Newsfeed from the best rugby website in New Zealand http://www.thesilverfern.com 2008-10-11T22:21:17+01:00 http://www.thesilverfern.com http://www.thesilverfern.com/images/M_images/rss20.gif text/html 2008-10-06T00:05:40+01:00 http://www.thesilverfern.com http://www.thesilverfern.com/news/all_blacks_named_for_eoyt.htm At last we have a figure - 35 players touring on the end of season Grand Slam attempt, and in that 35, 3 hookers, 5 props, 5 locks, and 7 loose forwards. The remaining 15 spots going to the blouses. So you could guess, maybe, two for each position, and an extra halfback thrown in for good measure, and how else would you get Andy Ellis to tour? Sooo, we can now start playing the pick the touring squad game! Everyone's favourite game as the NPC season heads into the quarter finals. Word is out that the Cartel have pretty much selected their touring squad already, so the next few weeks games will count for sod in selection terms. Late runs of form will mean nothing. Although in saying that, I am sure there are a few positions that the Cartel will have either player 'A' or player 'B', depending on their form over the next few weeks. But no positions will be wide open as in we have no idea to select as a back up first five should Stephen Donald not be able to tour ... text/html 2008-10-05T18:10:47+01:00 http://www.thesilverfern.com http://www.thesilverfern.com/news/northland_deny_auckland_top_eight.htm Playoffs decided in the Air New Zealand Cup, and Northland with their 21-13 win over Auckland have handed Taranaki an extra weeks rugby. Northland, by kicking a penalty after the final hooter, almost by accident, denied the Aucklanders a bonus point in the match, and a spot in the finals. 'Almost by accident' as after Northland captain Gus Collins had signalled for the shot at goal, he rethought himself and decided to kick the ball out. But as he had asked for the shot, he could not renege, and once the goal was slotted, Auckland were gone, the Taranaki got the slot!! text/html 2008-09-30T14:53:34+01:00 http://www.thesilverfern.com http://www.thesilverfern.com/news/what_a_disgrace_otago_rugby.htm Never in my life have I seen an Otago team so inept. These days it feels like a real chore to sit down and watch these so called athletes go out and play for my province. It is a sad state of affairs that in a time that favours super 14 franchise bases so heavily, that one of these bases can be going backwards quicker than the Evers-Swindell twins. text/html 2008-10-07T13:00:00+01:00 http://www.thesilverfern.com http://www.thesilverfern.com/news/silverfern_spotlight_mogwai-2.htm Mogwai, the avatar with the bulging eyes and pointing fingers, has been haunting the Fern since February of 2004. Always willing to share his opinion on a myriad of subjects, not letting knowledge get in the way of a good 'discussion'. In other words, your archetypical TSF member!! Forum member number 769 text/html 2008-10-03T13:00:00+01:00 http://www.thesilverfern.com http://www.thesilverfern.com/news/silverfern_spotlight_jauzy_19.htm A relative newcomer, Jauzy is another of the few Frenchman who have stumbled onto the fern. Known as a bit of a doomsayer on the fern, as he runs the thread on players leaving, and very occasionally, returning, to New Zealand rugby. Jauzy joined in April 2007, so is now a relative veteran of the ways of the fern. Claims his English is not that flash,. but it is a damn sight better than most Ferners French, and some Ferners English even... Forum member number 2800. text/html 2008-09-30T14:40:10+01:00 http://www.thesilverfern.com http://www.thesilverfern.com/news/silverfern_spotlight.htm Which evil do you take ACT for - the Brumbies, the Crusaders, or for being an ex Auckland supporter...? Act has been annoying all and sundry on the Fern forums since march of 2005. Forum member number 1349. text/html 2008-09-17T22:10:53+01:00 http://www.thesilverfern.com http://www.thesilverfern.com/news/2009_s14_propping_talent.htm Red Beard runs his rule over the props plying their trade in this years Air New Zealand Cup, and makes the hard calls over who should be getting Super 14 contracts for next season. Please note this is Red Beards opinion not Mike Crons! text/html 2008-09-22T13:00:00+01:00 http://www.thesilverfern.com http://www.thesilverfern.com/news/silverfern_spotlight_aussie_spook.htm Strangely enough, Aussie Spook, is, an Aussie. Has been stirring Kiwis on the Fern forum now for three years after joining in March of 2005, thank Christ, as that means he was not here in 2003 when yet another of these RWC games that never happened, never happened. It was bad enough Lee Grant posting that Mortlock photo as his avatar (it's time for that to go LG, please)!!! Forum member number 1317. text/html 2008-09-17T07:43:21+01:00 http://www.thesilverfern.com http://www.thesilverfern.com/news/silverfern_spotlight_da_grubster.htm Grubby has been around for HALF A DECADE now, one of the original forum members, his member number being only 2 figures. In that time he has made some posts on the forum that make sense, which is more than most can say! Allegedly that is. A frustrated tight forward in his playing days, Grubby now supports from the sidelines, as most of the broken down relics on the Fern do! Forum member number 73 text/html 2008-09-16T21:27:15+01:00 http://www.thesilverfern.com http://www.thesilverfern.com/news/player_ratings_v_australia_v3.htm Another test win against the upstart Aussies, this one claiming two cups for the All Blacks, the Bledisloe and the Tri nations Cups. A tough win too, the All Blacks falling behind by 10 points shortly after halftime, 7-17. text/html 2008-09-15T09:10:06+01:00 http://www.thesilverfern.com http://www.thesilverfern.com/news/woodcock_cited_following_try.htm Tony Woodcock has been cited by the Front Rowers Union (the FRU) for several violations of the Offenses Against Propping Act. The charges follow Saturday nights Bledisloe Cup match in Brisbane when Woodcock was seen running with the ball in the act of scoring a try. We understand Woodcock will be charged with the following violations: text/html 2008-09-14T08:43:25+01:00 http://www.thesilverfern.com http://www.thesilverfern.com/news/duncan_laing_a_tribute.htm I played in the Colts for Pirates Rugby Club in Dunedin in '92 and '93 and Duncan Laing was coach of the senior A's during this time. Everybody called him Duncan or Dunc and it would have not been remiss of us, (indeed everyone at the club) to call him Mr Laing , but Duncan would certainly have none of that. I can't really recall any conversations with him, doubt he even knew who I was - that's probably strictly not true, as he would have undoubtedly kept a cursory eye on any player in the club - but that's beside the point. text/html 2008-09-14T13:00:00+01:00 http://www.thesilverfern.com http://www.thesilverfern.com/news/elvs_time_for_the_irb_to_grow_some_balls_.htm We all know that the IRB has made a huge hash of trialling these variations with different sets being played around the world and bizarre situations like the Wallabies and ABs not even knowing what variations they will be playing in Hong Kong before playing to another set in the NH! text/html 2008-09-10T22:48:31+01:00 http://www.thesilverfern.com http://www.thesilverfern.com/news/head_to_head_mib_v_cons.htm Head to head for the final Tri Nations test this season, the winner take all Bledisloe Cup test. Where the winner literally does take it all - Tri Nations champions, and Bledisloe Cup holders will be the title given to the victors here. Anyways, head to head comparisons for the two test starting XVs, where after a little thought, the results came rolling in, read on Macbeth for the scientifically complied chart. What science you might ask, and well you do, as I have no idea... text/html 2008-09-10T20:47:33+01:00 http://www.thesilverfern.com http://www.thesilverfern.com/news/stat_attack_all_blacks_v_oz_v3.0.htm Bledisloe test three, one all, and all to play for. Not only Lord Bledisloe'sCup up for grabs, the winner also wins the Tri Nations - as a secondary prize. The Australian's fresh off their record loss (ever, to any nation) to the South Africans in Boerland, and the All Blacks fresh off racking up 100 points in their opposed training run against the Samoans. So who has the best preparation here!? The All Blacks game though doesn't really count, as Samoa were very weak. The Boer game though, does count, but the Aussies will be balls out to redeem themselves, and it is going to be the All Blacks will be the ones on the receiving end.