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by BlueThunder
Mon Jul 07, 2025 5:43 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
Replies: 17
Views: 289

Re: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.

Our A team is rapidly becoming a B team.

Excuse in early.
by BlueThunder
Mon Jul 07, 2025 12:01 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
Replies: 747
Views: 10098

Re: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance

I just watched the whole match again... it was better than I thought... Lio-Willie played quite well and had a number of carries over the advantage line (PP your stats are wrong). Not my stats. RugbyPass. Something about zero carries and no defenders beaten or something? (I know not your stats, but...
by BlueThunder
Sat Jul 05, 2025 10:26 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: IT'S TIME TO PICK ON Rieko AGAIN.
Replies: 677
Views: 53957

Re: IT'S TIME TO PICK ON Rieko AGAIN.

There is a clear pattern now whenever Rieko doesn’t start at centre our backline defence gets carved to pieces (this match, Japan and Argentina last year). Goes to show how hard it is to defend and organise at centre at test level and why coaches have been so faithful to him. Hopefully Proctor (or s...
by BlueThunder
Sat Jul 05, 2025 12:32 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
Replies: 747
Views: 10098

Re: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance

Typically untidy first test of the year. If we’re that bad again next week I’ll worry, but no stress for now. We did well to adjust our game in the last 15 and hold on, a Fozzie team loses this one by playing the same way all test and turning down that three. The big positive is Holland. A revelati...
by BlueThunder
Sat Jul 05, 2025 11:26 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
Replies: 747
Views: 10098

Re: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance

Typically untidy first test of the year. If we’re that bad again next week I’ll worry, but no stress for now. We did well to adjust our game in the last 15 and hold on, a Fozzie team loses this one by playing the same way all test and turning down that three. The big positive is Holland. A revelati...
by BlueThunder
Sat Jul 05, 2025 11:24 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
Replies: 747
Views: 10098

Re: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance

Typically untidy first test of the year. If we’re that bad again next week I’ll worry, but no stress for now. We did well to adjust our game in the last 15 and hold on, a Fozzie team loses this one by playing the same way all test and turning down that three. The big positive is Holland. A revelati...
by BlueThunder
Sat Jul 05, 2025 11:14 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: IT'S TIME TO PICK ON Rieko AGAIN.
Replies: 677
Views: 53957

Re: IT'S TIME TO PICK ON Rieko AGAIN.

Absolute shit house from the Proctologist just saying. :thumbdown: Apart from the two errors, in what way? Still had deft hands, post contact metres, a hand in two tries, almost scored himself all with Mckenzie stinking up the middle. Still better than Reiko whose best postion is clearly left right...
by BlueThunder
Sat Jul 05, 2025 10:17 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Should France be sanctioned by World Rugby and sued by NZ Rugby?
Replies: 197
Views: 11217

Re: Should France be sanctioned by World Rugby and sued by NZ Rugby?

Completely forgot about the match but a quick perusal of the match thread suggests this thread may have been premature? Yes, we’ll sort of. The match showed the ABs as completely vulnerable, a golden opportunity to beat them in NZ and continue their streak, given up in favour of club rugby. Add a f...
by BlueThunder
Sat Jul 05, 2025 10:13 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Tupou Vaa'i to blindside flanker
Replies: 135
Views: 7460

Re: Tupou Vaa'i to blindside flanker

Enzedder wrote: Sat Jul 05, 2025 10:10 am I thought he did bloody well tonight. Certainly worth persevering with
Yeah and opening up that other lock position is worthwhile, when Darry gets back we have more than a good set of locks at the moment.
by BlueThunder
Sat Jul 05, 2025 10:12 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
Replies: 747
Views: 10098

Re: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance

ROLDY wrote: Sat Jul 05, 2025 10:10 am I was assured the all blacks would towel up the French E team by 50. What happened
Knock on black.
by BlueThunder
Sat Jul 05, 2025 10:09 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: IT'S TIME TO PICK ON Rieko AGAIN.
Replies: 677
Views: 53957

Re: IT'S TIME TO PICK ON Rieko AGAIN.

Absolute shit house from the Proctologist just saying. :thumbdown:
by BlueThunder
Sat Jul 05, 2025 10:07 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
Replies: 747
Views: 10098

Re: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance

TranceNRG wrote: Sat Jul 05, 2025 10:03 am Well it's official. France is a better rugby nation than NZ.
And they could have proven it with an absolute bollocking by their firsts but chose not to.
by BlueThunder
Sat Jul 05, 2025 10:05 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
Replies: 747
Views: 10098

Re: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance

Sprig wrote: Sat Jul 05, 2025 10:01 am Need some wingers that can take the ball in the air...
Yes, very weird game plan in that regard.

Reiko on the wing is pointless.
by BlueThunder
Fri Jul 04, 2025 10:37 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: China to Save Pacific Rugby from NRL
Replies: 40
Views: 1332

Re: China to Save Pacific Rugby from NRL

When you order a Lock on Temu and a Halfback turns up.
by BlueThunder
Fri Jul 04, 2025 10:47 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: IT'S TIME TO PICK ON Rieko AGAIN.
Replies: 677
Views: 53957

Re: IT'S TIME TO PICK ON Rieko AGAIN.

Eugenius wrote: Fri Jul 04, 2025 10:26 am And no wonder .

When their centre is a blinkered moron .
Projection at its finest.

He’s a good team man who plays how he’s told. Why Razor (and every other coach) kept going back to him again and again. :thumbup:
by BlueThunder
Fri Jul 04, 2025 9:19 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: IT'S TIME TO PICK ON Rieko AGAIN.
Replies: 677
Views: 53957

Re: IT'S TIME TO PICK ON Rieko AGAIN.

This of course ignores the fact he's a dreadful centre given his instincts are the opposite of what is required in the position. Some of those on this thread seem to be completely missing your point. The guy was a sensational disaster as a 13. FFS, any man that can hold down the position for that l...
by BlueThunder
Fri Jul 04, 2025 5:29 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: IT'S TIME TO PICK ON Rieko AGAIN.
Replies: 677
Views: 53957

Re: IT'S TIME TO PICK ON Rieko AGAIN.

No chance. Reiko Ioane was given 5 years to improve & he actually somehow managed to go backwards. There is no chance Razor will back down from this selection. Billy will be there for all 3 Tests (unless injured). He will be given every opportunity to get comfortable with Jordie & quite frankly he ...
by BlueThunder
Fri Jul 04, 2025 12:52 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Should this law be removed?
Replies: 38
Views: 988

Re: Should this law be removed?

This is another which clearly needs some looking at. As its written it applies to both teams, yet it is never applied that way. b. Intentionally collapse a ruck or jump on top of it. Sanction: Penalty. What I have noticed in Super rugby lately is if you make a dominant tackle the defensive team can...
by BlueThunder
Thu Jul 03, 2025 11:52 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
Replies: 747
Views: 10098

Re: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance

A very disrespectful All Blacks side.

Ioane and Vaa’i completely out of position.

No first choice wingers from last year; Clarke, Telea.

2 Debutants starting.

Old men at Hooker and First Five.

Unproven Centre.

Super rugby champions rested ahead of the Rugby Championship: Blackadder and Havili
by BlueThunder
Thu Jul 03, 2025 8:35 pm
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Should this law be removed?
Replies: 38
Views: 988

Re: Should this law be removed?

The weird one for me was in the last Lions game where the scrumhalf was permitted to pick up the ball in the ruck and reposition at a more favourable spot at the back of the ruck. Yes I saw that, thought I imagined it, itwas so odd. It's definitely ball out, and returning the ball into the ruck, bu...
by BlueThunder
Thu Jul 03, 2025 6:20 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: All Blacks 2025
Replies: 8108
Views: 476718

Re: All Blacks 2025

jdogscoop wrote: Thu Jul 03, 2025 5:57 am If anyone thinks the Blues were a better side than the Chiefs this year, they are dreaming.
1.Crusaders
2.Chiefs
3.Blues
4.Brumbies
by BlueThunder
Thu Jul 03, 2025 4:33 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Should this law be removed?
Replies: 38
Views: 988

Re: Should this law be removed?

E. And G. are also rarely penalised. You see the odd fake pass or run out of a ruck.
by BlueThunder
Thu Jul 03, 2025 3:56 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: IT'S TIME TO PICK ON Rieko AGAIN.
Replies: 677
Views: 53957

Re: IT'S TIME TO PICK ON Rieko AGAIN.

He better get some bloody clean, quick ball in space! :lol:
by BlueThunder
Thu Jul 03, 2025 3:26 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Should this law be removed?
Replies: 38
Views: 988

Should this law be removed?

15.16 Players must not: a. Pick the ball up with their legs. Sanction: Penalty. b. Intentionally collapse a ruck or jump on top of it. Sanction: Penalty. c. Intentionally step on another player. Sanction: Penalty. d. Fall onto, or over, the emerging ball while it is on the ground near to the ruck. ...
by BlueThunder
Thu Jul 03, 2025 3:20 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Tupou Vaa'i to blindside flanker
Replies: 135
Views: 7460

Re: Tupou Vaa'i to blindside flanker

I like it, seems the team is picked with a real focus on securing our ball and keeping it. Nice.
by BlueThunder
Thu Jul 03, 2025 2:59 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
Replies: 747
Views: 10098

Re: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance

Our Number 8s are Willie Wallace.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.
by BlueThunder
Thu Jul 03, 2025 2:42 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: All Blacks 2025
Replies: 8108
Views: 476718

Re: All Blacks 2025

Maybe Cotter should join the All Blacks staff when his contract is up next year? He is working miracles with these no hopers.
by BlueThunder
Thu Jul 03, 2025 2:23 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: All Blacks 2025
Replies: 8108
Views: 476718

Re: All Blacks 2025

How tragic the biggest population franchise can’t produce or retain any new All Blacks. People outside of Auckland hate Auckland. Get used to it. Like I said last year, Razor must really rate Cotter, managed a championship and semifinal with a talentless side. Got them playing above themselves.
by BlueThunder
Thu Jul 03, 2025 2:11 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: All Blacks 2025
Replies: 8108
Views: 476718

Re: All Blacks 2025

Ali's Choice wrote: Thu Jul 03, 2025 2:03 am
BlueThunder wrote: Thu Jul 03, 2025 1:56 am How tragic the biggest population franchise can’t produce or retain any new All Blacks.
Christian Lio-Willie is an Aucklander and he's a new All Black.
Quite right, and breakout player of the year last year also.

A small consolation being a net exporter of great talent.
by BlueThunder
Thu Jul 03, 2025 2:10 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: All Blacks 2025
Replies: 8108
Views: 476718

Re: All Blacks 2025

Considering the Blues were 2nd to last of the NZ teams with a 6 win and 8 loss season, its pretty fair representation. We made it into the semi's which we lost to a Jordan knock on try and won the title last year. We have 1 more player than the Highlanders who came dead last. Regardless, were still...
by BlueThunder
Thu Jul 03, 2025 1:56 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: All Blacks 2025
Replies: 8108
Views: 476718

Re: All Blacks 2025

How tragic the biggest population franchise can’t produce or retain any new All Blacks.
by BlueThunder
Thu Jul 03, 2025 1:21 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
Replies: 747
Views: 10098

Re: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance

A very nice team, pity no Tavatavanawai to bring the house down coming off the bench.

Hope Rieko’s been practicing under high balls recently.
by BlueThunder
Thu Jul 03, 2025 12:46 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: All Blacks 2025
Replies: 8108
Views: 476718

Re: All Blacks 2025

anyway.. when's the dam All Black team named? Robert van Royen@James - no live stream. The All Blacks will release the team via press release and on socials. There was meant to be a stream of Robertson's presser at 12.30, but they have scrapped it. Not sure why at this stage. 4 minutes ago Mounga’s...
by BlueThunder
Wed Jul 02, 2025 4:16 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: All Blacks 2025
Replies: 8108
Views: 476718

Re: All Blacks 2025

I listened to the Q&A with Razor, a few things are concerning for me: Whitebait theory: The idea that we should be four deep in every position, this could be to the detriment of developing cohesion and true world class combinations and players. Reminds me of Graham Henry trying to build two equal st...
by BlueThunder
Wed Jul 02, 2025 12:13 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
Replies: 747
Views: 10098

Re: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread..

Yeah really disappointing that France have once again sent an under-strength team. They have no idea that damage that this does to the game of Rugby. Once test Rugby is devalued in the minds of sports fans, you cannot put the genie back in the bottle. WR and NZR should never have allowed this to tr...
by BlueThunder
Wed Jul 02, 2025 12:08 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: All Blacks 2025
Replies: 8108
Views: 476718

Re: All Blacks 2025

AJ Lam is a wasted talent, he is the ideal test rugby player; big, fast, strong with a very low error rate and subtle kicking and distribution skills. Also versatile. Perhaps he left his move to the midfield too late, what a waste.
by BlueThunder
Wed Jul 02, 2025 12:02 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
Replies: 747
Views: 10098

Re: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread..

You forgot to call out Theo in the thread title.
by BlueThunder
Tue Jul 01, 2025 2:43 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: Were the Crusaders given the golden chalice from the start?
Replies: 17
Views: 499

Re: Were the Crusaders given the golden chalice from the start?

Back in the day, all other NZ super rugby franchises had to share franchises with other tier one NPC unions. The Blues had to share I believe three or maybe even four NPC unions. The Chiefs had two that come to mind The Hurricanes had I believe three. The Highlanders had two. The Crusaders at its f...
by BlueThunder
Tue Jul 01, 2025 2:11 am
Forum: Rugby Forum
Topic: IT'S TIME TO PICK ON Rieko AGAIN.
Replies: 677
Views: 53957

Re: IT'S TIME TO PICK ON Rieko AGAIN.

If he has 11 (or 14) on his back I suspect he will largely defend at centre still.

A bit of a pity that we likely end up with Reece as a starter again after he played his way out of the starting team last year.