Showing posts with label The Wallabies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Wallabies. Show all posts
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Sunday, 7 August 2011
Stephen Jones: Black magic....you must be joking
11 September 2011
Sunday Times
Stephen Jones
Scrum-half Ben Youngs celebrates scoring for England with Manu Tuilagi (Paul Harding) For most of a thunderous match in Dunedin’s indoor stadium, England looked in grave danger of opening their Rugby World Cup pool programme with defeat against a powerful Argentina team that dominated large periods of the game. A try by Ben Youngs, arriving as a late replacement for his first action since March, rescued England, though the Pumas remained the superior team almost until the end, underlining the question marks over the ability of Martin Johnson’s men.
Both teams’ kickers endured a nightmare evening despite the dead calm conditions — Jonny Wilkinson, the second-highest point scorer in international rugby history, missed with four successive shots at goal, while the Argentina kickers fired wide six times. Australia’s Herald Sun newspaper headlined its coverage “Jonny Rotten”.
Wilkinson refused to criticise the new World Cup ball, saying: “I’m not going to apportion any kind of blame other than that on myself. I was the one kicking the ball and when I hit them I felt I was hitting them very, very well.”
Johnson acknowledged that England, clad in unfamiliar all black, had given a less than convincing performance. “I aged about 20 years but that’s what World Cups are about,” he said. “You’ve got to find a way to win it. All the players are frustrated but in the circumstances that is a good win, a fantastic win.”
England’s evening could yet prove costly. Lock Courtney Lawes was involved in two incidents that may attract the attention of Murray Whyte of Ireland, the citing officer.
Lawes hit Argentina’s Gonzalo Tiesi with a tackle that saw Tiesi leave the match and replays suggested that the hit may have been a late and illegal shoulder-charge.
Lawes also appeared to knee in the back the Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma. Whyte has 36 hours from the end of the game to decide whether citing is appropriate.
England, whose next match is against Georgia a week today, played down an incident in which flanker James Haskell was clearly seen to indicate that he had been gouged during the match. He said afterwards: “At the last breakdown I got a bit het up. I got cleaned out, I had hands in my face and I think it was just a bit of over-exuberance in the heat of the moment. It is nothing really.” Again, Whyte will be scanning the replays.
In yesterday’s other games, two late tries from Simon Danielli gave Scotland a 34-24 win over Romania, while France beat Japan 47-21 and Fiji defeated Namibia 49-25, with four tries from Vereniki Goneva.
28 August
Sunday Times
At one minute to a dark midnight on the clock of their four-year cycle of World Cup preparation, England finally saw some gleams of light. They disposed of an abysmal Ireland with more conviction than the score suggests, they now enter the World Cup with some confidence and all the almost posthumously late changes that Martin Johnson has made to an established and misfiring team seemed to work well.
Naturally, to jump off the high board would be ridiculous. This was a worthy victory, it was a complete reversal of the Ireland-England match in the Six Nations but anybody who watched the vastly superior Australia-New Zealand match in the morning and compared it with this occasionally attractive but decidedly fitful and scruffy match, will have their own inbuilt notes of caution. Ireland, on this evidence, will be scanning the recent form of the USA, their first opponents in New Zealand.
Easily the best news for England came in the midfield where Mike Tindall, usually lining up at inside-centre, had his best game for several years for his country and where Manu Tuilagi was something approaching a revelation. The young Samoan scored a striking try, albeit past rotten defence, and hit hard in defence but kept his discipline.
Jonny Wilkinson was quiet inside them, having lost a great deal of the length on his punting, but at least he made things more orderly and England played with more shape than they have of late.
It was worrying that Mark Cueto, Hendre Fourie and Tindall all had to leave the field with injury. It was also worrying that Chris Ashton and Ben Foden were so inconspicuous, and also that the mighty England pack did not assert themselves far more powerfully with driving and better clearing out. But the return of Andrew Sheridan to the front row alongside Steve Thompson gave them a solidity. James Haskell did more than enough as a No 8 to claim the starting position.
There were still long periods where England became confused and sat back. They scored one try through a defensive error and another through a clever chip by Tindall but, in truth, their attacking machine had gone up a gear from stationary to splattering. It was still nothing like dangerous enough. Ireland could not make the scores in a ragged final quarter to put England’s nerve to the test.
Ireland were shambolic. They made some early points when Cian Healy managed to burrow under Dan Cole at scrums and the work rate of Paul O’Connell was incredible. But their forward play lacked power and passion. When the ball came back there was a dismal lack of penetration, with only Andrew Trimble offering any threat. The satisfaction that Ireland felt on seeing Stephen Ferris restored on the blindside was more than outweighed by the shocking sight of David Wallace being carried off with what looked like a serious knee injury.
Ireland have lost all four of their warm-up games. The contrast yesterday between the electricity of Australia, who are in Ireland’s pool, and the feeble efforts of Ireland was stark.
Tuilagi’s grand day began in style. England had already put down a pressure platform with an accurate early series of attacks which ended when Wilkinson rather lamely and unsuccessfully dropped for goal. However, soon afterwards, England did score. They appeared to be in trouble on their put-in to a scrum but Haskell kept his head and drove the ball on. England moved the ball left with crisp passing but probably with no more ambition than to set the ball up again. But when Tuilagi held his run and came from deep he glided outside Keith Earls to score almost at his leisure. It was a lovely finish by England’s new meteor but an absolutely dreadful bit of defending by the Irish back division in general and by Earls in particular.
England managed to sort out their early scrummage problems and Sheridan began to make a mess of Mike Ross. And a conversion and two penalties by Wilkinson stretched England away to 13-9 by half time, with Ireland’s points all coming from the boot of Ronan O’Gara. It could easily have been worse for Ireland, when they overthrew the ball at a lineout and Tuilagi snaffled it and set off in space with around 80 metres to go. He lacks the extra yard of gas of a true sprinter, and Geordan Murphy, his clubmate, ran him down — a superb defeat by the veteran Murphy, which saved the game as a contest.
Some of England’s discipline horrors which cost them their previous game in Dublin resurfaced at the start of the second half, notably when Ashton flopped carelessly over the ball to try to kill a ruck after the referee had put England on a final warning. With Ireland only four points adrift, it was their chance to burst back into proceedings, and send themselves to New Zealand on a winning note.
No such luck for the Irish, however. England drove the ball on in an attack that was accurate without ever being dangerous but Tindall noticed that the Irish outside backs had come up flat, chipped the ball cleverly through and Delon Armitage came sprinting up to score. Wilkinson’s conversion made it 20-9.
After that, the only real concern for England lay in potential injury. Wilkinson was clearly suffering from knocks but continued to plough on into the tackle, and even though Tindall limped off, his demeanour suggested his hamstring was tight, not pulled.
At the very end, inspired by O’Connell and with John Sexton trying to pin England back into the corners, Ireland at least gained a territorial advantage. But Haskell and the back row and Tuilagi and the midfield kept their defensive shape, England took the victory and attention switched from the team to the medical men.
The start of a genuine revival? Certainly, there was a humility about England’s selection in several positions which admitted bad selections in the past. Better late than never. It is still just possible that England can have a loud say in New Zealand’s spring.
Star man: James Haskell (England)
Scorers: Ireland: Pens: O’Gara (3)
England: Tries: Tuilagi 4, Armitage 45 Cons: Wilkinson (2)
Pens: Wilkinson (2) Yellow card: England: Ashton
Referee: N Owens (Wales)
Attendance: 48,523
Ireland: G Murphy; T Bowe, K Earls, G D’Arcy, A Trimble (F McFadden 71min); R O’Gara (J Sexton 61min), E Reddan (C Murray 61min); C Healy (T Court 70min), J Flannery (R Best 50min), M Ross, D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell, S Ferris, D Wallace (D Leamy 21min), J Heaslip (D Ryan 34min).
England: B Foden; C Ashton, M Tuilagi, M Tindall (T Flood 74min), M Cueto (D Armitage 21min); J Wilkinson, R Wigglesworth; A Sheridan (M Stevens 56min), S Thompson (D Hartley 51min), D Cole, L Deacon (S Shaw 62min), C Lawes, T Croft, H Fourie (T Palmer 21min), J Haskell.
August 6th
All Blacks 30 V Wallabies 15 (Auckland, Tri Nations 2011)
England 23 V Wales 19 (Twickenham, 'Friendly' 2011)
This is a copied Stephen Jones article from the Sunday Times in London 7 August 2011. Rupert Murdoch, come and get us if you can be bothered (but we suspect, you have bigger fish to fry).
In the great garment debate, it is difficult to work out who emerged looking the more ludicrous.
Was it England, for their fatuitous decision to play in a black kit at Twickenham in front of 82,000 fans, the majority of whom were supporting them avidly, and at some cost, by wearing England white? Or was it the New Zealanders, with their pathetic and affronted reaction, as if the colour black is something on which New Zealand have a world copyright in life and sport?
It was also difficult to work out which of England or Wales can look back with most satisfaction on this grim encounter; this homage to the finance directors of the Unions who demand big internationals under the looming shadow of the World Cup — and who pay a different kind of price with the risk of injury. Lewis Moody duly limped off with an injury that did not appear to be serious and poor Morgan Stoddart was carried off on a stretcher.
But it is even more ludicrous for team management to claim that these summer matches are to provide tie-breakers for the World Cup squad. If, after about 40 international rugby matches since the last World Cup, and after interminable months in camp and all the video technology in the world, then Martin Johnson and Warren Gatland do not know precisely their top 30, then their ability to pick their own noses must be seriously in doubt.
The great Jonny Wilkinson Debate rambles on, for the illustrious Toulon hero played with accuracy but not with flair, with wonderful kicking but not with alacrity in his passing nor leadership of the line. And if England, for some reason, are still struggling with conundrums then this game solved very few apart from that Steve Walsh, the referee, proved to have an abysmal match. Manu Tuilagi had some impressive moments but you still feel that a clever midfield could leave him ruthlessly exposed when his naivety gets the better of him. The best news was up front where, admittedly against a feeble Wales front row, Matt Stevens was outstanding and England were generally on top.
But for all that, it took desperate England defence to salvage the game and if you really want to compare teams in black on the day, then England come out miserably behind. Compared to the pace, power and depth in the TriNations match between New Zealand and Australia, England were cripplingly pedestrian, flat and bloated.
Indeed, in many ways it was typical England — the odd early flash and the traditional meaty effort, but then interminable periods where the team appeared to lack direction, freshness, focus and leadership. Nobody appeared to be issuing orders during the period of Welsh ascendancy in the second half. England played as they usually play, as if shackled in the mind.
England must rigorously examine their younger players and they must not fall into the traditional England trap of choosing those who have shown flashes of brilliance at the expense of those who can operate in the knockout stages of a World Cup.
Tuilagi deserves another chance in Cardiff next week because, admittedly, he is a late-runner whose prowess at the top level has been largely unsuspected until recently. But apart from that, it is now time for Johnson to draft in the old sweats and above all to start firing up a proper English international pack, one that has authority and can take on the likes of New Zealand, not at their own game but at England’s game. After that, the pace and depth can be added.
Perhaps conversely, the man under most pressure in the British rugby scene at the moment is not Johnson, but Gatland. England are not a great side and it is fanciful to expect them to become one in time for this World Cup — even though they had four years’ notice that the tournament had been arranged, and even though they have spent millions on their preparation.
Gatland is in a difficult position because he has more talent at his disposal, he has fewer players wearing the mental shackles and somewhere in there he has a squad to make an impact on the tournament. But does he have the boldness and the speculative nature to go bull-headed and grasp his destiny? The Welsh back division were significantly more impressive than that of England, even with the shocking late withdrawal of Stephen Jones, and here Gatland’s selection must again be called into question.
Wales have five fly-halves who would all be good enough to make the England squad but Gatland had none of them on the bench.
He does have class at his disposal. He has Lee Byrne, Gavin Henson and James Hook to bring in. He knows that Shane Williams and the superb Mike Phillips now have another big game under their belts as their form revives. The two world-class props in Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins are on stand-by and he now must also give the gigantic Luke Charteris a run instead of Alun Wyn Jones at lock.
Gatland has a magnificent chance to electrify Cardiff and the World Cup campaign by picking a powerful full team for the return fixture at the Millennium stadium on Saturday.
Wales have it in them to play a game of more devil and effectiveness than England can dream of. Over to you, Warren.
Sunday Times
Stephen Jones
Black magic... You must be joking
Ben Youngs scores the only try as England stutter to an unconvincing victory in their first World Cup game against Argentina in New Zealand
Scrum-half Ben Youngs celebrates scoring for England with Manu Tuilagi (Paul Harding) Both teams’ kickers endured a nightmare evening despite the dead calm conditions — Jonny Wilkinson, the second-highest point scorer in international rugby history, missed with four successive shots at goal, while the Argentina kickers fired wide six times. Australia’s Herald Sun newspaper headlined its coverage “Jonny Rotten”.
Wilkinson refused to criticise the new World Cup ball, saying: “I’m not going to apportion any kind of blame other than that on myself. I was the one kicking the ball and when I hit them I felt I was hitting them very, very well.”
Johnson acknowledged that England, clad in unfamiliar all black, had given a less than convincing performance. “I aged about 20 years but that’s what World Cups are about,” he said. “You’ve got to find a way to win it. All the players are frustrated but in the circumstances that is a good win, a fantastic win.”
England’s evening could yet prove costly. Lock Courtney Lawes was involved in two incidents that may attract the attention of Murray Whyte of Ireland, the citing officer.
Lawes hit Argentina’s Gonzalo Tiesi with a tackle that saw Tiesi leave the match and replays suggested that the hit may have been a late and illegal shoulder-charge.
Lawes also appeared to knee in the back the Argentina hooker Mario Ledesma. Whyte has 36 hours from the end of the game to decide whether citing is appropriate.
England, whose next match is against Georgia a week today, played down an incident in which flanker James Haskell was clearly seen to indicate that he had been gouged during the match. He said afterwards: “At the last breakdown I got a bit het up. I got cleaned out, I had hands in my face and I think it was just a bit of over-exuberance in the heat of the moment. It is nothing really.” Again, Whyte will be scanning the replays.
In yesterday’s other games, two late tries from Simon Danielli gave Scotland a 34-24 win over Romania, while France beat Japan 47-21 and Fiji defeated Namibia 49-25, with four tries from Vereniki Goneva.
28 August
Sunday Times
At one minute to a dark midnight on the clock of their four-year cycle of World Cup preparation, England finally saw some gleams of light. They disposed of an abysmal Ireland with more conviction than the score suggests, they now enter the World Cup with some confidence and all the almost posthumously late changes that Martin Johnson has made to an established and misfiring team seemed to work well.
Naturally, to jump off the high board would be ridiculous. This was a worthy victory, it was a complete reversal of the Ireland-England match in the Six Nations but anybody who watched the vastly superior Australia-New Zealand match in the morning and compared it with this occasionally attractive but decidedly fitful and scruffy match, will have their own inbuilt notes of caution. Ireland, on this evidence, will be scanning the recent form of the USA, their first opponents in New Zealand.
Easily the best news for England came in the midfield where Mike Tindall, usually lining up at inside-centre, had his best game for several years for his country and where Manu Tuilagi was something approaching a revelation. The young Samoan scored a striking try, albeit past rotten defence, and hit hard in defence but kept his discipline.
Jonny Wilkinson was quiet inside them, having lost a great deal of the length on his punting, but at least he made things more orderly and England played with more shape than they have of late.
It was worrying that Mark Cueto, Hendre Fourie and Tindall all had to leave the field with injury. It was also worrying that Chris Ashton and Ben Foden were so inconspicuous, and also that the mighty England pack did not assert themselves far more powerfully with driving and better clearing out. But the return of Andrew Sheridan to the front row alongside Steve Thompson gave them a solidity. James Haskell did more than enough as a No 8 to claim the starting position.
There were still long periods where England became confused and sat back. They scored one try through a defensive error and another through a clever chip by Tindall but, in truth, their attacking machine had gone up a gear from stationary to splattering. It was still nothing like dangerous enough. Ireland could not make the scores in a ragged final quarter to put England’s nerve to the test.
Ireland were shambolic. They made some early points when Cian Healy managed to burrow under Dan Cole at scrums and the work rate of Paul O’Connell was incredible. But their forward play lacked power and passion. When the ball came back there was a dismal lack of penetration, with only Andrew Trimble offering any threat. The satisfaction that Ireland felt on seeing Stephen Ferris restored on the blindside was more than outweighed by the shocking sight of David Wallace being carried off with what looked like a serious knee injury.
Ireland have lost all four of their warm-up games. The contrast yesterday between the electricity of Australia, who are in Ireland’s pool, and the feeble efforts of Ireland was stark.
Tuilagi’s grand day began in style. England had already put down a pressure platform with an accurate early series of attacks which ended when Wilkinson rather lamely and unsuccessfully dropped for goal. However, soon afterwards, England did score. They appeared to be in trouble on their put-in to a scrum but Haskell kept his head and drove the ball on. England moved the ball left with crisp passing but probably with no more ambition than to set the ball up again. But when Tuilagi held his run and came from deep he glided outside Keith Earls to score almost at his leisure. It was a lovely finish by England’s new meteor but an absolutely dreadful bit of defending by the Irish back division in general and by Earls in particular.
England managed to sort out their early scrummage problems and Sheridan began to make a mess of Mike Ross. And a conversion and two penalties by Wilkinson stretched England away to 13-9 by half time, with Ireland’s points all coming from the boot of Ronan O’Gara. It could easily have been worse for Ireland, when they overthrew the ball at a lineout and Tuilagi snaffled it and set off in space with around 80 metres to go. He lacks the extra yard of gas of a true sprinter, and Geordan Murphy, his clubmate, ran him down — a superb defeat by the veteran Murphy, which saved the game as a contest.
Some of England’s discipline horrors which cost them their previous game in Dublin resurfaced at the start of the second half, notably when Ashton flopped carelessly over the ball to try to kill a ruck after the referee had put England on a final warning. With Ireland only four points adrift, it was their chance to burst back into proceedings, and send themselves to New Zealand on a winning note.
No such luck for the Irish, however. England drove the ball on in an attack that was accurate without ever being dangerous but Tindall noticed that the Irish outside backs had come up flat, chipped the ball cleverly through and Delon Armitage came sprinting up to score. Wilkinson’s conversion made it 20-9.
After that, the only real concern for England lay in potential injury. Wilkinson was clearly suffering from knocks but continued to plough on into the tackle, and even though Tindall limped off, his demeanour suggested his hamstring was tight, not pulled.
At the very end, inspired by O’Connell and with John Sexton trying to pin England back into the corners, Ireland at least gained a territorial advantage. But Haskell and the back row and Tuilagi and the midfield kept their defensive shape, England took the victory and attention switched from the team to the medical men.
The start of a genuine revival? Certainly, there was a humility about England’s selection in several positions which admitted bad selections in the past. Better late than never. It is still just possible that England can have a loud say in New Zealand’s spring.
Star man: James Haskell (England)
Scorers: Ireland: Pens: O’Gara (3)
England: Tries: Tuilagi 4, Armitage 45 Cons: Wilkinson (2)
Pens: Wilkinson (2) Yellow card: England: Ashton
Referee: N Owens (Wales)
Attendance: 48,523
Ireland: G Murphy; T Bowe, K Earls, G D’Arcy, A Trimble (F McFadden 71min); R O’Gara (J Sexton 61min), E Reddan (C Murray 61min); C Healy (T Court 70min), J Flannery (R Best 50min), M Ross, D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell, S Ferris, D Wallace (D Leamy 21min), J Heaslip (D Ryan 34min).
England: B Foden; C Ashton, M Tuilagi, M Tindall (T Flood 74min), M Cueto (D Armitage 21min); J Wilkinson, R Wigglesworth; A Sheridan (M Stevens 56min), S Thompson (D Hartley 51min), D Cole, L Deacon (S Shaw 62min), C Lawes, T Croft, H Fourie (T Palmer 21min), J Haskell.
August 6th
All Blacks 30 V Wallabies 15 (Auckland, Tri Nations 2011)
England 23 V Wales 19 (Twickenham, 'Friendly' 2011)
This is a copied Stephen Jones article from the Sunday Times in London 7 August 2011. Rupert Murdoch, come and get us if you can be bothered (but we suspect, you have bigger fish to fry).
In the great garment debate, it is difficult to work out who emerged looking the more ludicrous.
Was it England, for their fatuitous decision to play in a black kit at Twickenham in front of 82,000 fans, the majority of whom were supporting them avidly, and at some cost, by wearing England white? Or was it the New Zealanders, with their pathetic and affronted reaction, as if the colour black is something on which New Zealand have a world copyright in life and sport?
It was also difficult to work out which of England or Wales can look back with most satisfaction on this grim encounter; this homage to the finance directors of the Unions who demand big internationals under the looming shadow of the World Cup — and who pay a different kind of price with the risk of injury. Lewis Moody duly limped off with an injury that did not appear to be serious and poor Morgan Stoddart was carried off on a stretcher.
But it is even more ludicrous for team management to claim that these summer matches are to provide tie-breakers for the World Cup squad. If, after about 40 international rugby matches since the last World Cup, and after interminable months in camp and all the video technology in the world, then Martin Johnson and Warren Gatland do not know precisely their top 30, then their ability to pick their own noses must be seriously in doubt.
The great Jonny Wilkinson Debate rambles on, for the illustrious Toulon hero played with accuracy but not with flair, with wonderful kicking but not with alacrity in his passing nor leadership of the line. And if England, for some reason, are still struggling with conundrums then this game solved very few apart from that Steve Walsh, the referee, proved to have an abysmal match. Manu Tuilagi had some impressive moments but you still feel that a clever midfield could leave him ruthlessly exposed when his naivety gets the better of him. The best news was up front where, admittedly against a feeble Wales front row, Matt Stevens was outstanding and England were generally on top.
But for all that, it took desperate England defence to salvage the game and if you really want to compare teams in black on the day, then England come out miserably behind. Compared to the pace, power and depth in the TriNations match between New Zealand and Australia, England were cripplingly pedestrian, flat and bloated.
Indeed, in many ways it was typical England — the odd early flash and the traditional meaty effort, but then interminable periods where the team appeared to lack direction, freshness, focus and leadership. Nobody appeared to be issuing orders during the period of Welsh ascendancy in the second half. England played as they usually play, as if shackled in the mind.
England must rigorously examine their younger players and they must not fall into the traditional England trap of choosing those who have shown flashes of brilliance at the expense of those who can operate in the knockout stages of a World Cup.
Tuilagi deserves another chance in Cardiff next week because, admittedly, he is a late-runner whose prowess at the top level has been largely unsuspected until recently. But apart from that, it is now time for Johnson to draft in the old sweats and above all to start firing up a proper English international pack, one that has authority and can take on the likes of New Zealand, not at their own game but at England’s game. After that, the pace and depth can be added.
Perhaps conversely, the man under most pressure in the British rugby scene at the moment is not Johnson, but Gatland. England are not a great side and it is fanciful to expect them to become one in time for this World Cup — even though they had four years’ notice that the tournament had been arranged, and even though they have spent millions on their preparation.
Gatland is in a difficult position because he has more talent at his disposal, he has fewer players wearing the mental shackles and somewhere in there he has a squad to make an impact on the tournament. But does he have the boldness and the speculative nature to go bull-headed and grasp his destiny? The Welsh back division were significantly more impressive than that of England, even with the shocking late withdrawal of Stephen Jones, and here Gatland’s selection must again be called into question.
Wales have five fly-halves who would all be good enough to make the England squad but Gatland had none of them on the bench.
He does have class at his disposal. He has Lee Byrne, Gavin Henson and James Hook to bring in. He knows that Shane Williams and the superb Mike Phillips now have another big game under their belts as their form revives. The two world-class props in Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins are on stand-by and he now must also give the gigantic Luke Charteris a run instead of Alun Wyn Jones at lock.
Gatland has a magnificent chance to electrify Cardiff and the World Cup campaign by picking a powerful full team for the return fixture at the Millennium stadium on Saturday.
Wales have it in them to play a game of more devil and effectiveness than England can dream of. Over to you, Warren.
Monday, 9 August 2010
DEBUT
While Ferdy is off at re-orientating herself to UK life at The Big Chill, enjoying a bass bin battering from the likes of Massive Attack, M.I.A. and Roots Manuva, it falls to me to step up and repay the Good Lady's faith in giving me ‘game time’ on ruggerblogger. So, here goes ...
Now, I’ve got to admit, I am not a huge Sevens fan, but I was really enjoying that game on Saturday night ... then a Test Match broke out and I had to settle in for 65 minutes of old fashioned see-saw. It was a New Zealand victory based on two early pounces of expansive, flowing rugby, and long periods of defence when the Wallabies had all the possession. Hell, we even kicked our way out of trouble; at least twice Carter hoofed the ball 50-60m down the field, and it was refreshing to see this pragmatic shift in strategy. Despite the new interpretations finally catching up to New Zealand’s long standing willingness to run the ball from everywhere and carry the ball into contact, in tight games like this it is nice to know that Carter’s boot can conservatively thump us to a better gain in field position. A Plan B perhaps?
Yes, the match looked uncomfortably close for periods when the teams were only 7 points apart and those Canary Yellow jerseys seemed to be holding phase after phase ... but so many times they struggled to gain ground after the first tackle, let alone multiple phases. This All Black pack could stop inflation.
Deans’ team (presently) just lack that cohesion to really steel their enthusiasm. At this stage, players with 2,7 or 15 caps will never compete against our more experienced core of players in the 25-45 cap zone, but I’m with Ferdy ... give them time. Shining lights like Will Genia (quiet on Saturday), David Pocock and Drew Williams will always put them in good stead for the final rounds in 2011.
These All Blacks are just in scintillating form and brimming with confidence at the moment. Are we peaking? Is this another 1994, 2002 or 2006? I don’t believe we peak ... I think we just crash for 10 minutes every four years, with calamitous effect.
For now though, I’m feelin' the love again this year. I am enjoying this Tri Nations. I feel ‘comfy’ with this team. With that whopping Bledisloe Cup in the trophy cabinet for another year, the last hurdle - the icing on our 2010 cake - is not just the Tri Nations win, but doing it with an emphatic away win in the Rainbow Nation ... no, not the North Shore - South Africa.
Laterz
Slugso
PS Woodcock was very, very lucky. Richard Loe will be smiling.
Sunday, 1 November 2009
All Blacks 32 - Wallabies 19 - Tokyo
Tonight the All Blacks won against the Wallabies for the fourth time this year (although the tally does flatter the winners as the Wallabies took the AB's to the line on at least two occasions, and looked very much on par with the New Zealanders).
However, in the end with Dan Carter's boot and two beautiful tries (the first, the best I've seen from the All Blacks all year), the New Zealanders brought this game home.
The first half was incredibly even. I've always said - sagely since the mid 80s - never get the Aussies into your own twenty two as they'll pull one out of the bag. And Peter Hynes did just that, in the corner brushing off four desperate All Blacks, just before the second time whistle.
The try was awarded dubiously by the TMO after what it seemed like ten minutes of soul searching. To be fair, I would have awarded it too. (One must always give the attacking team the benefit of the doubt - even if it was grounded before it touched the chalk and then lost forward after).
The ABs weren't helped in the five minutes previous by the brainless and inept (ok, he finished with a try, but he's still inept) Sivivatu who pulled an illegal in-the-air tackle against Adam Ashley Cooper that looked distinctly malicious. Of course he was sent to the sin bin for a well deserved ten thereafter. (Why the AB coaches persist with this nutbar who can't tackle and can't catch a basic up-and-under is beyond me).
But at half time, the All Blacks got the 'talking to' and came out firing. Conrad 'runs a good straight line' Smith scored a 'good running at the line' in a straight pattern try, and then it was up to Dan and Giteau to exchange penalties for the next half hour.
Roll on the AIs.
However, in the end with Dan Carter's boot and two beautiful tries (the first, the best I've seen from the All Blacks all year), the New Zealanders brought this game home.
The first half was incredibly even. I've always said - sagely since the mid 80s - never get the Aussies into your own twenty two as they'll pull one out of the bag. And Peter Hynes did just that, in the corner brushing off four desperate All Blacks, just before the second time whistle.
The try was awarded dubiously by the TMO after what it seemed like ten minutes of soul searching. To be fair, I would have awarded it too. (One must always give the attacking team the benefit of the doubt - even if it was grounded before it touched the chalk and then lost forward after).
The ABs weren't helped in the five minutes previous by the brainless and inept (ok, he finished with a try, but he's still inept) Sivivatu who pulled an illegal in-the-air tackle against Adam Ashley Cooper that looked distinctly malicious. Of course he was sent to the sin bin for a well deserved ten thereafter. (Why the AB coaches persist with this nutbar who can't tackle and can't catch a basic up-and-under is beyond me).
But at half time, the All Blacks got the 'talking to' and came out firing. Conrad 'runs a good straight line' Smith scored a 'good running at the line' in a straight pattern try, and then it was up to Dan and Giteau to exchange penalties for the next half hour.
Roll on the AIs.
Monday, 7 September 2009
Tri Nations 2009 - Still alive and kicking
It’s amazing how one game can change everything in world rugby. Less than a week ago and the Springboks were invincible world beaters that were so far ahead of the rest of the teams in the world, all we could do was stand back in awe and admiration. This week and the Wallabies with an injection of passion and desperation, blow that aura of invincibility to smithereens. How quickly the tables can turn with a fickle media and public.
Already the sniping at Springbok talisman John Smit has begun. (Maybe there is a point to this considering he was annihilated by a scrum that has up until very recently, been a world laughing stock). The murmur of usual clichés have started to gain in volume: ‘The boks are poor travellers, they don’t know what to do when someone applies pressure to them, they’ve got a stupid coach’ etc etc. It just goes to prove that any team, no matter how fearsome, is only as good as its last game.
Good news for the Tri Nations too. This means the last two games won’t be dead rubbers – although the All Blacks will have to play out of their skins and score four tries in each match to have any hope of retaining the trophy. Call me a pessimist but I can’t see how it will be possible with the current players in the All Blacks. Especially if Henry decides to continue tinkering with his backline and playing everyone out of position. Dan Carter is the world’s best number 10. Why would Henry play him at 12? And what impact can an out of form Mils Muliaina possibly make at centre? He has struggled in his own position, so what kind of cutting incisiveness will he make at centre? Not much I should imagine.
If Henry picks the slovenly Tialata who I see is back training with the squad, well then I’m going to trot off to the TAB and put some money on the South Africans myself. I thought the silver lining from the losses we have had this year would be that Henry would shave the players from the team who turn up but clearly look like they can’t be bothered. We need to get rid of the dead weight. Not keep on flogging a dead horse by playing inept players with no brains for the game or passion.
Already the sniping at Springbok talisman John Smit has begun. (Maybe there is a point to this considering he was annihilated by a scrum that has up until very recently, been a world laughing stock). The murmur of usual clichés have started to gain in volume: ‘The boks are poor travellers, they don’t know what to do when someone applies pressure to them, they’ve got a stupid coach’ etc etc. It just goes to prove that any team, no matter how fearsome, is only as good as its last game.
Good news for the Tri Nations too. This means the last two games won’t be dead rubbers – although the All Blacks will have to play out of their skins and score four tries in each match to have any hope of retaining the trophy. Call me a pessimist but I can’t see how it will be possible with the current players in the All Blacks. Especially if Henry decides to continue tinkering with his backline and playing everyone out of position. Dan Carter is the world’s best number 10. Why would Henry play him at 12? And what impact can an out of form Mils Muliaina possibly make at centre? He has struggled in his own position, so what kind of cutting incisiveness will he make at centre? Not much I should imagine.
If Henry picks the slovenly Tialata who I see is back training with the squad, well then I’m going to trot off to the TAB and put some money on the South Africans myself. I thought the silver lining from the losses we have had this year would be that Henry would shave the players from the team who turn up but clearly look like they can’t be bothered. We need to get rid of the dead weight. Not keep on flogging a dead horse by playing inept players with no brains for the game or passion.
Monday, 22 December 2008
Best and worst of rugby in 2009
The end of year rugby awards have been rolled out by the Guardian and I thought I would add my two pence worth too with a very strong New Zealand bias (of course).
Best player
Guardian: Shane Williams (Wales). Harsh on Richie McCaw and Dan Carter but Williams deserves recognition for proving conclusively that height and weight are not the sole measure of a rugby player's worth.
ruggerblogger: Absolutely Richie McCaw.
Best coach
Guardian: Robbie Deans (Australia). Warren Gatland, Graham Henry and London Irish's Toby Booth were all in the frame but the post-World Cup improvement of the Wallabies has been a credit to Dean's tactical acumen.
ruggerblogger: Warren Gatland for reviving Wales after their simpering exit from the World Cup in 2007.
Best young player
Guardian: Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland). Even in a losing Leinster side at Castres on Friday night he showed class, skill, composure and fortitude. I'd ink him into my British and Irish Lions squad now.
ruggerblogger: Welsh fullback Lee Byrne. That guy looks slippery and dangerous.
Best match atmosphere
Guardian: Guinness Premiership final, Wasps v Leicester, Twickenham. A world-record crowd for a club match and a significant milestone in the history of the professional game in Britain.
ruggerblogger: Well of course, it was the New Plymouth test match for the All Blacks V Samoa. Although the crowds at Croke and Munster for the All Blacks grand slam were even better.
Quote of the year
Guardian: "My England man put rampant rabbits to shame" — Angel Barbie gives the lowdown on England's ill-fated "Pony Club" visit in Auckland.
ruggerblogger: “I second my fellow Kiwis who advise that most of New Zealand regard the NZRFU as a conga line of bumbling **: a motley collection of provincial oxen, who glower at the world from a thicket of cauliflower ears, protruding foreheads, homespun jumpers, and dark mutterings about bloody PC gone mad, the rest a pack of failed businessmen, opportunists, and strategically shaved chimpanzees, conspiring to reduce the All Blacks to a 'Brand', and sold like a Big Mac Happy Meal.” – BBC message board - bjammin187
The Oliver Postgate memorial award for biggest clanger
Guardian: The manner of Brian Ashton's removal as England head coach did the Rugby Football Union absolutely no credit.
ruggerblogger: The Auckland Four and their mishaps.
Unsung hero
Guardian: Step forward Al Baxter, the much-maligned Wallaby prop. He deserved his sweet moment of revenge against England at Twickenham.
ruggerblogger: Richie McCaw. Ok, ok, he's not unsung. But captaining an All Black team to a 19 - 0 win over South Africa in South Africa, completing another grand slam tour in the UK and Ireland where all the Northern teams remained tryless, a hard fought Bledisloe win, Captain of the winning Crusaders in the Super 14, leaderhip and influence, not to mention picking yourself up after the humiliation of 2007. What more did he have to do to get IRB player of the year?
Ugliest aspect of modern rugby
Guardian: Tediously protracted bouts of aerial ping-pong between two mediocre kickers.
ruggerblogger: The greedy British and French clubs. Too much money and not enough skill, still.
Best overseas signing
Guardian: Still early days but Quins' purchase of Nick Evans looks a better bet than, say, Newcastle's investment in Carl Hayman.
ruggerblogger: I always said we’d miss Nick Evans. Carl Hayman just needs to come back home.
Forgotten man
Guardian: Phil Christophers (Castres). Feels a long time ago since he played for England, doesn't it?
Forgotten man: Andrew Sheridan. He was once the great white hope. What happened to him this year?
Best referee
Guardian: Nigel Owens (Wales). By his own admission it can be tough being a referee, let alone an openly gay one. Deserves respect for his honesty and, more often than not, his officiating as well.
ruggerblogger: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa). Let’s the game flow and doesn’t get too whistle happy.
Media man of the year
Guardian: Alastair Hignell, who hung up his microphone in May. An inspiration to his many friends and still toasted — often repeatedly — around the hotel bars of the world.
ruggerblogger: Why does it have to be a man?
And one of my own:
Biggest mystery: Why - if the All Blacks are the biggest money spinners when it comes to rugby - does the NZRFU not have any money?
Check out Total Flanker for his best of 2009 awards
Best player
Guardian: Shane Williams (Wales). Harsh on Richie McCaw and Dan Carter but Williams deserves recognition for proving conclusively that height and weight are not the sole measure of a rugby player's worth.
ruggerblogger: Absolutely Richie McCaw.
Best coach
Guardian: Robbie Deans (Australia). Warren Gatland, Graham Henry and London Irish's Toby Booth were all in the frame but the post-World Cup improvement of the Wallabies has been a credit to Dean's tactical acumen.
ruggerblogger: Warren Gatland for reviving Wales after their simpering exit from the World Cup in 2007.
Best young player
Guardian: Luke Fitzgerald (Ireland). Even in a losing Leinster side at Castres on Friday night he showed class, skill, composure and fortitude. I'd ink him into my British and Irish Lions squad now.
ruggerblogger: Welsh fullback Lee Byrne. That guy looks slippery and dangerous.
Best match atmosphere
Guardian: Guinness Premiership final, Wasps v Leicester, Twickenham. A world-record crowd for a club match and a significant milestone in the history of the professional game in Britain.
ruggerblogger: Well of course, it was the New Plymouth test match for the All Blacks V Samoa. Although the crowds at Croke and Munster for the All Blacks grand slam were even better.
Quote of the year
Guardian: "My England man put rampant rabbits to shame" — Angel Barbie gives the lowdown on England's ill-fated "Pony Club" visit in Auckland.
ruggerblogger: “I second my fellow Kiwis who advise that most of New Zealand regard the NZRFU as a conga line of bumbling **: a motley collection of provincial oxen, who glower at the world from a thicket of cauliflower ears, protruding foreheads, homespun jumpers, and dark mutterings about bloody PC gone mad, the rest a pack of failed businessmen, opportunists, and strategically shaved chimpanzees, conspiring to reduce the All Blacks to a 'Brand', and sold like a Big Mac Happy Meal.” – BBC message board - bjammin187
The Oliver Postgate memorial award for biggest clanger
Guardian: The manner of Brian Ashton's removal as England head coach did the Rugby Football Union absolutely no credit.
ruggerblogger: The Auckland Four and their mishaps.
Unsung hero
Guardian: Step forward Al Baxter, the much-maligned Wallaby prop. He deserved his sweet moment of revenge against England at Twickenham.
ruggerblogger: Richie McCaw. Ok, ok, he's not unsung. But captaining an All Black team to a 19 - 0 win over South Africa in South Africa, completing another grand slam tour in the UK and Ireland where all the Northern teams remained tryless, a hard fought Bledisloe win, Captain of the winning Crusaders in the Super 14, leaderhip and influence, not to mention picking yourself up after the humiliation of 2007. What more did he have to do to get IRB player of the year?
Ugliest aspect of modern rugby
Guardian: Tediously protracted bouts of aerial ping-pong between two mediocre kickers.
ruggerblogger: The greedy British and French clubs. Too much money and not enough skill, still.
Best overseas signing
Guardian: Still early days but Quins' purchase of Nick Evans looks a better bet than, say, Newcastle's investment in Carl Hayman.
ruggerblogger: I always said we’d miss Nick Evans. Carl Hayman just needs to come back home.
Forgotten man
Guardian: Phil Christophers (Castres). Feels a long time ago since he played for England, doesn't it?
Forgotten man: Andrew Sheridan. He was once the great white hope. What happened to him this year?
Best referee
Guardian: Nigel Owens (Wales). By his own admission it can be tough being a referee, let alone an openly gay one. Deserves respect for his honesty and, more often than not, his officiating as well.
ruggerblogger: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa). Let’s the game flow and doesn’t get too whistle happy.
Media man of the year
Guardian: Alastair Hignell, who hung up his microphone in May. An inspiration to his many friends and still toasted — often repeatedly — around the hotel bars of the world.
ruggerblogger: Why does it have to be a man?
And one of my own:
Biggest mystery: Why - if the All Blacks are the biggest money spinners when it comes to rugby - does the NZRFU not have any money?
Check out Total Flanker for his best of 2009 awards
Monday, 17 November 2008
Ireland down, Doug Howlett's Munster to go
It was another good day at the office for the All Blacks when they took on Ireland at the magical Croke park on Saturday night.
Not such a great night for Ireland who had hyped the game up quite considerably beforehand - which is not surprising as the talk-ups between test matches - particularly in the NH - seem to be part and parcel of tests nowadays.
Unlike the rest of the critical New Zealand rugby public, I thought the All Blacks showed a lot of heart. To restrict both Scotland and Ireland to tryless final scores says a lot about this team’s excellent defensive structure. And the backline looks exciting when it gets a bit of space.
Star player for me was Ma’a Nonu who made Brian O’Driscoll and co look ordinary. An easy looking fend flicked O’Gara into a green heap at one stage and the Wellington man ran some great lines – especially leading up to try he built with Joe Rokocoko.
New Zealand was a bit selfish when it came to releasing the ball. Particularly – and surprisingly – from Mils Muliaina. There were at least three passes that he didn’t release on potential overlaps and I’d like to think that will be picked up by the coaches and remedied come Cardiff. There’s no "I" in team Mils!
Meanwhile the All Blacks prepare for a midweek test against Doug Howlett’s Munster. Whether the Munster men will turn in a haka to challenge the Abs is anyone’s guess. I hope they do – it will make a good spectacle.
Highlights of the weekend
Lowlights
Monday, 15 September 2008
All Blacks beat the Wallabies to retain the Bledisloe and Tri-nations in 2008
One good thing to come out of the All Blacks losing that infamous day in Cardiff last year is that I really don’t get so amped now about whether we win or lose. In fact, when the All Blacks fell to South Africa and Australia in the early stages of the Tri-Nations this year, I was disappointed yes, but not devastated. Maybe I’m growing up?
Still, I was pretty happy on Saturday night when the All Blacks managed to come back from the pit of defeat and then hang on by a grimy fingernail against a spirited Wallabies side. (So happy I managed to spill four pints of beer in one single arm movement of whooping joy much to my cohorts chagrin).
It was a great test match and everyone (down in the SH anyway) seems to be calling it a triumph for the new ELVS. One thing’s for sure – for a rugby final – which this definitely was, it certainly had it all.
The match could not have been more different to the World Cup final played by England and South Africa last year. For a start it had risk and adventure and huge pace. The winner was decided through the amount of tries scored, not by the amount of (boring) penalty and drop kicks. Imagine a Rugby World Cup final with seven tries scored? Impossible (especially if the English rugby team has anything to do with it).
So the All Blacks are number one again. Even Daniel Carter in a moment of uncharacteristic joy may have signalled so too as he crossed the line for the decisive try that was to end the Wallabies’ hopes of Bledisloe glory. I’ve actually never seen him smile so much after the game. In fact I have never seen so many All Blacks so unstaunch in celebration. An indication if ever there was how sweet this success was after the lows of the earlier tests this year and the valley of woe in Cardiff.
For a match report read Matt's @ Green and Gold Rugby
Still, I was pretty happy on Saturday night when the All Blacks managed to come back from the pit of defeat and then hang on by a grimy fingernail against a spirited Wallabies side. (So happy I managed to spill four pints of beer in one single arm movement of whooping joy much to my cohorts chagrin).
It was a great test match and everyone (down in the SH anyway) seems to be calling it a triumph for the new ELVS. One thing’s for sure – for a rugby final – which this definitely was, it certainly had it all.
The match could not have been more different to the World Cup final played by England and South Africa last year. For a start it had risk and adventure and huge pace. The winner was decided through the amount of tries scored, not by the amount of (boring) penalty and drop kicks. Imagine a Rugby World Cup final with seven tries scored? Impossible (especially if the English rugby team has anything to do with it).
So the All Blacks are number one again. Even Daniel Carter in a moment of uncharacteristic joy may have signalled so too as he crossed the line for the decisive try that was to end the Wallabies’ hopes of Bledisloe glory. I’ve actually never seen him smile so much after the game. In fact I have never seen so many All Blacks so unstaunch in celebration. An indication if ever there was how sweet this success was after the lows of the earlier tests this year and the valley of woe in Cardiff.
For a match report read Matt's @ Green and Gold Rugby
Wednesday, 5 September 2007
Rugby World Cup Blogwatch: 3 Days To Go
The quiet before the storm. As office workers world wide start rolling out their Rugby World Cup sweepstakes, the traditional pre-match rugby reports start trawling out with the same old mundane rugby ‘news’ when there isn’t any rugby to watch:
Robinson and Wilkinson injured … again. Who will be the centre All Black pairing? The All Blacks resort to astrology and technology to end their twenty year curse. The English, Scottish and Azzurri are all hopeful. The French even more so; and the Portuguese not at all. The Cherry Blossoms (a most unrugby name for a team if ever there was one) are quaking in their boots about their first match with the Wallabies. The Tongan rugby team have shocked Bournemouth locals with the amount of food consumed during a gentle pub lunch. Steven Larkham doesn’t have a home to go now that Edinburgh has been bought out (and is rather worried). Plus, the Springboks are threatening to unleash a haka of their own (the mind truly boggles).
In the blogosphere, MiramarMike continues with a great blogwatch round up (which I have shamelessly drawn inspiration from). Total Flanker surmises that the Canterbury rugby brand is a lucky one and the Irish, Wallabies, Scottish and Springboks should have it over the lycra clad pretty boys with their scientifically enhanced shirts, sweaty ions and all (even if the Canterbury brand does mean those hardened Aussies and South Africans are wearing kiwis on their chests). Allez les Noir – my pals in the action have a good list of World Cup songs (particularly if you’re an All Black supporter) to get everyone in the spirit.
Roll on Saturday.
Robinson and Wilkinson injured … again. Who will be the centre All Black pairing? The All Blacks resort to astrology and technology to end their twenty year curse. The English, Scottish and Azzurri are all hopeful. The French even more so; and the Portuguese not at all. The Cherry Blossoms (a most unrugby name for a team if ever there was one) are quaking in their boots about their first match with the Wallabies. The Tongan rugby team have shocked Bournemouth locals with the amount of food consumed during a gentle pub lunch. Steven Larkham doesn’t have a home to go now that Edinburgh has been bought out (and is rather worried). Plus, the Springboks are threatening to unleash a haka of their own (the mind truly boggles).
In the blogosphere, MiramarMike continues with a great blogwatch round up (which I have shamelessly drawn inspiration from). Total Flanker surmises that the Canterbury rugby brand is a lucky one and the Irish, Wallabies, Scottish and Springboks should have it over the lycra clad pretty boys with their scientifically enhanced shirts, sweaty ions and all (even if the Canterbury brand does mean those hardened Aussies and South Africans are wearing kiwis on their chests). Allez les Noir – my pals in the action have a good list of World Cup songs (particularly if you’re an All Black supporter) to get everyone in the spirit.
Roll on Saturday.
Friday, 31 August 2007
Rugby World Cup: Downloads and Team Profiles
Are you worried you’re not completely up with the goings on with the Rugby World Cup? Then check out these downloads. Get a Rugby World Cup countdown widget (the image can be changed), excel spreadsheets to update as the scores come in, dates to your outlook calendar and for NZ rugby fans: the Rugby World Cup TV3 schedule (thanks MiramarMike for this).
If you’re still sitting on the fence and you’re not sure who you want to support as we head into the final week’s countdown, take a peek at ruggerblogger’s Rugby World Cup Team profiles. I’ve still got a few to add to the collection but if you’re interesting in reading about the Springbok chances, the Wallaby woes, Scotland's steel, the weak link of England or the chiropractor of Samoa, then here is where it’s at. Happy downloading.
If you’re still sitting on the fence and you’re not sure who you want to support as we head into the final week’s countdown, take a peek at ruggerblogger’s Rugby World Cup Team profiles. I’ve still got a few to add to the collection but if you’re interesting in reading about the Springbok chances, the Wallaby woes, Scotland's steel, the weak link of England or the chiropractor of Samoa, then here is where it’s at. Happy downloading.
Thursday, 30 August 2007
Rugby World Cup Finalists....
I’m as one eyed as the next New Zealander and I think that the All Blacks will reach the final. (translation, I pray they will be in the final). The question is – who will be the other team to make it for the last dance on 22 October? After the poor showing of Ireland in the last couple of Rugby World Cup friendlies, people have all but written them off. But are they really that bad? Will the Pumas and Les Bleus string them alive - or is this just wishful thinking for some people? Meanwhile, as much as everyone has dissed the English, there is something about them that might suggest they’re coming into form. (Ok, there is nothing to suggest that at the moment but I don’t like being mean).
Meanwhile the Southern Hemisphere media is (some might say arrogantly) consumed with the fact that France and the Tri Nations teams are the only true challengers. The question is – out of France, South Africa and Australia – who will be the team to make the final? Will France blow a gasket; South Africa a punch and Stirling a forward pass? Which one of these teams is guaranteed a spot in Rugby World Cup history?
Meanwhile the Southern Hemisphere media is (some might say arrogantly) consumed with the fact that France and the Tri Nations teams are the only true challengers. The question is – out of France, South Africa and Australia – who will be the team to make the final? Will France blow a gasket; South Africa a punch and Stirling a forward pass? Which one of these teams is guaranteed a spot in Rugby World Cup history?
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
The weird and wonderful rugby world of hair
There are a bevy of beauties on the rugger field, each with their own special trademark. Although I would hate to categorise any team by country, it has been noted that the Welsh, when not sporting the woolly Duncan Jones sheep look, seem to be attempting some kind of Guinness record when it comes to the amount of hair gel to apply to their locks. This does for old Gav what countless other beauties have found in their time – over use of the bryl cream gives ultimate lift of the hair follicle but ultimately, also an increased reputation that you can’t have hair and brains too.
In the All Blacks camp, apart from the obvious dreadlocks, there is a fond predisposition to dying the edges of the hair yellow. Jerry Collin’s cousin (also his hairdresser) looks to be doing a rip roaring trade for half the All Black team with Neemia Tialata, dropped Piri Weepu and Ma’a Nonu plus Chris Masoe all sporting their fairer edges.
Meanwhile, England and the Wallabies are content to wear their hair the way real rugby men do – with short backs and sides. That is of course unless you’re Dallaglio. The man who loves the media bite almost as much as the sound of his own voice could possibly be the only geezer in the world looking to inspire a revival of the comb over. Much like Lol’s rugby time on the rugby field – it sadly isn’t tipped to be around for much longer.
In the All Blacks camp, apart from the obvious dreadlocks, there is a fond predisposition to dying the edges of the hair yellow. Jerry Collin’s cousin (also his hairdresser) looks to be doing a rip roaring trade for half the All Black team with Neemia Tialata, dropped Piri Weepu and Ma’a Nonu plus Chris Masoe all sporting their fairer edges.
Meanwhile, England and the Wallabies are content to wear their hair the way real rugby men do – with short backs and sides. That is of course unless you’re Dallaglio. The man who loves the media bite almost as much as the sound of his own voice could possibly be the only geezer in the world looking to inspire a revival of the comb over. Much like Lol’s rugby time on the rugby field – it sadly isn’t tipped to be around for much longer.
Thursday, 9 August 2007
Rugby World Cup team profile - Australia
In this lull before the Rugby World Cup, I have decided to follow the lead of fellow esteemed bloggers and publish my thoughts on each top ten team heading into the World Cup Competition and what I think their chances are. Here are my thoughts on Australia:
Current World Rank: 2!
Random cliché: Only fools would write off the Wallabies - those buggers fight to the death...
Murray Mexted likely to say: "There's nothing that a tight forward likes more than a loosie right up his backside"
Stephen Jones did say: the Wallabies were again unconvincing in the scrum and were never ruthless enough
Main headlines of the local rag when they lose: 'What's rugby and who cares'
Glamour boy of the team: Matt Dunning
Greatest Moment in last four years: Beating the All Blacks in the 2007 Tri Nations
Weakest Moment: The Australian front row for the last four years.
Redeeming features: George Gregan and his constant handy hints to the referree
Weak link: Matt Dunning
Incumbent star: Stirling Mortlock (or as NZers like to call him 'that bloody Mortlock again')
Rising star: Adam Ashley-Cooper
Current World Rank: 2!
Random cliché: Only fools would write off the Wallabies - those buggers fight to the death...
Murray Mexted likely to say: "There's nothing that a tight forward likes more than a loosie right up his backside"
Stephen Jones did say: the Wallabies were again unconvincing in the scrum and were never ruthless enough
Main headlines of the local rag when they lose: 'What's rugby and who cares'
Glamour boy of the team: Matt Dunning
Greatest Moment in last four years: Beating the All Blacks in the 2007 Tri Nations
Weakest Moment: The Australian front row for the last four years.
Redeeming features: George Gregan and his constant handy hints to the referree
Weak link: Matt Dunning
Incumbent star: Stirling Mortlock (or as NZers like to call him 'that bloody Mortlock again')
Rising star: Adam Ashley-Cooper
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