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Only saw bits & pieces on my phone at work & highlights aren't up yet but if you'd offered me a 10-point win in Dublin pre-tour or earlier this week I'd have said "hell yeah!". Unless we get pantsed in Paris or somehow lose to Italy I'd say the tour has been a success, or at least not the...

From rnz.co.nz: Player achievements Tim Mikkelson All Blacks Sevens number: 190 Debut: George 2007 World Series Crowns: Seven World Cup Victories: 2013, 2018 Olympics: Silver medal 2021 Commonwealth Games: Gold Medal 2010, 2018, Silver medal 2014 Individual achievements: Fourth highest...

From stuff.co.nz just now: "Sam Dickson, Scott Curry and Tim Mikkelson, who all captained the All Blacks Sevens at various stages, have announced their retirements." The rest Is behind a sorta paywall but I'm guessing it's mostly a recap of their respective & impressive careers.

350th AB Test call for Nisbo: https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/11/07/commentator-grant-nisbett-to-call-350th-all-blacks-test/ England was AB Test # 648 so he's called over half of all AB Tests ever played. Remarkable career.

Furlong out due to a hamstring strain, replaced by Finlay Bealham with Tom O'Toole coming onto the bench.

Risky* Ricitelli has reportedly signed with Montpellier after his NZR/ Blues contract ends in 2025. Raises the question did he sign after missing out on AB & ABXV selection or was he not selected for AB & ABXV because they knew he was on his way out the door? *Edit: damn you autocorrect!

All Blacks: Will Jordan, Mark Tele’a, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Damian McKenzie, Cortez Ratima, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Wallace Sititi, Tupou Vaa’i, Scott Barrett (capt), Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua, Tamaiti Williams. Reserves: George Bell, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Pasilio Tosi, Patrick...

He's now officially retired. https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/532727/rugby-england-prop-joe-marler-retires-from-internationals-again

Plummer & McAlister added to AB replacing Beaugan & CodieT. https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/11/04/all-blacks-summon-replacements-after-barrett-taylor-head-knocks/

Playing numbers up across the board but moreso among women & girls than men: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/community-rugby-sees-increase-in-diversity-with-record-number-of-female-players/DB64KTXWBJHE7ECQOO7WAWMENA/ I'm particularly encouraged by the increase in teen boys given the inroads...

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360473131/argument-barretts-being-best-sporting-family-world-right-now Discuss.

MUNSTER: 15. Mike Haley; 14. Shay McCarthy, 13. Tom Farrell, 12. Rory Scannell, 11. Diarmuid Kilgallen; 10, Billy Burns, 9. Ethan Coughlan; 1. John Ryan, 2. Diarmuid Barron (capt), 3. Stephen Archer, 4. Fineen Wycherley, 5. Tom Ahern, 6. Peter O’Mahony, 7. John Hodnett, 8. Gavin Coombes. Reps...

^ crash ball off set-piece & maybe second phase then fling/ kick-pass it wide to the lethal back-three?

You're better that @Dctarget.

AB: 1. Tamaiti Williams (15), 2. Codie Taylor (93), 3. Tyrel Lomax (40), 4. Scott Barrett (76) (captain), 5. Tupou Vaa’i (34), 6. Wallace Sititi (6), 7. Sam Cane (101), 8. Ardie Savea (90) (Vice-Captain), 9. Cortez Ratima (8), 10. Beauden Barrett (131), 11. Caleb Clarke (25), 12. Jordie Barrett...

^ to be fair they also rejected five non-NZ bids & the people behind Kea, which include David Moffet, have said they'll re-work & re-submit their bid. But that won't happen in the upcoming tv-rights cycle which seems to be geared towards having an 18-20 team comp to take into the following...

Tyrone Thompson has finally confirmed his switch to NRL where he'll be playing with his twin brother. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360471351/chiefs-and-former-all-blacks-xv-star-tyrone-thompson-joins-nrl-club Wonder how long before they're also in the same Kiwis lineup?

Not any time soon: the South Island Kea bid, which was reportedly the best of the three put up by NZ consortia, has been deemed inadequate & won't be part of the next phase in choosing the expansion team(s).

Ruben Love has been released from AB squad so will probably play for XV v Munster Sunday morning NZT.