Planet Rugby Forum

merlin the happy pig

I wonder how long before there's talk of adding another Argie team. Too soon, probably. Argentina currently lacks the depth to have two competitive teams. The developement plan is there, aimed towards 2022/3. Right now, two teams would mean both of them to be spanking material, specially because of...

merlin the happy pig

Got to say Tew has done a great job since taking over and both the All Blacks and the rest of our rugby are much better off because of him. Not perfect but a lot better than all the crap that preceded him. All blacks are great but what about the tiers beneath? It’s a relevant point. How much of the...

merlin the happy pig

Heat and humidity won't be a factor for them this week. nor for the rebels, i wonder if heat and humidity was a factor for the chiefs? or it only affected the crusaders? Others already commented how it changed the shape of the game drastically. But also possible it affected the Crusaders more due t...

merlin the happy pig

Fun game. The Crusaders won't play like that again this season... Read played like an old man - hope that was a cobweb loosener Whitelock also looks a little lightweight right now. Had one storming game first game back, but looks like he's just cruising until the ABs games. Hard to read too much in...

merlin the happy pig

Can't see a match thread for this? Anyway here's the teams. CHIEFS (15-1): Solomon Alaimalo, Shaun Stevenson, Tumua Manu, Alex Nankivell, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Marty McKenzie, Brad Weber, Pita Gus Sowakula, Lachlan Boshier, Sam Cane (c), Tyler Ardron, Jesse Parete, Nepo Laulala, Nathan Harris, Atu Mo...

merlin the happy pig

Admirable for Farva to stick up for his line of work. Much like the Turnbull's supported Alex's renewables business. I find it very hard to believe that there is a place that has 100% sustainable renewables efficiency over tradition power sources to supply energy to their people. Moving to renewabl...

merlin the happy pig

Admirable for Farva to stick up for his line of work. Much like the Turnbull's supported Alex's renewables business. I find it very hard to believe that there is a place that has 100% sustainable renewables efficiency over tradition power sources to supply energy to their people. Moving to renewabl...

merlin the happy pig

Just checked the stats for the more recent structure of the comp: 2011 – 3,4, 8, 9 , 10 = ave 34/5 = 6.8 2012 – 2,4 8, 9, 12 = ave 35/5 = 7 2013 – 1,4, 10,11,14 = ave. 40/5 = 8 2014 – 1,5,6,7,10 = ave 29/5 = 5.8 2015 = 1,4,5,7,14 = 31/5 = 6.2 2016 = 1,5,6,7,11 = 30/5 = 6 2017 = 2,5,6,7,9 = 29/5 = 5...

merlin the happy pig

Just checked the stats for the more recent structure of the comp: 2011 – 3,4, 8, 9 , 10 = ave 34/5 = 6.8 2012 – 2,4 8, 9, 12 = ave 35/5 = 7 2013 – 1,4, 10,11,14 = ave. 40/5 = 8 2014 – 1,5,6,7,10 = ave 29/5 = 5.8 2015 = 1,4,5,7,14 = 31/5 = 6.2 2016 = 1,5,6,7,11 = 30/5 = 6 2017 = 2,5,6,7,9 = 29/5 = 5...

merlin the happy pig

Three cheers for the fvcking religion of peace.

I feel sorry for all people infested with the disease of religion, but most sorry for those infested with Islam.
Except of course these bastards, hope they choke in a pool of feces.

merlin the happy pig

Sounds crazy but they can't change it now - even though they probably should never have used it. I agree with this sentiment. Probably wasn't very well thought out back in the mid 1990's, but now that we've had it for so long I'd like the name to stay. If we were to change it, I'd want the team to ...

merlin the happy pig

I see Malcolm Marx is on his way home for his Bok rest Rookie hooker Jan-Henning Campher will join the Lions in Christchurch, which means Robbie Coetzee will start Seems a bit strange to take Marx all the way to NZ just to send him back to South Africa after one game. Moreover, wouldn't he have bee...

merlin the happy pig

A hard statistical moneyball type analysis of rugby players would be very interesting for a massive nerd like myself, but I suspect it's not really there yet. As compared to stat heavy sports like baseball & basketball, far too much of rugby is intangible or subjective when it comes to analysis. Th...

merlin the happy pig

Any idea which group of ideology infested fvckstains is behind this attack?

merlin the happy pig

A hard statistical moneyball type analysis of rugby players would be very interesting for a massive nerd like myself, but I suspect it's not really there yet. As compared to stat heavy sports like baseball & basketball, far too much of rugby is intangible or subjective when it comes to analysis. Th...

merlin the happy pig

Wow, did not predict that not even close.

merlin the happy pig

Auckman wrote:
Waka Nathan wrote:Nock and Plummer...how you know when you're scraped the bottom of the barrel.
Nock only got a contract because of the school he came from.

The school of hard knocks? (or is that too obvious)

merlin the happy pig

3 tries, should be too much.
Keep the hammer down highlanders!

merlin the happy pig

kiwinoz wrote:Coltman is playing pretty well too. Don't let auto correct fool you.

Fvck autocorrect and the fvcking horse it rode in on

merlin the happy pig

Coleman having a blinders even the commentators noticed.

merlin the happy pig

Agree with OP completely.
Second stringers are so green they can photosynthesize.

merlin the happy pig

Big hint of an obstruction in Nonu's break.

merlin the happy pig

Serious lack of skill in the Chiefs second stringers.
Lack of patience too.

merlin the happy pig

What a difference a week (and a bunch of injuries) makes. Hard to think of anything the Chiefs did well in that half. The scrum, not much they can do except avoid it if they can. It's the things they CAN control though which is more annoying. Dropped ball, missed lineouts, missed tackles intercept p...

merlin the happy pig

Should I be concerned about the thoughts you guys all seem to have about sheep? Are you a sheep? If I say yes will I get daffodils? Ask jeff. You might even get a bottle of champagne and a box of chocolates I'd prefer a nice Glimlett Gravels Syrah. The juxtaposition of Nortland man and a fine bottl...

merlin the happy pig

To be honest, as terrible as this injury is for Damien McKenzie, we're relatively strong in the positions that he covered. McKenzie played 10 or 15, and we have good depth in both those positions. At first five we have Barrett and Mo'unga, and at fullback we have Ben Smith, Jordie Barrett, David Ha...

merlin the happy pig

Interesting article by Paul Cully this morning. He is suggesting that Damien McKenzie's injury will force a complete re-think of the dual playmaker attacking style that Steve Hansen wants to embed for the AB's. He also suggests that McKenzie would have started a fullback or wing. I'm not sure I agr...

merlin the happy pig

I'm surprised Will Jordan isn't mentioned much as a world cup bolter (save by a couple of you). This guy looks electric whenever he gets a chance... and without D-Mac, the All Blacks are missing that x-factor that can turn games in the last 10 mins... is it too late for him or can he do a Milner-Sk...

merlin the happy pig

As for Akira Ioane.. why does he have to be considered only as a starter? What about a bench player? Last 15 or 20 mins... isn't he the sort of impact forward that can turn games? Yes he would be a great impact player. That needs to be balanced against how many positions he can cover when there are...

merlin the happy pig

I don't think it impacts the 23, so much. It's more who will be the third first-five to be in the 31-man squad? Come on down Beaver! Yes, the 3rd first five in the squad is now wide open. Not that Damien McKenzie was much of a first five anyway, but Steve Hansen did waste 2 years of All Black selec...

merlin the happy pig

One of SBW, Nonu or Laumape will be in the match day 23 for the knock-out games. Most likely starting if the opposition plays a tight, low-mistake style of attack and has a good defense (i.e. the top NH sides, as opposed to Oz/SA). An injury-free SBW, with some semblance of form, provides the absol...

merlin the happy pig

A new Human species similar to Homo Floresiensis aka the Hobbit aka Ebu Gogo has been found. Most likely a case of parallel evolution yielding the same result. Both were contemporary to modern humans. https://www.livescience.com/65201-newfound-ancient-human-relative-homo-luzonensis.html My guesses:...

merlin the happy pig

One of SBW, Nonu or Laumape will be in the match day 23 for the knock-out games. Most likely starting if the opposition plays a tight, low-mistake style of attack and has a good defense (i.e. the top NH sides, as opposed to Oz/SA). An injury-free SBW, with some semblance of form, provides the absol...

merlin the happy pig

I actually feel that despite his weaknesses and obvious unsuitability to be a 10, he will be sorely missed at this world cup. When you are 10 points down with 10 to go, and the coach has to throw a hail Mary, he is the man to send on. There is no other player in NZ rugby anything like him, and I thi...

merlin the happy pig

Wilderbeast wrote:It’s not ludicrous if you saw the calls in the media for SBW to lead the haka post chch

It's not ludicrous for the media to call for it.
It's just the sort of pointless tokenism they know and love.

Luckily Hansen & co have a spine and an attached brain.

merlin the happy pig

It’s crazy that our halves aren’t considered light years beyond the rest but Smith and BB aren’t showing the form that made them famous. Our outside backs, however, continue to have no peer. Not sure if Smith can make it back to the top of the pile either. His pass is still fantastic which is a hug...

merlin the happy pig

To a certain extent I admire Izzy's honesty, if you are going to be a religious freak do it full on. These part time religious types just keeping the bits they like piss me off. Like 90% of Irish catholics who have no idea what it says in the bible I agree. If you are bright enough to notice that s...

merlin the happy pig

Selectors seem to have not ruled Nonu out https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12222099 good news :thumbup: And that was written BEFORE last night's game. I hope they mean it and they're not just paying lip service to Nonu. It worries me that Steve Hansons obsession wit...

merlin the happy pig

Sensational game of rugby. Just WOW.
Blues should not lose heart at all over that performance. Stuff just clicked for the Chiefs tonight.

merlin the happy pig

Jeez, Jordan is electric.
Hope he hangs around a few years.

What is his favourite position?

Search found 3206 matches