Jamie George ready to fight for silverware despite Saracens' punishments

'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

SadersMan 17 minutes ago

A 20pt messy win is about what I expected. Lots of media & fans not reading the room imo. I think the Azzuri were hoping to ambush a 2nd string ABs & may well have done so. Eking out an ugly win is definitely a sign of growth. 2025 looks exciting.

Also, AUS has only beaten ENG of note. They need to show up v SCO & IRE to get a proper gauge. Beating WAL three times doesn't count. Also, winning one test from six in TRC is useless. So TRC2025 will be the real litmus test for AUS. That said, I'm rooting for our SH brothers for the next two tests.

All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series

JW 20 minutes ago

Actually pretty happy with the 1st half performance, quality contest imo.

Roigard very good, lots of jobs being done well. Only real opinion is that the game changed when BB stopped kicking and when he ran, after about the 30min mark, he started passing at the line instead of two steps before it. This gave the runners (this team doesn't really have other playmakers outside him) just that tiny bit more space and I think they must have made 3 late breaks solely because (compared to all the previous good ball) Barrett drew a defender or two.

So wondering about the send given they must only add another try or two when you'd normally expect them to push out further?

All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series

BM 28 minutes ago

THINK SO TOO!🙃

All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series

BM 30 minutes ago

Only on for Caleb and needed to push Will over LOL as an after-thought

‘Right a few wrongs’: Ex-Wales flyer’s message of intent with Crusaders

GP 42 minutes ago

Who would you have played at 10 with Richie Mo'unga gone and Fergus Burke not available till late in the season ? Scott Barrett hardly played, Sam Whitelock was overseas. There were injuries amongst the replacements. The fairy story that Robertson would have won in this situation is a exactly that a fairy story. We went within a whisker of getting in the play offs late in the season, because we had Fergus Burke, Blackadder others back. Codie Taylor made a big impact when he came back from his sabbatical. Hopefully he will be the captain next year, Codie has had a great season since returning to the Crusaders and for the All Blacks.

All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series

BM 45 minutes ago

Earned a 9.5 with top game overall though Tk while Italians were allowed to crowd breakdown without penalty often. We do have Love with two tries in 4 Test 😎minutes on field!

All Blacks survive physical Italy scare after captain carded

SadersMan 57 minutes ago

Yes, at some point they'll need to develop depth & consistency.

4 Go to comments

SadersMan 59 minutes ago

‘Right a few wrongs’: Ex-Wales flyer’s message of intent with Crusaders

Sorry mate, this is mumbo jumbo. What are you on about?

'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

Utiku Old Boy 1 hour ago

Yeah right.

All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series

JW 1 hour ago

5min - I'm getting sick of the on field ref being overruled. He clearly sees the drop and rules no knock on but changes his call when the touchie pipes up from miles away. get out of here!

'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

Utiku Old Boy 1 hour ago

If Razor picked jaded players, where is the role of a squad? Where is the anticipated innovation from this group? The season has been a big disappointment considering the talent available (but left sitting on the sideline). Was ready for a fresh approach after the frustration of the Foster era but we only got more of the same and a timid coaching group.

All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series

JW 1 hour ago

Watching the game now I get a sense of things to come. Ref puts his flag up when Patricks legs go over the line ages after he has released the ball. That is not out in touch.

Then Tele'a has a brain fade and tries to jump into touch, slapping the ball back, when he should know and be trained in running from outside touch and jumping into the field of play with it. If he had of done that simple fix of altering his approach angle there's noway anyone is getting to him to stop the try.

All Blacks survive physical Italy scare after captain carded

Utiku Old Boy 1 hour ago

Underwhelming AB performance. Much like their season. Watching the Boks and Ireland put in AB-like performances only show how far this AB team has to go. Selections and game plan still based on "not losing" - not innovation.

4 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

They did. In 2020.

Would have been WC victory with Razor in charge last year! Schmidt would have been pulled in to help Rennie and these performances would have built up last year for Aussie (instead of his incfluence helping NZ) and they would have been riding a high of returning players and league signings building to the B&I Lions and a RWC at home. And then Smchidt would have been ready to take the mantel of the All Blacks this year!

Oh how it could have been so so different if Robinson had of realised the folly in the handme down appointments policy they had back then.

'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

JW 1 hour ago

IDK if you can say that, and as I contended before the game, I don't know if you can really call it the strongest side (selecting fatigued players) either. Which would certainly be one of many of Razor's failings this year if was the case (yet to watch). Wasn't that also the top side's last hit out before Ireland?

‘Right a few wrongs’: Ex-Wales flyer’s message of intent with Crusaders

JW 2 hours ago

Definitely as Christchurch based decline if you believe some.

‘Right a few wrongs’: Ex-Wales flyer’s message of intent with Crusaders

JW 2 hours ago

23% is a fair reflection of the that was turning out last year imo.

It's not the same comp with non NZ easy beat teams to inflate yuor record anymore.

You might be disheartened for me to predict a semi final performance and Penney that is wanted back. Can you deal with that? 😝

‘Right a few wrongs’: Ex-Wales flyer’s message of intent with Crusaders

JW 2 hours ago

Pretty much now the only old fart retained from last year isn't he? Still has some solid legs under him but probably lucky he signed before Hutchinson got a chance to impress in the NPC (which I was surprised he did after I thought he stalled a lot of the U20's flair in the JRWC this year).

All Blacks player ratings vs Italy | Autumn Nations Series

_Ty 2 hours ago

No way Beauden gets a 9.5. He gave up possession too easily by kicking the ball away. Either too long or just aimless. One of those kicks lead directly to the Italians only try. He also missed the last tackle too, so he couldn't even clean up his mistake.