I cannot believe that NZ and the Aussies are critical of the Boks for not bringing down their A team for the away games in the Tri Nations. The Aussies have taken away substandard teams to Europe for a number of years now. As for NZ, it is a joke for us to complain. Apart from taking away weakened teams for a number of years and rotating our team last season there is the slight problem of the Super 14 reconditioning. Ridiculous to complain! We are determined to win the World Cup and so are they. They have a royal chance and now is their only chance to get the team up for the World Cup. So I say, go for it! Good on them.
I don't think it is a good time to do so however. They need time together, combinations etc. These are their last games leading into the Cup and they need to work to gain confidence.
So I say, good on them, and question whether it will help them. Imagine what confidence they would have gained from coming down here and smashing us on our home patch! They now do not have the opportunity. Remember England in 2003; NZ, SA and Aust beaten in 3 weeks. The belief was there for them then.
But as for NZ complaining... get real!
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
Weekend wrap up
What a great weekend. The America's Cup went from the sadness of losing to the joy of winning. It was great to see Team NZ win a race. To me, Alinghi looks quicker though. I hope I am wrong, I pray I am wrong; but I get the feeling they are quicker. That being said though, if they can't hack the pressure, Alinghi may not have the team.
The All Blacks were fantastic. Sure, there were far too many handling errors and our lineout was not great. But this is the first game of such intensity for us after a flight to Durban, in what we call tropical heat, and against a fired up South African team. We had a number of scoring opportunities and the South Africans benefited from an intercept. By the last 15 minutes they were out on their feet. Great stuff NZ. How on earth Rodney S was named man of the match I will never know, Richie McCaw was sensational! He tackled and took the ball up incessantly. We are on track for France. It will be a huge challenge to now fly to Melbourne and front up against the desperate Aussies! They will be desperate and they still have match winners through the backline. Our forwards must destroy them!
The netball was brilliant. I was wanting the Force to win, but as I thought, the Sting were too level headed under pressure. Force had the chance to win and lost their bottle. We need Donna Wilckens in the Kiwi team for the World Champs. I hope she fronts. It would be sensational for her to score the winning goal after that fateful world champs on Chch a few years back. With her and Irene in the circle, I simply can't see us losing the world champs. I think the midcourters are back to their best; the Aussies were flattered by Temepara and Adene W being out of form and overcoming injuries. I truly believe we can win the World Champs.
Go the rowers. I am an indoor rowing addict; 10 k a day. Today I did my second best 500m ever, 1.24.8; but man these real rowers are extraordinary. We are amazing and get far too little attention! I can't wait for the World Champs and then the Olympics next year. Mark my words, the Ever-Swindells and Mahe Drysdale will be back!
And what about Bevan Docherty! He is a super athlete winning another triathlon.
So what am I looking forward to this week; the North Island Cross Country Champs. I have two daughters running... I will let you know how they go!
The All Blacks were fantastic. Sure, there were far too many handling errors and our lineout was not great. But this is the first game of such intensity for us after a flight to Durban, in what we call tropical heat, and against a fired up South African team. We had a number of scoring opportunities and the South Africans benefited from an intercept. By the last 15 minutes they were out on their feet. Great stuff NZ. How on earth Rodney S was named man of the match I will never know, Richie McCaw was sensational! He tackled and took the ball up incessantly. We are on track for France. It will be a huge challenge to now fly to Melbourne and front up against the desperate Aussies! They will be desperate and they still have match winners through the backline. Our forwards must destroy them!
The netball was brilliant. I was wanting the Force to win, but as I thought, the Sting were too level headed under pressure. Force had the chance to win and lost their bottle. We need Donna Wilckens in the Kiwi team for the World Champs. I hope she fronts. It would be sensational for her to score the winning goal after that fateful world champs on Chch a few years back. With her and Irene in the circle, I simply can't see us losing the world champs. I think the midcourters are back to their best; the Aussies were flattered by Temepara and Adene W being out of form and overcoming injuries. I truly believe we can win the World Champs.
Go the rowers. I am an indoor rowing addict; 10 k a day. Today I did my second best 500m ever, 1.24.8; but man these real rowers are extraordinary. We are amazing and get far too little attention! I can't wait for the World Champs and then the Olympics next year. Mark my words, the Ever-Swindells and Mahe Drysdale will be back!
And what about Bevan Docherty! He is a super athlete winning another triathlon.
So what am I looking forward to this week; the North Island Cross Country Champs. I have two daughters running... I will let you know how they go!
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Rugby Season So Far
About 3 months out from the world cup where are things at. Well there has been one game that counts, Australia 19 South Africa 22. This can tell us one of a few things. Perhaps the Australians are much better than we expected. Perhaps the South Africans are worse. Perhaps the Australians had a good day, the South Africans a poor day. We won't know until the Tri-Nations plays itself out.
The AB's to me have not been good. They look either like a side that is on the wane or they are simply going through the motions preparing for the big games ahead. They should have won the first three games by more points and with a more clinical effort. They drop too much ball and overcook their attack without doing the basics. The loss of the locks means we are weaker at lineout time and have a real weakness opposition teams can target.
So for me the season has begun and the SA NZ clash at Durban will tell us more. The outcome is not that important in terms of the WC to come. However, we will get more insight into how teams are going.
So... let's wait and see.
The AB's to me have not been good. They look either like a side that is on the wane or they are simply going through the motions preparing for the big games ahead. They should have won the first three games by more points and with a more clinical effort. They drop too much ball and overcook their attack without doing the basics. The loss of the locks means we are weaker at lineout time and have a real weakness opposition teams can target.
So for me the season has begun and the SA NZ clash at Durban will tell us more. The outcome is not that important in terms of the WC to come. However, we will get more insight into how teams are going.
So... let's wait and see.
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