second string teams are so 2006

With Jake White pulling out his 'first stringers' for the remainder of the Tri Nations, the question is raised - has he made cowards of the Springboks?

There are so many arguments and accusations flying about at the moment about national teams sending their so called second and third stringers you would think we were talking about a music shop full of guitar tuners rather than some brutish blood sport.

In my eyes, White - by withdrawing his star Springboks has ultimately played a very telling card. He doesn't have faith in his team to beat the Australians and New Zealanders on their home soil. The whole thing about conditioning is too late now anyway. If they turn up at the World Cup the ring rusty Boks will run the risk of what happened to the conditioned All Blacks when they came back into play in the Super 14 after 8 weeks out - injuries galore (and serious ones too if looking at the locks).

But the real disaster is the Tri Nations. Last Saturday's test match was brilliant because it was hotly contested, passionate and competitive. The Australians and New Zealanders can slug it out with each other for sure - but without the Boks, this is no longer a tournament. Just another series of tests where we have to put up with second string excuses and second rate media soundbytes from cowardly coaches who send their second rate teams.

the braun drain

With Rua Tipoki and Rico Gear the latest All Blacks to sign up to play out their remaining rugby days at an English club, rumblings from both sides of the globe continue apace about the plundering of southern hemisphere players by British and French rugby clubs who, even though often produce average and ordinary rugby styles, can lure with the big money.

Worries can be seen by both sides with the All Blacks' plummeting first fifteen stocks taking a nose dive as a main cause of concern for the future of their winning record. In England too, the induction of foreign imports into their club teams mean that with a bulky ex-All Black lumbering centre stage, there is no room for fresh local talent to rise through the ranks.

In this day and age it is normal for every New Zealander under the age of 35 with even a mild sense of adventure to get out of antipodean isolation and explore the big bad world. Add to this they are being offered the kind of money that the average Kiwi can only attain by winning lotto, and you have a no-brainer situation on why these players are tempted to leave and enjoy a different experience (not to mention a few warm ales in some of the finest country pubs in the world).

But New Zealand rugby (for now) is not the real loser in this situation. The British youngsters whose places are stolen by aging international players who have been paid the big money by these English clubs are the ones that miss out. And of course, the English rugby team. With the pig-headed English club bosses refusing to foster local talent or – when it is fostered – refusing to release their players for international duties, it is no small wonder England have fallen so dramatically from grace since their 2003 World cup winning campaign - just proving again that greed is not good and it certainly doesn't make for good rugby either.

the boks fought hard - but this was all about the all blacks

South Africa 21 - New Zealand 26
23 June, 2007

The All Blacks ran out a last quarter victory against a tenacious Springbok side that pushed the men in black to the the limits through some desperate defence and borderline off-ball tactics. But it was the fitness level and footballing brilliance of the All Blacks that hammered the first nail into a buoyant South African Tri Nation campaign that silenced the patriotic 50 thousand spectators in the dying minutes of the game at the Asba stadium in Durban.

To all intents and purposes, the All Blacks did not play well for the first 60 minutes of this mouth watering test match. Although the New Zealanders had possession and territorial advantage plus ascendency in the scrum and parity (eventually) in the scrappy lineouts for most of the game, it was their butterfingered handling errors that let them down (14 times in all) throughout the match. Credit must also be given to the Springboks for defending ferociously and forcing star fly half Daniel Carter and his backline into making several unforced errors.

While Dan was having an off day with his boot, Richie McCaw played a tremendous role in boosting his troops to follow his heroic and skillful example. Again, he was everywhere, hindered only when being targeted for many borderline and cynical assaults off the ball by his Springbok counterparts. This continued agressive bullying of the New Zealand captain is an issue for the game and also for McCaw's personal safety and needs to be addressed by match officials in the future. Referee Alain Rolland for the most part, did a commendable job in a passionately physical match. One can't help but feel however that Graham Henry, when pushed further about Roland's various inconsistencies throughout the match (giving various warnings but then not following through by carding offending players when appropriate), was making a political stand with his eye firmly on World Cup honours by insisting that the Irishman was one of the top two referees in the world (who is the other I wonder?) and refused to be drawn into a Laporte/Woodward like slanging match on some of the inconsistent decisions throughout the match.

When the going got tough however, the All Blacks showed their mettle and for once they ground out a win while coming from behind on South African soil. At the beginning of the final quarter and with the Boks ahead by 18 points to 12, Mealamu was penalised allowing Percy (Monty) Montgomery to kick over a no brainer punt straight through the posts. For most on New Zealand couches in the early hours of Saturday morning all hope was lost. However, this All Black outfit had different ideas and showing belief and grittiness in adversity they lifted the tempo and urgency of their game, catching the quickly tiring Springboks unaware. Their pace became dynamic in the final ten and by taking quick lineout throws and spreading the ball wide they punished the tired Boks through two inspirational tries that to the uneducated onlooker appeared rather simple and lucky.

However, this was no luck. Commentators the world over may be waiting (and wishing) for this NZ team that has reigned supreme for the last four years to fall over at the final hurdle, and while this is always going to be a possiblity, last night's showing in an exciting, bruising encounter allowed this All Black outfit to live up to its billing. They were clinical and hard when required and showed the mental toughness that has so often been lacking in New Zealand teams of the past. Henry himself, in a flippant post-match remark said this New Zealand side could aim for a 40% improvement in the coming weeks. If that isn't ominous for teams hoping to take on this conditioned, slick All Blacks side, then I don't know what is.

New Zealand 26 (Richie McCaw, Joe Rokocoko tries; Daniel Carter 3 pen, 2 con; Aaron Mauger dropped goal) South Africa 21 (Schalk Burger, Butch James tries; Percy Montgomery 2 pen, con; Ruan Pienaar pen). Halftime: 6-11.

to drop goal or not to drop goal

The Springboks beat a fired up Australia on Saturday in the first match of the Tri Nations due in part to Francois Steyn’s two spectacular drop goals in the dying minutes of this edgy game.

As the world cup tournament looms ever closer, the faint rumblings that once again a crunch world cup final could be won on a drop goal seem to be getting stronger. Steyn’s metronic kicking from just about anywhere on the field fires out a warning to those teams who may not have such a specialist in this area.

Wilkinson arguably almost single-handedly won the World Cup in 2003 for a battle hardened English team, and in the process, inspired calls for those without a specialist drop kicker in their own team to review the scoring system for a goal to be given just one point as opposed to three.

Graham Henry in a hint of worry cloaked firmly in mirth suggested this week that the only way to beat a team with an expert kicker was to perhaps eliminate the drop goal altogether. A statement that not everyone would entirely agree with, particularly South Africa with their diamond in the rough Steyn waiting to take centre stage, I should think.

that is the question

jones strikes again!

The international rugby season would not be officially underway without that wise sage of the oval ball – Stephen Jones of the UK Sunday Times, taking a pot shot at the All Blacks and the New Zealand public in general. Without his magnificent articles, rugby journalism would be dull, dull and dead.

I enjoy Jones immensely. His writings are often so vitriolic and offensive that I can’t help but revel in the man’s audacity. He brings particular satisfaction after an All Black win. I will always seek out a Jones article, just to wait for the golden moment when the great moustachioed one will eat a slice of humble pie. But no! Jones in his glory, much like the current English rugby team he supports, stands petulantly and heroically firm. The great man refuses to give up on his principles, even when it appears to all else that the writing is on the wall.

Jones has his favourite subjects that he has rotated on a continual basis for years, always miraculously escaping his editor’s furrowed brow, for the somewhat repetitive (but commendably topical) scoops. One story he has squeezed to an inch of its life is that ye old mantra of New Zealand ‘plundering the pacific’ kidnapping innocent Samoans and Fijians whilst they still suckle on their mother’s breasts with the cunning plan of programming these cute little tots into All Black killing machines once they reach a suitable age. What can I say – this is pure vintage Jones and while New Zealanders loathe him for writing that, the rest of the world loves it.

How many other journos could make poetry as they seethe and scribe, launching a personal attack on the country that has given the world pavlova and the buzzy bee, disrespecting this small nation of ‘skinny lipped women’ and ‘emotionless men’ who are so obsessed with rugby that the rest of the world points its finger and laughs at us. And what other journo would DARE put down the mighty All Blacks, those men of steel and strength, of honour and (ahem) intelligence. Well Jones does so and with great aplomb. With a swish of his jeering pen he makes grown men weep and those skinny lipped women frown (more).

He heckles the emotions of a parochial little nation. Jones takes the line that New Zealanders are too unsophisticated, too colonial to even understand his subtle humour and ironic wit. In some ways, this is true. A few take their rugby too seriously and with that, they take Stephen Jones too seriously as well. But the rest can recognise a cheap shot and laugh along with it. Maybe they can even appreciate Mr Jones as much as I do.

Who couldn’t at least respect a little a man who has managed to make a living off a huge chip on his shoulder? It is pure ingenious. It is pure Jones.

all blacks v france, eden park, june 2nd

Media Gloating

Having to endure the premature gloating of Jim Kayes and Jamie Douglas on Friday, (two of the Wellington Dominion’s resident sports writers) was painful . According to these men, this All Black side had only to turn up and go through the haka to annihilate this poor French ‘C’ team.

Then last night, during a very average, scrappy and admittedly frustrating test match between the two foes, we had to endure an embarrassingly impartial commentary by John Drake and Grant ‘the prodigious punt’ Nisbett. In this one eyed commentary box, the All Blacks could do no wrong while the floundering French , were scrappy at best and were to blame for the general poorness of play.

Today – and a quick skim of the Sunday papers in New Zealand, one could be mistaken for thinking the All Blacks had given a polished performance. ‘Icing the French out’ according to the Sunday Star Times? I don’t think so.

Kick off

It has left me wondering whether I watched the same test match at all. This jet-lagged French ‘C’ team were committed in defence and even managed to restrict the ‘World No 1’ All Black side to one try in the first half. Les Bleu also managed to apply pressure on what is supposedly the best scrum in the world and stole a couple of lineouts (although hardly surprising, the only thing consistent about the current All Black line out for the last few years has been its inconsistency).

For some reason, Sky’s ‘professional and not at all impartial’ commentators Grant Nisbitt and John Drake appeared wholly oblivious to this, repeatedly skimming over the spirited, gutsy and structured defence of the French underdogs. It even appeared that referee Stuart Dickinson had decided to join the cause of ‘Nisbo’ (god help us) and ‘Drakey’ by bringing along his own eye patch. When Dickinson wasn’t continuously blowing his whistle and insisting on resetting the scrum he was adding to the general dour and anticlimactic feel of the occasion by awarding dubious tries left, right and centre. (Well, just the two actually – but both to Sivivatu)

For the first time in a year we saw the All Blacks play it safe and for territory. What would normally be a counter or run out from their own 22 was passed into the sure hands of Carter or Evans and often kicked straight back into French territory. It was obvious Henry’s team were playing their cards close to their chests but it made for a boring spectacle. None of this was helped by some very average displays from a few of the so called ‘condionees’ in their new black (shiny!?!) uniforms.

Weepu isn't up to it

For a start, contrary to what every other hack thinks in this country, I do not believe Weepu should be in the starting lineup (whether he can play first five or not). What is the point if he can’t catch the ball? There has been no evidence whatsoever on his Hurricanes performances this year or last night to suggest otherwise. He was all too often slow to the breakdown. When he did finally manage to lumber along to a group of flailing arms and legs he would often knock on or make the wrong decision by kicking it, straight into the hands of a willing French debutante, leaving everyone to curse in frustration. I’ve always said ‘never trust a halfback with love-handles’ and after last night’s performance, I’ll be sticking with that analogy.

Other average performances were Leon ‘butterfingers’ MacDonald and the invisible Chris Jack. The lineout woes are not all his fault but there is something seriously wrong when we can’t lead a set-piece like this against a supposed ‘third string’ side.

Improved performances

There were some good performances. Ali Williams and Aaron Mauger played passionately – the latter being awarded two tries of this own. Nick Evans stepped into the breach seamlessly after Carter limped off at half time. Evans, in Carter’s shadow, has always been massively underrated. The All Blacks are lucky they can call on someone of his calibre to step up to the plate when Carter rolls his ankle or gets a stinger in the shoulder (an all too familiar occurrence it unfortunately seems in this last year). Toeava (my personal hope for World Cup superstardom) also played well, but he needs to keep his eye on the ball in the big games.

So what now for the All Blacks? A slicker, more skillful approach needs to be implemented if they can seriously think they have a hope of beating an on fire Boks team in South Africa come Tri Nations time. Hopefully we will see Kelleher, Muliaina, Collins and Robinson come into the first fifteen next Saturday and with that, we should see a more enterprising and satisfying game from the men in black.

New Zealand 42 (A. Mauger (2), S. Sivivatu (2), R. So'oialo tries; D. Carter pen, con; P. Weepu pen, con; N. Evans 2 cons, pen)
France 11 (B. Thierry try; B. Boyet 2 pens)

Highlights
- Mauger’s first try
- Sebastien Chabal’s stunning tackle on Chris Masoe
- Sebastien Chabal’s very own pukana during the haka

Lowlights
- Piri Weepu
- Stuart Dickinson
- Grant Nisbett and John Drake

Decent media
Grant Foxes ‘France C, All Blacks' rusty effort merit a B'

Outside Opinion The British media seems pretty happy to focus on Carter's injury and not so much the game.