Beaten Saracens stunned by Cornish Pirates in their first Championship game

Yep. The general game is without any rock star 10’s at the moment. Albornoz and N’tamack are about the only test 10s now that have something. Albornoz is probably the only one who even carries to the line these days.

I think D’Mac is a gifted player but a natural 15. It doesn’t really mater now. They just need to stick with him as any player will improve in their position with a run of games in that coaching environment. A steady 7/10 can be enough.

I know he’s divisive amongst Kiwis but he returned from an ACL at 23/24 which takes a lot. He’s got my full respect for that.

'I'm really disappointed': Former All Blacks disagree with Anzac Test outcome

JW 11 minutes ago

Yeah good idea, I like that, kinda like with an NBA All Star game, the players are (partly) chosen by votes or charity work or something.

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DS 17 minutes ago

It’s got nothing to do with cards. It’s about performance in two W Cups by the No 10s. Get some reading glasses!

Louis Bielle-Biarrey named 2025 Guinness Six Nations Player of the Championship

IkeaBoy 21 minutes ago

Love that. Typically French.

Dupont doesn’t even do gym work!

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DS 41 minutes ago

Let’s blame a Chief instead ! 😀

Cane didn’t start in Yokohama but 5 Crusader forwards did and got their tails kicked by the John Mitchell coached England forwards. Well done Hansen!

DS 48 minutes ago

My bad. Let’s just carry on failing with the same tried and true. When DMac was 10 v France in Dunedin the ABs scored 7 tries; the same in Mendoza. Let's leave him on the bench till the game is already lost or better yet in the stands just in case he might run sideways. BB and SloMo can get the job done. No need to take a risk, especially now that Razor loves his Little Mo. SA will be delighted. No risk Kiwi - that’s the answer / the road to Cup success!

‘Current form doesn’t matter’: Commentator on potential All Blacks midfield

Blackmania 54 minutes ago

I don’t really share Johnson’s opinion. Nothing better than Tupaea and Lienert-Brown in NZ? It’s a good duo, and he wouldn’t look out of place, but I think we can do better. Tavatavanawai seems superior to Tupaea at 12. He’s a brute force, who makes few mistakes (which can still be criticized in Tupaea), formidable both with and without the ball in close contact. I can see him playing with Proctor. On paper, this combination would be very, very interesting, in the same philosophy as the iconic Nonu/C Smith duo.

Anyway, I remain convinced that in Razor’s mind, Jordie Barrett is indispensable at center, and he could quickly team up with Leicester Fainga’anuku. I’m betting on that in the near future.

However, a Tavatanawai/Proctor duo would be very interesting. Ennor also seems to be a good option instead of Proctor, who still hasn’t played this season. But Ennor has only played one match... he needs to be seen again and get some game time. There is a lot of talent in New Zealand in these two positions. The hardest part will be cutting players who could make a difference for many teams. The choices are going to be tough. If I had to make a bold bet, and unlike Johnson, I don’t see Tupaea being selected, and I imagine ALB could be in a tight spot against Proctor and Ennor if they are fit.

I imagine Jordie, Havili, Rieko, and Fainga'anuku with Tavatavanawai. Ennor or Proctor if Fainga'anuku is not selected in July. And ALB if Jordie is rested

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JoeySanders 55 minutes ago

Waratahs turn to 'tough bugger' for captaincy with more history on the line

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0 Go to comments

JW 56 minutes ago

Louis Bielle-Biarrey named 2025 Guinness Six Nations Player of the Championship

Yeah apparently is a bit of a larrikin who just turns up on a saturday, totally plays like it too.

4 Go to comments

JoeySanders 1 hour ago

'I'm really disappointed': Former All Blacks disagree with Anzac Test outcome

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7 Go to comments

IkeaBoy 1 hour ago

Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

It still reflects poorly on the RFU. Obviously the coaches would get it for bombing a home world cup. They were in a pool of death though and just never recovered from the Welsh loss. They seemed to have Burgess shoehorned into the squad by the RFU too.

I think both coaches got burned but they've used their time brilliantly and had the last laugh.

Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

IkeaBoy 1 hour ago

A 48 year old coach could be in his 12th season whereas a 50 year old may just be in his second. It's not a stable comparison.

Most of the (smart) premier league coaches are locked into contracts that renders them too expensive to be sacked, early doors.

'He's a special player': Lawrence Dallaglio backs Henry Pollock to be Lions bolter

IkeaBoy 1 hour ago

On the basis of his career stats across the last 5/6 seasons. For club and country. Both win ratios and individual performances have been better when he's played 7.

He was 8 against the unholy trinity last July and Nov. They lost against all 3. Very limited impact from behind the base of the scrum.

He's a dynamic and modern 7. Perhaps a 7 1/2 if it existed but not an 8.

Just my opinion on a rugby forum that encourages opinions. I'm not trying to steal your pension fund so you can relax.

Duhan van der Merwe injury update leaves Andy Farrell with a dilemma

IkeaBoy 1 hour ago

It's a tough break for him but it's not the end of the world.

Val Kilmer has died. That's real life. The first on screen batman to go. Sad times.

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Mitch 2 hours ago

Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

My worry for Lancaste is he’d start off behind the 8 ball before coaching a single match due to the 2015 World Cup which is unfair as he no doubt has improved since then but that’s what people here, rugby folk or not, will associate him with and not the success at Leinster.

Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

fl 2 hours ago

Steve Hansen stepped down as ABs coach aged 60, Graham Henry did so at 65, Robbie Deans quit the Wallabies job at 54, and Wayne Smith left the ABs aged 60.

Most of them have had lesser jobs since then, but its only Graham Henry who could really be said to have coached at the top level “well into his 60s”. He’s a bit of an outlier, and that was 14 years ago. Its very possible that that will change, but I’m not seeing much evidence of that!

One factor that might be important is that NBA and the NFL are 1 league sports. Rugby league is pretty much a 2 league sport, and those 2 leagues are so far apart there can’t be much trading between them. Rugby union and especially association football have many more leagues, and so there are more opportunities for younger managers to break through.

Also, the fact that Rugby tends to have less chopping and changing of coaches is an argument against hiring older coaches. Hire a good coach in his 40s and he could stay in the job for 20 years, but realistically how long would Les Kiss be the best coach in Australia for?

'He's a special player': Lawrence Dallaglio backs Henry Pollock to be Lions bolter

LE 2 hours ago

I’d probably agree this is a tour too early but Lions do have a rich history of capping bolters and Pollock isnt as far behind as many say. I think you under-estimate his jackle work as he has a great turnover rate at club level and even at England A, he even got one against Wales

Fact is the nature of the game is changing and fast lighter backrows becoming more and more common as ball in play times go up and teams look to play wider. He is faces a challenge to make the initial squad but he is definately part of the conversation

'He's a special player': Lawrence Dallaglio backs Henry Pollock to be Lions bolter

fl 2 hours ago

on what basis is earl a better 7 than 8?

his best test level performances have all been at 8. He’s a great club level openside, but has only ever performed well there in international rugby when there has been a specialist openside elsewhere in the back row who is able to share the defensive workload.

you’re right that Pollock won’t go to the Lions, but he’s a much better 8 than he is a 7. That’s because - like Earl - his carrying game is immense but his defensive workrate is a step behind players like Curry, Curry, Underhill, and Pepper.

'He's a special player': Lawrence Dallaglio backs Henry Pollock to be Lions bolter

fl 2 hours ago

he’s never played 6