The Silver Fern

Forget the analysis, forget the X’s and O’s, forget who got selected and who didn’t. The way we defended at the end showed what it means to be an All Black. Everything on the line for a do or die match. We were focused and we played for each other.

Man, I am shaking

In an ironic twist, our discipline won it for us.

Whitelock baby!!!!!!!

@kiwiinmelb said in AB RWC Squad:

I remember when they picked the 2015 squad we were freaking out they picked nms and an injured Naholo (both rookies) and left out the experience of dagg

We could’ve pick Ren and Stimpy as back up wings for 2015, because we had McCaw, DC, Nonu, Kaino, Read, Snakey, Whitelock, Mealamu, Bus, Bender, Franks and Woody.

I don’t think it’s so much the personnel more the mix. Pick Narawa if you want him ahead of Clarke or Fainga’anuku, but not all 3 of them!

Scoreboard pressure means something aye!

The fact they needed a try and Jordie had nailed that penalty to get it out to 4 points meant they couldn’t set up for a droppie.

We can’t underestimate how important Aaron Smith was at the end of the game. You can hear him just barking to our boys to get up and realign after each ruck. He would’ve had a point to prove after the YC. Thanks Nuggie, you are an AB legend.

I won’t believe what @george34 or @george35 post until @george33 confirms.

This thread

I hate it when the ABs lose and feel gutted for all the retiring players, but I also feel pretty proud of the team and what they put together this RWC campaign.

Backs against the wall, lots of hoping and wishing (not without good reason) but they came together as a group and found those intangibles. We played with confidence. Our forwards grew an arm and a leg in terms of cohesive play and workrate. Mo’unga was excellent. Our midfield may not have fired today but what a tournament.

Well done Foster and crew.

Congrats Boks and all the TSF Bok supporters. Still can’t stand ya and this version seems even more unlikeable….

Kia ora, I’m new here

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks vs Pumas I:

On Patty T - for what it is worth he was brilliant against Southland last Friday. His form also got better and better for the Blues as the season went on (a bit like Moala) so not sure what the go is.

I've heard that Hansen mistakenly thinks he plays for the Hurricanes, hence why he's not selected....

Nice to be on the right side of a French call

@kiwiinmelb said in Things that annoy you about rugby...:

Ex front rowers who become commentators that get over excited over fat unco blokes running slowly with the ball

Speaking of front rowers, one little annoyance is a packed stadium yelling out BEAST, every time said beast gets the ball and makes less yards carrying it than Owen Franks....

Come on fellas, some of the provincial stuff coming out now and fluffing is terrible.

But hasn’t Richie, Whitelock and Goodhue played well

@majorrage Timmy came up with some big moments with both bat and ball. Had the odd “big” moment in the field that let us know our hearts were working too!

Really was a strange test but what a great result. The fact that the 4th innings was the best to bat in adds to the mystique of it. Whoever said it, low run tests tend to deliver the drama.

Also on Virat, I reckon he’s a class act. Think that we had to endure Ganguly and others. In fact it’s hard not to like this Indian side. They are a professional outfit with hard workers. Not unlike our beloved Blackcaps. Fitting final in my view.

Was really impressed with De Groot tonight. Bought some real steel to his game especially in defence and cleaning out.

@mariner4life said in All Blacks 2023:

Love all this talk of "hard shoulders"

Who is guaranteed to start at 8 again?

Oh

The ABs for the last 6 years….

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

@nzzp said in All Blacks Vs France, Test One, Dunedin:

There's really only downside for the ABs - a win is expected; if they struggle or (god forbid) shit the bed, it'll be flaming torches and pitchfork time

Pitchforks will be out regardless....ABs are in a now win situation for this game.

Thrash them - played shit, poor skills, poor decisions
Close win - should have thrashed them
Loss - should have thrashed this shit French team

Don’t forget if we play and win well there will be the

“we’ve shown our hand too early”
“it all matters what we do against the Boks”
“we should’ve blooded [insert any name that wasn’t selected]”

9- Hotham (“it’s ridiculous that he is there and [insert Blues and Highlander halfback names] aren’t”)

10- Beaudie (“hasn’t played a good game at 10 for 4 years”)

11- Telea (“he is so slow”)

12- Havili (“why is he even in the squad, more Crusader bias”)

13- Proctor (“why have they dropped Ioane? First Akira now his brother. He’ll be in Japan by the end of the year”)

14- Love (“isn’t he a fullback?”)

15- Jordan (“isn’t he a winger?”)

AB MOTM - Ioane. Huge game from him.

@Jaguares4real said in SR Final: Crusaders v Jaguares:

Super Rugby final guide: How to say Jaguares

How to pronounce Jaguares properly

It’s pronounced ruh-nurs ah-p

@Chris said in RWC: All Blacks v South Africa (Pool :

Shitty unconvincing win we need to be a lot better then that to win the WC

No we don’t. All we need to do is win the game. Who really cares how.