ABs roll out for a win…
The season ended, and all the NZ Monday morning press are in orgasmic mode with the ABs. Sorry I am just very warm.
Why..
The french midfield couldn’t tackle, the BOKs, Aussies, Welsh and English could and the results where very different. We won some and lost some. The French were just [...]
Source: Rugby need to entertain again – Toby Robson
Hanson extract…
Assistant coach Steve Hansen wasn’t hiding from the issue upon arriving at the All Blacks’ High St hotel.
Rugby was in need of an entertaining and free-flowing test match.
“Kicking has overtaken most of the game,” he said. “They tried to change all the rules [with the ELVs] [...]
Zip zap ‘Conrad’ scores !!
Hanson: In charge of the backs, and on first impressions what a great improvement. Just proves how useless Wayne Smith was at forming a back line attack. We saw some structured attacks, great stuff !
Henry: In charge of the forwards, and once again on first impressions ‘much better’, but not “BOK” [...]
Question: Why was Hanson moved away being the forward coach, and Henry has been self appointed as forwards coach of the ABs?
Short Answer: Hanson was an ELV lover, and when the laws changed this year, he didn’t change, hence we saw with the three test matches against the BOKs the ABs forwards beaten!
Mauls (esp) scrums and lineout are [...]
Source: Four new caps in All Blacks squad
Zac Guildford – Leading try scorer in NPC and new AB …
In tough company Hawkes Bay vs Canterbury Zac stood out ! This kid can score tries ! Along with Cory Jane, Zac is a try scoring machine.
Cory and Zac oustide ‘postman’ Conrad Smith will be a delight [...]
First a win is a win, so history will say. We done ABs !
But more was said about this AB team last week when they lost to the Boks.
The Aussies were duds, they were already on the beach, speedos and suntan lotion at the ready !
So the media will mostly post positive print on the [...]
Waitakere reader to Your Views: “There are obviously not enough good players in NZ. Perhaps if we merged with Australia, we would have enough players to form a competitive team for the upcoming world cup.”
Letter to Dominion Post: “For sale: One rugby coach, suitable for under-fives. Also for sale, 15 rugby players. Suitable for not [...]
The ‘ABs Backs’ rugby brains IQ class ranking..
The ‘A’ Class
Carter
Smith
Kahui
Muliaina
Jane
The ‘B’ Class
Toeava
Sivivatu
Rokocoko
Nonu
MacAlister
Donald
When the ABs back line has more “B” class players within it they look lost, lack leader ship, and lose confidence. This is the difference between and Henry lead coaching team and a Deans lead coaching team, Deans makes a judgement of players rugby IQ, [...]
Well after the dance, it was all down hill !
Well done Boks 3-0.
How did they do it ?
1) Kick to known ‘fubbles’ in the ABs back line.
2) Defend like the Greeks.
3) Take 3 points within 60m.
4) Play the new rules, by forcing mistakes in oppositions half.
5) Exploit the lineout advantage.
6) Played off a structured platform. [...]
Source: Carter named to start against Wallabies
The ABs Team for ‘Dance of Desperates’ in Sydney this Saturday !
1. Tony Woodcock (55 Tests)
2. Andrew Hore (40)
3. Owen Franks (4)
4. Brad Thorn (30)
5. Isaac Ross (6)
6. Jerome Kaino (20)
7. Richie McCaw – captain (73)
8. Kieran Read (9)
9. [...]
Weepu, the Ab’s second choice half back who’s form that has been lacking, is a FATTY !
Half backs must be like spring chickens running around the paddock !
Weepu has not been doing the fitness work ! If he cant measure up he should not be in the squad !!
Too slow, due to too much weight, huff and [...]
Source: All Blacks are not panicking – Toby Robson
Dan Carter rushed back into the ABs !
The frail egos of the coaches need a win, to get the ugly NZ public off there back so they can spin ‘the ship is on course’ bullsh*t again !
Dan is good, but Dans ability is a band aid over [...]
Yeah I know I have been on Henry’ case, but in the last year: what is the game pattern, failed selections, poor tactics under pressure.
The AB’s under Henry is on a down hill trend ! The top two inches of the coaches rugby brains have gone to mush !
Henry can find it in himself to walk [...]
Source: Sorry Graham Henry, denial is not the solution – Toby Robson
Graham Henry think the game plan was fine? Steve Hansen doesn’t want to call in a specialist to help with the lineouts? Wayne Smith believes long kicks are a waste of time?
It has the same delusional tone as comments this season on the [...]
When Henry’s under pressure, a loss from the previous week, dodgy team playing performance in most recent games. These are some of the tactical blunders Henry’s mob undergoes:
1) Select players who have had no rugby, and are expected to perform at the highest level: Brendon Leonard
2) Select tactics that only super men against a weaker team can [...]
Source: All Black coaches need to step up or walk away – Richard Loe
God Bless him…has he a coaching whistle !
(NOTE: These comments were after the 1st test against the Boks, not the second, still relevant dont you think!)
Extracts..
The issues are:
Selection – why was Brendon Leonard playing? Answer, according to Graham Henry: To give him [...]
Source: Silence proves golden as All Blacks staff wired for sound – Greg Ford
You may or may not be aware, but nothing said on the field misses the coaches ear piece. So who is in charge ‘during a game’, what happens when Richie McCaw says ‘Stuff that idea, where doing it this way!’, I wonder.
With [...]
NZRU position
For 6 years the players having been hearing the same record. For the same 6 years the ABs back line has done little to impress. Smith at least should have gone ! The NZRU board and Tew dont have the mental muscle to understand why a change was need. There are strong [...]
Source: Mains calls for Henry to go
The calls for Graham Henry to step down as All Blacks coach have started.
Former coach Laurie Mains says it is hard to judge from the outside, but he is having trouble trying to pick up the pattern the All Blacks are trying to play.
“That sort of says to me [...]
Source: Best to Luke out, Stephen Gregor Paul
Luke MacAlister was horrible as first five vs Italy, Stephen Donald is an ugly first choice to start the Tri Nations tournament. Isaia Toeava keeps on getting selected when he cant catch or talk to anyone on the field, and bomb near certain tries. ABs injury list could fill [...]
Source: Graham Henry gaff was sheer stupidity - Jonathan Millow
Extracts…
Weepu was undoubtedly speaking on behalf of the team when he gave a bittersweet post-match interview.
“I probably would not have kicked the ball out had I known, and kept the ball in hand.
“Obviously we weren’t told about the six-point margin and I guess we need to be [...]
NEW ZEALAND: Mils Muliaina (captain), Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Stephen Donald, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Tanerau Latimer, Jerome Kaino, Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock. Reserves:Aled de Malmanche, John Afoa, Bryn Evans, George Whitelock, Piri Weepu, Luke McAlister, Isaia Toeava
COMMENTS: Are you freaking kidding me, this guy [...]
Source: All Blacks “won’t play” Air NZ Cup – Neil Reid
Henry says…
“If they are playing Super 14, the Iveco Series, Tri-nations and the end of year tours; there are 15 games I think again for the All Blacks this year.
“Then there is another 13, possibly 15, Super 14 games.
“That is getting up to 30, when [...]
Q: One painting is by the famous artist Jackson Pollock, the other is by an elephant, one is claimed as a master piece, the other is not. Which is the master peice?
A: Here.
The divergence of spin with the view points of these painting is amazing, ranging from the fantastic art performance of Pollock to absolute ridicule for the elephant. To [...]
The ABs tour this summber is 35 players. With a heap of non playing members.
Source: Lots of help at hand as ABs empire expands – Greg Ford
D Shand – Manager
G Henry – Head Coach
W Smith – Back Coach
M Bryne – Back Coach (Kicking)
S Hansen – Forward Coach
N Cron – Forward Coach (Scrum)
D Robinson – Medical [...]