The Silver Fern

@Daffy-Jaffy said in Blues 2026:

@Duluth I would too. but I fear him ending up in the Crusaders wider group replacing Trainor who withdrew to return to MLR. Also suspect our coach does not rate smaller backs, hence loosing Tito-Harris while signing bodies like Paul, Vai and Suanoa.

Odd, Tito-Harris isn't exactly a midget, bigger than Vai I'd imagine. It's a shame if that's your coaches mentality since we're in a golden period for smaller outside backs.

@reprobate said in Ireland v All Blacks - Chicago2:

@nonpartizan said in Ireland v All Blacks - Chicago2:

@Richie8-7 said in Ireland v All Blacks - Chicago2:

@reprobate said in Ireland v All Blacks - Chicago2:

@Richie8-7 said in Ireland v All Blacks - Chicago2:

@reprobate said in Ireland v All Blacks - Chicago2:

@Richie8-7 said in Ireland v All Blacks - Chicago2:

@reprobate said in Ireland v All Blacks - Chicago2:

@No-Quarter said in Ireland v All Blacks - Chicago2:

@reprobate I am TRYING to be positive here!!

To try to counter that point, I think the impact of their forwards tiring is less in the modern game given you can replace so much of your pack in the 2nd 40. If we'd built a lead during that period you could say that it had a big impact, but as it stands it was them that went ahead, so I don't think the impact of that card was as bad as it could have been for Ireland.

Yeah sorry to bring you down bro.
It's less impactful, but I think it's still a pretty big deal: 20 minutes with 14 you may do well to limit the damage, but still have the fatigue from that effort affect you late in the game.
Think I'm right in saying that Beirne is one of their 80 minute guys too? (and he's certainly a workhorse).

We had 20 minutes with 14 in 2023 against a much better Irish side and still won.

Not sure that's a great example. We started really well, and had to make a mountain of tackles and hang on for grim death late in the game to scrape the win because of those cards. Sam Whitelock with the turnover after 30+ phases, and I think Jordie also held someone up over the line? Replay that game 100 x and I think most times we lose it because of the cards.

So an example of a match where a team won is not a good example of a team winning with 14 players for 20 minutes? Good lord. Ireland didn't just lose on Sunday, they got hammered 4 tries to 1 and the final score flattered them.

Ireland also should have had a yellow card in 2023 for a high tackle that was never reviewed after we kicked a 50-22. And in that last play there were 2 forward passes, neck roll on Ioane and a clear penalty won by Ardie. So not only did we win with 14 players for 20 mins, we won against the tide of terrible decisions.

It can be done, and obviously happens sometimes - but, "good lord", that doesn't mean the card doesn't matter.
We took the lead in about the 60th minute. They were poor, sure. But if we aren't in front for 3/4 of the game, I don't really think it's a hammering.

The card does matter of course, which is why you shouldn't make a no arms tackle with a shoulder to the head. I was saying it is still possible to win.

And yes, it is a hammering. It's an 80 minute game, not 60. 33-13 would have been a fair reflection. If the score at 60 minutes had any relevance there wouldn't be so much angst about the Springboks match in Wellington.

Fair point.

The Boks didn't take a lead this year v ABs until after 2 entire hours of rugby yet it's the last 20 minutes in Wellington that is afforded all the attention.

If we hyper focus on that the same thing has to apply in reverse. Otherwise we are unfairly critiquing the ABs.

For me the Irish played 60 mins with even numbers and didn't create a lot of try scoring opportunities so I don't feel like anyone should be overly generous to them. They can feel hard done by but I don't think it's why they lost.

I'm certainly not saying that is why they lost, they were poor: error-prone and couldn't even control their own set-piece.
What I am saying is that we were pretty bloody mediocre too for most of that game - and our win should be taken with their poor performance and the card as context.

Fair enough, can't disagree with you there.

I will admit my opinion is slightly coloured by listening to a few of the Irish journalists/podcasters whinging about the card when they had been talking up their chances in the week leading to the test. Came across as poor losers because for me, card or not they didn't do enough to feel they should have won that match.

But yeah I agree with you - context is important. The first half was appalling and it wasnt untill the hour mark that they hit their stride.

Looking a fairly even Cup this year. Early indications suggest it's going to be a solid day, and it feels like it's getting its mojo back a little. Must be if it attracted @mariner4life all the way from Cairns...

Beehre, another graduate from the 2022 NZ under 20 squad. With what that squad has already produced, it's cool to think some standouts from 2022 have yet to fully hit their straps - Haig, Hotham, Higgins, and Bell. No wonder they smacked the Aussies. It's a pity we never saw them on the world stage.

Adam Lennox
Cameron Millar
Essendon Tuitupou
Fabian Holland
Finn Hurley
George Bell
Harry Godfrey
Hayden Michaels
Jake Te Hiwi
Jamie Hannah
Joe Brial
Joel Lam
Jone Rova
Josh Bartlett
Josh Beehre
Lavengamonu Moli
Lucas Cashmore
Mackay Springer
Mason Tupaea
Nik Vikena
Noah Hotham
Oliver Haig
Peter Lakai
Raymond Tuputupu
Riley Higgins
Seb Calder
Siale Lauaki
Tahlor Cahill
Viliami Napa’a
Wallace Sititi

@KiwiKi
Not sure I followed all that; but did you factor in crossover to rugby league.
Large amount of that in the PI community.

IMG_5877.jpeg

@bayimports I vaguely recall waivering on S2 of Invasion, will need to search back to see what I said and therefore if I need to add anythign more to my long list.

2026 SUPER RUGBY SQUAD NAMINGS
THURSDAY

10am - Highlanders

11am - Blues

12pm - Moana Pasifika

1pm - Hurricanes

2pm - Chiefs

3pm - Crusaders

@DurryMexted said in Crusaders 2026:

@Fredsaua12 Assuming he is signed as a loose forward? Believe they have to specify each player, as they can only move into the team based on injuries in their subsequent position

Yes he is the Crusaders will not have Grace back until March and Kellow may miss the first month as well.
Mathis may get game time.

might have missed it, have we chatted about the jersey design comp? love the idea, real role of the dice, my football club use to do it every year and then put 4 up for vote by members so worse case you kind of knew which ever one was selected a decent number of people liked.....i hope its more than just blue

Here are some of the loose forward stats for the AB season. I don't have any ruck stats which is obviously a big part of the puzzle. Probably shouldn't have included Papali'i since he only played 14 minutes. His stats are extrapolated. Tupou Vaa'i and Finau also played at lock.

Carries Per 80 Minutes
22.86 Dalton Papali'i
15.21 Wallace Sititi
13.56 Samipeni Finau
12.48 Ardie Savea
11.06 Christian Lio Willie
10.0 Peter Lakai
9.03 Du'Plessis Kirifi
5.5 Simon Parker
5.49 Tupou Vaa'i

Tackles Per 80 Minutes
14.66 Simon Parker
14.31 Christian Lio Willie
13.55 Du'Plessis Kirifi
12.88 Samipeni Finau
12.5 Peter Lakai
11.56 Wallace Sititi
11.37 Ardie Savea
10.83 Tupou Vaa'i
5.71 Dalton Papali'i

Carries + Tackles Per 80 Minutes
28.57 Dalton Papali'i
26.77 Wallace Sititi
26.44 Samipeni Finau
25.37 Christian Lio Willie
23.85 Ardie Savea
22.58 Du'Plessis Kirifi
22.5 Peter Lakai
20.15 Simon Parker
16.32 Tupou Vaa'i

Total Impact Plays Per 80 Minutes
( Tries + Try Assists + Clean Breaks + Offloads + Defenders Beaten + Turnovers Won + Dominant Tackles )
11.42 Dalton Papali'i
7.15 Ardie Savea
7 Wallace Sititi
4.06 Samipeni Finau
3.9 Christian Lio Willie
3.55 Du'Plessis Kirifi
3.4 Tupou Vaa'i
2.85 Simon Parker
2.5 Peter Lakai

@reprobate said in All Blacks MOTM v Ireland:

@African-Monkey said in All Blacks MOTM v Ireland:

@sparky said in All Blacks MOTM v Ireland:

@Tim said in All Blacks MOTM v Ireland:

Thought Taylor got through a lot of work on defence and at the ruck.

I think he's probably our best player, but I didn't vote for him on this occasion because of the lineout woes.

Yup fair shout, hence why I was surprised that Holland got MOTM. Everyone involved is at faultfor the lineout woes imo.

You have to consider everyone is at fault for missed targets etc, because it's very hard to know who is really at fault. But there were multiple not-straights, and that is only one guy's fault. Unless I guess it is windy as all fuck and someone keeps calling the back, but that wasn't the case.

Chicago is known as the Windy City

@Bovidae said in Memes/Tweets (No politics):

Missed an opportunity to also have Ice Cube in

IMG_5876.jpeg

Here's three for one......

@taniwharugby said in Movie review thread...:

@MN5 havent watched it, but a colleague was discussing it, and was annoyed about the ending

Spoiler

with the director leaving it open for viewers to decide how they thought would end....fucking cop out!

Think I'll pass.

This review couldn't be more accurate

( spoilers if you haven't seen it obviously 😉 )

With Beehre promoted XV very low on locks?

@Tim said in What are you listening to, right now................:

@MN5 That's a great version. But there are many great versions of his songs.

Yeah I think I could happily go my whole life never hearing Freebird or Sweet Home Alabama again but Skynyrd definitely shine in their lesser known songs.

Good old Southern Rock.

I prefer Cales versions of his songs than Claptons because with a few exceptions here and there EC became a massive bore from about 1970 onwards.

is there ever matamata team that doesn't have a tuhakarina or a wharawhara in it.

@nostrildamus said in November Internationals: England:

@MiketheSnow said in November Internationals: England:

@sparky said in November Internationals: England:

@MiketheSnow

Will he win play Test Rugby 148 times? Will he will win 89% of those? Will he captain his nation to two World Cup victories? Will he win World Rugby Player of the Year three times? Will he win his hemisphere's Rugby Championship ten times?

If he does, then I'll accept comparisons to the GOAT.

I think they were comparing the start, not the finish 🙂

Will have to be a good start..

Jonah The Great and Richie The GOAT in the same Rugby 15. 😊 I think it was the only time those two titans of New Zealand Rugby played together.

@sparky said in Happiness Scale:

Anyone ever lived in Switzerland?

Two years in the late '80's/early '90's.

Really lovely people (hospitality outstanding) but the place was so rule-bound it became a bit of a pain. Things rarely went wrong, but when they did, it was total chaos.

Simple, sensible tax regime though.

Just watching the game right now. The Kiwis are really tough. Strong forwards, young quick backs, high skills all over the park