Nick Willis rocks my world. Fantastic performance. 3rd in an Olympic middle distance event for a white boy from Lower Hutt in today's athletic scene with the dominance of the east Africans in the sport is an astonishing effort. He ran a cool race, trusted himself, waited and came through. He lost the first two and couldn't challenge them for gold, but hey, that can come in London!
Rightly he gives God the glory. God is into running cause he made us to run. He made us to fly and Nick can fly. God sure smiles when Nick runs because Nick does it for him. He is no atheist or agnostic who blindly ignores that there must be a God behind this amazing world, the wonders of humanity made in his image and of course Jesus! So he is onto it. He deserves it. Fantastic.
I know Nick personally. He is an utter inspiration to my kids who all run and are pretty good. One or all of them hope to be running at London or beyond with him in the future.
Steve his brother deserves a mention. Awesome job coaching him, taking a year off, legend.
Not to forget Bevan Docherty and the greatest of them all perhaps, Valerie Vili. She is sensational. She didn't just win, she dominated. That is amazing, beating off the east Europeans comfortably.
It is all good for NZ athletics, Sparc should give it more money! Woohoo!
Go Kiwi. Go God. Go Jesus.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Mahe, the Twins!
Woohoo. What a performance from the Evers-Swindells! They are leg's. Mahe too. What a performance. Magnificent effort. In the traditions of Ron Elvidge and Bert Sutcliffe, fantastic. They make us proud to be Kiwi! Too much to hope for that Rob would do it. Oh well, you can't have it all. Fantastic Kiwis. Hats off to Georgina and Caroline ES... THE BEST!
Friday, June 20, 2008
No Criticism says Henry
I heard Graham Henry claim on TV3 last night that he has not heard any criticism in Christchurch. Well I am sure he doesn't read this, but here is some;
Dear Graham,
Until last year I was your greatest fan. I believed you to be one of the truly great coaches of all time and modern era. I forgave your Lions loss as I think you were on a hiding to nothing.
However, you lost the plot last year!
I criticise your coaching for these reasons:
1. You should not have taken the AB's out of the Super 14 in 2007.
2. You should have retained the same combination through 2008 apart from one or two of the weaker opponents to enforce combinations and match hardness.
3. You should have organised some pre-World Cup matches in Europe against the big guns in preparation.
4. You should have played the A team throughout the World Cup.
5. You should have picked Mauger, Jack, Howlett in the 22 for the quarter final.
6. You should have resigned on return from the World Cup.
7. You should not continue your futile rotation.
So, Graham, there is some criticism. You should resign from the AB coaching job now and let Steve Hanson take over.
Are you listening?
Dear Graham,
Until last year I was your greatest fan. I believed you to be one of the truly great coaches of all time and modern era. I forgave your Lions loss as I think you were on a hiding to nothing.
However, you lost the plot last year!
I criticise your coaching for these reasons:
1. You should not have taken the AB's out of the Super 14 in 2007.
2. You should have retained the same combination through 2008 apart from one or two of the weaker opponents to enforce combinations and match hardness.
3. You should have organised some pre-World Cup matches in Europe against the big guns in preparation.
4. You should have played the A team throughout the World Cup.
5. You should have picked Mauger, Jack, Howlett in the 22 for the quarter final.
6. You should have resigned on return from the World Cup.
7. You should not continue your futile rotation.
So, Graham, there is some criticism. You should resign from the AB coaching job now and let Steve Hanson take over.
Are you listening?
Why Rotation is Wrong
The latest AB selection illustrates why the AB's struggle when the heat is on. The switch of Smith and Kahui, the addition of Thompson for Kaino and the addition of Wolf are all mistakes to me. Here we had the opportunity to cement a combination. Nonu and Smith have been in and out over the years and the chance was there to have a third match in a row to continue to develop confidence and combinations. Yet, Henry makes the change again. I think this is wrong. They should have stuck to the A team. Why:
1. It disrupts combinations at a time when these people are all growing in confidence and getting into the rhythm of playing.
2. There is no need for rotation. Injuries are certain to come to players and rotation will come around naturally and there is no need to do this.
3. The interchange rules mean that players can be rotated during games when games are won while retaining combinations.
4. Rotation means that people get caps too easily. This cheapens the AB jersey and enhances the public's disatisfaction and disinterest in test rugby which is now 'friendlies' between the real games which come around every four years. AB jersey's should be the hardest things to get in the world.
5. The Super 14 is a good enough competition to discern whether a person is good enough for test rugby. Test jersey's should be so hard to get, that when they are won, the person will die for the jersey. They are too easy!
6. The giving out of the jersey to people on a rotation basis bumps up their value on the world market and adds to the player drain. A player who realises that they are only ever going to be a fringe player can take the money and run, their one or two caps meaning their asking value is increased. Henry is helping drive players values up and thus increasing the drain.
7. Form comes and goes and if we drop players on the basis of form and not the whim of a rotation system, players will fight harder for their places. Nothing is more certain than losses will come and these players will need replacing.
All in all, Henry is making errors. These changes are unnecessary and I am not going to back off saying so.
1. It disrupts combinations at a time when these people are all growing in confidence and getting into the rhythm of playing.
2. There is no need for rotation. Injuries are certain to come to players and rotation will come around naturally and there is no need to do this.
3. The interchange rules mean that players can be rotated during games when games are won while retaining combinations.
4. Rotation means that people get caps too easily. This cheapens the AB jersey and enhances the public's disatisfaction and disinterest in test rugby which is now 'friendlies' between the real games which come around every four years. AB jersey's should be the hardest things to get in the world.
5. The Super 14 is a good enough competition to discern whether a person is good enough for test rugby. Test jersey's should be so hard to get, that when they are won, the person will die for the jersey. They are too easy!
6. The giving out of the jersey to people on a rotation basis bumps up their value on the world market and adds to the player drain. A player who realises that they are only ever going to be a fringe player can take the money and run, their one or two caps meaning their asking value is increased. Henry is helping drive players values up and thus increasing the drain.
7. Form comes and goes and if we drop players on the basis of form and not the whim of a rotation system, players will fight harder for their places. Nothing is more certain than losses will come and these players will need replacing.
All in all, Henry is making errors. These changes are unnecessary and I am not going to back off saying so.
Friday, June 6, 2008
I don't care
Rattue's column in the herald is right on the button (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=476&objectid=10513842). He has put into words what I feel. I was asked by my father-in-law who I thought would win in the Irish-NZ test this weekend and I said I don't care. This stunned me. Why? Because it is the first time in my 46 year life that I don't care who wins. Why don't I care? I don't care because I realise that this tests means diddly squat. Why? Because it is not a world cup game and the only chance of redemption for this All Black team and Graham Henry and his cronnies is the world cup.
It goes like this. Rugby have chosen to make the world cup the only thing that matters. NZ has played into this totally. Everything for four years will now go to finding a team that can be unbeaten over 4 weeks in 2011. By this rugby structure, what was the pearl of the game, international rugby, is now merely a time to build for this. This means that it is inevitable that through this time experimentation, reconditioning, rotation, team changing, positional transitions etc, will be the order of the day. It means that players who have 2 years left in their careers like Jerry Collins are no longer of any use. This means we continually have a young team.
It means that other nations send B, C teams down here with rebuilding in mind. It all adds up to, it doesn't matter who wins. Throw into this that NZ retained the worst coach in its history, Graham Henry, that it is impossible to be interested. Why do I say he is the worst coach in history? Because, now ALL that matters is the world cup. We lost in the quarters. Not only did we lose, but we lost effectively because he took the best team in the world by a country mile and screwed them with failed preparation and selection.
So why care? I am not one who is deserting the All Blacks and supporting the Aussies, Irish and English; but I am not interested.
There are those out there saying this is a really important game for redemption. IT IS NOT. It matters not. You see, we could win the next 50 tests leading into the world cup, all by 40 points +, and it would mean nothing. Because, if we don't win in Auckland in 2011, it will be of absolutely no meaning.
It is like the Black Caps last week (see blog below). They had a good first innings, bowled out the English and were 80 for 2 only to capitulate in disgrace and get beaten. All that went before means nothing, except for the individuals that did OK. Who cares about the Bledisloe? Who cares about the Tri-Nations? There is nothing new in them. They go on year after year.
What really needs to happen is a restructuring of rugby away from a world cup. The combination of the World Cup and the European club dominance of rugby politics and huge wealth in the north is rendering rugby outside of world cups of no value. We may as well do what soccer does, and call them, 'friendlies'. Who cares if Australia become dominant over the next four years, which I believe they will. Who cares if we lose or win?
More than all this, who cares when most of our best players are now in Europe. A team with Haymen, Oliver, Jack, Collins, Flavell, Marshall, Kelleher, Spencer, Evans, McAlistar, Mauger, King, Howlett and more unavailable for the AB's is tragic. So, I don't care who wins because it means nothing. It is a rugby friendly. What I do care about, is that Henry should not be coaching the All Blacks and I cannot support him and his team. I care that the best coach in the world is coaching the Aussies and one of the best others is coaching Wales. I care that the arrogance of NZ rugby is astonishing. When will they get it. We don't care. If we still do, we want Henry gone... get on with it! Fall on your sword Graham! But then again, Robbie has gone, so who cares.
It goes like this. Rugby have chosen to make the world cup the only thing that matters. NZ has played into this totally. Everything for four years will now go to finding a team that can be unbeaten over 4 weeks in 2011. By this rugby structure, what was the pearl of the game, international rugby, is now merely a time to build for this. This means that it is inevitable that through this time experimentation, reconditioning, rotation, team changing, positional transitions etc, will be the order of the day. It means that players who have 2 years left in their careers like Jerry Collins are no longer of any use. This means we continually have a young team.
It means that other nations send B, C teams down here with rebuilding in mind. It all adds up to, it doesn't matter who wins. Throw into this that NZ retained the worst coach in its history, Graham Henry, that it is impossible to be interested. Why do I say he is the worst coach in history? Because, now ALL that matters is the world cup. We lost in the quarters. Not only did we lose, but we lost effectively because he took the best team in the world by a country mile and screwed them with failed preparation and selection.
So why care? I am not one who is deserting the All Blacks and supporting the Aussies, Irish and English; but I am not interested.
There are those out there saying this is a really important game for redemption. IT IS NOT. It matters not. You see, we could win the next 50 tests leading into the world cup, all by 40 points +, and it would mean nothing. Because, if we don't win in Auckland in 2011, it will be of absolutely no meaning.
It is like the Black Caps last week (see blog below). They had a good first innings, bowled out the English and were 80 for 2 only to capitulate in disgrace and get beaten. All that went before means nothing, except for the individuals that did OK. Who cares about the Bledisloe? Who cares about the Tri-Nations? There is nothing new in them. They go on year after year.
What really needs to happen is a restructuring of rugby away from a world cup. The combination of the World Cup and the European club dominance of rugby politics and huge wealth in the north is rendering rugby outside of world cups of no value. We may as well do what soccer does, and call them, 'friendlies'. Who cares if Australia become dominant over the next four years, which I believe they will. Who cares if we lose or win?
More than all this, who cares when most of our best players are now in Europe. A team with Haymen, Oliver, Jack, Collins, Flavell, Marshall, Kelleher, Spencer, Evans, McAlistar, Mauger, King, Howlett and more unavailable for the AB's is tragic. So, I don't care who wins because it means nothing. It is a rugby friendly. What I do care about, is that Henry should not be coaching the All Blacks and I cannot support him and his team. I care that the best coach in the world is coaching the Aussies and one of the best others is coaching Wales. I care that the arrogance of NZ rugby is astonishing. When will they get it. We don't care. If we still do, we want Henry gone... get on with it! Fall on your sword Graham! But then again, Robbie has gone, so who cares.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Disgrace
The Black Caps loss to England this morning is the worst performance I have ever seen from a NZ team. They got themselves through a brilliant Ross Taylor innings with help from Mills and How into a great position. Vettori bowled beautifully to knock England over. A team with a lead of 170 or so should never be lose on a turning track. To capitulate as they did in the second innings was a disgrace. It was a stunning performance. The performances of Taylor, Oram and McCullum is not appropriate for that level. Taylor can be forgiven. The others needed to bat with some test sense. They only needed to bat sensibly as they did in the first innings and they would have batted England out of the game.
Having said that, they should have been able to bowl England out on that track. I am a great fan of Vettori but he failed. Mills, Oram, O'Brien and Martin should have locked up one end and Dan should have bowled England out on a turning pitch with variable bounce. It is a long time since he bowled a team out to win a test and this was his chance.
So all in all, they failed and they failed badly. Looking back, the recent test series in NZ was lost in a similar way as we turned around excellent positions and capitulated. It is a total disgrace!
All in all, it was the greatest embarressment in recent years. England are not a great side, but we are worse. There needs to be a serious culture change in this team!
Having said that, they should have been able to bowl England out on that track. I am a great fan of Vettori but he failed. Mills, Oram, O'Brien and Martin should have locked up one end and Dan should have bowled England out on a turning pitch with variable bounce. It is a long time since he bowled a team out to win a test and this was his chance.
So all in all, they failed and they failed badly. Looking back, the recent test series in NZ was lost in a similar way as we turned around excellent positions and capitulated. It is a total disgrace!
All in all, it was the greatest embarressment in recent years. England are not a great side, but we are worse. There needs to be a serious culture change in this team!
Saturday, May 24, 2008
South African Rugby Common Sense
I hear today that the South Africans have decided that they will pick players from the European rugby competition. I think this is a huge decision. I think it is bold and common sense in a professional world. I think we need to join them in this, but not quite yet. What we need to do down here in NZ is get the Super competition and test program sorted and then we will be in a position to open the door. We need to have a Super program that runs from Feb until June, double round. This is the professional program. We need to open it up to private backing to increase the wealth in the program. We need to set in place very good regulations so that the AB's can have the players they want for their program. We need to let players play anywhere in the world and be available for the World Cup. It will weaken NZ rugby to an extent but who cares. The tests between world cups mean nothing, the last world cup proves it. We need to go the way of soccer. Our best players will get better playing in Europe, and when they come together they will be brilliant. We are at the turning point where the best All Blacks put together in Europe will soon be better than the best here. At that point we HAVE to allow it. Let the game go professional. Get our own program sorted so there is good money here and good opportunities. Not all our players will go anyway, they have a limit on money over there and will block them when their rugby starts to have too many overseas players. So... get things sorted here, then let it go.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Kimberley Smith?
Wow, a 45 second PB for Kimberley Smith in the States over 10k. This can be read in one of two ways. One way is to party because she has come of age and is now a true medal contender. Another possibility is that she has enhanced performance in some way. I hate to think this, but when someone wacks out a 45 second pb, you can't help wondering??? 45 seconds is astonishing!
So which way will I go? I will go for the first response in the hope that there is no enhancement happening! So, way to go Kimberley! You rock! Astonishing. Bring it to them in Beijing and win a medal. Woo hoo!
So which way will I go? I will go for the first response in the hope that there is no enhancement happening! So, way to go Kimberley! You rock! Astonishing. Bring it to them in Beijing and win a medal. Woo hoo!
Esther Keown World Champ
Fantastic news about Esther Keown winning the World Secondary School Cross Country Champs in Algeria. She won by 6 seconds from two Belgian girls with NZ also winning the team's gold. This is an amazing effort for a Kiwi girl.
Esther said that she felt good on the day. She took the lead early after being held back by an Algerian girl. She was concerned that she went out too quick leading through the first lap. However, by the end of the second lap she had a good lead and extended to win comfortably. She also said that she could have gone quicker if the pressure had come on. She held back because she was concerned that there may be someone who would sit on her and come through quickly at the end.
We really do have some promising athletes at present, particularly among the girls. So, go KIWI! Awesome stuff. Another great day in Kiwi sport. Here's hoping Esther and the other girls can come through into senior athletics and perform at the top winning medals for NZ at World Champs and Olympic level.
Esther said that she felt good on the day. She took the lead early after being held back by an Algerian girl. She was concerned that she went out too quick leading through the first lap. However, by the end of the second lap she had a good lead and extended to win comfortably. She also said that she could have gone quicker if the pressure had come on. She held back because she was concerned that there may be someone who would sit on her and come through quickly at the end.
We really do have some promising athletes at present, particularly among the girls. So, go KIWI! Awesome stuff. Another great day in Kiwi sport. Here's hoping Esther and the other girls can come through into senior athletics and perform at the top winning medals for NZ at World Champs and Olympic level.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Overseas All Blacks
It is time to make some changes.
1. Allow the All Blacks to play from anywhere... that is the nature of true professionalism.
2. Open up the Super 14 fanchises to private funding... increase their incomes!
3. Extend the Super 14 into a two round competition, allow the NPC to become an almost amateur feeder system to the Super 14.
4. Dump the Tri-nations on an annual basis, make it bi-annual, go back to tours.
5. Play rugby in the afternoon not the evening.
6. Forget all the rule changes and focus on fixing one thing, the tacked ball area. Spend as much time and money as it takes trying things until the solution is found that stops the killing of the ball, the slowing down of the ball, the mess that is the tackled ball area! This is what is killing rugby.
7. Allow technology where tries are scored including forward passes (Cardiff, bugger) etc (thinking of the Hurricanes the other night!).
8. Black out games in the home area to force people who want to watch it to go e.g. Blues games blacked out in Auckland etc.
This is all far too much common sense though... Nothing will change.
One other idea that may be ridiculous.
1. Base the All Blacks in Europe and play the 6 nations every year...
2. Dump the Tri-Nations completely.
3. Go back to a tour every year with a three test series ... games against provinces, franchises, the Maori's, the Juniors, and three All Black tests!
Nothing will change!
1. Allow the All Blacks to play from anywhere... that is the nature of true professionalism.
2. Open up the Super 14 fanchises to private funding... increase their incomes!
3. Extend the Super 14 into a two round competition, allow the NPC to become an almost amateur feeder system to the Super 14.
4. Dump the Tri-nations on an annual basis, make it bi-annual, go back to tours.
5. Play rugby in the afternoon not the evening.
6. Forget all the rule changes and focus on fixing one thing, the tacked ball area. Spend as much time and money as it takes trying things until the solution is found that stops the killing of the ball, the slowing down of the ball, the mess that is the tackled ball area! This is what is killing rugby.
7. Allow technology where tries are scored including forward passes (Cardiff, bugger) etc (thinking of the Hurricanes the other night!).
8. Black out games in the home area to force people who want to watch it to go e.g. Blues games blacked out in Auckland etc.
This is all far too much common sense though... Nothing will change.
One other idea that may be ridiculous.
1. Base the All Blacks in Europe and play the 6 nations every year...
2. Dump the Tri-Nations completely.
3. Go back to a tour every year with a three test series ... games against provinces, franchises, the Maori's, the Juniors, and three All Black tests!
Nothing will change!
World Cup Report
How can Graeme Henry be All Black coach? His response yesterday proves the point. He supported Richie McCaw's decision to ignore his instruction last year to take a drop goal! How can Richie McCaw be All Black captain. TV3 showed a caption of his indifference to the French-Ireland game last year before the World Cup. This alls says, "arrogant!" They were complacent.
I say again, Henry destroyed the All Blacks after building them magnificently. Why second guess the previous three years. In those three years the All Blacks played the Super 14 and dominated it. They then hit the internationals, with some degree of rotation, but playing the A team in the big tests. They then went on a tour of Europe and thrashed all before them. Why would you start screwing with the Super 14, rotating players without settling on a combination, reconditioning players when they should be playing, and then get to the World Cup underdone?
There should also have been 2 tough pre-World Cup games in Europe against northern hemisphere teams, preferably England and France, before the cup.
As for the drop goal business! Unbelievable!
Why is Deans in Australia? Why is Gatland in Wales? Deans should be now coaching the AB's, nothing is more obvious! Gatland should be coaching here. He can have the Blues, Nucifora is past his use-by date, send him home!
Rugby is in massive trouble!
I say again, Henry destroyed the All Blacks after building them magnificently. Why second guess the previous three years. In those three years the All Blacks played the Super 14 and dominated it. They then hit the internationals, with some degree of rotation, but playing the A team in the big tests. They then went on a tour of Europe and thrashed all before them. Why would you start screwing with the Super 14, rotating players without settling on a combination, reconditioning players when they should be playing, and then get to the World Cup underdone?
There should also have been 2 tough pre-World Cup games in Europe against northern hemisphere teams, preferably England and France, before the cup.
As for the drop goal business! Unbelievable!
Why is Deans in Australia? Why is Gatland in Wales? Deans should be now coaching the AB's, nothing is more obvious! Gatland should be coaching here. He can have the Blues, Nucifora is past his use-by date, send him home!
Rugby is in massive trouble!
Michael Aish and Lisa Hunter-Galvin
What a shocker. You run the A qualifying time for the Olympics and you are not selected. If you are Michael Aish, you run it twice, and don't get selected! What are the NZ athletics selectors doing? This is ridiculous. These people have made the marks (one twice), and they are not selected. We are a struggling nation in the world of athletics, one of the most competitive sports in the world. When you do the time you should be on the plane. Previous performances are not the point. I think the NZ athletics system of selection is too tough all round. Last year for the World Youth's they set harsher qualification times than the IAAF standards (e.g. 4.32 for the girls 1500 instead of 4.35). This is bizzare thinking. It is not as if we are brimming with talent.
So, where Aish and Hunter-Galvin are concerned, I hope they appeal and win their appeals. Whatever their past performances, they have shown their ability to make the games, they should go. Just as Beatrice F has done it. She threw one qualification throw at the last minute and was selected. There is a distinct lack of consistency here!
So... this is a shocker!
So, where Aish and Hunter-Galvin are concerned, I hope they appeal and win their appeals. Whatever their past performances, they have shown their ability to make the games, they should go. Just as Beatrice F has done it. She threw one qualification throw at the last minute and was selected. There is a distinct lack of consistency here!
So... this is a shocker!
Friday, April 4, 2008
Nicky Samuels and Shane Reed
Nice work Olympic Committee in picking these two to fill the places for Beijing. They have gone for the highest ranked of the Kiwis. Currently Reid is ranked 12th and Bozone 34th. In the women, it is a closer, but Hewitt is ranked 6th and Samuels 14th. So although Samuels has won more national races this season, Hewitt is a proven performer in the international theme. Bozone is the man of the future but Reid is a happening thing for sure. We have a great team for both men and women, so go the Kiwi's, bring home the bling!
The Decline of Rugby in NZ
Do those who run rugby realise the dilemma they are in? I do not think they do. Talkback radio and my own experience supports that rugby in NZ in huge trouble. The kids are dropping out, the game is in a mess and people are incredibly disillusioned. There are many reasons:
1. The game is dangerous: this is an old chestnut that reduces interest from many parents, smaller kids. While huge efforts are made to improve it, it is still a game that causes injuries.
2. Polynesian dominance: this goes with 1. above. Skinny small kids will play in the weight based competitions, but the open grades are dominated by the Polynesians who mature early and dominate physically. This is not a racial criticism as they are to be congratulated for their talent. It is a real issue, causing many to give the game away.
3. Rule Changes: Rugby needs to look at the example of soccer, settle on a set of rules which they believe are the best possible rules for the sport and leave them! ELV's are the next round! I find it utterly frustrating that every year I have to relearn the game. What must it be like to change the game. Yet the tackled ball area is still a disaster. Time to stop all the changes.
4. Disillusionment with the All Blacks: Last years RWC was a total disaster. Graham Henry spent 3 years building the best team in the world and one of the best All Black teams of all time. He then inexplicably decided to do everything differently in the year of the cup. They did not play enough, did not develop combinations and were simply not ready for the moment. As expected Carter, McCaw and others are back to their dominant best this year. Then the NZRFU decided unbelievably to retain Henry and allow the world's best coach to go to the Wallabies. Ridiculous. Not to mention Gatland who has shown what he has in Wales! I agree with him that we are arrogant in terms of rugby. A huge number of NZers are fed up with rugby, its dominance, its arrogance and its failure to produce.
5. Other great sports options: There are now other great sports which NZers have discovered. League unlike rugby does not change its game year in year out and it is reaping the rewards. Netball is a great watch. Golf, triathlon, swimming, roller blading, cycling and other sports are being discovered by Kiwis. Soccer is increasingly attractive to the young and growing in its influence. Rugby is losing its dominance whether those in the game admit it or not.
6. Sky TV: While it is great to be able to watch continuous rugby through the weekend on channels set apart for it, the vast majority of NZers are not exposed to the game except delayed tests and the world cup. This is raising generations of NZers who do not know the game, do not understand it, do not enjoy it and have developed other interests. I will continue to argue that it is a major mistake for rugby to not be seen in peak hour with live matches on free to air TV. I see the netballers have gone with Sky for their new competition. This is a major mistake unless there are going to be key live matches on Free to Air. This is a major problem.
7. Breakdown of the traditions of the game: Rugby has made a fatal error as it has gone pro. It has turned its back on its traditions instead of building on them. For example, club rugby has been neglected and is breaking down. The traditional tour has been dumped for the repetitive limited competitions the Super 14 and Tri-Nations. The traditional provincial loyalties have been overridden with new "super" competitions that lack heart and loyalty. Similarly the NPC is now a second rate competition. It may now be too late to go back and the money-grubbing media have now got rugby in its grip, but this has led to a loss of support.
8. Season Length: The season is way too long, and too complicated. There is confusion among all but the faithful between the Super 14 and the NPC. What is the difference between the Crusaders and Canterbury? It is weird to all but those who know. Why on earth are they playing in the middle of the cricket season. Start in March! There needs to be 3 month window between the end of all rugby and the beginning of the next year. There needs to be a simplification of competitions. There needs to be progression from club to province to Super rugby to Internationals. These things MUST be resolved and resolve quick.
9. Loss of the best players: It is tragic to know that over the last few years so many brilliant players have left our shores and that they cannot play for the AB's again. Luke McAlistar is the classic example. For me, he is unquestionably the best second five in the world, yet we will not see him again while he is in Europe. Surely, he can be available for the AB's. To me it is time to let them play and become truly professional.
10. Other issues: My dissillusionment with rugby has increased with the problem of sport funding. My kids are high achievers and have sought funding for their sports careers, yet they continually miss out to rugby. Why? Rugby are loaded compared to other sports? This annoys me greatly.
So in conclusion, there is far less interest now and the interest is dropping. I for one am for the first time in my life (46 years old) unable to raise my interest. I couldn't care less who is winning and do not care whether the All Blacks are dominant or not. It is boring and I am fed up with the continuous changes. I have always loved cricket and rugby, but now my interest lies firmly in cricket. Cricket is undergoing a renaissance which is in no small part due to the decline in rugby. Rugby faces major challenges and it better get it sorted soon or it will no longer lay claim to being NZ's national sport, for me at least.
1. The game is dangerous: this is an old chestnut that reduces interest from many parents, smaller kids. While huge efforts are made to improve it, it is still a game that causes injuries.
2. Polynesian dominance: this goes with 1. above. Skinny small kids will play in the weight based competitions, but the open grades are dominated by the Polynesians who mature early and dominate physically. This is not a racial criticism as they are to be congratulated for their talent. It is a real issue, causing many to give the game away.
3. Rule Changes: Rugby needs to look at the example of soccer, settle on a set of rules which they believe are the best possible rules for the sport and leave them! ELV's are the next round! I find it utterly frustrating that every year I have to relearn the game. What must it be like to change the game. Yet the tackled ball area is still a disaster. Time to stop all the changes.
4. Disillusionment with the All Blacks: Last years RWC was a total disaster. Graham Henry spent 3 years building the best team in the world and one of the best All Black teams of all time. He then inexplicably decided to do everything differently in the year of the cup. They did not play enough, did not develop combinations and were simply not ready for the moment. As expected Carter, McCaw and others are back to their dominant best this year. Then the NZRFU decided unbelievably to retain Henry and allow the world's best coach to go to the Wallabies. Ridiculous. Not to mention Gatland who has shown what he has in Wales! I agree with him that we are arrogant in terms of rugby. A huge number of NZers are fed up with rugby, its dominance, its arrogance and its failure to produce.
5. Other great sports options: There are now other great sports which NZers have discovered. League unlike rugby does not change its game year in year out and it is reaping the rewards. Netball is a great watch. Golf, triathlon, swimming, roller blading, cycling and other sports are being discovered by Kiwis. Soccer is increasingly attractive to the young and growing in its influence. Rugby is losing its dominance whether those in the game admit it or not.
6. Sky TV: While it is great to be able to watch continuous rugby through the weekend on channels set apart for it, the vast majority of NZers are not exposed to the game except delayed tests and the world cup. This is raising generations of NZers who do not know the game, do not understand it, do not enjoy it and have developed other interests. I will continue to argue that it is a major mistake for rugby to not be seen in peak hour with live matches on free to air TV. I see the netballers have gone with Sky for their new competition. This is a major mistake unless there are going to be key live matches on Free to Air. This is a major problem.
7. Breakdown of the traditions of the game: Rugby has made a fatal error as it has gone pro. It has turned its back on its traditions instead of building on them. For example, club rugby has been neglected and is breaking down. The traditional tour has been dumped for the repetitive limited competitions the Super 14 and Tri-Nations. The traditional provincial loyalties have been overridden with new "super" competitions that lack heart and loyalty. Similarly the NPC is now a second rate competition. It may now be too late to go back and the money-grubbing media have now got rugby in its grip, but this has led to a loss of support.
8. Season Length: The season is way too long, and too complicated. There is confusion among all but the faithful between the Super 14 and the NPC. What is the difference between the Crusaders and Canterbury? It is weird to all but those who know. Why on earth are they playing in the middle of the cricket season. Start in March! There needs to be 3 month window between the end of all rugby and the beginning of the next year. There needs to be a simplification of competitions. There needs to be progression from club to province to Super rugby to Internationals. These things MUST be resolved and resolve quick.
9. Loss of the best players: It is tragic to know that over the last few years so many brilliant players have left our shores and that they cannot play for the AB's again. Luke McAlistar is the classic example. For me, he is unquestionably the best second five in the world, yet we will not see him again while he is in Europe. Surely, he can be available for the AB's. To me it is time to let them play and become truly professional.
10. Other issues: My dissillusionment with rugby has increased with the problem of sport funding. My kids are high achievers and have sought funding for their sports careers, yet they continually miss out to rugby. Why? Rugby are loaded compared to other sports? This annoys me greatly.
So in conclusion, there is far less interest now and the interest is dropping. I for one am for the first time in my life (46 years old) unable to raise my interest. I couldn't care less who is winning and do not care whether the All Blacks are dominant or not. It is boring and I am fed up with the continuous changes. I have always loved cricket and rugby, but now my interest lies firmly in cricket. Cricket is undergoing a renaissance which is in no small part due to the decline in rugby. Rugby faces major challenges and it better get it sorted soon or it will no longer lay claim to being NZ's national sport, for me at least.
Rob vs Mahe, what a weak ending!
I should comment on Mahe vs Rob one more time even though it was decided weeks ago. Well done Mahe! Awesome! I am glad that he is going to the Olympics and I believe he will win. I still believe that Rob is his match, but the old heart went on the day. I think it is a good outcome because now they will both return with medals, hopefully gold! Go Kiwi!
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Rob vs Mahe
Tomorrow it is the decider. Mahe won the first, Rob the second, who will win the 3rd. I hope the best man wins, which he will. Both deserve it, so who has got it. Three things that annoy. First, what is NZ rowing doing, not really promoting this as a feature event and using it to profile and promote the sport. Come on, do it properly! Secondly, what is this I hear today that the winner may not go in the single sculls. That would be ridiculous! Why bother if the winner is not to go! Wake up! Thirdly, the whole thing is marginal to me. It is now not a race to see who is quickest over 2000m but who can back up with 3 2k races in 3 days. It is a race of recovery and endurance. They should get at least 48 hours off to recover and do the final race fresh! Crazy!
Still, they are both legends who should both be at Beijing racing the final! Go the guys! I am picking Rob, but not with any confidence.
Still, they are both legends who should both be at Beijing racing the final! Go the guys! I am picking Rob, but not with any confidence.
About time...
So it is March and I have not blogged this year... pathetic. Ten great things this year!
1. Nice work NZ in the 50/50 3-1 series win over England. Nice! Can we do it in the tests? I think we will do better than expected.
2. Jessie Ryder! First Parore criticises his weight, then he is brilliant, then he blows it! He is a gamble. I hope he turns it around. I once behaved in a similar way but found the light (the big JC), perhaps he needs a similar experience.
3. Brendon McCullum! Oh yeah! He is in sensational form! He is now the world's leading wicket keeper batsman.
4. The Blues, The Crusaders! Oh yeah! But what about the woeful South Africans. I will wait until they play the Sharks and Force respectively. If they win these, it is over! One of them will win the comp!
5. Wade McKinnon! Damn! Man what a bummer. He is brilliant but now he is out. The Warriors may now struggle!
6. Marina Erakovich: Yeah! Into the top 100! That is fantastic. She is hot!
7. Esther Keown: Woo hoo! Two qualifying times for the World Junior Athletic Champs. A 15 year old making it into an u20 world comp... Good stuff... And I am biased.
8. Mark Brown: 2 tournaments on the Asian circuit in a row. Michael Campbell may be on the decline (hopefully not permanently), but this guy is going well.
9. NZ mens hockey team! What a sensational win at at the recent tournament to grab an olympic spot! Absolutely dynamic!
10. Cameron Brown: Legend! Fantastic win again in the iron man. Hats off too to Jo Lawn! Legends!
1. Nice work NZ in the 50/50 3-1 series win over England. Nice! Can we do it in the tests? I think we will do better than expected.
2. Jessie Ryder! First Parore criticises his weight, then he is brilliant, then he blows it! He is a gamble. I hope he turns it around. I once behaved in a similar way but found the light (the big JC), perhaps he needs a similar experience.
3. Brendon McCullum! Oh yeah! He is in sensational form! He is now the world's leading wicket keeper batsman.
4. The Blues, The Crusaders! Oh yeah! But what about the woeful South Africans. I will wait until they play the Sharks and Force respectively. If they win these, it is over! One of them will win the comp!
5. Wade McKinnon! Damn! Man what a bummer. He is brilliant but now he is out. The Warriors may now struggle!
6. Marina Erakovich: Yeah! Into the top 100! That is fantastic. She is hot!
7. Esther Keown: Woo hoo! Two qualifying times for the World Junior Athletic Champs. A 15 year old making it into an u20 world comp... Good stuff... And I am biased.
8. Mark Brown: 2 tournaments on the Asian circuit in a row. Michael Campbell may be on the decline (hopefully not permanently), but this guy is going well.
9. NZ mens hockey team! What a sensational win at at the recent tournament to grab an olympic spot! Absolutely dynamic!
10. Cameron Brown: Legend! Fantastic win again in the iron man. Hats off too to Jo Lawn! Legends!
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