Barrett replaces Barrett as Hurricanes prepare for Brumbies showdown

'Ulster, though no one wants to admit it, isn't much more than a development province right now.'

JW 4 hours ago

TBH, and is the case over here with many of fans as well, I prefer the idea of the AIL and NPC (Currie Cup) being the true heart beat/cornerstone of the domestic rugby scene.

As per Miz question, how does a team go about that rise you reckon? Someone got hold of the club and drove an interest in participation back with it, or just another generational thing?

Also, a question I gave Miz, do you think the AIL has the ability to go somehere, be more than what it is now, like the Championship over in England etc? If it doesn’t get the same spotlight as those other examples ofc, it might do already? Sydney club footy has several thousand attend its finals games etc.

'Ulster, though no one wants to admit it, isn't much more than a development province right now.'

JW 4 hours ago

Yeah I mentioned in another thread to Deepete that’d I’d been comparing NZ and Ireland, and what I ended up recognizing was that Aussie is far similar to Ireland. Sorry, for ignorance but I can’t remember if that similarity was shared or used in some of NBs articles.

NZ and Ireland both use provinces but Aussies States are far more inline with your provinces right? I was wondering if the AIL had clubs that were on the tipping point of wanting to become pro, how close could they get to a current Ulster etc. I’m guess the Ulster players no longer have much to do with their former clubs, unlike how SR players jump back to their equivalent provinces? So one of those Ulster teams wouldn’t say have half a dozen URC players who would otherwise represent them?

I’m wondering how close their structure can get to being a good back drop for the Aussie players once SR is finished, if the top structures are similar (State v Province), could Irelands club system also be used, but most importantly, would it be good enough?

BTW ty for the reply, I actually had the tables up and had no idea who was who lol

Gregor Townsend breaks silence on his Scotland future

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'Ulster, though no one wants to admit it, isn't much more than a development province right now.'

JW 4 hours ago

I wonder if we’ve struck a winner here (generally speaking pro to amateur eras). I’d been thinking of the differences between here and Ireland, and despite our pro teams being created from large regions and very similar to yours, you’ve always had that as you’re top tier domestic comp right, but along the lines of our smaller provincial competition (the NPC) it was previously representative?

There is still a very big following and favourtism for rep rugby over ‘club’ or the pro rugby teams here. I wonder if Ulster has just lost that edge of what it meant to be a rep team? Were as Leinster have been able to embrace the new ‘club’ persona far more enthusiastically?

Could be that ‘pro’ vibe just eating into what were the strengths of your traditional teams?

'Ulster, though no one wants to admit it, isn't much more than a development province right now.'

JW 4 hours ago

So their was some sort of continuity from that era. It all sounds very normal, ex players shouldn’t need to be asked to give back to the game, even in the amateur era, and if you’re critical of them not being professional and committed enough then, well you’re in the same boat as everyone else basically.

Ulster have certainly been pretty good since I’ve been noticing, though sure, clearly under Leinsters spotlight. Picked up on a few of this years unfortunate results though. Happens to the best, hopefully things turn around.

Ah right, so in a similar boat to the Ulster schools? If it’s anything like here, I don’t know why that should matter much. Widely varying results from within NZ despite heavily funded/wealth Auckland sides to my understanding, totally about the crop of players coming through. Though that might still be a key point of difference in perspective, with although not in numbers, rugby still being the dominant sport here?

Late Alessandro Izekor try sees Benetton snatch win over Edinburgh

Rebeccakirby 5 hours ago

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Rebeccakirby 5 hours ago

25 Six Nations Memorable Moments: 5 to 1

Black Ferns and All Blacks Sevens teams named to chase more Hong Kong history

Cantab 5 hours ago

Did you mean plonkers? AB mens 7s are a mere shadow of the team they used to be and it would be a major upset if they even won their pool. Womens 7s are a different proposition skilful, and likely finalists along with Australia. They at least look like they enjoy what they do.

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GP 6 hours ago

'There's a lot of rugby knowledge': David Havili's reasoning behind in-form backline

David Havili has been a revelation as Crusaders captain. He has revelled in it and lead from the front , even though he is a second five. As the article says there is a lot of nous in that team and David has a great support crew.

Blues vs Crusaders takes: Blues season on it's last legs, Penney proved right

GP 7 hours ago

Chay Fihaki and Ioane Moananu as stated were impressive. After Macca Springers performance the week before, Chay really answered . Scoring a great try and all round game. Ioane Moananu has blossomed this year for the Crusaders , coming off the bench and starting.

Reds pack turn up the heat on Highlanders, snap 12-year Dunedin drought

Utiku Old Boy 7 hours ago

DeGroot seems to be struggling this year to impose himself on the game. Fitness seems to be an issue. His fellow prop Ma’u was schooled by Hodgman and the Landers suffered as a result. The addage that games are won up-front was well demonstrated in this contest. I felt that JJ was light on tight forward depth this year and this game illustrated it. Despite some talent, Landers will not threaten this season. BTW, young fullback Hurley was badly exposed and the hype around him should be dialed back.

Blues vs Crusaders takes: Blues season on it's last legs, Penney proved right

d 7 hours ago

“every game this season has been a nailbiter”

for some as yet unrevealed new definition of nailbiter. coach killer, perhaps? No concept of ball retention, tactical kicking skills that sink to a new low; what happened to the hard-nosed forward-driven side that we lauded last year?

Brumbies on high alert: Len Ikitau’s stark warning over ex-boss

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Ardy 8 hours ago

Can 'Tongan Thor' rediscover his strength before the Lions arrive?

MZ: He surprised me in the Reds game where he started a 8. I think he was replaced by Gleeson in the 2nd half and the Tahs gained nothing I could see. Not sure what we are going to do with him but, IF he continues over the next couple of years he will be hard to keep out of any side.

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fl 8 hours ago

Mick Cleary: 'England are back among the heavyweights.'

with the depth england have atm, I don’t think its especially true to say the summer will be a development tour! I reckon England will field a strong side, and look to build directly on the progress seen in the 6N.

Graham Simmons had a go selecting a full Lions squad in a recent article on here titled “2025 Lions' selection: An idiot's guide”

Excluding all the players he named, England could still field a matchday 23 of:

1 - Baxter

2 - Cowan-Dickie

3 - Heyes

4 - Coles

5 - Martin

6 - Cunningham-South

7 - Underhill

8 - T. Willis

9 - JVP

10 - M. Smith

11 - Sleightholme

12 - Dingwall

13 - Slade

14 - Roebuck

15 - Furbank

16 - Dan

17 - Rodd

18 - Opoku-Fordjour

19 - Clark

20 - Hill

21 - Pollock

22 - Randall

23 - Ojomoh

That’s a team that would be immediately ready to perform at the highest level, not one that needs a huge amount of time to develop. Add to that the wider squad could include Langdon, Obano, Davison, Owen, Tuima, Roots, Pepper, Quirke, C. Atkinson, Butt, Murley, Steward, Hendy.

That would be a pretty solid group of players - almost all 36 of whom are already test level. And even then we’re not including Oghre, Iyogun, Fasogbon, Ewels, Mercer, Dombrandt, Fisilau, Barbeary, Spencer, S. Atkinson, Beard, Elliott, Carpenter etc.,

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lK 8 hours ago

Fijian Drua secure star flyhalf Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula on new deal

👍🏼

Clayton McMillan's frank 'from the sublime to pretty ordinary' Chiefs assessment

lK 8 hours ago

👍🏼