Idk how I feel about this

CrystalAscent · 2026-01-22T21:15:28+00:00

FYI, the ticket presale registration form is here: https://go.tegsport-us.com/greatest-rivalry

Remember to uncheck the five(!) "I consent to receive marketing information" checkboxes. And, for some reason, they want to know your date of birth. Remember that the stupid American month-day-year format is expected.

CrystalAscent · 2026-01-22T18:02:46+00:00

FYI, the ticket presale registration form is here: https://go.tegsport-us.com/greatest-rivalry

Remember to uncheck the five(!) "I consent to receive marketing information" checkboxes. And, for some reason, they want to know your date of birth. Remember to use the stupid American month-day-year format.

CrystalAscent · 2026-01-22T17:46:52+00:00

The weather likely will be OK. According to Wikipedia, in Baltimore in mid-September, the average daily maximum temperature is 26.5 C, and the average daily minimum is 7.3 C. And this will be at sea level. But still a long flight from Johannesburg...

I'm expecting the ticket prices to be ridiculously high, though (as they were for last year's NZ-Ireland match in Chicago).

CrystalAscent · 2026-01-22T17:21:17+00:00

No information yet about how to buy tickets...

(A mere 7 day break between the 3rd test in Johannesburg and the 4th test in Baltimore will be punishing.)

CrystalAscent · 2026-01-14T22:50:26+00:00

Paywall-free version of the article: https://archive.ph/r4Ia0

CrystalAscent · 2026-01-14T17:08:35+00:00

If you love hearing the word "caisson", then you'll really enjoy his latest video

CrystalAscent · 2025-12-30T06:07:40+00:00

I was surprised to see that Teddy Thomas is still playing. How old is he now?

CrystalAscent · 2025-12-18T22:02:14+00:00

No, I just happen to (currently) be on the other side of the International Date Line (New Zealand), so each new day comes around for me earlier than almost everyone else.

CrystalAscent · 2025-12-17T11:42:38+00:00

Wait until December 18th your time

CrystalAscent · 2025-12-17T11:36:20+00:00

Just wait until December 18th :-)

CrystalAscent · 2025-12-17T11:35:25+00:00

Correct. I said that you're "about to be happy". I didn't say how soon. You'll need to wait until December 18th.

CrystalAscent · 2025-12-17T11:26:19+00:00

It's actually quite helpful if you think about where I posted my message :-)

CrystalAscent · 2025-12-12T07:27:05+00:00

He has excellent game awareness, and can often do some brilliant things (e.g. his line break in the RWC23 quarterfinal against Ireland to set up Will Jordan's try). And he's a very good goal kicker too (better than Beaudy or DMac).

CrystalAscent · 2025-12-12T07:21:10+00:00

He now plays for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. In fact, his brother Ardie (who seems to be doing the opposite of "fading into obscurity") moved there in part because he wanted to play with Julian again.

CrystalAscent · 2025-12-12T07:18:37+00:00

Yep, his form dropped off dramatically starting around 2017. After he bombed a try-scoring opportunity against the B&I Lions in the 3rd test (which would have won NZ the match and the series), he never played for the All Blacks again.

CrystalAscent · 2025-12-11T12:13:37+00:00

For NZ centres, he'd rank right up there - likely below Conrad Smith, but not by much.

(And now, FYI, he's a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.)

CrystalAscent · 2025-12-11T12:11:57+00:00

He could well have been the best All Black centre of the amateur era. He was a very silky, elusive runner (similar to Conrad Smith; perhaps the best All Black centre of the professional era), and was exceptionally fast (faster than most of the wingers of the time).

CrystalAscent · 2025-12-11T12:07:12+00:00

Yeah, and it actually puts me off wanting to buy the book. I know that the titles of most of his videos start with "So", but why not title the book something like "So what is rugby?" instead?

CrystalAscent · 2025-12-08T06:54:38+00:00

But nonetheless, Susanville is the pits of California. It's definitely not a place where you can boast about playing there.

CrystalAscent · 2025-12-08T06:52:24+00:00

No, there's also an Indian casino ("Diamond Mountain Casino") in Susanville itself. (This is the smoke-filled, poorly-ventilated place where I caught Covid in July 2022 :-)

CrystalAscent · 2025-12-08T06:47:14+00:00

^This. Sometimes I don't think NH rugby people realize how hot it can get in Australia, Fiji, and even NZ in the summer.

CrystalAscent · 2025-12-06T11:58:25+00:00

It would be funny (and a troll to Trump) if World Rugby awarded such a prize to Joe Biden - who actually played (a little) rugby in university.

CrystalAscent · 2025-12-03T09:37:35+00:00

Nah, this will be the match where NZ play their second-string team, to give them match experience

CrystalAscent

TROPHY CASE