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therugbyfanshaz.bsky.social
@therugbyfanshaz.bsky.social
68 followers 97 following 1.1K posts
A rugby fan, Shaz, on a mission to find that lovin' feeling again for the game. https://therugbyfanshaz.home.blog
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Reposted
I've been trying to find what's been "wrong" with this Irish side over the last 18 months. Something factual I could point at. Some hard numbers.

And then, this week, I think I found them.
THE GREEN EYE #280 :: #IREvNZL

It's Chicago. It's Ireland vs the All Blacks. And there's more at stake than meets the eye.

Get the most detailed preview for this game anywhere for just €3 a month.

www.patreon.com/posts/green-...
THE GREEN EYE #280 :: New Zealand | Three Red Kings
Get more from Three Red Kings on Patreon
www.patreon.com
Reposted
Ten years ago today, Richie McCaw lifted the Webb Ellis Cup for the second time and, in the process, crowned the 2015 All Blacks as possibly the greatest team of all time. We dig into how Steve Hansen's side changed the game, and shaped everything that has happened since...
youtu.be/xQSi1tXJYdc?...
So were the 2015 All Blacks the Greatest Team of All Time?
YouTube video by Squidge Rugby
youtu.be
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Beyond dispute IMO.

And it's funny to see people twist themselves into knots trying to argue otherwise--including far too many of my fellow 🇿🇦 countrymen--for precisely the reason that Squidge points out: we all instinctively *feel* that they are the greatest.
Ten years ago today, Richie McCaw lifted the Webb Ellis Cup for the second time and, in the process, crowned the 2015 All Blacks as possibly the greatest team of all time. We dig into how Steve Hansen's side changed the game, and shaped everything that has happened since...
youtu.be/xQSi1tXJYdc?...
So were the 2015 All Blacks the Greatest Team of All Time?
YouTube video by Squidge Rugby
youtu.be
one Aussie that should be starting that game is Ben Donaldson. Tane goes down this weekend, we're a little bit up shit creek given Carter Gordon is both new and not really at full fitness

I'll be honest, the NZ side doesn't grab me either, though I look forward to comms attempting Caleb Tangitau
man that's so many saffas for a Barbarians team 😲

also gotta be my lowest name-recognition side in forever, where are our Top 14, URC players at!?

zero Fiji/Tonga/Samoa, Oz, French, Scottish players, 1 Welshman, 1 NZ, 1 Irish, 2 English, and 1 Argie #BARvABXV
team list as an image for the Babarians if anyone wants it 🙏
team list as an image for the Babarians if anyone wants it 🙏
Reposted
International

🏉 Barbarians v All Blacks XV
🗓️ Saturday 1 November 2025
📍 Brentford
🕒 1.15pm GMT (local) / 2.15am NZT* (*2 Nov)
📺 Sky Sport 2 (NZ) / rest of the world?

Barbarians team:
www.barbarianfc.co.uk/news/lam-nam...

AB XV:
www.allblacks.com/news/all-bla...

Referee: Nic Berry (RA)

#BARvABXV
c'mon boysssss!
International

🏉 England v Australia
🗓️ Saturday 1 November 2025
📍 London
🕒 3.10pm GMT (local) / 11.10pm AWST / 1.10am AEST* / 2.10am AEDT* (2 Nov)
📺 TNT Sports (ENG) / Stan (AUS)

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)

#ENGvAUS
Reposted
International

🏉 England v Australia
🗓️ Saturday 1 November 2025
📍 London
🕒 3.10pm GMT (local) / 11.10pm AWST / 1.10am AEST* / 2.10am AEDT* (2 Nov)
📺 TNT Sports (ENG) / Stan (AUS)

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)

#ENGvAUS
Reposted
International

🏉 South Africa v Japan
🗓️ Saturday 1 November 2025
📍 London
🕓 4.10pm GMT (local) / 6.10pm SAST / 1.10am JST* (*Sun 2 Nov)
📺 SuperSport (RSA) / WOWOW Live & J SPORTS 1 (JPN)

Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)

#RSAvJPN

Japan image credit: rugbyjp.com
Reposted
International

🏉 Scotland v USA
🗓️ Saturday 1 November 2025
📍 Edinburgh
🕔 5.40pm GMT / 1.40pm ET / 10.40am PT
📺 TNT Sports (SCO) / Peacock (USA)

Referee: Damián Schneider (UAR)

#SCOvUSA
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International

🏉 Ireland v New Zealand
🗓️ Saturday 1 November 2025
📍 Chicago
🕒 3.10pm CDT (local) / 8.10pm GMT / 9.10am NZT* (*2 Nov)
📺 Virgin Media One & TNT Sports (IRE) / Sky Sport 1 (NZ)

Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)

#IREvNZL
Reposted
2027 Rugby World Cup / Samoa

The Manu Samoa squad for the RWC 2027 Final Qualification Tournament has been named. Unlike the PNC, this tournament is played in the international window; because of that, all fit players are available for selection.

More:
www.rugbyworldcup.com/2027/en/news...
this is how I discover Botitu has been playing 10 lol? very funny concept
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At some point probably sooner than later I will share my experiences having media access with the WRU which tho extremely limited somehow made me think even worse of the organisation than i did anyway

(Would have tagged Robert if i knew his @ on here)
Reposted
The URC's communication about this controversial incident remains very amateurish IMO. It's widely reported that Wessels' appeal has been rejected (other than a 1 week reduction to his ban) but there doesn't seem to be any official URC communique on the subject...
Does the URC publish its Disciplinary decisions? I don't think so, but they really should. Tough for fans to interpret decisions without the full facts.

www.unitedrugby.com/latest/disci...
Disciplinary Decision: Jan-Hendrik Wessels | United Rugby Championship
www.unitedrugby.com
not a watchable sport if they are reffed evenly tho!

tangentially, I was very impressed, and surprised by how much better Ben O'Keeffe called out the Japanese defence as offside throughout some passages of our attack

but there could've been about 20 more advantages called #ENGvAUS #JPNvAUS
without watching the video in this piece (syndicated from The Times).. ehhh

every single attacking side gets cut way more slack than the defence for ruck side entry/offside. broaden this complaint, and I'm with you - it's gone way too far. #ENGvAUS

www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-...
Wallabies accused of ‘dangerous and illegal’ tactics ahead of England Test
England coach Steve Borthwick is reported to have highlighted dozens of examples of rule-breaking in a meeting with referees.
www.smh.com.au
as a long-suffering Australian rugby fan, fwiw - condolences brother. it's a long journey!
a good office chair is a godsend. mine was probably worth hundreds but fortunate to get it for 50 AUD randomly when a whole office was shutting down. one each for the whole family!
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England v Australia feels like a validation match. The winner backs up their positive uptick in form and even with harder matches to come this could be pretty much enough for a good November.
England Australia
South Africa Japan
Scotland USA
& Ireland New Zealand

This week!
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By all accounts (I don’t watch Sale) George Ford is the form 10 in the PREM so far this season whilst I did see him single handedly beat Argentina in July

At the same time, they had invested in Fin and it clicking very well to the point where he got picked for the Lions

#Masterplan
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Can’t understand not playing Lawrence. From the Bath games I’ve seen he’s near his best level right now.

I think you can see the Fin Smith and Prendergast situations similarly. Both picked and backed over the Six Nations over experienced options. Both shown promise and some flaws and…
By all accounts (I don’t watch Sale) George Ford is the form 10 in the PREM so far this season whilst I did see him single handedly beat Argentina in July

At the same time, they had invested in Fin and it clicking very well to the point where he got picked for the Lions

#Masterplan