Planet Rugby Forum

SecretAgentMan

Well they can't all be the head chef so someone's gonna have to agree to play second fiddle. It's all about coaching "dream teams" these days, with the incumbents being: Head coach/selector: Hansen Attack/selector: Foster Defence: McLeod Forwards: Cron Assuming they retain the existing model, whoeve...

SecretAgentMan

Kahu wrote:I hope the Welsh get up. If the lads thrash them it'll just end up papering over the long visible cracks in this AB side. Plus it will add spice to our test series with Wales in NZ next year and Gats even more so than Hansen deserves to finish as a winner.

How so?

SecretAgentMan

Kahu wrote:The only way to get rid of gangrene is to cut it all out. Sorry Fozzie

Gangrene? FFS.

SecretAgentMan

I'd be happy with any of Rennie, Joseph or Robinson, though I lean toward the former two as Razor has time and some learning to do yet. Apologies if this has been mentioned previously, but perhaps a Razor would make a good assistant and understudy to Rennie or Joseph, or, would Joseph make a good f...

SecretAgentMan

oh ok. Well, our scrum held up okay. It was just the lineout. NZ Rugby has been well served by the legendary scrum guru Mike Cron but at 64yrs, it is probably a good time to call it quits. He came in at a time the NH were calling the All Blacks forwards "powderpuff". They never called them that aga...

SecretAgentMan

Masterji wrote:Is Kieran Reid retiring or not?

He has a club contract in Japan.

SecretAgentMan

Game day. It’s still a game to win and see off a few great players. Looking to see really strong execution - passes to hand, no dropped balls, no missed tackles. Looking for RMo to dominate 10 and a well controlled game to finish positively. Yeah, last chance to watch a few of our great test player...

SecretAgentMan

Auckman wrote:Anyone know if Mike Cron is also retiring or whether he'll hang around for the next lot of coaches?

I think he's leaving, too.

SecretAgentMan

I think this is the most neutral support we've ever had before... Not sure I'm comfortable. Its weird. If it makes you feel better, look at it this way; it's a simple matter of the majority hating you less than your opposition. ;) Too right, Ted. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/612...

SecretAgentMan

Kiwias wrote:I will be a loud and vocal supporter in the stands for England because they are playing quality rugby.

Yeah, I'd like to see them win it playing as well as they did against the ABs. Damn fine side.

SecretAgentMan

Whitelock sat on the naughty chair?

SecretAgentMan

Should have picked Akira a few years back and tried to mold him into a great. Instead Hansen took the lazy option. The reality is that the last few years of his tenure Hansen took many lazy options. Just like he did with the other Ioane. Instead he went with a journeyman. Lazy options allround. :th...

SecretAgentMan

Tom Robinson? That fella's great to watch. Hope he kicks on next year. I don't disagree, but he's loose as fudge. Other players get knives for being that loose .... He had a terrific debut season. Very impressed with his massive engine, and he ripped into everything - never shirked the hard work. I...

SecretAgentMan

It’s interesting how people see what they want to , looking at the tackle stats through the tournament for RM and BB, RM was at 80%, BB was at 47%. Yet it is RM who got “found out”. You just did exactly that Trapper. ;) I'm not sure I would abandon Cane and Savea on the flanks, perhaps they are jus...

SecretAgentMan

Maybe capping Akira will make him clean up his act. Some people just need to feel wanted. Cap him and see does he embrace the role and environment. He's a difference maker with a novelty value/ unique skills that only a few countries have. Im thinking Tadhg Furlong, Vunipola,Sinkler, Tuilagi, Kerev...

SecretAgentMan

Just for laughs I hope Shag starts Scott Barrett at blindside.

SecretAgentMan

That's not true, he was the best form number 8 in the country last by some distance, but wasn't picked for style or attitude reasons (tick a box) - yet Gareth Evans (go the Magpies) was, if he was deserving of a cap then Akira definitely was. Not if Evans brought the right attitude and was a good t...

SecretAgentMan

Whoever the next coach is needs to sort the Ioane brothers out. I seriously doubt Akira will win a single test cap. So do I. So far he's extended a stiff middle finger in the direction of anyone who has dared suggest he get his attitude right. Is it some sort of "age group flat-track bully" syndrom...

SecretAgentMan

Whoever the next coach is needs to sort the Ioane brothers out. I seriously doubt Akira will win a single test cap. So do I. So far he's extended a stiff middle finger in the direction of anyone who has dared suggest he get his attitude right. Is it some sort of "age group flat-track bully" syndrom...

SecretAgentMan

HANDSOMECAKE wrote:Whoever the next coach is needs to sort the Ioane brothers out.

I seriously doubt Akira will win a single test cap.

SecretAgentMan

Whitelock's 31.

SecretAgentMan

Yeah, that 24-point winning margin was just ho-hum. :roll: Well it was pretty close until the last quarter when the scoreline really blew out. Taking nothing away from England but I don't think the win over the Wobs required as much mental focus as our win over Ireland. I think we were as focused f...

SecretAgentMan

Yeah, that 24-point winning margin was just ho-hum.

SecretAgentMan

It’s very hard to back up a great performance like that against Ireland . England should still win the final - but don’t expect them to take the Saffers apart . There was no complacency, just it’s very hard to raise yourself to the high of the previous high performance . The coaching selections and...

SecretAgentMan

When was the last time one country held both world cups - Australia '99 - '03?

SecretAgentMan

Two quite low scoring SFs but such contrasting games. The England win felt like a rout.

SecretAgentMan

Well done, Boks. It's gonna be a brutal final.

SecretAgentMan

Underhill has had tries disallowed in consecutive tests against the ABs. Gotta be a first?

SecretAgentMan

Evening, Anon. Who's your favoured road kill for next weekend? An all British final with Wales would be huge but if we played and managed to beat the saffas that would be the SANZAR trifecta and all three previous other world cup winners beaten in the same tournament. Something that has never been ...

SecretAgentMan

Evening, Anon. Who's your favoured road kill for next weekend?

SecretAgentMan

Ok I’ll admit I’m not a fan of George Bridge just don’t think he adds anything. Still happy to be proved wrong . I mean Ali’s choice stated on this bored that Ben Smith should never get a black jersey Yeah, he was underwhelming. Not sure Ioane would've made much difference in that game, though. I r...

SecretAgentMan

I been watcing rugby for over 50 years and this has been the best performance I can remember from a forward, Jean-Pierre Rives and Delme Thomas included. Not to mention that cnut Pinetree or McBride Agree and I've watching for nearly 70 years The AB's cold not deal "with the n.... in the wood pile"...

SecretAgentMan

fatcat wrote:Whoever wins I hope no one cuts their own bollocks off.

Go, Wales!

SecretAgentMan

Hareaway wrote:Ok I’ll admit I’m not a fan of George Bridge just don’t think he adds anything.

Still happy to be proved wrong . I mean Ali’s choice stated on this bored that Ben Smith should never get a black jersey

Yeah, he was underwhelming. Not sure Ioane would've made much difference in that game, though.

SecretAgentMan

I was absolutely gutted after 07, was not happy, probably didn’t come back to PR, read Stuff or anything else for 2 weeks. I think the fact I have a granddaughter in hospital puts things in perspective for me, it’s just a game. Best wishes for your granddaughter mate. Yes, all the best, trapper.

SecretAgentMan

Sards wrote:I feel for the Kiwis...it must be horrible.

You'll feel it yourself in a few hours.

SecretAgentMan

Wilderbeast wrote:08 bled we were shit.

Yep, similar to this year - got badly beaten in Aus first up, then smashed 'em at Eden Park the following week.

SecretAgentMan

What if they do the review and they find out that Fosters been a net positive and install him as coach? :shock: They like coaching package deals these days. Who would Fossie's team be? Presumably McLeod would stay on as defence coach. What about the others - forwards, attack..? God knows, I wasn't ...

SecretAgentMan

UncleFB wrote:What if they do the review and they find out that Fosters been a net positive and install him as coach?

They like coaching package deals these days. Who would Fossie's team be? Presumably McLeod would stay on as defence coach. What about the others - forwards, attack..?

SecretAgentMan

It was a perfectly reasonable question and Shag's response was unnecessarily precious and a bit hypocritical, imho - he's often mentioned the need for "bone deep" preparation (presumably meaning mental as well as physical) and said the team that turns up with the better attitude usually wins the game.

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