The Silver Fern

We’ve just got to stop being pussies and beat everyone in our path, you know.. like we’ve done before.

Just been confirmed by the Crusaders that Blackadder’s been pulled because there’s a good chance he’ll get injured and therefore as precautionary they’ve ruled him out before he does.

@Landers92 said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Struggling to get the line up this week sorry team. Will do my best but may have to be a bit of a let down this week, unfortunate considering it’s arguably the biggest test since the World Cup final so my apologies.

If I hear anything though I will post it in here.

I think I can speak for most people on here, we appreciate your ongoing and accurate source of information. Always awesome seeing the side before the wider public and I hope we still continue to have that privilege.

There's no expectation for you to get this every week, it's more of a bonus for us all if you do.

Crusaders: What can I say, the Crusaders jaggarnaut keeps rolling and it's difficult to see when it will stop. Another title, but I haven't given them an A+ due to that one loss against the Hurricanes. With a player drain unlikely for next year the Crusaders will once again be the team to beat when 2021 rolls around.
Season rank: A
Forward of the year: Codie Taylor
Back of the year: Richie Mo'unga
Most improved player: Will Jordan

Blues: The Blues are back. Not the perfect season by any stretch but it's a massive improvement on years gone by so I have given the Aucklanders an A- . The foundation is there to kick on and become a team that will consistently contend for the title, especially if they keep enticing players into Auckland rather than out of it.
Season rank: A-
Forward of the year: Hoskins Sotutu
Back of the year: Caleb Clarke
Most improved player: Akira Ioane

Hurricanes: I have given the Canes a B for Super Rugby Aotearoa. They wouldn't have been happy with how they started and finished the tournament, however a sweet run of five victories including a Kiwi grand slam shows there is plenty of firepower in this side to be a force moving forward. A couple of good off-season signings and they should be there or there abouts once again next year.
Season rank: B
Forward of the year: Scott Scrafton
Back of the year: Jordie Barrett
Most improved player: Peter Umaga Jensen

Highlanders: I have also given the Highlanders a B grade considering how they've responded from that massive player drain in 2019. They have played some enterprising footy this year and are starting to grow crucial combinations in key areas. Like the Hurricanes and Blues they have a good core group of young players that will help set the standard for success moving forward.
Season rank: B
Forward of the year: Marino Mikaele Tu'u
Back of the year: Aaron Smith
Most improved player: Pari Pari Parkinson

Chiefs: The Chiefs have tried hard all year but their skill execution and inability to finish off chances cost them dearly in what was a brutal competition. I'm confident they will get back into the groove in 2021 but it may take a few hard truths within their environment before they get that chance.
Season rank: D
Forward of the year: Lachlan Boshier
Back of the year: Solomon Alaimalo (debate away)
Most improved player: Naitoa Ah Koui

@kiwi_expat we as fans observe players in the heat of the battle, the place where they are tested to their limits. If the Canes coaches are selecting players purely on good training habits and leadership ability alone then I’m afraid they’ve failed already. Player X still has to perform on game day.

I’m not sure if you’ve actually watched the Canes over the last two seasons because it’s blatantly obvious that James Blackwell falls well short on the paddock (excuse the pun). If you’re happy with a 1.90m lock, who gets man handled in almost every carry, who drops about half the passes that come his way, and just looks like an ordinary NPC player at best, then good on you.

Fans, including myself sometimes get it wrong but on this occasion (other Canes fans would agree) the best players aren’t starting for the Canes atm. Flanders is blatantly better than Prinsep, IWL is blatantly better than Blackwell and it was super obvious at the start of the season (until Holland finally woke up) that Rayasi should have been there earlier aswell. The coaches have to take some accountability as to why they are 1 and 3 because the players that are apparently superb at training, aren’t cutting it where it matters - that’s where the issue is.

Also if you don’t like fans having an opinion or questioning selections, I don’t think the Fern is the right place for you.

@KiwiMurph solid 23, I’d prefer Blackadder over Papali’i’ though.

Papali’i must be counting his lucky stars. He completely lacks any impact at this level.

Good to see Christie has been given the boot, and good to see McKenzie on the bench.

@george33 you were way off the money once again.

Bloody hell, golden boy Beauden Barrett has had a pretty sweet ride over the last four years. Never sets the house on fire but seems to always squeeze himself in.

DMac should be starting after last week. Disappointing.

@KiwiMurph said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Is it just me or is that the most well balanced loosie trio we've put out in a long time?

Not just you. Very much liked what I saw tonight, Parker could be the find of the season for this team. Huge unit and isn’t afraid of the hard graft. Sititi was very good and Ardie, though quiet for a lot of the night came good at the end there.

Would prefer Lakai or Jacobsen over Kirifi on the bench.

Well played @Duluth and @Kirwan, thanks for the hard work getting everything back up and running.

Dallas McLeod over Stevenson.. bahahahaha that’s a shocking call.

22 years of waiting. Blackwell, Kirifi, Bird, Numia the unsung heroes of this team.

Sheck deserves a Hurricanes contract, he’s stepped up time and time again.

Commiserations Cantabs.

Man I am happy.

Hurricanes year in review.

Grade: B+
At the beginning of the year, I had the Canes as a top four side but wasn't sure if we would have the metal or the experience to quite go all the way, my assumption proved right but the disappointment of actually not making the final and pushing for the title was a lot greater than I expected.

To top the table at the end of the regular season displayed the massive improvement this franchise has taken since Holland thankfully left at the end of 2023. Laidlaw has come in and created a culture that every single player has brought into and that will pay dividends over the next couple of years.

The reality going forward with the players we've signed up is that we should be pushing for that title for at least the next 3-4 years.

There are a few areas we need to shore up in the recruitment space and I have highlighted them below.

Best player: Cam Roigard, yes he only played 5 rounds but he was arguably the best player in the competition before he suffered that brutal injury against the Landers. If he can get anywhere close to the form he showed next year then the Canes will be a far tougher proposition. His decision making at the base of the ruck was second to none and many rugby fans around New Zealand will be hoping he makes a full recovery and can get back to his best for the ABs.

Best rookie: Peter Lakai
I know this was his second super season but this year was the first where he actually played consistent minutes. His ball carrying and defensive ability, coupled with the fact he never shy's away from doing the hard yards as a 7 will put him right in the conversation come All Black selection. The fact this kid is only 21 and is already going toe to toe with the best makes you think he has a pretty high ceiling.

Player of the year: Billy Proctor
He only experienced losing once this season, unfortunately that was to the Chiefs last night. Proctor is the glue to the Hurricanes backline and showed his consistency all the way through the campaign. His ability to read the game has gone up another level this year and he has also put himself right in the frame for national selection in a week's time.

The good:
The Hurricanes did plenty of things well this year but what I really loved was our improvement at set piece. When Numia, Aumua and Lomax were together they formed a pretty formidable front row, unfortunately all of them received big injuries at various phases of the campaign so we didn't get to see their full potential. Hopefully in 2025 they stay fit and healthy.

The bad:
Injuries and form. In my view the injuries to key players like Roigard, Delany, Lomax, Numia and Aumua at crucial times in the campaign prevented us from reaching our full potential. The biggest thing will be keeping these guys fit next year so we have our best squad available come playoff time. Form was also a major factor to us bailing out of the competition. You could argue we played our best rugby at the start and through the middle of the campaign before teetering off towards the playoffs. A huge lesson for Laidlaw is that to win Super Rugby it's a marathon and not a sprint.

Gains and losses for 2025 (so far)
Key losses for 2025: Jordie Barrett, Josh Moorby
Key gains for 2025: Ardie Savea

Recruitment:
The Hurricanes have already locked down a large chunk of their squad for next year which will provide some consistency to help them push for title success. We know Ardie Savea is coming back and that will naturally lift expectations on this team to go all the way. Key recruitment areas for me are at hooker, first five and wing/fullback.

• Hooker: We need a strong hooker to back-up Aumua. O'Reilly was an improvement on previous seasons but his ceiling isn't the highest, Tuputupu showed glimpses of his potential but he has plenty of kinks to iron out, and there are a couple of other options in Jacob Devery and Vernon Bason to pick from within the environment. Whether we look outside for talent here is the big question.

• First five: Brett Cameron showed last night that he is just too limited to take this team all the way. The Hurricanes will be on the lookout for a quality ten before the next season commences. The Canes also have Harry Godfrey coming through, but he still has plenty to learn and prove before he gets continuous opportunity at this level.

• Wing/fullback: the Canes have a fair amount of recruitment to do in this space. Rayasi and Naholo are yet un-signed and it's already been announced that Moorby is jetting off the Montpellier. One obvious recruitment target will be Stanley Solomon, the jet shoes on this kid could be a point of difference for the Canes moving forward. They will want to lock him up on a contract but I don't think we'll see him on the park for at least year or two until he matures a bit more. Bailyn Sullivan is another player that's unsigned and he could be an option to fill that wing slot on the right.

Summary: overall, the Canes and Laidlaw can't be too displeased with their campaign this year. They've shown that when they play to their best they can blow anyone off the park. Next year will be all about kicking on from this year and taking their game to another level. There will be excitement aplenty in the Canes squad for 2025, let's see if they can convert that excitement and potential into a championship.

Lester to the wing, Jordan to fullback, DMac to the bench and Roigard to the bench.

Beauden has to go for me in the big games. Foster won’t have the balls though.

Former All Blacks hooker Norm Hewitt has died after a battle motor neurone disease.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/350344474/former-all-blacks-hooker-norm-hewitt-has-died

My greatest memory of big Norm was when he broke his arm in the final against Canterbury in 2000 but battled through, helping the Lions secure a famous victory.

@Canerbry said in All Blacks vs Argentina I - 10 August:

Let's just note none of that was the coaches' fault.

All of this is the coaches fault. The ABs have been shit.

@george33 fair play on the tips you sent through, your source has come through with the goods.

@jimmyb said in All Blacks vs Springboks II:

LOL Fuck off.

Lakai has literally no body of work deserving of an All Blacks jersey. At least Finau has been busy doing the hard work in his limited opportunities. His cleans are excellent and his carries in close make ground. He's worth persisting with IMO.

Are you Finau’s mother?

Must be with that response.

Finau has been garbage lately, the only time he looks good is when he’s picking on small 10s. Can’t even make his tackles at NPC and was made to look very average the other week against Southland.

Pretty cool story about Jeff McTainsh, apparently he was doing the commentary for the Southland vs Canterbury Shield challenge and was passed a note saying Tony Johnson had lost his voice and he was needed at Eden Park. Flew up and did the call without any prep, awesome commitment.

Lol what has Ennor done to keep getting selected in this side?

I think we've missed a trick with no DMac on the bench. Surely he's the sort of player that will tear Aussie to shreds in the last 20 mins, be it at 10 or 15.