Planet Rugby Forum

merlin the happy pig

Is the rail network solely electric or do the Russians run diesel locos as well? A mix I believe. Some detail in here (that account has more details elsewhere, but as it posts prolifically, it's a bit to trawl through to find stuff you read previously): https://twitter.com/BruckenRuski/status/16074...

merlin the happy pig

The evidence for effectiveness of public mask mandates in slowing the spread of Covid is very weak. This is different from whether masks work in a hospital setting, which they do. That doesn't mean it wasn't worth trying. It was feasible it would make a substantial difference. It might have made a w...

merlin the happy pig

Parkinson is back for the Clan but I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing. More backline tinkering with TUJ at 13 in place of Paea and Hunt to fullback. Who is Freddie Burns? Backline still looks cobbled together from spare parts. Still they're a reasonable chance against the Reds at home.

merlin the happy pig

Only way to change that is the kind of government program we saw post-war . There’s not the will . Disgusting and depressing . There's probably not the money, either, thanks to huge deficit spending since the GFC and of course during Covid19. Plus owners of rental properties in some locations can m...

merlin the happy pig

Crusaders sign him, but who's leaving to make room? https://crusaders.co.nz/assets/Images/Levi-Signing-2.png Some would say he's the best centre in Super Rugby and would start at 13 for any team if selection was purely based on form. Move him in once place as a world cup wildcard. Nonu rides again....

merlin the happy pig

Interesting stat about the La Rochelle vs Leinster game. La Rochelle had 138 carries and Leinster had 72 carries. Every Super Rugby game this weekend had more combined carries. Mostly 20% more. 3 NZ teams had more carries than La Rochelle and two non NZ teams had more carries. The Crusaders v Blues...

merlin the happy pig

This season of Super Rugby - and staying away from this forum and reading most Rugby journalism - has actually got my more hopeful for this season and the RWC in particular. I gave us no chance after last year but with the performance of some new and returning players I feel we're definitely well p...

merlin the happy pig

NZ Herald reporting that Mauger has resigned. Interesting…. Also... It was reported on Sky TV’s the Breakdown on Sunday night that Moana Pasifika’s best player, Levi Aumua is leaving the team next year to play for the Crusaders and he will sign a New Zealand Rugby contract. TBH this sucks. Would lo...

merlin the happy pig

This season of Super Rugby - and staying away from this forum and reading most Rugby journalism - has actually got my more hopeful for this season and the RWC in particular. I gave us no chance after last year but with the performance of some new and returning players I feel we're definitely well p...

merlin the happy pig

With ALB and Goodhue fit, havili might spend the season holding tackle bags ALB ain't exactly playing the house down. He is definitely not the dynamic player he once was. Always takes a while to get up to speed after injury, but even at his best he no longer poses much of a threat at international ...

merlin the happy pig

Was impressed by Sowakula.
His hands have been poor in the past, and if ever there was a night when that would be exposed it was last night.
He might have lost the ball post tackle once, I don't recall, but he had a lot of carries, and they were always effective.

Worth another ABs stint?

merlin the happy pig

The bus has broken down

merlin the happy pig

Tussock wrote: ↑Sat May 20, 2023 9:38 am That's why Dmac should be no where near the All Blacks.

If only we had an embarrassment of riches at 10.
But mostly agree.

merlin the happy pig

Jose, big off the back of the scrum for the first, scores the second himself

merlin the happy pig

Fabulous try. Excellent initial run from the back of the scrum.

merlin the happy pig

Sowakula has contributed well

merlin the happy pig

Ted. wrote: ↑Sat May 20, 2023 8:49 am If that's not a knock by dMac, what were the earlier calls about against the Canes. Consistency

Bizarre call, but at least ALB felt guilty and gave them another shot.

merlin the happy pig

Skiaddict wrote: ↑Sat May 20, 2023 8:30 am Looks like a long night at the office for the Canes lineout

Yeah, hope people don't put too much blame on the hooker though, such a short arse lineout

merlin the happy pig

Stevenson has a hell of a boot

merlin the happy pig

What's an un between friends? Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it just an air lunched ballistic missile? I though the big deal about real hypersonic missiles was their ability to a. Maneuver at hypersonic speeds making them effectively unhittable. b. Drop in under radar after re-entry making them...

merlin the happy pig

https://www.moscowtimes.ru/2023/05/17/razrabotchikov-giperzvukovih-raket-putina-massovo-arestovali-za-gosizmenu-a43183 The guys who were over the design of the un-interceptable Khinzhal missile have apparently been arrested after it has become apparent that it is indeed interceptable. What's an un ...

merlin the happy pig

If Tamati Tua stayed for 4 years and became an Australian citizen would be be eligible for the Wallabies? Does citizenship mean you're eligible under the World Rugby eligibility rules? No, citizenship isn't an eligibility criteria. 5 years residency will do it. If that's the risk we take, then so b...

merlin the happy pig

:blush: :blush: Well it is being played in Dunedin innit. Although we'd normally take you back 20 years, not a couple of months. Still rather fond of Dunnos (if it's still called that), though I wonder how many students have frozen to death over the years. The young ones should have been filmed on ...

merlin the happy pig

20th March you say. Is this being played in a time machine? :blush: :blush: Well it is being played in Dunedin innit. Although we'd normally take you back 20 years, not a couple of months. Still rather fond of Dunnos (if it's still called that), though I wonder how many students have frozen to deat...

merlin the happy pig

https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/education/300867924/awful-and-targeted-librarians-teachers-fear-bitter-culture-wars-reaching-nz Yeah pretty much what we’ve been experiencing at work , perhaps more trans focused . Oh look, they're still calling Posie Parker an anti trans activist. Stuff is just a col...

merlin the happy pig

From the thread title I though it called for a list: Weather, Earthquakes, Topography, City Council, Ferry Service (admittedly not Wellington's fault per se), Average surf, The beehive, god what an eyesore, even without counting the occupants. I'd say Wellington's pretty good at earthquakes tbh, th...

merlin the happy pig

From the thread title I though it called for a list:
Weather,
Earthquakes,
Topography,
City Council,
Ferry Service (admittedly not Wellington's fault per se),
Average surf,
The beehive, god what an eyesore, even without counting the occupants.

merlin the happy pig

Hellraiser wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 10:33 pm This is glorious.

https://www.reddit.com/r/NonCredibleDef ... &context=3

Tells it straight

merlin the happy pig

Every now and again a ref will ping the blockers that stand either side of a player taking a ball in the air. Kills the inprenetable maul dead, well almost. Trouble is it happens so infrequently the players just carry on doing it. It's only a small step in front of the taker by the blockers before ...

merlin the happy pig

Yeah I thought that while Jordan was on the field our attack looked the most fluent it has all season. He made an immediate impact. It really underscored for me how insane it is that he still hasn't started a test in his best position, while the Barretts have had ai mortgage on the 15 jersey. He's ...

merlin the happy pig

Normac wrote: ↑Fri May 05, 2023 2:03 am Why would you build on the waterfront if sea levels are due to rise

2 feet by 2100 is probably manageable, there's not much of downtown Auckland would be affected by that.
St Heliers on the other hand..

merlin the happy pig

Went to see The Stranglers a couple of weeks ago. Excellent set: Golden Brown, No more Heroes, Get a Grip, Peaches, Walk on By, Nice N Sleazy, Hanging Around, Skin Deep, a few of their new songs, and a couple of others I can't remember. Everything was live, which you could tell from the fact that th...

merlin the happy pig

My team for a QF this weekend. 1. Ethan De Groot 2. Samisoni Taukei'aho 3. Tyrell Lomax 4. Brodie Retallick 5. Sam Whitelock (c) 6. Scott Barrett 7. Dalton Papali'i 8. Ardie Savea 9. Aaron Smith 10. Damian Mckenzie 11. Mark Telea 12. Jordie Barrett 13. Rieko Ioane 14. Emoni Narawa 15. Shaun Stevens...

merlin the happy pig

I'd be wrapped if somethink so trivial was my biggest problem, your all loosers.

merlin the happy pig

The crossfield kicks and up and unders are to combat the rush style defenses. It forces those defenses not to move up so quickly. Both Barrett and Mo'unga struggled to counter those rush defenses early in their careers and this is their answer. Rush defenses weren't as prominent during Carter's era...

merlin the happy pig

farmerdave wrote: ↑Sat Apr 29, 2023 8:59 am As usual saders pushing the infringement button to hang in there. Is that four penalties against Moody alone.
Probably a average game to a neutral. I'm not a neutral so bloody lovin it

Retallick should have been given a yellow for deliberate offside when moody made his break.

merlin the happy pig

Weather tonight in Wellington is fine, light winds, most decidedly un-Wellington like! Around 12 degrees at kickoff. Good conditions for a running game. As a resident I can confirm that the weather is a cracker today! Might go to the beach later! Take the shortboard with you, surfs up!!! https://ww...

merlin the happy pig

In any other week this would be the match of the round, but Chiefs vs Crusaders probably takes that this round. Still, in a competition where we have a pretty clear top 5 and then a bunch of also-rans, it's a nice treat to have 4 of the top 5 teams playing each other in the same weekend. Should be ...

merlin the happy pig

More bad news for the Blues lineout. Tom Robinson who is one of our most reliable lineout winners and most reliable loose forward lineout option has signed for Steve Hansen's Japanese rugby team. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/revealed-blues-star-latest-to-leave-new-zealand-as-steve-hansen-lures-...

merlin the happy pig

What about the NZRU making players based in Australia still eligible for the All Blacks and vice versa with the Wallabies. Could maybe work on a loan system like with UK football? (tbh I've got no idea how that system works) A guy like Riley Higgins isn't getting any playing time with the Canes thi...

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