Super Rugby Pacific 2024: Predicted finish for every Australian team

All Blacks player ratings vs Springboks | The Rugby Championship

SadersMan 15 minutes ago

Nonsense. Context is important & despite the tight losses, the ABs imo are tracking in the right direction.

Foster had 8 years as an ABs Assistant Coach, a stack full of top players like Whitelock, Retallick, Mounga, Frizell, & his first 6 tests (four v AUS & two v ARG) were won 3, lost 2, & drew 1 (a very lucky draw v AUS when the late winning kick hit an upright). Thank goodness they didn't start with a very difficult 2 test series v ENG & 2 away TRC tests v RSA. They would've got walloped.

So much for "international rugger step up" experience.

Springboks reclaim Freedom Cup in titanic All Blacks clash

Hellhound 18 minutes ago

You said it. Very exciting end of year lined up. Not so much for the teams that have to face the Boks. The Boks after a WC tend to go along with quite a few losses due to rebuilding for the next WC. This time around they seem intent on beating everyone in front of them. A big shift mentally and the WC double was just the start. Not the end prize but just the beginning. How far can this Bok team go? They have depth and talent and power. They have x factor. They have x factor players. They have hybrid players in almost every position. They look like a car struggling to start, and yet still have enough to pull of a win. WHEN, not IF, this Boks team start to gel, who can stop them? They are a team walking, getting into rhythm. Will we see them gel and start jogging or running? How many gears do they have? They are not invincible. Not yet. With TB on attack, there is a massive difference in the Boks threat. The forwards just gets stronger and stronger. We are yet to see Cameron Hanekom and Wilco Louw and others who deserves to be part of this squad. So many youngsters that is already world class coming through not getting a look in. The Boks can easily put out 3 teams that can take a WC. Only a fool wouldn't rate this Bok team as great. The accolades speak for themselves. The NH is glued to the TV, watching tensely what's awaiting. They will be scared of what's coming their way. A team that makes 7 to 10 changes each game, and every replacement is as good or even better, is a nasty prospect to await. It's fearsome. What they see is not what they want. The most Bok haters is from the NH. Teams that claim they are the best, but definitely are not. Bragging rights is all that is up for grabs on the EOYT. The players won't show it, but they are scared. The coaches are scared. Any team that can change players like the Boks, is a mighty team. How many injuries is keeping players on the sidelines? Better players than in the current team?

All Blacks player ratings vs Springboks | The Rugby Championship

GM 26 minutes ago

Don't understand why Lomax, a tight-head, was kept on for 70 + minutes. Unheard of, particularly when you've a scrummaging tight-head (Newell) on the bench. Such a shame for a player who, with Taylor and Williams, had got the wood on the Bok scrum (after a wobbly start). But that was the game - Lomax gave away a scrum penalty against a fresh loosehead, then made a tired mistake and got yellow-carded. A red card for whoever was handling the bench.

There was a lot to like about what the ABs did in this series, but TJ, Sevu, Finau, have had their day. The ABs don't have the forward depth of the Boks and really missed Tuipolotu and De Groot. Vai'i was a revelation, but I wonder if Paddy had been there, Razor might have run Scooter at 6 and powered up our pygmy back row (full of hybrid 7s)? Scooter's getting turnovers, and high tackle count but needs to get more opportunities with ball in hand.

Springboks reclaim Freedom Cup in titanic All Blacks clash

TT 33 minutes ago

Best team won ... again.

At least the ref was very communicative & not trigger happy like last week. Some clearly wrong tackler/ruck calls. & Lomax yellow, FACT OF RULES IS a player has to change direction for that infringement. Lomax's feet didn't even move off his spot before Kolbe RAN, AT ANGLE, INTO HIM. NOR any Lomax arms for a classic clothesline. REwatch, blind if can't see it.

None of those wrong ref calls would have changed the result. Best team won.

Wake up Mr Razor & gang. Actually in fairness to Foster... Mr 50% [Fiji doesn't count] Razor.

FORWARDS fine, except desperately need SR star SOTUTU.

BACKLINE 3rd rate. NZ back stocks fantastic but Razor & gang asleep. Changes needed, actually was needed pre-SAf,

TJ, Reece GONE!

Reece?I was his biggest fan, BUT... Low impact & shouldhave been awarded SAf last try. Defensive vague out & didn’t even yell for obviously needed support on the blind. Lost the test . + a few other errors after similar in previous tests.

TJ? Ratima going fine. But Razor replaces him with Mr Shouty, TJ. STILL repeatedly warned be ref to shut it! Nothing professional about him.

Too late now Mr50% but need, AT LEAST [CONSERVATIVELY ];

{starting}

9 {Ratima}/ Christie (ie waiting on Roigard!)

10 {D.McKenzie }/ Plummer

12 {J.Barrett}/ ALB

13 {Proctor} ( backup R. Ioane)

14 {Narawa}/ R. Ioane

11 {C.Clarke} / Tele’a

15 {W.Jordan} (backup J.Barrett)

All Blacks player ratings vs Springboks | The Rugby Championship

SadersMan 38 minutes ago

He didn't knock it on. The pass by TJ was a bullet at Scooter's head. Check the replay.

Springboks player ratings vs All Blacks | The Rugby Championship

Hellhound 43 minutes ago

Hitting the nail on the head although I would have been harsher. We don't blame the Kiwi supporters, but some may. Why don't you apply for the job? I'm sure you would be good at it, unlike this fool.

15 Go to comments

Hellhound 46 minutes ago

Springboks player ratings vs All Blacks | The Rugby Championship

Worst ratings rater of all journos. Weak. I'd suggest when watching games, drink a little bit less. It's hard to see through a haze. Goes to show that they would just hire about anybody as long as you bend. Sober up, watch the game again, and then redo the ratings. You did do these ratings to bash the Boks. They got another double, this time over the AB's. You don't help the AB's players by telling them they are better than they are, pampering them. Claiming they were better in both tests and still the better team lost? Both games? Are you high? You are a joker replacement journo.

15 Go to comments

OJohn 49 minutes ago

Can Joe Schmidt create an 'Australian Way' punters will embrace?

I look forward to your apology for the abuse, in advance. On what planet was this morning's game acceptable. Oooo Joe is so great so wonderful, all Australian coaches are useless. Except Joe Schmidt is now looking worse than Eddie Jones. You know, the world's worst coach ever. Until Schmidt came along that is .....

Can Joe Schmidt create an 'Australian Way' punters will embrace?

OJohn 52 minutes ago

And yet, it seems I'm the only one who knows what he's talking about. I should change my name to The Inconvenient Truth.

I look forward to a little less abuse and knocking and bit more respect. I will not be holding my breath tho .......

Can Joe Schmidt create an 'Australian Way' punters will embrace?

OJohn 55 minutes ago

Oh Scotty, embarassment much ?

Can Joe Schmidt create an 'Australian Way' punters will embrace?

OJohn 56 minutes ago

Oh boy are the excuses for Joe Schmidt going to be great next week. .......

Springboks reclaim Freedom Cup in titanic All Blacks clash

JW 57 minutes ago

Theres so many ways to view intercepts for sure. I'm defintely along your lines of better rulings, like in this case, is he too close to stick out a hand, could he be allowed to fling out a hand at that range but he must remain upright and not stretch for it? Did it even for forwards judging by recent rulings? and perhaps the hardest question to answer, does defining a intercept with all these qualifiers people have to understand actually make it better?

For me the picture is like Locke's its a all or nothing approach, you don't catch it and its a scoring chance, you're off full stop. Or you can do what you like to get any body part possible in the road of it and its treated like a normal charge down (imagine someone slapping it down and it bounces back up into their arms and they charge off down the field!!) :D

Scott Robertson reflects on the All Blacks’ Freedom Cup loss to Springboks

Hellhound 1 hour ago

Razor was untouchable in a club competition that favours the AB's with no real competition. The Crusaders has been the main feeding trough for the ABs for a long time. Easier to stay strong and win against weaker club teams like Super Rugby Pacific. A great club coach doesn't make for a winning test coach. Rassie took over a Bok team that got flogged by everyone. He changed them around and created a winning team and culture. Razor took over a team that barely lost in a WC final. Massive difference between the 2 coaches and teams during transition phases. The question have to be asked...Is the problems in NZ rugby deeper than the team? Are they growing weaker due to coaching or competition? This 2 tests the AB's had it but lost it against a team that is swapping and changing continuesly. Changing that many players, no matter how good they are, you lose a lot of little things. In attack the Boks struggle to gel, they play in short bursts and currently is a team who rescue themselves through sheer power or broken play. Their mental strength is one of the biggest changes in the team. They find a way to win. They believe that they are the best but they are not letting it make them complacent. They know they are hard to beat and at any given day can lose. They are not the polished product and far from reaching their end goal. Rassie keeps shifting the goal posts. Making it harder for every player to keep their spot on the team. Fozzie was seen as the worst AB's coach, but he got them to the WC final. The NZRU would have been very happy that the AB's lost that final. What would it have looked like if they fired a coach they mocked, gave a hard time and fired long before the WC, if he won the WC? They are not good at their jobs. Just like with the Aussie board, this NZ board is failing upwards. How long before the AB's become the Wallabies? The players are trying hard, but they can do only so much. Razor is a coach of habit. He has his favourites. Is the current AB's team the best players in each position in the country? Or is there better players that don't get a look in? These players are not bad. The best though? Imagine what an Aki Bundee would have been able to do, and other players the AB's throw away for fun. Now they gain residency and play for other countries or go back to their Island nations and play for them. No matter how I look at it, NZ rugby is going backwards. I don't blame the players. NZ still produce world class players, but a lot of questions is left to answer. More than just a losing team. Razor should not have walked in as head coach. He should have been assistant to learn the ropes of international rugby. There is a vast difference between club and international rugby. Is the NZRU setting up Razor to fail?

4 Go to comments

OJohn 1 hour ago

Historic collapse as Wallabies concede record score to Argentina

The excuses for Schmidt will be fun next week ....

2 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

Springboks reclaim Freedom Cup in titanic All Blacks clash

Yeah I just don't think the majority actually care enough to know why SA are better imo, so like rather than get excited by this challenge they'll just wait till NZ starts beating SA again (not that I'm trying to suggest these losses are enough to lose supporters).

All Blacks player ratings vs Springboks | The Rugby Championship

km 1 hour ago

For sure, but then darry and aumua need to be used and Newell on earlier.

The fast ruck ball is where they looked great and I see that being how they need to play to win big games.

Nick gill has some work to do if we're not fit enough to play that game.

That was our bread and butter years ago. Run the big boys off the park.

Springboks reclaim Freedom Cup in titanic All Blacks clash

JW 1 hour ago

That is a fact I have not heard many Springbok fans talk about, life after Rassie.

I think he is so different he will really need to stop playing his games and stuff in a few years. If he doesn't settle selection in particular down and help with transition I have definitely considered it being a rough change "coming down" from Rassie as a coach. So that's all without factoring in him just simply being the best coach in the world as well!

I'm not sure it was that much of a step up from Ireland. And as I see with those two teams, SA will also be at the same game, using the next group of teams down to get better at the killer parts of the game. The ones you don't get much practice at executing in these tight games (why execution is always such a big word from the coaches). As NZ is also getting their combinations firing, so will SA be making this improvement you ask. I'm not sure Argies will be the team to try it on but Rassie is already trying something for that first game. Even these EOYTs are looking exciting now.