Abby Dow 'comfortable in hospital and will undergo surgery'

'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Head high tackle 16 minutes ago

How do you earn the jersey playing in a weak club comp? Who judges that? What you suggest is a way for a weaker player to earn selection above a stronger player based on the strength of the comp. In SR they all face the same talent.

'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Head high tackle 19 minutes ago

NZR makes the decision not BB. Players can want whatever they like. NZR decides if they want to sign them

'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Head high tackle 22 minutes ago

Impossible to say Mounga is playing well or badly tho. SR is a far stronger comp and excelling at a lower level proves absolutely nothing.

'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Head high tackle 24 minutes ago

So how do you judge that Mounga, who never once cemented the ABs jersey, and had many years of it being his, is playing better than BB or DM or other options in NZ? He is playing in a weaker comp. Easier to look good in a weak comp. Maybe NZ players should all try to play in weaker comps to look good.

'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Head high tackle 34 minutes ago

And just like Dmac and BB, Mounga should not be available to represent NZ until, like BB and Dmac, he comes back and fulfills the requirements. All agreed.

'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Head high tackle 35 minutes ago

I think the future of rugby is around fabricated teams not internationals. I can see a 12 team world tour. Get the top 600 players in the world and have tournaments around the world in seasonal conditions. An IPL of rugby. Spread the talent everywhere.

Cantab 1 hour ago

A bit harsh perhaps. Halfback sound enough but admittedly flyhalf and other inside backs need to be improved to give our wingers and fullback the chances they need to shine. Our backplay currently is too sitters for comfort.

What should be on a rugby Christmas wish list for 2025?

Head high tackle 1 hour ago

Id like to see who has toured Fiji and played tests at Fiji's home. NZ gets bagged yet plays Fiji quite a lot compared to others. NZ basically bought DRUA in to SR and has been sending teams to Fiji for 100 years.

GP 1 hour ago

Richie Mo'unga was picked in the 2023 World Cup tournament team. Foz constantly undermined him with sceptre of Beauden lurking at 15 or even at 10. Richie is one of the best 10's in the world , Barrett , ( particularly) and McKenzie are not. 4 losses , says it all really.

GP 1 hour ago

David Havili hardly played. He will be back. Will Jordan is rightfully at fullback. Dallas McLeod has to be looked at in the midfield, big , strong , bruising midfielder for Canterbury and the Crusaders. Noah Hotham has to step in now TJ is gone. Default position ? Who do TJ, Cane, Ioane , Barrett, McKenzie play for ? They are "default " selections and they ain't Crusaders

GP 1 hour ago

Richie Mo'unga will be back and will reclaim the AB 10 jersey. As he showed with Brave Lupus, Crusaders and All Blacks he is so much better than McKenzie or Barrett. Ethan Blackadder will take over from the thankfully departed Cane

Head high tackle 1 hour ago

Agree. Its embarrassing tbh. Mounga and Havili have had plenty of time in a black jersey and both found wanting. Razor cant seem to move on from Saders players.

Head high tackle 1 hour ago

And he had the Saders play him at 10 hoping that was his 10 going forward. That was before any squad was selected.

What should be on a rugby Christmas wish list for 2025?

JW 1 hour ago

Ahh but it's xmas, who wouldn't wish for just as much reward for Fiji to be able to play at home? If England gave them a share of their revenue, all the ABs and Wallabies, theres, then I dare say we'd see Fiji being happy to host such games at home!

That is some wishful thinking of course, so San Diego it will be again no doubt.

Head high tackle 1 hour ago

No progress in the backs whatsoever. A total lack of a gameplan to follow and a lack of selection nous. Almost deliberate!

What should be on a rugby Christmas wish list for 2025?

JW 1 hour ago

Well said. I'll also add that I hope the French (players here) can understand think about the western perspective when it comes to rugby as well. Criticism the game or the referee is not a good look. I just hope that it was the state of the country that caused it and it fell outside the normal French characteristics. It might be a slightly different context but there was also a very similar sort of feeling on the ground during the 2011 RWC Final, and how things could been much less seemly if the All Blacks hadn't of won that game. Thankfully we haven't seen the like again and I hope that is the same for France.

What should be on a rugby Christmas wish list for 2025?

JW 1 hour ago

I like being able to better see how a scrum players out (I would therefor appreciate if it was also zoomed in more and not treating like another 'angle' as you suggest).

What should be on a rugby Christmas wish list for 2025?

JW 2 hours ago

Lovely spirit in this article.

In the past I'm pretty sure teams like the Maori All Blacks have held test status for their oppositions, this needs to be extended to other All Black teams because you are not going to get the All Blacks sending a team to like Fiji were a B or C team could easily lose.

That is to say Fiji have received NZ XV teams etc, which will be the same players, from the B or C top side etc, but the game loses something, especially in their capacity to make money out of the All Black brand if theyre forced to play a team called New Zealand XV by WR. Essentially, if you haven't followed so far, WR to allow these types of fixtures to act like tests for one side, while the other can choose not to count it as a test (where currently a test game is a test game to my understanding). This will allow bigger nations to show much more freedom with the amount of T2 countries like Japan, and Italy etc they can play, let alone the USA or Georgia type team.

JW 3 hours ago

was* great, hasn't even been that good in the last few years (lots of injruy?).