The Silver Fern

Yeah it's hard to compare some years with different rules or talent spread too thinly when they expanded and teams were getting hammered. I excluded playoff matches given those would on average be vs better defenses.

None of the Bulls teams from their 2007-2010 run made it either. One unusual one was the 2009 Crusaders sneaking into the playoffs with just 17.8 points per game/231 total, 2nd lowest that season only 18 more than wooden spooners the Cheetahs. The Waratahs in 5th also only scored 241 and lost out to Crusaders on points differential by 4.

Not sure if this is 100% but should be close-

Top 10 seasons by Points Scored Per Game 1996-2024

2002 Crusaders 42.6
2005 Crusaders 41.7
2017 Hurricanes 39.7
1997 Blues 39.5
2017 Lions 39.3
1997 Hurricanes 37.8
1996 Blues 37.1
2004 Brumbies 37.1
1997 Brumbies 36.9
2017 Crusaders 36.3

It does lend a bit of support to a guy like Mauger at 12 when he played a key role in the two highest scoring teams. Merts was the 10 in 2002, Carter in 2005.

Looking back through the finals teams I'd forgotten the odd fact in the 2006 fog final the Crusaders back reserves were Cameron McIntyre, Stephen Brett and Caleb Ralph, with Robbie Deans saying in the lead up that Carter would play halfback if Kevin Senio had to go off.

Merts is difficult to leave out because he played such a big role in the victories of 98-2000 where they were a more limited team without many other stars and his kicking was a big part of getting them over the line. Mauger actually started finals at 10-13-12 in a three year span. He worked very well with Laulala when they were paired. But the 10-12 combo of Merts/Mauger seems too small in terms of defense, even though they had an unbeaten season in 2002 with those two.

The thing often forgotten about Carter was how strong an open field tackler he was, especially at the fullback position a 10 often ends up at, or even in his case in the 2004 NPC season/final when he was playing fullback due to Cantys logjam. Had he chosen to solely play second five or fullback in either position he could have been equally dominant vs the other options.

Jordan would have to go on the wing to make best use of the Crusaders talent as fullback is a stronger position. Gear had a couple of big years, Reece has the tries but Nadolo had a higher peak.

I assume they're going to start Reihana at 10 and JOC to continue the bench role he's been playing. Hopefully they give James White some gametime.

This week may have the widest bunch of potential starters-no real standouts in a few positions and some regular options like Mckenzie and Barrett out at 10. And maybe the MP-Drua game looking like being the highest scoring?

@Machpants said in Brumbies v Hurricanes:

@Duluth said in Brumbies v Hurricanes:

Riley Higgins
Billy Proctor (Co Captain)

Might as well give us the trophy now!

@Canes4life said in Brumbies v Hurricanes:

That Enari and Hohepa combo off the bench must be close to one of the worst ever for the Canes.

Hopefully Harkin has practised pinning his ears back this week.

It's fine as long as they don't get on the field....

Very excited to see that backline in action, hopefully they can get some decent ball.

I remember thinking at his peak that I'd actually pick him over Jonah at his peak, because he was almost as good on attack, particularly when you account for the fact Jonah was playing against some very light defenders in the backs in the mid 90s. Savea was clearly better at other aspects of the game as Jonah wasn't much of a defender nor had the same general workrate. Unfortunately Savea's peak was short even by the standards of attacking wings.

@MacDazzler said in Current depth at 10:

@canefan None of them have kicked on recently or are too young. Josh McKay ended up as a fullback/wing. Neither the 2018 and 2019 10s Cullen Moody or Ollie Lewis played NPC.

Alex Harford and James White both played NPC but that's it. Presume White will end up in the full Crusaders squad next year perhaps if JOC doesn't play on.

White played well for Canterbury in the games I saw last year. Found it very odd he wasn't one of the three first fives in the main squad.

@sparky said in Force v Hurricanes:

This must be a candidate for the worst try bomb ever in Super Rugby since the tournament started in 1996. Can anyone think of one worse?

I can only assume he thought it was a faster player than Nic White. Even then, attempting an awkward pass like that when he had an unmarked wing outside him was bizarre.

McKenzie having a shocker

Just note the Coast will be quiet this time of year-tourist season essentially just finished. I live in Greymouth so feel free to dm any specifc questions if you have any issues.

Point Elizabeth walk just north of Greymouth is the most popular that would suit there I think. If that's too long or you want something flatter then plenty of people simply walk along the Northern end of the cycle/wilderness trail which follows the beach near Greymouth.

When in Hokitika the gorge tends to be the popular tourist spot. Hoki in general is quite easy to stroll around as the beach is right alongside the business district, which helps it feel more tourist-friendly than Greymouth.

@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:

@HugeCarrot2 said in All Blacks 2025:

@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:

@HugeCarrot2 said in All Blacks 2025:

@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:

@HugeCarrot2 said in All Blacks 2025:

@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:

Watched the Drua v Crusaders yesterday, and finally got a chance to see what all the fuss with Fihaki is about. Was underwhelmed. He looks a specimen, but doesn't seem to have a good feel for the game, and lacks the kind of raw speed and power that a young Julian Savea had back in the day. Happy to be corrected, but he looks nothing like an AB winger to me

I feel like at this point I've seen him play 12/15/wing? He doesn't seem to have a natural position and certainly isn't enough of an attacking threat for ABs at wing. Has always been a big kicker of the ball though.

Fihaki has never played 12 a wing /FB

I think it would be when I first saw him, probably Crusaders U20s.

Nah he was wing or FB in u/20s
Same for Canterbury .

I honestly had to look that up because I thought I must be imagining it then, as I watched the 2021 Super Rugby U20s tournament. He played 12 vs Blues, 12 vs Highlanders, 13 vs Chiefs.

Back further he often played 12 at school it seems including for NZ schools vs Australia in 2018.

Yeah you are right he did has not played 12 since that tournament.

Yeah I remembered because those were first games I saw him play and he looked a little out of place so I can understand the move to wing/fb. I just think he's going to struggle to ever hold down a wing spot for ABs when the other options offer more on attack. Even if they want a solid wing/fb hybrid with a big boot Springer has a similar skillset but offers more on attack from what I've seen.

@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:

@HugeCarrot2 said in All Blacks 2025:

@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:

@HugeCarrot2 said in All Blacks 2025:

@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:

Watched the Drua v Crusaders yesterday, and finally got a chance to see what all the fuss with Fihaki is about. Was underwhelmed. He looks a specimen, but doesn't seem to have a good feel for the game, and lacks the kind of raw speed and power that a young Julian Savea had back in the day. Happy to be corrected, but he looks nothing like an AB winger to me

I feel like at this point I've seen him play 12/15/wing? He doesn't seem to have a natural position and certainly isn't enough of an attacking threat for ABs at wing. Has always been a big kicker of the ball though.

Fihaki has never played 12 a wing /FB

I think it would be when I first saw him, probably Crusaders U20s.

Nah he was wing or FB in u/20s
Same for Canterbury .

I honestly had to look that up because I thought I must be imagining it then, as I watched the 2021 Super Rugby U20s tournament. He played 12 vs Blues, 12 vs Highlanders, 13 vs Chiefs.

Back further he often played 12 at school it seems including for NZ schools vs Australia in 2018.

I don't know if it had the wind behind it but that kick yesterday was one of the longest I've ever seen, perhaps even longer than Frans Steyn could kick it. If he could get the accuracy he should kick a few American footballs in the offseason and his backup plan can be the Zammit/Petaia route.

@Chris said in All Blacks 2025:

@HugeCarrot2 said in All Blacks 2025:

@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:

Watched the Drua v Crusaders yesterday, and finally got a chance to see what all the fuss with Fihaki is about. Was underwhelmed. He looks a specimen, but doesn't seem to have a good feel for the game, and lacks the kind of raw speed and power that a young Julian Savea had back in the day. Happy to be corrected, but he looks nothing like an AB winger to me

I feel like at this point I've seen him play 12/15/wing? He doesn't seem to have a natural position and certainly isn't enough of an attacking threat for ABs at wing. Has always been a big kicker of the ball though.

Fihaki has never played 12 a wing /FB

I think it would be when I first saw him, probably Crusaders U20s.

@canefan said in All Blacks 2025:

Watched the Drua v Crusaders yesterday, and finally got a chance to see what all the fuss with Fihaki is about. Was underwhelmed. He looks a specimen, but doesn't seem to have a good feel for the game, and lacks the kind of raw speed and power that a young Julian Savea had back in the day. Happy to be corrected, but he looks nothing like an AB winger to me

I feel like at this point I've seen him play 12/15/wing? He doesn't seem to have a natural position and certainly isn't enough of an attacking threat for ABs at wing. Has always been a big kicker of the ball though.

Yeah I think this was the first week I'd rolled out both Kyren and Caleb as they'd been so consistent....

@Canes4life

@Canes4life said in Fantasy Super Rugby:

I think I'm about the only one that has dropped DMac this week, hope it pays off.

Interesting the "Cal7" guy who has been leading/top 5 for ages didn't use a single player from Chiefs or Reds, likely because of the weather