The Silver Fern

@Gunner Vossy said it also happened in 2009 with the Dragons (who lost to the 8th placed Eels - eventual grand finalists - on week 1 under the old system, before losing to the Broncos the week after) and in 1993 with the Bulldogs (who lost to both eventual grand finalists - the Dragons one week and then the Broncos the next - under the top 5 system)

How great is it to have the Shield moving around this year!

It's going to be our turn to claim it next week

No sign of Caleb Clarke or Rieko Ioane for the Aucks

Good to see Banks back from injury, but Tele'a is out of the 23 altogether.

I think Savea should be the way to go.

@JA Let’s see how he goes in his first start.

That was close! That turnover from Oli Mathis cost us our first win of the season

• Christie makes an early return from his thumb injury
• Sione Mafile’o set to reach 90 caps
• Tony Donelley being called up to make his debut of the bench

I assume Banks is injured, he made his return against BOP only for him to miss last week’s game against Counties, and he’s still not back in the 23 this week.

What a win!
49 wins and 2 draws in 31 years.

The last 5 minutes were a bit tense

Not our night again… but big ups to the Steelers for getting their first win of the season and the first for an Auckland side.

Harbour U18 squads:

@taniwharugby said in All Blacks v Springboks I:

Coming up on Piri’s Tiki Tour…

• Jed Melvin becomes captain for this week with Tom Savage moved to the bench
• Notoa-Tipo and Banks out of the 23 altogether
  

@mohikamo Well, we've got a Spoon Bowl between Counties and Harbour on Thursday night, where there will be a guaranteed first win for one of the Auckland provinces.

@Duluth said in NPC 2025:

I was speaking to a rugby producer at Sky last week and I asked a few questions about he NPC coverage have games at the same time etc. He said it doesn't matter because the audience is essentially zero. ABs, massive gap, SR, then another massive gap, NPC according to him

The production budget for NPC is also a fraction of that of ABs/SR, so that's why there's no pre/post-match shows/analysis.

Spoon Bowl against Harbour next Thursday

Thank goodness for the Wahs... even though they're down at half time.
Harbour start the season 0-5 for the first time since 2012.

@canefan That run from Addo-Carr though

All home games listed as "TBC" - with two games set to be played at Mt Smart I guess they'll be waiting for the NRL and A-League draws to come out before the venues are locked in.

EXCITING HOME SCHEDULE FOR BLUES IN 2026 — Blues Rugby

• James Lay, Sione Mafile'o, Gage Jackson and Hunter Rice move to the starting lineup
• Mark Tele'a and Kade Banks return from injury to start on the wings
• Sam Davies and Karl Ruzich also return from injury off the bench
  

As mentioned in the ABs thread, Leroy Carter, Emoni Narawa and Tevita Mafile'o will be playing for BOP in this game.