The Silver Fern

That team v USA is essentially the first XV give or take a few of the tight-five - I’d like Chelsea Bremner to start instead of her sister. Alana could be an option off the bench but Chelsea is a specialist lock. Alana is a loose forward / lock. Visinia-Fakalelu is certainly someone to develop further but she’s got the size to match the English/French behemoth forwards. Probably doesn’t have the power down pat yet. Henwood had her moments. We’ve still got problems at hooker — especially at lineout time. The lineouts malfunctioned at various points during this pac-4. I wish Bunting had made it his special mission to develop the forwards in the past three years. We know we’ve got the backs to run any team into the ground; it’s just the right-five we need.

Risi Pouri-Lane is a massive upgrade on Joseph. As is Miller on Tukuafu (who is better to go to 6 or 8 off the bench) and Waaka on AdP. Massive upgrade.

Add Leti-Iiga and Brunt and it’s pretty much perfect.

The inability to defend a maul is still a major Achilles heel of this BF team. Also need a fetcher at 7. Tukuafu isn’t up to it. She needs to be Les Elder’d and dropped completely. I thought she might reproduce her Aupiki form with her turnover rate but nope. Miller needs to be picked here but I’m worried Bunting will still start Tukuafu next week. Miller needs to get the full game to get her minutes up.

However, the inability to give good ball to the wings is also a major problem. The ball dies when it gets to AdP. She needs to be dropped. The fact that Bumting only got rid of her with 5mins to go instead of shifting Woodman to centre is a huge concern - it means Bunting actually rates AdP and she might well be going to the World Cup possibly at the expense of far better midfielders like Setefano and Waaka. That’ll be a massive selection error if he does that. She’s not up to it. Brunt played well though.

Agree on Joseph. Her passing is so slow it’s a massive liability.

England will destroy this BF team. Bunting really doesn’t have a clue.

Du Plessis isn't good enough to start IMO. Bench option at best. She did have a good Aupiki season but was shown up in the Aupiki final by Demant and Woodman. Du Plessis also fluffed a 4-1 overlap last week. I guess Bunting is being cautious against Canada but it would've been a far more potent backline to reunite the Matatu halves (Joseph/King) and unite the Blues midfield (Demant/Woodman). That then gives room for a Leti-Iiga/Sorensen-McGee/Vahaakolo back-3 with Waaka/Setefano on the bench.

Also thought the loosies are wrong. Not sure why Sa'e keeps starting. She was the least impressive of all the loosies in Aupiki. I'd have put Mikaele-Tu'u at six, Olsen-Baker at eight, and start Tukuafu at seven but with Miller on the bench. Mikaele-Tu'u is the lineout option among those three.

@African-Monkey said in Blues v Moana Pasifika:

Surpised Moana are going with Garden-Bachop and Matavao as their 9-10 this week. I would have backed them to win this, but with those 2 there, it's cause for concern imo. Matavao is a good 20 minute player, but doesn't have a great kick or a great pass. I refer to him as the Samoan Fin Christie for a reason as he's virtually a clone of his (doesn't defend as well as Christie though). Garden Bachop, although he made a positive impact last week coming on, makes me nervous coming on and isn't in the same class as Pellegrini.

Totally agree. Ridiculous that Pellegrini was dropped to the bench. Matavao was there by default due to the injury to Taumateine but yeah he's bang average in 15s.

Hope he’s recovering well. Knew his brother in club rugby. Good people.

I’m actually encouraged by that performance. If anyone saw the hammering England handed out to them last year at Mt Smart, they could barely get any possession such was English dominance at the set pieces.

This time round I thought they matched the English physicality and put big hits on in defence. More encouragingly was that, barring a few crap lineouts and one really crap scrum, our scrums and lineouts didn’t turn to shit like last year. They need that platform for the backs. I reckon the BFs can still run them off the park if they get a real roll-on and we saw glimpses of that on Saturday. Shit it was good seeing those fat English loose forwards being run around by our loosies.

However, for all of that, the BFs couldn’t convert their chances and the English are still far superior in converting theirs.

Demant at 12 is much better than Demant at 10 imo. The halves pairing (King-Joseph) were playing their 3rd & 4th tests respectively. Even though Joseph’s slow clearing gives me the shits at times we should probably give them more time to get experience. They’ll get better. They have potential. Joseph’s cross field kick to Leti-Iiga was a masterclass but her turnover for slow clearance was clearly not.

Auckland hosted two Wallabies matches a few years ago and the second test the stadium was at best two thirds full. Now, that was a Covid-related thing and a kind of last minute change to the schedule from memory. However, it reinforces the fact that Auckland’s market can be saturated very very quickly. For it to be a “national stadium”, NZ’s infrastructure would need to improve to allow easier transportation from other cities. In Europe, it’s easy to travel via bullet train or el cheapo budget airlines that get you to London or Paris in no time but NZ doesn’t have bullet trains and Air NZ has a monopoly over the air market where their domestic airfares are daylight robbery. In fact, I once travelled to Nelson and the airfare was twice as expensive as travelling to Sydney. WTF

The big news is that Ayesha Leti-I'iga is back. She hasn't played since the world cup final given her injury. Good to see her back with her experience.

However, I'm happier to see Chelsea Bremner back in the forwards. Looks like Charmaine Smith has been straight dropped since the Pac-4.

Black Ferns squad for end-of-year tour
Forwards: Alana Bremner, Amy Rule, Atlanta Lolohea, Chelsea Bremner, Chryss Viliko, Georgia Ponsonby, Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Kate Henwood, Kennedy Simon (co-capt), Layla Sae, Liana Mikaele-Tu'u, Lucy Jenkins, Luka Connor, Maama Mo’onia Vaipulu, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Marcelle Parkes, Phillipa Love, Tanya Kalounivale.

Backs: Amy Du Plessis, Ayesha Leti-I'iga, Hannah King, Iritana Hohaia, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Sylvia Brunt, Maia Joseph, Mererangi Paul, Patricia Maliepo, Renee Holmes, Ruahei Demant (co-capt), Ruby Tui.

Unavailable for selection: Awhina Tangen Wainohu (neck), Grace Leaso Gago (neck), Santo Taumata (knee), Sophie Fisher (neck).

It all makes sense now. Remember how emotional he was post-match in the quarter-final the Canes lost (in controversial circumstances) against the Brumbies in Canberra in 2023?

That was actually his last match for the Canes. He probably knew back then that he'd probably played his last match for the Canes.

@African-Monkey said in Moana Pasifika 2025:

@Canes4life Lotu Inisi. Fine Inisi is the winger.

Failagi also fell ot of favour this year for Jacob Norris which was disappointing and not the point of the side. I would hope to see him get more gametime next year.

I was wondering where Faiilagi is. He hasn't made the Manu Samoa side either. Disappointing. He and Matavao were among the first players from the islands to play for MP.

On the wider issue, the major cost of playing in Samoa and Tonga is the broadcasting facilities (or lack thereof). I'm no expert in the equipment required but apparently the equipment costs are extremely expensive and none of the television stations over there can afford such equipment.

The Italy v Samoa and the Spain v Samoa match was done by the local tv station (TV3 Samoa in this case) but the quality wasn't very good. The commentary team died for about 15mins in the first half and the NZ commentary team for tvnz+ had to take over. While tv channels over there live-stream rugby matches all the time, they can't do live broadcasts. Hence why Sky has to lug all its equipment over there and that costs an arm and a leg.

If there was a way to get broadcasters over there the proper equipment (ie: the government in Samoa funding it - or AusPacificAid), then hosting matches over there wouldn't be so expensive as it doesn't cost much to hire out the grounds and hotel accommodation is reasonable with the exchange rates.

@ACT-Crusader said in All Blacks 2024 - selection:

@Auckman said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

Patty T is an interesting one, another that hasn't really kicked on at international level, 31 with +40 tests and not a nailed on starter is small worry

Yes he's probably just a stop-gap for this year, maybe help the new younger locks get their feet. I am surprised he lasted the season and even more surprised he came back for the final.

Welcome to the Fern newbie.

Good to have you back bro.

For me Patty’s best AB footy was as an impact player off the bench. Him and Ofa Tu’ungafasi bringing some go forward late in the game.

Yes its been a while haha

@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - selection:

@nostrildamus said in All Blacks 2024 - selection:

@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - selection:

@frugby said in All Blacks 2024 - selection:

@Bovidae Potentially, but if we have learned one thing from Jase Ryan, it is that he likes specialists... the way I see it Finau and Blackadder are the blindsides, Papalii and Jacobson (Who is probably holding the spot of Cane) are the opensides, and Savea and Sititi are the number eights.

Sotutu is unique in being a specialist 8, but I doubt that is why he missed selection.

if people who keep telling me Ardie is an 8 no longer a 7 are correct then Sotutu is not unique...

Yeah again, the Sotutu can only play 8 thing is just an excuse. Surely he could play 6? I reckon he's played 6 before....

I don't see why he couldn't play there. In fact he may have even played there for the All Blacks in his brief stints I'm not sure.

@chchfanatic said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

Sotutu showing his true colours with his instagram post. Suck up your non selection and be better. You obviously didn’t listen to the work ons Razor gave you. He challenged you and now you’ve cried over your non selection. You’ve shown him he was right for not selecting you. Mentally weak

Ryan was on the radio this morning saying that the deciding factor was the semi-final where Sititi "put on a clinic" against the Hurricanes.

It's interesting that he uses a match Sotutu wasn't playing in to be the deciding factor but ignores the matches where Sotutu and his pack buried Sititi and his mates in the Eden Park turf. Twice. Including the final.

In fact, Ryan must be relieved he was able to find his wonder boy to tell him the good news because he didn't turn up to Eden Park on Saturday.

@Kiwiwomble said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

Patty T is an interesting one, another that hasn't really kicked on at international level, 31 with +40 tests and not a nailed on starter is small worry

Yes he's probably just a stop-gap for this year, maybe help the new younger locks get their feet. I am surprised he lasted the season and even more surprised he came back for the final.

I'm very disappointed in Sotutu missing out and I've been bleating about it for two days over in the other place so I'll spare TSF my thoughts on it.

Their lock selections are another conundrum. Darry should've been straight in. Paddy deserves his spot but he's got an injury cloud so maybe Darry will get his chance after all. Tupou Vaai is more a loose forward in my opinion.

Bell over Riccittelli is ridiculous.

@antipodean said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:

Stuff

I'm a fan of reading statements like this:
"At test level it is different. Having been at the World Cup, they are bigger bodies, there are more small moments that have big margins on them,'' Robertson noted.

"The kicking game is so critical, the defensive game and the discipline. So how can you embed those core things early? You can be open to all information or be really, really clear.

Yet he chooses a captain who has major discipline issues

@hydro11 said in Quay Park stadium for Auckland?:

@No-Quarter said in Quay Park stadium for Auckland?:

Th obvious problem with oval stadiums for rugby (and soccer) is the very best seats on halfway are too far from the action, so that means there are no great seats, just OKish seats all the way around.

Wellington was really silly to build an oval when they already had the Basin for cricket, they could have easily replaced the embankment (which is a shit place to watch sport as you spend half the time trying not to slide down the bank) with another stand at some point to increase capacity there (if needed). A purpose built rectangle stadium for rugby, soccer and hosting concerts would have been perfect.

I grew up in Wellington and have also lived in Auckland for a decade so have been to Athletic Park, the Cake Tin and Eden Park a lot. By far the best experiences I've had for rugby are at Athletic Park and Eden Park purely because the view was so much better so I could follow the action much more easily. The view at the Cake Tin is pretty average no matter where you are.

The challenge for Auckland is they don't have a decent cricket ground, but at the same time it'd be a real mistake to replace Eden Park with an oval. I think they are best to upgrade Eden Park and then think about where they can put a more modest cricket ground.

This is mostly hindsight. Of course, with what we know now we would not build the Cake Tin as an oval. However, in its early years it was getting massive crowds for cricket.

You are severely limited by how large you can make the basin. You could probably build a bigger stand on the Museum/RA Vance side, but it would be much more difficult on the grass side. Not to mention extra stands could ruin the character.

The reality is that there is no appetite for spending tens of millions of dollars on a cricket stadium. If the Cake Tin was a rectangle, Wellington would simply not host major ODIs and T20Is. If Eden Park also could not hold big games, New Zealand would not have been able to host as many games as it did in the 2015 World Cup.

nah Hagley Park still gets big international matches (including world cup matches in 2015) despite its small size. They just added temporary stands to the grass banks - easy! Basin Reserve is a true cricket ground and should've been upgraded (to the extent it could be upgraded) for cricket. The Caketin should've been a modern version of Athletic Park. I had never been to Athletic Park but everyone bar none raved about how it was the best rugby ground in NZ - especially the millard stand placing you practically on top of the play (if you survived the winds!)

@nzzp said in Quay Park stadium for Auckland?:

Yet again, who's funding it, and where is the land coming from? so many 'concepts' thrown around - I don't even bother reading these any more. Which is going ahead - the Eden Park full roof + extra shit, or this one, or the Wynyard stadium, or the Ports located stadium?

Stadia are cool, but the business cases almost never stack up.

Unlike Eden Park (100% ratepayer funded), there's a consortium of private investors with Quay Park. The railway land is owned by Ngati Whatua (who are part of the consortium). There will likely be some ratepayer contribution to Quay Park but nowhere near as much as the 100% ratepayer funded Eden Park.

Quay Park and Eden Park 2.0 were advanced to feasibility study stage last week. The other two waterfront proposals were canned.

@Tim said in Quay Park stadium for Auckland?:

RE: Onewa Domain, there used to be an auckland super fan who had a blue and white car, wore blue and white face paint, Auckland NPC uniform, and would just drive past the ground booing when there was a North Harbour home game. He was the same guy who ran onto the field at the end of the 96 inaugural Super Rugby final, evaded security and joined the team circle-hug.

I remember that guy. Absolute character. Those old characters were hilarious - like that guy with a chainsaw up the crane at waikato stadium back in the day who would crank it throughout the game and especially when Auckland kickers were lining up for goal.