The Silver Fern

@ACT-Crusader said in AB's v Samoa:

Precedent? Haha, are you kidding? You only have to look back to 05 and 93 and see a number of players that made the team that were past it, out of form or what some would say were coaches favourite.

So there will be no precedent with Savea.

Yeah, that 2005 team was shit. Full of complete no-names and has-beens.

@Tim said in BIL & AB teams for Test #1 (AKA - who's impressing you at the moment?):

I hope that Cruden doesn't get on the field. Our play really deteriorated last year when he came on at 1st 5 and Barrett moved to the back.

I agree with that.

This could also go in the 'Good Rugby Reads' but as it is of a recent topic here it is

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/@rugby/2017/05/24/30394/smiths-sidestep-creates-rare-vacancy-in-all-blacks-coaching-ranks

@nzzp said in All Blacks vs Samoa confirmed:

@gollum said in All Blacks vs Samoa confirmed:

@Crucial

When you throw in the Welsh it'll either be the best atmosphere of any day at Eden park since the 92 World Cup cricket opener. Or it'll be a horror show where you leave at halftime.

Probably the former... Probably

I dunno, that famous League double header where they wound up burning seats was pretty out there. NOt a good day to have kids around, but hey.

That's League though. Far less civilised.

On form, it's probably fair enough to bring him in as 15 cover, but please, please, no time at 10.

An interesting long-read on the 2005 Lions tour based on interviews with several of the Lions players: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2017/jun/04/2005-lions-tour-hell-new-zealand-alastair-campbell-clive-woodward

@Bovidae said in 1993 Lions tour:

@dogmeat It certainly wasn't a great AB side during that series and Vodanovich has the worst winning % of any AB coach. Despite all that they still outscored the Lions 8 tries to 6 across the 4 tests. If only McCormick and Mains had kicked better.

With 5 in one test. So the Lions outscored NZ 4-3 across three tests. So in the winning of the series it is not quite so ludicrous to suggest that try scoring was an important factor. But I concede that goal kicking was the ultimate deciding factor - as it is in most close games/series.

@Catogrande listening to Steve Tew, it was never really on the cards, and the beat up about Ritchie vetoing the Baabaa game was just that, a media beat up.

Supposedly the England option was made available by the RFU when the Baabaa fixture was supposedly in doubt.

@Stargazer said in AB's 2016 in Review:

@Bones I wouldn't be surprised if that's the case, especially considering that Dagg has scored most tries for us this year.

Yeah good point - I was thinking they've probably got high confidence in being able to score tries too, so don't often work all that hard to get closer to the posts.

Ardie Savea with one vote, I must have missed something that someone obviously saw ahead of 20 other blokes wearing the AB jersey.

Whitelock, Perenara, Dagg.

B. Barrett, Todd and J. Savea next best 3.

@reprobate said in Peyper Stats Vs AB:

tries under advantage - we scored 38 and conceded 5 in the rugby

Yeah, I'm sure a few of those were under advantage. I doubt if there was a global referring conspiracy against New Zealand, that New Zealand would have scored 38 tries and conceded only 5 in the Rugby Championship.

@Bones said in Peyper Stats Vs AB:

Suspicious of penalty count comparisons.....but then I'll just go ahead and say NZ give away more penalties. Riiiiight.

NZ do give away more penalties, no matter what way you dice it.

I'm suspicious of the value to be attached to such a metric, and what is to be read from it.

I'd love to see someone do in the stats the amount of times that advantage is signaled in a match. My suspicion is that New Zealand, being the best team in the world, in particular being the best attacking team in the world, are the best able to score from situations like that - thereby making these stats look skewed.

@Stargazer said in France:

Good rugby genes right there

Barrett family

Posted by BB on FB

Proudest Dad in NZ right now.

@infidel said in MotM vs Ireland II:

Beaudy 1st for me, major part of all three tries, two try saving tackles, especially the one on one tackle in second half was huge, nailed 3/3

BBBR next, massive hits and hit ups
Ardie third, I was at the ground and he was in everything defensively, didn't see Sam Whitelock as active as Ardie

Worst 3

Aza Smith although perhaps unlucky to be carded maybe the ball was out?
J Savea
Maybe Fekitoa, think he should have been red-carded and whilst his defence is v good, he is like a headless chook on attack by and large, hard marking for a guy who scored two tries.

Ok so there were 2 sets of Irish commentators, because the guys in that clip even with that small sample were streets ahead of the twats I listened to on BeIn channel.

Another ref may have red carded Feki, but also yellow carded and possible penalty try the defender who knocked down that pass.

@antipodean said in Ireland II:

Very good interview with O'Driscoll. Worth the listen: http://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/Off_The_Ball/Rugby_on_Off_The_Ball/168303/BODCAST_ODriscoll__Tim_Horan_on_the_Aussies__NZ

Is pretty good for the most part, are a couple of 'Yeah right' moments, but you will always get that.

I went for Crockett, Faumuina and Lienert-Brown. Barrett and Dagg deserve a mention too.

@reprobate said in v Italy:

@nostrildamus said in v Italy:

and I'd just like to add I thought Todd was a good player but not suitable for bench and I was wrong, he has been a great teamplayer.
It is almost tempting to have him/Savea on at 7 and move the hard tackling Cane to 6 or 8 but no doubt such heresy would melt down the forum.

i reckon todd has played the best game in black 7 this year, he's done well. big motor, best support runner of the 3 options.

Better than Cane in the first two Bledisloe's? Nah.

@taniwharugby said in MotM vs Ireland, Chicago:

if they didn't have the numerical advantage would they have gone for the 3 points instead of the drive and the subsequent try?

Can sit here with if's and but's all day.

Yes - Sexton was carrying an injury into the game with his hamstring - that's why he eventually went off. And definite decision to not try and win by threes.

@dogmeat said in Free Tickets to AB's v Ireland Chicago:

@Pot-Hale

So a fair degree of hubris in my smartarse reply so figured an apology was in order 🙂

Congratulations on a stunning and well deserved victory.

I'm picking catmeat is glad he didn't fly half way round the world to be in Chicago

Sober yet?

Cheers - no apology necessary. Good banter is always fun.
My brother and his family went . He said it was like the Ireland v Italy game at WC '94. Sheer madness.

IRFU and NZRU could develop this whole event further into a regular Series each year or second year depending on schedule. As two of the smaller unions, cooperation on a number of fronts could be very beneficial to both.

Meanwhile, New Zealand Rugby has announced a naming rights sponsorship deal for the All Blacks tour, with leading American private equity firm Vista Equity Partners coming on board for what will be known as the Vista 2016 All Blacks Northern Tour.

Vista, which has offices in Austin, Chicago and San Francisco, and over $26 billion in cumulative capital commitments, currently invests in software, data and technology-based organisations led by world-class management teams with long-term perspective.

“We are delighted to partner with Vista on the All Blacks' end of year tour,” said New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Steve Tew. “Vista is a successful and innovative company that prides itself on investing in winning teams and fostering a culture of excellence. Vista and the All Blacks both have a legacy of sustained success, and we look forward to working with them on the upcoming tour.”

“Vista is excited to partner with an organisation that shares in its commitment to excellence,” said Brian Sheth, Vista's President and Co-Founder. “Working with the All Blacks is a natural partnership for Vista, and we look forward to supporting the team on their Northern Tour.”