The Silver Fern

@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks v France I:

How good is it to have a unit in the middle of the lineout securing possession, catching kick-offs and the scrum not going backwards.

Yeah that was the biggest positive of the night, otherwise a serving up of the same old shite. At least our centres were better, however, our loosies and wing (Jordan is a fb) options are not really up to scratch. Lakai and Sititi being out doesn't help. I reckon those two are the long term prospects there.

Our Captain isn't doing it for me, more worrying as others have mentioned is our 1st 5 options, BB or Dmac are not the answer but the cuppord is bare.

@Canes4life said in SR U18 Development Squads 2025:

@Bovidae said in SR U18 Development Squads 2025:

Top U18 players from Hurricanes provinces attend Regional Development Camps

149 players.

Surprised not to see Fletcher Cooper on that list. I know he’s only year 11 but he’s mature beyond his years and is probably Streams best player already. Really looking forward to seeing how he develops.

There’s massive wraps on him in Wellington college rugby and after seeing him win the game against Wel Col on Sky the other week, he looks to have a big future.

Fletcher Stirling Cooper (St Patrick’s Silverstream), if rugby doesn't work out he should just start his own Ad agency. All jokes aside he looks like a very promising player.

@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.

@Bovidae said in School Rugby 2025:

@Boourns said in School Rugby 2025:

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.

Ouch!

In Strathmore earlier in the day, Scots College’s wretched start to 2025 continued when they were hammered 97-7 by Napier Boys’ High School. Scots have conceded 344 points in their last four games.

Sheesh, what a hiding. Hard to feel sorry for them, their behaviour with the game against Feilding a few years ago was bang out of order. Feel for the lads in the team now, but if a school just had a 1st XV and no rugby programme outside of the 1st team it was Scots. Pity Town didn't turn over Coll.

@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?

@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.

@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 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.

@Mauss That there Diane is some damn good analysis.