The Silver Fern

@Victor-Meldrew said in Grumpy Old Man:

Weekend break in the Cotswolds. Spent lots of time here about 15 or so years ago and is arguably one of the beautiful places on earth - and one of my favourite spots. Mix of wealth and normal people back then, def a distinct lifestyle place but minimal snobbery and seemed a good social mix. 4x4's were actually dirty.

But bugger me the place has become a tourist mecca for the rich society's version of the Magaluf crowd. Expensive "antique" shops, pubs selling shit beer & Range Rovers which have never seen a dirt or gravel track blocking the road. And more than a fair number of rude, entitled people

It's become a Ye Olde England Disneyland theme park for weekenders rather than a beautiful place to live in. Fucking depressing

l love the Cotswolds. Spent a good few years there in my youth. I am very jealous.

@zedsdeadbaby said in All Blacks 2025:

Finlay Christie scrubbed from today’s Ta$man game - so he will be in tomorrow

Scotland will be devastated.

@Bones said in All Blacks 2025:

@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:

Can you point to a body of work at 9 that suggests Carter is anywhere near good enough to be the reserve half back for the ABs?

Finley Christie.

That's not bad for you. Well done.

@Frank said in All Blacks 2025:

@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:

@Frank said in All Blacks 2025:

@Crazy-Horse
Google -
Leroy Bert Carter (born 24 February 1999) is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a half-back for National Provincial Championship club Bay of Plenty and the New Zealand national sevens team.

Every time I have seen him play NPC he has been on the wing.

Well I guess that settles it.
Case closed!

Can you point to a body of work at 9 that suggests Carter is anywhere near good enough to be the reserve half back for the ABs? A handful of games at NPC level a couple of seasons ago is all anybody has come up with.

Knowing Lord, he will fail the HIA and be out for weeks.

@taniwharugby said in Taranaki v Northland:

Wtf RR

Yeah, I have been thinking he isn't covering himself in glory this game.

Didn't Scott Gregory bugger off overseas?

I forgot Shearer went to Southland. I reckon they got themselves a good one there. He played well for Canterbury last year and was unlucky not to get Preston's spot in the Saders I thought. Reminds me a lot of Hotham in the way he plays.

Ropeti looks about 16 years old. Look handy with ball in hand. Didn't notice his work on defence, but I wasn't looking out for it.

Disappointing Love didn't catch, or make ground on, the old man there.

@canefan said in Black Caps in Zimbabwe:

@Crazy-Horse said in Black Caps in Zimbabwe:

@Cyclops said in Black Caps in Zimbabwe:

O'Rourke was out in that second innings too, so it was just Henry and the spinners. (Mitchell too I guess). Described as 'stiffness' so hopefully precautionary and he'll be a go for the second match.

He's a Kiwi quick looking useful. It'll be a stress fracture.

We have pretty average form in terms of keeping our young quicks injury free

We do. @Chris can probably give us an idea why. Training? Lack of match play? Or maybe, with our limited depth we notice it more.

@Frank said in All Blacks 2025:

@Crazy-Horse
Google -
Leroy Bert Carter (born 24 February 1999) is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who plays as a half-back for National Provincial Championship club Bay of Plenty and the New Zealand national sevens team.

Every time I have seen him play NPC he has been on the wing.

@MacDazzler said in Manawatu v North Harbour:

@Dan54 Yes he is Jordi's brother. Disappointed to see Jamie leave but as a Manawatu fan, I'm not surprised he's left for a another province. Similar to when Oudenryn and Love have left in previous seasons.

Very good get for you guys.

Hopefully Jamie is bigger than his brother!

@Cyclops said in Black Caps in Zimbabwe:

O'Rourke was out in that second innings too, so it was just Henry and the spinners. (Mitchell too I guess). Described as 'stiffness' so hopefully precautionary and he'll be a go for the second match.

He's a Kiwi quick looking useful. It'll be a stress fracture.

@Frank said in All Blacks 2025:

For the 3rd halfback spot, I go for Kyle Preston.
Sounds like Parker will come in.
Bloody shame about Tangitau not been ready, so I'd call up Leroy Carter (or possibly have Carter as the 3rd halfback)

Do we have any evidence to suggest Carter is any good at halfback? I have only seen him play wing at any decent level. I can't even recall a cameo at 9 at NPC let alone Super.

@Wurzel said in All Blacks 2025:

Mehrts wouldn't get a look in these days when a Mehrts is exactly what we need

I reckon he would because he had a running game, or a decent turn of speed. Fox on the other hand, he'd lose out to Botica.

@booboo said in Transgender debate, in sport, in general:

World Athletics tighten eligibility

I remember reading one female athlete from the 80's or early 90's describe sex testing as one of the most terrifying things she did in her sport. She couldn't help worring the test would tell her she was not 'female' enough. Something as blokes we can never understand. Some blokes have a hard enough time accepting drops in testosterone levels.

@taniwharugby said in TV Serieseseses:

Wife and I just finished The Middle.

Gotta say, I loved that show.

So many traits of the 3 kids were relatable to ours, even some of the parents stuff, particularly early on, but I am not sure there was a single episode I didnt laugh out loud at something.

I enjoyed that series too. It turns out Patricia Heaton is in two of my all time favourite comedies.

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:

@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:

@nzzp said in All Blacks 2025:

@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:

@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2025:

@Chuck72 said in All Blacks 2025:

@Victor-Meldrew Because the rest of our 10's aren't much different/better?

Then move on and actually, you know, develop players who are going to be around in more than a couple of years

Isn't leaving the jersey in a better place an AB thing?

.

Unfortunately at this stage trying to develop a 10 other than DMac and BB is a little like trying to polish a turd. We really need that to change.

Really? I think you can maximise what you have. Jordie looked dynamite playing up north with a different coaching regime. I think our 10s could easily be doing the job needed, but I am not convinced the coaching has been good as Super or Test level for some time.

BB's chips are tolerated by coaches. It is extraordinary. I think it's more that we don't realistically know what we want from a 10, so we don't pick a person and keep them there.

I am also very cautious about RMo coming back and thriving at Test level. He plays like Kyler Murray, and once the electric acceleration goes things will get even harder for him at Test level.

So much fo this is that structurally we tolerate 10s in NZR with noodles for legs. We just don't value kickers.

I couldn't give a shit whether RM comes back, but I think you make a good point. We seem to have an identity crisis at 10. The solid role playing 10 is well out of fashion in NZ and we are losing those type of players overseas. As an example, I think Burke was a recent loss who was just starting to come good.

Harry Plummer

Yes, another one that would have been good to keep hold of. Jeez we could even say Gatland could be useful at the moment. The problem is, a lot of these guys don't even get a regular Super gig because coaches are looking for something different.

It wouldn't surprise me if Reihana makes way at the Saders for the young fella who got injured during the season. The young fella showed more of a running game and that seems to be valued.

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2025:

@Crazy-Horse said in All Blacks 2025:

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks 2025:

@Victor-Meldrew also shows a lack of trust in BB, DMac and any other 10s running around NZ.

Sort of echoes the sentiment on here though doesn't it? Very few have faith in BB, and opinions on DMac run hot and cold.

yet the same astute observers have similar concerns with RM at AB level too...

Agree.