Ok so I lied and I didn't highlight the players that could be vying for positions within the All Black backs and well to be completely honest I wont - but hey you get that on the big jobs dont you? (And well whats a bigger job than being a mother lmao)
I am still desperately scrambling to get everything done so this week my entry will be the people I would either expect to see in the All Blacks or those who I would like to see.
(1) - Tighthead prop: Tony Woodcock
(2) - Hooker: Keven Mealamu
(3) - Loosehead prop: Neemia Tialata
(4) - Lock: Ali Williams
(5) - Lock: Brad Thorn
(6) - Blindside: Jerry Collins (vc)
(7) - Openside: Ritchie McCaw (c)
(8) - No. 8: Jerome Kaino
(9) - Halfback: Piri Weepu
(10) - First-five: Dan Carter
(11) - Wing: Lelia Masanga
(12) - Second-five: Stephen Brett
(13) - Centre: Anthony Tuitavake
(14) - Wing: Sitiveni Sivivatu
(15) - Fullback: Mils Miliaina
Reserves
John Afoa, Andrew Hore, Jason Eaton, Liam Messam, Andy Ellis, Nick Evans, Hosea Gear.
I have already admitted that there are players in my line up that in all reality I do not expect to see when Ted and the rest of selectors announce the first All Black team of 2008 but for me they are the players that have shown enough promise to be marked as the ones to watch in the future. As for Nick Evans, I know that he is leaving at the end of the NPC season, and I almost included Stephen Donald (as he has played well enough this season to warrant selection) instead of Evans but that would leave a gap exposed as Donald does not play fullback. And as previously said Rugby is like chess in that it is all about strategy. So you must ensure that all or your bases are covered from any attacks that you can reasonably predict. The prudent option would be Evans.
So there you have it, if I was selector that would be my team. However I fully expect many hours of debates with the Engineer and therefore I could possibly change my team by the time Ted announces his. And if you dont agree then too bad that is why it is my blog, a place I get to rant - even if I am the only person that gets it :).
All blacks
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Exodus
Ok so its already Saturday afternoon and yet again I have failed to write my blog entry before this weekend’s super 14 games kicked off. It would seem as this year gathers impetus so does our workload and between motherhood and being a student I am finding it more and more difficult to find the time sit down and write purely for my enjoyment. I love learning how to write in the disciplined nature of journalism but I also crave the freedom blog writing offers - it certainly feels liberating to shake off the academic mantel and just spiel. All too often, however, I feel I am playing catch up trying to find the time to write an entry before the weekend starts and then before I know it’s Friday and the7.35pm kick off is almost upon us. So my humblest of apologies for the delay in posts but I am sure that you will all understand.
This week Nick Evans announced that he has signed with the English rugby side, Harlequins and will be leaving at the end of this year’s NPC season. Yet another rugby player selling his soul to the British for cash and so continues the mass exodus of our country’s players. The modern day equivalent of British colonisation within New Zealand. Nah :), but in all seriousness - good on him, he has made the decision knowing that Dan Carter could also be leaving at the end of this year, and has been clear to say that in all likelihood he will not be back to play for the All Blacks in 2011. I respect that and if Evans feels that is he is coming to what I call his years of ’rugby maturity’ and wants to secure financial stability then his future definitely lies overseas where the physical demands on him will be less. I can only wish him all the best because in all reality there is a very good chance that even if Evans did stay and Carter left Evans may still not be the All Black first five at the next world cup, or for that matter he may even fail to still be in the All Blacks. As Rugby becomes a more credible career choice there are so many young and promising players coming through and many of them are fitter and more eager to prove themselves than the latest fringe players or sometimes even the incumbents. And any young player with a viable chance of making the All Black will not be going anywhere, not for a very long time.
And for Evans and many other older players it is also the fact that injuries have taken their toll and while the mind will always be willing it is feared that the bodies would slowly start to crumble beneath the intense pressure of southern hemisphere rugby.
However, even though Evans is going overseas it does not necessarily endow the media’s obvious assumptions, especially those concerning Carter, with any more credibility than was already deserved (and that is nothing), nor does it exonerate the media for perpetuating these assumptions as the inevitable. It merely suggests that an All Black’s career needn’t be over as soon as he knows that his body will no longer take the strain of what is now a very intense competition.
And anyway I believe that Evan’s admittance to his British contract signings could be an indication that Carter may very well hope to stay here in NZ. I mean Carter has not made a decision and that has been clear with his refusal to comment on where his future might lay. Money is a tempting thing, and especially the large amounts that Toulon is offering Carter. And only God and Carter will know just how many more offers there are but I seriously pray that Carter will know that he has yet to reach his greatest moment and that in order to fulfil the promise that his talent alludes to he needs to stay in this country and be the best of the best.
Because we are not only one of the best but a leader in the sport. And it is simply because we have so many players that are so good at what they do. They play with such a raw excitement factor and a level of skill and mental understanding that drives others to be better and more exciting themselves. In recent years our players and coaches' innovation have seen the New Zealand style dictate how many other countries see the game. And even though the French are proponents of the expansive game and it was them that ended our world cup dream last year, they are still a rung or two behind the All Blacks. And so the French media claiming that Carter has a verbal agreement with Toulon may not be telling the full story. It is my guess that Carter has made the condition that Toulon would need to make it into the French top 14 competition before he would even consider seriously looking at the offer. I am willing to put it out there and state that I fully expect to see Carter in the number ten jersey next year, the year after and leading in to the world cup.
But back to the real world...
So now this week is where things get interesting, only one more week of round robin games and we are into the finals of the Super 14 and it is certainly possible for any of several teams to make the top four teams. Money has to be on the Crusaders to take out the competition for a seventh time but as yet no team, including the Crusaders, has stood up and declared themselves as the outright team to beat. The Hurricanes made a good push for the finals after almost annihilating John Mitchell’s Force team in Wellington last night. And if the Chiefs can win convincingly over the Lions, and they have every chance of doing so and hopefully with a bonus point, then they have a good possibility of going all the way. Especially if the Waratahs can get one over the Stormers in Cape town tomorrow morning. Which will set up a very interesting week next weekend for the Blues (providing they can win against the Highlanders with a bonus point) and the Hurricanes. If any team can do a Houdini though and conjure themselves into the top four for the semi finals then it is the Blues. I am a Hurricanes fan myself, but I must say that more than likely the game will see the Blues the victors on Eden park next Friday night.
It will also give the All Black’s selectors a look at what has been the most dominant front row of the competition and the player that is meant to be the solution for the loss of Carl Hayman. Interesting times!
And what’s more is the first test is now less than month away and well following last year’s world cup debacle and Graham Henry’s subsequent re-appointment several positions within the All Black team are well and truly up for grabs:
Props and hooker: The Blues front row have gone well this year and I definitely expect to see Tony Woodcock in the line up, despite the fact that the Aussies claim “he is a myth”. And if John Afoa can have a solid game against the man who is meant to be our new anchor, Neemia Tialata (heres hoping the judiciary doesn’t ruin the party though) next week then he could have a chance of getting the reserve propping duties. However in order to do that he would need to nudge out the ever constant Greg Sommerville. At hooker it would seem Hore is determined to step up and prove that he deserved to play at the world cup instead of the consistent Mealamu. Both men, I think, should deserve a black jersey in June perhaps pushing out Corey Flynn and the unfortunate Tom Willis.
Locks: A couple of years ago it was a case of whether Ali Williams had the necessary nouse and acumen to ever be the senior lock, but now he is simply going from strength to strength and it shall be an interesting battle between him and the big burly South African enforcer, Barkies Botha. The real question is - who are the selectors going to team up with Willliams? I am hoping for a bit of bolter in the chiefs lock, Toby Lynn but many others are pushing for the bruising Brad Thorn. The thing is though Thorn is simply another Reuben Thorne, while he is strong in the tight he is not seen running the ball often enough for me and with that bulk you would still want to maintain mobility and athletic ability and if Ted and the rest of the selectors insist on carrying on with Jerry Collins and Rodney So’oialo then they will need a lock that is both traditional and a runner of the ball. I think that Lynn could offer this.
It is also interesting to note that Jason Eaton may be a little like Solomon and might have lost his strength with his hair as he has failed to show the form that saw him a world cup definite before injuring his knee in last year's Super 14. Against the Force it seemed to me that Eaton was invisible and the young Jeremy Thrush easily outshone. Personally I think that he may have played himself out of the other starting lock position and he will need a superb game next week and then again in the finals to even have a chance. The Engineer, however, thinks that he is stepping into a more senior role for the Hurricanes and perhaps he may doing a lot more tight stuff but in my opinion he is playing Super 14 and the step up to test level will be a giant one this year, and if he is failing to shine in Super 14 then perhaps he will struggle to do so for the All Blacks. And being an All Black means that you must shine when it is the big time, that is why they get huge offers from oversea's clubs. Also a notable mention would have to be Ross Filipo of the Crusaders - strong, consistent and always solid - and although I do not think that he will make it I wouldn't rule him out completely, nor would I necessarily rule out Troy Flavell.
Blindside and No. 8: Jerry Collins is another All Black incumbent at the centre of contract rumours and he is being his ever non-communicative self and neither answering nor denying the media claims that he is wanting out of his NZRFU contract early. After reading a New Zealand Rugby Magazine article on Collins a year or two ago I understand that he is a man of his word, however after being tagged with the bad boy image and the disappoint of losing two world cups there is a possibility that Collins may be considering offers from foreign rugby clubs. Somehow I think the chance to prove that he is in fact the best will be a huge driving force behind his eventual decision. But perhaps the selectors may think that Jerry is old news and go with the youth which means it could well be that Keiran Reid may have a look in, especially seen as though he is the rookie of the year despite the fact that the Engineer thinks that he just isn’t ‘animal’ enough to be an All Black. Personally I would like to see Liam Messam get a chance.
Number eight is a strange old position and even though Rodney So’oialo has been there for a few seasons now he has never managed to cement himself, so it might be time to look around for fresh talent. Chris Masoe proved that he could not adapt to the important role and the technical part of the position was beyond Sione Lauaki so maybe Mosese Tuali’i shoud be given a shot but definitely keep an eye on Victor Vito for the future.
Halfback: It would seem that Piri Weepu is pissed about being dropped last year just before the world cup (no great suprise though is it?)and has a point to prove. Last night Weepu proved that he was a class act, outplaying even the rather impressive Matt 'five million dollar' Giteau of the Force. He shall be a definite provided Ted can admit he was wrong last year and took the wrong halfback. The other All Black halfback will be of course be Andy Ellis. I am rather disappointed but Brendon Leonard showed this season that he isn't of the same calibre as Weepu and Ellis even before he was injured. Another option is always the Highlanders halfback, Jimmy Cowan. And lets not forget the rumours that Justin Marshall may have said that he would like to return to play for the All Blacks - talk about a twilight zone, the young promising players leaving and being replaced by has-beens. I should think that it is just a bit of a laugh, because unfortunately NZ rugby has moved on and I should think that there is no longer a need for Marshall. ANd that there highlights the danger of going overseas, just because you think you can go overseas and return at a 'better time' does not mean that NZ rugby and player will not develope and evolve faster than you.
Next week I will have a run down of the backline positions up for grabs and the potential candidates. Until then, c'mon on the Chiefs!!!
This week Nick Evans announced that he has signed with the English rugby side, Harlequins and will be leaving at the end of this year’s NPC season. Yet another rugby player selling his soul to the British for cash and so continues the mass exodus of our country’s players. The modern day equivalent of British colonisation within New Zealand. Nah :), but in all seriousness - good on him, he has made the decision knowing that Dan Carter could also be leaving at the end of this year, and has been clear to say that in all likelihood he will not be back to play for the All Blacks in 2011. I respect that and if Evans feels that is he is coming to what I call his years of ’rugby maturity’ and wants to secure financial stability then his future definitely lies overseas where the physical demands on him will be less. I can only wish him all the best because in all reality there is a very good chance that even if Evans did stay and Carter left Evans may still not be the All Black first five at the next world cup, or for that matter he may even fail to still be in the All Blacks. As Rugby becomes a more credible career choice there are so many young and promising players coming through and many of them are fitter and more eager to prove themselves than the latest fringe players or sometimes even the incumbents. And any young player with a viable chance of making the All Black will not be going anywhere, not for a very long time.
And for Evans and many other older players it is also the fact that injuries have taken their toll and while the mind will always be willing it is feared that the bodies would slowly start to crumble beneath the intense pressure of southern hemisphere rugby.
However, even though Evans is going overseas it does not necessarily endow the media’s obvious assumptions, especially those concerning Carter, with any more credibility than was already deserved (and that is nothing), nor does it exonerate the media for perpetuating these assumptions as the inevitable. It merely suggests that an All Black’s career needn’t be over as soon as he knows that his body will no longer take the strain of what is now a very intense competition.
And anyway I believe that Evan’s admittance to his British contract signings could be an indication that Carter may very well hope to stay here in NZ. I mean Carter has not made a decision and that has been clear with his refusal to comment on where his future might lay. Money is a tempting thing, and especially the large amounts that Toulon is offering Carter. And only God and Carter will know just how many more offers there are but I seriously pray that Carter will know that he has yet to reach his greatest moment and that in order to fulfil the promise that his talent alludes to he needs to stay in this country and be the best of the best.
Because we are not only one of the best but a leader in the sport. And it is simply because we have so many players that are so good at what they do. They play with such a raw excitement factor and a level of skill and mental understanding that drives others to be better and more exciting themselves. In recent years our players and coaches' innovation have seen the New Zealand style dictate how many other countries see the game. And even though the French are proponents of the expansive game and it was them that ended our world cup dream last year, they are still a rung or two behind the All Blacks. And so the French media claiming that Carter has a verbal agreement with Toulon may not be telling the full story. It is my guess that Carter has made the condition that Toulon would need to make it into the French top 14 competition before he would even consider seriously looking at the offer. I am willing to put it out there and state that I fully expect to see Carter in the number ten jersey next year, the year after and leading in to the world cup.
But back to the real world...
So now this week is where things get interesting, only one more week of round robin games and we are into the finals of the Super 14 and it is certainly possible for any of several teams to make the top four teams. Money has to be on the Crusaders to take out the competition for a seventh time but as yet no team, including the Crusaders, has stood up and declared themselves as the outright team to beat. The Hurricanes made a good push for the finals after almost annihilating John Mitchell’s Force team in Wellington last night. And if the Chiefs can win convincingly over the Lions, and they have every chance of doing so and hopefully with a bonus point, then they have a good possibility of going all the way. Especially if the Waratahs can get one over the Stormers in Cape town tomorrow morning. Which will set up a very interesting week next weekend for the Blues (providing they can win against the Highlanders with a bonus point) and the Hurricanes. If any team can do a Houdini though and conjure themselves into the top four for the semi finals then it is the Blues. I am a Hurricanes fan myself, but I must say that more than likely the game will see the Blues the victors on Eden park next Friday night.
It will also give the All Black’s selectors a look at what has been the most dominant front row of the competition and the player that is meant to be the solution for the loss of Carl Hayman. Interesting times!
And what’s more is the first test is now less than month away and well following last year’s world cup debacle and Graham Henry’s subsequent re-appointment several positions within the All Black team are well and truly up for grabs:
Props and hooker: The Blues front row have gone well this year and I definitely expect to see Tony Woodcock in the line up, despite the fact that the Aussies claim “he is a myth”. And if John Afoa can have a solid game against the man who is meant to be our new anchor, Neemia Tialata (heres hoping the judiciary doesn’t ruin the party though) next week then he could have a chance of getting the reserve propping duties. However in order to do that he would need to nudge out the ever constant Greg Sommerville. At hooker it would seem Hore is determined to step up and prove that he deserved to play at the world cup instead of the consistent Mealamu. Both men, I think, should deserve a black jersey in June perhaps pushing out Corey Flynn and the unfortunate Tom Willis.
Locks: A couple of years ago it was a case of whether Ali Williams had the necessary nouse and acumen to ever be the senior lock, but now he is simply going from strength to strength and it shall be an interesting battle between him and the big burly South African enforcer, Barkies Botha. The real question is - who are the selectors going to team up with Willliams? I am hoping for a bit of bolter in the chiefs lock, Toby Lynn but many others are pushing for the bruising Brad Thorn. The thing is though Thorn is simply another Reuben Thorne, while he is strong in the tight he is not seen running the ball often enough for me and with that bulk you would still want to maintain mobility and athletic ability and if Ted and the rest of the selectors insist on carrying on with Jerry Collins and Rodney So’oialo then they will need a lock that is both traditional and a runner of the ball. I think that Lynn could offer this.
It is also interesting to note that Jason Eaton may be a little like Solomon and might have lost his strength with his hair as he has failed to show the form that saw him a world cup definite before injuring his knee in last year's Super 14. Against the Force it seemed to me that Eaton was invisible and the young Jeremy Thrush easily outshone. Personally I think that he may have played himself out of the other starting lock position and he will need a superb game next week and then again in the finals to even have a chance. The Engineer, however, thinks that he is stepping into a more senior role for the Hurricanes and perhaps he may doing a lot more tight stuff but in my opinion he is playing Super 14 and the step up to test level will be a giant one this year, and if he is failing to shine in Super 14 then perhaps he will struggle to do so for the All Blacks. And being an All Black means that you must shine when it is the big time, that is why they get huge offers from oversea's clubs. Also a notable mention would have to be Ross Filipo of the Crusaders - strong, consistent and always solid - and although I do not think that he will make it I wouldn't rule him out completely, nor would I necessarily rule out Troy Flavell.
Blindside and No. 8: Jerry Collins is another All Black incumbent at the centre of contract rumours and he is being his ever non-communicative self and neither answering nor denying the media claims that he is wanting out of his NZRFU contract early. After reading a New Zealand Rugby Magazine article on Collins a year or two ago I understand that he is a man of his word, however after being tagged with the bad boy image and the disappoint of losing two world cups there is a possibility that Collins may be considering offers from foreign rugby clubs. Somehow I think the chance to prove that he is in fact the best will be a huge driving force behind his eventual decision. But perhaps the selectors may think that Jerry is old news and go with the youth which means it could well be that Keiran Reid may have a look in, especially seen as though he is the rookie of the year despite the fact that the Engineer thinks that he just isn’t ‘animal’ enough to be an All Black. Personally I would like to see Liam Messam get a chance.
Number eight is a strange old position and even though Rodney So’oialo has been there for a few seasons now he has never managed to cement himself, so it might be time to look around for fresh talent. Chris Masoe proved that he could not adapt to the important role and the technical part of the position was beyond Sione Lauaki so maybe Mosese Tuali’i shoud be given a shot but definitely keep an eye on Victor Vito for the future.
Halfback: It would seem that Piri Weepu is pissed about being dropped last year just before the world cup (no great suprise though is it?)and has a point to prove. Last night Weepu proved that he was a class act, outplaying even the rather impressive Matt 'five million dollar' Giteau of the Force. He shall be a definite provided Ted can admit he was wrong last year and took the wrong halfback. The other All Black halfback will be of course be Andy Ellis. I am rather disappointed but Brendon Leonard showed this season that he isn't of the same calibre as Weepu and Ellis even before he was injured. Another option is always the Highlanders halfback, Jimmy Cowan. And lets not forget the rumours that Justin Marshall may have said that he would like to return to play for the All Blacks - talk about a twilight zone, the young promising players leaving and being replaced by has-beens. I should think that it is just a bit of a laugh, because unfortunately NZ rugby has moved on and I should think that there is no longer a need for Marshall. ANd that there highlights the danger of going overseas, just because you think you can go overseas and return at a 'better time' does not mean that NZ rugby and player will not develope and evolve faster than you.
Next week I will have a run down of the backline positions up for grabs and the potential candidates. Until then, c'mon on the Chiefs!!!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Good men, great men and a bunch of cliches
I have just returned from a holiday in the beautiful Bay of Plenty and I have to say that although I love returning home and feeling the fresh breeze as it whips up off the Pacific ocean I am somewhat glad to be back in the damp and misty Waikato. It has definitely been good to get back to life in a city and more importantly good city coffee.
Don’t get me wrong I love spending time with my family and I feel incredibly refreshed after a very relaxing week spent in the smooth tidal ebb of Whakatane but I have found that this level of ease is not so great for cultivating writing. Ashamedly I must admit that although I did try to write a blog entry for last week I was not disciplined enough to sit down and finish writing my entry. While partaking in the decidedly average coffee sold in the Whakatane’s small town cafes I did, however, do a lot of thinking and I have come to the realisation that despite our friendly image we here in God’s own can be incredibly judgmental when we choose to be. Especially when we have put a person up on a pedestal and then that person fails to meet our expectations.
As the Engineer and I sat in a little retro café in the centre of the Whakatane township, struggling to entertain a toddler while trying to grab a semi-descent (kinda) cup of coffee, we got talking. We spoke of the obvious over development in our beloved Whakatane, the success of the Hamilton 400 and eventually because of the Chiefs surprise victory over the Crusaders we got talking about rugby. Almost immediately we were speaking of Ritchie McCaw and the issue of the media’s recent attack on his captaincy.
I must admit that leading into the world cup last year I had serious doubts about whether McCaw had the necessary communication skills to be All Black captain. And the game against the French seemed to prove the fact that McCaw struggled with re-grouping and guiding his men, and when the team needed someone to keep a clear head and make good decisions McCaw was noticeably absent. But McCaw showed that he has realised that he needed to work on this and he stood up and answered his critics when the Crusaders played the Blues last week. McCaw was commanding, decisive and he excuded control over his men. It was good to see, and what’s more it has been good for the media to see.
The media were like a pack of angry wolves thirsty for blood and when they sensed that there may have been a weakness they attacked en masse. They were vicious, blind and almost unfair. One bad game does not mean that your career is over, just like one good game does not make you an All Black and being a great captain is something you work at. What do they want, for McCaw to lose the captaincy? Then who becomes captain, and more importantly what happens to McCaw? Openside is a position that you need to be confident in yourself and your abilities, things happen there in a split second and you cannot take a moment to doubt yourself - it is all of nothing. And do we really want to ruin McCaw because essentially he isn't ready to be a great captain. Leaders are made they not born and like the old cliché says: all good things take time.
The media’s attack got me thinking though, about how we are so quick to rubbish someone when we think that they have let us down, and then when they are down we put the boot in. McCaw is obviously a man of integrity, he plays with his heart and soul and it is plain to see that his team-mates, coaches and opponents all respect him, so why cant we? Because if he is a man with integrity doesn't this make him one of the good ones? God knows good men are hard to find, and good men have the potential to become great men. Because when a great man falls it is impossible to replace them.
Sir Edmund Hillary was our greatest New Zealander. We admired him, loved him and will forever mourn him. It wasn’t just that Sir Ed was the first to climb the world’s highest mountain, but that he took all that life gave him with honour and dignity. Sir Ed represented everything that was good and true in humanity and did so with a gentleman’s integrity.
And for us in this age of supposed sophistication, integrity is a valuable commodity because genuine integrity is so rare that it is almost impossible to know. It is the ability to remain genuine despite the constant stimulation of life’s shiny baubles. We respect those who endeavour to stay honest but we almost always doubt whether everything they tell us is true. Because we know ourselves and we know that although most of the time we are trying desperately to be honest and truthful all too often we feel the need to weave personal fairytales to appease the inner guilt gnawing in the pits of our stomachs. We smooth over the sharp edges with glossy half-truths to hide the fact we ourselves are often severely lacking in what is one of the most important of human values. Integrity, it is about being honest and genuine. How many of us can say that we are people of integrity because just like being a good captain learning how to be truly honest takes time and mistakes. We will never learn from always being right, and we will never learn how to be genuine until we have truly been humbled.
Game of the week: It has to be the bolters, the Chiefs. Unfortunately it is the start of their travelling this week. The first stop is to Perth on saturday night to play the Force and if they can manage to get up over John Mitchell's side, the former Waikato coach and a true blue Hamiltonian, it will boost their confidence ahead of the 2 weeks in South Africa. It is always difficult to take points off the South African teams at home and good start in Aussie is key.
Brendon Leonard is out with injury and is being left at home, however personally I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing he has being playing averagely lately and I think that most of the Super 14 players are on to him now. He had the unknown factor when he burst onto the scene last year and now he has been worked out. I have also been rather disappointed by his lacklustre attitude on the field. Against the Crusaders he was very ho-hum and lacked the drive that all the other players seemed to have. I am confident that Jamie Nutbrown will do a good job. Also Sione Lauaki is playing his 50th game for the Chiefs, so that will be a great motivator. But the Force will not be a push over, they have been the Aussie performer this year and Mitchell will want bragging rights over his old province.
If the Chiefs wernt the Cinderella-story of the competition the game of the week would have been the Crusaders vs Sharks in Christchurch on Friday night. The two top teams head to head. Should be a good battle and maybe a look at what will be the final. Look for the Crusaders to dominate possession and play long phases.
Rule of the week: Give yourself a break, you have to start somewhere. The game is started by a place kick or a drop kick from the halfway line. If a try, penalty kick or drop goal is scored during the game, play will be restarted with a drop kick from the halfway line by the team that has just conceded the points.
Don’t get me wrong I love spending time with my family and I feel incredibly refreshed after a very relaxing week spent in the smooth tidal ebb of Whakatane but I have found that this level of ease is not so great for cultivating writing. Ashamedly I must admit that although I did try to write a blog entry for last week I was not disciplined enough to sit down and finish writing my entry. While partaking in the decidedly average coffee sold in the Whakatane’s small town cafes I did, however, do a lot of thinking and I have come to the realisation that despite our friendly image we here in God’s own can be incredibly judgmental when we choose to be. Especially when we have put a person up on a pedestal and then that person fails to meet our expectations.
As the Engineer and I sat in a little retro café in the centre of the Whakatane township, struggling to entertain a toddler while trying to grab a semi-descent (kinda) cup of coffee, we got talking. We spoke of the obvious over development in our beloved Whakatane, the success of the Hamilton 400 and eventually because of the Chiefs surprise victory over the Crusaders we got talking about rugby. Almost immediately we were speaking of Ritchie McCaw and the issue of the media’s recent attack on his captaincy.
I must admit that leading into the world cup last year I had serious doubts about whether McCaw had the necessary communication skills to be All Black captain. And the game against the French seemed to prove the fact that McCaw struggled with re-grouping and guiding his men, and when the team needed someone to keep a clear head and make good decisions McCaw was noticeably absent. But McCaw showed that he has realised that he needed to work on this and he stood up and answered his critics when the Crusaders played the Blues last week. McCaw was commanding, decisive and he excuded control over his men. It was good to see, and what’s more it has been good for the media to see.
The media were like a pack of angry wolves thirsty for blood and when they sensed that there may have been a weakness they attacked en masse. They were vicious, blind and almost unfair. One bad game does not mean that your career is over, just like one good game does not make you an All Black and being a great captain is something you work at. What do they want, for McCaw to lose the captaincy? Then who becomes captain, and more importantly what happens to McCaw? Openside is a position that you need to be confident in yourself and your abilities, things happen there in a split second and you cannot take a moment to doubt yourself - it is all of nothing. And do we really want to ruin McCaw because essentially he isn't ready to be a great captain. Leaders are made they not born and like the old cliché says: all good things take time.
The media’s attack got me thinking though, about how we are so quick to rubbish someone when we think that they have let us down, and then when they are down we put the boot in. McCaw is obviously a man of integrity, he plays with his heart and soul and it is plain to see that his team-mates, coaches and opponents all respect him, so why cant we? Because if he is a man with integrity doesn't this make him one of the good ones? God knows good men are hard to find, and good men have the potential to become great men. Because when a great man falls it is impossible to replace them.
Sir Edmund Hillary was our greatest New Zealander. We admired him, loved him and will forever mourn him. It wasn’t just that Sir Ed was the first to climb the world’s highest mountain, but that he took all that life gave him with honour and dignity. Sir Ed represented everything that was good and true in humanity and did so with a gentleman’s integrity.
And for us in this age of supposed sophistication, integrity is a valuable commodity because genuine integrity is so rare that it is almost impossible to know. It is the ability to remain genuine despite the constant stimulation of life’s shiny baubles. We respect those who endeavour to stay honest but we almost always doubt whether everything they tell us is true. Because we know ourselves and we know that although most of the time we are trying desperately to be honest and truthful all too often we feel the need to weave personal fairytales to appease the inner guilt gnawing in the pits of our stomachs. We smooth over the sharp edges with glossy half-truths to hide the fact we ourselves are often severely lacking in what is one of the most important of human values. Integrity, it is about being honest and genuine. How many of us can say that we are people of integrity because just like being a good captain learning how to be truly honest takes time and mistakes. We will never learn from always being right, and we will never learn how to be genuine until we have truly been humbled.
Game of the week: It has to be the bolters, the Chiefs. Unfortunately it is the start of their travelling this week. The first stop is to Perth on saturday night to play the Force and if they can manage to get up over John Mitchell's side, the former Waikato coach and a true blue Hamiltonian, it will boost their confidence ahead of the 2 weeks in South Africa. It is always difficult to take points off the South African teams at home and good start in Aussie is key.
Brendon Leonard is out with injury and is being left at home, however personally I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing he has being playing averagely lately and I think that most of the Super 14 players are on to him now. He had the unknown factor when he burst onto the scene last year and now he has been worked out. I have also been rather disappointed by his lacklustre attitude on the field. Against the Crusaders he was very ho-hum and lacked the drive that all the other players seemed to have. I am confident that Jamie Nutbrown will do a good job. Also Sione Lauaki is playing his 50th game for the Chiefs, so that will be a great motivator. But the Force will not be a push over, they have been the Aussie performer this year and Mitchell will want bragging rights over his old province.
If the Chiefs wernt the Cinderella-story of the competition the game of the week would have been the Crusaders vs Sharks in Christchurch on Friday night. The two top teams head to head. Should be a good battle and maybe a look at what will be the final. Look for the Crusaders to dominate possession and play long phases.
Rule of the week: Give yourself a break, you have to start somewhere. The game is started by a place kick or a drop kick from the halfway line. If a try, penalty kick or drop goal is scored during the game, play will be restarted with a drop kick from the halfway line by the team that has just conceded the points.
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