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!!!!

Classic Ted:

My happy life has been turned upside down to be honest. Worst thing I've been through apart from the death of immediate family. Missing Rugby and Cricket. Missing the normal routine. Really tough to be working fulltime away from place of work and trying to home school the kids at the same time. Lots of people I know are sick. I'm worried about everyone.

Really proud of the resilience of my kids. The dog seems really happy to have us around more. Listened to a few good podcasts. Able to go for a run around the park as a family each day. Great banter from 2 metre plus from neighbours. Heard from a few friends I've not heard from in ages. Glad not to have the constant background rumble of motorway traffic. Those are the postives.

We'll get through all of this, but it feels like a prison sentence. I go to sleep each night hoping normal will return very soon.

Ngani Laumape re-signs with the Hurricanes and NZRU until 2021:

@Chester-Draws Honestly, mate if you're looking for "top-quality analysis", you should skip my posts.

@antipodean said in AB squad for the Rugby Championship:

Fifita is still in the squad? I don't understand modern rugby anymore.

Fifita's special role in the squad is to guard the powder and to make sure it stays dry.

Outstanding work by Aussie prankster Tom Armstrong:

@MiketheSnow said in NH International Rugby:

@Catogrande said in NH International Rugby:

@MiketheSnow said in NH International Rugby:

Gary Teichmann

Dawson’s bunny. He practically wrote him a cheque as he was buying that dummy.

Great play, but hardly consigns Teichmann to the scrap heap.

It was a No.8 backtracking against a No. 9 after all

What were the Saffa Blindside and the Fullback doing?

@Billy-Tell That didn't last long.

The Washington Redskins will have a new name and logo next season:

@Bovidae

Where's Brian Lochore on their lists?

There's only a handful of COVID-19 cases now in Scotland and Wales. I think the ABs games scheduled there for later in the year will go ahead.

@taniwharugby If that works, then brilliant. Empty seats at the moment are an enormous slap in the face to sports fans around the globe who'd love to watch live sport from the stands but can't because of COVID restrictions.

Lots and lots and lots of empty seat at the Caketin. Not a good look at all for overseas TV and doesn't help generate a buzz about NZ Rugby.

The Hurricanes management needs to develop a system to distribute any unsold tickets to workers from Wellington Hospital and their families, then to School & Club Rugby players.

Not a vintage Hurricanes performance but got the win.

I thought Aumua and Jordie Barrett were excellent. Laumape had his best game of SRA, even if his passing is suspect. Canes forward pack is meh.

Aaron Smith was outstanding for the Landers. He has IMHO been the best perfomer in the competition.

The Daily Telegraph reporting that Manu Tuilagi is set to sign for Sale Sharks.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2020/07/11/manu-tuilagi-sign-sale-sharks/