Official Rugby Thread

[Craig]

The Welsh management were trying to re arrange the order in which we do the pre match things, basically they wanted us to do it after out national anthem so they could sing theirs afterwards and take the sting out of it. Saw some of the AB's game, I just get bored watching them I really do because they win all the time and Tony Johnston is a real wanker to listen to, thinks McCaw and the rest of them can do no wrong. France lucky to escape with a win over Argentina 27-26.

Come on mate you know that isn't on, thought you would rather hear it from me then James or one of the other mods giving you a warning.

 

[Craig]

You know it is funny, last year when Australia lost 7 or 8 Test matches in a row, a kiwi guy at work joked had it been the AB's they would be on their 3rd coach by now. Certainly I remember the poor run of form in 1998 and it was almost like a national crisis when how every older player is suddenly useless and all run off to Europe or Japan for the pound/euros/yen and how all current players don't train hard and how it was all better in the 70's and 80's where the players had to have jobs on the side to survive. FFS.

 

[steds]

How come wanker isn't blocked?

 

[Perm]

Sorry guys, it wasn't appropriate to say that but man he get's on my nerves. Why he is still doing sideline comments for All Black's games is beyond me, he's far too biased and we would do better with Ian Jones, Frank Bunce or Melodie Robinson who are all more capable than Tony Johnston. Also why aren't the people that go to international games in NZ as passionate as the Northern Hemisphere crowds? I mean in New Zealand basically everybody knows about rugby but when it comes time for a test against Australia there is no singing or chanting in the crowd like there is at Twickenham, Murrayfield, Landsdowne Road, Millenium Stadium or any of the French stadiums.

 

[ohtani's jacket]

When do New Zealanders ever sing in public?

 

[ohtani's jacket]

It's very important who our second five is because they have to build the relationship and partnership with the man outside them. If Mauger is the 12 then Muliaina should be 13, if McCalister is at 12 then Smith should be 13. Thaty's my opinion because in each of these combinations you have a guy that can take the line on with strength (McCalister and Muliaina) and to be quite honest I can't see Mauger and Smith working that well together because they are too similar in the way they play with regards to being support runners etc. If they do pair up then expect the wingers to be used in midfield to charge it up.

They should keep Mils at fullback and use McAlister & Smith in the midfield, but they had the opportunity to use Nonu on this tour without losing anything... His provincial form earned him a place in the squad, & I don't know why he isn't roaming around on the wing more, but Nonu playing second five wasn't a big deal. Mauger losing his second five spot, now that would be a big deal.

 

[BoyBrumby]

When do New Zealanders ever sing in public?

Has a bit of previous on that front....

 

[_Ed_]

Indeed, and I have been known to indulge in a spot of karaoke.

 

[Smudge]

TJ is better in a pure commentating role. Get Nisbo out of there, and fast - his calling has been abysmal over the last couple of years. For God's sake, he kept calling Sivivatu as Rokocoko this morning - The Rok wasn't even in the 22!

 

[Smudge]

Speaking of TJ, sounds like an interesting conversation pre-interview with Henry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iziLdqTL8Yw

 

[Perm]

That's great but something like that could land Ted in hot water, you know how strict the IRB are on coaches outwardly questioning referee's like that. But still, good to hear Henry speaking the truth.

 

[steds]

Has an England team ever lost 8 out of 9 games before?

 

[BoyBrumby]

Has an England team ever lost 8 out of 9 games before?

Yeah. In 71/72 we lost 10/11:

http://www.lassen.co.nz/pickandgo.php

 

[steds]

Question.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Question.

Money would be my guess. There used to be a few before Union went open, but now I would imagine Kiwi Union players who aren't perhaps going to make the ABs squad regularly can earn more playing in Europe or Japan than they could in League.

 

[Smudge]

Considering New Zealand's depth in union and lack of it in league, how come we don't see many New Zealandish union to league conversions?

It's most young Kiwi boys' dream to play for the All Blacks, not the Kiwis. It's as simple as that. However, up until union went professional in 1995, the player drain to union was massive. Consider that in 1990, our top fullback (John Gallagher), his understudy (Matthew Ridge), Frano Botica and one other went to league within the space of about a month, and the raids from Aussie and British league clubs really started to take its toll.

Even if you go back to the likes of Charlie "Bronco" Seeling, who was a star on the tour of 1905, and the great George Nepia, who turned to league in the early 1930s, there have been guys who have crossed the divide.

 

[steds]

Bye bye Mr. Robinson

 

[BoyBrumby]

Should've gone with the rest of the backroom staff after the 6 Nations for mine, but there you go.

Nice bloke, decent coach, not a manager, time to move on.

To who is another issue, pretty much a poisoned challice just now really. My guess would be an internal promotion because the coaching staff is relatively new & if we go for a big non-English name they'd probably want to bring their own people in with them.

I don't think things are quite as hopeless as they seem just now. With luck we could make the WC Final. Don't laugh! If we beat yer Saffies in the group stage (50/50 call at worst), we'll probably play Wales in the Quarters (who've beaten us once in the last nine) & probably France in the semis. If it rains & Jonny's fit, Bob's your uncle: a gallant defeat to the All Blacks in the final, honour restored!

 

[steds]

What is actually Rob Andrew's role atm?

 

[BoyBrumby]

What is actually Rob Andrew's role atm?

Good question, actually. My reading is it's sort of chairman of selectors/director of Rugby (like director of Football in the round ball game). Ill-defined tho, which probably doesn't help. Makes everyone uncertain where the buck stops.

He'd be one of the favs to take over actually. Ashton would be the other one.