Planet Rugby Forum

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...

mrbrownstone

You're telling me the Bunnings Warehouse Mitre 10 ITM Air New Zealand Cup Gallagher NPC has a new sponsor?

Well, I never

mrbrownstone

It is entirely impossible for a POC to be racist against a white person. I think you lot need to do some reading and understand that English is a modern language in which definitions of words are continually evolving. Also, Rule 1 :x :thumbup: A difficult concept to grasp for some, apparently. Call...

mrbrownstone

Going to a game in Fiji is on my bucket list, probably not a game against the Saders though, as I want to enjoy the occasion. ;) Yes, we certainly don't have a pretty record in Fiji. Aside from the loss last year, I recall a few defeats to the Chiefs in prior seasons too? I can only assume the extr...

mrbrownstone

Not quite must win for the Crusaders, but getting to that territory. Won't be easy in the sweltering afternoon Fijian heat. Obviously we all remember what happened last year. Fitness will be vital. A few changes from Penny, though no mass panic. Same starting pack, with Moananu, Sykes-Martin, and Ca...

mrbrownstone

Match Info: Saturday 9 March, 2:05 pm NZT, 1:05 pm local, 12:05 pm AEDT (Syd/Melb), 11:05 AEST (QLD), @ Churchill Park, Lautoka. Double check those times if you don't want to miss the game, as I converted them in about 5 seconds. Referee: Nic Berry Assistant Referees: George Myers, Jeremy Markey Wea...

mrbrownstone

It is entirely impossible for a POC to be racist against a white person. I think you lot need to do some reading and understand that English is a modern language in which definitions of words are continually evolving. Also, Rule 1 :x :thumbup: A difficult concept to grasp for some, apparently. Call...

mrbrownstone

Well this certainly has got all the gammons hot and bothered. :lol: It has given all the Australian conservatives something to focus on since photos were released yesterday of a chonky white bloke zip-tying the hands of 6yo indigenous kids and detaining them because they dared swim in a pool in a v...

mrbrownstone

Sounds like he was acting like a stupid white bastard. There's your problem.

Imagine taking someone to court over that, what an utter thin-skinned baby

mrbrownstone

One thing I don't understand about Super Round is why stage it in Round 2 of the season? Surely you want to give the season a chance to develop, for teams to get up to speed and be playing their best rugby, and most importantly for narratives to develop. Surely hosting Super Round in the second last...

mrbrownstone

The Crusaders were the worst of the NZ teams over the weekend. Our error rate was appalling, and our passing lacked cohesion, the ball being passed high, low or behind the target more often than not. Our lineout was sub par and overall we lacked cohesion, particularly in attack. Our two baby halves...

mrbrownstone

Surely the 'mini WC' would be the World Cup final rematches we get during the RC? Not first playing seventh from the last WC?

mrbrownstone

The more I look at Kemara the more I think he just needs 1-2 more seasons experience to fill out a bit and learn his game.

He's 1.79m and 88kg, basically the same as Mo. Right now he looks it on defence and will probably keep being targeted. Mo had similar frailties early on that he overcame.

mrbrownstone

trapper wrote: ↑Tue Mar 05, 2024 5:32 am Jonny McNicoll returning to the Saders for the rest of the season…

Good signing given the options available. Pretty difficult to sign an internationally capped outside back mid season. The question is now where does he fit in?

mrbrownstone

Bumping as relevant to the thread topic. The 5 NZ SR CEOs were asked about the prospect of selecting overseas All Blacks: All Blacks coach Robertson wants NZ Rugby to keep an open mind on the issue of allowing offshore-based players to represent the national team. Given we are already seeing star A...

mrbrownstone

Bumping as relevant to the thread topic. The 5 NZ SR CEOs were asked about the prospect of selecting overseas All Blacks: All Blacks coach Robertson wants NZ Rugby to keep an open mind on the issue of allowing offshore-based players to represent the national team. Given we are already seeing star Al...

mrbrownstone

I think Kemara deserves another start with Drummond at 9 and Havili at 12. Experience inside and out. Trying to start both Hotham and Kemara in the same game at this stage of their careers was an error from Penny in hindsight. If he continues to struggle then I'd move Havili as a stopgap until Reih...

mrbrownstone

I think Kemara deserves another start with Drummond at 9 and Havili at 12. Experience inside and out. Trying to start both Hotham and Kemara in the same game at this stage of their careers was an error from Penny in hindsight. If he continues to struggle then I'd move Havili as a stopgap until Reiha...

mrbrownstone

Posted on a random weekday in March. Obsessed, or just a slow week?

mrbrownstone

Wow, a Courtney Lawes article, some miscellaneous comments from Mike Tindall, a random Times article, and some teething problems with a new technology.

The sky is falling.

mrbrownstone

I knew the Crusaders got dicked by the Waratahs at the weekend but I'd already forgotten they lost last week to the Chiefs (despite watching the match). :? Too much else going on this time of year with it still being the height of summer. Losing to the Chiefs in Hamilton by one score is nothing to ...

mrbrownstone

El Flash wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 3:47 am Goodnight Crusaders. On that performance they'll be lucky to even make the top 4.

Very disappointing. Expected more, even if they have lost senior players.

Bookmarked...

mrbrownstone

Far too early . It was always going to be uphill this year . Ritchies absence has hurt us most of all . Yeah, huge loss. Just watching the replay now and the new boy is not having a great game. Uncharacteristic errors you'd never see from Mounga. I think it's a bit unfair to lump it on the halves. ...

mrbrownstone

The twenty year old halves didn’t really control the game, and that was probably the difference. Edmed and Gordon played all over them. Coming from the Crusaders nursery you kind of expect them to be all blacks the moment they touch the ball, and in 5 years they may well be. But they certainly were...

mrbrownstone

I can’t believe Kemara got a super rugby contract let alone a contract with the Crusaders. He was absolute shite playing for NZ U20s last year. Lincoln McClutchie is better than him yet McClutchie got nothing. Meanwhile Brett Cameron is flourishing at the Canes when he could of been playing for the...

mrbrownstone

I can’t believe Kemara got a super rugby contract let alone a contract with the Crusaders. He was absolute shite playing for NZ U20s last year. Lincoln McClutchie is better than him yet McClutchie got nothing. Think the difference is Kemara has nowhere near reached where he will be, especially behi...

mrbrownstone

Huh, so that's what it feels like.

I wonder how long it'll last. Would anyone feel confident facing us if we snuck into the finals in 7th or 8th?

mrbrownstone

One thing worth noting, because Super Round technically counted as a home game for us, we play just one of our first 5 (and 2 of our first 9) games in CHCH - including the travel schedule of Hamilton -> Melbourne -> Lautoka to kick off the season. Tough. It gets easier with 4 of our last 6 games at ...

mrbrownstone

Amy concerns at 0-2, or are we basically happy to write off this season as rebuilding with so many injuries and youngsters?

Drua, Canes, Blues, Chiefs, Tahs again is out next 6. Doesn't get a lot easier.

mrbrownstone

Congrats Tahs. By far the better team and it wasn't especially close. Scoreline reflected the game. For the Crusaders, I thought we looked indecisive and disjointed. Which, in fairness, is to be expected. Hotham, Kemara, and Springer are only 20, and Fihaki's only 23. Additionally, this is Havili an...

mrbrownstone

Really good day overall, we probably even won the day! Unfortunately, that probably just means we'll only lose by 100 instead of 200. It's going to be a case of what could have been I fear. Some quick maths: - Let's say we only concede 25 extras in the first innings rather than 41. Still a lot, just...

mrbrownstone

True Blue wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 3:08 pm Why was this game in Melbourne?

Super Round.

mrbrownstone

Auckman wrote: ↑Tue Feb 27, 2024 9:54 pm Fellas, he’s clearly 1.98. Someone made a typo years ago and every other website since has repeated that mistake

mrbrownstone

Well, Sotutu is certainly making sure the AB selectors can't forget about him. Impressive. Likewise Perofeta - that was some break for the Telea try.

For the Clan, well, no one but themselves to blame. 10 points worth of missed kicks. There's the game right there.

mrbrownstone

JPNZ wrote: ↑Fri Mar 01, 2024 11:46 am Is this worth the download? I have unlimited data if that helps

I've seen the first two episodes, planning to catch the final one this weekend. I've enjoyed it so far, worth a watch IMO. Prefer it to the 6N documentary, if that helps.

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