The Silver Fern

@nostrildamus They went from Etruscans' to the Christian God, quite the religious evolution. We have already had a Christian (Cullen) that was god like, now is the coming age of the new pantheon or something similar, one hopes.

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:

@Bovidae said in Hurricanes vs Highlanders:

They've worn their maroon away jersey regularly.

Let's hope that's the case then. Surely both sides have the brain power to ensure there isn't a clash of jerseys, it's so infuriating as a fan.

So you're new to Super Rugby then?

@Canes4life said in Brumbies v Hurricanes:

I’d like to see the following team for next week. Definitely our best side of the year if everyone is available.

1. Numia
2. Aumua (c)
3. Lomax
4. Delany
5. Gallagher
6. Shields (c)
7. Kirifi (c)
8. Lakai
9. Roigard
10. Love
11. Naholo
12. Higgins
13. Proctor (c)
14. Punivai
15. Harkin
16. Tuputupu
17. Mafileo
18. Tosi
19. Walker-Leawere
20. Iose
21. Vijoen
22. Umaga-Jensen
23. Sullivan

I like the look of that team, but I think it needs a few more captains to fulfil its potential.

@Canes4life said in Hurricanes 2026:

@Darren said in Hurricanes 2026:

If he is that good, give him a Billy Proctor contract.

From what I've seen of him, he has all the talent in the world, a big boot (bigger than most pro players), size, and he's not afraid of barking orders to older players in his team. If I had to compare his playing style to anyone that we've seen over the last twenty years, he'd be the most similar to Larkham.

I think he's a very good Basketball player as well, so let's hope he chooses rugby and the Canes secure his talents long term.

He was in the NZ u15s basketball team last year but is seemingly concentrating fully on rugby. Imagine getting asked "so what are you doing over the holidays bro?" "just training with Canes, and you?"

Another good prospect his year at Stream is Thomas the Tank Engine's son who is a winger, just ran 10.7 and came third at the nationals in the 100, 200m at the NZSS meet, he is in yr 11 as well, so that's pretty quick.

Maybe the re-financed Canes are getting a bit more serious about player development to ward off the emegering threat from the NRL.

NZ rugby has to go back to the Super rugby schools/u18 rep tourney to select the teams, no more of this huge squad camps bullshit, watch the boys play in this tournement then select the team/s.

@Bovidae said in School Rugby 2025:

CNI (Round 1)

Whanganui Collegiate 22 – 20 St John’s Hamilton
St Paul’s Collegiate 10 – 19 Lindisfarne College
FDMC 19 – 26 Feilding High School
Wesley College 7 – 31 St Peter’s Cambridge
St John’s Hastings - bye (Rathkeale College appears to have withdrawn from the competition)

Rathkeale have joined the Wgtn comp, I believe that the travel factor appears to have played a part in the decision. Wgtn Coll beat Hastings 18-17, Stream beat Napier 31-5 over the weekend in preseason games, the reverse fixtures the week before saw the HB get the wins. Coll travel to Hamilton for a Moascar challenge, and Stream have a traditional v Palmy. While the comp starts next week. Interestingly Scots look to be weak at the moment, so they must have run out of money for scholarships (well over half the team in recent years) and returned to being very average at rugby again.

@Mauss That there Diane is some damn good analysis.

@Bovidae said in School Rugby 2025:

@Steven-Harris Yeah, you see him actually take a step back to use firmer ground. The commentators said he is only a Y11. If the WC 1st 5 hadn't hit the post with the easy conversion the result could have been different.

Yeah the kid is a real prospect, was in the NZ u15s for basketball last year and looks to be concentrating on rugby now. Don't want to put too much pressure on the lad but he's big, skillful, kicks off both feet in general play well and as the droppie showed he has a decent temperament, certainly a player to keep an eye on.

The No. 8 for Silvesrtream is also on the Warriors books, he played well in this match.

@MN5 said in All Blacks vs Wallabies Bledisloe II:

Apparently saying ‘wow, how good?’ Is hilarious.

Good to know

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360844295/scott-robertsons-hilarious-reaction-after-33-year-old-all-blacks-prop-george-bower-scores-first-ever

Wow, how good?

@Canes4life Yeah sickening isn't it. Not finding touch at this level shouls see players banished to the shadowrealm. But hey it's a Barrett.