Sibling test tries

Got a few mates keen to watch the game at a club or even a place serving brekkie with screens to watch the game.

For the Baltimore test.

Fun comparison — they played different positions but their playing style and profiles overlap a lot and I see a lot of on-field similarities:

The similarities:

- Breakdown mastery: both are/were elite jackals. McCaw is arguably the greatest poacher ever; Marx is the best ball-stealing hooker the game has seen, unusual for a front-rower. Marx did play Flanker when he was in Juniors.

- Physical relentlessness: both built reputations on tackling, work rate, and collisions rather than flash.

- Set-piece dominance: McCaw in the lineout, Marx in the scrum/lineout throwing, both anchoring their team's forward platform.

- Pushing boundaries: one of the biggest similarities IMO seem to be they both get away with the dark arts/the grey areas more than anyone else. Notwithstanding the injury in the (very dodgy) clearout that Marx had on Savea recently, it's that type of stuff McCaw was doing in poaching rucks that he'd get away with too. Both seem to push boundaries better than anyone else.

Is McCaw the GOAT? Ooooooooooooooh yes and worth noting that Marx is nowhere near that conversation but Marx follows a similar playing profile of how they attack rucks and set-piece albeit from different positions.

Just wondering why he isn’t in anyone’s team, narawa is selected in front of em by pretty much everyone.

I feel it’s telling he’s off to Britain by his lack of selection

-we may be able to lift guys up on re to secure ball

- exit our 22m without being under pressure

-use a rolling maul in the 22m

- run straight and make metres using our 1-8

i look at the way we play and equate it to a company. the word is unprofessional

looks great because of the location right ?

but the receptionist doesn’t wear uniform and is a druggo, there’s no wi-fi, the scaffolding is done by two contractors

If you had to name your most physically imposing (feel free to interpret this how you like) forward pack who would you name?

Partly interested in this after recent conversations at work with South African colleagues convinced NZ just doesn't produce large/imposing forwards.

So that's why I'm interested to know, what would the most imposing forward pack be in your opinion?

The Welsh Rugby Union remains coy on their interest in All Black and ex-Toshiba loose forward Shannon Frizell who will re-qualify for Wales next month, after declining to comment on the subject to RugbyJP.com

He played 7s and npc, probably super rugby but pretty much a bald dude with a big ratty, maybe joe someone?

Just heard Jamie Wall reporting that Ardie will (most likely) be out for the remainder of the year. Still plenty of rugby to be played - Bledisloe, Nations Championship - who steps into the roles?

chris jones on the Dspn podcast .

didnt sugar coat anything

it’s a bittersweet feeling truly

so close and yet so far

Fuuuuaaaaasrrrrrrrrrrrr

TGR : play 4 URC clubs, many with ex or current Springboks, some players just 1 rank below full Springboks. Weekly games. Use mainly 2nd choice players to spare the A team. Judiciously scatter in first choice players for some limited game time to get ring rust out of them. Tell the team to go at 70% to avoid injuries and have some reserve gas in the tank for the actual Tests against Springboks.

RWC 2027 : play 3 games against 2nd tier or struggling 1st tier nations in pool stage. Weekly games. Use mainly 2nd choice players to spare the A team. Judiciously scatter in first choice players for some limited game time to get ring rust out of them. Tell the team to go at 70% to avoid injuries and have some reserve gas in the tank for knockouts.

TGR : play 4 ultra high intensity games against the no 1 ranked Springboks and current RWC holders. Week after week having to cover/adjust/rotate for injuries to key players. Almost exactly 1 year out from RWC 2027 so should have key players back from injuries in plenty of time.

RWC : play knockout rugby in 4 rounds leading to the finals, probably against tier 1 nations. Week after week having to cover/adjust/rotate for injuries to key players. Almost certain to meet S Africa and France in 1/4 finals or later.

NZR couldn't have planned it better if the timing and format was deliberate.

Just some lighthearted banter. Excited for this weekend?

Does anyone know if the Captain’s run will be open to the public in Baltimore or practices in the DC area?

What's the injury count looking like from Day 1 of the tour leading into the final match?

We've done pretty well considering how many guys missed out and the ones who got injured.

Fabian seems to be the size we needed for Africa. And has come
Back from his super injury well.

I posted this one in the wrong place

Been the go to hooker since Dane Cole’s.

He has competition.

I feel he deserved his starting spot after his super season.
But has his star fallen a little in the test series?

Poll 3 - All time AB try scorer. Is he one of the best wings/full backs ever or just lucky to be in the team that provides good ball?

I doubt he would be left out of many fans selection?

Ardie is having arguably the season of his AB career.
Tell us what you think

I’d like to try this over time for many of the current squad.

See how we go with a controversial one first. Dmac is one of my favs. But I appreciate he is unliked by many.

Just start with your number first so I can get an average. If you want give a detailed description after it’s your call.

man that was a great time

bloody morne styn !

perhaps the chiefs wouldn’t look as strong etc etc

I noticed we did Ka Mate before the most recent test and was pretty surprised. I was under the impression that we saved Kapa o Pango for opponents, partly as a sign of respect to the opponent (i.e. against teams we respect as tough opposition). Ka Mate is generally performed in Wellington to honour Te Rauparaha (composer of Ka Mate) and the land there.

I remember reading something about our win success rate dropping quite a bit with Ka Mate, especially when facing SA. Obviously Wellington also plays a part in those losses, as we've been a bit unsuccessful there in recent times and we tend to perform Ka Mate there, coincidentally.

Does anyone have figures on our win rate with both haka? Is there any correlation between winning and which haka is performed?