The Silver Fern

@rancid-schnitzel Just have to take any comments from these people with a grain of salt to go with the chip on the shoulder. Remember these are the type of people that started to support the Wallabies when Deans missed out on the ABs coaching job.
Mounga would probably be the no.2 10 right now, especially as Dmac hasn't really performed at test level yet. Neither has Mounga as he hasn't had a chance, but Hansen is loyal to players that do, so there's no reason Mounga couldn't jump ahead in the pecking order. The Crusaders are actually pretty impressive right now and that's also with some front liners out.

I'd prefer Mounga to start, even just to see how he goes.

I reckon they need to make some calls around some players. Squire's been unlucky with injuries, but I don't think he or Fifita are the answer at 6. I don't know who is though. There doesn't seem to be a genuine enforcer type running around at blindside. Squire may be a better bet as a no.8 galloping down the tramlines. They can't all be stars, but Luke Whitelock is pretty limited at test level. They need to take a punt on Akira now. He's played plenty of Super Rugby against the players in the RC and should be thrown in the deep end to see what he can do.

I'm not that convinced about Jordie (yet). A better balanced back three would be Naholo, Ioane, and B. Smith.

I couldn't give a rats if players do cocaine. It's a matter between him, the police and his employer.

Some people in NZ were whinging that Ali Williams was on the telly the other day. FFS, the guy seems like an absolute spanner, but he has a right to carry on with his life. it's different to someone like Veitch as well. Doing coke is basically harming yourself, but Veitch harmed someone else.

@taniwharugby Eating Maccas in someone else's lounge at 5am and not drunk. Sounds like a Tui billboard. But, as long as they apologise to the girls in the flat, I can't see a problem. I remember doing the Undy 500 back in the day and doing worse, although I obviously wasn't an All Black.

@crucial said in Springboks v England - Test #1:

@nta said in Springboks v England - Test #1:

@rapido Itoje has that rare combination of being a fantastic player trapped in the body of someone who believes it a bit too much.

He's a bit of a fluffybunny.

But every time you think you want to smack him one Mike Brown comes into view and your target changes.

Yes, England has quite a list of this type. Itoje, Brown, Sinckler, Marler and Farrell are fairly difficult to like.
I actually reckon Itoje is overrated and will not be happy to be proved wrong.

@pakman I don't think Squire's the answer at 6. He'd be better at no.8 galloping down the tram lines and offloading to wingers or his insides.

Mounga's going well and it's great to have him competing with DMac for no.2 first five.

On A. Savea, even as a Hurricanes supporter I don't rate him. I'd have Todd in the ABs ahead of him and tell Taufua to get ready to play 6, 7, and 8 off the bench if needed. I can't help the feeling Savea's a bit of a glory hunter.

The Highlanders' game plan of kicking away possessing works if you make your tackles, but the last two games it's gone horribly wrong.

@canefan said in Hurricanes 2018:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/103752966/carlos-spencer-signs-on-as-new-hurricanes-assistant-coach

I suppose we will have to wait for the books to come out to find out what went wrong for Boyd, the only Canes coach to win Super rugby.
I guess Carlos wanted to be part of a winning team.....

Didn't Plumtree come along as Boyd's assistant on a hand shake agreement that would see Boyd step aside so Plumtree could take over?

@marty Ha! Thing is with Koreans is they're only interested when the national side is going well or the odd player excelling in overseas comps. No bugger there watches the K-League.

Just looking at the graphics of the game, you can see the Koreans ripped into it with the cards etc. and the Germans must have been quite passive and sitting back.

Jeez, what's happened to Pauliasi Manu? I'd still pick him at LH ahead of Tim Perry in the ABs though.

Some decent players on that injured list. I was a bit of a fan of Nanai a year or two ago, but he's dropped away.

Ruining the NZ teams winning streak the final straw for the clowns involved with the Blues?

@billy-tell said in 2018 June Internationals:

Ireland or Australia?
England or SA?
Wales or Argentina?

Who are people supporting?

Please note if you select England, your account will cease to function.

Australia - ever since the arm flapping days of Peter Stringer and BOD's near death experience, I've completely gone of the Irish. I'd also like Aussie rugby to improve and I'd say they're underdogs.

Got to be SA. England rugby is the spoiled kid with all the gear and no idea

Wales every time. They're are my second team. The Argies were Nazi sympathisers and bring football bullshit to rugby.

I'm really looking forward to these series and hope they're all on Sky

@crucial said in Chiefs v Crusaders:

Who is the brainless fuck that decided to have TJ and Meg commentating this game?

Painful, isn't it? TJ keeps talking about which Chiefs players used to play in red and black. FFS, none are from Canterbury.
He was quite upset about the try from a forward pass.
Crusaders are looking good though. The Chiefs need to make those first up tackles. The defence is good too, so putting the ball in behind them is a good option - with a good chase.

@kiwimurph That last one for the try wasn't great. He was really casual.
Not a great game, but both teams had a cobbled together appearance about them. 3 in a row for Wales vs the Boks now.