Planet Rugby Forum

mrbrownstone

Has our depth at 10 ever been weaker? Damien McKenzie is our starting 10 by default, and then who? Beauden Barrett? I've been impressed with Brett Cameron this year, but he's hardly got a reputation or body of work that should fill us with confidence. No. And yet still fans will stick their heads i...

mrbrownstone

Yeah, you've had a horrible run. Not that I'm complaining on your behalf right now, because let's face it, a full strength Saders would have punished us for our profligacy in respect of our territorial and possession advantages. Instead, I am immensely happy, but not satisfied, that your shitty bad...

mrbrownstone

If you'd told me that we'd be leading in the 78th minute, I wouldn't have believed you. We're fielding a provincial standard team at the moment, and our results reflect this. The decrease in capability at 10 between this year and last year is arguably the biggest decrease in the history of Super Ru...

mrbrownstone

tubbyj wrote: ↑Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:22 am No way to get around that Bower is a bit shit and Newell not much better. Oli Jager and Tamaiti Williams have been big losses for the Crusaders.

I thought our scrum held up well considering. Not sure that's the issue. I was surprised Newell was subbed at halftime.

mrbrownstone

Would it make a difference if you were running a Drummond Havili axis? At 9/10? Somewhat, but not enough to really shift the needle. I'd probably mix it up and try this backline next week: 9. Drummond 10. Havili 11. Springer 12. McLeod 13. Crotty 14. Reece 15. Kemara Aumua has been disappointing. L...

mrbrownstone

Where's this heroic narrative coming from? We played atrociously. Our attack was utterly clueless.

The Canes were also a bit shit and probably should have won by 20. Still they secured a rare and deserved win in Christchurch which is a good outcome.

mrbrownstone

Provincial standard is a bit rough. Still had 6 or so internationals in the starting 15 with 4 more on the bench and a few more who've played for the NZ 15. Some super teams .....Highlanders.....cough.......dream about having such a stacked side. Bit different than you guys are used to for sure, bu...

mrbrownstone

Ted. wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 8:37 pm Will/has Franks' yellow be upgraded to red?

That wasn't just silly, he targeted a more or less immobile player with the obvious result of shoulder to the head.

One of the most brain-dead plays I've seen in a while. If it hasn't been yet, it's only a matter of time surely.

mrbrownstone

Just caught up on the game. We didn't deserve to win that in any way, shape or form, but I'll admit I still got my hopes up at the end. Bastards. Canes should have won that comfortably. Could have easily been 20-0 at HT and game over. Reece and Grace the only bright spots for us. We weren't going to...

mrbrownstone

H2H? 1. Numia vs Newell 2. Aumua vs Bell 3. Lomax vs Bower 4. Tucker vs Strange 5. Walker-Leawere vs Gallagher 6. Flanders vs Gardiner 7. Lakai vs Christie - Even 8. Iose vs Grace 9. Roigard vs Heinz 10. Cameron vs Hohepa 11. Naholo vs Springer - even 12. Higgins vs Havili 13. Proctor vs Aumua 14. ...

mrbrownstone

Chiefs losing to Lood de Jagers Wild Knights. You should get the Japanese clubs in Soup. That's where the most top Boks and All Blacks play. You must be absolutely desperate if you're trolling the results of meaningless pre-season friendlies now. Both teams played 13 man benches FFS, closer to a tr...

mrbrownstone

I'm taking it as a positive. A train wreck of a season only serves to enhance the legacies of Mo'unga, Robertson and Whitelock. From 7-peat to cellar dweller is quite the journey. It makes Razor in particular look like an absolute genius. I don't think we'd be 0-3 if he was still coach no matter th...

mrbrownstone

Reece and Moorby have both been in good form. Reece looked like pretty much our sole attacking threat the last two weeks. It reminded me a bit of the Nemani Nadolo era where for a couple of seasons our attack was basically just "give it to Nadolo and hope for the best". Agreed. The midfield has bee...

mrbrownstone

Players like to trash nice trophies at the best of times (see: the Ranfurly shield recently), what would they do with a wooden spoon...

mrbrownstone

Reece and Moorby have both been in good form. Reece looked like pretty much our sole attacking threat the last two weeks. It reminded me a bit of the Nemani Nadolo era where for a couple of seasons our attack was basically just "give it to Nadolo and hope for the best". What has impressed me so muc...

mrbrownstone

Pakia Pakia wrote: ↑Fri Mar 15, 2024 1:42 am Reece and Moorby have both been in good form.

Reece looked like pretty much our sole attacking threat the last two weeks. It reminded me a bit of the Nemani Nadolo era where for a couple of seasons our attack was basically just "give it to Nadolo and hope for the best".

mrbrownstone

H2H? 1. Numia vs Newell 2. Aumua vs Bell 3. Lomax vs Bower 4. Tucker vs Strange 5. Walker-Leawere vs Gallagher 6. Flanders vs Gardiner 7. Lakai vs Christie - Even 8. Iose vs Grace 9. Roigard vs Heinz 10. Cameron vs Hohepa 11. Naholo vs Springer - even 12. Higgins vs Havili 13. Proctor vs Aumua 14. ...

mrbrownstone

H2H? 1. Numia vs Newell 2. Aumua vs Bell 3. Lomax vs Bower 4. Tucker vs Strange 5. Walker-Leawere vs Gallagher 6. Flanders vs Gardiner 7. Lakai vs Christie - Even 8. Iose vs Grace 9. Roigard vs Heinz 10. Cameron vs Hohepa 11. Naholo vs Springer - even 12. Higgins vs Havili 13. Proctor vs Aumua 14. M...

mrbrownstone

Sprig wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2024 10:43 pm Stitched up by the draw somewhat as well. Not the easiest of starts.

Nothing that will stop you being able to get into the playoffs though.

Yeah no home game til R4 is pretty rough. I don't like Super Round being in R2 for that reason.

mrbrownstone

Tbh, I'm comfortable with a poor performing season this year. We've lost so many great players, and then had another terrible injury toll. Eventually this will catch up on our performance. I was already resigned to one in the pre season. I don’t get the whole media beat up over here but I guess it’...

mrbrownstone

Tbh, I'm comfortable with a poor performing season this year. We've lost so many great players, and then had another terrible injury toll. Eventually this will catch up on our performance. I was already resigned to one in the pre season. I don’t get the whole media beat up over here but I guess it’...

mrbrownstone

Crusaders have 15 fit players = we're losing this one. Those Crusaders fans pointing out this supposed injury toll and Penney's poor coaching record are just trying to lull us into a false sense of security. Nope, not falling for it this year........ Is there no end to the perfidy of the Sadists? T...

mrbrownstone

Just for interests sake anyone want to do a head to head? Apart from Grace and Reece and even those are close, I'd struggle to see anywhere the 2024 team is stronger in the starting XV. https://i.ibb.co/2sJ444p/2024.jpg Boy it's stark when you lay it out like that. If you're being generous, you can...

mrbrownstone

Heinz is well past it. He can't even make it to rucks reliably now days. Definitely a bench only option. I can't understand Penny's selection strategy at halfback. G1: Drummond G2: Hotham G3: Heinz G4: Heinz Drummond is our best, most experienced halfback and, crucially, the only one who isn't eith...

mrbrownstone

Ioane Moananu, (Age 23) Finlay Brewis, (Aged 24) Owen Franks, (Aged 36) Jamie Hannah, (Aged 21) Tahlor Cahill (Aged 20) Pretty much all we have left. Literally the only fit forwards we have who aren't included in this squad are Christian Lio-Willie and Corey Kellow. I wouldn't be surprised if Lio-W...

mrbrownstone

A very small silver lining is that it's nice to see Gallagher and Brewis fit again. I'll take whatever reinforcements we can get.

mrbrownstone

From what I've seen Riley Hohepa seemed like a solid and reliable player. Much more so than Kemara. Yes, I'd hope the 29 year old is the better player than the 20 year old, all else being equal. However, Hopeha is a 29 year old journeyman with fewer than 30 NPC appearances to his name. At that age,...

mrbrownstone

Well, the news doesn't get any better with Barrett now out for 6 weeks. F*ck me. There's a very real chance we start 0-6 now given our next 3 fixtures are Canes, Blues, Chiefs. Trying to make sense of all the injuries, sabbaticals, and illnesses: Barrett - broken finger - 6 week recovery - est retur...

mrbrownstone

Barrett out. Oh goodie, because we simply didn't have enough injuries already. By my count, that's injuries to: Williams McAlister Barrett Blackadder Burke Reihana Ennor Jordan Halfpenny Plus Moody, Mataele, and Sykes-Martin all have COVID apparently. 7 nailed on starters + Reihana, Moody, and Halfp...

mrbrownstone

For some reason, the TAB have the teams both paying $1.95 for the win. Talk about hedging your bets, but then they see a Crusaders side hurting from a terrible start, and they will be going all out to get the first win of the season at home. Does anyone know how far away Du'Plessis Kirifi is from p...

mrbrownstone

Am I ready for our annual pumping by the Crusaders? Yep. Lube ready. This is the rugby equivalent of the Black Caps vs Australia. No matter how well we're playing leading into it, within 20 minutes it'll turn into the Muppet show with the Crusaders grinding us down by doing the basics well. After 2...

mrbrownstone

Thanks Mr Brownstone. If I wasn't so dyed-in-the-wool, I would feel sorry for Crusaders horrific injury list. Just compounds badly with the departures. But I am, so... I'm looking forward to Canes forwards rolling over the Crusaders and continuing their improvement. We have always had good depth in...

mrbrownstone

Welp, it doesn't get any easier. A month into the season we finally get a home game, and it's against the high-flying, undefeated, top of the table Hurricanes. On the selection front, Bell's lineout throwing must come under some scrutiny - it has been shocking this season. And I think it's time to c...

mrbrownstone

Game Info: Crusaders vs Hurricanes, Apollo Projects Stadiums Christchurch, Friday March 15th, 7:05pm KO local, 4pm AEDT. Teams and match officials: https://crusaders.co.nz/assets/TeamLogos/crusaders-v2.png https://scontent-akl1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/432324989_425874663307011_7982765818969949...

mrbrownstone

I reckon Williamson needs to stop getting a free pass and start having some hard questions asked. He’s never stepped up when it matters against Australia and only has done a few times against India (WTC was good) and England. As soon as you get his wicket you can just sense the shoulders drop. Just...

mrbrownstone

I reckon Williamson needs to stop getting a free pass and start having some hard questions asked. He’s never stepped up when it matters against Australia and only has done a few times against India (WTC was good) and England. As soon as you get his wicket you can just sense the shoulders drop. Just...

mrbrownstone

I haven't read the sports news much recently, or read this thread too closely, so I have two questions for you: 1. Was Wagner injured when he announced his retirement? 2. Why was Boult not playing? Wagner was fit and keen but Stead has never been a fan. He wasn't picked for the first South Africa t...

mrbrownstone

Well done Australia, each time they've needed someone to stand up one of their team has done it. Probably makes the loss harder to take as this is not an Aussie juggernaut team but still too good. Positives for NZ this summer would be O'rourke, sears, Phillips as a spin option which needs exploring...

mrbrownstone

We'll never have a better chance than having Australia 80/5 chasing 280. Utterly gutted. Equally ropeable that we let that slip. And yet, entirely inevitable. I can't believe I got my hopes up and expected any different for even a second. Ravindra dropping Marsh very costly, even if we got Head the ...

mrbrownstone

I don't think that is necessarily true, many of the teams, including the non franchise ones run out with double digits Super players, so that's not an issue, and local players are often known in their province. But if you're a wanting ABs in the NPC guy (I don't mind they're not there, NPC is a hyb...

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