The Silver Fern

@canefan said in Wallabies v Lions II:

Tim Horan had a very balanced view of the game. The Wallabies had it in the bag and let it slip. The final decision could have gone either way, he was disappointed for the Wallabies and their fans, but felt the ref did a good job. Refreshing

He's right, for all anyone screams about the last tackle/ruck, count how many Wallabies are standing there looking and not getting into defensive line. There about 5, that try could and should of been stopped regardless of what happened at ruck.

Hopefully he’ll come back a la Steve Austin

Bigger, stronger, faster

Fingers crossed the NFL have rebuilt him

@NTA said in Mid-Year Tour : Japan v Wales Test 1:

@Catogrande said in Mid-Year Tour : Japan v Wales Test 1:

Odd that his stance with Aussie the second time around was so different.

I'm going with some form of undiagnosed brain worms.

Eddie might. be like John Hart, a large part of their coaching identity to them, deriving from being the ideas guy, continually, and exacerbated as they age. With Eddie, and I'm only guessing, he may have created such turmoil and competition that it eventually alienated senior players (when coaching England?) For Australia, he seemed obsessed with off-field stats.
I complained a lot about early Foster ABs lacking innovation, but OTOH I was impressed by how Farrell kept the Schmidt Irish rugby machine but improved around the edges.

@Tim Great try. It does show the inexperience of Pollock, though. Curry rushes Albornoz to pressure the kick but because Pollock is lax in following up, Albornoz is able to step inside the gap.

I'm sure Andy Farrell will let him know. But fantastic execution by Albornoz nonetheless. One of the best 10s running around nowadays.

@booboo said in WNBA:

I hear there’s an option for Angel Reese to phone a friend to make a layup for her.

Reckon the forward back distinction is too broad. Looking at Sparky’s list it’s mainly loosies, ditto Rassie & Mallet.

Every now and again we loosies allow our natural prey, the large scrotumed ruck rat, to survive to maturity and become solid (though still very annoying) coaches (cf Henry, Galthie and Craven, Doc.)

@Jet said in 6N 2025 : France v Wales:

@Dan54 said in 6N 2025 : France v Wales:

@Jet said in 6N 2025 : France v Wales:

@Dan54 said in 6N 2025 : France v Wales:

I have personally reckoned that any team using the pod system are illegal 5/10 times. France seem to be pushing it, and I put it down to how game has changed. Just know when I played you tried to never have a team mate with the ball behind you as you would get pinged for offside. I did think some of the French ones were extreme, even for whats allowed these days.

Ireland dined out on it for years during their recent golden age. Players ahead of ball carriers all over the place masquerading as bodies in motion.

It’s no wonder a geriatric sexton had an arm chair ride in his latter years.

He was basically walking around out there.

Yep we weren't adverse to using it either, don't know any team that was. Though some seemed to overdo it I agree.

I think rugby peaked around 2003-2007. The 05 lions tour was Rugby as I liked it.

Maybe I’m getting old (40) but the current overly busy refs, and skullduggery such as this du Pont stuff does nothing for me.

I preferred when backs were backs, forwards were forwards, and you could have a bit of a “sort out” without being sent off.

The TMO is a good addition for adjudicating on whether a try is scored but going back a couple of phases to see something technical that was missed leaves me cold.

Camel. Horse. Committee. Etc

TLDR : “games gone”

Old at 40??? But genuinely mate I perhaps 30 years older, but I agree wholeheartedly.

Superb tournament
Superb final

@African-Monkey said in Autumn Test 2024 : Wales v Australia:

Random thought, but how has Gareth Anscombe only played 39 tests! Thought he'd be between 60-70 tests minimum by now. He's been there forever.

Injured and fucked off for a while

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/articles/cn8g2m4e0jvo

A much improved performance by the BFs to beat France 39-14 but this tactic of running everything from your 22 always proves costly.

@Bones said in Springboks v Wales (Twickenam):

@MiketheSnow said in Springboks v Wales (Twickenam):

@Bones said in Springboks v Wales (Twickenam):

@MiketheSnow said in Springboks v Wales (Twickenam):

PSDT hand on the floor at nearly every scrum

Haven't watched the video so maybe missing something, but not sure I follow what the issue is unless he's moved to prop?

Perhaps I don’t know the laws

Hands on floor allowed during set up

From engagement, no?

I'd always assumed binding on the opposition is only the front row, never considered flankers weren't allowed their free arm to be on the floor.

Same. Would be odd to penalise that. No advantage achieved if a flanker has his hand on the ground.

@Daffy-Jaffy I really can't stand that Irish commentator. Not sure why, but he really grates me. No doubt, he's a massive Ireland fan and commentates exactly as one, but I don't have a problem with other countries commentators who do this (Oz, England, Safa).

I think he just commentates like Ireland are better at absolutely everything and the opposition should almost feel honoured to be allowed to play them.

Maybe it's just me.

@MN5 said in 6N 2024:

@Catogrande said in 6N 2024:

@MN5 said in 6N 2024:

@MiketheSnow said in 6N 2024:

Although we had a disappointing season - aspects of which were to be expected based on the personnel available for selection - I'm still glad I'm not Scotland or Italy

6N.jpg

That’s the reigning five nations champions you’re talking about there

And I was going to accuse @MiketheSnow of clutching straws

It’s just how Scots Rugby fans roll.

Between that and the Black Caps being inaugural World Test Champions I have both sports covered.

Well, you always have this to keep you warm...

Rob Robertson  /  Mar 19, 2024  /  news Scotland accused of 'arrogance' as Sam Warburton calls out post-match behaviour Scotland accused of 'arrogance' as Sam Warburton calls out post-match behaviour

The Wales legend made the claims but refused to name the players involved in the celebrations.

@MiketheSnow

Looking at it short term, I sort of agree with you, in that if we made the SF it would be above immediate expectations. However, in truth, with our resources, a SF place should be a minimum. We have so much going for us, numbers, funding, support, but we seem to have this handbrake applied about 80% of the time and an acceptance that this is ok and “the done thing” 90% of the time. It ceased to be amusing some years ago.

@MiketheSnow

I'm not sure how feasible individual insurance would be for these guys. Going back to my days working in risk the issues with income replacement would be the work undertaken - ie how likely is an injury going to be and what are the potential consequences of an injury. For a rugby player the answers would be high and high. Add to that the payout would be linked to immediate pre-injury earnings and dictated by the length of contract, then for someone like Hawkins there would be no real safety net. Group risk - ie employer sponsored for the squad as a whole is much more feasible as the risk is spread - not everyone is going to get a career threatening injury. However this would again be limited to paying out the contract. A short term contract or no contract at all represents a huge risk for the individual. Less so for the club/region.

I’m going to both SF as well

Wales best game of the tournament, but not enough to beat a strong and confident French team. N'tamack was sublime. Is he the world's best 1st Five ? Russell can be brillant but is rocks and diamonds. You rarely see N'tamack make blunders.

Never tire watching that try. Awesome!