NPR

Maybe not. Good guys leading 21 - 3 at ht.

Some of these Saders look in top nick. Hopefully Blackadder's ok and back on for the second half. And the front row's been terrific. Te Mighty Williams is playing really well and looks much fitter than he was last year... he could benefit from Newell's season ending injury later in the year.

Ennor's been impressive again. He's starting to bring consistently strong performances, now that he's finally injury free.

Gumboot wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 7:05 am Ennor's been impressive again. He's starting to bring consistently strong performances, now that he's finally injury free.

He is looking sharp on attack, with his speed having returned. SOme superb low tackles.

Blackadder gone for second half

Even the lineout maul specialist Brumbies cannot beat the Crusaders lineout maul defense.

Wrong person in support there.

Fa’ainganuku plays like a man twice his size.

Guy Smiley wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 7:28 am Fa’ainganuku plays like a man twice his size.

Yep, he's full of confidence.

Interesting to see how many tackles the Brumbies are putting on around their opponents’ necks.

Lio-Willie a good replacement for Blackadder

Poor positioning by the new Crusaders wing

Guy Smiley wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 7:28 am Fa’ainganuku plays like a man twice his size.

A convincing bp win against the top Aussie team will do very nicely.

Kiwias wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 7:52 am A convincing bp win against the top Aussie team will do very nicely.

Yep, the Saders look back to their clinical best.

Jesus... I know Nisbo can mistake one Polynesian player for another but he's just told us Goldie is Karl Te Nana FFS.

Guy Smiley wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 7:55 am Jesus... I know Nisbo can mistake one Polynesian player for another but he's just told us Goldie is Karl Te Nana FFS.

Waratahs vs Chiefs kicking off in Sydney in a few minutes.

Waratahs: 1-Te Tera Faulkner, 2-Dave Porecki, 3-Harry Johnson-Holmes, 4-Jed Holloway, 5-Ned Hanigan, 6-Lachlan Swinton, 7-Michael Hooper, 8-Will Harris, 9-Jake Gordon (C), 10-Ben Donaldson, 11-Dylan Pietsch, 12-Joey Walton, 13-Izaia Perese, 14-Mark Nawaqanitawase, 15-Ben Dowling
Reserves: 16-Tolu Latu, 17-Tom Lambert, 18-Daniel Botha, 19-Taleni Seu, 20-Zac Von Appen, 21-Harrison Goddard, 22-Harry Wilson, 23-Nemani Nadolo

Chiefs: 1-Aidan Ross, 2-Bradley Slater, 3-John Ryan, 4-Brodie Retallick, 5-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 6-Samipeni Finau, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Brad Weber, 10-Bryn Gatland, 11-Etene Nanai-Seturo, 12-Rameka Poihipi, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Damian McKenzie
Reserves: 16-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-George Dyer, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Kaylum Boshier, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Daniel Rona, 23-Shaun Stevenson

Well that was a competition for long

This is terribly scrappy. Tahs can't string 2 phases together and giving away pens for fun whilst the Chiefs' aren't respecting possession with too much Hail Mary stuff.

{EDIT} And pay the price.

70% possession to Chiefs and 7-7 says it all. Profligate, inaccurate and lacking patience.

Guy Smiley wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 6:42 am Forgot this was on...

after waiting 4 years because of visa issues and then Covid, I finally have a wife with me here in NZ. Picked her up yesterday at 6am. She's in the shower just now and I remembered this... welcome to Friday nights at home, honey.

When you say "a" wife.. is there more than one Guy?

Jesus no, I'm not that crazy. We've had to wait 4 years for her to be here is all I meant. It's been a hard road.

Guy Smiley wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 3:19 pm

Jesus no, I'm not that crazy. We've had to wait 4 years for her to be here is all I meant. It's been a hard road.

That's awful. How traumatic for you both. Is this the first time in NZ for her too?

No, she’s been here twice before. We met here. I don’t think she’d been to an actual rugby game though.

Yet.

Christ that’s a long time to be apart.

A mate of mine’s wife had travelled back to Taiwan as her dad was really unwell. Unfortunately she was then caught up in the COVID mania and was stuck there until about 6 months ago.

Guy Smiley wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 6:42 am Forgot this was on...

after waiting 4 years because of visa issues and then Covid, I finally have a wife with me here in NZ. Picked her up yesterday at 6am. She's in the shower just now and I remembered this... welcome to Friday nights at home, honey.

And might we enquire which nation she is from?

Oh. And Rule 1 dammit.

Jaki is Thai...

last year, I experienced an inflamed optic nerve. Scary as fuck... it can be a precursor to MS. I spent a month waiting on results from and MRI and specialist availability before being told I was ok but it would take another two months or so. NZ's borders had only just reopened to travel. I travelled. Spent 5 weeks in Thailand hanging out on the farm, sweating through April, walking the dog and visiting a few temples and setting up a company so we can do some business. That was our only physical contact between now and the start of Covid... I was up there in the weeks just before the pandemic began.

So it's been something of a saga for us and I even had a year stuck in Australia to add to the joy. It's all good now though.

And no, no rule 1.

Guy Smiley wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 10:00 pm Jaki is Thai...

last year, I experienced an inflamed optic nerve. Scary as fuck... it can be a precursor to MS. I spent a month waiting on results from and MRI and specialist availability before being told I was ok but it would take another two months or so. NZ's borders had only just reopened to travel. I travelled. Spent 5 weeks in Thailand hanging out on the farm, sweating through April, walking the dog and visiting a few temples and setting up a company so we can do some business. That was our only physical contact between now and the start of Covid... I was up there in the weeks just before the pandemic began.

So it's been something of a saga for us and I even had a year stuck in Australia to add to the joy. It's all good now though.

And no, no rule 1.

Happy for you. Glad about your eye result too. Have spent a lot of time in Thailand over my life... love the place.

Good stuff, Guy.


Highlanders vs Fijian Drua kicking off shortly in Dunedin.

Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Leni Apisai, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Pari Pari Parkinson, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Sean Withy, 7-Billy Harmon (c), 8-Hugh Renton, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Jonah Lowe, 12-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13-Josh Timu, 14-Martin Bogado, 15-Sam Gilbert
Reserves: 16-Jack Taylor, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Saula Ma'u, 19-Will Tucker, 20-James Lentjes, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Cameron Millar, 23-Jake Te Hiwi

Fijian Drua: 1-Emosi Tuqiri, 2-Tevita Ikanivere, 3-Samuela Tawake, 4-Isoa Nasilasila, 5-Leone Rotuisolia, 6-Joseva Tamani, 7-Kitione Salawa, 8-Meli Derenalagi (c), 9-Frank Lomani, 10-Kemu Valentini, 11-Taniela Rakuro, 12-Kalaveti Ravouvou, 13-Apisalome Vota, 14-Iosefo Masi, 15-Selestino Ravataumada
Reserves: 16-Zuriel Togiatama, 17-Meli Tuni, 18-Jone Koroiduadua, 19-Sorovakatini Tuifagalele, 20-Vilive Miramira, 21-Elia Canakaivata, 22-Peni Matawalu, 23-Teti Tela

Not sure which commentator is was but one of them just called the Landers “the Crusaders” as they swept down field just before scoring their try.

Coming up soon, Moana Pasifika hosting the Hurricanes at Mt Smart Stadium.

Moana Pasifika: 1-Abraham Pole, 2-Samiuela Moli, 3-Suetena Asomua, 4-Samuel Slade, 5-Mike McKee, 6-Solomone Funaki, 7-Alamanda Motuga, 8-Lotu Inisi, 9-Ereatara Enari, 10-Christian Lealiifano, 11-Anzelo Tuitavuki, 12-Henry Taefu, 13-Levi Aumua, 14-Tima Fainga’anuku, 15-William Havili
Reserves: 16-Ray Niuia, 17-Ezekiel Lindnemuth, 18-Chris Apoua, 19-Potu Leavasa, 20-Miracle Faiilagi, 21-Manu Paea, 22-D’Angelo Leuila, 23-Fine Inisi

Hurricanes: 1-Xavier Numua, 2-Asafo Aumua, 3-Owen Franks, 4-Dominic Bird, 5-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6-Devan Flanders, 7-Peter Lakai, 8-Ardie Savea (c), 9-Cameron Roigard, 10-Brett Cameron, 11-Salesi Rayasi, 12-Billy Proctor, 13-Bailyn Sullivan, 14-Kini Naholo, 15-Josh Moody
Reserves: 16-Hame Faiva, 17-Tevita Mafileo, 18-Pasilio Tosi, 19-TK Howden, 20-Brayden Iose, 21-Jamie Booth, 22-Riley Hohepa, 23-Julian Savea

Franks is just killing the MP loosehead...I think that's 3 scrum penalties so far.

Guy Smiley wrote: Fri Mar 24, 2023 10:00 pm Jaki is Thai...

last year, I experienced an inflamed optic nerve. Scary as fuck... it can be a precursor to MS. I spent a month waiting on results from and MRI and specialist availability before being told I was ok but it would take another two months or so. NZ's borders had only just reopened to travel. I travelled. Spent 5 weeks in Thailand hanging out on the farm, sweating through April, walking the dog and visiting a few temples and setting up a company so we can do some business. That was our only physical contact between now and the start of Covid... I was up there in the weeks just before the pandemic began.

So it's been something of a saga for us and I even had a year stuck in Australia to add to the joy. It's all good now though.

And no, no rule 1.

Well I hope your scare is limited to that. My wife has transverse myelitis which is bad enough but for some time it was presumed to be the onset of MS. Make the most of your time together.

These blowouts are a bore. Frustrating that after this time both FD and MP can't do the basics right for even a few mins, let alone the sustained periods to be competitive against any well organised team.

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 7:30 am These blowouts are a bore. Frustrating that after this time both FD and MP can't do the basics right for even a few mins, let alone the sustained periods to be competitive against any well organised team.

It is disappointing after looking much better in earlier games. Don't think I will watch the rest of it.

Kiwias wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 7:40 am

Torquemada 1420 wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 7:30 am These blowouts are a bore. Frustrating that after this time both FD and MP can't do the basics right for even a few mins, let alone the sustained periods to be competitive against any well organised team.

It is disappointing after looking much better in earlier games. Don't think I will watch the rest of it.

The crowds have been... Trump crowds?

The results don't really interest me. It's more about the form of the incumbent ABs and their emerging challengers. Look at Lakai tonight - a full 80 minutes with an impressive final 10 to ice the show.

And speaking of emerging talents, how good is Cam Roigard?

Gumboot wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 8:01 am And speaking of emerging talents, how good is Cam Roigard?

He is pretty close to making the AB squad as #4(?)

Gumboot wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 8:01 am And speaking of emerging talents, how good is Cam Roigard?

I didn't watch the game... how did he go? He's getting noticed more and more, there's a small crew at work who like to pick the game apart, a few of them are mentioning him now.

Guy Smiley wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 8:42 am

Gumboot wrote: Sat Mar 25, 2023 8:01 am And speaking of emerging talents, how good is Cam Roigard?

I didn't watch the game... how did he go? He's getting noticed more and more, there's a small crew at work who like to pick the game apart, a few of them are mentioning him now.

He has the most well-rounded, test-ready skill set of any uncapped halfback I've seen in recent years.