NPR

Kiwias wrote: Sat Mar 04, 2023 11:27 pm

Grandpa wrote: Sat Mar 04, 2023 10:48 pm On PR, guys that actually went to the matches in Melbourne are saying how good the crowds are... I am presuming they must all be sitting behind the camera?

My Melbourne-based brother was at the ground for the Canes vs Rebels match and reckoned the crowd was 3/4 kiwis and was very vocal. He said it was a much larger crowd than he had expected.

That's good news, but it sure didn't look very big on the telly.

Gumboot wrote: Sat Mar 04, 2023 11:33 pm

Kiwias wrote: Sat Mar 04, 2023 11:27 pm

Grandpa wrote: Sat Mar 04, 2023 10:48 pm On PR, guys that actually went to the matches in Melbourne are saying how good the crowds are... I am presuming they must all be sitting behind the camera?

My Melbourne-based brother was at the ground for the Canes vs Rebels match and reckoned the crowd was 3/4 kiwis and was very vocal. He said it was a much larger crowd than he had expected.

That's good news, but it sure didn't look very big on the telly.

Maybe they had most of the spectators all in one area (as they do in Japan) and maybe he had pretty low expectations.

Ymx wrote: Sat Mar 04, 2023 8:58 am

Guy Smiley wrote: Sat Mar 04, 2023 7:21 am

Gumboot wrote: Sat Mar 04, 2023 7:11 am

Mo'unga's defensive weakness was ruthlessly exposed by England in 2019 and 2022, at great cost to the team. DMac is a much better defender imho.

Yeah...


nah

The anti-saderism re-emerges

Nah bro, I'm very much an equal opportunity hater. Supe franchise doesn't come into it. I used to gleefully disparage Jackson Garden-Bachop when he was stinking up the Canes, and I'm convinced that Caleb Clarke will cost us the Bledisloe and any slight chance we may have of advancing beyond the quarter finals of the RWC. Yes, he's that bad.

Brumbies vs Blues kicking off soon...

Blues down to 13 within the first ten minutes

This is a lolly scramble. Blues making tons of stupid mistakes and not looking after the ball.

All over the place, but still a scoreless second half.

Blues being very casual with the ball. And why did BB try a cute little kick there into the in-goal???

Kiwias wrote: Sun Mar 05, 2023 4:41 am Blues being very casual with the ball. And why did BB try a cute little kick there into the in-goal???

His field kicking has been mostly poor.

Brumbies deserved that win. The Blues will be kicking themselves after blowing so many chances. The second half was a tough watch.

Ridiculous heat to play a game of rugby in though.

Enzedder wrote: Sun Mar 05, 2023 6:36 am Ridiculous heat to play a game of rugby in though.

Yep, it must've been a furnace at ground level.

Gumboot wrote: Sat Mar 04, 2023 11:33 pm

Kiwias wrote: Sat Mar 04, 2023 11:27 pm

Grandpa wrote: Sat Mar 04, 2023 10:48 pm On PR, guys that actually went to the matches in Melbourne are saying how good the crowds are... I am presuming they must all be sitting behind the camera?

My Melbourne-based brother was at the ground for the Canes vs Rebels match and reckoned the crowd was 3/4 kiwis and was very vocal. He said it was a much larger crowd than he had expected.

That's good news, but it sure didn't look very big on the telly.

1/4 full tops

Enzedder wrote: Sun Mar 05, 2023 6:36 am Ridiculous heat to play a game of rugby in though.

Jordie looked like he was about to burst yesterday, his face was so red.

Chiefs vs Highlanders kicking off soon in Kirikiriroa.

Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-John Ryan, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Tupou Vaa'i, 6-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 7-Sam Cane (cc), 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Brad Weber (cc), 10-Damian McKenzie, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Rameka Poihipi, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-George Dyer, 19-Samipeni Finau, 20-Pita Gus Sowakula, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Josh Ioane, 23-Daniel Roa

Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Rhys Marshall, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Pari Pari Parkinson, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-James Lentjes (c), 8-Hugh Renton, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Mosese Dawai, 12-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13-Josh Timu, 14-Martin Bogado, 15-Freddie Burns
Reserves: 16-Leni Apisai, 17-Ayden Johnstone, 18-Saula Mau ,19-Fabian Holland, 20-Sean Withy, 21-Kemara Hautiti-Parapara, 22-Fetuli Paea, 23-Connor Garden-Bachop

Hunt fluffs the kick off, Weber engineers a great move off the resulting scrum and wonderboy DMac fluffs it.

Situation normal all round, so far.

Guy Smiley wrote: Fri Mar 10, 2023 6:09 am Hunt fluffs the kick off, Weber engineers a great move off the resulting scrum and wonderboy DMac fluffs it.

Situation normal all round, so far.

Your irrational hatred of McKenzie is palpable. He may not be Mo'unga, but he ain't bad.

Also good to see another absentee from 2019 in Jacobson playing so well this year.

Gumboot wrote: Fri Mar 10, 2023 6:21 am

Guy Smiley wrote: Fri Mar 10, 2023 6:09 am Hunt fluffs the kick off, Weber engineers a great move off the resulting scrum and wonderboy DMac fluffs it.

Situation normal all round, so far.

Your irrational hatred of McKenzie is palpable. He may not be Mo'unga, but he ain't bad.

Also good to see another absentee from 2019 in Jacobson playing so well this year.

I just wanted to get in first, before you started talking about how good he is.

Early signs that the Clan are going to use Burns' kicking a lot.

Madness kicking to the Chiefs back three. Madness.

Cane's looking very good this year.

Foul play in the background? Late hit on MacKenzie?

Dang, Parkinson looked very wobbly.

Fabian Holland on a lot earlier than planned.

Score is a little flattering for the Clan, I reckon...

the Chiefs look way more efficient and dangerous with the ball and their ability to absorb attacks and counter looks deadly.

I reckon they'll run away with it towards the last quarter of the game.

Chiefs ahead 8-0 at half time. Messy old game so far...

That's more like it.

I really rate Ollie Norris. He's a good young loosehead who nails his basics but also offers a bit around the field.

Not a great game, but the Chiefs get the bikkies.

We've got some great younger players coming through who really show serious potential. There's a lot to like in this Chiefs team and I am a massive fan of McMillan's coaching chops, he hasn't put a foot wrong.

If Shaun Stevenson doesn't get an AB gig this year it'll be a travesty.

Guy Smiley wrote: Fri Mar 10, 2023 7:55 am We've got some great younger players coming through who really show serious potential. There's a lot to like in this Chiefs team and I am a massive fan of McMillan's coaching chops, he hasn't put a foot wrong.

If Shaun Stevenson doesn't get an AB gig this year it'll be a travesty.

He's certainly making a strong case for promotion, but who does he replace. It seemed like Will Jordan was the automatic replacement for Jordie when the latter moved into 12, but with Jordan now out of action for so long, and for who knows how much longer, it might be Stevenson's best chance to break through.

Can't wait for Zarn Sullivan to get back on the field as well.

Fijian Drua hosting the Saders in about 15 minutes.

Fijian Drua: Ilaisa Droasese, Selestino Ravutaumada, Iosefo Masi, Apisalome Vota, Eroni Sau, Teti Tela, Frank Lomani, Elia Canakaivata, Kitione Salawa, Joseva Tamani, Leone Rotuisolia, Isoa Nasilasila, Jone Koroidaudua (c), Meli Tuni.
Reserves: Mesulame Dolokoto, Emosi Tuqiri, Samuela Tawake, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Meli Derenalagi, Peni Matawalu, Kemu Valetini, Kalavati Ravouvou.

Crusaders: Chay Fihaki, Sevu Reece, Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Macca Springer, Fergus Burke, Willi Heinz, Christian Lio-Willie, Tom Christie, Sione Havili-Talitui, Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett (c), Tamaiti Williams, Quentin MacDonald, George Bower. Reserves: Ioane Moananu, Kershawl Sykes-Martin, Seb Calder, Zach Gallagher, Corey Kellow, Noah Hotham, Taha Kemara, Dallas McLeod.

Looking forward to seeing the old Hamilton Boys High 9/10 combo of Hotham and Kumara come off the Saders bench for their Supe debuts.

The ball's like a bar of soap. Pretty much everyone's struggling to handle it. Very messy.

Edit: spoke too soon - great pick-up and try to Masi!

Drua on fire! At this speed in this heat the Saders are gonna be knackered in the second half.

It is a very messy game, neither team really looking co-ordinated.

12-all after 50 minutes and the Saders being run off their feet.

I'm not a big Ennor fan, but his tackling has been top notch today.

Drua are really turning up the heat now and go ahead with their third try

Dang!

For a game that looked rubbish after the first 20 minutes, that was an absolute cracker!

Congrats Drua, that was one of the biggest upsets in Supe history. But I have no doubt the Saders will take a lot of "learnings" from this game and use it to propel them to yet another title.

Gumboot wrote: Sat Mar 11, 2023 5:29 am Congrats Drua, that was one of the biggest upsets in Supe history. But I have no doubt the Saders will take a lot of "learnings" from this game and use it to propel them to yet another title.

Too early for me. Half 5 in the morning here.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Mar 11, 2023 5:39 am

Gumboot wrote: Sat Mar 11, 2023 5:29 am Congrats Drua, that was one of the biggest upsets in Supe history. But I have no doubt the Saders will take a lot of "learnings" from this game and use it to propel them to yet another title.

Too early for me. Half 5 in the morning here.

You're up in time for the curtain raiser.