Pre-Bledisloe Rant
September 6th 2006 09:46
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I was going through some old stuff and found this article I wrote just before the first Bledisloe Cup game. Enjoy.
Nice is boring, bring on the game
Something is wrong with the rugby world. It must be said, and I’m gonna say it. The six tests played down under this year have been rubbish, with under strength teams the common feature. The Australia-Ireland game, whilst starting out promisingly enough, saw the fatigued Irish inevitably go down hard, and lets be honest, the Irish simply weren’t as good as they were made out to be. The 39 player “trial” teams, full of untested combinations, that the All Blacks trotted out in their three tests ensured the games turned out exactly like trials – sloppy and boring. As for the two England-Australia games, the English coaching and management staff should hang their heads in shame for insulting the Wallabies and the rugby public by sending out a team of second rate losers. Harsh words, but fair.
The result is two teams heading into one of the biggest battles they face each year with no apparent indication of, to borrow Graham Henry’s favorite buzz phrase, “where they are at”. But when it comes down to it, who cares? The muck-around stuff is done and dusted, the Wallabies and All Blacks are now about to contest the Bledisloe Cup, where emotion, pride and refusal to give in ensures that form means nothing. The best-of-three-games format has been returned so the winner can genuinely claim comprehensive Trans-Tasman superiority, and God rests in his Heaven. So what’s my problem?
Here’s my problem. Why are the All Blacks and Wallabies being so damn NICE to each other? Where’s the spite, the hate, the passion, the two-fingered Barbeque invitations between hookers? The players and coaches have so far been falling over themselves to praise their opposition. This has not been the mandatory “we don’t want to appear arrogant and complacent” pre-game chat, these have been overt and premeditated compliments. For example;
Graham Henry on the Wallabies. “They are mature, they’ve experienced top line rugby and they’ll be able to handle Saturday”.
Steve Hansen has praised John Connolly’s work with the Wallabies, saying that Connolly has given them an “edge”. Wayne Smith labeled Wallaby co-coach Scott Johnson as “very innovative”.
John Connolly is effusive in his praise of the All Blacks.
"(The All Blacks) are the best team in the world at the moment.
"We definitely know how the All Blacks play. Whether we can stop them is the challenge."
George Gregan has said that he actually enjoys watching All Black five eighth, Dan Carter. Enjoys?
“Dan Carter is good to watch, but he’s a tough bugger to play against”. Will the real George Gregan please stand up?
Even potential hostility between the halfbacks stemming from Gregan’s “four more years” taunt from the 2003 World Cup semi-final has been glossed over. Byron Kelleher, the recipient of that cutting remark, was asked what he might give back to George.
“I will not be saying anything to Gregan on Saturday, I’ll just be playing the game”. Come on Byron, that isn’t what we’re paying you for.
But the worst news was undoubtedly from Greg Growden’s article, ‘The soft side of Jerry Collins’. This is Jerry Collins the human wrecking ball. The man came close to permanently disabling an opponent with a brutal (and legal) tackle in a game against Wales. In his role as captain for the All Black’s game against Argentina, one of Jerry’s post match comments was “The people at home won’t be happy that there were mistakes. But who gives a f**k”. No, no, no – there can’t be a soft side to Jerry, can there?
Maybe. Mister Collins speaks about Wallaby flanker George Smith.
“I seem to be getting older and older, but George just seems to be getting better and better”.
Oh dear. Jerry, How many fingers am I holding up? It gets worse.
“You can’t really hate the Australians, because they’re such good blokes off the field”.
Forget it, we can’t let him play in this state. Has Richard Loe still got his boots?
I was going through some old stuff and found this article I wrote just before the first Bledisloe Cup game. Enjoy.
Nice is boring, bring on the game
Something is wrong with the rugby world. It must be said, and I’m gonna say it. The six tests played down under this year have been rubbish, with under strength teams the common feature. The Australia-Ireland game, whilst starting out promisingly enough, saw the fatigued Irish inevitably go down hard, and lets be honest, the Irish simply weren’t as good as they were made out to be. The 39 player “trial” teams, full of untested combinations, that the All Blacks trotted out in their three tests ensured the games turned out exactly like trials – sloppy and boring. As for the two England-Australia games, the English coaching and management staff should hang their heads in shame for insulting the Wallabies and the rugby public by sending out a team of second rate losers. Harsh words, but fair.
The result is two teams heading into one of the biggest battles they face each year with no apparent indication of, to borrow Graham Henry’s favorite buzz phrase, “where they are at”. But when it comes down to it, who cares? The muck-around stuff is done and dusted, the Wallabies and All Blacks are now about to contest the Bledisloe Cup, where emotion, pride and refusal to give in ensures that form means nothing. The best-of-three-games format has been returned so the winner can genuinely claim comprehensive Trans-Tasman superiority, and God rests in his Heaven. So what’s my problem?
Graham Henry on the Wallabies. “They are mature, they’ve experienced top line rugby and they’ll be able to handle Saturday”.
Steve Hansen has praised John Connolly’s work with the Wallabies, saying that Connolly has given them an “edge”. Wayne Smith labeled Wallaby co-coach Scott Johnson as “very innovative”.
John Connolly is effusive in his praise of the All Blacks.
"(The All Blacks) are the best team in the world at the moment.
"We definitely know how the All Blacks play. Whether we can stop them is the challenge."
George Gregan has said that he actually enjoys watching All Black five eighth, Dan Carter. Enjoys?
“Dan Carter is good to watch, but he’s a tough bugger to play against”. Will the real George Gregan please stand up?
Even potential hostility between the halfbacks stemming from Gregan’s “four more years” taunt from the 2003 World Cup semi-final has been glossed over. Byron Kelleher, the recipient of that cutting remark, was asked what he might give back to George.
“I will not be saying anything to Gregan on Saturday, I’ll just be playing the game”. Come on Byron, that isn’t what we’re paying you for.
But the worst news was undoubtedly from Greg Growden’s article, ‘The soft side of Jerry Collins’. This is Jerry Collins the human wrecking ball. The man came close to permanently disabling an opponent with a brutal (and legal) tackle in a game against Wales. In his role as captain for the All Black’s game against Argentina, one of Jerry’s post match comments was “The people at home won’t be happy that there were mistakes. But who gives a f**k”. No, no, no – there can’t be a soft side to Jerry, can there?
Maybe. Mister Collins speaks about Wallaby flanker George Smith.
“I seem to be getting older and older, but George just seems to be getting better and better”.
Oh dear. Jerry, How many fingers am I holding up? It gets worse.
“You can’t really hate the Australians, because they’re such good blokes off the field”.
Forget it, we can’t let him play in this state. Has Richard Loe still got his boots?
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