I feel like the media narrative is that rugby is starting to die in NZ but I’ve been watching a lot of NPC lately and idk I feel like NZ talent is looking better and more exciting than ever. Anyone else feel like that or just me?
Hard to tell at this level. The looser game in nz is more entertaining for non rugby watchers, but it doesn't necessarily equate to the skill sets needed to win at top level. For exceptional players see Jonah, caucau, cullen, macaw and then you had guys like kronfeld, holah, dagg at the next tier and compare them to the current crop. There are fewer true standouts now and they'd find it hard to live with some of those second tier players.
what media narrative? Kiwi rugby is always going to be a powerhouse and grassroots and npc will always be an amazing pool of talent. Let's not think just because the ABs have not been their uber dominant selves as of late, that this is some kind of a structural issue. There are much richer federations around the globe, there are emerging rugby nations which are bigger and richer than NZ, but make no mistake the pathway to the top level in NZ will always be there, npc and super rugby are still a major major forge of class players, can't see that breaking down any time soon
Really enjoyed this game, as a complete neutral watching from Scotland I thought that pass at the end was marginal but not obviously forward, thought the ref & TMO came to the correct decision.
One of the strangest calls I’ve ever heard from that ref- ‘there’s no problem with trying to trip a player that kicked the ball, so it’s just a penalty, but it is a yellow card’ ..bizzare
@@frnt2bak if it’s not an infringement why is it even a penalty? If it is an infringement, and worthy of a card, it has surely prevented a try and is therefore a penalty try aswell
Good game. Well done turbos. Forward pass imo but Beauden waaka was the difference. Had his mits in everything. Tk howden played well too lots of aggression from 6.