Roar Guru
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Cantabrian Kiwi living on the glorious Central Coast of New South Wales. Am most happy when the Crusaders and All Blacks are sweeping all before them. I can resist anything but temptation.
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You’ve got to hand it to Steve Hansen for his shock move to start Scott Barrett at blindside for the crunch World Cup semi-final…
Uruguay’s shock shooting down of the flying Fijians in their Rugby World Cup 2019 opener was a defining moment for them, for South American…
Okay, so the All Blacks have just lost at home. For the first time against a single Test nation in nine years. As a…
Some weeks are moving weeks in Super Rugby, but this week was consolidation week. The Crusaders consolidated their spot on the top of the…
Opening the floodgates is a sure-fire way to break a drought. The Waratahs rained in six tries to the Highlanders two at Allianz Stadium…
It's hard to know what to make of the Waratahs' near miss against the all-conquering Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday night. No doubt coach…
What are you doing to me Tahs? I'd already gone and half bloody written this post as the drought breaker. Had got the calculator…
It's early days, but the Melbourne Rebels look like serious contenders to at least top the Aussie conference in Super Rugby 2018. Essentially a merged…
It was plenty of mud and guts but all the glory belonged to the Crusaders, winning 17-0 against the Highlanders in a quagmire quarter-final…
A Brumbies win over the red-hot Hurricanes in tonight's first 2017 Super play-off in Canberra would be both a desperately-needed shot in the arm…
I sent a text to my Auckland-based Eden Park season-ticket-holding brother on the Saturday afternoon prior to that epic All Blacks vs Lions second…
I can’t remember being this excited since the time I discovered my local Sydney supermarket had a Kiwi lollies section. The rugby world has…
Poor old Warren Gatland. Just can't take a trick can he? After his Lions, the best of Britain and Ireland, were undone by the…
Goodness me, that heavyweight bout between the Crusaders and Chiefs was a game of almost absurd quality last night. Where to start? The sensational…
Depth. It's a great quality to have in a human being. It's a dimension Olympic divers are grateful for in the pools below. And…
The big cats are out of the bag with the naming of Warren Gatland's 41-man Lions squad to face the toughest assignment in world…
I used to think a contraction of Australian rugby talent from five Super teams to four was the way to go and have commented…
Apart from the Force and their well-deserved win against the Reds on Thursday night, it was a miserable old round for the Aussie Super…
It’s not a bad thing when a weekend of rugby begins on a Thursday evening and is still going strong on Monday morning -…
To be sung to the tune of OMC's 'How Bizarre': Brother Kieran’s in the back, gaffer Hansen’s in the front Cruisin' down the lobby…
And that next game is against the Pumas in their backyard Kirky, who will be full of confidence after last night’s win and the fact they blitzed the Boks last time they played them and seem to know how to score tries against the ABs. Time for Hansen and co to adopt a slightly more defensive mindset I think.
As a rabid All Blacks fan, why was I okay with this shocking loss?
Good points Rich. The problems facing Aussie rugby are many and complex and all have been well documented on this site. In the most crowded footballing market in the world, rugby need its act together more in Oz than in any other top tier nation but sadly the opposite is the case. Even great positives, like Sydney club finals attracting 15,000-strong crowds, only serve to highlight dwindling crowds at Super Rugby and Wallaby level. And the anonymity of the NRC. On a very superficial level, a good start would be to build some momentum into the Wallaby RC season and the way not to do that is with the opening 2 matches against the ABs. The Wallabies started with a hiss and a roar against the Pumas last night but fell away badly as the Argies maintained the rage. It might have been a different story had they still been in contention for the comp But there appear no quick fixes in Oz rugby at the moment and it’s a big worry,
As a rabid All Blacks fan, why was I okay with this shocking loss?
Good point Highlander. I guess a mitigating factor is he doesn’t have a 35,000 to 60,000 gallery in attendance and millions watching all over the world every time he takes a swing on a golf course.
As a rabid All Blacks fan, why was I okay with this shocking loss?
Agree Hayden. If the ABs had jagged a win those cracks would not as exposed as they are now.
As a rabid All Blacks fan, why was I okay with this shocking loss?
Good thoughts CUW. The thing about JB at fullback is that it shifts the best, and best thinking fullback in the world onto the wing. Admittedly Ben Smith then goes on to become virtually the best right wing in the world, but the ABs lose his crucial ability to orchestrate from the back. And it means he’s involved less and more dependent on play going his way than he is on his roving fullback commission. Evidence of that on Sat against the Boks when his involvements dropped off markedly when the ABs needed him most in the 2nd half.
Smith’s the vice captain of the team but he’s the general of the backs and there’s just so much more than he can see and act upon at FB than he can on the wing. For all his undoubted ability, Jordie is not in the same planet as an organiser. And with brother Beauden operating in much reduced time and space than he’s used to, a man with a plan from the back was sorely missed last night. Still, Hansen puts these blokes into these situations to see how they cope. So many learnings from last night, it will be fascinating to see how they are applied in coming weeks.
As a rabid All Blacks fan, why was I okay with this shocking loss?
Dead right Taylorman. Reality check all round.
As a rabid All Blacks fan, why was I okay with this shocking loss?
Will it what BF. On the high veldt into the bargin.
As a rabid All Blacks fan, why was I okay with this shocking loss?
Good points Peter
I think BB was a bit in shock and awe about the lack of space and time the Boks’ defence was affording him to operate in. The scrum had parity at best, certainly not the launch pad the ABs have been able to strike from in the past. Dead right about respect, or lack thereof. Big wake up call.
As a rabid All Blacks fan, why was I okay with this shocking loss?
Yes Neutral. Defensive effort world class and they nailed their opportunities on attack. Totally deserved the win.
As a rabid All Blacks fan, why was I okay with this shocking loss?
Thanks BogBaz.
That was about as undead a rubber as we are ever likely to see.
As a rabid All Blacks fan, why was I okay with this shocking loss?
Well said Corne
I hope it’s the start of something big for the Boks.
As a rabid All Blacks fan, why was I okay with this shocking loss?
Yes Paulo
Hard to escape feeling the, at some level, maybe even sub consciously, the ABs had bought into the hype about themselves and were a tiny bit complacent. As level headed as Hansen tries to keep everything, it’s probably just human nature that dictates this will happen. Doubt it will be an issue going forward though!
As a rabid All Blacks fan, why was I okay with this shocking loss?
Ha Danny, great minds eh?!
As a rabid All Blacks fan, why was I okay with this shocking loss?
Nice wrap Geoff.
Yes, Crusaderland is a place where players, coaches and their talent are nurtured off the field to optimise performance on it. It’s such a virtuous loop that leads to great succession planning and execution. It’s an environment that gets the best out of the best players and coaches who almost never want to leave in their prime. And it attracts those with the potential to be the best because they know they’ll realise their potential in such a set up. And on the juggernaut goes. You only have to look at the Barrett brothers. No coincidence that the one firing at the business end is wearing red and black.
The Wrap: Continuity the key as Crusaders march onwards
Cracking read Nick
I really did think the ‘landers were set to land the knockout blow until that big “trigger” moment at 50 mins. The Southern men just appeared so much more potent in the scoring stakes, and then that confluence of events happened. It will give the Tahs much needed confidence for their tough assignment this week, as will the fact the Jags offloading game caused a bit of trouble for the Lions in the opening exchanges of their Q final last week.
On a personal note I have a Tah supporting mate’s buck’s night Sat week in Syd and, as the sole Cantab present, would love nothing more than a Saders v Tahs final to kick proceedings off. Caaaarn the Tahs.
Momentum changer: How the Waratahs turned yellow into playoff gold
Cracking game. Brilliance, brutal efforts and blunders. It had it all. Huge amount of sting in defence. Especially from Laumape. What a difference a week makes. BB and TJP stepping up as they usually do at business ends and look to have their mojo back for the finals. Gareth Evans immense. Chiefs made it a significant contest. Retallic had off the planet workrate and execution again, Messan and Cane were warriors. Charles Ngatai was Walter Little and Tim Horan. Laser vision for the gap and the fast feet to scuttle through it. I hope there’s a Bunce-like late AB bloom for Ngatai after he gets back from his French sabbatical. If he’s back in 3 years he’ll still only be the age Bunce was when he made his AB debut, the start of a mostly excellent 55-match Test career. DMac unfortunately tonight was more Carlos Spencer 2003 Rugby World Cup than Dan Carter 2005 Lions Tour, which you can’t help but think he’s got the talent to be. Now all the ‘Canes need is for the Sharks to get over the Saders tonight and they have a home semi. Unfortunately for the Canes that’s more of a Tui beer billboard that a realistic chance. At this stage. They’ll be plotting to raid the citadel!
Hurricanes vs Chiefs: Super Rugby quarter-finals live scores, blog
Yet another excellent wrap GP. No argument from me about that ‘Saders are near unbackable favourites to go back to back.
On other matters, as we head closer to the teeth of the international season, I’m concerned about how out of form the Hurricanes’ AB halves are at the minute. Very average display by both Beauden Barrett and TJ Perenara against the Chiefs on Friday night.
This no doubt stems partly from the poor service they received from the big boys up front, but players of their sort of calibre should be able to rise above prevailing conditions to stamp their class.
TJP effected a number of bounce passes to Mr. Nobody while BB was lethargic and flat footed. When he’s not brilliantly taking the game by the scruff of the neck, BB can have a tendency to be a bit of a ball shoveller.
Am sure these 2 will step up to the plate, otherwise it will be a short-lived finals campaign for the ‘Canes who are in danger of being picked apart by the far more in-form halves combo of Brad Weber and Damian McKenzie in the re-match this weekend.
The Wrap: I’m calling it - Super Rugby is already over
Are TJP and BB the most quality out-of-form halves pairing in the world right now?. So flat-footed. Brad Weber was dynamic in stark comparison to TJP tonight. Sticks out even more when you know how good TJP is. Imagine Damian Mackenzie would have loved a crack in that game. He’s in outrageous form. The sort that justifies his odd lapse in concentration when trying to conjure a brilliant thing.
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Chiefs vs Hurricanes: Super Rugby live scores
France just seemed to want it more tonight and were generally better when they had it.
Has the brash collision of talent and adulation for it + youth that is France been corralled just enough?
Uruguay vs France: FIFA 2018 World Cup highlights, live scores, blog
Thanks Chook
You didn’t miss much by not seeing the NZ derby, apart from watching Jordie Barrett clearly under the effect of having loaded up on the angry pills.
The Tahs’ did deserve a point out of that one but then, if you’re going to sit back and wait for DMac to do the normal thing, then maybe no.
Wallabies team will be interesting tonight…
Big weekend of results consolidates Super contenders
Yes Geoff, he’s redefining the lock’s role, much as I imagine the great Pinetree did a few generations before. I now think we can safely mention the 2 in the same breath!
Big weekend of results consolidates Super contenders
Kiwijack, floodgates referred to the number of points they scored in last night’s game v what the opposition scored, not their win/loss ratio.
How the Waratahs opened the floodgates and ended Australia's drought
Thanks Lindsay. Am glad your trip to the shed was so well intentioned! And yes, maybe there is a novelty aspect to this new zen we’re all feeling post AB loss?
As a rabid All Blacks fan, why was I okay with this shocking loss?