The Silver Fern

@taniwharugby said in Bulls v Highlanders:

@sidbarret only watched on highlights but on viewing I only saw it as being a PT, for me it was an easy call.

Same.

@bovidae said in Blues v Highlanders:

@steven-harris

Sloane didn't select Mealamu in the 2002 Blues squad so he spent a season at the Chiefs. He made the ABs that year too. It isn't just recent Blues coaches who have made selection mistakes.

I don't think that was a mistake. He deserved to be dropped and has basically said that himself.

Mealamu has spoken about how he was happy just picking up the salary as a squad member. Getting dropped made him realise that his career was fragile and he took everything more seriously after that moment.

The Blues benefited long term from that decision. If they kept picking him it's likely he would have faded away without making an impact on NZ rugby

@chris-b said in Highlanders v Brumbies:

@booboo People would frequently ring in with quite reasonable and interesting points and Willie would rudely rubbish them and cut them off, when it was obvious their point had whizzed over his head. Came across as a complete tosser, I'm afraid.

I was being kind

Being at the ground last week you can see why the hype is there for JB. He is huge, skillful, has a good rugby brain and as mentioned his defense has really improved. However, some of the media around him is bordering on ridiculous. Just let the kid play and develop.

@bones said in Hurricanes vs. Highlanders:

@kiwipie said in Hurricanes vs. Highlanders:

Late to the thread but what a try saver by Ben May. No idea why he was so far back in play but great to see a Fatty put in the big ones.

What a fucken shamozzle by Li though. No brains to toe it ahead and no courage to make a play at it. It was moments like this that fucked it for the landers.

Yep - saw a big man moving fast and decided to let him have it. Although conversely he may have been buggered as he'd just sprinted a considerable distance back and then forward again

@mimic said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@bones said in Highlanders v Crusaders:

@crucial but as someone else has raised, bit antiquated that once the conversion is taken the try stands, why is that a thing? Surely as long as the kickoff isn't taken then it's not a problem.

Its not a thing.
Im sure I remember a player taking a quick conversion but the ref had none of it.

I think it comes from a mis-understanding of the bolded piece in the TMO Protocols 2.1...

Potential infringement by the team touching the ball down in opposition in-goal
2.1 If, after a team in possession of the ball has touched the ball down in their opponents’ ingoal area (including after a try is awarded and before the conversion is struck), any of the match officials (including the TMO) have a view that there was a potential infringement, within the list of offences (see 2.3) before the ball was carried into in-goal by the team that touched the ball down, they may suggest that the referee refers the matter to the TMO for review.
2.2 The potential infringement must have occurred between the last restart of play (set piece, penalty/free­kick, kick­off or restart) and the touch down but not further back in play than two previous rucks and/or mauls.

Somebody, at some point, didn't realise that the word "including" does not mean "exclusively".
Either that - or somebody thought that a conversion counts as a penalty/freekick/restart.

Kitshoff might be my favourite prop now.

That young Stormers' 10 looks handy.

From the games I've seen, it seems the SA teams are playing more attractive rugby this season.

A.Smith is so annoying. Wish he was being annoying on my team. Been the best player in the comp in these early rounds.

I notice the Whitelock stats don't include the turnover he conceded when held up like a bitch by Tuipolotu and ref ruled collapsed maul. Whitelock did nothing, Ioane was everywhere, especially helping out Collins with the high balls.

I really enjoyed this game, astounding to think it was the first of the season. Very even, very open, some cracking tries. In the end i thought the difference was the Highlanders elite players were just better. Aaron Smith is easily the best halfback in the world, and makes a massive difference to any side he plays for. Ben Smith was fucking handy as well, despite not being quite as sharp (understandable given his break).

For the Blues they were pretty close, but their formation, and how flat they are playing, isn't going to work with SBW jogging on to the ball. Those big midfielders need to be hitting the ball harder to hold defenders, or generate the momentum to provide offloads (not that the blues outside backs were sniffing around them). Pulu still slows down far too much of their ball as well. Highlanders just looked more settled, and better coached.

I don't know more about this than the squad lists:

alt text

Just outplayed in those conditions by a clinical Saders team

Landers simply played poorly in a big one

There can be no external excuses,and there won't be any coming from the Highlanders and their true supporters - the southern men, (ahh fuck the sheilas, they get to own the colour pink)

Was a bit reminiscent of big games between these two for the last 30 odd years, but it was wet weather winning rugby fair and square

Watching game. Landers look very sharp. Who needs A Smith with this other dude?

Kwade is a pathetic shell of the poor man's Brendan Laney he once was.

@dogmeat
Little and Bunce were very close to Robertson and Osborne, but in my opinion were benefited by a much stronger ABs team

@SammyC said in Crusaders vs. Highlanders:

@booboo said in Crusaders vs. Highlanders:

@Hooroo said in Crusaders vs. Highlanders:

I can't help but smile reading this. What a sporting thrill!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/93329730/cool-customer-hunt-reflects-on-epic-drop-goal-for-crusaders

"Truth be known, the reason we remember that moment so well was because a jubilant Mehrtens immediately turned to the Loftus crowd and flicked them a one-finger salute with both hands."

Sure it wasn't to Dingo not the crowd?

Wayne Smith was the coach in 1999

Right you are. To Wayne Smith then?

@Bones said in Highlanders v Waratahs:

@Smudge makes an appearance!

That'll teach me for sending a smart arse Snapchat to the cameraman.

@Crash said in Force v Highlanders:

The sidestep and shimmy from Halnukanuka was impressive

Thought it was hilarious he went off injured after that, he'd only just come on! Brilliant smile on his face through the whole thing.

Hunt has made some strides the last few games, real classic openside play from him, Kronfeld-esque.

Can't help but feel the highlanders backs made it look a lot harder than it was at times - Faddes, Osborne, Li with some very ordinary phases of play.

Great to see Sopoaga back, didn't miss a beat.

Thought Hemopo put in a surprisingly good shift too.

Barracuda probably lucky not to see yellow.

@pakman Good to see some winter rugby again.

I was watching a recording with a deadline (had to race out the door) so had to fast forward bits of the second half ... had pretty much given it away aside from the blind hope (although sometimes it's reversed as hopeless pessimism) that seems endemic to NZ rugby supporter's where if there is a glimmer of hope you keep watching and hoping. For me it's about 2min per try ... need three tries x 2min each ... 6 min left = plenty of time 🙂 (hopefully)

@Frye Yeah, Sumo seems to have doubled down on it again, after I'd come round to quite liking him since he swore at me on here.

@taniwharugby said in Highlanders v Sunwolves:

@Damo and Naholo didnt injure himself!!

Are you sure? He might have injured himself getting on the bus, or into the ice bath afterwards. I'm skeptical that he could have got through totally unscathed.

@MN5 said in Highlanders vs. Blues:

@Billy-Tell said in Highlanders vs. Blues:

@antipodean said in Highlanders vs. Blues:

@taniwharugby Tony Smith is a moron. Where does he think the money will come from that AIG currently provide? Why is he pissy about them selling CDOs? Does he understand that charging interest is not the same as selling insurance?

+1. He is a diabolical journalist. I physically can't read anything he rights any more. Just irritates the shit out of me.

He's bad but he's no Jones or Rattue

or Mark Treason, don't leave him out as a founding member of the cunty journalist club.