Sonny Bill Williams lucky...

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Sonny Bill Williams lucky...


Sonny Bill Williams has emerged as one of the lucky survivors in yesterday's destructive 6.3 earthquake. The All Blacks star was relaxing in a pool when the quake hit the greater Christchurch area.

"It was a pretty crazy afternoon," Williams said. "I was at the pool and it came from nowhere. It was unexpected, especially as everyone was just starting to get settled after the last earthquake".

Williams and the friend he was with left the pool immediately and made their way to the streets only to find Christchurch in a state of chaos.

"Going through the city and seeing the destruction it was a lot worse that the last earthquake," he said. "We started walking and it was crazy. There were fires and it looked like there were people trapped. The worst thing about it was you just felt helpless."

The Canterbury representative confirmed that his own family was safe, but seeing the devastation firsthand has hit home.

"It really puts things in perspective. The thing that we do [rugby] is just a game and there’s more to life. This is something I’ll never forget."

Call 0800 RED CROSS (0800 733 276) to find out whereabouts of friends and famil

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Richie's the best - but it means nothing according to Phil Gifford...

Image via Wikipedia Richie's the best but it means nothing...


OPINION: Returned and refreshed, let's look at some burning issues.



How good have the All Blacks been this year? For mine, the fact they've not only won everything, but played with such breathtaking flair, means they match the benchmark set way back in 1967, when Fred Allen coached a team that not only swept through Britain unbeaten, but also showed you could win by running the ball. In other words, the class of 2010 is as good as we've seen in the last 50 years.



How good is Richie McCaw? Not just as good as All Black flankers of the past 50 years, as good as any All Black of the past 50 years.



Does that mean we'll bolt the Rugby World Cup? Bitter experience says no. Sudden death games are never a certainty. But wouldn't you rather start from the level we're on now than several steps below?



So who might tip us over next year? Australia, because their team is even younger than ours, and they've embraced the potential offered by the change in ruling the tackled ball area. South Africa, if they get to grips with playing like the Bulls and using the ball. And, of course, France, because they're France, and it's what they do.



What about England? They're dreaming.



PICK AND MIX



The Last task of the year for the All Black selectors, choosing the team to tour Britain, looked a breeze until the Sydney test. Now it offers some fascinating challenges.



Take it as read that the 10 players the selectors have limited to no play in the ITM Cup will be going. Add Keven Mealamu (if he's fit), Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Tony Woodcock, the Franks brothers, Jimmy Cowan, and Israel Dagg.



As a service to amateur selectors, here's the roughest of guides to the prospects for other contenders.



Sonny Bill Williams (90%). Barring a catastrophic loss of form in the ITM Cup, this tour is the only chance they'll have to really see how he fits into the team environment. If it doesn't work, better to have taken the chance now than discover at the world cup that there's a problem.



Aaron Cruden (60%). His starting debut was shaky. The question is whether his strength of character persuades the wise men he can learn and improve.



Colin Slade (40%). Neck and neck with Cruden. His goal kicking might be a clincher.



Benson Stanley (50%). He could suffer from the Sonny Bill experiment. In a year when the coaches got almost everything spot on, what happened to Stanley was a small, but spooky, reminder of the belief Henry and Co seem to have that players are better off training with the All Blacks than getting regular footy. Insisting he stay on in the All Black camp, and not get game time for Auckland, hasn't been a help to Stanley, just as the same tactic didn't help anyone in 2007.


 Rene Ranger (80%). Tough minded, versatile, he should get the benefit of selectors who are daring enough to accommodate players whose style falls outside the square.



Victor Vito (50%). Until his catastrophic defensive error against the Wallabies, he'd have been a 100 percenter. His physical gifts are huge, but whether he reads the game well enough at test level is now a burning question.



Joe Rokocoko (50%). James and Dagg, both basically brilliantly gifted fullbacks, will be perfect wings to play in Britain, where it's likely their opponents will still be kicking and chasing. If Sitiveni Sivivatu is available again he's guaranteed, and then it gets really tight for Rokocoko. His place could depend on whether Mils Muliaina is the only fullback picked.



Corey Flynn (50%). His prospects will depend on Andrew Hore making it back from injury, and whether, if Hore is fit, the selectors trust John Afoa to be a back-up hooker.



A bolter? Robbie Fruean. Physically he makes Sonny Bill look almost delicate, and he's quick too. If he continues to improve, he may not make this tour, but he'd be hard to keep out of the world cup squad.



FORWARD BATTLE



Tradition gets turned on its head this Thursday night when Auckland challenge Southland for the Ranfurly Shield.



In the past you could write the script with cliches. Hard as nails swede bashers in the maroon jerseys, with backs who just filled out the numbers in the programme. Nancy boyish forwards in blue and white, with flashy backs.



In 2010 rip up the pages and set a match to them. Auckland now, as demonstrated so dramatically against Manawatu, have a forward pack that eats barbed wire at halftime.



Lovers of watching big tough men smash the tripe out of each shouldn't miss the game on Thursday. As just one example, the first time Jason Rutledge and Charlie Faumuina smash into each other should be a great test of whether human bodies alone can produce nuclear fission. With the passion Southland bring to defending the shield expect a potent throwback to the days of titanic forward battles.



SBW WATCH



The Sonny Bill watch continues to be a fascinating exercise.



Taranaki, a team using 125 years of history as inspiration, were terrific in beating Canterbury and it was Williams' misfortune to be the fallguy in two Taranaki tries, when, after running his heart out in defence trying to cover other people's errors, he found himself out of options.



His game remains the antithesis of showboating, and there are some big chapters in this story still to come.



Talking of talent, first-five Beauden Barrett was being talked bout in hushed tones in New Plymouth back in June when the All Black test was there.



Now we all see why. Still a schoolkid last year, and turning 19 just four months ago, it's too soon to go crazy about his prospects, but he has the breeding (father Kevin played 169 games for Taranaki), the class, and the speed (he's played sevens for New Zealand) to continue to make a big impression

Acknowledgements: Phil Gifford

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The All Blacks flawless 2010 Tri-Nations Competition

The All Blacks flawless 2010 Tri-Nations competition...

View the slideshow: http://sport.msn.co.nz/allblacks/119418/all-blacks-flawless-in-2010-tri-nations.slideshow

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Late try give All Blacks a dramatic win over Springboks...

 


Late tries give All Blacks dramatic Test win over Springboks...



All Blacks captain Richie McCaw sparked a stunning revival which saw his side claim a victory over South Africa in the last minute of play with two tries in the last three minutes for a 29-22 win at the National Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday (NZT).







Down 17-22 with three minutes left, McCaw was on the right flank on his own when receiving the ball with three defenders coming across. He was confident he had grounded the ball but television evidence was needed to see if his foot had been in touch. The evidence was inconclusive and the try was awarded.



First five-eighths Dan Carter was unable to add the conversion but from the re-start the Springboks looked to get into position to attempt a dropped goal, but the ball was turned over and when second five-eighths Ma'a Nonu executed a superb midfield break he set up the chance for a win.



He weighted a perfect, long pass across to replacement wing Israel Dagg and he raced away to score the match, and championship, winner.



New Zealand was able to claim its 10th Investec Tri Nations title and extend its run of winning Tests to 14.



It was a case of All Blacks stamina carrying the day after a final quarter of attack after attack. It was a nervous time and both first five-eighths, Dan Carter for New Zealand and Morne Steyn for South Africa, were guilty of making uncharacteristic mistakes, Carter dropping a catch and Steyn kicking too long.



But, ultimately, it was the All Blacks' desire to keep moving the ball that wore the outstanding South African defence down. They made several key breaks that went close to producing tries before finally getting the formula right.



After Steyn and Carter exchanged two penalty goals each, it was a 24th minute penalty that was tapped by Steyn, in a position where he would normally have kicked for goal, which set up the first genuine try-scoring chance. It was flanker Schalk Burger who drove at the line, was grounded, and then driven over by following lock Flip van der Merwe.



Moments later, Carter landed a penalty goal from 50m to reduce the margin to four points. But when Joe Rokocoko was penalised for blocking halfback Francois Hougaard's kick ahead, Steyn landed his third penalty goal.



Three minutes from halftime the All Blacks gained the ball in midfield from a Springbok knock-on and lock Brad Thorn charged through a gap to set up a chance, the ball was cleared efficiently and after Carter found half a gap it was moved to Nonu, who then found the unlikely pair of lock Tom Donnelly and prop Tony Woodcock on his flank.



The tight forwards handled the situation with aplomb and Woodcock was able to cross the goal-line wide out unopposed to score the try.



Referee Nigel Owen got himself in strife when caught among players and went to ground and play was stopped to allow him to recover.



New Zealand made a messy start to the second half, Donnelly dropped the re-start, and then when Nonu stole ball as the South Africans charged the line, it was Carter who had his kick partially charged and a try-scoring chance was only denied the home team by some clever work at the breakdown by McCaw.



New Zealand conceded a penalty at a resulting scrum and Steyn extended the lead to 19-14.



South Africa's defence proved much more solid as the All Blacks probed for openings throughout the third quarter, the only chance coming when Carter unleashed a stunning blindside break which was only stopped just short of the line. Steyn punished the All Blacks when No.8 Kieran Read joined a maul from the side with a fifth penalty goal.



But after wing Cory Jane also got very close to scoring in a run down the right flank, the Springboks were penalised and Carter pulled New Zealand back within five points.



The Springboks were better served by Juan Smith in the loose, the first time he has played for them this year. He made the breakdown more competitive and that allowed No.8 Pierre Spies more influence than in the two earlier Tests while Schalk Burger was more prominent in the loose as well. Fullback Gio Aplon was a constant menace while new halfback Hougaard was an efficient servant who kept the pressure on.



Scorers:



South Africa 22 (Schalk Burger try; Morne Steyn con, 5 pen) New Zealand 29 (Tony Woodcock, Richie McCaw, Israel Dagg tries; Dan Carter con, 4 pen). HT: 16-14.

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Can the All Blacks keep it up?

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

 
Can the All Blacks keep it up?

 After watching the All Blacks rip apart the Springboks and then canter past the Wallabies to retain the Bledisloe Cup, I had one thing on my mind — how long can this last for?



I don't want to be negative or jinx the team. There are so many positives to take from the way the All Blacks are playing, but I just can help feeling a little uneasy when things seem to be going a little too well.



I've read a few articles saying New Zealand were a bit "lucky" in the second clash against Australia. Some have suggested the Aussies gave us a real challenge and could have pulled out a win. Really? Am I the only one who was not worried at any stage of that game?



Even when Kurtley Beale tied the match with a break-away try I didn't think they were really back in the contest. He scored via a rare All Black error, not genuine Australian pressure. Despite the Aussies retaining plenty of possession and putting together umpteen phases, the Kiwis tackled and tackled some more. Australian players were always going to sabotage their own chances with a mistake. You could see it coming.



I’ll admit the Australians played better than a week prior, but New Zealand are on another level. As for South Africa, well, they look to be in total disarray. It’ll take a herculean effort on home soil for them to take something other than embarrassment from their Tri Nations campaign.



So where to now for the All Blacks? Can they play at this level all the way into next year and the World Cup?



I'd like to think so, but age and history are working against them. Brad Thorn will be 36, Mils Muliaina 31 and Richie McCaw 30 by the time the World Cup rolls around. All three have been in brilliant form and instrumental in the All Blacks' victories this season. I just hope they can continue to play that way through another Super 14 and international season next year.



Athletes generally don't get better after the age of 30 and rugby's high physicality has to take its toll eventually. For the All Blacks, I hope that toll doesn't hit too soon

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All Blacks will get tens of thousands of $$ for a win in Rugby World Cup in 2010...

Image via Wikipedia

All Blacks will get tens of thousands of $$ for a win in Rugby World Cup in 2010...





Players selected for Rugby World Cup will receive $35,000 if All Blacks make final and $65,000 for a win under new employment deal





A new collective employment agreement has been signed by the NZRU and the Players Association.



The deal takes the sport through to the end of 2012 and ratifies a number of the initiatives agreed to at the end of last year.



Amongst the major changes, Super Rugby franchises will be able to directly contract players and Super Rugby squads will be expanded and allowed to pick two overseas players.



Under the future competition structure, players selected for next year's Rugby World Cup will receive $35,000 each if the All Blacks makes the final and a further $65,000 each if the team wins the tournament.








Acknowledgements: © 2010 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

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Andy Haden again challenged to prove his claims about Crusaders Polynesian cap...

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Andy Haden again challenged to prove his claims about Crusaders Polynesian cap...




Maori Party's Te Ururoa Flavell says if Andy Haden cannot prove his claim of Crusaders' Polynesian cap his integrity must be questioned



Rugby World Cup ambassador Andy Haden is again being challenged to provide evidence to his claim the Crusaders have a cap on selecting Polynesian players.



Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell has joined the chorus of critics who question whether Mr Haden should keep his job. He says if the former All Black is really concerned about the future of rugby then he should name the writers of the policy, or even show a written copy of it. He says if Mr Haden cannot substantiate his claims then his integrity needs to be questioned.



"By refusing to disclose the identity of the people who Andy says wrote this so-called policy, he has turned a blind eye to what could potentially be institutionalised racism in that franchise.



"If Andy is really concerned about the future of rugby in this country, and it being a safe sport for all peoples to play, then he must name the policy writers or even better, show us the policy on paper.



Mr Flavell says Mr Haden's role as a Rugby World Cup ambassador should also be called into question if he cannot prove his claims.



It actually gets down to Andy Haden's credibility - or the lack of it.








Acknowledgements: © 2010 NZCity, NewsTalkZB

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Last ever rugby test against the All Blacks at Carisbrook will be Wales on June 19 2010, and is sold out...

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Last ever test against the All Blacks at Carisbrooke will be Wales on June 19 2010, and is sold out...


All regular tickets to this  last and historical All Blacks test to be played at Carisbrook have been sold out.



With 29 days to go before the June 19 test against Wales, the last of the 27,247 traditional stand and terrace tickets were sold this morning.



The Otago Rugby Union has decided to add 800 special on-field seats to boost capacity.



Acknowledgements:   - NEWSTALK ZB

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All Blacks want Sonny Bill Williams for the RWC

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Rugby: All Blacks want Sonny Bill for the RWC...





All roads lead back to Toulon as the All Blacks search for their World Cup masterplan.



For much of the past four months it was Carl Hayman the coaches courted, hoping he would return from Newcastle to give the All Black scrum the destructive edge it has been lacking since 2007.



Hayman instead took the money of Toulon's owner Mourad Boudjellal, leaving the panel on the hunt for someone else to give them the X-Factor - to take them from a good side to an extraordinary side.



That search hasn't moved out of Toulon as it is the bruising, tattooed frame of Sonny Bill Williams who could be the All Black trump card.



The panel wants him. They really want him but don't want to be seen to be too keen.



Defence coach Wayne Smith met Williams while the All Blacks were in Marseilles last year and was encouraged by what he found. "He was hell of a good company for a young man," says Smith. "He was very honest and very realistic."



Smith spelled it out for Williams. There are no guarantees of All Black selection; no easy route. It's a case of come home in June, play in the provincial championship, win a Super 15 contract and prove you are good enough to go up another level.





There will be some financial pain, too. The New Zealand Rugby Union can't - and won't - match the offer from Toulon.



It's possible some third parties will pitch in if Williams returns to New Zealand, keen to buy a slice of the man who was not so long ago the darling of the NRL. But Williams will have to feel some pain in his pocket if he wants the All Black dream.



Smith also made it clear the panel believe Williams can make the All Blacks. They have seen enough Toulon footage of him; heard enough from Tana Umaga - his mentor in France - and have enough of a gut feel to be confident the 24-year-old can make an impact wherever he goes.



At 1.93m and 108kg, Williams has the physique of a loose forward but the instincts and skills of a midfield back. He plays with his hands in front of him, always looking to pop out of the contact - a skill New Zealand's midfield has lacked since Umaga's retirement in 2005.



He's probably not a starting player. The Ma'a Nonu/Conrad Smith partnership has years of intuition and understanding and is a critical and established part of the All Black make-up.



Williams, though, could offer something radically different off the bench. He's the sort of player who could open a tight game with one act of brilliance.



Whether the prospect of so much hard work just to get to the All Blacks for a place on the bench at best can attract him won't be known till June.



Pushing him towards New Zealand is the fact Toulon have signed two up and coming French midfielders and want to use Williams more in the loose forwards. NRL clubs and British rugby clubs are also in the hunt.

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Former Maori rugby players deserve an explanation and an apology...

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Do former Maori players deserve an apology for exclusion from All Black in years gone by...




All Black great George Nepia was among those excluded from touring South Africa.

All Black great george Nepia was among those excluded from touring South Africa.The New Zealand Rugby Union has been criticised for refusing to apologise for not selecting Maori players in All Blacks squads that toured South Africa between 1928 and 1960.



Earlier this year Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples suggested the gesture from the NZRU would be an appropriate way to mark the 100th anniversary of Maori rugby.



The issue was again raised by NZ Herald columnist Chris Rattue today, who said it was high time Maori received an apology for racist selection policies between 1928 and 1960.



The Maori rugby team first played the Springboks in Napier in 1921, after which a South African correspondent wired to Cape Town that the Springboks were "frankly disgusted", particularly at seeing white New Zealanders cheering on a "coloured" team.



The NZRU subsequently excluded Maori from All Blacks' tours to South Africa in 1928, 1949 and 1960.

Of course former Maori players deserve an explanation and an apology, but politicians like Peter Sharples should keep their own counsel.

Acknowledgements: NZ Herald

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Former All Black Carl Hayman to play in France...

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Rugby: Former All Black Hayman will stay in Europe and play in France.
t


Carl Hayman wants to be a dairy farmer, family man but obviously not an  All Black.



However, he could not find a way to blend all three parts of the puzzle and, after months of agonising, the tighthead prop has accepted a lucrative contract in France to achieve his strongest goals.



Hayman signed what is believed to be a multimillion-dollar deal with the Toulon club at the weekend.



"Toulon is very excited about securing Carl's signature but we would also be happy to release Carl to play international rugby for New Zealand if they were to pick him," club owner Mourad Boudjellal said.



"I would be most surprised if he wasn't selected for the World Cup as he is the best tighthead prop in the game."



That offer will test the New Zealand Rugby Union's resolve and edict that anyone selected for the All Blacks has to be playing in New Zealand competitions.



For months, Hayman fretted about his decision.



"In fact, I think it has been in the back of my mind all the time I have been here at Newcastle," he told the Herald yesterday.
It came down to a choice between pragmatism against emotion. The 1000th All Black wanted to tackle the challenge of another World Cup campaign.


"After that tournament it was time to move on," he said.



"But it was not as clear this time. There were a lot of variables, what-ifs and trying to look into the crystal ball.



"I could see the positives and negatives on both sides. In the end, it came down to a financial and lifestyle move."



Hayman wants to own a dairy farm in Taranaki, he wants to settle and raise a family in his home province once his playing days are done. He had more chance of achieving those goals if he signed on for Toulon.



The NZRU made a generous late pitch to change his mind but there were some matters that needed more work and time.

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