I hope so. If he gets comfortable at international level, he'll make his team mates better.
Search found 22015 matches
- Sat Jul 12, 2025 12:44 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
- Replies: 542
- Views: 7588
- Sat Jul 12, 2025 12:23 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: AUNZ XV v Lions
- Replies: 517
- Views: 5921
Re: AUNZ XV v Lions
AUNZ are looking like a team who've just met each other for the first time. Sort of like the Lions a few weeks ago. The Lions have looked much sharper for me which suggests the training is starting to stick. Test series could be something else. It's would be interesting to know which Lions players ...
- Sat Jul 12, 2025 11:51 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: AUNZ XV v Lions
- Replies: 517
- Views: 5921
Re: AUNZ XV v Lions
AUNZ are looking like a team who've just met each other for the first time. Sort of like the Lions a few weeks ago.
- Sat Jul 12, 2025 10:55 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
- Replies: 542
- Views: 7588
Re: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
Big Patrick had a good game. Holland also very good. Ardie played very well, as did Va'ai. The pack will be very good when Williams and Lomax come back. Williams, Lomax and Sititi are arguably three starters in the ABs pack, who have yet to make an appearance this season. This AB pack has the poten...
- Sat Jul 12, 2025 10:38 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks 2025
- Replies: 8164
- Views: 480678
- Sat Jul 12, 2025 10:34 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
- Replies: 542
- Views: 7588
Re: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
How a commentator can confuse Ardie Savea with Timoci Tavatavanawai is baffling.
- Sat Jul 12, 2025 10:31 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
- Replies: 542
- Views: 7588
Re: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
Tupou Vaa'i is fast becoming a player the ABs can't afford to play without.Sprig wrote: ↑Sat Jul 12, 2025 9:55 amDay and Night difference between Vaa'i and Finau.Monkey Magic wrote: ↑Sat Jul 12, 2025 9:53 am Think the biggest issue was the best chief went off. Vaa'i is quickly making himself one of the most important players we have on the field.
- Sat Jul 12, 2025 10:29 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
- Replies: 542
- Views: 7588
- Sat Jul 12, 2025 6:01 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
- Replies: 542
- Views: 7588
Re: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
4:49pm (local time, kick off at 7:05pm)

- Sat Jul 12, 2025 2:38 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
- Replies: 542
- Views: 7588
Re: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
Thorne was the very definition of what was wrong with the late 90s/early 2000s NZ selection policy. I wonder what Captain Invisible is up to these days anyway? Baggage handler at AKL? I forget the joke now... I know it involved a suitcase... https://media1.tenor.com/m/gD6r5OYtOlkAAAAd/billy-t-james...
- Sat Jul 12, 2025 2:33 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: NZ Politics Thread
- Replies: 59420
- Views: 4359986
Re: NZ Politics Thread
I don't even follow local politics or like Tory Whanau, but this Chung fellow sounds like a real piece of sh!t.
- Fri Jul 11, 2025 11:31 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks 2025
- Replies: 8164
- Views: 480678
Re: All Blacks 2025
Dave Loveridge. He must have gone beyond levels of performance to have a test match named after him, let alone a test match against the Lions.
- Fri Jul 11, 2025 10:47 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
- Replies: 542
- Views: 7588
Re: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
I'm looking forward to the test match. I missed the game last week, and have not been able to watch a replay. The weather here in the Wellington region has been awful the last 24 hours, with rain galore.
- Fri Jul 11, 2025 10:45 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks 2025
- Replies: 8164
- Views: 480678
Re: All Blacks 2025
He was certainly the danger man targeted by the Wallabies in 2003 - and taken out by George Smith . That team had played some of the best running rugby earlier in the season ever by the AB’s, it’s hard to do that with a half-back with a lousy pass . He became slow at the ruck to decide well after t...
- Fri Jul 11, 2025 10:42 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
- Replies: 542
- Views: 7588
Re: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
Waa hoping he would let the Chiefs start this week but Tupaea missing and the rest on the bench....again. Correction. Narawa making a surprise appearance Hopefully Tupaea next week. I don't want to see Jacobson though.. ever. He's the modern Reuben Thorne. Bit harsh. I'm no fan of his but I have to...
- Fri Jul 11, 2025 10:35 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks 2025
- Replies: 8164
- Views: 480678
Re: All Blacks 2025
Marshall slow looping passes were his biggest flaw. Killed a lot of momentum generated by fast ball. Stifled a lot of backline play, but got away with it with the likes of Mehrts and Carlos to speed things up. I'm not even a Cantab, but you don't become the All Black halfback in any era, if you pas...
- Fri Jul 11, 2025 10:33 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks 2025
- Replies: 8164
- Views: 480678
Re: All Blacks 2025
Who do AB fans consider the better SH, Smith or Marshall? And how big is the gap? Assuming it’s Smith Smith, for me. His strength was his pass, and pace is what the ABs' required to execute their game plan during his time as an AB (and still do today). Marshall might have been the ABs' most physica...
- Fri Jul 11, 2025 10:28 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks 2025
- Replies: 8164
- Views: 480678
Re: All Blacks 2025
Who do AB fans consider the better SH, Smith or Marshall? And how big is the gap? Assuming it’s Smith Smith for sure. Very different styles. Marshall (and Kelleher) were really big guys for 9s at the time and could bust tackles and tackle like additional loose forwards but neither of them could pas...
- Fri Jul 11, 2025 6:46 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
- Replies: 542
- Views: 7588
Re: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
Posting it in the French club owners bedrooms would be better.TheFrog wrote: ↑Fri Jul 11, 2025 2:39 am I hope Galthie has this one translated in French and posted in each of his players' rooms.
https://www.rugbypass.com/news/all-blac ... -saturday/
- Fri Jul 11, 2025 6:44 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
- Replies: 542
- Views: 7588
Re: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
Heaven forbid that professional athletes are not allowed to be competitive these days, and want to play and win.BlueThunder wrote: ↑Fri Jul 11, 2025 6:23 am Jason Ryan will be pissed being forced to watch Narawa’s poor body language all match.
- Fri Jul 11, 2025 6:43 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
- Replies: 542
- Views: 7588
Re: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
I like Narawa on the right wing. Better than Rieko there. Rieko is better on the left wing If they’re going to put him at wing. Not sure if anyone has qualms about Narawa getting a go? I am glad he gets the opportunity. Hoping he has a blinder. Me too . It's official Clarke injured , Narawa 14 Riek...
- Thu Jul 10, 2025 8:39 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
- Replies: 542
- Views: 7588
Re: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
I like the team that's been named. With 3 of the AB's starting tight 5 sitting out with injuries, I suspect this will reap benefits in the long-run with regards to depth. On another subject, I still haven't seen the game from last week yet. So how did Butterfingers Ratima go at halfback when he came...
- Tue Jul 08, 2025 8:02 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
- Replies: 542
- Views: 7588
Re: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
Sounds about right. Who's on the bench for those positions though? Patrick T & Jacobson?mrbrownstone wrote: ↑Tue Jul 08, 2025 3:59 am My best guess now is:
4. Holland
5. Vai'i
6. Finau
7. Kirifi
8. Ardie (C)
They have said ideally everyone will get a game, and this is the logical opportunity for Finau.
- Mon Jul 07, 2025 11:18 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: Tupou Vaa'i to blindside flanker
- Replies: 154
- Views: 9096
Re: Tupou Vaa'i to blindside flanker
I forget how young some of the AB locks are:
- Fabian Holland (22)
- Tupou Vaa'i (25)
- Sam Darry (24)
- Josh Lord (22).
Their best days are ahead of them. As referenced elsewhere, I expect them to fill out a bit too.
- Fabian Holland (22)
- Tupou Vaa'i (25)
- Sam Darry (24)
- Josh Lord (22).
Their best days are ahead of them. As referenced elsewhere, I expect them to fill out a bit too.
- Mon Jul 07, 2025 10:52 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: Tupou Vaa'i to blindside flanker
- Replies: 154
- Views: 9096
Re: Tupou Vaa'i to blindside flanker
Despite all this cogitation over Vai'i at 6 , my personal view is that it will be short lived. SB has been injury 'prone' this year and his form scratchy at best for the past 2 seasons. Long term[ and that may start soon] Vai'i will be his replacement alongside Holland . As soon as he's fit again S...
- Mon Jul 07, 2025 5:27 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks V France B 2nd Test Match Thread.
- Replies: 542
- Views: 7588
- Mon Jul 07, 2025 12:14 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: IT'S TIME TO PICK ON Rieko AGAIN.
- Replies: 683
- Views: 55497
- Sun Jul 06, 2025 9:11 pm
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: Tupou Vaa'i to blindside flanker
- Replies: 154
- Views: 9096
Re: Tupou Vaa'i to blindside flanker
I still haven't seen the game yet, but let's give him (and some others) a few games in the position at this level before writing him off. He's looks a natural 6 in my view.
- Sat Jul 05, 2025 10:43 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
- Replies: 772
- Views: 11610
Re: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
I didn’t see the game due to a family commitment but I’m just glad the ABs won. Hopefully I’m able to catch a replay of the game to make my own assessment.
- Thu Jul 03, 2025 11:07 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: Liverpool's Diogo Jota dies in car crash
- Replies: 44
- Views: 1306
Re: Liverpool's Diogo Jota dies in car crash
What sad news.
- Thu Jul 03, 2025 5:25 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: IT'S TIME TO PICK ON Rieko AGAIN.
- Replies: 683
- Views: 55497
Re: IT'S TIME TO PICK ON Rieko AGAIN.
On the off chance that my boy Billy Proctor has a sh!t game this weekend, I may need to avoid this thread next week.
- Thu Jul 03, 2025 4:33 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
- Replies: 772
- Views: 11610
Re: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
Scott Robertson's post-selection press conference; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlkQcDjaKds Man is he excited or what !?! Love it . As someone who has rediscovered health and fitness in my 40's I also like that we have a head coach who models health, fitness and self-discipline to his players. I...
- Thu Jul 03, 2025 2:50 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
- Replies: 772
- Views: 11610
Re: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
The selection that interests me most is Holland. Good to see Razor giving him his debut in his home ground where he’s most comfortable. He’s got a bright future ahead of him, but he’s going to need the experienced players around him to lift their performance.
- Thu Jul 03, 2025 2:47 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
- Replies: 772
- Views: 11610
- Thu Jul 03, 2025 1:35 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
- Replies: 772
- Views: 11610
Re: ALL BLACKS V France C 1st Test. Match Thread.. Theo will be in attendance
I love the selections. Particularly at 5, 6, 7, 13 & 14 (Reiko).
- Wed Jul 02, 2025 8:36 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks 2025
- Replies: 8164
- Views: 480678
Re: All Blacks 2025
Just catching up on the Williams out news after being out of action (sick) the past few days. That is a real shame. Bower is a solid replacement and won't let anyone down, but he's nowhere near Williams level of impact around the field. Yeah Williams is a real weapon now and none of the other optio...
- Wed Jul 02, 2025 8:29 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks 2025
- Replies: 8164
- Views: 480678
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 ...
- Tue Jul 01, 2025 7:48 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: All Blacks 2025
- Replies: 8164
- Views: 480678
Re: All Blacks 2025
Razor has said Leroy Carter is the fastest player in NZ. So much for those saying he's too slow. Who said he was slow? He and Tangitau look to be pretty quick. When he was having a purple patch during Super rugby and some mentioned him as a bolter there were a few that thought he was too slow. Tang...
- Tue Jul 01, 2025 7:45 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: Your 15 most favourite (important to you) bands
- Replies: 121
- Views: 2956
Re: Your 10 most favourite ( important ) bands
The Beatles would be in my Top 10 too. I have family members from Liverpool who watched them play in the Cavern (pub) when they were only known to locals.
- Tue Jul 01, 2025 7:43 am
- Forum: Rugby Forum
- Topic: NZ Politics Thread
- Replies: 59420
- Views: 4359986
Re: NZ Politics Thread
Me too. I'd need to ask my brother-in-law. This video clip might be helpful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnbEUY8puuw&ab_channel=BrentColeman Thanks for this Tehui. All necessary knowledge… but am I allowed to say it bores the hell out of me? :lol: Fair enough. Investing for retirement is someth...