All Blacks 2025

[Gumboot]

The ABs domestic test schedule for 2025 has been announced:

July Series
France, Saturday, July 5, 7.05pm, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
France, Saturday, July 12, 7.05pm, Sky Stadium, Wellington
France, Saturday, July 19, 7.05pm, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton

Rugby Championship
South Africa, Saturday, September 6, 7.05pm, Eden Park, Auckland, Freedom Cup
South Africa, Saturday, September 13, 7.05pm, Sky Stadium, Wellington, Freedom Cup

Australia, Saturday, September 27, 5.05pm, Eden Park, Auckland, Bledisloe Cup

Tasty...

[OomStruisbaai]

Springboks should target the Wellington test.

[Enzedder]

Springboks should target the Wellington test.

A NZ defeat in Wellington is a given. They should target Eden Park

[Enzedder]

Looks like Captain Kirk will be NZR Chair as well. Good move (I think - have no knowledge of his Chairmanship ability)

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360516795 ... r-nz-rugby

[Gumboot]

Springboks should target the Wellington test.

A NZ defeat in Wellington is a given. They should target Eden Park

Yeah, those bloody Cake Tin games have got me worried already.

[Enzedder]

Poor Shaun Stevenson - plays for the wrong franchise I guess.

https://www.planetrugby.com/news/all-bl ... rtson-snub

And yet Sevu Reece still plays regularly.

[OomStruisbaai]

Springboks should target the Wellington test.

A NZ defeat in Wellington is a given. They should target Eden Park

Eden Park is a nightmare. B team for that one A team for Wellington.

[OomStruisbaai]

Sadly France will send their u20s to NZ

[OomStruisbaai]

The GOAT will never go there.

[Grandpa]

Springboks should target the Wellington test.

A NZ defeat in Wellington is a given. They should target Eden Park

Eden Park is a nightmare. B team for that one A team for Wellington.

Springbok's greatest ever team should settle for nothing less than two resounding wins. They're favourites for every test now. It's part of being great.

[Guy Smiley]

A NZ defeat in Wellington is a given. They should target Eden Park

Eden Park is a nightmare. B team for that one A team for Wellington.

Springbok's greatest ever team should settle for nothing less than two resounding wins. They're favourites for every test now. It's part of being great.

Every loss is a choke.

[Grandpa]

Eden Park is a nightmare. B team for that one A team for Wellington.

Springbok's greatest ever team should settle for nothing less than two resounding wins. They're favourites for every test now. It's part of being great.

Every loss is a choke.

As hosts we must provide an Eden choke, followed by a Cake Tin gag... anything else would be rude.

[Hugo]

Probably nothing to be concerned about but I saw a photo of Kieran Read on his Instagram feed and it is striking how slender he looks.

Truthfully, I didn't recognise him, he seems to have lost some weight and he looked gaunt.

[Grandpa]

Probably nothing to be concerned about but I saw a photo of Kieran Read on his Instagram feed and it is striking how slender he looks.

Truthfully, I didn't recognise him, he seems to have lost some weight and he looked gaunt.

This video? Doesn't look too bad... and it's quite recent I think.

[JM2K6]

Probably nothing to be concerned about but I saw a photo of Kieran Read on his Instagram feed and it is striking how slender he looks.

Truthfully, I didn't recognise him, he seems to have lost some weight and he looked gaunt.

This video? Doesn't look too bad... and it's quite recent I think.

Really enjoyed his run in Doctor Who

[Grandpa]

Probably nothing to be concerned about but I saw a photo of Kieran Read on his Instagram feed and it is striking how slender he looks.

Truthfully, I didn't recognise him, he seems to have lost some weight and he looked gaunt.

This video? Doesn't look too bad... and it's quite recent I think.

Really enjoyed his run in Doctor Who

[JM2K6]

It's uncanny

[Hugo]

Probably nothing to be concerned about but I saw a photo of Kieran Read on his Instagram feed and it is striking how slender he looks.

Truthfully, I didn't recognise him, he seems to have lost some weight and he looked gaunt.

This video? Doesn't look too bad... and it's quite recent I think.

Yeah, he doesn't there, it was the photo of him at Auckland airport. It's just he looks like he lost so much weight in the face. I actually did not even recognise him when I first saw the photo.

Grandpa, were you the poster that share the story about Buck Shelford coming to your school to give a speech? Where he was calling students losers? I was thinking about that the other day, must admit the image of him showing up to a school and berating kids tickled me in a strange way.

[Grandpa]

Probably nothing to be concerned about but I saw a photo of Kieran Read on his Instagram feed and it is striking how slender he looks.

Truthfully, I didn't recognise him, he seems to have lost some weight and he looked gaunt.

This video? Doesn't look too bad... and it's quite recent I think.

Yeah, he doesn't there, it was the photo of him at Auckland airport. It's just he looks like he lost so much weight in the face. I actually did not even recognise him when I first saw the photo.

Grandpa, were you the poster that share the story about Buck Shelford coming to your school to give a speech? Where he was calling students losers? I was thinking about that the other day, must admit the image of him showing up to a school and berating kids tickled me in a strange way.

No, that wasn't me... I have met Buck and had quite a long chat with him... about 30 years ago.

Why was he calling the students losers?

re Kieran, yeah that one photo he does look gaunt... maybe just a bad shot... he looks ok in the video which is recent.

[Hugo]

No, that wasn't me... I have met Buck and had quite a long chat with him... about 30 years ago.

Why was he calling the students losers?

As it was explained I think he was there to give a speech to the kids in the school, which you would imagine would be a typical paint by the numbers motivational type of thing. But instead he was curmudgeonly, curt and very direct. Said if they failed it would be a reflection of them. It was actually a bloody funny anecdote tbh because I just had this vision of a grumpy ex All Black ruining everyone's day.

[Sandstorm]

Former Rugby Pros often lose weight. Matfield and Schalk are much thinner now than when they were playing.

[Grandpa]

No, that wasn't me... I have met Buck and had quite a long chat with him... about 30 years ago.

Why was he calling the students losers?

As it was explained I think he was there to give a speech to the kids in the school, which you would imagine would be a typical paint by the numbers motivational type of thing. But instead he was curmudgeonly, curt and very direct. Said if they failed it would be a reflection of them. It was actually a bloody funny anecdote tbh because I just had this vision of a grumpy ex All Black ruining everyone's day.

I'd love to hear it... he could be quite blunt.

[Grandpa]

Former Rugby Pros often lose weight. Matfield and Schalk are much thinner now than when they were playing.

Richie McCaw the same. Though he is training for a completely different sport now.

[Sandstorm]

Former Rugby Pros often lose weight. Matfield and Schalk are much thinner now than when they were playing.

Richie McCaw the same. Though he is training for a completely different sport now.

Elected Bribery & Embezzlement?

[Hugo]

No, that wasn't me... I have met Buck and had quite a long chat with him... about 30 years ago.

Why was he calling the students losers?

As it was explained I think he was there to give a speech to the kids in the school, which you would imagine would be a typical paint by the numbers motivational type of thing. But instead he was curmudgeonly, curt and very direct. Said if they failed it would be a reflection of them. It was actually a bloody funny anecdote tbh because I just had this vision of a grumpy ex All Black ruining everyone's day.

I'd love to hear it... he could be quite blunt.

Grandpa, I found it, it was Fujikiwi who related it. For some reason I could not get the search function on my phone to work but I got it on my laptop.

Speaking of ex-international pricks.

My last year of coaching, 2002, I was promoted to assistant coach of the First XV at our school, the peak of my coaching career.

Buck Shelford came and watched our annual local derby, played for "The Stott Cup". We came away with a narrow win.

Later that year, Buck was the guest speaker at our school graduation. He started his speech by saying he'd been at the match, had thought the opposition were a better team than us, but noted that we'd won anyway.

He said, "It just goes to show..."

And we all waited to hear some wisdom about perseverance, or beating the odds or something like that.

"...that sometimes the donkeys win."

It could have been funny if he'd said it with any comic timing, or irony or lightness. But he said it with withering scorn and contempt.

His whole speech was a nasty, cynical rant. It was pretty horrifying. A prick of a man.

Honestly, I know FK said he was nasty about it but when I read this story I was crying with laughter. I didn't get past the "donkeys win" line so I actually pictured him delivering it in a comedic way.

[Hugo]

Former Rugby Pros often lose weight. Matfield and Schalk are much thinner now than when they were playing.

Indeed. I'm certainly glad that Read is not in poor health.

I got this book for Christmas and it is bloody briilliant:
https://upstartpress.co.nz/product/behi ... w-zealand/

I've only read the introduction and the chapter on the renaissance of the Haka in the mid 80s.

It is basically the history of the All Blacks as told by the players. Its in chronological order but I think it will be more fun to read it in different segments.

I'm planning on reading the 1998-2000 chapters first (the terrible year of 98, France semi of 99 and the epic Bledisloe Cup games of 2000).
Then 1993-1997 (Lions tour, Lomu's debut season, 1995 RWC and the series win in SA, back to back tri nations wins), then 1987-1992.

I've barely started it but based on the introduction I know it is going to be a great read. The authors are obviously very knowledgeable and the writing style is very academic, in a good way. Comprehensive and authoritative.

[Grandpa]

As it was explained I think he was there to give a speech to the kids in the school, which you would imagine would be a typical paint by the numbers motivational type of thing. But instead he was curmudgeonly, curt and very direct. Said if they failed it would be a reflection of them. It was actually a bloody funny anecdote tbh because I just had this vision of a grumpy ex All Black ruining everyone's day.

I'd love to hear it... he could be quite blunt.

Grandpa, I found it, it was Fujikiwi who related it. For some reason I could not get the search function on my phone to work but I got it on my laptop.

Speaking of ex-international pricks.

My last year of coaching, 2002, I was promoted to assistant coach of the First XV at our school, the peak of my coaching career.

Buck Shelford came and watched our annual local derby, played for "The Stott Cup". We came away with a narrow win.

Later that year, Buck was the guest speaker at our school graduation. He started his speech by saying he'd been at the match, had thought the opposition were a better team than us, but noted that we'd won anyway.

He said, "It just goes to show..."

And we all waited to hear some wisdom about perseverance, or beating the odds or something like that.

"...that sometimes the donkeys win."

It could have been funny if he'd said it with any comic timing, or irony or lightness. But he said it with withering scorn and contempt.

His whole speech was a nasty, cynical rant. It was pretty horrifying. A prick of a man.

Honestly, I know FK said he was nasty about it but when I read this story I was crying with laughter. I didn't get past the "donkeys win" line so I actually pictured him delivering it in a comedic way.

I'm in tears myself... how did he keep a straight face when saying that....

I'm not sure what to make of it... why would he be nasty about the school he was guest speaker at? How odd...

[OomStruisbaai]

Former Rugby Pros often lose weight. Matfield and Schalk are much thinner now than when they were playing.

Richie McCaw the same. Though he is training for a completely different sport now.

Elected Bribery & Embezzlement?

Stefan Terreblanche switch to body building.

[convoluted]

A couple of months back I caught the final moments of an NZ rugby panel discussion and couldn't quite figure who the guy in the middle was.
Just after it concluded I realized it had been Kieran Read, and my first thought was 'He's gone carnivore'.

He's due to play in the Black Clash cricket on the 18th so it will be obvious if he's ill or has simply fined down.

[Hugo]

On the All Blacks YouTube channel they are currently streaming some classic ABs v Boks matches.... It's bloody brilliant.

https://www.youtube.com/live/F0P6se-yVR ... dwMznDHd3v

Doesn't get any better than this .... Tana, Spencer, Fitzy, Zinzan Brooke Honiball, Teichmann, Dalton, Os Du Randt.

I think this is the game where James Small tries to trip up Cullen in the in goal, lol.

[Hugo]

Prescient words from Grant Nisbett just before half time, "Jannie Du Beer is something of a drop goal specialist".

[Gumboot]

On the All Blacks YouTube channel they are currently streaming some classic ABs v Boks matches.... It's bloody brilliant.

https://www.youtube.com/live/F0P6se-yVR ... dwMznDHd3v

Doesn't get any better than this .... Tana, Spencer, Fitzy, Zinzan Brooke Honiball, Teichmann, Dalton, Os Du Randt.

I think this is the game where James Small tries to trip up Cullen in the in goal, lol.

Cheers for the link.

Small made a habit of trying to trip up opponents. And I remember when he viciously took out Steve Gordon when the Boks played Waikato in '94. He was a filthy player, and probably my least favourite Springbok.

[Grandpa]

On the All Blacks YouTube channel they are currently streaming some classic ABs v Boks matches.... It's bloody brilliant.

https://www.youtube.com/live/F0P6se-yVR ... dwMznDHd3v

Doesn't get any better than this .... Tana, Spencer, Fitzy, Zinzan Brooke Honiball, Teichmann, Dalton, Os Du Randt.

I think this is the game where James Small tries to trip up Cullen in the in goal, lol.

Cheers for the link.

Small made a habit of trying to trip up opponents. And I remember when he viciously took out Steve Gordon when the Boks played Waikato in '94. He was a filthy player, and probably my least favourite Springbok.

He was.. though he came across quite decent in that Lomu documentary where he visited Small and Joost in SA... all three died not that long later sadly.

[Sandstorm]

James Small was probably us Saffers least favourite Bok too. I met him once and he was an arrogant twat.

[Hugo]

.

[Grandpa]

On the All Blacks YouTube channel they are currently streaming some classic ABs v Boks matches.... It's bloody brilliant.

https://www.youtube.com/live/F0P6se-yVR ... dwMznDHd3v

Doesn't get any better than this .... Tana, Spencer, Fitzy, Zinzan Brooke Honiball, Teichmann, Dalton, Os Du Randt.

I think this is the game where James Small tries to trip up Cullen in the in goal, lol.

Cheers for the link.

Small made a habit of trying to trip up opponents. And I remember when he viciously took out Steve Gordon when the Boks played Waikato in '94. He was a filthy player, and probably my least favourite Springbok.

One of those players you love to hate, as Sandstorm concurs. I remember he got in trouble in the late 90s for beating up a surfer in Durban, if my memory serves me correctly.

Oh, Gumboot, I mentioned on the tattoo thread about my silver fern tattoo, here it is on my Instagram page, the picture in the middle obviously.

https://www.instagram.com/hugoxvrugby/

I went for the older design from the early 20th century where the fern leaf was thicker. It's over 20 years old and in decent nick imo.

Do you think the NZ flag should just be the silver fern on a black background? I mean you see more of those flags than the NZ flag at sports events...

I like the players too... those were the days...

[Hugo]

Cheers for the link.

Small made a habit of trying to trip up opponents. And I remember when he viciously took out Steve Gordon when the Boks played Waikato in '94. He was a filthy player, and probably my least favourite Springbok.

One of those players you love to hate, as Sandstorm concurs. I remember he got in trouble in the late 90s for beating up a surfer in Durban, if my memory serves me correctly.

Oh, Gumboot, I mentioned on the tattoo thread about my silver fern tattoo, here it is on my Instagram page, the picture in the middle obviously.

https://www.instagram.com/hugoxvrugby/

I went for the older design from the early 20th century where the fern leaf was thicker. It's over 20 years old and in decent nick imo.

Do you think the NZ flag should just be the silver fern on a black background? I mean you see more of those flags than the NZ flag at sports events...

I like the players too... those were the days...

It would make perfect sense - all the alternatives in the referendum a few years ago seemed overly complicated.

[Gumboot]

Wallace Sititi GOOOOONNNE....


...from Supe...

Breakout All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi is set to miss a chunk, if not all, of the Chiefs’ Super Rugby Pacific campaign.

World Rugby’s breakthrough player of 2024, and the All Blacks player of the year, is carrying a knee injury, sustained on last year’s northern tour.

The Waikato Times reported the 22-year-old requires surgery, which will at least sideline him for a chunk of the season, which kicks off February 14.

Worst case, Sititi, who exploded on to the scene last year, will miss the entire campaign.

I hope he's OK by the time France arrives.

[Enzedder]

He hasn't had the surgery yet so no way he's ready for June tests.

[Gumboot]

Bugger.