Ka Mate Ka Mate...

Good bye, McLinden

2009-11-10T11:40:00.003+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,

Gatland is only doing his job

2009-11-08T19:19:00.003+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

Congratulations, Can'bury

2009-11-07T09:18:00.003+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,

Quade Cooper

2009-11-04T08:08:00.003+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

Air New Zealand Cup semifinals

2009-11-01T19:51:00.003+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

Where the fifteenth franchise?

2009-10-28T12:29:00.004+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

Journos asking the impossible

2009-10-25T10:25:00.002+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.

Counting frames

2009-10-22T10:35:00.002+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

Southland to get the Ranfurly Shield??

2009-10-19T16:20:00.003+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

Ben Alexander said...

2009-10-19T15:29:00.002+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.''

Steve Tew said

2009-10-19T10:35:00.002+02:00

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

All Blacks touring squad

2009-10-18T17:52:00.003+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

It was a try!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-10-15T15:10:00.003+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

All Blacks midfield

2009-10-12T20:33:00.002+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

Save our teams

2009-10-02T11:10:00.003+02:00

There is a campaing in favour of the four "condemned" teams that are going to be cut from the Air New Zealand Cup.These teams, independently from their performance are thought to be:Northland,Counties Manukau,Manawatu,Tasman.From now on, I will support the Makos in their Air New Zealand Cup campaign and in their fight to survive the axe.Here's the website: http://www.saveourteams.co.nzI don't

Depth in NZ rugby

2009-09-29T09:46:00.002+02:00

I was wondering what to write about Graham Henry's comments on the direction the game is going when I fetched the post of Totalflanker on this very subject.While I basically agree with his point of view, there was something he said that's giving me headache after headache. He (wisely) adviced Graham Henry to look inside New Zealand Rugby for answers and solutions to the underperforming All Blacks

All Blacks contenders

2009-09-21T22:43:00.003+02:00

So, 2009 Tri Nations is over. Now sights are put on the future. Who'll be contending for a position in 2 years time?Let's see them all;PROPS: You have Woodcock and Tialata as first-choice options, and then, young Owen Franks, John Afoa, Wyatt Crocket; Southlander Mackintosh is ready to resume his career while Newland would also be a good choice. Do expect Carl Hayman to be back in time for

Robbie Deans' credit is over

2009-09-21T10:30:00.004+02:00

Just look here.Robbie Deans may or may not be guilty of the poor 2009 performances by the Wallabies, but he's run out of credit.Now the Wallabies must deliver or his time as Australia's Head Coach shall be over.At the other shore of the Tasman Sea, Henry's head stands firmly, as we all know nothing is going to remove "Ted" from his position until 2011. But then, NZ hopes may be fading, after a

Argentina in the mix

2009-09-15T10:31:00.002+02:00

So, it is official, Argentina has been invited to join the SANZAR to expand the Tri Nations into what would be the Four Nations.I say it's good news for Argentina, and it's good for the Southern Hemisphere. Argentina has a lot to offer to rugby and ... wouldn't it be better anyway to switch from three games against the same two opponents to 2 games against 3 opponents?Long have most of us been

It was exciting, but not good

2009-09-12T11:16:00.005+02:00

The game was full of excitement. The All Blacks finally found themselves a way to demolish the Springboks defense in open play... but it was only too late.Don't be mistaken, it was the fitness factor. SA players just couldn't find their breath for the last 15 minutes. And when they were so severely punished, they played with intelligence. Set pieces to set pieces. Did you pay attention on to how

PdV is getting annoying

2009-09-08T10:44:00.004+02:00

"People don't want to see other teams being successful. That is my biggest problem at the moment,"-Springbok coach Peter de VilliersSo, is it Peter de Villiers against the whole rugby world who don't want South Africa to be on the top?No, Mr. de Villiers, that is not your biggest problem at the moment. Your biggest problem at the moment is your first row.

Air New Zealand Cup Question

2009-09-04T10:03:00.002+02:00

Where in NZ can you hear bagpipes during a rugby match, and even hear a famous european national anthem?Bonus question: which anthem is it?

Air New Zealand Cup

2009-09-03T17:41:00.003+02:00

2009 may well be the year of the Air New Zealand Cup.In 2007, the World Cup made us even forget than for the first time a SA side won the Super 14.In 2008, the heat was so intense in the ELVs and the re-built wallabies, boks and all blacks that the 3N was everything one could think of.2009, on the contrary, has been so pleasant for SA, that everybody is turning their attention to the domestic

About coaches

2009-09-02T18:27:00.003+02:00

Springboks, Wallabies and All Blacks.That is to say: PdV, dingo Deans and "Ted".This is the alpha and the omega of the southern hemisphere as we know it (Argentina, where art thou, Argentina?).For the last year and a half, no coach in the world (except perhaps Manolo Preciado but he's got nothing to do with this sport nor with this hemisphere) has accumulated more detractors than Peter de

Boks clinch title

2009-08-30T00:20:00.002+02:00

There's still a remote chance for the All Blacks to win 2009 3N, but it would require the Boks to lose their remaining two games with no bonus points and it would require the All Blacks to bonus point win their two remaining fixtures (at home).So you can bet on the Boks now.The Boks shall be winners of the 2009 3N.4 times have rivals New Zealand and Australia tried their best to defeat them. 4

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