@Snowy said in RWC: All Blacks vs Namibia Pool B:

@sparky said in RWC: All Blacks vs Namibia Pool B:

Stuff has a second-by-second Countdown clock therefore if you so choose you can watch the seconds until that glorious moment when the team is actually named.

Well that's ruined that then.

Another of the great mysteries in life is just common knowledge.

Completely off topic and absolutely doesn't belong in this thread, but the single greatest mystery in life remains how it can take so long to collect a hire car from the airport no matter how much info you've already provided when booking online.

Well that was a glorious afternoon / evening.

The pub had a dodgy feed that kept freezing but given the games weren't close it kind of added to the fun - lots of "oohhhhhhh"'s and "yeeeaaaahhhh"'s as we froze then caught up.

There were about 15 kids there for the early game, most wearing Australian / Irish / English supporter kit, each of them glued to phones and iPad's. Most buggered off home after the Australia game.

My lad was decked out in his AB kit and sat at the corner of the bar for both games, watching every second of the footy - didn't ask for his ipad or phone once. He even had a few sips of my beer with the observation "that's quite nice".

Never been so proud.

I don't know how some of you guys manage to comment during the game, you must be better typists than me (not saying much), I'd miss half the action if I tried.

It's also pretty fun to wake up with a smile on my face, make a BLT and sit down with a coffee to scroll through the 1000+ posts here over brekkie.

Happy days!

@chimoaus said in Christmas Gifts:

Lucky for me the missus said "I don't want anything" so that is what I will get her.

You must have either been married less than 2yrs or more than 50yrs!

@NTA said in Judiciary Happenings:

@voodoo said in Judiciary Happenings:

@NTA said in Judiciary Happenings:

@Billy-Webb said in Judiciary Happenings:

Just hope for his sake it doesn't permanently harm his career.

If his style of refereeing hasn't harmed his career to date, one photo surely won't.

Interestingly, some friends recently (pre-RWC but this year) spent some time with Steve Tew and colleagues, and their view was that they'd happily ditch neutral refs if they could have Peyper for every game. Really rated him.

Because he lets a lot of things go, probably. Suits the AB ability to allow ball down when the ruck is messy

all refs have their own unique way of favoring us

@NTA Great story, love it, thanks for sharing

What a day here in Sydney. Was actually fairly clear skies until that Turramurra fire, then it looked like armageddon to the north. Thank fck the cold front has arrived, now 19 outside. Still windy though, and it might have arrived too late for the firefighters to rip into the current fires tonight.

Those guys are deadset legends. My kids are too young right now, but I made a promise to myself today that I'm joining the volunteer firefighters as soon as they're old enough for me to take off with short notice - reckon 4 years from now. Even if it means spending time with Tony Abbott.

You cnts can hold me to this commitment post the next RWC.

Doesn't feel right to debate climate change on a day like today, when lives were lost and homes were destroyed. But regardless of whether you feel that it played a part in this event, it seems impossible to argue that more effort and funds are not required to address the impact of events like this. And that's where capitalism, IMO still our best baseline choice for an economic/political system, falls short when left alone. It just does not encourage the type of behaviour society will need without significant oversight and regulation.

We may have huge resources (dare I say "unlimited" as the @Baron-Silas-Greenback would hyperbolate (yes, I think I made that word up)), but how do we ensure they, along with their associated wealth, are directed in the right places? As an example, we currently produce an abundance of food in the world, yet we have not come close to eliminating hunger and malnutrition. We are inherently lazy and selfish. So why would we be confidant that technological advances will come to the aid of the poorest and most climate-affected amongst us?

Feels like this year is a bit different here in Sydney, like the mood is changing. When the flood levy was imposed a few years ago, it was met with derision - "why should we fund their choice of living location?" - but this seems to be hitting closer to home, and I think people are more willing to give something up to help. Feels like the time is right for some political capital to be spent without repercussions.

Anyway, hope all my fellow NSW-men and their families are safe tonight

Man, I have missed this place, good to see it hasn't changed too much.

Clearly this post doesn't add anything of value to the discussion, I'm just easing my way back in...

@jegga Can't access

@Siam The "issue" with that position is that they have also assumed that their lack of of offense is common across all gay folk, including the 14yr old who is afraid to come out because his rugby teammates won't ever speak to him again and his Dad will beat him and his church will cast him out. It's quite an arrogant view in and of itself.

For me though this just keeps coming back to the employment issue. You tell your employer you're going to behave in a certain way then you don't, them you double down, then you're on pretty thin ice.

I'm with you here, I've said the same (either here or elsewhere):

@Damo said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

I think picking Scott Barrett is primarily around the lineout. With Barrett there we will have 4 frontline defensive lineout options

But I'm so not with you here:

@Damo said

We don't lose anything on defence with Barrett, nor do we lose much of Cane's impact at the breakdown. Cane will come on fresh in the second half and can go nuts for 30 minutes on defence if required.

I think Cane is our hardest hitter by a long shot. His physicality in the tackle and at the breakdown is just extraordinary.

Fuck me, if you'd asked me a month ago how much reaction a royals thread would around here, I'd have said bugger all. I don't know youse guys anymore.

@Crucial said in Dry aged beef:

@voodoo said in Dry aged beef:

@mariner4life not sure he'll care with that view and a newly stocked fridge full of meat

Fridge? I plan to use a meat safe.

I'm embarrassed to admit that I don't know what that is

As always, appreciate all the efforts @Duluth

@mariner4life not sure he'll care with that view and a newly stocked fridge full of meat

@Hooroo I reckon t-bones are massively underrated as a cut. Gimme one any day over some over-marbled, over-massaged, over-priced, (likely) small portion of something fancier

Just off the plane in Auckland, now waiting at the Regional gate for my transfer to Palmy (no need for any commentary about Palmy being relegated from Domestic to Regional status).

Great to open the Fern to see this thread at the top of the Recent topic list, ahead of the Vege/Vegan thread.

@Bones still not worth it

@junior said in British Politics:

@Rembrandt said in British Politics:

@MajorRage Neil is absolute quality. They should do his interviews in the style of a UFC fight night, pay per view.

As to the bias, maybe yes maybe no, there are certainly examples for both Labour vs Conservative camps though establishment vs anti-establishment would paint a different picture. I'm all for letting the market decide. Certainly enough examples of shoddy journalism and way over the top salaries to make the bbc not seem like the necessity it once was.

Will be interesting what comes of it.

The market gave us clickbait journalism, The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men - I'm not sure I fully trust the market when it comes to media and television.

Truly a historically bad show. Like unfathomably bad. Amazing the success that it had. Enough to destroy your faith in people.

@Snowy I just love to see a man enjoying his work!

@Snowy said in Planes:

@voodoo said in Planes:

Sometimes, when I get a bit cocky and think my life is interesting, or that I just achieved something of note, I like to come to the Planes forum to remind myself just how mundane my life really is.

Keep it that way.

Was going to have a look and find some photos of some of the insane strips that we used to go to, but found this instead:

No that isn't me, smart-arses.

You know how sometimes you see a photo of someone for the first time and they look NOTHING like you'd expected?

This isn't one of those times.

@Duluth said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

@No-Quarter said in Possible All Blacks 2020:

Bridge is not a player that can open up a tight test, he's really just a safe pair of hands.

An All Black winger should be able to beat players with footwork. He's a good player with plenty of speed who looks good on the end of a chain. I'm not convinced he has the skillset for tight spaces that other wingers have.
He is also really hesitant when it comes to backing himself on the outside. He cuts back in way too often.

If his kicking game is good enough I think he would be a very good fullback. Unfortunately won't get the opportunity to play there at the Crusaders

Are you still talking about Bridge or have you switched to Caleb Ralph?