presented and consumed, they live in the dark ages. They might as well inhabit the cave of Boreas as New Zealand's biggest metropolis.

In other parts of the country the promotion and publicising of a first XV rugby final is something which is embraced. In Auckland they would rather not answer the phone.

This season this column has presented comment and background information from schools in North Harbour, Hamilton, Rotorua, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, and Dunedin.

There has never been anything even approaching the insular resistance that prevails within the Auckland schools. Indeed, the contrast with how helpful they have been in trying to build the symbiotic relationship between sport and media has been striking.

To a certain extent that is a reflection of the civilising influence of sponsored competitions and trophies, where publicity is solicited to do justice to the wider community investment. In central North Island Super 8 rugby they now even broadcast and televise their matches.

By contrast, Auckland's unsponsored 1A stands aloof.

@Crucial said in All Blacks v Pumas 1:

@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks v Pumas 1:

@Machpants said in All Blacks v Pumas 1:

Why the fuck do NZR bother giving tests to ungrateful cantabs? They never sell out, not even at the old stadium. Fuck them

All Blacks fail to sell out 20,000 seater Orangetheory Stadium

The All Blacks have so far failed to sell out Orangetheory Stadium ahead of their match with Los Pumas this weekend.

Obviously can't speak for anyone else, but I am in the area and considered going to this game. Then I thought about the shitty stadium and the cold weather and thought 'nah'.

And as for Lancaster Park. That place was pretty shitty too.

How about Chch doesn't get any more ABs tests until the spectators are supplied with comfy armchairs, a roof and heated blankets?
Honestly, if you cant fill a 20k ground in a city that size, that is pathetic

I'm no Village Of The Damned apologist but I've been to the ground once in 2018. I'm not a tall man (hovering around 6ft) but I found it cramped and uncomfortable, very tight to manoeuvre in and out of the row, and the atmosphere was thick with the aroma of "makeshift" - and secondary school hierarchy of course, but that's another matter...

If I lived in Christchurch, I can understand why punters are reticient to head along.

I have a week in Cairns and 5 days on the Gold Coast next month. I've been told to stay well clear of the locals in Cairns but one guy has invited me for a BBQ and a nice chianti, and I do like to live dangerously.

@Higgins said in TSF NPC Tipping 2022:

@JK Keep tipping as there are bound to be a number fall by the wayside sooner or later so you will soon be back into a team.

Another regular also missing is @Smudge. Missing a round you get the default of five less than the lowest for the week so all is not lost. Sadly the lowest for this week was a pretty miserable 21!

Simply don't have time at the moment. Thanks for thinking of me. And yes I know it's 5 minutes every week, but...

(plus I'm still sulking after being in Pukekohe to watch my Otago team completely butcher a win last week)

Planned a visit to friends with Auckland a while back and by chance it coincides with this game. So me and my chum (we flatted together in Dunedin when we were at uni) are off to Pukekohe for the first time. Should be a fun game with the team Otago has named.

I wonder how, if at all, this little situation may affect Marshall's Sky position, especially considering the NZR/Sky ownership share situation. Not a great look for Sky for one of your high profile comments guys to be in what appears to be a slanging match with some of the players.

@Bones it's on Reddit so I see no issue sharing it here.

https://www.reddit.com/r/rugbyunion/comments/w3c64q/all_blacks_sharing_a_few_choice_words_with_justin/?utm_medium=android_app&utm_source=share

Any Wellingtonians still looking for tickets - 200 have been released on the tickets section of the All Blacks site this afternoon.

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

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

Just confirmed a free ticket for Saturday. Boom.

There's just the small matter of pacing myself at the Trentham races earlier in the day.

Which race are you starting in?

The Wellington Racing Club hasn't allowed pacers on the champagne turf for a good decade or two!

Just confirmed a free ticket for Saturday. Boom.

There's just the small matter of pacing myself at the Trentham races earlier in the day.

@NateHill74 said in Otago 2022:

Props
Abraham Pole
Josh Hohneck
Tau Koloamatangi
George Bower*
Jermaine Ainsley
Saula Ma'u
(Rohan Wingham)
Others: Tevita Pole, Shane Fikken, Jonah Aoina, Jackson Dempster, Cam Allan-McNeill

Hookers
Ricky Jackson
Henry Bell
(Harry Press)
Others: Austin Atiga, Brady Robertson, Jake McEwan

Liam Coltman is gone as we know

Locks
Will Tucker
Josh Dickson
Josh Hill
(Fabian Holland)
Others: Harrison Morton, Aron Einarsson also 6,8, Oliver Haig also 6, Taylor Dale also 6,8

Loosies
Christian Lio-Willie 8
Sam Fischli 6/8
James Lentjes 7
(Sean Withy) 7
(Tom Marshall) 6/8
(Toni Taufa) 7
Others: Leroy Ferguson 7, Jake Russ 6.7, Harry Taylor 6

Slade McDowall is somewhere I believe
Dylan Nel won't be back this season if I'm correct
Charles Elton is overseas

Half Backs
(James Arscott)
(Kieran McClea)
Others: Bob Martin, Motoki Tanaka if fit, Possible outter region import)

Kayne Hammington has left
Nathan Hastie has season ending injury

Fly Halves
Josh Ioane
(Cam Millar)
(Ajay Faleafaga)
Others: Ben McCarthy, Obey Damage, Josh Robertson-Weepu

Midfielders
Raymond Nu'u
Thomas Umaga-Jensen
Josh Timu
(Aleki Morris-Lome)
(Jake Te Hiwi)
Others: Jack Leslie, Brayden Laing, Al Momoisea, Filipo Whitehouse-Opetaia Tovio

Giovanni Leituala is back in Aussie
Sio Tomkinson is heading overseas

Wings
Jona Nareki
(Viliami Fine)
(Joe Cooke)
(Freedom Vaha'akolo)
Others: Jermaine Pepe, Jeremiah Asi

Michael Manson has headed down to Southland
Matt Faddes is I don't know where but won't be back
Mitchell Scott is believed to not want to play rep rugby

Full Backs
Sam Gilbert
Vilimoni Koroi
Others: Levi Emery, Caleb Leef, Finn Hurley

Faddes has been playing club rugby for Kurow. Might see him in an Old Golds jersey!

@Smudge said in Whisky / Whiskey:

@Kiwiwomble said in Whisky / Whiskey:

@smudge that would work, would have been happy with 2-4 bottles each

....now thinking about a "fern" whiskey barrel

Update on this. We've paid for the barrel and have the filling ceremony in June.

Further update: filling ceremony was yesterday. Gorgeous day at Cardrona, with plenty of snow around, but with a clear blue sky above. They look after you very well - we were drinking Veuve Clicquot as we chatted and caught up with people, and had a quick rundown on the distillery's history. We then wandered through the distillery on a tour, before getting to the filling bit. As I was the one who corralled my mates into doing it, they decided I was the one who was filling the cask. Took about 2 minutes to fill the 230L barrel and luckily I wasn't one of the people who kept the tap on for too long and sprayed the fresh product everywhere, which has happened in the past apparently.

After that, we rolled the barrel out through to their storage hall, then went back into the main restaurant/bar where they take you to a separate room for a a rolling hour or so of food, some of their products (whisky, vodka, gin and liqueurs) and more wine. All up about 3 hours, and nice to have some pomp and ceremony above just buying into the cask.

Shit I feel average today.

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2023:

@Canes4life i found that whole media release kind of weirdly worded

 to the southernmost Super Rugby Club

this is put out by the Highlanders, just a weird way to talk about yourself

They don't have anyone doing the comms for them in any professional sense at the moment, which is why you see them refer to themselves as the "Highlander's" in the first paragraph of the release. Absolute amateur hour. It's their own fucking name!

@Stargazer said in Highlanders 2023:

@Kiwiwomble You're not well. Buckman was awesome. Was on the ABs radar, but then got that horrible season-ending injury in that stupid preseason game against a French team. Was it in Hong Kong or Singapore? Can't remember. Anyway, without that injury he could have been an AB. That's how good he was.

"You're not well"? Because he dared to not anoint a Hawke's Bay player as the second coming? Pull your head in.

@voodoo said in Rough tips and other bets...:

Well it's not quite J-Mac at Royal Ascot, but for anyone interested, Change is Coming makes its debut at the races today. Gosford R3, drawn the carpark at #11 but maybe has the gate speed to overcome it.

No responsibility taken for lost $

Good luck me

Change is coming to my TAB account one way or the other. Good luck, voodoo.

@Smudge said in Historical footage, anyone?:

@Nepia I feel like some of the games were on a Sunday night (could check the dates but cbf) in which case they might have been 8 or 9pm kickoffs. Far too late for 8yo me on a school night.

I could be fucked and the internationals were both on Sunday. Thanks for the links @Duluth

@Nepia I feel like some of the games were on a Sunday night (could check the dates but cbf) in which case they might have been 8 or 9pm kickoffs. Far too late for 8yo me on a school night.

@Rapido said in Historical footage, anyone?:

They were televised on TVNZ. I watched them.
First time I ever saw a ton, didn't really like it, still don't.
The 2 'tests' and the Presidents XV or whatever they were called were broadcast live (remember watching Paul Turner). Good viewing times on weekend evening.
Midweek matches were highlights.

Weren't official tests. Classified as All Black 'games'.

I've seen some of it on youtube since (I think?). Edit, maybe not.

I blame my parents for not letting me stay up to watch, but making me listen on my early-model alarm clock radio.

Long shot, but last week my mind randomly sent me back 35 years to the All Blacks tour or Japan at the end of 1987.

1987 New Zealand rugby union tour of Japan - Wikipedia

I recall listening to it on the radio at the time as an eager 8-year-old as we dispatched the Cherry Blossoms (and a few other teams) like a strong wind through a Tokyo garden.

Wikipedia states they were test matches but I'm not so sure they were, unless that has been retrospectively applied, as this is on Brent Anderson's allblacks.com profile:

Anderson's only other All Black appearances came when he went on the short tour of Japan late in 1987, owing his selection in part to the fact that the World Cup locks, Albert Anderson and Murray Pierce, were rested for the tour. Anderson partnered Gary Whetton in the two internationals against Japan but full caps were not awarded for either of these games.

Anyway, the point I'm eventually getting to is whether this tour was filmed at all? I don't think it was broadcast in NZ, which begs the question as to whether it was actually covered in Japan.

And if so, has anyone ever seen some footage or found any on YouTube?

@booboo said in Bogans with kids:

@Smudge said in Bogans with kids:

Saw someone commenting on a friend's Facebook post, and this person was talking about their boy named Roczen. A new one to me.

Were they Eastern European? (C and Z together). Otherwise .... mmm ok

Didn't appear to be, judging by the mum's name.

Saw someone commenting on a friend's Facebook post, and this person was talking about their boy named Roczen. A new one to me.

@Kiwiwomble Dixon was good value but yes, I'd space them out. Bigger fan of Between Two Beers - better variety of guests too.

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2022:

@Yeetyaah said in Highlanders 2022:

@Kiwiwomble What a Lad podcast hosted by James Marshall. Pretty decent tbh.

after 4 episode i am well and truly over the "lad" stuff

Yes, that's very tedious. And not every guest can be a good bastard. The other bone I have to pick with the podcast is that there's a lot of assumed knowledge - especially when he's talking to former team mates and they use nicknames for other players and the poor listener has no idea who they're talking about because James doesn't explain, when a good host should.

Then again, the latest one with Ajeet Rai was excellent, even though they'd never met before.

@Kiwiwomble said in Highlanders 2022:

@FakatavaFuture said in Highlanders 2022:

Watched the Highlanders doc & just need to say Nasi nacho Manu is the man!

always seemed like a top bloke

I'm thinking about starting a Givealittle for Nasi to get a nose job.

@Catogrande said in RIP 2022:

@Smudge said in RIP 2022:

@booboo said in RIP 2022:

One half of the Ingham twins.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/128879860/infamous-shipjumping-twin-joanne-ingham-found-dead-in-motel

Too soon for one of my favourite jokes ever?

No

What's the difference between the Ingham twins and Princess Diana?

The Ingham twins were tucked in a funnel.

Had my first Australian winner this afternoon. Not that I expected it to be in a $7000 race at Albion Park on a Tuesday, but it'll be a good confidence boost for a very good mare who had gone off the boil.

@booboo said in RIP 2022:

One half of the Ingham twins.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/128879860/infamous-shipjumping-twin-joanne-ingham-found-dead-in-motel

Too soon for one of my favourite jokes ever?

@booboo said in Bogans with kids:

@Smudge said in Bogans with kids:

One of my favorites was back in the ODT court news today:

Juthro Uriah Budweiser.

Surname?

Yes.

One of my favorites was back in the ODT court news today:

Juthro Uriah Budweiser.

I'm hearing Sky Stadium is almost sold out for the Ireland test and likewise for Eden Park. Bit surprising this far out but good all the same.

@MajorRage said in Coronavirus - New Zealand:

@Smudge said in Coronavirus - New Zealand:

Back at work today. The unvaccinated guy next to me: "are you ok to be back at work today? I mean, is it safe for you to be here?".

Well, cuntyballs, maybe you could have got vaccinated and you wouldn't have to worry so much. And yes, it is safe for me to be here after my 7 days of iso, as per Govt instructions.

Did you look at him & cough?

Multiple times.

Back at work today. The unvaccinated guy next to me: "are you ok to be back at work today? I mean, is it safe for you to be here?".

Well, cuntyballs, maybe you could have got vaccinated and you wouldn't have to worry so much. And yes, it is safe for me to be here after my 7 days of iso, as per Govt instructions.

This is quite nice.

Fabian Holland’s emotional family reunion | Fabian Holland’s...

117K views, 4.8K likes, 2.3K loves, 143 comments, 94 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Highlanders: Fabian Holland’s emotional family reunion. After three years apart, his family finally got to see...

@Tim said in Coronavirus - New Zealand:

@Smudge said in Coronavirus - New Zealand:

just a positive case, not a death, hopefully.

There's always a chance.

Your Highlanders hatred knows no bounds!

@Hooroo said in Rough tips and other bets...:

@SammyC said in Rough tips and other bets...:

@Hooroo said in Rough tips and other bets...:

@JK said in Rough tips and other bets...:

Polly Grey $4 on tab. Hopefully better with aus bookies once markets are up (anytime now)

Track suits too. She should go fairly well. Fitness is an issue but we think we have her there or thereabouts.

Great run! Makes me glad I looked at this thread this morning.

Cheers. She did it fairly easy in the end, looking at the replay.

I think she can go on from this. She did it in her stride and ate up as soon as she got home which shows it wasn’t stressful for her.

Looking at a listed race in Wellington if she doesn’t get sold beforehand.

Just reflecting on this from a bit over 3 years ago. From a maiden win in mid-April 2019 to taking on Zaaki in the Doomben Cup this Saturday!

I get to be a statistic tomorrow. Happy days.

just a positive case, not a death, hopefully.

Pretty crazy finish to the Petone v HOBM game today. I went for the first 20 but it was raining and I felt like shit so went home. Should have stayed...

@Kiwiwomble said in Drua v Highlanders:

@Duluth if i wasn't too loyal i'd snap that up

No interest in an insurance bet? I'll probably put some cash on the Drua in case the Highlanders lose.