Joe Tekori mourns death of wife Helen, aged 44

Tawkin outta ya back door aren't ya Benny? 🤣

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

JW 38 minutes ago

Something being relevant just because someone wants to make it relevant is a bit of a logical fallacy there.

As is earning money if you want to play that argument.

Similarly, I also said that these traditional aspects of rugby need to change

But I didn't really hear why from you? People love to say that South Africa is the only one who doesn't have this rule, but really the English, French, and Irish don't really even need the rule (unless it is working), so how is this attitude stopping the game from growing if NZ and Aus are the only real countries where it's enforced? The rugby world needs a dominant All Black side? I'm not sure I buy that!

Test is the pinnacle of rugby, unlike football where club reigns supreme. This is a culture that won't change.

Club football only reigns supreme by these ideals you have of devaluing the national jersey. FIFA is even more hardline than rugby in regards to international competition, it's there if the players want to make it more important than club, it's just less valued in an individuals mind; ie, your removing of an ideal that one should not sacrifice for their journey. Why wouldn't it change if you alter that?

But there are two points to consider here: 1) can this not create a situation whereby increased depth and rotation for player health and safety allows for more players to get game time?

That sir, is football in a nutshell. With the second, why not just keep each group of players in their own hemisphere and have local competitions in the 6N and RC? FIFA international window.

owever, I do think that you have missed my point. Basically, why should a player be excluded from selection just because they earn money elsewhere? Yes, it's a difficult scenario.

Well the defacto argument is that those players (ones chosen as being the best, even if overseas) don't perform to the required standard. They managed very well and have jet lag/can't train. This is your point where argued that "well if they don't perform, don't select them", this is why the rule is enforced in a nutshell. While NZ is able to retain a core of players, even if not at the ability of others, they will still perform better in a game of rugby.

Why not just let them play overseas, if their jersey is so nailed down?

Frizell and Mo'unga were not nailed down when they left. Perhaps that is the difference in view points? They both signed to go overseas very early because NZR were happy for them to go at the time, I don't even think Frizell had been offered a contract at that point. Their stocks simply went up after they had decided to leave, hence Razor and the contract crew now trying to offer them what might be a more realistic and competitive option to come back. This reason might be the only actual reason to have some sort of leniency. Ethan Roots, Chandler Cunningham -South, Warner Dearns were offered no contract. If they wanted to put their hand up for selection while performing overseas they should be able to do so, with say three seasons to return?

Ex-All Black great says 'sabbaticals' headed for scrapheap after lacklustre results

Jacque 48 minutes ago

Grasping at straws. They had a POOR POOR season by their high standards.

I might be wrong, but is there even enough talent coming through the ranks at JUNIOR LEVEL in NZ?

They last won the trophy in 2017.

SK 1 hour ago

18 debutants but Australia's core looking ‘more settled than ever’

Before Schmidt came along I think its fair to say that nobody and I mean nobody had faith in the Australian domestic system and its ability to churn out players of test quality. Faced with Zero player depth, no distinct style of play, very few working combinations, an inexperienced team and a player and brain drain from Aussie rugby I think everyone believed Joe Schmidt was on a hiding to nothing. 12 tests later the Wallabies have a distinct style of play, working combinations across the park, are slowly building that player depth and have significantly enhanced their stock of good test quality players. Its taken alot of learnings but the project has rapidly surged forward in the last 2 months. What an upward trajectory its been. Before the Northern tour began many said 1 win would be enough to consider it a success. Well they have 2 and were in the contest against a determined Scottish team away from home. They never once shrunk and fought till the end. I also think about those 18 debutants you have mentioned. Imagine the benefit for them and for their Super Rugby franchises with them having now been exposed to a strong systems, with them having now been exposed to the learnings that only international rugby can bring. Imagine the confidence they can take back now into Super Rugby and also the knowledge now of what they have to do to reach that next level knowing its not beyond them. For too long during the Jones Era a sense of hopelessness pervaded the entire Australian set up both domestic and International. So many players saw their dreams fade into dust and others saw their futures evaporate while some became so disillusioned they turned to League. Now Schmidt has brought back hope and has given these lads a sense of purpose. Its almost as though rain has come after a long drought. Lets hope these shoots of green grow tall.

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Easy_Duzz-it 1 hour ago

Perhaps NZR did not learn from Folau after allowing the Haka hijack

Folau made the abc community cry foul for sharing his beliefs . But what did he actually do wrong ? . Nothing , that’s why Folau won in court and the Australian rugby union had to pay him 4 million I think it was .

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CT 1 hour ago

Men's 15s World Player of the Year was only a two horse race

The term "media bias" implies a pervasive or widespread bias contravening of the standards of journalism, thought that's appropriate, however Ben isn't a journalist he gives his opinion and as we know opions are like A-holes everyone has one

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Easy_Duzz-it 1 hour ago

the title of fool belongs to you & sf clearly . Imagine thinking you know better then razor 🤣🤣 … watching the crusaders win year after year year stings doesn’t it 🤣🤣 …

Man I hope razor gets his way . So when the All Blacks dominate I can come here to rub it in 😝

Seven Springboks make World Rugby men’s 15s dream team of the year

DV 2 hours ago

Thanks. Yes indeed a Celtic Warrior and leader, but I am sure that Jasper with his own warrior mentality can outplay him any day, and off course PSDT showed that he can break his spirit in battle.

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Easy_Duzz-it 2 hours ago

Because mounga won’t be playing behind a forward pack that goes back wards anymore and he won’t be shackled to the dual play maker system he had to endure under Hansen and foster …

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

JW 2 hours ago

So South Africa doesn’t have 14 provincial sides?

You mean like New Zealand has 14 provincial sides? As I said, the JRLO is the standard of the (well better) 14 NZ provincial sides. The 14 NZ provincial sides are made up of the best 500 odd players that remain in NZ, minus the All Blacks of course, the Super Rugby sides are the best 200 players including the AB's, and far too tough for Japan.

I assume SA is much the same, with even bigger squads for their four teams, but not as many Springboks amongst them. So if you need it in lamens terms, the JRLO sides are about the level of your Currier Cup provincial sides. I'll make it obvious, you're teams simply wouldn't cut it against the New Zealand Super Rugby sides, hence needing to create more new teams, or just fully switch to using the provincial setup, in a competition with Japan teams.

I do realise how many South African players are abroad (at any level) and it’s a very small percentage of the total number of professional players.

No, you don't. They are very similar numbers to NZ as I understand it, and about that which would make up the number of players in the URC and CC sides.

The bottom line is that NZ doesn’t have close to the player numbers SA has. Which is why they have to keep them in NZ.

I'm glad you at least know the basics! I'd also add that it's not just about numbers, I think its more that South Africa would have a great number of athletically gifted individuals. Rugby in NZ captures a good percentage of theirs, more than SA would, but the huge differences in population result in more SA'n freaks like Jonah/PSDT/Cullen.

Ex-All Black great says 'sabbaticals' headed for scrapheap after lacklustre results

SC 2 hours ago

Has John Kirwin ever heard of the South Africa Springbok, lol.

Talk about cherry picking your facts.

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SC 2 hours ago

'Scratching our heads': NZ pundit urges All Blacks to follow South Africa's model

Mo’unga is a hell of a lot better that Barrett or McKenzie.

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JW 2 hours ago

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

At least one? Were are you posting from? Look URC is a poor standard.. and the SA teams should be doing a lot better in it.. but I think a team won their first season and have had finalists (in the final) every year.. at least one... lol

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

JW 2 hours ago

Don't destroy the Waiuku legend!

'The World Cup... I'm not sure it's going to happen for them'

BR 3 hours ago

Why doesn’t France just plan a 3 or 4 game tour to the south during the same window as the Autumn nations. Pick a different country and mix it up. It’ll be refreshing and very popular watching France take on Argentina, Boks, Aussies or kiwis every 4 years!

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Werner 4 hours ago

Why 50 why not 5000? I mean the OS clubs are just going to decimate the pipeline in NZ and go all open season right?

Do you really think that highly of being NZ born that all OS clubs will just gamble on player contracts and players to perform without seeing they talents being tested? Realistically OS would not be taking players from NPC or SR but those who are already ok in ABs 23