Why? Everyone else seems to be moving toward using the number 8 as an extra back. I mean, Spies is a reformed winger!

And have you seen Spies? The man is a monster. If he were still on the wing, we would probably be comparing him a bit to Jonah…

Why? Everyone else seems to be moving toward using the number 8 as an extra back. I mean, Spies is a reformed winger!

For exactly the reason that we'd love to have Lauaki in the ABs if he played to his potential there. Those big runs where he bashes through…

For #8 we want something like Lauaki, but plays well in black. Big busting runs off the back of the scrum, bouncing players off, but ball skills like Zinzan Brooke.

Why? Everyone else seems to be moving toward using the number 8 as an extra back. I mean, Spies is…

Hansen said there the best chance for Read to get into the All Blacks in a long-term position is at number 8, when So'oialo retires [Lauaki's name wasn't mentioned]. I forgot to mention yesterday, but Read plays number 8 in Air NZ Cup.

You're presuming that the All Black coaches…

If there weren't so many complete newbies in the team due to injury, I'd suggest that they look for future talent in the position to step up to fill Rodney's boots in 5 years.

I'm guessing you didn't hear the press conference yesterday.
Hansen said there the best chance for…

And ScottY/Kyle: Fair enough. But as far as I can tell, he's also the best option at the moment by far, unless you want to see Thomas Waldrom in the All Blacks – and surely we're not that desperate?

But we're only really plugging the hole until the tri-nations, when…

In terms of Tri-Nations,
Spies.
Gap.
Hodgson.
Daylight.

I'd get Kankowski in there somewhere as well.

But I otherwise agree.

And ScottY/Kyle: Fair enough. But as far as I can tell, he's also the best option at the moment by far, unless you want to see Thomas Waldrom in the…

In terms of Tri-Nations,
Spies.
Gap.
Hodgson.
Daylight.
Lauaki.

And I'm with ScottY. How many times can you call a guy up and be let down, before you give up on him? He's had about 3 or 4 different goes so far.

Almost every time he's played for the AB's he's showed a lack of ball skills and a tendency to give away turnovers.

And often he's come into the team on the back of good form.

Which shows he doesn't have the temperament for the top level.

So…

NO! NO! NO!

NEVER AGAIN!

A sentiment I hear often, but please tell me which other NZ #8 came close to his form in the last 3 months?

The Chiefs loosies destroyed the Hurricanes twice in a fortnight, including the much-hyped Victor Vito, Ritchies All Blacks backup – Scott Waldrom,…

But given the circumstances, couldn't it perhaps be worthwhile to call Lauaki into the squad?

NO! NO! NO!

NEVER AGAIN!

(Taking medicine now. Feel better)

Once you rule out Sivivatu, who's next in line as a #8 in NZ though?

I assume you mean Lauaki – and who knows? But given the circumstances, couldn't it perhaps be worthwhile to call Lauaki into the squad? Four blindsides and one openside do not a loose-trio make.

Once you rule out Sivivatu, who's next in line as a #8 in NZ though?

HAH! Now that'd be interesting to see.

Except he's playing numbers 6 and 8 in their wrong positions.

Nah, Kaino was rubbish when he played 8 for the All Blacks last year, and was considerably better on the blindside.

Not to say that Read is going to be any better, and I do wonder why Henry picked…

Except he's playing numbers 6 and 8 in their wrong positions.
Same old mistakes....

“You’ve got to be able to adapt to different scenarios, and there’s not too much difference between the 6 and 8 roles nowadays. You’re a ball player either way.”

Read said it himself in the latest…

Same old mistakes....

But the bench looks decidedly weak. Let's cross fingers and hope for no more injuries. If so who in the country will…

Pop quiz: Can anyone actually remember the last time the All Blacks scored an intercept themselves?

Luke McAlister scored an intercept try in the same test match that was famous for the Lote Tuqiri spear tackle on Richie McCaw.

Greatest game ever

Bizarre to see both Tana Umaga and Sterling Mortlock playing on the right wing, when they both ended up being so successful at 13.

At one point a man in front of us turned around with an incredulous eyebrow raised, as there were about 6 french players offside, and at least 3 of us just nodded sagely at him.

I liked him!

At one point a man in front of us turned around with an incredulous eyebrow raised, as there were about 6 french players offside, and at least 3 of us just nodded sagely at him.

Quite. I think offsides at the breakdown seemed particularly glaring because that's like the last…

We were gleefully shouting "Don't worry, it's no holds barred!"

I believe what you were shouting was "There are no rules. There are NO rules".

At one point a man in front of us turned around with an incredulous eyebrow raised, as there were about 6 french players offside, and…

So where is the new talent? Where is our much vaunted "depth"?

Competing extremely successfully on the international stage. I don't think there is any other rugby nation which could have suffered the sustained loss NZ has and still be the world ranked number 1. On the same day that…

even though I'm disappointed with a loss

At least the Aussies and the poms can't taunt us with "the All Blacks always peak between World Cups".

Greatest game ever
(sorry cant work out the embeding)
I remember being hoarse after this game I was screaming so much

Cullen in that famous Bledisloe game v. the Aussies where we scored three tries in the first ten minutes and then they came back but Lomu scored the winning try in the second half?

That was the one I remembered.

We've certainly thrown a lot away though – Mortlock in…

Grant Batty 1977?

Cullen in that famous Bledisloe game v. the Aussies where we scored three tries in the first ten minutes and then they came back but Lomu scored the winning try in the second half?

Pop quiz: Can anyone actually remember the last time the All Blacks scored an intercept themselves?

Grant Batty 1977?

Good question though.

He's injured

One stitch?! I thought he'd still be able to play.

Thank you, Julien Dupuy, for showing that a guy who weighs 4kg more than me CANplay international rugby, and play it well.

He's injured

Everywhere in the world rugby is on a roll. Everywhere except here. Rugby in New Zealand is in crisis.

Tom, let's not forget it was one bad game. That's not to say all is rosy. But (except for World Cups) the ABs have been the team to beat for the…

What rules? Who knows? One of the myriad combinations currently in use, but not the set used in the Super 14 for sure.

Which has been the substance of my most consistent criticism of Southern Hemisphere rugby. Super14 makes makes test play and international competion more difficult.

What rules? Who knows? One of the myriad combinations currently in use, but not the set used in the Super 14 for sure.

I'm not sure the coaches knew either – our players sure looked stumped when it came time to defend against a maul. Whoops.

What laws were they playing under on Saturday? I got the impression the All Blacks didn't adjust to playing a Northern Hemisphere team familiar with the tactics required by their set of rules.

What rules? Who knows? One of the myriad combinations currently in use, but not the set used…

"... (The players) have had one game at it and they got a rude awakening," Hansen said.

See? It was all Rick Rude's fault.

The only answer is to put King Kurtis at blindside and Samoan Joe on the wing...hang on...

The All Blacks are crippled with injuries, by my rough count ten first picks were not available.…

I don't think that is the point. The point is to get the opposition halfback/1st five [and wing/centre if you can] trapped in the ruck, allowing you to have wings step around their forwards.

Yeah I get what the point of it is (see my sucking in tacklers), he's just…

We, as a country, really need to learn how to suck it up and take a loss.

Agreed. Rattue's fatwahs against Graeme Henry every time we lose a game are tiresome.

Thankfully the comments on PAS are relatively restrained. I was disappointed with the poor effort, but having more important…

I'm not sure what I hate more, actually losing, or listening to everyone come down so hard after one loss. It is just one…

And backing up my claim that Thomson did a bit more than his fellow loosies, and didn't have a bad game. Why he never had a ball carry perplexes me though.

My first sight of Thompson in the game was during an attacking ruck early on, where he was stood…

The year before that the World Cup quarterfinal

Don't forget the spanking in Melbourne that year either.

I was surprised how weak our…

One day NZ rugby fans will be able to take a loss to the French without having a go at the ref.

Back to blaming the chef, then?

I don't know why they persist with using him in that role either. I can't ever recall him making significant ground, sucking up a bunch of tacklers, or breaking through, in umpteen tests now.

I don't think that is the point. The point is to get the opposition halfback/1st five…

Tracey Nelson's game stats are up.
They suggest lots of work from Thorn and Mealamu.

And backing up my claim that Thomson did a bit more than his fellow loosies, and didn't have a bad game. Why he never had a ball carry perplexes me though.

Can anyone remember [Hadyn,…

But why was Woodcock carting the ball up so much and Isaac Ross so little? I want my front-rowers hitting the rucks, not standing at first receiver.

I don't know why they persist with using him in that role either. I can't ever recall him making significant ground, sucking up…

Hey, at least we're not peaking between World Cups.

Knock on wood.

The All Blacks were way too bad to think about blaming the referee for that one.

I am never above blaming the ref when he seemed to willfully ignore any rules at the breakdown. We were gleefully shouting "Don't worry, it's no holds barred!"

They suggest lots of work from Thorn and Mealamu.

But why was Woodcock carting the ball up so much and Isaac Ross so little? I want my front-rowers hitting the rucks, not standing at first receiver.

One day NZ rugby fans will be able to take a loss to the French without having a go at the ref.

Hopefully one day soon.