Anyone else uncomfortable with these constant references from the ABs coaches to the need for ‘brutality’ on the part of the team? Brutality means needless cruelty and violence and implies the illegitimate use of force. Seems an odd choice of word, particularly given the ABs’ problems with cards in recent years. I get they want to go in hard, but ‘brutality’ sounds a tad excessive to me

@His-Bobness That came up a while ago but they may mean "merciless" or "relentless" rather than violent. Never missing tackles and making the opposition work harder to gain metres, for example.

@ShaquilleOatmeal said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@His-Bobness That came up a while ago but they may mean "merciless" or "relentless" rather than violent. Never missing tackles and making the opposition work harder to gain metres, for example.

Merciless is a much better word

@His-Bobness said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

Anyone else uncomfortable

Not in the slightest.

Huge number of empty seats for a sold out match.

Sititi looks crook?

More of Proctor in defence. Seriously.

Poor miss Proctor.

Proctor ?

Great tackle Proctor

What's the excuse for Proctor this time?

Proctor stealing a living as a Test player

Who dropped it? Just lay on the ground and slowly got it. Hadn't even got up before the ball was on the other side of the field.

Proctor is a Super Rugny player out of his depth any higher.

@Bones said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

Who dropped it? Just lay on the ground and slowly got it. Hadn't even got up before the ball was on the other side of the field.

Jordan I think

Proctor is straight dog shit. Terrible defender. Dump him and bring back Ioane.

@KiwiMurph said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

@Bones said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

Who dropped it? Just lay on the ground and slowly got it. Hadn't even got up before the ball was on the other side of the field.

Jordan I think

Should have known.

Anyone got a stream?? PM me.

Fuck that tackle attempt was weak.

Conceding early tries is a terrible habit.

Lomax carrying well. Roigard mixed bag so far.

@KiwiMurph said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

What's the excuse for Proctor this time?

That was a shocker

Menoncello is a fabulous player, shouldn't have got through there so easily though.

Sam Darry in.

One way traffic from now on.

Looked like a double movement to me.

Very strong start from Darry

Lively work by all the forwards there. A few good carries from Jacobson so far.

7-7 after 9 minutes.

@sparky said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

Looked like a double movement to me.

Eh? Not even a hint of it.

Italy haven't touched the ball since their try.

Ref taking a long time with these set pieces.

@Frank said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

Anyone got a stream?? PM me.

It’s more of a river than a stream just up the road.

Billy Proctor has made a poor start. Let’s hope he improves. Some Merhts like defence there….

With Darryl’s hairline, he’ll be captain sooner rather than later.

That's a bullshit pen. He got the ball, so how is it holding on? Hate those ones.

DMac horrific under the high ball.

Italy nearly in again, but the final pass was poor.

@Bones said in 2026 Nations Championship: All Blacks v Italy:

That's a bullshit pen. He got the ball, so how is it holding on? Hate those ones.

A French ref special.

And a bullshit free kick to the Italians.

@His-Bobness
It is interesting how coaches go about motivating and building culture in teams. This coaching group seem to have a core set of principles and they seem to use certain words that embody those principles. Optimism and brutality seem to be the common combo, I have also heard alignment, relentless work rate, and cultural connection as well.

I guess time will tell if they have the desired result but so far I like what I am seeing from this group.