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Oh dear

New Zealand broadcaster Murray Deaker is all set to launch his new book a week after the world cup.

In fact his publishers are so prepared that they designed a cover based on the fact the All Blacks would win the world cup. Oops. Looks like someone choked again.

The book was going to be called “Henry’s All Blacks. How the 2007 Rugby World Cup was won”

Here is the pre-designed cover of Murray Deaker’s book

 
 

Any idea’s on what Murray Deaker’s book will now be called?

As we all know the All Blacks are out of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, which is causing some distress in New Zealand. But emerging from the defeat is this tattoo - the worst sports tattoo ever, which proclaims the All Blacks to be back to back winners of the Rugby World Cup 2007-2011.

Oh well it could have been worse - he could have been the sad punter that bet $5 million on the All Blacks to win.

John Drake, Greg Ford, David Leggat, Chris Rattue (huge choke) and Marc Hinton choked just as badly as the All Blacks.

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.

Time permitting I will expand on this later.

1. A question for Adidas: Is impossible still nothing?
2. Did we lose because the roar was not loud enough?
3. Will we ever see another All Blacks Album?
4. How many All Blacks flags will be flogged on auction website trademe?
5. Should George Gregan have said ‘24 more years’? Or is that being premature?

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.

Not much to say here aside from the fact it’s great to see Steve Price being selected for Ricky Stuart’s Australian side.

This despite much rumour that Ricky and Steve did not get along.

Nice one Pricey!

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.

I’ve heard of being loyal to your team, but this is down right perverse!

Austrian football/soccer ‘fans’ have set up a website and online petition to have Austria withdrawn from next years Euro 2008 football tournament because, according to one of the founders, Michael Kries “the way Austria is playing is an insult to our, to every fan’s aesthetic understanding of the game.”

They are doing this even though Austria are co-hostng the tournament.

You can get a t shirt to show your (lack of?) support.

OK, so either these guys are deadly serious (4000 people have signed the petition) or this is link bait designed to sell crappy t shirts.

Let me know if you are gonna sign!

At the moment, if you want to Digg an article about cricket you have to select the ‘other sports’ category.

I realise that not all sports can have their own category - but cricket is big - really big. There are millions upon millions of supporters and fans all over the world.

Just witness the number of articles about the twenty20 world cup in the Digg ‘other sports‘ right now and you’ll see there are many articles about cricket.

So lets organise all this information properly and give cricket it’s rightful category. India, which is now the most powerful nation in cricket has millions of web surfers - many of whom use social media sites such as Digg.

I think it’s time Digg shows some sense and gives cricket (quite possibly the greatest sport of all) it’s own category.

Let me know if you think Digg should add Cricket as a category.

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