The Silver Fern

How in the living fuck does Garden Bachop get named at 10

Be interesting how the backs are selected for Hawkes Bay. See if they stick with McClutchie or start using Godfrey more at 10. Also where Zarn Sullivan ends up playing.

Looks like Billy Proctor & Duplessis not released for selection for this game - most likely Matt will slot in at 13? Otherwise good to see Ruben Love will be out there

@brodean said in All Blacks 2025:

Pumas will certainly be targeting those games against us. Am I correct in saying they haven't beaten us at home yet?

I reckon we could just about claim that Sky Stadium should be considered an away game for us so could say that

@mariner4life i mean its a contested line out. I was referring to exits from kick offs into our 22. His touch finders from the base of the ruck were unreal.

@Crazy-Horse To be fair, Roigard's boxies were peeling off 40 odd meters pretty well in that second test. I actually dont reckon beaudie had to make an exit in the first half and we exited well most times

@Canes4life Yep that would be the likely line up in my eyes. After watching him for the U20s, it would be good to see Solomon get a good crack in the starting line up this season. Not particularly excited about Savea at 12 but hes probably the only option until Higgins returns, though i am sure Billy P could slot in there well enough.

One thing that Kirifi did bring was good link play when we transition to the backs. 2 tries came from his tag / back door balls. The only other player that is really succinct in that play is Tupou Vaai. Ardie etc stagnate our attack when running as first reciever/pod

Head Coach/Party Starter

Finding this naming process rather drawn out as opposed to building any anticipation

If that backline clicks could be a great day for our wingers. Between Dmac, ALB & Love some strong distribution

Oh god dammit i thought Julian had gone to North Harbour for some reason..........

Wonder how wide they will be casting the net to try get some names for this years squad. Could be a brand new backline aside from a spine of Preston, Garden Bachop and Harkin

@mariner4life Im with you on this. Referral would be perfect (with right ot retain if call upheld) If it wasnt glaringly obvious enough for the ref & touchies to notice, along with the captain & his team being not convinced enough to appeal - award it. Every now and then it might lead to a lucky try but thats part of the beauty of the game in my opinion. That fijian try that was dissallowed by an Aussie foot in touch on the other side of the field really epitomised TMO over reach in my opinion. Reward good play and focus on the balance of the game, there is space for margin of error in rugby.
Im sure they could put trackers in players boots, the ball, have AI scanning the field at all times and just handover the reigns entirely if they wanted every single call to be correct and nothing would ever be missed, if all we cared about was accuracy, but no the subjectivity is part of the enjoyment, the dark arts and the bounce of the ball. Rant over

Enari extends through 26 announced

@barbarian I think thats sort of my point - if its not clear & obvious / egregious then what real impact has it had on the try being scored. If the captain didnt see the infringement, in all likelihood one of his team mates would have. If none of them saw it, and the ref didnt see it, then fair play call it a try.

I think i hold the opposite point of view to you - rugby is so technical and there are so many thin margins and grey areas in calls, that analysing every try to death through slow motion and replays just removes some of the subjective & flowing nature of the game

Really makes you think rugby should move back towards the League/cricket model - having captains referral. Instead of the TMO butting in at every single opportunity, make the defending team identify the potential issue and refer it. introduces an element of strategy and takes it back to the more noticeable in-game issues as opposed to zooming in and slowmo on every potential infraction

@Canes4life Wow, bit of a shame at 22 years old and having just cracked super rugby.. I suppose the option is there now and guys would prefer get some experience and cash than be a squad member. Hope we could see him back after a year or 2

@Tim Why are we catching strays like this lol did a hurricane flirt with your wife

Would have been good to see Xavi Taele get a crack