@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2022:

@Winger said in All Blacks 2022:

Highlander 2
Canes 3
Chiefs 9
Crusaders 10
Blues 11

Too many Canes 😉

Its an issue the Canes have now.

Aust badly lack depth. Its an issue for a combined super rugby competition

@Hooroo said in Coronavirus - New Zealand:

@dogmeat said in Coronavirus - New Zealand:

@muddyriver Define vulnerable. Given there are still cases where young people without co-morbidities die. What mortality rate is acceptable?

I suspect playing God with decisions like these is a lot more difficult for politicians than making them from the comfort of a keyboard (not having a go at you BTW).

Evidence to date is that any solution that relies on everyone doing the right thing for the common good is doomed to fail.

Out walking last night almost everyone had slipped straight back into social distancing but with more masks worn but to counter that you have the selfish pricks who fled Auckland ahead of the lockdown because of; ya know the inconvenience of it all.

I hear this.

When you are deciding an acceptable mortality rate, please include a close family member(Wife/Husband or kid) as a death as one of these and still see if that mortality rate is acceptable.

So why not reduce the speed limit to 40 MPH. After all this would save lives. Or ban rugby as this will protect people from injury some serious that will affect a person for life. Or close down all unhealthy food outlets. Let the nanny state go wild. The other option is education or advise and accepting variations in life where our rights and freedoms are maintained. We are all different and especially the young don't want to be treated like children who can't enjoy life.

My view is giving up our right and freedoms to MAYBE buy a little safety is a recipe for disaster. It just won't end. Already the economy has been ruined. And lives with it. I'm older now. Its up to me to protect myself. Not ruin healthy law abiding citizens lives to maybe protect me. I can stay inside and wear a mask and self isolate if I wish

@Duluth said in Super Rugby 2022:

Close games so far this weekend

27-25
22-18
27-24
24-21
26-22

This week was exactly what SRP needed. Keep this up and the crowds should return

@chimoaus said in Bledisloe 1:

@KiwiMurph said in Bledisloe 1:

@Daffy-Jaffy Strong attention to detail in the coaching group when one of the players had to tell them that Marvel Stadium has a roof.......

I am just imagining the forward thinking how the fuck do the coaches not know it has a roof as they start to plan for wet weather rugby. Fuck me.

And then tell everyone

@Canes4life said in Wellington 2022:

Stargazer a quick assessment of the squad:
Hookers: solid
Props: very average
Locks: very average
Loose forwards: good, but young

I'm bored so did an assessment of the starting forwards

NUMIA (23). Still only 23 and really stepped up this NPC. Without him the Lions wouldn’t have made the final as his backup was poorish. As a result he was often on for the full match. Voted Lions player of the year.
AUMUA (25). Based on this NPC he is now the 2nd best hooker in NZ. And should start next year for the Canes with Coles as his backup. Except for one game (Ak) his lineout throwing was good. And was outstanding in the final.
O’REILLY (27). Didn’t get that much game time but he looked class when he did. The Canes should keep him as their third hooker if they can. The next Lions hooker (Southall) looked no more than adequate.
PEK COWAN (36). VG to start for the first 40 minutes. Thought he was a big loss for the final but not really missed. As Sheck stepped up big time.
SHECK (22). One of the finds of the year. And started in the final and stepped up. Maybe good enough for a Cane’s contract. The TH who replaced him in the final (Siale Lauaki who is 19) did a good job too.
BIRD (31). Played really well game after game. If his body holds up should have a few more years left in him. His performances surprised me.
BLACKWELL (27). At this level he is a quality player. Fronts up week after week. Finally cut out the pass to grass nonsense as well.
PLUMTREE (22) Disappointing. I had very high hopes for him but he started off below expectation as a starting 6. Was replaced by Delany. Did OK as a replacement lock usually for Bird. Or 6 when required.
DELANY (22). High work rate and a quality 6. Maybe an option for the Canes as a starting 6. Needs to bulk up a bit though but is another quality lineout option. Was a key part of a VG backrow.
KIRIFI (25). Surprisingly good after I had almost given up on him. Captain of a team that played as a team after a poor start. In the final keep his discipline so didn’t cost any silly penalties.
LAKAI (19). Outstanding for his age. Surely a future AB. I would like to see him tried at 7 for the Canes. As some may consider him a bit short (1.86) for an AB 8 (I think he is fine as he’s tall enough but is bulkier than Ardie). But he has it all and still only 19. Finished off what turned out to be an excellent back row combination. Along with Higgins 2 exciting young prospects that fortunately have signed with the Canes.
WHITMAN (21). Young and still just an adequate replacement.
FORWARD COACHES. (Tito and Hartford?) Outstanding job. Turned a pathetic pack after 3 games into one of the best Wellington packs I have seen. The pack slowly got better throughout the year and finished with 2 outstanding displays.

I'm looking forward to this test like I haven't looked forward to a test for some time. I might even get up to see it live (rather than watch an early morning replay) Something I haven't done for years.

@Kruse said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:

@Dan54 said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:

@taniwharugby said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:

@Kruse said in Final: Canterbury vs Wellington:

Kirifi really is a dick

biggest dickhead in NZ Rugby

Well done Wellington, played bloody well.

Don't know what Kirifi has done, apart from play well, he surely captains the team well.

Look, I'm also from the 'Naki... and understand the instinct for a bit of provincial patriotism.
The guy's a grub.
Constant after-the-ball stuff. Shoving, mouthing off, just... being a dick.
“Oh... you want the game to be tiddly-winks!”
No. I want to be able to have a beer with my opponent after the match.

Hes not so bad. Leader of an impressive forward display

Blackwell and Bird both were impressive. I've slagged Blackwell off at times for the Canes but he stepped up week after week for mostly the full game

Wellington were lucky (esp compared to the Canes and Wellington in recent years) that they had very few injuries. I thought our luck might have run out with Cowan out but both TH props did very well. And Numia once again luckily lasted for the full match as our replacement LH is poor

Lakai at 19 is surely a future AB. Delany is my biggest improver. Numia was a close 2nd. And Kirifi rounded out a great forwrad display. To do what I thought wouldn't happen. Even after Auckland I still had my doubts

Final point. Aumua lineout throwing was first rate in this game. We finally did it.

There are solutions. Like

NZers to vote for a party that respects our right and freedoms (hopefully there is one) in the coming election. For example the right of a healthy law abiding citizen to go about their business without a Govt using any excuse to remove them. But if we collectively applaud as they are all removed. The future will get worse.

@SammyC said in All Black Coach - Ian Foster:

Bunch of idiots, can't see anything but a continuation of the downward slide we are currently on.

Brad Mooar (if confirmed) is not a huge surprise. I've heard that Razor and him don't really get along.

Razor is a long way from ready for this job. Key for him is to leave the safe CRUSADERS / Canterbury environment and to get some overseas experience. And mature a bit

Predictions of final places

France
Ireland
England
Wales
Scotland
Italy

I couldn't find an overall thread to cover this except for the individual match threads. But please combine if there is one

I have almost lost interest in rugby until now. But I thought this article was interesting. And concerning for NZ and Aust rugby. Hopefully SA is never allowed to join. Travel for one would be a pain for the current sides. And why change what works

NZ or Aust winning this years RWC will remove the gloss somewhat

Regarding the 6 nation teams. I've always had a soft spot for Wales so hope they can perform better.now with super coach Gatland back in charge.

A South African's view of the Guinness Six Nations

I’d have bet the farm on the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks lifting the Six Nations trophy if given the chance.

@Dan54 said in That Try:

@Winger Wasn't that the game where protestors cut the cable and we all missed first bit? I seem to recall watching the game, but missed the try until later, just heard it?
They were protesting SA links etc I think. Someone with a better memory (or inertnet ability) may just be able to correct me

Maybe but don't know. We often had a poor reception on the farm

@Dan54 said in That Try:

@booboo said in That Try:

@Winger said in That Try:

@Dan54 said in That Try:

@MiketheSnow Sorry mate, no way was it 50 years ago, I was already living with wife with a son and remember watching the game at my brothers place in Wellington. Geez that would make me old!!!!!
F*** it was a brilliant game, so many magical players in Baabaas.

Delayed . Unsure when live uk games were first shown in NZ. I think I listened to the game live on the radio and missing the first 20 minutes due to technical issues. But my memory might be faulty

Then watched the game later on tv when the tape turned up

Unsure if my recollection is right or not

Think the first one was that unofficial match v Wales, which I think was 1974. (NZ were touring Ireland for their Centenary, but added a match because, you know, Wales.)

Phew , maybe my brain isn't as addled as I thought, we did get live rugby from NH in 1972 tour, and I sure when we watched it had British commentators, and I had a sneaky look. You also right Boo NZ didn't send own commentators until 1974.(I actually seem to remember the Wales game was midweek, as I remember then living in Trentham and getting up for it, and seeing how many lights were on around surrounding houses.

The first offshore sports event to be broadcast live in New Zealand via satellite was the All Blacks rugby test against Wales, from Cardiff in 1972. The coverage was entirely from the BBC. In 1974 the New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation (NZBC) began to send New Zealand broadcasters to cover All Black tests. Keith Quinn was the first commentator to tour Australia and Keith McEwen toured Ireland later that same year. Subsequently sending New Zealand commentators and production crew on All Black tours became a regular practice.

OK thanks. It was live on TV but on the farm we missed the first 20 minutes. So picked up the radio commentary.

I was young back then so doubt if I got up if it wasn't on TV

@MiketheSnow said in That Try:

It's not fucking hard boys

It was 1973

2023 - 1973 = 50

Full tour. 19/10/72 to 7/2/73

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972–73_New_Zealand_rugby_union_tour_of_Britain,_Ireland,_France_and_North_America#:~:text=The 1972–73 New Zealand rugby union tour of,and North American club%2C county and invitational teams.

@Dan54 said in That Try:

@MiketheSnow Sorry mate, no way was it 50 years ago, I was already living with wife with a son and remember watching the game at my brothers place in Wellington. Geez that would make me old!!!!!
F*** it was a brilliant game, so many magical players in Baabaas.

Delayed . Unsure when live uk games were first shown in NZ. I think I listened to the game live on the radio and missing the first 20 minutes due to technical issues. But my memory might be faulty

Then watched the game later on tv when the tape turned up

Unsure if my recollection is right or not

@MiketheSnow said in That Try:

@Rancid-Schnitzel said in That Try:

Cough cough forward pass cough cough.

Cough, cough, two red cards in the modern game

Shame I remembered it as a brilliant try but it was clearly forward. Otherwise outstanding

@mariner4life said in The Current State of Rugby:

@taniwharugby i reckon the maul becomes way less of a weapon if there is no lineout lifting, and that facet goes back to a 50/50 contest.

Lineouts with lifting looks impressive compared to without. I doubt this change will be made

@Bovidae it seems like Peter Russell was let go. As opposed to stepping aside

@MajorRage said in Extreme Weather:

@booboo it’s very real.

Colossal difference between climate when I lived here 2000-2004 and now. Certainly warmer with better summers. Winter is still shit but many more cloudless days.

No one doubts that the climate changes over time. But is it natural cycles or due to CO2 etc. But it's a pointlessly debate now so can can we please leave it out (this is a great thread) as whats being done due to agw depresses and concerns me. One example. Land being converted to carbon sinks