NPR

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Tue Jul 06, 2021 10:21 am I was mainly responding to the reminder that this was Tonga sans their European players.

You are correct, at the moment it does look like NZ are pretty devoid of strong competition in the South and the way Union's going in Australia suggests that could be the case for quite some time unless some bridges are mended with South Africa.

Ymx wrote: ↑Tue Jul 06, 2021 9:18 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: ↑Tue Jul 06, 2021 10:21 am I was mainly responding to the reminder that this was Tonga sans their European players.

You are correct, at the moment it does look like NZ are pretty devoid of strong competition in the South and the way Union's going in Australia suggests that could be the case for quite some time unless some bridges are mended with South Africa.

It’s a strange one, though I can’t help but think our Supe rugby is stronger having playing ourselves only.

Intl, well, it’ll be fairly globally mixed up as always.

So I’m not too worried, except for the finances.

Paddington Bear wrote: ↑Wed Jul 07, 2021 8:32 am I think we have a tendency to overstate the decline of the Aussie national team as well - it's more that NH teams are quantitively better than anything else, and the ensuing wins have broken the cultural cringe that anything sporting must be better if it comes packaged with an aussie accent.

Barrett, who spent the Super Rugby season playing in Japan, was named on the bench for the All Black’s opening game against Tonga and managed 25 minutes off the bench in the 102-point win.

The 30-year-old left the field looking in good wear but come training on the Tuesday following the match, two noticeable bruises had developed under the playmaker’s eyes. Had Barrett copped a blow against the ‘Ikale Tahi, or was something else to blame?

As it turns out, the Tongan team weren’t to blame for the bruises at all. Instead, it was some friendly fire on the training pitch that left Barrett looking like he’d emerged from a boxing match.

“Yeah it was [friendly fire],” confirmed Barrett on Thursday after being named in the No 10 jersey to take on Fiji. “I was warned about Ethan Blackadder when he first came into camp and found out about that pretty quick so between him and big man next to me [returning All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick], you’ve got to stay well clear of them at training.”

All Blacks coach Ian Foster has already made comments this year to suggest that Retallick’s team mates best steer clear of the towering second-rower come training.

“I’ve seen Finlay Christie get smacked out of a ruck and do a somersault and I chuckled and said ‘welcome back Brodie’ and that was a non-contact session,” Foster said last week. “That means that Brodie is back, doesn’t it?”

Blackadder, on the other hand, is new to the All Blacks set-up – but evidently not afraid to get involved with a bit of rough and tumble with his more senior teammates.

“I’ve been very impressed with him since he’s been in here,” Barrett said of the 26-year-old. “For a young guy, he’s on top of his game when it comes to preparation. He asks the right questions and like I said, he’s into everything on the park so it’s great to see.

“[You’ve just] got to stay well clear of those rucks,” he later added. “Especially when I’m trying to get one of [the loose forwards’] jackals, one of their turnovers.”

Barrett will line up at first five on Saturday evening against Fiji and despite the bruises, is confident he’ll be fit and firing for the match.

Ymx wrote: ↑Sun Jul 04, 2021 8:19 am What changes for the starting backs next week we think?

Barrett’s starting?
Havili/Smith?

Enzedder wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 7:07 pm Gee you Cantabs are a bit paranoid over Foster. Razor will get his turn if he's good enough.

Feel for Fiji today with the top temp in Dunedin around 7 degrees forecast.

Gumboot wrote: ↑Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:04 am My friend can't find a working stream...bugger

Ymx wrote: ↑Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:30 am BB took a boot to face. Finishing off the work Ethan Blackadder started …