NPR

Noah Hotham...

one to watch, you reckon?

Thanks for your brilliant career, Ryan Crotty. You never let the team down and surprised a lot of people with how good you really are.

Guy Smiley wrote: Fri May 31, 2024 8:14 am Noah Hotham...

one to watch, you reckon?

I may have mentioned that once or twice before.

McLeod has been awful

Saders hopes stay alive for one more day...

Crusaders do what they had to: get a bonus point win. I doubt the soon to be former-Rebels will be able to beat the Drua.

Gumboot wrote: Fri May 31, 2024 6:55 am

Guy Smiley wrote: Fri May 31, 2024 6:51 am 15 minutes until the Saders take on MP at home.

Season on the line...

Saders by 30.

Not bad, Mr Boot.

I love seeing the spectators able to enter the playing area after the match, like old times.

Tahs vs Reds just starting, pretty much a dead rubber, the Tahs aren't making the finals and the Reds are going to finish in fifth spot regardless of result. Bragging rights only at this stage.

The once mighty Waratahs are confirmed as the Official 2024 Wooden Spooners.

D-Day for a couple of teams. If the Drua beat the Rebels in Lautoka this arvo, they're into the playoffs at the Saders' expense.

But if the Rebels win their last game ever, the Saders are through.

Dare to dream. Go you good thing!

Rebels vs Drua has just kicked off

C'mon, the mighty Rebs!!!

One clear forward pass and one clear knock-on in that move by the Drua before the try was scored.

19-all at HT.

Squeaky bum time in Saders Land...

Gumboot wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 2:54 am 19-all at HT.

Squeaky bum time in Saders Land...

Your bum doesn't squeak when you sit in a chair made from the gold of melted down trophies.

I've never really connected with the Australian hype around Taniela Tupou.

I reckon he's massively over rated.

Drua score three tries early in the second half and we can now look forward to a quiet and long off-season.

Guy Smiley wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 3:10 am I've never really connected with the Australian hype around Taniela Tupou.

I reckon he's massively over rated.

Give me Tamaiti Williams any day

Kiwias wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 3:32 am

Guy Smiley wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 3:10 am I've never really connected with the Australian hype around Taniela Tupou.

I reckon he's massively over rated.

Give me Tamaiti Williams any day

Good to see Williams getting game time at both loosehead and tighthead. Wonder if he and Ofa are in a shoot-out for the same ABs squad spot.

Gumboot wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 3:41 am

Kiwias wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 3:32 am

Guy Smiley wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 3:10 am I've never really connected with the Australian hype around Taniela Tupou.

I reckon he's massively over rated.

Give me Tamaiti Williams any day

Good to see Williams getting game time at both loosehead and tighthead. Wonder if he and Ofa are in a shoot-out for the same ABs squad spot.

I think Tamaiti is still quite a raw prospect. I'm impressed at how he's come on over the last 2-3 seasons when you think he was a bench player not long ago so his character and commitment are there but a relative lack of experience might count against him. Still, he played at the RWC and acquitted himself well... and he hasn't been a penalty magnet / card risk. Be good to see him into the squad... he's going to be a serious asset.

Congrats to the Drua who make it into the finals with a decent home win

Guy Smiley wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 3:54 am

Gumboot wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 3:41 am

Kiwias wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 3:32 am

Give me Tamaiti Williams any day

Good to see Williams getting game time at both loosehead and tighthead. Wonder if he and Ofa are in a shoot-out for the same ABs squad spot.

I think Tamaiti is still quite a raw prospect. I'm impressed at how he's come on over the last 2-3 seasons when you think he was a bench player not long ago so his character and commitment are there but a relative lack of experience might count against him. Still, he played at the RWC and acquitted himself well... and he hasn't been a penalty magnet / card risk. Be good to see him into the squad... he's going to be a serious asset.

He has also been in impressive form since returning from injury.

Guy Smiley wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 3:55 am Congrats to the Drua who make it into the finals with a decent home win

This. They had an excellent season and deserve to be in the knock-out rounds.

Drua through!

Saders GOOOONE!!!

End of an era...and of a fantastic winning run. Respect.

Kiwias wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 3:55 am

Guy Smiley wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 3:54 am

Gumboot wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 3:41 am

Good to see Williams getting game time at both loosehead and tighthead. Wonder if he and Ofa are in a shoot-out for the same ABs squad spot.

I think Tamaiti is still quite a raw prospect. I'm impressed at how he's come on over the last 2-3 seasons when you think he was a bench player not long ago so his character and commitment are there but a relative lack of experience might count against him. Still, he played at the RWC and acquitted himself well... and he hasn't been a penalty magnet / card risk. Be good to see him into the squad... he's going to be a serious asset.

He has also been in impressive form since returning from injury.

We have plenty of good young props coming along nicely, but I reckon he could be the best of the lot.

Next up, Hurricanes vs Highlanders in Wellington.

Hurricanes:
15 Ruben Love, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett (c), 11 Salesi Rayasi, 10 Brett Cameron, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Du'Plessis Kirifi, 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 James Tucker, 3 Pasilio Tosi, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia
Reserves: 16 James O'Reilly, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Justin Sangster, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Jordi Viljoen, 22 Riley Higgins, 23 Bailyn Sullivan

Highlanders:
15 Finn Hurley, 14 Connor Garden-Bachop, 13 Matt Whaanga, 12 Sam Gilbert, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Ajay Faleafaga, 9 James Arscott, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Billy Harmon (cc), 6 Max Hicks, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Will Tucker, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Henry Bell, 1 Ethan de Groot (cc)
Reserves: 16 Jack Taylor, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Saula Ma'u, 19 Tom Sanders, 20 Hayden Michaels, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Jake Te Hiwi, 23 Martín Bogado

Great to see Aumua back starting, and looking forward to another Lakai cameo from the bench...

Canes by 40

Oops

Canes by 4

Fark me these jerseys are confusing!

Oops. Canes by 40

Gumboot wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 4:39 am Fark me these jerseys are confusing!

Just turned it on and they are an absolute shitshow.

Canes ahead 29-14 at HT.

Enjoyed the first half, once I uncrossed my eyes.

Kiwias wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 5:01 am

Gumboot wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 4:39 am Fark me these jerseys are confusing!

Just turned it on and they are an absolute shitshow.

Same here... crikey!

Gumboot wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 4:39 am Fark me these jerseys are confusing!

Just tuned in and thought "WTF". I couldn't tell which team was which. Who permits this sh*t?

Gumboot wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 5:22 am Canes ahead 29-14 at HT.

Enjoyed the first half, once I uncrossed my eyes.

The longer I watch it, the more my eyes get crossed

The AFL has a tradition that sees the away team wear white shorts.... rugby could take a leaf out of that book.

Nice bit of play from the Canes there in some broken play chaos

Canes take it 41-14.

The Blues have it all to do against the Chiefs :) Should be a ripper ...

Jethro wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 6:28 am The Blues have it all to do against the Chiefs :) Should be a ripper ...

Yep. Great to see Finau back - wouldn't want to be in Plummer's boots.

Jethro wrote: Sat Jun 01, 2024 6:28 am The Blues have it all to do against the Chiefs :) Should be a ripper ...

Blues need a bp win to go back to #1 and guarantee a home final, assuming they get that far.

Blues:
15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 Mark Tele'a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali'i, 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu'ungafasi
Reserves: 16 Kurt Eklund, 17 Joshua Fusitu'a, 18 Angus Ta'avao, 19 Cameron Suafoa, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Cole Forbes

Chiefs:
15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Emoni Narawa, 13 Daniel Rona, 12 Rameka Poihipi, 11 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Luke Jacobson (c), 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Jimmy Tupou, 4 Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 3 George Dyer, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Aidan Ross
Reserves: 16 Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Sione Ahio, 19 Simon Parker, 20 Kaylum Boshier, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Peniasi Malimali