The Silver Fern

If the Wallabies can bring this intensity against the All Blacks I’ll be very concerned

Mehrts wouldn't get a look in these days when a Mehrts is exactly what we need

I need a Simon Parker ETA

Sualilii defending on the outside as poorly as every other NRL convert who’s attempted to play in the midfield

@ARHS said in All Blacks v France III:

Is that 7 Waikato players in starting lineup though?

Sevu, Hotham and Brodie also have links to the Tron.

Good luck to the Hamil Blacks

What we've lacked since the South African sides left - and the Jaguares, Sunwolves and Pacific franchises joined - is a viable meaning or context to the competition.

Previously it was the best domestic sides from the three powerhouses (and most successful nations) of professional rugby. The team that won (and, importantly, its fans) could claim to be the best domestic side in the world. That meant something; either side of the equator.

With South African leaving and far-flung franchises joining (and not ignoring the recent downfall of the Wallabies) we now have a competition that crowns a champion of no real relevance or significance.

The old Super 12/14/15 had true sporting context. Yes, there were mismatches and games played at odd times for various sets of viewers but it always progressed to a tangible context at season's end.

People complained about about those viewing times being the downfall of the old Super 12/14/15. I've seen the current ratings and still Kiwi fans won't watch anything outside of 4:30pm and 7:05pm kickoffs - even when NZ sides are involved.. And I'd imagine the equivalent is true of Aussie viewers.

So if no one is watching un-appealing kick-offs in a Pacific-only comp then then South African 3am kick-offs aren't the issue no matter what the alignment of sides within Super Rugby.

Wonderful. We all know how well the Chiefs show up in a finale.

A squad of 30... 7 aren't putting boots on.

Lots of congestion in the loosies and midfield.

Be interesting to see how Leicester F goes against Kriel and de Allende

MP's best hope is the relative success of this season and the feel good vibes around the team will entice a independent investor to secure their future, as opposed to leaning on a charity diverting funds from the community the team represents to instead prop up 38 almost-professional rugby players

@brodean said in Final - Crusaders v Chiefs:

I thought a number of the hits on Dmac were late and the Crusaders were lucky to get away with it.

Stolen out of the Chiefs 2012/13 playbook

Gonna need some context, team

Some great options now available for Foster's Anzac XV. I read in the Aussie papers that Tele'a and Sotutu are already on board

No Bell, Blackadder, Havili and Fihaki. Razor-hater's gonna need new material.

His stocks have never been higher. After leaving Munster early and being sacked by the Tahs, winning Super Rugby with the Crusaders looks pretty attractive on his LinkedIn.

If he was smart he'd cash in overseas as opposed to going again with the Crusaders and potentially taking the shine off his 2025 win.

Wouldn't have wanted any other centre than Ennor the way that Final played out

Razor picking on Super form was all well and good until the bloody Crusaders went and won the thing. Now we gotta move the goalposts so he can’t select big-game, champion players.

@Chris-B said in 2025 All Blacks Squad v France:

@antipodean A sort of "Glenn Phillips Effect"?

Glenn drops quite a few catches because he gets his hands to chances other people don't.

GP also drops a bizarre number of sitters despite being one of the most athletic fielders to step onto a cricket field

A forgotten name for the All Blacks midfield below...

Players to achieve at least 50% carry dominance from at least 150 carries into contact:

Josua Tuisova (62% from 172)
Beka Gorgadze (56% from 183)
Leicester Fianga’anuku (53% from 186)
Elia Canakaivata (51% from 152)

I reckon the other Mark Robinson would've done an equitable job