2019 Interservices Rugby Tournament

KIa ora team.  2 write ups on Navy, Army and Air Matches to date.

King George V Cup match (Interservices Rugby) (100th Anniversary)

Navy versus Army

Venue: Linton Army Camp, Manawatu.

The day was a glorious day with a dry ground and a stiff breeze blowing across the ground. A great venue for a good match.

The last match I attended Navy versus Army, Army steamrolled us by 76-0 and the way Army started it boded a repeat. The first 30 minutes was point a minute rugby (29-0) with Army utterly dominant (fair to say Navy was on the wrong end of some dubious decisions). And then things changed. From 10 minutes to half time Navy's pack took charge, leading to a great try out wide. And that continued into the second half.

Possession and position wins games and Navy was utterly dominant from minute 30 until the last 5 minutes when an unlucky chip kick on a promising attack was plucked out of the air leading to an Army try. I mentioned position. For 50 minutes Army never had the ball.

I don't know their names but they all stood tall. Some standouts Props, (both starters and replacements) had it all over Army scrum and the loosies were very busy. Gutsy players. Gutsy Game.

I met Barry Waerea and Dave Pilgrim so there was some vocal Navy supporters.

Full time Army 34-Navy 5. They won everyones heart.

I'm now very keen to catch the game on Wednesday, versus Air. If you are in the Manawatu and want to come along it starts at 1430, Linton Army Camp.

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King George V Cup match (Interservices Rugby)

Navy versus Air

Venue: Linton Army Camp, Manawatu.

Another glorious day with a dry ground again and a stiffer breeze blowing across the ground than yesterday..

This match held good promise. They (Navy) won 55 minutes versus Army and in the first 8 minutes Air had position and possession and was rewarded a 3^rd minute penalty and an intercept try on 8 minutes. And that was basically it. Navy, with the wind, replicated their domination over Army and had all the ball, rewarded with a penalty and try in the first half.

Halftime Navy 10 v Air 10.

I was talking with Barry Waerea at half time and we were debating how our boys would go into the wind. Nothing to fear, their first half dominance was continued. Both teams played running rugby

(very little kicking), second phase predominantly secured by Navy. Air's pack was faltering. The only area were both teams suffered was lineouts, the wind was interfering.

Navy were heroic.Dominant right across the park and Air faltered. With 20 odd minutes gone in the second half both teams were level on the soreboard 17-17

In the move of the game, Navy passed the ball though many sets of hands from inside their own half down the left wing ending in the best try of the tournament. The boys provided stoic defense in the last 5 minutes to hang on and win 22-17.

I don't get to see many Navy games but I am pleasantly happy to see the last one I saw (at Massey 2016) has been redressed with a great team ethic (as usual) Go Navy and Kia kaha whanau.

We had special guests. Rear Admiral Dave Proctor and Captain Fogerty. Very vocal supporters.

Army v Air

Hard fought game Air threw everything at Army but at the end of the game Army came away with the win winning by 18 nil so final placings

2019 NZDF Inter Services Rugby

Men

1st. Army
2nd Navy
3rd Air Force

Women

1st Army
2nd Air Force
3rd Navy

Comments on the March Past.

King George Cup – Navy wrap.

Total time in possession (Both games)- out of 160 minutes of rugby Navy held possession for 118 minutes.

Navy scored 4 tries (in style) The last try versus Air was the try of the tournament (bearing in mind I never saw the Army/Air game)

Plenty of players worth a note but Navy played as a consummate team. However the Pack were never bettered in the tight or the loose in either game. The loosies never gave up in both games and the backs used the ball well.

I had been having a korero with Barry Waerea and he mention the Navy team had basically been together for 2 &1/2 months and it showed. And that quite a few of the team were Colts. If Army hadn't steamrolled us in in the first 30 minutes of Rugby the results might have been vastly different.

Zaps

Taking on the Boks at Newlands, Cape Town 8th October 2017

As with anything in life, there is always history preceding any event.  And this weekend's match between the all conquering All Blacks and the Springboks in their home arena is bound to be a hummer - even given the form of both sides.

So what about form?  I mentioned earlier that history has a part to play in results at ( and specifically)  Newlands which has plenty (who can forget the 9-8 last minute win by the 1970 AB's??) And if one looks at results from that ground, it's plainly obvious the AB's have never really given the Boks a "hiding".  Far from it.  Ellis Park may be the quintessential home of South African rugby but Newlands is a very close second, if not slightly ahead.

So the history - 1928 saw the first game between the two sides.  Here is the line up of matches and results (Year and AB score first) since:

1928 Aug  13-5
1949  Jul  11-15
1960  Jul  11-3
1970 Aug 9-8
1976  Sep 10-15
1996 Aug 29-18
2001  Jul  12-3
2005 Aug 16-22
2008 Aug 19-0

See what I mean, all matches were hard fought and not a guaranteed win to either side.  Here are some stats:

AB's won 6 Boks 3 (no draws)

Averaging the scores, AB's scored 14 and Boks 10.

In only one match for each team the score exceeded 20 points per side.

It's fair to say that the AB's will be very hard pushed to win and win well given that history.  Personally it would do the game well for the AB's to taste defeat heading into the northern hemisphere and summer rest.  My score is AB's 17-19 Boks.

NZRU Elite Premier League. (NZEPL)

Hairbrained suggestion but one that might save rugby in the Southern Hemisphere.  Forget South Africa, Australia, Argentina as rugby powerhouses, it's not working.  Let's create a Super Competition in our shores with similar make up of say the EPL (UK).  New Zealand has the infrastructure to host a very competitive NZEPL (NZ Elite Premier League).

How I see it.

1.  Competition (NZEPL) follows the Mitre 10 Cup (played from March to June.)

2.  There are 12 teams in this NZEPL.
a. Taniwhas - Northland and North Harbour
b. Auckland Blues - Auckland only
c. Chiefs - Waikato and Counties Manukau
d. BOP Geysers - Rotorua  and Tauranga
e.  Taranaki Ferdinands - King Country, Taranaki
f.  Central Vulcans - Taupo, Whanganui, Manawatu
g.  The East Costers - Ngati Porou, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay
h.  Hurricanes - Wairarapa, Horowhenua, Kapiti Coast, Wellington.
i.  Makos - Tasman, North Canterbury, West Coast,
j. Crusaders - Christchurch, Mid and South Canterbury
k.  Highlanders - North Otago, Otago, and Southland
l - PI Panthers - Tonga, Samoa and Fiji

3.  The beauty of this competition is that it's based on the EPL, teams already exist in some format and you have to introduce a roster for all teams that have this format as I see it.  Lets say all teams have a wider Squad of 30. There have to be 18 NZ players on contract, with the remaining 12 being contracted during the summer contract period from Aus, SA, Arg, and Jap players.  The PI Panthers will also fill places from without.

4.  The competition would be a single round of games with the top five going through to a Grand Final series. No Bonus Points - winner takes all and if tied scores, Points Differential and previous results.

Yeah hairbrained but SuperRugby is dead in it's tracks. And a top flight competition that has less rather than more is an option.

Figures -
Foreign players - 144
NZ Resident - 216

11 weeks round robin with 3 weeks of finals ergo 3 months of NZEPL Rugby.

I like the idea especially if you also introduce transfer windows and fees.  And the other international competitions can run concurrently and be a feeder to cover injury.  Plus the revenue for the competition is solely NZRU managed with a fee applied to those countries that feed into NZEPL.  We also have Sky as the Main (and named) broadcaster.

New Zealand can sustain this proposal  Rugby is strong here and with foresight can be even stronger.
Oh and yeah, the Quad Nations competition runs after the NZEPL with the June International games still being held.

Entering the Lions Den the Media Beef Up

So the 12 year cycle approaches and the feeling in changing rooms, pubs and media centers around New Zealand and GB&Irish are tuning into what should be a very, very interesting tour.  Why?  Primarily

 the answer lies with Super Rugby Teams (aka franchises) having a crack at games, once the domain of provincial teams.

A minor issue?  Are provincials way to weak for the task at hand??  And for the Lions, 10 matches - 9 of which are essentially tests.

Yeah sure, they are travelling with a 41 player roster but that won't discount wear and tear.  Predominantly they have a huge task at hand.  So what happens when  all those 9 test matches have hosts winning, is the Lions team a thing of the past?  I don't think so but another 12 years down-track one thing is for sure - the rugby calendar will be very different across all rugby nations and competitions.  I doubt there will ever be another tour to NZ and with Aussie out of rugby soon the outlook is glum.

So how are the host teams going to fare? NZ Maori, New Zealand Provincial Barbarians, and Test Teams have the right to claim touring teams as they did in the past.  For me franchise teams are a sad departure from the past.  No I don't want to see the likes of King Country or Mid Canterbury (heck they're lucky to get a Ranfurly Shierld crack) so the Baabaa's team is a great thing.  Why do I find Super teams a hard watch on a tour that celebrates history.  Purely and simply it's down to provincial pride not Super money machine.  Ok yes I agree, most Super teams will have some of their 30 AB's out with Test duties, but as has been seen by the Rugby comp this year, Super teams have huge depth.  

I'm an old rugby fanatic and I love the romantic idea of the Northern Hemisphere banding together to knock over the Southern teams.  I am also a romantic fool and slather at the idea of all NH countries taking on all the SH teams (A World Series like Baseball) I would also like to see the likes of Russia, Georgia and Romania (WHAT!! Iceland are you serious!!)

Here is my thing for future Lions tours Steve Tew.  If the Lions play the Hurricanes at Arena Manawatu I won't go -  it means nothing to me. If the Lions played Manawatu Turbos at Arena Manawatu I'll be front row central.

And I wager thousands more have the same idea.  Yes I am looking forward to the rugby but not the Franchise rugby.  Cheers.

Don't let the Blues get you Down - the road ahead.

 I'ts a given, the unlucky Blues will face 8 teams (well 7 with one bye) to the end of the Super Rugby Comp.  They have been unlucky as many results have been close run things.

But the results mean nothing as they languish in the bottom of the NZ Conference. Yes there are hints about all the results lately shifting up to a positive in the score sheet and place on the ladder.  But sadly the following fixtures practically dismiss some or any hope.

8 matches, 5 away, 2 home and a Bye.

Yes I'd say the most of the teams away are also- rans, but a win away doesn't prove hopeful?

Brumbies  Away  Both on 17 pts, Brumbies 2nd Conference

Waratahs  Away  9pts
Cheetahs  Home  10pts
Stormers Away  26pts
Chiefs  Away  33pts
Reds  Home   10pts
Sunwolves   Away.   5 points.

So Eden Park will host 2 more games, 2 games too short for their fans.  50% of the away games should dictate wins given points on the conferences, but it's fair to say that the Blues have issues just winning and a under the threat of poor performances sadly they will end up being the only NZ team to not make the finals. (Means they have more time to to finalise a squad and getting into training for next year.)

A (Kiwi) perspective on the state of Male sports in Orstaya

Australia has a population 1/4 the size of Great Britain and has sports teams that effectively match per capital those teams. But I'm just going to focus on the Australian Teams.

It's fair to say that countries choose sporting competitions with the goal to make results realisable and the competition fair. So starting with the sport that has very little going for it in Australia or New Zealand.  Football (soccer please).  The A League has a cap of 10 teams, 9 in Australia and 1 in NZ.  You'd think with the growing player base and better Asia/Oceania competition they would foster more than 10.  Not so.  Seems their population demographics say they would ruin the competition if they increased.  So 10 teams it will remain.

Ergo the Australian NBL competition, they too have done there homework.  An 8 team competition is just the ticket, given in their case the lack of sponsorship/team ownership.  Outside of the USA basketball is a boutique sport.

Starting to see a pattern here.  Teams that play the round ball code struggle and the oval Ball codes rule.

Ok so we now pass onto the only game in Australia that doesn't have a World Cup.  As Baseball is to America, AFL is to Aussie.  Chalk and cheese.  By far he biggest competition in Australia with 18 teams with 18 players per game, AFL is a huge player base to draw from (1,400,000 Wiki)  The fact that AFL survives is down to the longevity and popularity of the sport.  And marketing.  Other sports in the same city centres struggle to get local athletes to their sport.

Equally as popular in all regions barring West Australia and Northern Territories, is the NRL.  The National Rugby League has 16 teams and many outside the original hotbed of the game, Sydney. The sport has gone through some massive changes in the near past but seems settled now.  And it is a fluid competition with sometimes one or two teams continually at the top. Probably fair to say the game in Australia has similarities to AFL as far as competition and coverage

And then there is the Super 18 rugby teams, five in number and getting worse as time goes by.  Plainly put, Australian rugby is in dire need of a return to the good days.  Numbers to the game are shrinking and with that shrinking the $$$$ are simply drying up.  With better placed teams in AFL and NRL the Rugby $$$ and player base are diminishing.

And money needs to be pumped into the game but that "Old" money is gone.

And simply put, there is only so much money and resources across all sports to be had.

My sporting journey as it went.

I was a normal happy go lucky and physical being.  I started playing sport as soon as I found I could kick a ball or wield a bat.  My early days were playing soccer for Lumsden District School and dabbling in cricket.  I played more for enjoyment and not to be the best I could be. That was in 1964-66. Dad represented Southland in cricket and played in the local rugby competition and he was keen to get all of us doing the same - but never pressured to excel, enjoyment first

We shifted to Dunedin, and Dad continued his sporting ways and we kids just wanted to potter around at North East Valley School.  I think I spent more time in music class than on the fields of dreams.

In 1967 we shifted to Arthurs Pass and no amenities for field sports.  But there were mountains and mountains were there to be conquered - and conquered they were,  My neighbour and brother and myself also had a lucrative possum trapping business running so fitness wasn't an issue.  Swimming was done in the very cold Bealey River.

My next foray into school sport was playing rugby in Kaitaia.  We lived up the Peria Valley inland from Taipa and our district school.  We bussed every saturday morning to Kaitaia to play other schools.  The first time I played in earnest and with bare feet (as it is in the wops)

We arrived in Palmerston North in 1968 and I played cricket and football for Roslyn Primary and Ross Intermediate.  I opened the batting and bowled medium pacers and our team won most matches.  Football (or soccer) I was Goalkeeper and I think pretty ok for a gangly goofy footer.

I progressed out of there to school at Palmerston North Boys High School.  I went back to rugby but being 60 odd kilos I was too light to play in a higher grade (weighted selections) so ended up playing No 8 for two years, and then fullback in Form 5. I well remember our very first game, flogged 95 nil by a Feilding Ag School.  Last game of the season we won 27-19 against that same side.  Probably my most treasured sporting endeavour.  I also played 2nd XI cricket for two years and was about to be promoted to 1st XI but didn't get in due some geezer called Ian Stockley Smith (Blackcap) so I quit school cricket and played Grade cricket in my Dads team, and that was frightening but I did take up the challenge scoring a fighting 56 in one match.

Sadly school was behind me. But joining the Navy became a new playground for sports mad me. I must say all those days of early sporting endeavour garnished well my hunger for more representation.  And the best, as many have alluded to, the variety available.  I soon settled to do games when and where they became.  Being mostly in the  Survey Navy, sporting opportunities were few and far between.  Once however I made it to Monowai - doors to sporting endeavour opened, ever so slightly mind you.  I played Intership Rugby, Hockey and Soccer as well as playing all teams on overseas deployments in the Islands.  My preferred position in rugby was Openside, but later progressed to Fullback and occasionally wing.  Playing with and against Buck Shelford and many other fine Navy players of the era, will always be cherished.

In 1986  I played rugby in the Nelson Bays Senior competition with club team Riwaka with another seven shipmates off Takapu and Tarapunga, based in Motueka.  Played 1st five mostly in day games and moved to fullback for night games.  Still remember those chilly practices.  Regrettably our participation was curtailed by one of the guys broken leg and CO deemed we stopped.  Mucho fun though. I also featured in a couple of games for Navy Firsts in NH comp at fullback.

In 1987 - 1991 I played regularly for Navy Seniors cricket in the Auckland Senior A comp. I was a useful player but never would be better, I think I just liked the fun of it all.

Two crowning achievements for me. Being in Monowai's Royalist Shield volleyball side which held the shield for many tenures in the early 80's.  Unbeatable for a long time.

But my absolute number one sporting achievement didn't take place on a sporting field and definitely not a ball sport.  In 1979 - 1983 on Monowai we had a strong Darts Team and we played just about every night at sea.  In1983 I played recreational darts for Northcote Darts Club and was coerced into joining Birkenhead's RSA club team and we travelled all over Auckland playing other chartered clubs and RSA's.  Eventually I entered the Working Mens Clubs Dart competition in the hopes of going on to win the competition.  And yep - made the finals and won handsomely, with the reward of representing Auckland at that years Nationals in Rotorua. Buoyed with my win I applied to have sports leave to attend in August. I was turned down - reason given - not a recognised sport.  Still leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.  Oh well.

I also managed to win on the golf course (Simpson Drummond Cup 1992) and administrator of the year two years running for golf as Club Captain.  I also introduced many new ideas to foster excellence in Golf.  Highlight for golf for me was Interrservices in Blenheim in mid 1990's as Manager.

And along the way right through this journey I won a lot of pool and darts competitions.

Once invalided out of the Navy, I moved to Foxton and ended up playing cricket for Foxton Prezzies in Horowhenua competition, lots of fun and satisfying sporting endeavour.  I had one season as the All Rounder before my accident and now any sport is on the telly or a visit to a park.

I forgot one important physical facet I excelled at in my early days - running.  In my BCT/BBT days I won a lot of road races, even scoring a 9 minute 57 two mile peg, which wasn't too shabby and I was almost always running too and from work.  Those early days we had to wear our Bata Bullet gym shoes, I shucked them and ran barefeet.  Later days on Monowai I was a Hash House Harrier so my two passions - running and drinking, were both well sated.

I'm alright Ref, just a bit dizzy.

Yes we are all now well aware the current catchcry is concussion in combative sports.  Sports such the like of Rugby League, Rugby, Football, Boxing, MMA, and NFL are falling under the radar as high incidence of concussion issues come to notice.

Last week there was a report that surfaced about 5 members of a Taranaki Rugby team playing in the 60's who now suffer early onset dementia.  So another link suggesting this prevalence of dementia is obviously a result of lax concussion rules "we had a head knock and were back playing following week"  Real Men,Weekend Warriors, and ignorant - yes!!  You can't change the past but can alter the future.

And a lady scientist in UK has just waded in with her change, no tackling until after 18??  Ok that's a scientist talking and one that has never spent 80 minutes in the mud and grime But she has a point, well sort of.  I think better science needs to be addressed, i.e do a sports wide analysis to determine when concussion was an issue.

And this issue will increase.  More and more people are playing more sport, and more and more

games are being played  (NZ rugby top players up to 10-12 pre 1995, over 30 post 1995).  We also have better treatment of concussed players, but still needs tinkering to protect from long term sufferance.

But I think too this study needs to be tempered and remove all emotive content from it. What is evident is that many countries are doing different studies and no one has a common forum to sit at and to cooperate in studying all data and to offer a way forward. But you also have to analyse all living Dementia sufferers to find common ground. And that would be thorough because I feel men are more susceptible to head injuries sport or non sport related.  I mean I knew two mates, since deceased who were early onset dementia suffers. Both were musicians, both liked their booze/drugs and both didn't play sports.  The only concussion issue would have been booze falls related.  Or not!!

And that is where good science needs to be issued to work alongside sporting bodies (or other defined cause events) and come to a determination.  We have to remember, Concussive Head Knocks whatever the cause are a life event.  Stopping weekend and professional warriors from doing what they love is ludicrous.  Supply the science, educate the target concussive audience and let them make their own decision about their possible ailment when older.

By rights I will suffer Dementia, but not from sporting head knocks.

Don't let the Blues Get you Down!!

Word coming out from NZRU headquarters is that there will be a change to criteria for teams playing in Super Rugby come 2017.  I have it on good authority that they will be bringing in Performance based criteria for teams playing in the Super XV rugby competition.  The criteria apparently pertain to levels of excellence on and off the field and fostering the talent pool that exists in this country. I believe these may be some of those criteria:

1. A New Zealand Super Rugby Franchise MUST finish in the top ten on the table for three consecutive years.  If it fails to meet this criteria the NZRU will disband that team and seek a franchise from other parts of the country.

2.  The NZRU will identify with a team that fails to make the criteria after two years and implement change within the franchise to get performances up and consistent instead of leaving it up to franchise management.

So with that in mind I did a little delving and discovered some interesting facts.  In the last 4 years of Super XV Rugby, only three NZ teams have finished below 10th place,  The Canes finished 11th in  2013, the Landers finished 14th in 2013, and the Blues have finished 12th in 2012, 10th in 2013, 10th in 2014, 14th in 2015.

So if one was to judge performances across the board and average those four years results, you'd have the Canes averaging 7th place, the Chiefs averaging 3rd place, the Crusaders averaging 4th place, the Landers averaging 8th place and the Blues last in 11th place.

Obviously from these results, if NZRU were to look at their criteria there is clearly a case for the
Auckland Blues to be disbanded and a new franchise formed to take it's place.  Sad for New Zealand Rugby I guess with their long history in the game, but today there is no romanticism in seeing a franchise struggle continually.  If the NZRU were to place their second criteria above in place, the whole management structure would be gone now, and new blood put in place, so that 2016 is a resurgent year for that franchise.

If however they still fail, then in 2016/17 there is a side waiting in the wings to fill that franchise.  The Volcanoes are well into planning stage for a bid to have another Super XV Franchise.  Lead by Manawatu and Hawkes Bay with Taranaki brought back into the central region for rugby, the Volcanoes have all that is required to fill the void left by the Blues.  Super Rugby will be stronger for that move.  It will also give those provinces greater ability to hold onto ITM players in the region who are currently seconded to other Super Rugby franchises and end up playing for that regions ITM Cup team.

Sure that leaves Northland, North Harbour and Auckland without representation but so what?  They have been robbing the rest of the country for years, their turn to be robbed.

There was a song from long go by Bachman Turner Overdrive - Don't Let The Blues Get You Down.  Same could be said for New Zealand Super Rugby.

Roaring Like a Lion, Purring like a Pussycat

Like their senior cousins, The Hurricanes, the Wellington rugby team has been an enigma.  Often touted as a team that should be top 4 material in domestic rugby, years have seen them struggle to match it in the top flight.  But if one was to look at the past 7 years one would be surprised.

2008 AirNZ Championship  1st
2009 AirNZ Championship  2nd
2010 ITM Cup  4th

Then the Chris Boyd as Coach era:

2011 ITM Cup  6th
2012 ITM Cup  2nd
2013 ITM Cup  1st
2014 ITM Cup  7th and relegated.  OOPPSS!!

So why did that oops happen?  That's a million dollar question and one educated Wellington rugby followers and knowledgeable types can pin down.

Was it better teams in the ITM Cup ahead of them?.  Well no, they lost 9, won 1 and lost a majority of their crossover games versus supposedly weaker opposition.

Was it a poor selection of club players on offer? Possibly.  Is the club competition robust enough to provide top tier players?

Was it the coaching staff?  Well Boyd slipped from top four in his first year finishing the team next year second last in the comp.  Sure he picked it up again in his second and third years, but the bubble burst on the fourth year.  Relegation of a big city team (forget Dunedin, Hamilton and Tauranga are bigger these days) is frankly preposterous.  Did last years team have the bulk of players from the previous year when they won ITM Cup?  Must be the coach!

So Boyd moved away from the team to take up a role as Hurricanes coach and so far has proven a winner.  I'm guessing he does that job knowing his wards can't be relegated.

Changing of the Guard - AB's NH Tour pre RWC2015

Is it possibly Richie McCaw's final tour as an AB?  This year seems to indicate that he hasn't got the gas in the tank he once had and as an openside is slowly but surely losing touch with the pace of the game.  Yes certainly, he does some very good things, but he's also prone (and consistently) infringing in the breakdown areas and often in point scoring zones.  Are there any better to replace him though, and who?

Well before I touch upon successors I'd like to comment that McCaw goes on the NH tour, purely as the experienced team captain not onfield captain (Read please), and playing blindside, just as an exercise to introduce possible successors on the other side.  One area we are really weak is openside flankers and injuries being injuries, if we don't have one or two up to scratch to step in very big shoes then we can kiss RWC15 goodbye.

So who are the successors.  Cane is obvious as he's there, but I'm not sure he's the best in the country.  Todd continues to show good form and decision making for the Cantabs and should be given a chance.  But a bolter for me would be Callum Gibbins from Manawatu.  A solid workhorse and opportunist, and very big, mobile and fast.  All season he has been a standout for the Turbos and I'm thinking he's putting his hand up at the right time.  My wish is for either of these three, especially Todd, be given the boots in tests to bolster our depth.

Others that could be considered on the outer?  Conrad, like Richie, a long serving and still quite capable player, but is that tooth getting too long, more especially surrounding his concussion issues.  It's fair to say there is backup in the form of Ben Smith, but what about SBW?  Imagine Fekitoa and SBW banging away at oppositions with ball in hand?  Oh did someway say Nonu?  Sorry guys, he's been a great servant but to be honest the past two years have been less than spectacular, sure shines in the odd game, but by and large a journeyman and come RWC15 those kind of players need to be offloaded.

I also admire Kevie's contributions, but once again the tooth is long and speed gone.  Step up Rob Foreman from Manawatu (can you tell I'm a Turbo Fan).  Gutsy honest hardworking footy player and a dab hand with his runs in the ruck area.  Great ball winner too in tackle situation.  And in all the games I watched him play this year I saw one crooked throw and that was his first one on a blustery Boneyard pitch.  But there may be others.  Coles has cemented his place as the number one rake, but I also feel Hansen is bringing him off too early.  Coles is good for 70 minutes.

And what of Hansen?  His last tour or keep him for RWC15?  Yup winning rugby is good rugby and the AB's are winning.  Well not quite.

Versus England, won two very tight games, then a blowout in the third.

Versus Australia, a draw, a blowout, and a just about lost it one.

Versus Springboks a 4 point win and a loss

and versus Argentina a fairly close one considering (19 points) and a blowout.

Points scored 277 against 174 so currently the Hansen AB's are winning games by 28 - 17 against all opposition.  Yes it's fair to say that scoreline in every game would be very nice to achieve, but what those stats don't tell you is that the really tight ones ARE really tight and not a guaranteed 100% win ratio.  And with players getting older in the tooth it's also fair to say there will be more losses and can we tolerate that?

So who is waiting in the wings as coach if Hansen's team fails on it's NH tour?  Why panic, we need him for continuity for the RWC right?  Bollocks I say, If a player doesn't perform to ability he's dropped.  Conversely, if a coach can't get the required results surely he's gone?  Step up Dave Rennie, get ya kit ready for England mate.

Me panic?  Hell no, I'm in the camp that says winning All Black Rugby is the pinnacle.  Like Team New Zealand's defeat, losing is ignominious and I just can't stand The Men in Black losing.  Yes I know it does happen but right now we have a royal chance of a twopeat but that won't happen if the team isn't selected to play that competition and not because they've had a right of passage.  Bring in new talent now so come the RWC we're not trying to get combinations and match fitness set.

Having said all that, I will take the opportunity to thank Maa, Conrad, Richie, and Kevie for their sterling service to NZ and world rugby.  You'll all live long in many peoples minds and memories.  As for Shag, humph!!  Nuff said.

ITM Cup Championship Race

Ok so the Premiership is locked and loaded with two unlikely teams vying essentially for top honours.  But what about the Championship?

Three teams have bragging rights to promotion and the results this week in the final round robins throws up some interesting permutations.  Currently Manawatu lead the comp by 4 points with both Hawkes Bay second on 26 (and a 40+ differential) and Northland on 26 (plus 20+ differential) with Southland and North harbour vying for the 4th spot. So how does this play out for home semis?

The final round sees the leaders Manawatu away to Otago.  Never an easy game in Dunners but the form Manawatu have been displaying of late is inspiring and I'm picking the Turbos to win a tight one.  So what of their table permutations?  A 5 point win would see them safely at home in the semis, as will a 4 point win.  However if they lose and get 1 point they will have to sweat out the other two team's match results.

Hawkes Bay have a home match (Ranfurly Shield) versus Southland.  This will be one very interesting match as Hawkes Bay have been playing good rugby too, and Southland have this knack of knocking over the holders and stealing the Log of Wood for their own mantelpiece.  If the Magpies win with 5 points they can overtake Manawatu if Manawatu fail to get a point in Dunedin. And with only one differential point between them currently an interesting finals series in the offing.

However the Dark Horse is The Taniwha, Ngapuhi Northland.  They have an away match at Auckland this weekend and same as Hawkes Bay, a 5 point win will seem them move to the top if Manawatu and Hawkes Bay fail to secure a point.  If they tie with Hawkes Bay on points ahead of Manawatu, Hawkes Bay will lead the comp on differential, Unless the Taniwha get a 21+ point advantage over Auckland (which seems not insurmountable).

Of course there are four teams in the finals in both comps, but I'm concentrating on the top four finishing positions.  In the mix for fourth place are Southland and North Harbour.  As stated The Stags have a very tough match for the Log at Napier, but if they knock over Magpies (the points differential will be small) they have a shot at top four, unless North Harbour beat Wellington with a 5 point bonus point win and move ahead of the Stags.  Tough comp eh!!  And who would have thought Harbour would have been in the mix early on in the season?

So folks, starting tonight, forget the Premiership, put your feet up for the weekend and watch the Championship teams fight it out for bragging rights and in the process enjoy some top footy.

ITM Cup - how it should be.

For a number of years now the existing ITM Cup format has been in place, and by and large most folks think it works.  I don't.

Playing in the top level in this country is about being the best and to be the best you have to perform to the highest level in every game.  Sure you're not going to win every game but there is the capacity in any competition for that to happen.  Ideally the team that performs the best over a season takes the plaudits, look at how the EPL is structured.  So why have finals rugby in a winner takes all competition?

And further more why have two separate competitions?  For the uninitiated there are 14 teams in the ITM Cup, 7 in the Premiership (top tier) and 7 in the Championship (second tier)  Each team in each competition plays each other once and to add flavour to the mix there are four crossover games between each competition.  Confused?

Well it gets better.  After round robin play, the top four teams in each competition play semifinals amongst each other, the winners going to a final.  In the Championship there is an added bonus for the winner, promoted to the Premiership.  Yes that means four teams have a chance of being promoted, seemingly regardless of their position in the top four, and as has happened, the team that was the form team through round robin can miss promotion through upset results.  Of course the same happens in the Premiership without the carrot of promotion.

So what is wrong with this format?  Well I like the EPL format.  All 14 teams in the ITM Cup should

be playing to finish top of the table and win the competition.  Some (NZRU for one) complain to do this the season would be extended.  Bollocks I say.  By my calculations if all teams played each other once a season, the season proper would need just one more week!!  Not too much to ask surely?

As an added bonus, (yup NPC days) the bottom team in this format gets to play for promotion/relegation with the Heartland Rugby Comp champ with the winner playing their next season in ITM Cup.

If the current format stands, which no doubt it will, then the winner in round robin in Championship should get automatic promotion with the last placegetter in the Premiership being demoted.  I can't see why not. Simple really.

I sense many agree with this.  I'd like to see my team play ALL the teams in the competition and as it stands I don't.  The Turbos this year didn't play Canterbury, Taranaki, and Tasman, the top three teams in the Premiership.  How much good rugby did we miss out on?

Finals Rugby in ITM Cup is a wrought.  It's not a cash cow for the NZRU and it's only followed by the teams involved supporters.  Get those three extra games and the income is greater surely?

Beneath the Southern Cross I Stand

Beneath the Southern Cross I stand
Ball and Chain in me hand,
Thinking of my Native Land
Awe strucken failure


The last few years have seen an erosion of a proud sporting nation into sublime mediocrity.  For the past 30 years it's fair to say Australia has punched above it's weight on the international stage, exceeling not only in sports but in the direction that country set itself globally.  The mining boom, a manufacturing giant, and a huge amount spent in promoting it as a viable tourist destination on the world map.  But Australians have almost always lead from the front in the sporting codes.

Their pride and joy has been it's cricket team.  With unflagging support from an endearing public, that team has always been very competitive and largely sitting at the very top of the rankings, in all forms of the game, and that public support has been largely rewarded.  And their rugby team has also been near the top, never number one for long but up there still.

But let's not forget their athletes in the Olympic arena, and in other world class events (cycling, swimming etc).  All one has to do is remember that shame they felt at LA when New Zealand beat them on the medal table, the catalyst to a resurgent revival of sporting endeavour and the outcome.  The AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) was set up to lift performances and garner the rewards internationally, and that sporting body handles almost all sports, even top flight sports of cricket and Rugby.  And largely that direction took Aussie sport to the top flight internationally.  But what of the past four years?

Rugby is a prime example.  The Nick Farr-Jones era, the John Eales era, a time when Aussie won the Rugby World Cup twice and seemingly ruled the rugby world.  In the last 5 or 6 years Aussie rugby has largely been dwindling in competitiveness.  And it's not just rugby.  Their flagship sport, cricket, has seen them languishing (nay, going backwards) on the world stage and it's fair to say that implosion is gathering pace with the current allegations doing the rounds.

And then was the 2012 Olympic debacle.  Australia's worst Olympics since 1984.  So where is the problem?  Is Aussie sport finally losing it's invincibility or are there other factors at play, i.e. other countries are catching up?  All one has to do is look back over the last two years specifically to see Australia has rather large issues at play.  Dare one say it starts at the top?  The government has been unstable for a period of time now and is that loss of self belief permeating down through society and affecting the nation as a whole, and that nation loves it's sport?  Once arrogant, still arrogant, but losers to boot.

So what way forward for our dear neighbours?  How will they pick up the baton and run with it without further mishaps on the way?  The obvious solution lies with the way they prepare their sports men and women for the international stage.  Is their a lethargic cancer permeating the AIS and other bodies that help develop athletes?  Can they look inwardly first, then look at how others are doing preparation work without being too cynical?  Can they get themselves off the floor and succeed at the highest levels consistently again?  The answer I feel lies with the Australian people, especially the youth coming through and the senior people in positions that determine success.  Will it happen?  It did once and will do so again I feel, but not before a lot of pain is shed in the process.  The Aussie Sports Model was the envy of the sporting world, once, now even they aren't so sure.