P
Second half issues started when we swapped out our entire front row. Those guys had another 5-10 and I would have been tempted to go deeper with Taukei'aho - he was matching Ardie's energy with ball in hand.
Fuck me, 50 seconds and a guaranteed loss on debut for Periofeta?! that is beyond cruel.
How good is that pic!
This really pisses me off - weak sauce 'reasons'. Ignoring that Sami was on fire and hoping the combo approach would see a full front row change work out. If both props had niggles then why put them back onfield after a 10min break ffs? I know they were probably getting some treatment but that doesn't stack up imo.
The comments on Perofeta are infuriating - “Again, Stephen was a guy we really wanted to get on, we think he can inject stuff into our attack with his footwork and his second receiver role. But it was a game that didn’t quite flow that way.”
You fuckers put him on with 55 seconds to go. That is the dumbest shit I've heard and makes him look even more foolish. Yeah we thought this guy could really help crack open the game, but we waited till the game was all but over so we could really surprise the Pumas!! They didn't see it coming, suckers!
oh... wait.
@Higgins don't worry, England will still do a few victory laps 
Cheers to @taniwharugby for the new url deets.
@rancid-schnitzel aw man, that must have been really tough mate. You are clearly all about your kids so hopefully you aren't feeling that they are lacking any attention or anything like that.
How soon is too soon? fark, that is a rough thing to face - but nothing in your future relationships means that what came before means any less. I am sure your wife wanted you and your boys to be happy, and live life to its fullest. Would also strongly suspect she wouldn't want you to feel guilty about finding someone, or that a certain timeline has to be followed etc
I know this sounds awful but perhaps a Tinder blitz or something could be cathartic? at least to separate the shorter term physical side of things from an immediate search for a relationship? Failing that (lol I am no help at all) keeping yourself well connected socially through kids (and your own) sport. training etc will mean you are meeting people.
Big ups for sharing this stuff too RS. Take care of yourself, and hollah if you ever need a yarn.
@snowy I think a lot of fans would be pretty tense when 2/2 chasing 330+
Maybe we just like to get on the front foot with our angst 
does make eating the winning pie so much more nom nom nom!!
I had a yarn with Eves at the gym last night. He wasn't 100% sure who would be available for the Canes out of the guys in the AB squad. No doubt they get told to keep mum but...
He said the Lions were super physical around ruck and maul time - more so than they usually get in super rugby. Also said they'd trained in awesome weather all week and it was a pity the weather was shite on the night. Biggest problem was not being able to hold possession, esp from kicks.
He agreed that the selections could have changed to accommodate the weather - when it might have made more sense to have Otere start, McKenzie at fullback and Lowe on the wing. But no hints about any AB mandate for McKenzie at 1st five though.
I live, and I suspect I won't be able to walk tomorrow! nothing like leg day to ease back into training. Have been pretty shit with any sort of activity over the last couple of months. I have mucked about with my KBs a few times but the mojo just hasn't been there.
With the usual caveat that heaps of folks are doing it tougher, holy shit this year has been gnarly. First half was epic work stress (new platform going live) + hectic home life and then we've gone back to the lockdown shenanigans.
My mental health hasn't been great at times, and I know that working out is the best way for me to manage stress and stuff. So it's time to just make the gym fit. Even if that's only twice a week. It'll be far easy to add in something at home with a bit more routine going.
Of course now I've drawn that line in the sand for myself we'll probably go to level bloody 3 ! sorry bout that folks!
In surprising news I was 96kg! which surprised me no end. I've def added a bit of fat and lost some muscle. But my eating has been better lately and I know I can put muscle on pretty easily. So I was stoked about that, the icing on the endorphins from a good workout.
For legs I did some mobility stuff - then a few sets of back squats. Only up to 60kg just to get back in the swing. Did some tempo squats and pause sets. My hammies were pinging hardout! Then I did my usual single leg extensions and hammy curls.
Added in some seated DB curls and skullcrushers, and even a few sets of light seated shoulder press. Enough to get a bit of a pump
I haven't posted as much but I've totally been motivated the regular gang - @JK and @Rancid-Schnitzel you fuckers are just built different, I have lol'd hard at JKs cardio buy-in for his sessions. I know @MN5 has been flipping cars and @taniwharugby has been training as much as lockdown has allowed.... pretty sure @NTA has been putting runs on the board too!
Right, that should be at least 4 likes!!
Dang! where's that @Hooroo at!!
Put BB behind a top line pack and it's a different story. Especially when you factor in Smith's passing speed. But Mounga has been playing well and I'd much rather him than DMac as our #2 pivot.
@canefan and hope to stall or slow any downward trajectory! and that's against a backdrop of us not really being at the top of our game over the last few years. That's why sticking with Fozzie was the wrong call imo.
The board went for consistency with a slightly new flavour versus new and dynamic (compelling!) but lacking international coaching experience (age group aside). I think they saw that as at the safe call. Lame.
If we end up losing Razor like we've lost Rennie I will be beyond pissed.
Went to the game and watched the replay last night. Looked waaay tidier onscreen compared to watching live, where it was disjointed and a pretty average watch. Some good periods but those felt few and far between. RC pretty much killed the vibe in the stadium.
Felt like we thought it'd be easy to crack them afterwards but France amped up and our accuracy and patience went to shit.
Don't blame the ref but am liking these ideas of taking the player off and allowing a replacement after 20min. So there is a clear punishment, but we don't totally ruin the contest.
Deliberate foul play should still get the status quo though.
Go well Smithy, what an amazing coach and fine human being. His contribution to the ABs has been immense. Hope he enjoys keeping his hand in with a bit of coach coaching, but he must be excited about more time with family.
Sounds like he's been well supported and Rennie is definitely someone that cares deeply about his players. I hope a bit of space and time helps Hooper work through things. The average bloke often struggles with sharing struggles and needing some support, so it's great to see a prominent athlete like Hooper (as @chimoaus noted) share that he is doing it tough. Hooper knows exactly what he wants/needs to bring to that environment. Says a lot about him to when he can identify that he's not in space to do that. All the best mate.
Is that Richie's foot grafted onto Rosco's leg!!
@nostrildamus I would have swapped him for BB at the end. Richie was playing well and when he was running alongside Telea they were creating chances. Great footwork from both of them.
@baron-silas-greenback if that's the bar this sort of thing wouldn't make the top hundred... or even top thousand depending on how itemized you got. Almost worth not even posting about.
Unless you're in a sports forum of course
Sam Cane has been amazing tonight - accuracy and power. Well played Sam
He's like that undersized open-side flanker who is a beautiful mix of mongrel, talent and ticker. Just. Does. Not. Quit.
