The Silver Fern

@Chris-B. Suggest you take a look at customer is always right thread. I like the idea of double yellow (player off but after 10 a replacement can come on) in cases where a clumsy tackle or jump leads to a mandatory card but not malicious and so ought not to be a red. For me double yellows wouldn't lead to subsequent ban.

Visinia played at the Vailima Marist 7s (Samoa) last weekend for the same team as Zac Guildford (Stallions).

Edit: Joe Tupe, Antonio Kirikiri, Sam Vaka (to name a few) played in that team as well.

Upcoming, now, an interview with the Blues CEO on Radio Live

http://www.radiolive.co.nz/home.player.html

<p>See Moody not travelling to Jo'berg for quarters -- nerve damage.</p>

Shhh. Don't tell the Cantabs ...

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mimic" data-cid="593935" data-time="1467623285"><p>
Are u sure it was Fatialofa who missed the tackles? The biggest miss I saw was from Fifita.. think u guys mightve got them mixed up</p></blockquote>
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No

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Provincial Stalwart" data-cid="592956" data-time="1467246842">
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<p>Never heard of this Li character. Is he a table tennis player?</p>
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<p><img src="https://media.giphy.com/media/YWwYgeKquXKJq/giphy.gif" alt="giphy.gif"></p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mooshld" data-cid="584328" data-time="1464679906">
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<p>Not sure how Crottys high shot could be considered close to a red. It was a penalty in regular play and nothing more. Just because the Ref missed it doesn't mean it was 10 times worse. </p>
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<p>I doubt the ref missed it. It was replayed about 100 times on the screen provoking a loud response from the crowd. He just didn't consider it serious enough for a card. IMO the right decision.</p>

<p>Our prop play has improved a lot this season. We've really come a long way in the scrum department compared to last year. We can hang with every scrum in the comp, except a few.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="580411" data-time="1463473296">
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<p><strong>We're not so assured at 10 like we were at backrow when we told Meafua to move on, so I hope we don't let him go so fast.</strong></p>
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<p>Completely agreed. Blues and their ITM Cup teams and their struggles at 10 - if he's talented I'd hope he is considered - not exactly in a position to be picky!</p>
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<p>Hopefully at the very least Hickey isn't selected as captain of Auckland ITM Cup - which then opens up to the possibility of him being dropped on form, which should have happened last season.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Nepia" data-cid="578002" data-time="1462674578"><p>
Another win to the Blues. Two more games against foreign teams which could see a few more points. <br><br>
Their draw was a bit of a bummer really (they've already played all the NZ teams), if they had a similar draw to the Crusader's they might be sitting in a similar position. ;)</p></blockquote>
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And we'd all be talking about fern favourite Ihaia West 🙂

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="booboo" data-cid="576009" data-time="1462019832"><p>
I know.<br><br>
Exactly my point.</p></blockquote> <br><br>
just further to that I'm just some random on the internet.<br><br>
Not an ex-All Black taunting other countries on the commentary.

The world should worry if that happens again; when Auckland rugby is strong, NZ rugby is strong....given we have been in a lull for a while

<p>Yeah im a sumo fan , I find his commentary good , and his one liners funny without being over the top , </p>
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<p>I used to be a John Drake fan too , loved his dry humor </p>

<p>Sad to read.  RIP.  </p>

<p>most annoying thing for me watching that game was thinking how farking amazing we'd be if we had the Ioane boys... nearly had em, they were keen.. the old man stopped them.</p>
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<p>saw him after the game and gave him sh*t about it. feel better now. ha.</p>

Moala tried too much when he came on (ridiculous fucking offload), but I think that if Tana is really about developing for the future - he'll put him in and let him develop. He and Ranger should be great there with a bit of time, a 10 who knows how to use them, and a better strategy than flinging it to them without any go forward.<br><br>
Personally, I thought Francis looked like a 10 playing 12. Maybe he deserves a shot running the ship from 10, but I'm not really convinced that the midfield was that much better than it has been.<br><br>
Even though I thought West would step up, he doesn't really take on the line enough to hold the defense, kind of like a poor man's Barrett slinging it along then occasionally running. He doesn't seem to be going to make it at this level, sadly. I wonder if he'd be better in the James Marshall role at the canes, but then who runs at 10. Perennial Blues problem.

<p>If it weren't for his break-out season a few years back, I would never have noticed Luatua. I think he hasn't consistently taken his game up to the next level.</p>

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Winger" data-cid="564750" data-time="1458041392">
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<p>It clearly wasn't a knock on based on the rules above. Criticize a video ref when he gets it wrong. But for once two obvious calls were called right</p>
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<p>Savea never lost possession. Not even close</p>
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<p><strong>A knock-on occurs when a player loses possession of the ball and it goes forward,</strong></p>
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<p>I can see why you cop so much grief at times Winger. You stop reading at the point it suits your argument.</p>
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<p>The rest of the law reads..</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote"><strong> or when the ball hits the hand or arm and goes forward</strong>, and (B ) the ball touches the ground or another player before the original player can catch it.
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<p>At no time (until he picked the ball up) was Savea 'in possession' so the first part (the bit you point to) doesn't apply.</p>
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<p>As I have said, I have no problem with the TMO deciding that if there was a KO it wasn't clear and obvious to him and therefore he wasn't going to call it. If that is what he meant though, he should have said it that way not confuse matters with talk of 'real time'.</p>
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<p>I gave an extreme example earlier of how it may be possible that separation isn't required but here is a slightly more possible one to think over.</p>
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<p>The ball has been kicked down field and has pulled up a metre or so short of the line. An attacking player reaches down to the ball and while still moving forward reaches down and rolls the ball forward along the ground with one hand, over the try line and drops on it to score. On replay there is no clear and obvious separation between hand and ball, yet he never picked it up either.</p>
<p>Would you be OK with the try being awarded or would that all look wrong to you?</p>

<p>I wasnt impressed with the changes or the way they played on the weekend, but I think its a bit early to judge him , </p>
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<p>Before the season started , and he  studied the  draw , current champions first game , followed by  the Crusaders away ,  if you offered him 1 win from 2 , Im sure he would happily take that , </p>
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<p> lets see what happens next , Blues vs Canes ,  Canes should be desperate , will be interesting </p>