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Dalton 6, Cane 7, Ardie 8 Won't work I think. The first issue is size. Ardie carries well, but Cane and Papali'i don't, not at the highest level. Carrying is really important because the other forwards are all pretty shite at it. Moody, Taylor, Laulala, Retallick, Whitelock are all not great...

Going to be such a critical test for the ABs. The Irish were really good this year. They thumped England Scotland and Wales, and lost by 6 points to France; not one of the France's best games of late, but nonetheless France is probably the best team in the world right now. At the back-end of...

I am a Crusaders man so this is an unpopular opinion. This wasn't really a contest. Crusaders put 40 on, they looked at least 50-60 points superior today, and they didn't even play that well. Not really sure what to make of it, but Codie Taylor continues to be the antithesis of...

I am not a fan of Jordie Barrett. But the game is ridiculously easy for him at this level. Which I suspect is one of the reasons why he hasn't been able to really stamp his mark internationally - what works at super level so easily for him becomes natural, which is harder at test level. The...

I have a different opinion on Rakete-Stones yellow card. The rules have made it such that - as long as there is head contact, it's serious, hence a whole series of red and yellow cards. Also, everyone wants consistency - and the easiest consistency is - if there is head contact, you're carded...

Great game. Fantastic entertainment. Thanks for the effort boys. Even though the Crusaders lost, the last 25 mins was the Crusaders I love and remember - effort, desire, unrelenting commitment. The Blues have such a deep team, so many stars in so many different positions. Some folks enhanced...

Yes boy! Reece in. He's had a good game Reece. Finally, some urgency and some forward momentum. Let's go boys the Blues are rocking. Here's where leadership is imp for the Blues. Riccitelli and Choat should have been on much earlier. The coach didn't recognise a tiring team and subbed way too...

Ditto George Bridge. Some intensity and urgency compared to Ennor. For the blues, get your subs on FFS. Laulala, RTS (Roger Tuivasa-Sheck), Sullivan, get on.

Man the Crusaders needed Pablo Matera. Some intensity, please. I mean look at his attitude compared to Christie or Grace. Look fuck just give it to me. I'll fucking truck it up. GIVE IT TO ME. On the other hand, I hope Foster has the guts to drop Codie Taylor. Complete pushover.

Cullen Grace is definitely not having an AB year. There is no part of his game - carrying, rucks, defense, alignment, dropping back as 8 that is world class. He's pretty decent at line-out, but I don't see him close to Pita Gus, Hoskins, Ardie. I think even Dalton is a better 8. Beauden...

:D:D Hahah. Cmon Scott! if your brother can play 12 you can be half as good at 6! Don't let em horsemen get you down

1) Crusaders Hurricanes. It's pretty clear that Jordie Barrett is a cut above most players at this level. I enjoyed how physical he was - especially in that clearout of Ennor which might have been reviewed at Test level. The only issue is that it is that 12 is likely to be much harder at Test...

One consideration is are the 3 of them too similar? I do wonder if you want a scrumhalf that plays differently in your wider squad of 30-35, so there is a second game plan. Another thing about the Canes has to do with individual coaching. A lot of their players are pretty good but also have...

Good period for MP (Moana Pasifika). But good grief the Blues defense is lackadaisical. It's both lazy and half-hearted, almost always losing the battle of body height. Both the AB replacement props, Karl in particular, are guilty of just a lack of commitment, with Papali'i and Tucker the only 2 that really look...

Codie Taylor seems to have fallen off like Julian Savea did after RWC 2015. He's a completely different player - and I'm not sure is among the top 4 hookers in NZ right now (plus Dane Coles when he's back). Fakatava appears to have the best ceiling of any AB 9 at the moment. I cannot stress...

This will surely be an unpopular comment, but watching Super Rugby every week leaves me jittery over the ABs' prospects for RWC 2023. The quality in Top 14 or the Premiership has edged ahead. There are so many too-similar players in the NZ conference, in particular our forwards - dedicated to...

The pace and power of France and to some extent Ireland is frightening, and I am not sure the ABs or the Wallabies are really able to compete physically with the might of the North at the moment. The likes of Moody and Codie Taylor, and even increasingly Whitelock, Laulala, Cane, will simply not...

Doesn't seem to be a thread for it but Ireland vs England was quite some game. A game that leaves me really quite nervous about NZ rugby. We're an excellent team, but the pace and power of the North seem to be a level beyond us. Most of all, there is an intensity to the North and to SA - big...

Pretty amazing end to the game. can't believe the Hurricanes nicked it. Super Rugby oscillates between exceptional individual skill and then the most mind-blowing errors. one minute you are marvelling at the rugby, the next you are good grief I can't watch this shit.

Having spent a bit of time in Japan myself, it really is a lovely country. I can understand why so many people are drawn to it, and I've always wondered if I should retire in Japan. Here's a clip of Bernard Foley in collaboration with Kyushu's tourism board, filmed by a fairly popular YouTuber...