PNC : les Fidji victorieux des Samoa

How the All Blacks were caught up after 'golden decade'

Jmann 31 minutes ago

It is unlikely that any team will ever compare to that period from NZ. This present Bok team are very good (best I've ever seen from SA) - but they are not in the same league as that team.

Scott Robertson has mounting problems to fix for misfiring All Blacks

JW 1 hour ago

You're seeing the picture all wrong Hamish. You are look with glasses from the past, which called for action and ditching of the attitude of "let this team prove itself", and not realising that this is Razor changing up the game and improving on previous era's philosohies.

He didn't just saying to the team "you have a chance at redemption this week", he is moving on. Johanesburg is in the past. It's a refershing attitude to see from a coach. In saying that, a lot of the critiques you have listed are entirely circumstantial. Three back rowers had strains and were unavailable as far as I understand, with Jacobson coming back from injury and only fit for a bench role.

He's got a lot to learn but you're laying way too much blame at his feet

David Havili set for Ranfurly Shield clash as 12 All Blacks released to NPC

TO 1 hour ago

Is David Havili in the ABs? How, when, why? is this guy anywhere near the squad? Does he hold bags, water bottles for his Crusader mates who were injured all year only to be rushed back in to the All Blacks short of fitness, game time and form. The Blues and Chief's dominated the comp and have 7 forwards between them. The Crusaders came last and have the same amount. So glad it's paying off for us, Freedom Cup gone, Rugby Championship gone - what next Bledisloe?

Not alot of break dancing going down.

2 Go to comments

Bull Shark 1 hour ago

Scott Robertson has mounting problems to fix for misfiring All Blacks

Well can we seen some of them in black please.

Scott Robertson has mounting problems to fix for misfiring All Blacks

Bull Shark 1 hour ago

Exacle

How the All Blacks were caught up after 'golden decade'

Bull Shark 1 hour ago

Grabs calculator. Furiously taps buttons. Scratches head with pencil. Breaks wind.

Damn it you’re right. 7/8 = 87,5%!

Doubts himself Wishes he was better at maths.

JW 1 hour ago

You guys might not notice it much what with playing in the URC now instead of Super Rugby, but there is definitely a job in standards of players coming back(not that the author was making that point). You can see it clearly in how poor PSdT was in these big games compared to how good he was when he had a large buildup of international rugby to last years Rugby World Cup.

How the All Blacks were caught up after 'golden decade'

Chiefs Mana 1 hour ago

Be very interesting what happens next Super season when BB is at the Blues (along with Perofeta and Sullivan)

How the All Blacks were caught up after 'golden decade'

Chiefs Mana 1 hour ago

Teams impacted by that would include NZ, Aussie, Scotland (eg. tuipolotu), France (eg. Antonio), Ireland (eg. Aki), England (eg. Tuilagi, Vunipola), Wales (eg. Faletau) based on key players having pacifica roots/origins and likely interest in reconnecting with their ancestral culture. NZ already produces 75%+ of all the PI international teams...some of our top flight pacifica players may prefer the respective Pacific Island over ABs, risk i would be willing to take to grow and strengthen the game in the region.

JW 1 hour ago

Haha that's a lame attempt Ed! You realise theres a flood of Premiership players leaving for JRLO as well, don't you? Why do you think they are going?

What has shifted in rugby pre tell?

JW 1 hour ago

Yeah everybody makes that mistake I reckon, Rassie did it just last week. Why did we have to play Jordan and Blackadder? Razor said a player as good as Jordan can fire straight back in "and we need him to", like wtf what sort of bs is that? We need Jordan firing? The All Blacks is the team you're coaching Razor, not bloody Canterbury! Cane at least had been cooping up and training, and I think tried to get involved in Super Rugby. Much like how Taylor came out OK despite only a couple of games.

It is obviously in a sabbatical contract, but I wouldn't have minded easing Ardie back up to speed by these two games too. Probably could have been the matchwinner if he wasn't asked to try and win all the matches up until now as well. Those sorts of policies would have allowed a much great visibility on some of these other 'form' players too.

Depends what you mean by "good", Sotutu topped some stats stupendously, others he was atrociously low in if considered a starting AB. Certainly picking Sititi on half the amount games in his first year over a blazer'd AB qualifies as one of the biggest 'shock' calls in selection history? I'm glad, and think it was the right call though.

Scott Robertson has mounting problems to fix for misfiring All Blacks

GE 1 hour ago

The complete coaching panel need more international experience & selections need to be made on performance.Not right to select about 1/3 of the team from a losing franchise because you know them.players must be selected on merit.If the rugby board had left Foster alone we wouldn’t have this problem now.They dismantled a proven coaching system built up over many years.

Scott Robertson has mounting problems to fix for misfiring All Blacks

GM 2 hours ago

"Previous All Blacks coaches have made the mistake of believing they can ignore the specifics of each back-row position and shift individuals as circumstances dictate, but there is no evidence it ever worked."

Well said, Gregor. Razor must bite the bullet re 6, can't wait for Frizzell: make a choice on potential between Barrett and Vaii at 6, and give them a run at the position. Finau is a flat-track bully - big hits on first fives, goes backwards against the big boys. Then Razor can decide re 8 between Savea and Sititi, and at 7 between Savea, Papali'i and Blackadder. Jacobson covers a lot of positions on the bench, but isn't an impact player (as Sititi could be). Cane should be thanked and farewelled (along wth TJ and Reece).

dk 2 hours ago

Didn't the Cheetahs also indicate that they were keen on playing super rugby? Or how about a combined SA side made up of players from teams not playing in Europe? Or are they all B-grade sides?

JW 2 hours ago

Admittedly once he actually chose form players from SR it went up to 80% despite all the losses to SA still. He went with players he new from his assistant time till then, can't think of a single new one on the back of form, maybe Vaa'i?

JW 2 hours ago

I think if Ben Smith rights an article asking for South Africa to return to Super Rugby it'll be in the form of one team, like the Jaguares, a full national side.

JW 2 hours ago

Only 1 from from that match v Blues mentioned in the article though. Fletcher Newell.

JW 2 hours ago

It was an attempt to utilize cohesion in order to keep win % up I'd suggest. He'll continually introduce more players. Surprised they didn't separate TRC group into a Bledisloe squad to maybe change it up.

dk 2 hours ago

Very true. And Eckland would have hit all of his jumpers for sure.