The Silver Fern

@jimmyb
Upvote for using complemented.

@MiketheSnow
Upvote for the DF reference.

@brodean
I would also suggest that RWCs and even most test matches are allowed to be played at a slower pace. That we don't seem to want to have our captain raise this with the ref in play is frustrating enough but that we don't pick players and use our subs to cope with this is amateur at best.

@nostrildamus
That's not surprising given the games coming up - see every epl pre match where the coaches supposedly don't like each other.

@reprobate
Then what do you put it down to? An honest question. Lack of international club/country just seems to be one of a few suggestions being floated.

@nostrildamus
Funny you say that - I was at the game and SB spent a lot of time stretching his back and legs on his own - he also didn't look to me that he was running that freely.

Wasn't Itoje gen clapping after the ref had awarded the pen or knock on etc?

@Kiwiwomble
The replacements would be within the squad and already on the payroll and anyone outside is presumably on a super contract with the NZRU and therefore on the payroll.

@mohikamo

The NZRU aren't as rich as an epl team but players there on huge locked in contracts get sat down constantly. Why should we be any different - if the player is cooked - stand him down and if he isn't getting better or his replacement is knocking the cover off the ball offer yhe star a present value pay off (plus you are probably replacing him with a player that you have contracted at a lower rate?).

@Dan54
Dan - this has frustrated me for so long. We want to be the Corinthians of rugby but we just need to be more cynical. As others have said - someone gets hit high make the ref/tmo think about it etc - it's not a great look but most top tier nations do it with some success.

My understanding was that EE came from a pretty tough background in CT and that with his size then was why he had a reputation early on. Some of the SA posters may be able to confirm this?!

Perhaps I haven't seen it but does Jordan have a boot to allow us to exit deep?

@MiketheSnow
Given everything else he missed it all evened out?

Get along if you can - it is a great ground and the atmosphere can be amazing (the Africans don't seem to get up for it as much v Australia as when they are playing us or the English).

Hi NZZP - it's been a little while since I have done this - you can get tickets for internationals by going to EP (always a fun experience) and I recollect that one of the supermarket chains (not Woolworths) sold tickets too. I haven't lived in SA for a while but I suspect that tickets v Aus will be available v close to the time of the match if you don't secure tickets before arrival. Cheers