I’m absolutely thrilled that Rala is back again as Head Baggage Master for the tour.
I’m less confident about Gerard Carmody’s role as Head of Operations and Enda Falvey’s role as Head of Medical.
A lot of Irish being appointed to positions of critical logistical importance.
History says that’s not a good thing.
he ceased being Oirish years ago
there’s no “I” in team
Any rugby fans looking for brownie points in the morning let the wife sleep in and throw the kids in front of the Super rugby. Crusaders (10/10) vs Hurricanes (8/9) at 8.30. Probably 10 or 12 of All Blacks test 23 on display.
Crusaders will probably look to keep it tight and stop Beauden Barret getting into the game. Hurricanes have a sensational attacking game and considering crusaders are just back from two weeks in South Africa, and are missing Kieran read, I have had a decent bet on hurricanes at Evs straight match bet.
A lovely little treat of a Saturday morning
Lovely. This is exactly the type of New Zealand update that I was hoping would feature in the thread.
Have Waikato been challenged for the Ranfurly Shield yet this year?
What’s the latest on the Kieran Read injury? Will he be back for the British Lions series?
I read today that he is resigned to missing New Zealand’s warm up match against Samoa on June 16th but is not contemplating missing the first test.
I couldn’t say pal. I’d guess they will wait til closer to the end of Super rugby to maximize the hype around it
My best guess would be he will miss the first test. They might play Akira Ione at 8 who, albeit inexperienced at test level, is in tantalizing (cc @buffegan) form for the Blues and would make for an excellent counterpoint to Billy V
Do you find the rugby played in the Northern hemisphere boring compared to down under? I used to enjoy watching Super Rugby the odd time when I had Sky Sports a few years ago but generally wouldn’t watch the European stuff
Christchurch and Canterbury is the real home of rugby in New Zealand. I haven’t been there since the earthquake, but I believe its in rag order.
The first time I was in Christchurch nearly 20 years ago, I was in a bar on a Friday evening. Got talking to a crowd of brickies who had finished up working for the week. One of them was the former Canterbury and New Zealand prop, Bill Bush, who played against the British Lions in the 1977 series. He was talking about the New Zealand tour to the British Isles in 1978. I was asking him did he play in the Munster match. He was telling he that he didn’t, that he played against Ireland four days later and informed me that he propped down against the only man to have won an All Ireland hurling medal and be capped in rugby for Ireland.
The same Bill Bush along with a few other Maori players and Samoan Bryan Williams had sparked the African boycott of the 1976 Montreal Olympics when the Vorster government granted them honorary white status to tour South Africa in 1976 with New Zealand.
Not really. Just different styles of play. A lot of the Super rugby games are absolute crud, there are only 6 or 7 decent sides really.
I would go to a lot of amateur club games here where the standard is decidedly average but if you have two well matched sides who are giving it holly then I’d find it enjoyable.
Most games in the European cup are decent standard. Rarely see a team not bother their hole in the competition. I can see why casual viewers might not enjoy them as much alright
For all the hurricanes talents you cannot win the game being dominated that much in the set pieces. I’d fancy Saracens against either of these in a one off
This misfortune that’s come on at hooker for the hurricanes is in an awful jocker
Sean Fitzpatrick has selected the New Zealand starting XV he would pick to face the British Lions today. The injured Kieran Read, Sonny Bill Williams, Dane Coles and Ben Smith are not considered. He’s selected the three Barrett brothers and the two Savea brothers.
15 - J. Barrett (Canterbury & Hurricanes)
14 - W.R. Naholo (Taranaki & Highlanders)
13 - A.R. Lienert-Brown (Waikato & Chiefs)
12 - R.S. Crotty (Canterbury & Crusaders)
11 - S.J. Savea (Wellington & Hurricanes)
10 - B.J. Barrett (Taranaki & Hurricanes)
9 - A.L. Smith (Manawatu & Highlanders)
1 - J.P.T. Moody (Canterbury & Crusaders)
2 - C.J.D. Taylor (Canterbury & Crusaders)
3 - O.T. Franks (Canterbury & Crusaders)
4 - S.L. Whitelock (Canterbury & Crusaders)
5 - B.A. Retallick (Hawke’s Bay & Chiefs)
6 - S.K. Barrett (Canterbury & Crusaders)
7 - S.J. Cane (Bay of Plenty & Chiefs) (captain)
8 - A.S. Savea (Wellington & Hurricanes)
What’s happened Milner skudder?
Injured again
@gilgamboa - if you could provide an update on this weekend’s happenings as regards the New Zealand-based Super Rugby franchises at some stage over the next day or so, that would be great. Thanking you in advance.
T minus 14 days.
