Rugby Championship 2025

[Galfon]

Arg not helping themselves staying on that plateau, another strong finish by Wobblies though..
SA sneak a late BP. Week 6 will be feisty but AB should be in the
Bok's seat by then

[Cameo]

Big, but slightly strange ain from NZ, fairly comfortable but suddenly looked like SA might sneak a draw at the end. SA looking a bit old and out of ideas, but I've said that before.

Also, great win for SA. Argentina scored some good tries but will be kicking themselves a bit.

[Cameo]

Should also say, SA tried their lift to set up a maul in open plah again. NZ piled in and led to a knock on. Hopefully that is a pattern.

Not convinced Karl Dickson should be reffing at the very top, a bit flaky. I was wrong but there was another penalty at the same spot that I missed is a bit unconvincing (though maybe with more replays I'll be convinced).

[Lizard]

Yeah, Dickson was a little shaky.

The All Blacks had a clever plan for Rassie Hoist - unlike a lineout there’s no offside line so defenders can just come round and disrupt the ball coming back.

Nice to finally see the ABs be the team with better accuracy and composure. But my word there’s some dog in those Boks. Great test match.

[Puja]

Tom Lynagh fails post-game HIA and is confirmed out for the next game and probably the rest of the championship. Apparently the Wallabies are going to have "negotiations" with Leicester about whether they're allowed to keep James O'Connor till the end of the tournament - does Regulation 9 just not fucking apply anymore?! Why in the hells is there a situation where international sides have to "negotiate" for their players?

And, after Skelton was called back to La Rochelle, they didn't even play him this weekend. Complete joke.

Puja

[Croft_No.5]

Not sure Reg 9 applies to the fallow weeks?

[Which Tyler]

Not sure Reg 9 applies to the fallow weeks?

Never has before - see all the complaints every 6N for the last 20 years, when the Scots and Welsh return to their clubs on fallow weeks.

As for negotiating for players - isn't that exactly that the RFU/PRL agreements are - and exactly what we quote to the Scots and Welsh when they complain about not having their players for 6N fallow weeks?

And yes, it's always felt silly when the international fallow coincides with a domestic fallow week - and PRL clubs have been fined before for releasing players then (North and Faletau ring bells for that)

[Puja]

Not sure Reg 9 applies to the fallow weeks?

It doesn't, but that surely makes it completely unfit for purpose? The whole point of it is that internationals get unequivocal first call on players during set windows, so it seems barking that this can be circumvented by a club threatening to make them fly back and forth across the globe each fallow weekend.

Puja

[Croft_No.5]

Not sure Reg 9 applies to the fallow weeks?

It doesn't, but that surely makes it completely unfit for purpose? The whole point of it is that internationals get unequivocal first call on players during set windows, so it seems barking that this can be circumvented by a club threatening to make them fly back and forth across the globe each fallow weekend.

Puja

Agree entirely, but then just add this to the list of things that aren't fit for purpose re. IRB etc. I often wonder if it is the fans or the players that are bottom of the pile when it comes to the regs or decision making...

[J Dory]

Leroy Carter get's a shot in the 11 jumper. Good stuff.

All Blacks: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Simon Parker, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Scott Barrett (c),  3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Brodie McAlister, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Fabian Holland, 20 Du’Plessis Kirifi,  21 Finlay Christie, 22 Quinn Tupaea,  23 Ruben Love

[Cameo]

For an All Blacks team at world no.1 their backline hasn't looked too flash. Hopefully Carter and McKenzie can add sonething. For all Jordie Barrett is a very good player, he could also do with a big game. Tupaea added something last week, running a very good line and showing some directness. Sometimes it feels Barrett can do everything but ends up not being as impactful as he should.

[Puja]

Half-time:
NZ 10 - 07 SA
Full-time:
NZ 10 - 43 SA

Safe to say the second half didn't go to plan for the ABs. New Zealand fans spent so long clamouring for Scott Robertson to be in charge, but he's surely got to be under pressure now after his NZ being generally underwhelming and this RC losing to Argentina and then getting utterly handled by the Saffers. There'll be ructions if they lose to Australia as well.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Suspect the ladies will be the other way around

[BaldiePete]

After that performance this year has to be the year Scotland finally beat the ABs.

[Spiffy]

Half-time:
NZ 10 - 07 SA
Full-time:
NZ 10 - 43 SA

Safe to say the second half didn't go to plan for the ABs. New Zealand fans spent so long clamouring for Scott Robertson to be in charge, but he's surely got to be under pressure now after his NZ being generally underwhelming and this RC losing to Argentina and then getting utterly handled by the Saffers. There'll be ructions if they lose to Australia as well.

Puja

The humping would have been even greater if the handling of the Boks backs had not been so sloppy.

[morepork]

Well that was a good, hard jobbing no mistake

[J Dory]

I only saw the second half, but looked like we were really struggling under the high ball again. Lacked chasers when we kicked, SA not under the same pressure off of our kicking game.

Warriors out too, poop.

Black Ferns looking good though.