NPR

Dan54 wrote: Tue May 27, 2025 7:59 pm

Gumboot wrote: Tue May 27, 2025 4:31 am

Dan54 wrote: Tue May 27, 2025 4:12 amOnly trouble with Norris is, he is only contracted to end of super season, from then on he contracted to Aus.

What? Those thieving bloody crims have pulled a reverse poach??

My balls up, think it's Ross who is contracted to Reds. I got him and Norris mixed up.

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue May 27, 2025 6:39 pmI'd be happy if Dalton never wore the black jersey again. I just don't think he does enough of the down and dirty hard work. It's great to be a big fast carrier but come in off the wing ya seagull and give the honest blokes a hand in the rucks.

Gumboot wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 8:14 pm

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue May 27, 2025 6:39 pmI'd be happy if Dalton never wore the black jersey again. I just don't think he does enough of the down and dirty hard work. It's great to be a big fast carrier but come in off the wing ya seagull and give the honest blokes a hand in the rucks.

I've never been entirely convinced by Papali'i at test level, but gotta admit he's in career best Supe form right now. Reckon he's on Razor's short list, and his odds of making the cut will only improve if the Blues make the play-offs. It's a crowded field though, and I can't see him starting the year at 7 like last year tbh. He's up against the likes of Jacobson, Lakai and Blackadder, who can also cover other positions.

Great to have so many quality contenders in good nick. Apart from Blackadder of course... but like Havili, he already has one of Razor's golden tickets, so will continue getting picked till he's on his death bed.

Guy Smiley wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 9:54 pmHow many Tests was Havili selected for in 2024? I thought Jordie was Razor’s pet 12. As for Blackadder… I know you like the way Tom Christie goes at 7 but have you noticed the way the Saders get bossed off the ball when Blackadder’s not playing? I’m not sure he’s a cert for the ABs at all but I can understand the value of his bruising style of play and his willingness to get down and dirty in the middle. That’s the reason I had for pumping Lakai’s tyres a few posts back too.

Firewater wrote: Thu May 29, 2025 8:27 am NZ need younger options at first

There's Barrett (his best years well behind him but still easily better than Plummer) and DMac (miles better than the limited Jacomb) and now Love and then no one

So, what does Laidlaw do. Move him to FB. FFS. And replacing him with Cameron who is an adequate NPC 1st.

Firewater wrote: Thu May 29, 2025 8:27 am NZ need younger options at first

There's Barrett (his best years well behind him but still easily better than Plummer) and DMac (miles better than the limited Jacomb) and now Love and then no one

So, what does Laidlaw do. Move him to FB. FFS. And replacing him with Cameron who is an adequate NPC 1st.

Hugo wrote: Thu May 29, 2025 6:38 pmAt this stage Barrett has to be glued to the bench imo and be an emergency option in a tight spot. Any minutes he would have got need to go to a younger player, whoever that is. It's not like the Blues backline has been firing this season.

The Chiefs have confirmed New Zealand Rugby’s worst-kept secret that outside back Shaun Stevenson will join Japanese club Kubota at season’s end.

NZR turned down Stevenson’s request last December for an early release from his contract, instead granting him a brief sabbatical in Japan when Kubota came calling.

The one-test All Black told the Waikato Times in March his reasons for wanting out.

“Just the lack of feedback and just not knowing where I sat in the pecking order,” he said was the catalyst, after what he felt was some “disappointing” communication from All Blacks coach Scott Robertson and his assistants.

NZ Rugby had been seeking a fresh sponsor to add to its stable after the British petrochemical company Ineos quit its six-year sponsorship arrangement midway through its deal.

Gallagher, not to be confused with the principal partner of the Chiefs franchise in Super Rugby Pacific, has a high profile in rugby and markets itself as being "one of the world's largest'' insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting firms.

Gallagher, which becomes the “official insurance broker of NZ Rugby, and the brand will appear on both the training and match day shorts of all NZ Rugby’s national teams, including the All Blacks, Black Ferns, Māori All Blacks, and Sevens teams.

Gallagher’s head quarters are in Chicago in the United States. The All Blacks will play Ireland in the city in November.

In 2023 World Rugby announced a multi-year global partnership with the company, which became the official partner of women's rugby through to the Rugby World Cup. The global event will be staged in England later this year.

Gallagher was also the official partner of WXV, the annual competition between women's national teams, in 2023 and 2024.

Gallagher is also the official title partner of Premiership Rugby in England.

“This is a partnership that reflects the scale, ambition and passion for rugby both our organisations have,” NZ Rugby chief executive officer Mark Robinson said in a statement.

“We couldn’t be more excited to align with Gallagher Insurance, who already have deep expertise in elite sport, along with a key business focus in New Zealand and globally. This partnership helps solidify where we’re heading, not just with our teams on field, but as a sporting brand off the field too.”

In early May NZ Rugby bolstered its stable of sponsors when it declared it had inked a three-year sponsorship agreement with Toyota as the "official mobility partner'' of the All Blacks, Black Ferns, Māori All Blacks, All Blacks Sevens, All Blacks XV and NZ under-20s.

Gumboot wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 11:38 pm

Guy Smiley wrote: Wed May 28, 2025 9:54 pmHow many Tests was Havili selected for in 2024? I thought Jordie was Razor’s pet 12. As for Blackadder… I know you like the way Tom Christie goes at 7 but have you noticed the way the Saders get bossed off the ball when Blackadder’s not playing? I’m not sure he’s a cert for the ABs at all but I can understand the value of his bruising style of play and his willingness to get down and dirty in the middle. That’s the reason I had for pumping Lakai’s tyres a few posts back too.

Havili only played 3 tests last year, which is hopefully 3 more than he plays this year.

I'm not that fussed about Christie, but he's been going well for the Saders so credit where it's due. Blackadder's problem is he's always feckin' injured.. and there are other loosie contenders currently doing well in the dark spaces (including Papali'i imho) who aren't made of glass. Razor should cut his losses, but does he have the fortitude required to drop Saders royalty?

Edit: Just checked, and Blackadder's only featured in 14 of the 55 ABs tests played since he debuted in 2021.