However, unlike the All Blacks, they will not come under anywhere near as much scrutiny because they are not players. They are rugby journalists - so called experts in their field.
Our mainstream rugby writers help shape the opinions of a nation, but when they fail so dismally they need to be accountable.
I could go on and find a heap more media chokers, but you get the point.
OK, so there I was a green around the gills Kiwi lad in London doing the big OE while the 1999 rugby world cup was on.
The All Blacks and France were drawn to meet in a semi final match, and I was lucky (so it seemed) enough that someone at my place of work knew someone who knew someone that could get me tickets for this match.
So for 100 pounds (about $300 NZ at the time) per ticket I grabbed about 4 and was stoked. And rightly so. This was the first All Blacks game I would attend, but not only that, it was a world cup semi final and victory was guaranteed - there was no doubt who was going to win. Based on that the ticket price to see the All Blacks take France on seemed good value.
I decided to gloat in advance to my English work mates - perhaps not such a great move in hindsight.
The All Blacks France game was that weekend, and everything was set. We went to a pub near the ground first and joined what seemed like half of NZ for a pre match beer. Then off to the game, where the All Blacks had things under control.
Then France started to come back at the All Blacks . . . at first it was fine, it just seemed that France were getting a few ‘consolation’ points, and that any minute now the All Blacks would swat this annoying fly and resume normal service
I can’t remember exactly when (and I’ve never seen the match again) but that sinking feeling started. I stopped talking to my mates as the All Blacks looked to be in increasing danger. I started to think the unthinkable - that there was a chance we would not win this game.
The unthinkable soon became likely, and then proceeded to become reality. The French people in the row in front of me were having a good time.
It was a long journey home. There was a general consensus that after the loss it was better to be out of New Zealand than in it right now, based on the theory that there would be other things to think about while being overseas. This proved to be correct.
So there it was, my first test match, not a great experience but hey it’s only a game right. Right?
There was a form of redemption the following year when I saw the All Blacks beat the French in Paris.
I do remember reading about what happened to John Hart when he got back to NZ, and felt that we kinda sucked as a nation of supporters. I don’t think we are much better now.
So this weekend I’ll watch my first full match of this tournament as the All Blacks take on France again. I hope we win (that seems like such a stupid thing to say) but I, like most punters, acknowledge the fact that France can turn on a match winning performance when it’s least expected.
Ok, so I was reading the dropkicks Carl Hayman article this morning, and I suddenly realised that Hayman actually looked alarmingly familiar.
I knew I’d seen him somewhere else, but could not work out where. Then it hit me. Carl Hayman (if that’s his real name) is actually Liam Finn. Or Liam Finn is Carl Hayman.
This (crappy) piece of photoshop work proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Neil raised one hell of a kid . . .
Update: One of my spies has found this, original shot of Carl Hayman that provides further proof he is indeed Liam Finn.
A gambler has bet a whopping $5.8 million (New Zealand Dollars) on the All Blacks to win the Rugby World Cup. This amounts to $4.3 million US dollars or 2.1 million pounds.
If the All Blacks do manage to win - a feat that is far from certain, this punter will pocket a cool $8.5 million Australian!
Now lets just to put this into context - the All Blacks have been the favourite team to win the world cup in 1997, 1991, 1995 and 1999 - yet it only has a solitary world title to show. They are favourite again this year, but this is a crazy risk.
Over the years the All Blacks have been branded as chokers, as a team that peaks between world cups - but clearly this punter is unfazed - and good luck to him.
The gamblers identity and nationality have not been disclosed by betting agency betfair
Swapping your rugby jersey with an international opponent at the end of a rugby test match is a time honored tradition - it’s a sign of mutual respect for each other and a display of sportsmanship. However, as with many aspects of sporting tradition, commercialism has taken over.
How?
Well the All Blacks sponsor and global sporting kit behemoth Adidas have stipulated that the All Blacks cannotswap their jerseys with opposition teams after a rugby game - which goes against the time honored tradition
The All Blacks jumper is the most sought after jersey in rugby. For a team like Portugal, getting their hands on one is akin to striking gold - it’s a permanent reminder of the day they took on the All Blacks.
Apparently Adidas do not want to be associated with teams not sponsored by them - a stupid and greedy move. The bloke in charge of their marketing should be sacked. Adidas, clearly do not understand the power of an All Blacks jumper - and the level of ‘brand juice’ would they get from the public seeing it cherished by other teams at the rugby world cup.
The Portuguese players had oodles of media coverage even though they conceded over 100 points to the All Blacks and were ready made Adidas advertisements - and we are talking true ambassadors here, not the kind dreamt up by the Adidas marketing team.
George Gregan is out of the Rugby World Cup after being arrested by the French Police. Details are sketchy, but it seems he was not wearing a cycle helmet, which is required by French law.
My team on the ground in Paris manged to take this photo at the time of arrest.
As the title of this post suggests, we should get rid of the weak teams, such as Portugal and Japan from the rugby world cup.
Lets start with Japan who have attended all of the world cups. Their record is poor - yet we keep inviting them back.
In 1987 England beat them 60-7
In 1991 Scotland beat them 47-9
In 1995 New Zealand beat them 145-17
In 1999 Wales beat them 64-15
In 2003 France beat them 51-29
In 2007 Australia beat them 91-3
Now, before you start bleating about the need for development, stop and think a minute - then tell me how has this team developed since 1987? Have they got better? No, they keep turning up and keep getting beaten.
Next, it’s the new kids on the block - Portugal. I wrote my All Blacks Portugal match review at half time, as the only aspect of interest was the number of points we could rack up. We ended up scoring 108 points - and no, this was not a twenty20 cricket match, it was a game of rugby.
That’s all well and good, but getting slaughtered by the All Blacks will not help them develop.
So why are they here?
Is it to spread the word about rugby?
Is it so we can show happy, cheering Portuguese in the crowd?
Portugal is a proud nation, and the folks there are proud of their team, as the comments in my last post shoed, but folks lets get real - Portugal should not be participating in this world cup. I noted in my post the only benefit it will give them is an All Blacks jumper and a the experience of a lifetime - taking on the All Blacks.
The All Blacks said they would ease off pushing in the scrum if the Portuguese were in any physical danger. This article quotes Graham Henry as saying
“We’re taking this game as important for our development,” Henry said. “But at scrum time, if we’ve got dominance, and hopefully we will have, we’ll look after the opposing props. We’ve got to be sensitive there — if we have that dominance.”
For pity’s sake, when did the rugby world cup become an international man love fest?
Clearly Graham Henry and the All Blacks don’t think much of the Portugal. Portugal does not need embarrassing talk like that.
Anyway it’s not just a Portugal player that may have been injured, there is also a huge risk in the top players playing the weak teams at this tournament, and getting injured. After the All Blacks beat Portugal, fullback Mils Muliaina sustained a minor injury. Worst case scenario this match could have resulted in an All Black being injured out of the tournament - and for what - a 100 point score line?
For the All Blacks themselves, the feeble competition is doing them no favours. I posted earlier about these teams being of the reasons the All Blacks will lose this tournament. Going into a semi final, we will hardly be match hardened by Portugal and Romania.
Japan and Portugal are not the only teams that should not be here. Namibia, who got thumped by France 87-10 is one team that should be on the hit list. And Romania? Well, lets just hope that an All Black does not get injured as we try and rack up a 2nd century ;)
The IRB have are now considering a reduction in the number of teams, and quite rightly so. A 16 team world cup would be shorter and more interesting.
There would not be so many one sided matches to bore people. Of course it would also make it harder to qualify, but this is a good thing.
It will mean teams like Portugal, Japan, Romania, Namibia etc will have to fight each other harder to make it - and that my friends is how they will begin to get better.
I’m writing my match review at half time between the All Blacks and Portugal - and with the 45 points on the board so far, I may as well have written it last week.
Honestly what a waste of time it was for the All Blacks to play Portugal. I expect us to get around 90-100 points by the end of the game, but it doesn’t really matter.
This game can only harm the All Blacks and Portugal.
It will harm the All Blacks, because (just like the All Blacks v Italy game) it’s provided us pathetic, weak competition leading into the bigger games. We want to be match hardened not match softened! Hopefully we don’t sustain any injuries in this outing.
As for Portugal, this will not aid in the development as a rugby nation at all. They are better of out of this tournament and playing against teams that will won’t hammer them like the All Blacks. The only good thing they will get out of this is an All Blacks jumper at the end of the game.
