The Silver Fern

Watched a replay of the game from Sunday morning as i actually only saw the 2nd half
First thoughts was the performance of Holly Davidson i actually thought she was outstanding and her communication was first class

The TMO and the local production on the other hand the less said the better
Ruben Love in the main was very solid and did some very good things , the odd mistake but in the main very good and considering how much rugby hes played since the French series in July , it worked out to around 245 minutes rugby and good number of those minutes were across 3 games for Wellington in the Npc

I personally would like to see Love start in the 10 jersey for the Canes in 2026

I really liked how the loose trio operated as a combination knowing their specific roles , they were all able to operate by keeping to the game plan and shape and that gave Sititi opportunity to operate like a number 8 ,Parker and Du Plessis Kirifi just doing their core roles effectively
finally a game were the ABs discipline was on point
I’m certainly not saying these 3 should be the loose forward trio moving forward but just great to see players completing their roles with accuracy

Set pieces in the main were superb
Ratima is a great competitor but i dont see him in a match day 23 with young Pledger waiting in the wings , although it was great to see him and D Mac match up as a combo
I know theres been a bit of chat about Parker but even the great Jerome Kaino took around 4 years to finally nail down the 6 jersey
We tried Samipeni Finau in the 6 jersey and for me despite his size and supposed physicality we never saw it in the Black jersey
So for me i’m willing to persist with Parker especially given theres not a lot of big options out there , maybe Tupou Vai into 6 ..

Full credit to Wales , they had a few missing and the chaps that came in did very well , however the Boks will be a more ruthless beast

@Steven-Harris said in November Internationals 2025 : Wales v Japan:

Huge ramifications for Welsh rugby ,what is this commentator on ?
Its not as if you have beaten a top 5 team ..

But as others have mentioned we’ve given ourselves a fighting chance at the next RWC

A loss yesterday would have consigned us to where Welsh football was for over 50 years

Unable to make the Euros or World Cup because we were the third ranked team in the group and the other 2 of 3 teams were of our standard

Wales blew so many good chances and didn’t utilise our best strengths - LRZ - but there is already improvement in just two matches

In two years time we will be giving Top 5 sides a fucking good game

Thought Mann had another great match and whilst he’s no Jac Morgan cemented his place in the back row

Tomos is rocks & diamonds

Best game I’ve seen from Dan Edwards

But I still prefer Jarrod Evans

Nails to kick that penalty to win the match

Adams can be put out to pasture now

Dumb, dumb, dumb

We’re going to get well beaten the next two matches

The key is to do what we’re trying to do better, with more accuracy

If we can score 3-4 tries against both NZ and SA by opening them up then the rest of it will fall in to place

@Dan54 said in Wales v Argentina:

Thanks Mike, I feeling a bit for all you Welsh supporters etc, but regardless great little write up. I will have a peek at the game today sometime, though maybe just the highlight package.
I keep my fingers and toes crossed that things inprove for Welsh rugby!

Yeah, just watch the highlights

Not 2025 but 1974.

Found the line-ups for the 1974 unofficial test v a “Welsh XV.”
Thinkn it’d be an official test by now if Wales had won.

Brit rugby was on a high and NZ took these three teams on in the space of 8 days!
The red players are BI Lions.

Drew the game against the Baabaas; Joe had a bit of a shocker, 2 of 7 with the boot, and spilt a high ball that led to a late try to tie the game up.
Gareth box kicked the whole game as they played it like a test match.
The Barbarians pack was the same that had just dealt to the boks a couple of months earlier.

d18a6ddc-e58c-4f49-a67a-f969ca4374f0-image.png

d1092c6c-a1b9-4c7d-9eb3-0d470f358926-image.png

Form.

9e38a3be-8d82-4fc1-90be-c6716bcd117c-image.png

Hopefully he’ll come back a la Steve Austin

Bigger, stronger, faster

Fingers crossed the NFL have rebuilt him

@NTA said in Mid-Year Tour : Japan v Wales Test 1:

@Catogrande said in Mid-Year Tour : Japan v Wales Test 1:

Odd that his stance with Aussie the second time around was so different.

I'm going with some form of undiagnosed brain worms.

Eddie might. be like John Hart, a large part of their coaching identity to them, deriving from being the ideas guy, continually, and exacerbated as they age. With Eddie, and I'm only guessing, he may have created such turmoil and competition that it eventually alienated senior players (when coaching England?) For Australia, he seemed obsessed with off-field stats.
I complained a lot about early Foster ABs lacking innovation, but OTOH I was impressed by how Farrell kept the Schmidt Irish rugby machine but improved around the edges.

From a mate

Deb and me were there for the previous lowest point in Welsh rugby - the Debacle in Nantes in 2007. Yesterday’s nadir was more surreal.

Picture the scene. Having left the ground early we are on the train back to Aberdare, with one AirPod each, watching on my phone, as England rack up more points, and all hopes of Welsh British Lions evaporate.

The only consolation is that we have a £1 bet at 80-1 for England to score 5 or more tries in each half. But with 78 minutes gone England need to score 2 more tries. Impossible? No. Pollock scores and England hurry the conversion so the game kicks off again with about 20 seconds left. I nudge Deb and say “Deb, England need to score from this kick-off for us to win £80.” A few moments later Double-Barrelingham-Smith scores England’s 10th try and the near empty carriage erupts with me screaming with joy.

The guard comes up to us and says “What’s happened? Are Wales back in the game?”

An unenthused Deb replies “No.”

I don't think so. They will be at their best. I can't see them lose against this meh Irish side. But I can be wrong, of course.

Depending on your sauces either

Gatland’s resignation will be accepted this weekend and Wales will have an interim coach for the remainder of the tournament

Gatland’s resignation will be accepted at the end of the tournament

Either way Wales has to approach the remaining fixtures with a new game plan and different personnel with which to execute it

If fit, the backs are easy

Liam Williams / Cam Winnett
T Rogers
M Llewelyn
E James
J Adams
G Anscombe / B Thomas
T Williams / E Bevan

Will have a think about the forwards

@Jet said in 6N 2025 : France v Wales:

@Dan54 said in 6N 2025 : France v Wales:

@Jet said in 6N 2025 : France v Wales:

@Dan54 said in 6N 2025 : France v Wales:

I have personally reckoned that any team using the pod system are illegal 5/10 times. France seem to be pushing it, and I put it down to how game has changed. Just know when I played you tried to never have a team mate with the ball behind you as you would get pinged for offside. I did think some of the French ones were extreme, even for whats allowed these days.

Ireland dined out on it for years during their recent golden age. Players ahead of ball carriers all over the place masquerading as bodies in motion.

It’s no wonder a geriatric sexton had an arm chair ride in his latter years.

He was basically walking around out there.

Yep we weren't adverse to using it either, don't know any team that was. Though some seemed to overdo it I agree.

I think rugby peaked around 2003-2007. The 05 lions tour was Rugby as I liked it.

Maybe I’m getting old (40) but the current overly busy refs, and skullduggery such as this du Pont stuff does nothing for me.

I preferred when backs were backs, forwards were forwards, and you could have a bit of a “sort out” without being sent off.

The TMO is a good addition for adjudicating on whether a try is scored but going back a couple of phases to see something technical that was missed leaves me cold.

Camel. Horse. Committee. Etc

TLDR : “games gone”

Old at 40??? But genuinely mate I perhaps 30 years older, but I agree wholeheartedly.

@Nepia no need to apologize.

The PR on Rassie’s doctorate:

“In addition to his visionary leadership, he has also shown an unwavering commitment to the Sport Transformation Charter – which is included in the Strategic Plan of the Department of Sport and Recreation – that has resulted in a systematic change in the development of talent and skills across the national rugby spectrum.

Erasmus has shown himself to be a nation builder of whom the country can be proud.

“Rassie embodies the principles of resilience, determination and teamwork that we at the North-West University hold dear in our educational mission. His contributions to South Africa, both as a rugby strategist and as a nation builder, serve as a shining example of what can be achieved when passion, dedication and visionary leadership come together. This esteemed recognition is not only well deserved, but also a testament to the remarkable contributions and exceptional impact Rassie has made in the field of sport and innovative sports management,” said Bert Sorgdrager, Council chairperson.

“His commitment to inclusivity and transformation in sport has not only revitalised rugby but has served as a powerful symbol of reconciliation and unity in a nation with a complex history. Under his guidance, the Springboks not only achieved rugby greatness, but also became a unifying force, bringing together people of all backgrounds and beliefs. His emphasis on teamwork, discipline and dedication has resonated far beyond the sports arena, offering life lessons that inspire not only aspiring athletes, but also individuals in their everyday lives. He has meaningfully used his sphere of influence to advocate for social change, fostering an environment in which diversity and inclusivity are celebrated, and differences are seen as strengths rather than weaknesses,” Sorgdrager concluded.”

@African-Monkey said in Autumn Test 2024 : Wales v Australia:

Random thought, but how has Gareth Anscombe only played 39 tests! Thought he'd be between 60-70 tests minimum by now. He's been there forever.

Injured and fucked off for a while

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/articles/cn8g2m4e0jvo

@Canes4life said in Reds v Wales:

@Rancid-Schnitzel said in Reds v Wales:

Damn. Only found out this was on this morning. Wonder if there are any more tickets available....

Looks like plenty of tickets unsold.

Yeah was going to go but got caught up in that Crowdstrike debacle. Shame because it would have been worth the price of entry.

😂😂😂

@Bones said in Springboks v Wales (Twickenam):

@MiketheSnow said in Springboks v Wales (Twickenam):

@Bones said in Springboks v Wales (Twickenam):

@MiketheSnow said in Springboks v Wales (Twickenam):

PSDT hand on the floor at nearly every scrum

Haven't watched the video so maybe missing something, but not sure I follow what the issue is unless he's moved to prop?

Perhaps I don’t know the laws

Hands on floor allowed during set up

From engagement, no?

I'd always assumed binding on the opposition is only the front row, never considered flankers weren't allowed their free arm to be on the floor.

Same. Would be odd to penalise that. No advantage achieved if a flanker has his hand on the ground.

@antipodean said in 6N Wales v Italy:

@Catogrande hopefully he gets cited. The game would benefit immeasurably by preventing "waterboys" from entering the pitch. And penalizing substitutes who enter the field of play to celebrate a try.

A blight on the game and Neil Jenkins should have more respect for the games's ethos and the officials. Give Refs the power to award a penalty to the opposition at halfway to stamp out this crap.

@Machpants said in 6N Wales v France:

@MiketheSnow said in 6N Wales v France:

France by 2-6.

Sadly close to France by 26 😞

We gifted at least 14 points and momentum

@Daffy-Jaffy I really can't stand that Irish commentator. Not sure why, but he really grates me. No doubt, he's a massive Ireland fan and commentates exactly as one, but I don't have a problem with other countries commentators who do this (Oz, England, Safa).

I think he just commentates like Ireland are better at absolutely everything and the opposition should almost feel honoured to be allowed to play them.

Maybe it's just me.