Planet Rugby Forum

BlueThunder

Our A team is rapidly becoming a B team.

Excuse in early.

BlueThunder

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...

BlueThunder

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...

BlueThunder

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...

BlueThunder

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...

BlueThunder

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...

BlueThunder

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...

BlueThunder

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...

BlueThunder

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.

BlueThunder

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.

BlueThunder

Absolute shit house from the Proctologist just saying.

BlueThunder

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.

BlueThunder

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.

BlueThunder

I would prefer Clarke under those Roigard box kicks.

BlueThunder

When you order a Lock on Temu and a Halfback turns up.

BlueThunder

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.

BlueThunder

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...

BlueThunder

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 ...

BlueThunder

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...

BlueThunder

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

BlueThunder

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...

BlueThunder

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

BlueThunder

E. And G. are also rarely penalised. You see the odd fake pass or run out of a ruck.

BlueThunder

He better get some bloody clean, quick ball in space!

BlueThunder

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. ...

BlueThunder

I like it, seems the team is picked with a real focus on securing our ball and keeping it. Nice.

BlueThunder

Our Number 8s are Willie Wallace.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

BlueThunder

Maybe Cotter should join the All Blacks staff when his contract is up next year? He is working miracles with these no hopers.

BlueThunder

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.

BlueThunder

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.

BlueThunder

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...

BlueThunder

How tragic the biggest population franchise can’t produce or retain any new All Blacks.

BlueThunder

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.

BlueThunder

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...

BlueThunder

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...

BlueThunder

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...

BlueThunder

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.

BlueThunder

You forgot to call out Theo in the thread title.

BlueThunder

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...

BlueThunder

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.

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