Better Rugby Rules

Source: Injured Sonny Bill’s skiing trip irks Canterbury bosses

Extract..

Sonny Bill Williams is on a slippery slope with Canterbury rugby bosses after an unauthorised ski trip while on the injury list.

The star signing has been reprimanded by the Canterbury Rugby Football Union (CRFU) for going skiing last Saturday.

Williams has not yet played for Canterbury in the ITM Cup because of injury. He had been ruled out of the match against Tasman, being played in Nelson the day of the ski trip.

A CRFU spokesman said yesterday Williams had skied at the Mt Hutt Ski Area during a sightseeing tour for “overseas guests”.

“I believe he put skis on a couple of times, did a couple of runs, and then took them off and watched,” he said.

“He needed to get clearance [first], but he didn’t do that.”

The spokesman said the matter was handled “internally”.

“He’s been talked to and reminded of his responsibilities in terms of letting people know what he’s doing.

“He taken that on the chin and realised he’s made a mistake in this instance.”

Williams resumed full training this week, but the transgression did not result in his non-selection.

SBW is broken again…jes wayne…!

Source: Sonny Bill out with injury again

Midfield back Sonny Bill Williams, who made his New Zealand rugby debut last weekend when turning out for his Belfast club in Christchurch, is not available for selection due to a tight hamstring.

COMMENTS: The story of this mans life, on for one game, off for two ! Not worth the NZRU dollars !

Source: We shouldn’t count too many chickens, but…

Fitzy Extract..

..”We saw that the All Blacks got tremendously quick ball; recycling it very fast. We saw in the Super 14 that the sides who recycle ball quickly can now get over the advantage line and behind the defensive line – and that’s what the All Blacks did last night.”..

COMMENTS: Remember the days when Aussie had the Bledisloe cup, well Aussie had one asset that we didnt George Gregan, and George was lightening fast with recycling the ball, a lot faster than our Justin Marshall.

The point is, when has slow ball been any good in rugby at the break down, when, I tell you when NEVER, most teams that lose suffer slow ball at the break down. Fitzy da !

 Bakkie Botha rugby skill set..

I head butt
I hit
I bite
I eye gouge
I commit professional fouls

I say BYE BYE you cheating dirty mongrel !

NO place for this rubbish in rugby !

Ooooh he is a born again christian as well, WTF !

Source: Rugby: Bakkies Botha suspended for headbutt

Source: Conrad Smith will put the All Blacks first

Extract..

And as far as Smith considering a similar code switch, you get the feeling the chances are remote at best.

“League? I don’t know. I played a bit at school when the first XV used to transfer and play a bit. I don’t know, it’s not quite me. I love the physicality of it, but I think it’s a bit too simple.”

COMMENTS:  That is exactly my point why Sonny ‘BullShit” Bill will be a very poor choice for the role of ABs Centre. He is used to a simple game, rugby is more complex and you need the sharpest rugby brains in the correct place at the right time, when the pressure is intense.

The above is exactly why the ABs have NOT been in a RWC final for two decades. Rugby Smarts is lacking.

I would target Sonny at 2nd five eight. He is the same mold as MacAlister, both would run great off Dan Carter.

This means: MacAlister, Sonny Bill, Ma Nonu are battling it out for 2nd five. Notice the common traits then !

However, what’s their kicking game like, well you dont get everything I guess !

The Media

Current All Blacks

His Manager

Current ABs Coach

Are ALL talking this lad up. Hes a great athlete, hes strong, he has great skills.

But he has done nothing, but pose in picture for the girls. Rugby Union is not suited to those that can not think on their feet, or have a low work load. Rugby Union will expose Sonny ‘BullShit’ Bill as just average.

He will have a chance in Super 15. But he is years behind Conrad Smith as centre. I would be watching Sonny for 2nd five eights, and not centre or wing. A center must organise the attack and help those fickle wings, just ask Frank Bunce!

Well hes got 12 months to prove himself, at the moment he has a head start on media beat up.

           
Zac Guilford

Whats the difference between a rugby league back and and rugby union back?

One Name : Zac ‘Zig Zag’ Guilford.

A rugby union back must LOOK for work, he must read the game and find the gaps, more so than a league back. For the simple reason there is less room on a union field, and when space comes available you must be ready.

Tana Umaga also new this. The best example today is Zac Guilford of the Crusaders fame. You watch his work load, he seams to find space all over the field. Rugby league players who move to union and complain about the space, or lack of it, just dont have rugby mojo, and should stay in league.

Another reason why Sonny Bill we be a Dud, Dudley, Doodle…

Source : Sonny Bill Gets rugby contract offer.
ref: Sonny Bill doesn’t have rugby mojo.

NZRU dont waste your money, here is why…

1) If he is gonna be in the backs, can he catch, just ask Joe Rokocoko how important that skill is ?

2) Big game experience: Sure he looks great when he’s playing the mino’s of a competition, under pressure in a Bledisloe cup, that is a whole different story.

3) We have Kahui and Conrad Smith, so why spend money on a guy who will sit on the reserve bench.

4) He breaks down: He has not eaten enough WeetBix, he breaks easy, and the South African boys will make sure of that !

5) He is just not that smart, we need leaders and rugby smarts not just brawn (this is G Henry weakness, brawn or body, he normally picks brawn).

6) Consider the path Brad Thorn took, he is the only league play who has ever proven he was worth every cent to switch codes at a late stage in a players career.

Henry is desperate, so he  his motivating NZRU cheque book once again.

Hmm I wonder will selected players be rested from the 2011 Super 15 ???

Source: Justin Marshall Retires

Justin was one of the mentally toughest halfbacks the ABs have ever seen. I have been watching rugby for 40 plus years, and I would say in the wet there was no better.

He was characterised as a halfback come loose forward and did play that role well. However this is why as a pure half back this mix in roles does not see him referred at the best half back the ABs have seen.

You will conclude this when you watch the games when George Greagan and Justin are matched up. George was just that much faster in recycling the ball in a free flowing movement. Justin was just too slow and pass was too short.

No matter, thanks for a fine service Justin. My bet his candid no sh*t approach to rugby will be very interesting when hear him on the TV.

Cheers dude !

Source: Top school’s coach barred

Extract..

..”A rugby coach at an exclusive Auckland high school has been suspended for poaching a player from a poorer South Auckland school.

The suspension is part of a move by sport bosses to act on long-running concerns about the practice among secondary schools.

St Kentigern College 1st XV coach Tai Lavea – brother of former Auckland Blues star Tasesa Lavea – has been banned from any match day involvement with the team, after being found guilty of breaching tough recruitment bylaws to poach a player from Papatoetoe’s Aorere College.”..

COMMENTS: Graham Henry won many a secondary rugby school competition, and being a headmaster managed to do the exact same thing as the above. The rules weren’t around then, or if they were, they were not enforced. I remember seeing Henry sides play, and I always thought the beards on the players just suggest they were a little older than the rest of us, as Henry allowed critical players to repeat a senior year just until the rugby season end.

Don’t believe me, just examine Henry’s recruitment for the Welsh rugby side while he was in charge ( ak Granny gate).

Henry win at ‘any cost’ most likely cost us the rugby world cup in 2007. Players pulled from Super rugby, thus being under cooked for RWC. Refusing to stand back and let the players lead the game on the field, and insisting on radio link ups during the game. Like I said before the team that wins the RWC can self steer !

Source:  All Blacks want Sonny Bill asap

Wayne Smith should be gone, sent off to coach expats in Alaska.

Sonny Bill doesn’t have the strength of character or skill at the highest level to make a starting All Black role. If he had he would be talking to Brad Thorn and asking what it takes to follow down his road.

Sonny is dollars first, take the shirt off second, and be a poser third. He is three years at least behind Conrad Smith and Richard Kahui as a skilled center in the back line. And light years behind any half decent international forward.

More dumb thinking can be found here by Greg Ford promoting that Joe Rokocoko should to return to the All Blacks. Joe had a good game against, hmmm, the struggle to win a game ‘the force’.

What are we to do …

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 puff around the paddock…dont believe me…watch the next game !

Source: The next dotted line leads straight to Williams’ nation of choice - Brad Walter

With press like the above, no wonder SBW may thinks he’s an automatic selection for any national side.

Question: How many world cups did the All Blacks win, with Jona Lomu ?
Answer : ZERO.

Hell, I think the ABs only got to one World Cup Final with Jona, 1995 SA. So who is SBW kidding, let Aussie have him…. Then again Robbie Deans is the man to make Sonny Bill a great union player, that would be the only reason NZRU should sign him up. Robbie knows how to develop players. As SBW wants large coin, I would not be to keen on any long term contract.

Image by : Getty Images

Source: Who wants to be a Wallaby?- Rupert Guinness

Sonny Bill Williams will play for the highest rugby dollar, that is the decision matrix for this athlete.

He has sent signals to Samoa, NZ and now Aussie that he can play for either in there National colors. I would think that his required annual pay packet would be in excess of $500,000 (NZD or AUD). The last two league converts that I know that were paid similar amounts were Loti Tuqiri and Mat Rogers, that latter didnt excel, the earlier did ok for a number of years. So that was more than a million bucks for these two players where that same funds could have secured 5 or 6 young 20 somethings with huge talent. Acorns that could grow into trees.

It would take a minimum of two full super rugby season for Sonny Bill to prove himself, and it could take 3 to 5 years to master the role of 13 in rugby union. NZRU has Conrad Smith and Richard Kahui, so why would the NZRU pay any large sum for Sonny Bill Williams on media potential and hype. Aussie if you want him, you can have him, let this be your gamble !

I personally think the lad is not to bright, and the best players on the international stage have brawn and (rugby) brians (and leadership skills), so for in excess of $500,000 I would like to see his high school results !

NZRU re signed Brad Thorn last year, and it took Brad two years to master his role in rugby union, and boy has it turned out well for NZRU. Brad has proved his skill on and off the field, he was prepared to do the hard yards before the national duties came along. This acorn has grown into a tree. So far Sonny Bill has not shown he wants to travel the same road. See ya SBW !

       ABs back line hopeful : Aucklands Toeava

Source: Toeava top attacking force in NZ rugby  – Greg Ford

His form this year has been so undeniably good that his name will be one of the first, if not the first, Graham Henry jots down when the time comes to name his All Blacks squad.

And statistics, known to heavily influence Henry’s selections, confirm Isaia “Ice” Toeava is becoming the single most potent attacking force in New Zealand rugby

COMMENTS: This is the same guy just a 6 months ago at Munster looked lost under pressure, and at the horrible loss at the world cup ran like a scared chicken. Has he changed ? I personal think this chap is a very slow at maturing in rugby leadership, some players just dont have the confidence until after about 6 to 8 years at the top of national rugby. I think he looks good when he plays the weaker teams, yet against hard competition just average. So we will have to see if this ‘marsh mellow’ has got a harder in the last 12 months. I guess ABs duty will expose him for better or worse, he sure has had enough chances. But he’s lucky as he is a Wayne Smith favourite.

Previous post: All Blacks should not be marsh mellows!

 Dan Carter believing his press, a big mistake !

Its 2008 Oct, and a top First Five said to the media he decided he would not be available for his province for the NPC final, after his coach expressed that he would like him to play. After speculation that the NZRU/Henry may have decided to rest him. They may have applied gentle pressure to confirm that if Dan made this ‘stand down’ decision that it was ok with them, with no future repercussions, making easier for Dan to ‘pass’ on the NPC final and open his Auckland undies shop, busy lad !

C Meads, T Norton, I Kirkpatrick, S Wilson, G Wylie : Did you guys hear that !

Some of the great men of yesteryear must be wondering what the f**k has happened to the attitudes of the players to the province that brought them up through the ranks. Answer : The EURO !

Source: Super-sized Super 14 the saviour - Greg Ford

Nichol said the game was at a “crossroads” with rugby needing to expand into new markets to generate new income. He said if New Zealand wasn’t at the vanguard of change it risked losing an opportunity to create the premier rugby competition in the world.

“That’s the goal we need to achieve. If we [NZ] don’t, we risk becoming another Argentina or Pacific Island country, with all our players based overseas. We can’t let that happen. We need to embrace this change. The market for players is becoming more competitive every year so cutting down the amount of opportunities available just didn’t make sense strategically or financially.”

My Comments: Rob Nichol says we need to act or we may become a player feeder nation for other more wealth rugby nations. Tooooo late, New Zealand is a country that exports agriculture and interest rates we do nothing else, you can count the local billionaires on one hand, there is no wealth here. If you create new markets in Japan and USA then forget France as the nation who buys up the local ‘Lomus’, USA and Japan will be making huge offers that would make the french Toulon billionare look like a cheap skate.  A NZ player will be an All Black for a couple of years for CV value, then their gone for foreign exhange revenues, and how can you blame them, poor buggers.

Source: IRB step in to solve Scotland player row

Scottish Rugby lodged an official complaint with the IRB after Premier Rugby (PRL), the umbrella organisation representing Guinness Premiership teams, blocked players attending Monday’s first training session of the season at Murrayfield.

Premier Rugby insist they were within their rights to impose the blanket ban as they are only obliged to release players five days before an agreed quota of Test matches.

My Comments: Yeah, getting players from overseas would be real easy for the the All Blacks ! I think not ! Stupid idea ! Hell, if Scotland cant get its players out of England, what chance have the SRFU, ARU and NZRU have, none !

Source: Scrumhalf Gareth Jones dies after injuring neck in club match

A Neath rugby player has died in hospital after suffering an injury to his neck during a match on 20 April.

Scrum-half Gareth Jones, 28, was hurt at a ruck during a Premier Division game against Cardiff in the Arms Park, which Neath lost.

My Comments:  We love our rugby downunder, it is a sad day when a player looses his life playing this great game. Just a reminder to all who play, necks and heads must be given due care. Lets be careful out there !

All the best to the family.

Source: The return of rotation – Wynne Gray

Coach Graham Henry defended his policy of replacing players after such a decisive 37-20 victory in Auckland, as an investment for the start of the lengthy Tri-Nations tournament in a tick over a fortnight.

My Comments: A better investment would be more time building combinations in your best side, not your weakest.

Player combinations take many games to build, especially to handle pressure, just like in RWC finals. For example Conrad Smith and Ma’a Nonu have played two test matches together, and done well. Yet Conrad has been dropped from the squad for Richard Kahui, amazingly Conrad is not even on the bench.

Henry cant help himself, this is what happens when you don’t change your coach, he says he will change for better, but in the end he cant. It would be better to play 4 to 6 games with the best combination possible. There are 15 test matches this year for the ABs, I am sure bloody young players can be done latter after the best AB team is ‘well done’ (steak cooking analogy).

Sure there are no tours to blood young players, but you can use the bench after the game is near won to try out others.

 Rotation before the best team is well groomed is a mistake. AGAIN !

UPDATE1:

Source: ‘No rotating for Wallabies’ – Deans

Coach Robbie Deans has ruled out a rotation policy for the Wallabies despite the risk of player burn-out from a gruelling 15-Test schedule this year.

And despite concerns about the physical and mental toll on players following the Super 14 competition, Deans had no set plans to rest players.

“There will not be rotation as such,” Deans told AAP.

“There will be catering to our needs because we are not going to be looking ahead and putting less emphasis on what is immediately in front of us.

“We want to thrive in every instance.”

“Experience is valuable”

“I am not concerned about what has been, I am more concerned about what is coming.”

My Comments: O boy doesn’t this sound right, see what I mean about old dog same trick (Henry), Robbie Deans hasn’t won all those titles sitting on his arrrrse ! Then again is Deans doing the same thing as Henry but using smarter media spin, hmmm !

UPDATE2:

Source: Wrong time to split Smith and Nonu – Hart

But with the opening Tri-Nations test against South Africa looming (on July 5), Hart said he would not have split the Ma’a Nonu-Smith combination in midfield which was growing well.

” I would have given them as much football together as I could.

“They (the All Blacks coaching team) have obviously settled on them, they have done well, both have developed very well, I would have kept them together.

“I don’t see why we would play Richard Kahui when we are just trying to get a combination (going) and Conrad Smith is playing so well – I think there are some issues of rotation and some issues of their still trying to find who the best player is (for that position).”

My Comments:  I am not a huge fan of John ‘Been to RWC Twice for nothing’ Hart, but he has got this right ! Mid field is a vital combination, Deans knows this, and I bet he has this a possible attack point come Tri Nations. Remember Ma’a can’t kick, and can get communications a little confused. The two test matches played by Conrad and Ma’a have not been a great challenge to their mid field defensive skills, this exactly why they should have more time together. Or may maybe Henry will learn this when Mortlock sprints between Conrad and Ma’s and scores a match winning try!

UPDATE3:

Source:  Scene set for night full of fireworks – John Drake

Conrad Smith has revelled in consistent play with the Hurricanes and All Blacks. He is a heady player who complements those around him rather than dominating. Ma’a Nonu and the wings may miss his presence in Christchurch tomorrow night. Kahui has been on the selectors’ radar for some time and but for injuries would probably have been used earlier. I hope he is not another “project” like Isaia Toeava – thrown in the deep end without enough game time at the level below tests.

 Henry and Co will say they have little chance under the current structure to give the Kahuis of this world an opportunity other than in test matches. What a pity the New Zealand A and Juniors formats have been discarded as those are the places to blood up-and-comers and fringe players, not tests. The other alternative is to shuffle players between the All Blacks and the Maori team. I see Deans is doing something similar with Australia A and is resisting anything to do with rotation.

My Comments: Henry knows this, yet chose to ignore this advice. Once again you cant teach an old dog new tricks. Dam fool !

       Ma’a Nonu on the right.

Ma’a has impressed twice, keep this up and Luke McAlister will go down as a very average All Black compared to Ma’a. You see, no one remembers those that dont play internationals. Players must choose between money now or lifetime reputation and money for ever. I refer you to Jona Lomu, do you think he would be a big as he is with out playing international rugby?

• - Player Power/Agents: 1
• - NZRU: 0

CARTER: Good luck Dan ! Internationals (most likely at the RWC 2011) and $$$$ not a bad deal for the next 4 years. Well done.

NZRU: Your one negotiating strength  (international selection) can now be down graded from stone to straw. Agents will huff and puff it down from now on, idiots.

The result should have been, stay or go for 4 years, that’s it. If he had gone his status would not reach the lofty heights of All Black great, sure he would be rich. Now he has a chance for both.

The next Lomu, Brook, Patrick, Kirwan, Jones can and will expect the same treatment. This new trend is here to stay.

Mr Tew and the board just hasn’t got large enough nuts to make the big calls. The jury is still out on Mr Tew, and this happened on his watch, so its not looking good.

UPDATE1:

Source: NZ public ‘out of love with All Blacks’ – British press

Meanwhile, the London Independent‘s rugby writer says the biggest issue New Zealand will face is the fallout from the decision to grant Daniel Carter the chance to play in Europe while still being eligible for the All Blacks.

‘By allowing (Carter) to stay on contract and remain a test candidate…the union has finally accepted that northern money calls the tune in modern-day rugby.

“Every employment lawyer from Whangarei to Invercargill is alert to the Carter affair, secure in the expectation that other celebrated All Blacks of the day will demand a piece of the same action.

“Heaven knows, the English do not have everything right. But in pure rugby terms, the red rose is enjoying a vastly better time of it than the silver fern,” he said.

 My Comments: The above is true.

“New Zealand rugby is at a crossroads,” wrote Alistair Eykyn of the BBC.

“The credibility of their national game is at stake. Defeat to England at Eden Park on Saturday night and the All Blacks may well consider themselves at crisis point,” he said.

My Comments: Piss Off !

Source: Carter’s deal a special case, says happy Henry- Duncan Johnstone

But the coach clearly doesn’t want to see a rash of players heading away on short-term deals and says measures need to be put in place to control that. [ME: ha ha ha, too late now !]

“I think you need to qualify (for a sabbatical). I think there needs to be some criteria … maybe a number of test matches, longevity in the All Blacks, that sort of thing,” said Henry.

What does Henry care about the long term effect of this deal, his only concern is winning back his reputation at the next world cup, after that, thats for the next poor bloke ! 

The lack of big nuts by Mr Tew and the NZRU will see in future years the top 5+ players off overseas in the immediate years after the world cup. Dan will be eligible for the All Blacks selection when he comes back, but will not be required to play in the preceding super 14 like his other team mates. Sure he could loose his position, but special deals like this is leaving the door wide open for hungry agents to work harder for more lucrative commissions. Damn NZRU fools ! This is why they couldn’t run a real business. I am sure the current local sponsors (Murdoch) are just rapt, (not) !

I guess sabbaticals will happen, but if the player does not return and play in the Super 14, how can match ups be viewed. Then the selectors personal bias allows an overseas player to walk into the All Blacks, where as currently a one on one contest allows the not in favor player to better the in favor player, and get selected based on true performance.

 All this fuss over Nick Evans, who cares, they guy doesnt know how to pass, its all me me with him ! Far to much media hype has gone to this guys head, hell let go now !

 Other posts on the subject: Dan Carter rule, very naughty!

UPDATE1:

Source: Carter Clause sure to irritate – Wynne Gray

Where there is money, more money, different rewards and criteria, there will be some resentment. The NZRU have done well if they have been able to stitch together some deal but no matter the wording of the press release, when Carter’s sabbatical is ratified, it means they have agreed to pick All Blacks from offshore.

How many other All Blacks would like a similar break and following Carter’s exemption, will feel they deserve the same treatment?

My Comments: Confirmation, thanks Wynne!

Source: Sonny Bill could switch codes within two weeks - manager

The manager of Bulldogs player Sonny Bill Williams says the Kiwis forward could walk out on rugby league within two weeks. 

Former Australia coach Eddie Jones said Williams could earn up to $800,000 (AUD)  a year if he headed to Europe.

Jes wayne, news that Dan Carter could earn $1,400,000 NZD for 6 months work in France has the league boys seriously re-thinking rugby union.

Funny that !