Is James Lowe still in the squad? I've really liked what I've seen from him with Tasman and the Maori. Yes. He's pretty good, huh. A big, fast, strong ball runner and probably the longest boot in NZ professional rugby when he connects. Will be a fight for the starting wing spots. Nice to have the d...

How's Tomic going? Right now in NZ it's gotta be Cricket. I always thought NZ punches above its weight in cricket particularly 50 over cricket. Maybe but the NZ sporting public is so fickle that anything less than dominance will never be good enough. We punch well above our weight in the Olympics b...

Ali's Choice wrote:

After narrowly missing out on a chance to threepeat last year

A chance, never said we would go all the way but we were in the running. We lost by a conversion in Canberra to make the semis.

How's Tomic going?

Right now in NZ it's gotta be Cricket.

After narrowly missing out on a chance to threepeat last year and given this is our last year with the current coaching ticket, this is looking like a big year for us. I was curious as to what others think our best 15 is. Obviously subject to injury and form but here is my crack at the best 15: 15. ...

Yourmother wrote:I guess he never played Sexton before he retired.

Sexton has never reached the lofty heights of DC at his peak.

Can see the NRL possibly being the worst hit over a long period. Not saying that I necessarily disagree with you, but I'd like to know your rationale behind this comment. Pure guesswork but I can see AFL slowly gaining dominance, plus key demographics (e.g. Sydney youth) slowly shifting towards soc...

Can see the NRL possibly being the worst hit over a long period. Not saying that I necessarily disagree with you, but I'd like to know your rationale behind this comment. Pure guesswork but I can see AFL slowly gaining dominance, plus key demographics (e.g. Sydney youth) slowly shifting towards soc...

Don't forget almost every immigrant is familiar with and is a fan of soccer. No need to convert them to a more complicated and region specific sport. I agree with the other poster that said it would be a shame if soccer became a major sport in Aus. Great thing about places like the US, Aus, Canada, ...

Just like no one can deny over the last century NZ rugby has benefitted immensely from British immigration? Using your rationale, British rugby has benefited immensely from Anglo Saxon migration stretching back to the 5th century? Well obviously, just look at the Celtic nations record against us. B...

Could have been a great 6/8 but will probably end up as an English Jamie Roberts. Which is not an insult but it isn't high praise either. SBW might be a tad smaller and less powerful but he is quicker and more skilful than Sam Burgess will likely ever be, and therefore more suited as a 12 than Burge...

It's only really 13 (and 2 American Samoan). The rest are SamoanNZ ABs (and TBF a bunch of that other 13 would consider themselves SamoanNZers too. You're confusing nationality with ethnicity. They are still ethnically Samoan, even if they have a NZ passport. No-one can deny that over the past coup...

Considering the number of SH players playing with distinction in European club teams, surely all this proves is that Douglas is soft. That's not even mentioning the SH players who get capped by NH national sides after not being selected back home, or the SH coaches outperforming their NH rivals in ...

This is an interesting thread. SH player bigs up local standards in the press. Is believed . Is called soft. The implication being that he is bigging up the local standard to get some slack for his own performance? Certainly possible. Interesting his coach at the tahs was an H cup winner with Leins...

This is an interesting thread. SH player bigs up local standards in the press. Is believed . Is called soft. The implication being that he is bigging up the local standard to get some slack for his own performance? Certainly possible. Interesting his coach at the tahs was an H cup winner with Leins...

This is an interesting thread. SH player bigs up local standards in the press. Is believed . Is called soft. The implication being that he is bigging up the local standard to get some slack for his own performance? Certainly possible. Interesting his coach at the tahs was an H cup winner with Leins...

Considering the number of SH players playing with distinction in European club teams, surely all this proves is that Douglas is soft. That's not even mentioning the SH players who get capped by NH national sides after not being selected back home, or the SH coaches outperforming their NH rivals in t...

Carter has stated on the record that Payne would be an AB, and a regular one at that. Good thing he isn't a selector then. Payne had 5 years of super rugby to crack the ABs. How many if the current squad made the team after 25? I can't think of any. I get you are defensive about "your" boy but othe...

Richard Kahui. Fully fit of course, which I doubt he will ever be again with his dodgy shoulders. Hayman and Afoa assuming they are still in form. Ranger would be nice but I feel he's a little overrated because of his highlight reels. Nick's also had his best years elsewhere :( I suspect Jarred Payn...