Planet Rugby Forum

mrbrownstone

Jtah wrote: ↑Sun Jul 13, 2025 4:20 am Not sure I understand the criticism of the the kicking game in the first half. The ABs generated three try’s off line out set piece. Generated by…….deliberate kicking tactics.

+1

mrbrownstone

It is. But Scott Barrett will need to lift his performance when he returns, otherwise this narrative will only get stronger with time. I mean he had a great SR season for the Crusaders. Are North Island posters now demanding our most experienced lock be dropped based on the 1st test against France,...

mrbrownstone

Fair to say Bryn Evans’ appointment as lineout coach is looking astute after some of the moves and trick plays we’ve pulled so far?

mrbrownstone

Why is the 4th-best Lock Captain of the All Blacks? This is a ridiculous comment. It is the sort of comment that exposes the commenter as knowing zero about the finer details and nuances of tight forward play. Presumably, the root cause of these comments is that it’s been a while since Barrett made...

mrbrownstone

Really sad news breaking that Ioane Moananu is off to the Waratahs. He played a big part in our campaign when injuries happened. Played bloody well too. Guess you’ve gotta chase starting spots though. Tahs got a good one there. Bugger. A loss not only for us, but more pertinently, for NZ rugby. He'...

mrbrownstone

I don't want to annoy everyone, so I won't keep flogging this after this post, but some of you might know I've started writing over on Substack. I started writing about cricket, and am now expanding into rugby too under the monicker The Third Five Eighth. I have just put out my first rugby-related ...

mrbrownstone

I don't want to annoy everyone, so I won't keep flogging this after this post, but some of you might know I've started writing over on Substack. I started writing about cricket, and am now expanding into rugby too under the monicker The Third Five Eighth. I have just put out my first rugby-related ...

mrbrownstone

I don't want to annoy everyone, so I won't keep flogging this after this post, but some of you might know I've started writing over on Substack. I started writing about cricket, and am now expanding into rugby too under the monicker The Third Five Eighth. I have just put out my first rugby-related p...

mrbrownstone

JPNZ wrote: ↑Fri Jul 11, 2025 1:13 am Really sad news breaking that Ioane Moananu is off to the Waratahs. He played a big part in our campaign when injuries happened. Played bloody well too.

Guess you’ve gotta chase starting spots though. Tahs got a good one there.

Bugger. A loss not only for us, but more pertinently, for NZ rugby.

mrbrownstone

I don't want to annoy everyone, so I won't keep flogging this after this post, but some of you might know I've started writing over on Substack. I started writing about cricket, and am now expanding into rugby too under the monicker The Third Five Eighth. I have just put out my first rugby-related p...

mrbrownstone

DragsterDriver wrote: ↑Fri Jul 11, 2025 7:38 am
mrbrownstone wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 10:59 am
DragsterDriver wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 9:57 am

this brownstone fella is thicker than a submarine door.
Yes, I’m definitely the one being thick here, astute as ever
Glad we're in agreement.

Honestly, that did make me chuckle.

mrbrownstone

Don't see the issue at all, it's just consulting. Anything to help teams understand the pictures the refs want to see and have less penalties in a game. Hardly gonna be something to cause bias when reffing another team, more than already being from that country I mean. Is it though? The announcemen...

mrbrownstone

Don't get it. We do it with Williams and Ben O'Keefe. What's the difference? Only that we should get Doleman in too? They occasionally come in in advisory roles. They are not on the full-time All Blacks payroll. That is the difference. They don't get paid? If not , why do they do it? Are they a dir...

mrbrownstone

Don't see the issue at all, it's just consulting. Anything to help teams understand the pictures the refs want to see and have less penalties in a game. Hardly gonna be something to cause bias when reffing another team, more than already being from that country I mean. Is it though? The announcemen...

mrbrownstone

BlueThunder wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 10:53 am Can we make this a regular thing so the Blues can play some international rugby.

They’ll go well with Havili to keep them in line.

mrbrownstone

DragsterDriver wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 9:57 am
MungoMan wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 1:13 am
mrbrownstone wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 12:44 am

Agreed.
I’d suggest someone from The Betoota Advocate.

this brownstone fella is thicker than a submarine door.

Yes, I’m definitely the one being thick here, astute as ever

mrbrownstone

Paris-born referee Christophe Ridley will be in charge of this week's France vs New Zealand fixture. If that didn't already raise enough alarm bells, there is also this: The RFU have confirmed that referee Christophe Ridley will work with Steve Borthwick’s side in a “more formal role” to help aroun...

mrbrownstone

The All Blacks had Paul Williams in camp with them when England were in NZ last season... so not unusual... Yep. The kiwis do this all the time with SR teams; however they also ref games that involve the actual side they were embedded with, but there are never any problems………. This very much also d...

mrbrownstone

message #2527204 wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 8:38 am
mrbrownstone wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 2:18 am
Flankerdownunder wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 2:06 am Are there ANY international sides who don't have a ref come into camps to assist?
Are there any others who have hired a current referee in a "formal capacity"?
You're weird

Do you have an insult that a two year old couldn’t come up with?

mrbrownstone

Are there ANY international sides who don't have a ref come into camps to assist? Are there any others who have hired a current referee in a "formal capacity"? Every single SR rugby team. I also think that probably deserves more transparency. I’m not saying they’re all bent, but surely it’s not a h...

mrbrownstone

It’s not as important as you all think if we are targeting the next rwc. Far more important to get the current gen’s comfortable in whatever new system Robertson is introducing. Yes, Razor has made a point of emphasising several times in interviews how keen he has been to get Love running at 10 in ...

mrbrownstone

Would have been happy to have Love there, or at 10 or on the bench. Any of the players in the squad should be backed to beat any French combination of this French squad at home. I mean, I agree with that, but isn't the bigger picture trying to bed in some new combinations now (i.e. the loosies and ...

mrbrownstone

Have skipped over a couple pages so apologies if covered. Pretty happy with that team, the only thing I'd prefer os that Love gets some meaningful gametime, maybe thats the third test. I like that they seem to have set their stall out on Jordan being the starting 15 and the rest if the back 3 needs...

mrbrownstone

I will say that a back three of: 15. Love 14. Jordan 11. Reiko Would have ticked three boxes: develop Love, Reiko on the correct wing, and a better overall balance. Maybe we'll see that next Test. Would have been happy to have Love there, or at 10 or on the bench. Any of the players in the squad sh...

mrbrownstone

If they are place holders then why not give Love a try against France B? How do you know that Mo'unga will even come back? Jonny Sexton was 36 in 2023, how did it work out for Ireland in the last RWC? Are NZ coaches really so afraid that we have to stick with a decrepit BB at the 2027 RWC? ON the o...

mrbrownstone

Considering the forced changes, that's a disappointing selection in its conservativism. Yeah yeah, secure the series, blah blah blah. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. When are we going to understand that going into our shells is not the answer. SA are now unequivocally the innovators of rugby, wit...

mrbrownstone

I will say that a back three of:

15. Love
14. Jordan
11. Reiko

Would have ticked three boxes: develop Love, Reiko on the correct wing, and a better overall balance. Maybe we'll see that next Test.

mrbrownstone

If our biggest concerns are that our 10s are a bit old (while still having two guys 90% of international teams would bite your hand off for) and about our bench halfback and loosies, we're in very healthy shape.

mrbrownstone

Christophe Ridley to referee this fixture... He's French! At least he can communicate with both sides! He's a good ref when I have seen him. I'm more curious how him working with England while also being an international referee isn't a blatant conflict of interest? The RFU have confirmed that refe...

mrbrownstone

I'm not a fan of the rearranging the team for substitutions. It causes disruption and cohesion issues. Outside of injury players should be replaced directly. Having Kirifi on the bench as a substitute for Lio-Willie doesn't make sense. So just to clarify, your gripe of the day is that Robertson is ...

mrbrownstone

Flankerdownunder wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 2:06 am Are there ANY international sides who don't have a ref come into camps to assist?

Are there any others who have hired a current referee in a "formal capacity"?

mrbrownstone

Agreed. I’ve heard there’s an outstanding new up-and-coming rugby commentator over on Substack. He could blow this whole thing wide open. Outstanding? I heard he was a blithering idiot and a wit kant to boot. :nod: :lol: I'd have it no other way. Know that I'm going to be trying to work backwards t...

mrbrownstone

If he's getting paid that's extremely dodgy. Rugby journos should dig a bit into this, could be a juicy story. Agreed. I’ve heard there’s an outstanding new up-and-coming rugby commentator over on Substack. He could blow this whole thing wide open. That Beyond Cow Corner account? I've also heard go...

mrbrownstone

Well, it got a bite from Eug. But, it wasn't intended to get a bite, it's true, if Mo was from the Blues you lot wouldn't even mention him. If Richie Mo'unga had led the Blues to seven consecutive Super Rugby titles, I'd probably have made a Mo'unga voodoo doll after the second title and mention hi...

mrbrownstone

Nothing to do with age, he's just not as good as you're making out, he's a Super Rugby superstar and no better a test player than BB or DMac, and certainly not worthy of overhauling our eligibility laws like you and your fellow Cantabs want. Come on mate, you'll need to do better than that to get a...

mrbrownstone

Don't get it. We do it with Williams and Ben O'Keefe. What's the difference? Only that we should get Doleman in too? They occasionally come in in advisory roles. They are not on the full-time All Blacks payroll. That is the difference. Yes they are....who else pays them? NZR? Not the All Blacks dir...

mrbrownstone

We all know that Barrett and McKenzie are placeholders at this point. Let's be real. You will inevitably try to rebut that Mo'una will be 33, which simply isn't that old for an international 10: Dan Carter and Johnny Sexton say hi. If they are place holders then why not give Love a try against Fran...

mrbrownstone

Do you honestly think this selection as it is has the foundations of a RWC win? This is France B. Barrett will be 36 and Mckenzie will be 33 at the next RWC. They should be at the least giving Love some game time off the bench. Ratima has had a number of average games for the AB's especially with h...

mrbrownstone

Grandpa wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 12:50 am Don't get it. We do it with Williams and Ben O'Keefe. What's the difference?

Only that we should get Doleman in too?

They occasionally come in in advisory roles.

They are not on the full-time All Blacks payroll.

That is the difference.

mrbrownstone

Some how I don't think suggestions on this forum aren't filtering up to Razor and co. Dumb post. You constantly suggest selections on this forum. We all do. Put up or shut up, what would your match day 23 be? You can't just complain and troll, actually offer some solutions. Do you honestly think th...

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