tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45386467122130846852024-11-01T09:28:48.785+01:00Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger299125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-49688853924421837052010-02-07T11:51:00.002+01:002010-02-07T12:17:04.320+01:00

Super 14 is looming, but we've moved to a new address: http://southernhemisphere.blogspot.com Please, point your links to this new address.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-34515542025754148002009-12-19T10:08:00.000+01:002009-12-19T10:08:20.402+01:00

So, Gareth Thomas is gay. There's nothing wrong with that in my book. Best of lucks to Gareth Thomas, because being gay and an important name in sport don't often get along very well.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-45364038682892151942009-12-18T12:30:00.001+01:002009-12-18T12:32:04.970+01:00

Now, it seems the Air New Zealand Cup is going to have Canterbury, Wellington, Waikato, Hawkes Bay, Auckland, Otago and Southland in the "Premiership" and Manawatu, Counties Manukau, Tasman, North Harbour, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty and Northland in the "Championship". Questions: Who's going to win the championship? Who's going to have the Log'o Wood? Who's going to have the crowds? Who's going

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-35516114288971469652009-12-04T20:44:00.000+01:002009-12-04T20:44:04.742+01:00

December is come and with December, the usual Barbarians games against a southern nation announces the end of the rugby season. While northerners have just started the new campaign and are positioning themselves in the Top 14, Magners, Guinnes Premiership and Heineken Cup, the south takes a deep breath. This season has shown the might of the South Africans. Forget about stupid arguments, this

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-38645815824499368842009-11-30T10:32:00.003+01:002009-11-30T10:39:37.107+01:00

If anything, this tour has shown how easily the Wallabies could have achieved their second Grand Slam tour.A Brian O'Driscoll play at Corke Park denied the Wallabies a win over Ireland, while a missed conversion by Giteau made the difference between winning and losing at Murrayfield.But being so close and still not being able to accomplish the goal is one of the worst situations that you can be

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-31148549167593742482009-11-22T18:36:00.004+01:002009-11-22T18:52:02.033+01:00

Last post was about Richie McCaw and how close could he be to the end of his rugby career.This one is about Robbie Deans' end as Wallabies coach.Facts:In 2009, the Wallabies have played 13 tests, with 5 wins, 7 losses and one draw.In 2008-2009, the Wallabies have played 27 tests, with 14 wins, 12 losses and one draw.Eddie Jones was sacked in 2001 with a better success rate.Deans' continuity has

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-44088353873905438482009-11-21T12:19:00.003+01:002009-11-21T12:27:16.968+01:00

First the All Blacks coaches said they were preparing an understudy for McCaw's subsitute.Then it was suggestions that McCaw could eventually switch to 8 latter in his career.After that we sought him playing 8 for Canterbury.Last week the talk was how damaged and stressed was McCaw's body after a test.A few days ago we knew that McCaw would skip the first three games of the Super 14 2010Also this

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-14255861442576799102009-11-18T22:52:00.002+01:002009-11-18T22:55:54.971+01:00

"I had to find out what bloody Twitter was. I thought it was a new guy playing five-eighth for England."

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-53714632756451247082009-11-18T10:59:00.002+01:002009-11-18T11:23:02.240+01:00

Three questions have been cleared out in the past 24 hours.Referee Stu Dickinson from Australia has been cited for his refereeing of the scrums in the Italy-New Zealand. The news have been gathered with joy by the kiwi team. While I think it's fair Stu Dickinson's job has been revised, I don't think Paddy O'Brien should go much into the details, as is exposed here. Ok, the guy did a mistake.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-72397436614094782552009-11-16T13:12:00.003+01:002009-11-16T13:17:43.407+01:00

Some Springboks accepted it with a smile. Keep it cool, guys, anthems shouldn't be such a serious thing :)

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-10744449225110961652009-11-16T12:57:00.004+01:002009-11-16T13:07:53.755+01:00

France - Springboks: A very spirited french team. Were those guys really the Springboks?Italy - All Blacks: Nice forwards effort by the italians. Where did you say the depth in NZ's gone?England - Argentina: Argentina needs game time in the Southern Hemisphere. England needs a new 15.Ireland - Australia: Australia should start learning how to finish games off. It's becoming a familiar trend to

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-29141913018061174292009-11-10T11:40:00.003+01:002009-11-10T11:47:19.944+01:00

Brisbane Reds are a Super 14 franchise full of talent; Ioane, Cooper, MacMeniman, McLinden, Barnes, Horwill...It is beyond my understanding how they have systematically been at the bottom of the table and the worst-performing of the aussie franchises. I always said and I'll say it again: I like the Reds.But it is awful news that Mark McLinden has announced his retirement. He's a great player,

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-52872973842601103432009-11-08T19:19:00.003+01:002009-11-08T19:28:34.002+01:00

Warren Gatland complaining at the referee is not something that should surprise anybody. The fact that at least two tries were denied to the All Blacks is something that he was always going to "forget" in his criticism to the referee.Just exactly when was a scored try much more important than a clearly-unintentional high tackle?The plain truth is that whereas the All Blacks did never show more

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-22586065852599688102009-11-07T09:18:00.003+01:002009-11-07T09:22:00.782+01:00

A final with a lot of starring players.Brett, phenomenal with his boot, for once.Alby Mathewson, the smartest guy in NZ?Victor Vito, skill and power.George Whitelock, growing and growing and growing.But above all, one who shut them all. Despite being sin-binned, despite being intercepted in the Lions first try, Colin Slade was the main figure of the match. He was all around, intercepting,

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-27592676426057966022009-11-04T08:08:00.003+01:002009-11-04T08:12:31.949+01:00

Yes! Yes!I don't exactly like Australia, but Quade Cooper is my man. I like him ever since the first time I saw him. It is not really a coincidence that he is a born-kiwi, is it?He has had limited opportunities at the Wallabies, but he's always performed,I think. I don't see the need of moving Ashley-Cooper to 2nd five eighth, when he's available.Robbie, please consider using Gits and Quade

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-78747213770052725232009-11-01T19:51:00.003+01:002009-11-01T20:04:25.049+01:00

Canterbury came back in fashion from their Ranfurly Shield defeat against a willing Hawke's Bay side who made a few too many errors. If only two weeks ago the Magpies were denied a chance to draw the game by the lack of a TMO in the ruling of the final action, on Friday they had none. Canterbury played a semifinal with the aim to host the final, and it showed.Isaac Ross was impressive, just like

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-27850722670241529882009-10-28T12:29:00.004+01:002009-10-28T13:49:34.856+01:00

Eastern Cape or Melbourne?Well, I don't know what would be best in terms of rugby, I know what would be best for SA, and I know what would be best for Australia.David Kirk and a retired NZ High Court Judge will determine where the fifteenth franchise goes.Something tells me that Eastern Cape have no choice. They already have 5 franchises and I don't see kiwis accepting so easily super rugby

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-47609652154422884552009-10-25T10:25:00.002+01:002009-10-25T10:28:29.212+01:00

Now there's this Marc Hinton asking silly things again.Yes, he's done it here. He's asking 5 things to the All Blacks coaches, among them, two pearls:-use the kick and chase that SA have use to good effect.-make the game appealing.Yes, both at the same time.You are a genious, Marc.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-82822433994065136382009-10-22T10:35:00.002+02:002009-10-22T10:42:32.587+02:00

SA-based rugby365 proudly shouts out loud that the All Blacks have ended up counting frames to study lineout jumps, specially Matfield's jumps:"The All Blacks research unit counted frames on jumpers and Springbok Victor Matfield was the quickest in the world from the ground to the peak of his jump."The truth is no one needs a single replay to see that Matfield is the quickest jumper on the test

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-36360105710262738202009-10-19T16:20:00.003+02:002009-10-19T16:43:41.691+02:00

Wyatt Crocket, Corey Flynn, Owen Franks, Brad Thorn, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Andy Ellis, Daniel Carter.These are the names of the 8 players Penney won't have in the final defense of the Ranfurly Shield against a stron Southland side who have thrashed Tasman 41-0 and cleanly swept Taranaki 29-13 in their last two games.Southland only unavailable player due to All Blacks tour is Jimmy

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-37779383939206749422009-10-19T15:29:00.002+02:002009-10-19T15:30:47.872+02:00

(speaking of Tony Woodcock)''He is such a smart guy. He constantly adapts and is regularly changing the way he scrummages. You have some loose-heads who scrum one way, and once you figure that out, you can nullify them. But as Woodcock is constantly changing, it makes it very hard. He's definitely given a lot of opposing props curry over the years.''

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-13289562231208846442009-10-19T10:35:00.002+02:002009-10-19T15:31:02.026+02:00

"I'm going to watch with some interest how Graham goes with the lineout"

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-46091915226920063002009-10-18T17:52:00.003+02:002009-10-18T18:10:51.273+02:00

The most surprising thing about the squad that will travel northwards is not the inclusion of Delany or Smith. My personal opinion is that they, just like a number of young New Zealand players, really deserve the call.The most surprising thing is not the absence of Rokocoko, de Malmanche or Ross, either. Rokocoko is a shadow of what he used to be, de Malmanche has indeed got to improve his

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-55143379906214375562009-10-15T15:10:00.003+02:002009-10-15T15:18:40.047+02:00

Sona Taumalolo scored a try, right during injury time, when his team was 20-27 down that was disallowed in a wrong call by international referee Chris Pollock.Hawke's Bay played well and deserved more in a high-quality game against the best side in New Zealand (a side with 10 All Blacks, nothing less).Something's going on in the Bay, and not even the wrong calls of referees will stop it. Zac

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538646712213084685.post-31539622820954356222009-10-12T20:33:00.002+02:002009-10-12T20:45:58.522+02:00

With Conrad Smith back in action last week for Wellington, some injury concerns the All Blacks had about their tour may have been eased. Some may not.Richard Kahui and Isaia Toeava are out for the tour... and Luke McAlister may well join them this very week.Who's then, ready to travel northwards? Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith, for sure. Who else? Well, there's plenty to choose from: Tamati Ellison

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1