NPR

That'll be some match in Christchurch.

Tbh, that's not the worst thing in the world for the Chiefs - it was gonna be hard to sustain 3 consecutive weeks of high level rugby like they've been playing. That's a sub par performance out of the way.

Hugo wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 8:59 am That'll be some match in Christchurch.

Tbh, that's not the worst thing in the world for the Chiefs - it was gonna be hard to sustain 3 consecutive weeks of high level rugby like they've been playing. That's a sub par performance out of the way.

Was thinking the same - the perfect game to cash in the ol' Get Out of Jail card.

Go Canes!

Had Blues by 5. Only FR pick for them Thought it worth the punt with the Chiefs' disruptions.

Gumboot wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 9:03 am

Hugo wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 8:59 am That'll be some match in Christchurch.

Tbh, that's not the worst thing in the world for the Chiefs - it was gonna be hard to sustain 3 consecutive weeks of high level rugby like they've been playing. That's a sub par performance out of the way.

Was thinking the same - the perfect game to cash in the ol' Get Out of Jail card.

Just keep playing Finau.

Guy Smiley wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 9:11 am

Gumboot wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 9:03 am

Hugo wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 8:59 am That'll be some match in Christchurch.

Tbh, that's not the worst thing in the world for the Chiefs - it was gonna be hard to sustain 3 consecutive weeks of high level rugby like they've been playing. That's a sub par performance out of the way.

Was thinking the same - the perfect game to cash in the ol' Get Out of Jail card.

Just keep playing Finau.

Just because you love Ethan doesn't mean you have to hate Sami.

Hugo wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 9:04 amGo Canes!

Really nervous about this one. Going to Canberra's always tough, and I fear the loss of Aumua may be costly...

Brumbies:
Tom Wright, Andy Muirhead, Len Ikitau, David Feliuai, Corey Toole, Noah Lolesio, Ryan Lonergan, Tuaina Taii Tualima, Rory Scott, Rob Valetini, Tom Hooper, Nick Frost, Allan Alaalatoa (capt), Billy Pollard, James Slipper.
Reserves: Lachlan Lonergan, Lington Ieli, Feao Fotuaika, Lachlan Shaw, Luke Reimer, Harrison Goddard, Declan Meredith, Ollie Sapsford.

Hurricanes:
Ruben Love, Bailyn Sullivan, Billy Proctor (co-capt), Peter Umaga-Jensen, Fatafehi Fineanganofo, Brett Cameron, Cam Roigard; Peter Lakai, Du’Plessis Kirifi (co-capt), Devan Flanders, Caleb Delany, Zach Gallagher, Tyrel Lomax, Jacob Devery, Xavier Numia.
Reserves: Raymond Tuputupu, Tevita Mafileo, Pasilio Tosi, Hugo Plummer, Brad Shields (co-capt), Ereatara Enari, Ngatungane Punivai, Callum Harkin.

Gumboot wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 9:13 am

Guy Smiley wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 9:11 am

Gumboot wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 9:03 am

Was thinking the same - the perfect game to cash in the ol' Get Out of Jail card.

Just keep playing Finau.

Just because you love Ethan doesn't mean you have to hate Sami.

I’m just playing along here dude

Snap!

This format is ludicrous - they got massively bailed out by my plucky Blues. I guess an extra game is good for the coffers...

Anyway, best of luck to the Canes.

Possible last chance for a number of Brumbies to impress Joe Schmidt before he names his squad to face the Lions...


Carn, Canes!

The way I read the rules, we now have Crusaders at home for their semi vs Chiefs and whoever wins in the Canes v Brumbies at home for their semi vs Blues.

Does that sound right?

Kiwias wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 9:42 am The way I read the rules, we now have Crusaders at home for their semi vs Chiefs and whoever wins in the Canes v Brumbies at home for their semi vs Blues.

Does that sound right?

Nope. Blues in ChCh next week.

Kiwias, I think the Blues will play the Saders and the winner of this match plays the Chiefs in Hamilton.

Crusaders will play all their remaining games at home.

Thanks for the clarification.

Aussie ref for the game in Aust in a knockout game shouldn't happen

Super rugby need to sort this out

Been impressed with Fatafehi Fineanganofo recently. He looks to have genuine top-end pace.

Superb line from Sullivan for the try

Brumbies hold on 35-28.

Hard luck, Canes.

Good game, that.

Had the Bunglies by 9 for this 1. Again, surprised by the weight towards the Canes in the picking.

Even against a home town ref the Canes still could have won this game. But they allowed the Brumbies to score almost ever time straight after they scored Thye couldn't stop the lineout drive. Its their main attacking weapon but it seemed the Canes were not prepared for it

And replacing Love at first with Cameron was idiotic by Laidlaw. I gave up on him after this. He just another Canes so-so coach that will never win anything but won't be bad enough to be fired.

Rieko had another so-so game against the Chiefs so Proctor needed a big one. Sadly he had his worst game since his return

Well played Blues. I would like to blame all of our injuries but we had the winning of that game in the first half and just could not comvert.

Finau must NOT go near an ABs jersey. Just far too dumb.

Lord knows where the Brumbies fans will stay next weekend. Fielddays weekend and every room was booked out a year ago.

Enzedder wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 7:32 pm Well played Blues. I would like to blame all of our injuries but we had the winning of that game in the first half and just could not comvert.

Finau must NOT go near an ABs jersey. Just far too dumb.

Maybe a tad over eager at times... but just what we need at 6 imho.

The Chiefs really missed Jacobson last night. Hope he'll be OK for the Brumbies game.

Gumboot wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 8:07 pm

Enzedder wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 7:32 pm Finau must NOT go near an ABs jersey. Just far too dumb.

Maybe a tad over eager at times... but just what we need at 6 imho.

Gumboot wrote: Fri Jun 06, 2025 9:37 pm St Ethan was industrious as ever, but he might need to work on his tackle technique. Didn't really matter with the game already won last night, but imagine it happening in the final minutes of a tight test match...

6 Samipeni Finau: A mixed bag from the flanker who landed some excellent hits on defence and made several strong carries, but also conceded a silly penalty in the Blues’ 22 and made it worse with a scuffle that pushed the Blues further up the field. A stunning cover tackle which denied Caleb Clarke a try, delaying the Blues’ score. He conceded multiple silly penalties in the latter stages of the game which gave the Aucklanders a route back into the game and they took it with both hands. His ill-discipline was costly. 4

https://www.planetrugby.com/news/chiefs ... bly-costly

Guy Smiley wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 8:46 pmhttps://www.planetrugby.com/news/chiefs ... bly-costly

Didn't think you frequented the joint across the road, mate.

Anyhoo, great to see the Saders faithful standing by their man no matter what. Ideally both Ethan and Sami will be fit and firing when Razor picks his first squad of the year. The more contenders, the merrier.

Gumboot wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 10:58 pm

Guy Smiley wrote: Sat Jun 07, 2025 8:46 pmhttps://www.planetrugby.com/news/chiefs ... bly-costly

Didn't think you frequented the joint across the road, mate.

Anyhoo, great to see the Saders faithful standing by their man no matter what. Ideally both Ethan and Sami will be fit and firing when Razor picks his first squad of the year. The more contenders, the merrier.

I just googled Finau penalties and that came up. It was too poetic to refuse

Look, I freely admit there are flaws in everyone’s game. Blackadder made a dumb mistake the other night with the high shot and his immediate remorse showed he knew it. I don’t have an issue with that either way, it happens. He’s not a penalty magnet though, and his value to the team is obvious. I’m happy if he gets selected on his merits like every other player. I think your needling about that because of some inferred bias on Razor’s part leaves you open to challenge and I’m happy to play that game. I leave myself wide open to the same thing when it comes to various Barretts, after all.

I reckon Finau is a bad bet for test selection though. He had a shot and fluffed it first up, being nearly invisible against… was it England? Since then he’s shown a worrying tendency to do the wrong thing and it detracts from his physical presence on field. I question his character and whether it’s suitable for test match rugby.

We’re not coaches though, armed with truckloads of data and psyche assessments. It’ll be interesting to see who they go with, surely at this stage of the RWC cycle we’ll be getting an inkling about the style and tactics Razor and co are aiming for.

I always enjoy the anticipation leading up to the first squad naming of the year - who makes the cut, and who gets the chop?

And will there be any bolters like Sititi and Tosi last year?

Maybe Razor has room for both Blackadder and Finau? But who the hell do they leave out with so many loosies playing well?

I guess injuries over the next fortnight may clarify things a bit... was not good to see Lord last only 5 minutes last night. If he could only stay injury free for a while, I reckon he could be a seriously good All Black...

Please, not Finau. He has played himself out of contention I fear

Possible candidates for the backrow?

Sititi, Blackadder, Lakai, Ardie, Withy,* Jacobson, Lio Willie*, Grace*, Papali'i, Kirifi*...

with a few of our locks maybe also in the running as lock / loosie cover. I like Ah Koi and Holland there as extended squad cover, especially Ah Koi, I really like the way he goes about it.

* denotes a roughie suggestion..

Guy Smiley wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 3:04 am Possible candidates for the backrow?

Sititi, Blackadder, Lakai, Ardie, Withy,* Jacobson, Lio Willie*, Grace*, Papali'i, Kirifi*...

with a few of our locks maybe also in the running as lock / loosie cover. I like Ah Koi and Holland there as extended squad cover, especially Ah Koi, I really like the way he goes about it.

* denotes a roughie suggestion..

Yeah, I'm with you on Kirifi being an outside bet, imo the longer the comp has gone on the lower his stock has fallen*. When he inexplicably dropped the ball in the open field with no-one near him versus the Brumbies I couldn't help but think that was somewhat symbolic.

* Not necessarily due to anything the has done, it's just that Ardie and Jacobson have had excellent seasons, Dalton has come into some form in the second half of the season, Sititi is back from injury. At this point I think he's surplus to requirements.

Guy Smiley wrote: Sun Jun 08, 2025 3:04 am Possible candidates for the backrow?

Sititi, Blackadder, Lakai, Ardie, Withy,* Jacobson, Lio Willie*, Grace*, Papali'i, Kirifi*...

with a few of our locks maybe also in the running as lock / loosie cover. I like Ah Koi and Holland there as extended squad cover, especially Ah Koi, I really like the way he goes about it.

* denotes a roughie suggestion..

Ah Koi has been steadily improving, I'm also a fan, but I'm not sure about his pace as a loosie. As in not sure, not actually knowing how well his pace measures up to the incumbents over a game.

On the subject of loosies Justin Marshall threw Hoskins Sotutu's name into the conversation, albeit to downplay his chances of making the squad.

Can't say he was on my radar and he doesn't have a big work rate but he's a pretty handy ball carrier, massive unit and always takes multiple defenders to bring him down.

I don't remember the details but there's some chat about him being a knobhead with a bad attitude... not bothering to show up to, or talk with, the national coaches.

Guy Smiley wrote: Mon Jun 09, 2025 6:50 am I don't remember the details but there's some chat about him being a knobhead with a bad attitude... not bothering to show up to, or talk with, the national coaches.

I can believe that. A little presumptuous on my part but the way he carries himself on the pitch he looks like he thinks he's the top dog.

Just found this article on him, from rugbypass, which suggests that he is marginally more effective defensively this season but has been substantially less impactful in attack. https://www.rugbypass.com/news/stat-cha ... s-in-2025/.

Hugo wrote: Mon Jun 09, 2025 6:55 am A little presumptuous on my part but the way he carries himself on the pitch he looks like he thinks he's the top dog.

I appreciate your humility but I don't think it's presumptuous... nothing wrong with owning your perceptions. All of us are subjective after all, we're looking in from the outside and go with what we see or feel. There's a lot to be said for those 'first impressions' type of character assessments we all do. A lot of it may be subconscious but we interpret a lot of signals in others, body language being a massive factor... Sotutu has everything going for him when it comes to rugby, he could absolutely dominate with the physique and skills that he has, but he doesn't.

Hugo wrote: Mon Jun 09, 2025 6:47 am On the subject of loosies Justin Marshall threw Hoskins Sotutu's name into the conversation, albeit to downplay his chances of making the squad.

Can't say he was on my radar and he doesn't have a big work rate but he's a pretty handy ball carrier, massive unit and always takes multiple defenders to bring him down.

Enjoyed the Goldie-free Breakdown for a change. Can't see Sotutu making it back into the ABs tbh - there are just too many other good loosies in good, if not better, form.

Was a bit surprised the panelists were talking up Finau. Assume they must've all been on drugs.

Gumboot wrote: Mon Jun 09, 2025 7:12 am

Hugo wrote: Mon Jun 09, 2025 6:47 am On the subject of loosies Justin Marshall threw Hoskins Sotutu's name into the conversation, albeit to downplay his chances of making the squad.

Can't say he was on my radar and he doesn't have a big work rate but he's a pretty handy ball carrier, massive unit and always takes multiple defenders to bring him down.

Enjoyed the Goldie-free Breakdown for a change. Can't see Sotutu making it back into the ABs tbh - there are just too many other good loosies in good, if not better, form.

Was a bit surprised the panelists were talking up Finau. Assume they must've all been on drugs.

I know, I broadly agree with what they say but they do have some howlers - last week they were all lavishing praise on Finlay Christie - ???!!!!

Finau showed incredibly poor discipline when the match was on the line. To their credit the Blues did a great job of staying patient but the Chiefs kept the door open for them. Finau gave away two penalties in the closing stages of the game and that penalty miss by DMac with 5 mins to go also became crucial - it would have pushed the lead out to 9 points.

Was just taking the piss, tbh. I really like Finau, and agree with them that he's what we're looking for at blindside. Yes, his discipline was poor at the end of the game, but I doubt McMillan - or Razor - will let him forget it in a hurry. He'll learn, and his good shit far outweighs the bad, imho.

If, as the panelists suggested, it's gonna be a straight shoot-out between Finau and Blackadder for one spot, my money's firmly on the former.

Sounds good but he didn't learn from the first penalty and did it again.

He needs to PROVE that he has gotten on top of it before he gets my support.