Reports of the death of Australian rugby may have been greatly exaggerated

The other sports website you left has reduced significantly since you departed :)

Not having a go, just having a laugh :) Not sure of the circumstances, they seem to have wanted more tabloid, Australian focused content. Glad you’re still enlightening us here.

It would be good if Highlander was on this site as well.

I’m the same…most frustrating when I do see them 24/48 hrs late !

My gut feeling is at 10. Winners want the ball. More ball and influence at 10 than 15.

Otherwise your post just reverts to your ‘opinion’

I can timestamp Billys wayward passing.

But the aspect that I return to is that the All Blacks are a product of the New Zealand rugby system. The system works as many people sacrifice their time to make the system work. It’s not outrageous ask the best players (who have benefited massively from the system) to spend their best playing years giving back to the system - while being well paid, agreed not quite as well as overseas.

I hold no animosity to anyone who turns their back on New Zealand rugby (when they have a lot they could give back). It’s just disappointing to miss out on what might have been. Also, the New Zealand rugby system is fragile. The reduction in revenue, from not being the best, could be a significant step in the long term downfall of New Zealand rugby.

All Blacks player wages are difficult to get 100% right. Mo’unga was almost certain to have earnt millions by that point. Being the 10 in Robertson’s All Blacks would be worth about a million a year. Mo’unga still could’ve played in Japan after that in 2028. Nonu is still playing in the midfield in his mid 40s. It’s not like Mo’unga was one head knock or other injury away from enforced retirement.

The Reds couldn’t emulate what confronted them from the Crusaders at breakdown and scrum, and that’s where the match becoming one-way traffic began.

And the Brumbies will have to play their best game to top the wounded Chiefs, no doubt. But the Chiefs strangely played into the Blues hands too, which they surely won’t repeat...

It must be very trying, for an All Black, to even go to the shops in New Zealand.

It’s funny how people are less dedicated, to their country, now they are getting paid lots of money. I suppose before professionalism rugby was just a calling as it was, mostly, unpaid :)

With the RWC 2011 back three of: Kahui (11), Jane (14), Dagg (15). Henry departed from the idea where at least one (possibly two) of the back three being a pure power wing. It seemed that the prevailing idea (in New Zealand), up until then, was to accept some defensive/positional weakness to maximize scoring chances.

I agree that Kahui could fill the role of a ‘power wing’. He could play: 11, 13, 14, 15 at a high level. Also, Guildford was a more traditional 11 and in the TWC 2011 squad. So, Henry didn’t completely abandon the idea, more of a temporary tactical adjustment.

The combination of: Kahui (11), Jane (14), Dagg (15) was a great method to defuse the ‘up and under’ style of play that was popular in 2009. Impressive mental agility.