rugby fever
we're into match 3, and i've never experienced such anticipation and furore over a sporting series since the 2002 football World Cup in Japan/Korea.. i don't think the advertisements on TV and the press were as dedicated to the events on the field during the 2003 Rugby World Cup as they are now.. it's the fact that's it's in New Zealand and that it is the first time in 12 years that the Lions toured New Zealand, that makes the excitement all the more bigger.. it's like hosting the World Cup rather than just being in it.. and that's why hosting a big tournament or tour like this is so special..
and after last night's historic and memorable win for the NZ Maori, the delight from the NZ public and media is still going strong and will be until the first test in Christchurch.. the Lions knew it, this was the unofficial fourth test and they blew it.. yes there is plenty of time but the fact is that even in the professional era and the closing of the gap between North and South, touring New Zealand remains rugby's biggest challenge, its Mount Everest.. i don't think we should get too hysterical over this result for too long.. it was to be expected in such a long tour.. it is not the magic key to an All Blacks thumping of the Lions.. if it was, the series would have lost its life.. which is why the first test in Christchurch will prob be the pinnacle test of the game at the moment.. how good are the Lions and how good are the All Blacks head to head?
Sunday offered a little respite after two nights of rugby.. at 10am, the All Blacks squad to face the Lions in the first test was announced along with the Junior All Blacks squad to tour Australia.. let me first say that this Junior All Blacks is a brilliant idea.. in cricket, the mighty Aussies have their usual side consisting of Gillie, Ponting, Warney etc. but they also have an A side which could easily take over the senior team's mantle should a disaster, heaven forbid, occur.. their depth of cricket talent from Perth to Hobart just allows it.. and the depth of rugby talent from Kaitaia to Invercargill allows the NZRU to play effectively two All Black sides which could do equally well.. and it's brilliant.. rather than train in the week then sit on the bench for the game, the players on the fringes of the first team, could actually get some competitive play and be in tip-top condition should disaster strike anyone in the first team.. very useful especially before the NPC kicks off.. good for the likes of Sosene Anesi, Marty Holah, Nick Evans, Corey Flynn and Joe Rokocoko who are good enough to be in the All Blacks but just missed the cut coz other ppls' form was just better.. it means they're never really completely out of the shadow.. perhaps the All Blacks will dominate world rugby just as the Australians have with world cricket..
the recent All Blacks squad really had little surprises.. even for Jono Gibbes who officially isn't in the squad but is training with the team.. the reason is because he strained his calf(or was it ankle) in the Maori game.. and Derren Witcombe is standing by should Anton Oliver fail to recover.. Leon McDonald is back in the All Blacks for the first time since the 2003 Rugby World Cup and deservedly on the back of his inspired game for the Maori against the Lions.. and he has pace.. even if not as much as Muliana or Anesi, he does have experience and a good boot.. McCaw will be the only specialist openside flanker in there, but So'oialo and Lauaki can easily step in there.. and i say that Lauaki could be a serial danger to the Lions just as Tipoki was for the Maori.. finally kudos to James Ryan and Sivivatu, two youngsters who have become the best of their generation..
finally, the Lions XV to face Wellington - and yes there is Jonny Wilkinson :
Gethin Jenkins , Shane Byrne, Julian White, Ben Kay, Danny Grewcock, Simon Easterby, Neil Back, Martin Corry, Dwayne Peel, Jonny Wilkinson, Gareth Thomas, Gavin Henson, Brian O'Driscoll, Jason Robinson, Josh Lewsey
SUBS: Gordon Bulloch, Matt Stevens, Paul O'Connell, Lewis Moody, Chris Cusiter, Stephen Jones, Shane Horgan
firstly, Gethin Jenkins again??! doesn't that guy need a break having played a part in all three games so far? but i admire this guy.. he's quite special.. but apart from that, this is mostly the side carried over from the weekend but with the additions of Jason Robinson, Jonny, Back and Easterby.. this will be a side eager to go out and show what they're really made of after the disappointment of the weekend..
i've also thought that perhaps the Lions missed Martin Corry over the weekend esp in the forwards.. a leader in the pack, in the mould of Dallaglio, is Corry and i think he will be in the test team.. Byrne gets a chance to nail a test spot after the poor performance of Steve Thompson over the weekend.. Easterby likewise and will also be interesting to see whether Back is a spent force as he seemed to be in the Zurich Premiership Final.. prob not..
a strong side.. but Wellington shouldn't be a pushover like Bay of Plenty and Taranaki were.. the first Super 12 host province the Lions will face, so it could be similar to the Maori game, with the likes of Weepu, Gopperth, Herring, Nonu in the side.. and it will be interesting to see how Nonu goes against the Lions..
long live the Mastercard and Telecom ads!!
and after last night's historic and memorable win for the NZ Maori, the delight from the NZ public and media is still going strong and will be until the first test in Christchurch.. the Lions knew it, this was the unofficial fourth test and they blew it.. yes there is plenty of time but the fact is that even in the professional era and the closing of the gap between North and South, touring New Zealand remains rugby's biggest challenge, its Mount Everest.. i don't think we should get too hysterical over this result for too long.. it was to be expected in such a long tour.. it is not the magic key to an All Blacks thumping of the Lions.. if it was, the series would have lost its life.. which is why the first test in Christchurch will prob be the pinnacle test of the game at the moment.. how good are the Lions and how good are the All Blacks head to head?
Sunday offered a little respite after two nights of rugby.. at 10am, the All Blacks squad to face the Lions in the first test was announced along with the Junior All Blacks squad to tour Australia.. let me first say that this Junior All Blacks is a brilliant idea.. in cricket, the mighty Aussies have their usual side consisting of Gillie, Ponting, Warney etc. but they also have an A side which could easily take over the senior team's mantle should a disaster, heaven forbid, occur.. their depth of cricket talent from Perth to Hobart just allows it.. and the depth of rugby talent from Kaitaia to Invercargill allows the NZRU to play effectively two All Black sides which could do equally well.. and it's brilliant.. rather than train in the week then sit on the bench for the game, the players on the fringes of the first team, could actually get some competitive play and be in tip-top condition should disaster strike anyone in the first team.. very useful especially before the NPC kicks off.. good for the likes of Sosene Anesi, Marty Holah, Nick Evans, Corey Flynn and Joe Rokocoko who are good enough to be in the All Blacks but just missed the cut coz other ppls' form was just better.. it means they're never really completely out of the shadow.. perhaps the All Blacks will dominate world rugby just as the Australians have with world cricket..
the recent All Blacks squad really had little surprises.. even for Jono Gibbes who officially isn't in the squad but is training with the team.. the reason is because he strained his calf(or was it ankle) in the Maori game.. and Derren Witcombe is standing by should Anton Oliver fail to recover.. Leon McDonald is back in the All Blacks for the first time since the 2003 Rugby World Cup and deservedly on the back of his inspired game for the Maori against the Lions.. and he has pace.. even if not as much as Muliana or Anesi, he does have experience and a good boot.. McCaw will be the only specialist openside flanker in there, but So'oialo and Lauaki can easily step in there.. and i say that Lauaki could be a serial danger to the Lions just as Tipoki was for the Maori.. finally kudos to James Ryan and Sivivatu, two youngsters who have become the best of their generation..
finally, the Lions XV to face Wellington - and yes there is Jonny Wilkinson :
Gethin Jenkins , Shane Byrne, Julian White, Ben Kay, Danny Grewcock, Simon Easterby, Neil Back, Martin Corry, Dwayne Peel, Jonny Wilkinson, Gareth Thomas, Gavin Henson, Brian O'Driscoll, Jason Robinson, Josh Lewsey
SUBS: Gordon Bulloch, Matt Stevens, Paul O'Connell, Lewis Moody, Chris Cusiter, Stephen Jones, Shane Horgan
firstly, Gethin Jenkins again??! doesn't that guy need a break having played a part in all three games so far? but i admire this guy.. he's quite special.. but apart from that, this is mostly the side carried over from the weekend but with the additions of Jason Robinson, Jonny, Back and Easterby.. this will be a side eager to go out and show what they're really made of after the disappointment of the weekend..
i've also thought that perhaps the Lions missed Martin Corry over the weekend esp in the forwards.. a leader in the pack, in the mould of Dallaglio, is Corry and i think he will be in the test team.. Byrne gets a chance to nail a test spot after the poor performance of Steve Thompson over the weekend.. Easterby likewise and will also be interesting to see whether Back is a spent force as he seemed to be in the Zurich Premiership Final.. prob not..
a strong side.. but Wellington shouldn't be a pushover like Bay of Plenty and Taranaki were.. the first Super 12 host province the Lions will face, so it could be similar to the Maori game, with the likes of Weepu, Gopperth, Herring, Nonu in the side.. and it will be interesting to see how Nonu goes against the Lions..
long live the Mastercard and Telecom ads!!
posted by Unknown at 8:43 pm
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