Party at Josh Ioane's tonight then.

Guinness has retired for the evening.

@sparky said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:

Sparky's All Black RWC squad

Props: Nepo Laulala, Joe Moody, Atu Moli, Angus Ta'avao, Ofa Tu'ungafasi

Hooker: Dane Coles, Liam Coltman, Codie Taylor.

Locks: Scott Barrett, Brodie Retallick, Patrick Tuitupolou, Sam Whitelock

Back Row: Sam Cane, Luke Jacobson, Kieran Read, Ardie Savea, Matt Todd

Half Backs: TJ Perenera, Aaron Smith, Brad Weber

First Fives: Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo'unga

Midfield: Ryan Crotty, Jack Goodhue, Anton Leinert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams

Back Three: Jordie Barrett, George Bridge, Reiko Ioane, Sevu Reece, Ben Smith

Some very tough decisions ahead for the selectors to get it down to 31..

Proof that a stopped clock is right sometimes.

His name is spelt "Ma'a Nonu" but it can be pronounced as "Living Legend".

This is a guy who made his NPC debut in 2002 and his Super Rugby debut in 2003. In his distinguished international career he donned the famous Black Jersey for 104 Tests, contributing to two World Cup wins with tries in the 2011 Semi Final and the 2015 Final.

Tonight he set up Tom Robinson for the first try with a superb pass, he set up Caleb Clarke for the second with another superb pass and had the instincts honed by nearly two decades playing and training at an elite level to be in the right place to take the offloaded from Reiko Ioane to run in and score a try himself.

A great signing for the Blues. Their young players must be learning so much from playing with perhaps the greatest ever 12 to play the game.

New Zealand have won the Netball World Cup!!!!

Thinking about the great Martin Crowe and how much he would be enjoying this.

Classic Ted:

@stargazer said in All Blacks 2021:

I'd prefer to know what actually happened, before calling it badly handled.

Clearly it is serious enough for it to be a matter for a court. Given it involved alleged violent behaviour against a woman, Shannon Frizell should not be representing NZ until after his court appearance. He will have a chance to clear his name then.

Another incident badly handled by Foster, Mark Robinson and the NZR board. Not much confidence in all three.

@dogmeat This is an excellent long read from last June on the origins of The Hundred.

https://wisden.com/stories/county-cricket/the-hundred/the-birth-of-the-hundred-bitterness-bullying-accusations-betrayal-almanack

Whilst the launch of The Hundred has been a relatively success within England. A flaw in the ECB's thinking is that the new format is never going to usurp T20 as the established brand of shortened Cricket internationally.

England players meeting with ECB to discuss whether to ask for a year's delay of the Ashes.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/57976072

@catogrande Only difference to my life is not wearing a mask in the pub or a cafe.

Most people seem sensible, some reports of people on the Tube not wearing masks.

Another welcome drop in UK covid numbers in terms of week on week reporting:

Be very interesting to see if this number will drop further this week or will be pushed up again after Monday's "freedom day".

@donsteppa said in Olympics Thread:

Just seen the goal highlights. Village keeping indeed.

Oly Whites are the new Black Caps.

The big improvement in British test sides in the past ten to twelve years has been in their fitness levels. They used to be frequently run off their feet at the end, but now finish games stronger than anyone else. The increased number of delays in a game probably helps them too.

@booboo said in Other Cricket:

@catogrande I've heard of it but not taken much interest.

What are the rules?

Each team faces a hundred balls. Hence the name.

Bowlers can ball five or ten ball spells. Most are five.

Change of ends every ten balls.

Bowlers can bowl a maximum of 20 balls.

First 25 balls are a power play with only two fielders allowed outside 30 metre circle.

After a catch, the non-striker remains at the bowlers' end.

No balls worth two runs.

Each side gets one tactical timeout.

Apart from that, it is Cricket as normal. Some of the more radical suggested changes such a scrapping LBW or doubling scores for boundaries at the end of an innings, never materialised.

Three problems from the first round. The games are meant to be done and dusted inside two and half hours, but are taking a bit longer than that. Not obvious what penalties there are for slow bowling. The white card that umpires produce every five balls is just bizarre, has been widely ridiculed and should be ditched. Too much of the TV coverage has basically been propaganda saying how wonderful every aspect of The Hundred is.

That said, the organisers will be delighted so far. Lots of close games. A lot of media coverage despite it clashing with the start of the Olympics. Very respectable TV audience figures. More kids than normal in attendance, especially at the womens games.

@catogrande said in Other Cricket:

Anyone watched the Hundred? The cricket is sort of exciting ‘cos it’s all balls out from the word go but I just can’t watch it. The fucking comms are just level 3 cheerleaders for “the product”, so much so that it makes my blood twist.

Just ugh.

Enjoying it a bit when I had expected to hate it, although I've been muting the "commentary". There have been some decent, entertaining, close games. Despite the jigling around in format, it is still the familiar battle of bat against ball and fielders. A run chase is still a run chase. The shortened format will reward most teams with a set of very tight, disciplined bowlers.

I don't have a team yet, leaning a bit towards Birmingham Phoenix but that sound like a run down cinema in Selly Oak.

It's been getting biggish TV ratings, but I suspect that is because there always was a good section of the UK who liked Cricket and wanted it back live on free-to-air TV rather this being a wonderful new format.