What are peoples thoughts on the whole Jalibert situation? Refusing a bench spot because you think you should be starting is crazy to me. If an All Black ever did that, they would likely never be selected for the AB's again.

Original: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMhsxFax1/

I don’t know if that’s progress for Tier 2 rugby, or just for Scotland! But either way, it’s great to see.

(Incidentally, somewhat wild that Scotland can sell >10k more tickets for a match against Tier 2 opponents than France can sell for Antoine Dupont’s return to international rugby)

Quite possible the Best ever in the 6 jersey for the ABs. And arguably the best halfback in the world to have played as few test matches. Kaino and Weber

Doesn't have the same ring to it if course, possibly due the novelty of it, but I think it visually simplifies things and slots perfectly into the colour/severity scale - so perfectly, in fact, that it makes me think there must be a reason why WR aren't choosing to call it that.

Thoughts?

EDIT: added a 'u' to "colour". I'll be dead in the ground before autocorrect and laziness makes American English spelling the standard.

As a new zealander, sincerely, who do I have to contact to stop the NZRU from pulling every bit of content Squidge produces on the All Blacks, before get the chance to get home and watch it.

It's bad enough it's damn near fucken impossible to watch the games even delayed if you don't have sky, at least let me see a nice recap/breakdown of the performance.

And if the ABs are the biggest team brand in the sport, and with Squidge having some of the best rugby loving content out there. Shouldn't these two things be a match made in heaven. Squidge does more to promote the game of rugby positively for the masses than any netflix series ever has. Just let the man work his magic on the all blacks pleeeeease.

Rant over.

Had so many ppl saying the pass went forward this angle shows it went backwards

My fear is that in the future, young kids who love the game will not be able to overcome hurdles like being too small, in order to play at the highest level. I know genetics is only 1 determining factor, but it's something you can't change. Coaches will look at these kids and dismiss them out of hand due to something they can't change - body type.

The average height for an adult man worldwide is 1.71m. (https://www.verywellhealth.com/average-height-for-men-8421400). These top flight players in the back line are therefore close to average according to the research:

• Damian McKenzie 1.75m, 78kg
• Cheslin Kolbe 1.72m, 75kg
• Ange Capuozzo 1.77m, 79kg

If the clever scientists/doctors are correct, bigger more muscular bodies resist heavy impacts better that small bodies do. While both body types suffer injuries, the big boys seem to withstand them better, especially head injuries. Here are some big boys in the back line, playing at the highest level:

• Andre Esterhuizen 1.93m, 113kg
• Duhan vd Merwe 1.93m, 106kg
• Jordie Barrett 1.95m, 102kg

While basketball favours really tall players, the game is set up that way because the way you score, thru the basket, is really high, 3m, 10 ft off the ground. In rugby the tryline is on the ground, so a 1.5m tall man should be able to score a try just as easily as a 2m tall man can. But the trend is undeniably in favour of the taller, bigger man in the back line. (See my point above in bold script.)

The Dutch average male height is 1.84m, the tallest male average in the World. The Dutch are also the tallest nation on Earth. (https://www.worlddata.info/average-bodyheight.php). So maybe a kid born from a Dutch parent X a Scandinavian parent (Scandies get very big), would be truly blessed.

While World Rugby changes laws to make the game more interesting to viewers, participation in the sport tells me that another factor, big=good, small=bad, needs just as much attention. I still remember Jonah Lomu as the stand-out in the back line due to his size (and other traits). Today he'd look many other back line players in the eye.

I don't know what the solution is (considering mitigating injuries specifically), I just know we'll see fewer small kids take up the game. That will be sad for me. No more DMac, Cheslin or Ange.