Planet Rugby Forum

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.

Murdoch

Calling for Tavatavanawai to be selected over ALB, our best defensive midfielder, who can cover both 12 and 13 equally well, is the epitome of only watching one side of the ball. ALB tackled at 93.3% in SR this year. He's our best defensive midfielder and organiser by a distance. His versatility is...

Murdoch

Yep I can see both sires of argument for picking other players, but at back of my mind I struggle as I keep thinking it's a test match, not a development team. Do you risk games, looking ahead, or do you win comps AND try and make sure you keep ranking high as for WC, as it makes difference which p...

Murdoch

Flockwitt wrote: ↑Thu Aug 14, 2025 8:22 pm I'd prefer Sam Cane over Kirifi against the Argies tbf.

I'd prefer finding out that Kirifi (or Lakai) is up to it now than at the World Cup where Cane will certainly not be available.

Murdoch

Picking both Christie and ALB on the bench is such an incredibly weak move. Safety blankets, much like picking Sam Cane the entire year last year up to and including Italy(!) was a move from someone just terrified of losing.

Murdoch

Stronger team than the one that beat the Lions IMO. I think JOC is better equipped to deal with top level test footy than Lynagh at this stage of their careers. And certainly more of a running threat. 6-2 bench is the right move against the Boks at altitude. Now let's see if Rassie was bluffing abou...

Murdoch

Wallace Sititi is ruled out of the 1st test with his Ankle recovery. So who to start at 8? Could be the right time to give Parker an opportunity. Would be a ballsy decision. Conservative selection would be Kirifi at 7. Lakai at 7 or 8 would be somewhere in the middle. He'd have to find form he hasn...

Murdoch

Can't say I'm really worried about Fainganuku's defense while acting as a mercenary in France. The standards at both the Crusaders and All Blacks are much more stringent and if he has deficiencies he'll either iron them out or not make the cut. And Robertson does look like he's building some good de...

Murdoch

Why would I be? If you mean Mounga should have been punished for breaching team protocol by not revealing his concussion and playing on you are right :thumbup: Both can be true. Is there good footage of it? The wide angle seems to indicate a pretty fair shot but I wouldn't be surprised if a close u...

Murdoch

Conrad Smith debuted in 2004 but didn't become a fixture as starting center until 2008. He did have injury and concussion issues but he wasn't banging the door down with his performances either.

I think Proctor will get there if given time.

Murdoch

Monkey Magic wrote: ↑Wed Aug 06, 2025 9:06 pm Trying to think of a fourth face to scare the kids to go with Meads, Johnson, Bakkies. Maybe Chabal

Scare the kids you say?
Frik du Preez, Willie John McBride, BBBR?

All have something in common but can't put my finger on it.

Murdoch

Aside from Lomu, who I’d expect everyone would pick… Which two wingers since 2000 would you put in an all time ABs team? I’m between Howlett, Rokocoko and Jordan… It's a close one but I think Ben Smith was the better player between him and Jordan. Although Jordan has plenty of time to prove me wron...

Murdoch

Akkerman wrote: ↑Fri Jul 25, 2025 10:31 am English media attacking Schmidt

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/d5fd8ee0a8273eae

former Ireland charges that Andrew Porter, now the Lions hooker

Imagine going on a junket to fly around the world to report on a sport you know nothing about.

fudge the Brits, up the wallabies.

Murdoch

Demilich wrote: ↑Thu Jul 17, 2025 5:21 am I do enjoy giving advice to young chicken-runner offspring over here: "You're far too nice to be South African - tell people you're from Zimbabwe, so there's a chance they might like you."

Uhhh, might be better off with Namibia

Murdoch

Dan54. wrote: ↑Thu Jul 17, 2025 8:57 pm Also noted that Lord has been named for the Naki in the shield game tomorrow, so maybe available going forward for RC?

Darry should be fit for Canterbury's warmup against Manawatu Saturday week.

Murdoch

Auckman wrote: ↑Thu Jul 17, 2025 2:09 pm Lions by 30

Oz need a miracle

You would think so. Schmidt is a canny bugger but it's hard to imagine his Caleb Ralph-style selection policy will pay off at all.

Murdoch

The leaked backline. Reece? I thought he was out for a while? Prefer to see another week of Narawa So would I... and both Reece and Jacobson should be given plenty of time to recover from concussions... ridiculous it's only a couple of weeks... Agreed. They need a break from all test football for t...

Murdoch

Eugenius wrote: ↑Sun Jul 13, 2025 12:45 pm He really isn’t .

Rikki Swannell is excellent IMO.

Murdoch

Narawa is simply a more incisive, more skillful winger with a much better nose for the tryline than Clarke so this is a good result, however unfortunate for Clarke.

Feels like injury might be the best selector under this coaching group just like it was under Foster.

Murdoch

kiwidutchie wrote: ↑Thu Jul 10, 2025 8:59 pm ARs: Nic Berry (Aus) & Takehito Namekawa (Jpn)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Aus)
FPRO: Damon Murphy (Aus).

Cronan TMO again.....

at least we will have a few toilet breaks for us older fellas......

Murphy was TMO last week.

Murdoch

Under Henry they named the team on a Tuesday generally. Tuesday 06/09/2011: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2011/sep/06/rugby-world-cup-2011-new-zealand1 It was under Hansen sometime afterwards where they changed it to a Thursday. He argued it gave them a competitive edge if the opposition didn't ...

Murdoch

Spoke to a friend of mine about this, he's a scout. He said him and all his scout mates missed Muntz because they were all too busy abducting pacific island school kids from their schools and neonatal hospitals and raising them in rugby factories on the island paradise of Tokoroa . :lol: Which high...

Murdoch

Schmidt and Ryan finally damned with faint praise... https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby-world-cup-2023/300996184/rugby-world-cup-how-joe-schmidt-has-added-polish-to-the-all-blacks--cup-dream I bet Mooar and Plumtree spat out their coffee at this bit: Foster has been the one forced to carry the bur...

Murdoch

farmerdave wrote: ↑Thu Oct 26, 2023 10:25 pm Long time ago but I'd swear Kronfield was the recipient of at least one try from Jonah in 95.

Yeah against Ireland. Good catch.

Edit: he only scored 7 in 95. That graphic must be referencing his 99 effort.

Murdoch

rugga. wrote: ↑Thu Oct 26, 2023 7:45 pm Forget the weather, it's supposed to rain in Paris from Thursday till Wednesday next week with Saturday looking the worst. Just forget it.

It's just a bit of drizzle.

0.2mm during the game it's saying (2100).

Murdoch

So Kiwi's - you're not scoring 3 tries in first 30 min, so how panicked will you lot be with let's say a three-point score difference at halftime with no Bok injuries? Like many Kiwis this is kind of bonus territory for us. So not terribly worried. I would say the Boks would be the slight favourite...

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