Planet Rugby Forum

Murdoch

https://archive.ph/GElp8#selection-4361.0-4381.255 15. Will Jordan (New Zealand) A record of 44 tries in 52 Tests tells you everything you need to know about Jordan, a player who possesses predatory intuition, picking smart support lines and making them count with elegant acceleration. Freddie Stewa...

Murdoch

Grandpa wrote: ↑Fri Nov 14, 2025 1:51 pm Think they see Williams as a better finisher and Newell a better starter?

Close.

De Groot offers little off the bench. That's why he's starting and Williams is impact.

Murdoch

A lot of money going on England. They've gone from marginal under-dogs to marginal favourites in the last 24 hours... A lot of Kiwis placing insurance bets? Which market? If it's not the NZ TAB then, uh no, I don't think Kiwis are making any sort of impact whatsoever on a British or international m...

Murdoch

England 23: 15 Steward 14 Roebuck 13 Lawrence 12 Dingwall 11 Feyi-Waboso 10 Ford 9 Mitchell 1 Baxter 2 George 3 Heyes 4 Itoje 5 Coles 6 Pepper 7 Underhill 8 Earl Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Genge, Stuart, Cunningham-South, T Curry, Pollock, Spencer, M Smith Doesn't look like a team that is favourit...

Murdoch

Poor from Sititi to slap the ball down at such a crucial moment in the match. Back to the bench son.

Murdoch

France just don't know how to win, even against 14 men. Weak.

Maybe sending B teams on tour to get pumped 3 nil isn't actually good prep to winning critical test matches after all.

Murdoch

France just don't know how to win, even against 14 men. Mentally weak.

Maybe sending B teams on tour to get pumped 3 nil isn't actually good prep to winning critical test matches after all.

Murdoch

No Zander Fagerson so very inexperienced tightheads for Scotland. NZ should be looking to put pressure on the scrums for the whole 80 minutes.

Murdoch

Happy with that side. I think Lakai is the right choice, much more of a glue player than Sititi. Glad they stuck with Tupaea, it could have been easy to give Proctor a chance to win his position back but he's already been given plenty of opportunities so I think it's the right move to say he has now...

Murdoch

All Blacks team to face Ireland (caps in brackets) 1. Ethan de Groot (37) 2. Codie Taylor (103) 3. Fletcher Newell (31) 4. Scott Barrett (86) (Captain) 5. Fabian Holland (9) 6. Simon Parker (5) 7. Ardie Savea (103) (Vice-Captain) 8. Peter Lakai (5) 9. Cam Roigard (14) 10. Beauden Barrett (141) 11. ...

Murdoch

Ok never mind. BaaBaas don't look as strong as they could be. 1. Oli Kebble 2. Bongi Mbonambi 3. Asenathi Ntlabakanye 4. Ernest van Ryhn 5. Ruben van Heerden 6. Hanro Liebenberg (capt) 7. Fitz Harding 8. Evan Roos 9. Rhodri Williams 10. Rob du Preez 11. Leolin Zas 12. Benhard Janse van Rensburg 13. ...

Murdoch

How do we feel about the All Blacks XV this weekend? A long haul flight to the UK. Not exactly a super strong squad anyway. Meanwhile the best players from URC and the Prem who aren't playing test rugby are going to be picked up by the BaaBaas. Joseph might have to work a miracle to prevent a thumpi...

Murdoch

[ I wasn't taking it as an insult either way haha, genuinely curious where I fall per your worldview. I do disagree to be clear - dual-citizenship is very much a thing, and if being born somewhere doesn't make your from that place, I dunno what does - but to each their own, I won't lose sleep eithe...

Murdoch

jdogscoop wrote: ↑Thu Oct 23, 2025 3:36 am Sounds like it was his own call but whatever, I think a change is good news.

I highly doubt it.

He jumped before he got booted so it doesn't affect his market rate.

Murdoch

It's the mid week game between the first and second test I don't like... especially with having to travel to Cape Town for the 2nd test. Means they lose two days training before a crucial 2nd test... guaranteed they would normally travel to Cape Town on the Sunday rest day after the first test... n...

Murdoch

Because of the mid week games... less training time. Bit different to four tests a week apart this autumn.. SA don't have to play mid week as well.. There'll be a sufficient number of players to cover the midweek games. There's no restrictions on squad size (like there is at a World Cup). NZ manage...

Murdoch

8 games in 37 days. A game every 4.6 days with lots of travelling cris crossing the country, in and out of altitude. 4 tests in 4 weeks. Travel in between and a long haul flight to London between weeks 3 and 4. We have signed up to a brutal schedule. And are they expected to go on a EOYT 5 weeks af...

Murdoch

I guess it is going to be a very big touring oarty If it's around 53 then it may avoid the impact. Razor can stay in Joburg with 30 players while the 23 go to Cape Town with Holland. 8 games in 37 days. A game every 4.6 days with lots of travelling cris crossing the country, in and out of altitude....

Murdoch

I 'm pleasantly surprised by the team selection. Glad to see lakai starting instead of the under performing Sititi but it does weaken our lineout ,particularly in the absence of Vai'i. The Vaai led lineout that twice put up jumpers on their own 5m line and subsequently conceded two tries to lineout...

Murdoch

I 'm pleasantly surprised by the team selection. Glad to see lakai starting instead of the under performing Sititi but it does weaken our lineout ,particularly in the absence of Vai'i. The Vaai led lineout that twice put up jumpers on their own 5m line and subsequently conceded two tries to lineout...

Murdoch

Reflecting on the game, and the way we used Jordie Barrett in the backfield to strengthen our high kick reception, I'm wondering if this would be a backline worth experimenting with in Perth? 15. Jordie Barrett 14. Will Jordan 13. Billy Proctor 12. Quinn Tupaea 11. Caleb Clarke 10. Damien McKenzie ...

Murdoch

A three match test series with a tour is pretty awesome, not going to lie. I don't think it's a terrible idea to have the RC every second year and use the other year for full tours. Agreed completely. The RC being good this year doesn't guarantee it being good next year. In fact a variable schedule...

Murdoch

Am I right in thinking we want Argentina to win this one by a lot, but from loads of penalties 30-3. Ten penalties to 1 ??? Any Pumas win and any NZ win would secure the trophy for NZ. Of course a Pumas win looks pretty unlikely, especially having sold their home game to Twickenham. Genius move tha...

Murdoch

Am I right in thinking we want Argentina to win this one by a lot, but from loads of penalties 30-3. Ten penalties to 1 ??? Any Pumas win and any NZ win would secure the trophy for NZ. Of course a Pumas win looks pretty unlikely, especially having sold their home game to Twickenham. Genius move that.

Murdoch

What was the reason for the early test time? To piss off AFL fans? At least that's what I gayher from some of the earlier discussion on this thread. ;) It's a bizarre coincidence if unintended... but have they not even said anything about why it's an earlier time? First time it's been early in year...

Murdoch

I whacked a few quid on SA, and I am going to buy a very nice bottle of whisky with the winnings. Then, whenever this game is mentioned, I will think of the 15 year old Glenfarclas I bought, rather than the ABs taking it up the pipe. NZ will probably smack Australia at Eden Park. I would suggest ge...

Murdoch

Had Proctor executed the dummy it would have been an entirely different result. Great view on the camera angle. https://x.com/DummySwitchPod/status/1967497659914092747 Marx was lumbering across, doubtful he might have caught Proctor but even if he did there was still Parker and Carter outside to ge...

Murdoch

sorCrer wrote: ↑Mon Sep 15, 2025 8:51 am The similarities between Kolbe's intercept in 2018 and 2025 are uncanny:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOlByb8E ... E3Zg%3D%3D

It's great that ALB is in the squad to be able to mentor Proctor and impart his (extremely relevant) experience onto the next guy.

Murdoch

I'm glad that Hotham has replaced Preston, who to be fair to the guy was only a very temporary place holder. However, I would have kept Christie starting and bring on Hotham similar to the use of Preston last week. I'm not sure benching Christie, given his performance last week, is good man-managem...

Murdoch

Will certainly be interesting what happens with the back three. Looks like DMac and Jordan will start how they ended the last test, then possibly Clarke on the left. After watching the Auckland-Tasman game, Clarke wasn't shabby but you could easily make a case for the 3 other wingers in that game ov...

Murdoch

Can't believe there hasn't been an any sort of update on Roigard. What are these journalists paid for?

Clearly the most important and influential member of the NZ backline as it stands.

Murdoch

Rewatched the Vaai yellow card, an absolutely atrocious call. For all the Australian vitriol directed at Doleman, Berry is equally hopeless, possibly worse. What's your issue with it.. looks a deliberate knock on to me trying to intercept the pass? I'd recommend watching a replay. At no point did i...

Murdoch

Diuretics?

Maybe his mum gave it to him?

Murdoch

Rewatched the Vaai yellow card, an absolutely atrocious call. For all the Australian vitriol directed at Doleman, Berry is equally hopeless, possibly worse. Jason Holland needs to be fired, preferably out of a cannon. Back three alignment and high ball diffusal is inept. Ioane is lost most of the ti...

Murdoch

We seem to be happy to bring in new guys to the pack.. but very hesitant in the backs... and it's not as if the backline is a slick machine. Two old wingers who no longer have their youthful zip... both who will be near 30 at the next World Cup... I wonder why they aren't looking seriously at alter...

Murdoch

Excited to see what Parker has to offer. There's been a bit of hype about and he certainly looked the business for the Chiefs. While I've been impressed by the athleticism of Vaai at 6, the one thing he might lack is the sort of enforcer ability that someone like Kaino epitomised. What Parker might ...

Murdoch

Tough for them this year. Their depth will be absolutey tested to the limit with the Lions series, then the Boks and then the Argies.

Probably be the walking wounded by the time they get to Auckland. Hard to win under those circumstances at Eden Park.

Murdoch

PSDT is a big loss. Him and Eben are the heart of that pack. Rassie will probably replace Du Toit with Mostert and elevate Kwagga to start. Also I expect Bongi to start and Marx to add some oomph to the bomb squad. Don't think they lose a lot with Kwagga starting but they lose something from the ben...

Murdoch

Seems Slipper, Peitsch and Donaldson all heading home, Stewart, Daugunu and Van Nek called into the squad How about Wilson? Strange that one. He slowed down as he was going into. Don't know whether he slowed down because of the injury or he injured himself by slowing too quickly, iirc the in goal a...

Murdoch

Probably needs a rethink about the vaunted Bok depth.

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