The Silver Fern

@Darren agree Darren, as a Canes man from day 1 in 96, this is best I feel about our prospects for quite a few years. I think all we need to round of team is a couple of big locks! And sign up Roigard for a few years so we don't lose him!

@Bovidae said in Rebels v Waratahs:

The Rebels will have some confidence before playing the Chiefs in Hamilton next weekend.

They'll get smoked.

@NTA
Gleeson looks like a cross between Willie Viliami Ofahengaue and Toutai Kefu
Good to see this sort of talent coming out of Oz Rugby ,scary as well from a NZ point of view

Wallabies prop Angus Bell is facing a second consecutive season on the sidelines and a race against time to make his first World Cup squad after re-injuring his foot in the opening round of Super Rugby. Bell ruptured the ligament in the big toe on his right foot in the first half of the Waratahs’ opening-round loss to the Brumbies in Sydney on Friday night Scans over the weekend revealed it was the same injury that ended his Test season last year. He faces four to six months on the sidelines and was considering further surgery on the foot, the Waratahs said.

There was a bit of talk about him coming in without any warm up games beforehand. Not a great look for the back office if he's returned with...

As far as tackling is concerned, Finau is the most Kainoesque loose forward in NZ.

that Romano try is classic. He looks and moves like Homer Simpson crashing over for teh try. Awesome. He looks good in Blue (white)
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@ACT-Crusader said in Highlanders v Waratahs:

@Machpants only concern with that is that the broadcasters love more ‘finals’ because they rate higher and they can sell to advertisers.

Yeah it's never going to happen but the comp would be much better

@cgrant I be pleased if Lomax does, I really got on his wagon we first arrived at Ta$man, just loved how he scrummed, had a back so straight you coauld put a cuppa on it, but took a while to really come through. I from old school that reckom a real straight back allows the power coming through from behind to go where it sholud.

Tavatavanawai has beaten 42 defenders in 5 games.

Will Jordan is 1st for defenders beaten with 45, but he's played 9 games.

@kiwi_expat said in Waratahs v Crusaders:

@Billy-Tell said in Waratahs v Crusaders:

Terrible display. The forward pack is a mixture of journeymen and once-great players past their peak. Best forward was newell, that guy has a big future. Best back imho was Jordan. Thought goodhue did ok but Havili was poor. I think he’s a busted flush as a midfielder. This is the weakest crusaders side in along while. No way they win the comp.

I highlighted this at the end of last year in the 2022 squad naming's thread and was promptly labelled a nut-case.

Hilarious that you all have suddenly changed the narrative, in the SR squads thread it was deluded misinformed surface level comments along the lines of: 'Crusaders have all the best talent, look how stacked they are!' while I calmly pointed out that the Blues & Chiefs squads were at least on par & if you studied them closely actually significantly better in multiple areas.

My recollection was more that the Saders had a potential 13 AB starting XV with another on the bench.
Point was correct that the next layer of Saders didn’t look so flash and the next level of players in the country were sitting in other teams.
Depth has been the key to NZ teams this year. Previously the Saders had some but maybe the cycle has finally changed a little. This happens usually when positions 1 and 2 are filled and up and comers opt to be number 2 elsewhere rather than 3 with a blocker.
Remarkably the Saders management have dealt with that for a long time but it can’t sustain forever.

@gt12 said in Chiefs v Waratahs:

How fucking good is Lord?

That line out take in the 23rd minute was sweeet.

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@taniwharugby said in Drua v Waratahs:

@nta and he copped a bit of a shot on the deck after scoring.

What is it with players in situations like that?

TBF they both dived at the same time. A bit lazy

@nta Came across that way in a few interviews/articles I read about him.

@antipodean said in Brumbies v Waratahs:

This is a hard watch.

Improved significantly in the second half because the Tahs decided to join in the "rugby" thing.

Their try to Bell was Brumbies-like - march upfield on the back of penalties then phase play to score once you isolate some forwards.

The try to Harris was a cracker. I thought it was very Kiwi-like in that it showed good support lines and some patience, striking from halfway.

Discipline stil needs work.

I just saw the try the 10 bombed by ignoring the short pass and using hands, instead trying the hero ball that fucked all momentum and brought the only reds defender in to play

Reserve grade shit

@duluth said in Waratahs v Drua:

@tim it’s just the usual shitty Tahs crowd

Biggest crowd of the weekend so far 😎

@bones said in Waratahs v Chiefs:

@nostrildamus already plenty of turnover "specialists" in the squad weren't there, what else did he offer? It's not like others (including Kirifi) weren't also doing brilliantly at turnovers, as well as excelling in other areas.

He has a fantastic surname, ripe for puns.