A largely predictable All Black squad has been named for the Tri Nations by the 3 wise men.
The only concern I have is ,why did they name four injury 'replacements?'
What happens if one or more of those four have absolute blinders in the opportunity they get given?Do they then drop the original selection?
It is clear that Tony Woodcock is the worst of the four injury labelled All Blacks.Should Wyatt Crockett(who incidentally was very unlucky at losing out to John Afoa) play well,better than Afoa or the Franks boys,should he then be relegated to make way for Woodcock? And on the subject of Crockett,I find it hard to see how Todd Blackadder could rate him ahead of Ben Franks in the Crusaders outfit,yet Henry and co rate him behind not only Franks but also John Afoa,the man they tried to convert in to a hooker just last season.
Having said that,that is the only issues I have with this squad.As I said,largely predictable.I had thought that with Colin Slades lack of game time that Aaron Cruden may have nudged in ahead of him,but I'm not complaining.I would have liked to have seen Sean Maitland get a run in place of either Sivivatu or Jane as an injury replacement.It would have been a perfect opportunity to have given him a run against Fiji.
Very experienced,very reliable and all these players know the patterns and the rules and what is required of them in World Cup year.
Now,roll on October....
Straight Shooter-telling it like it is
Monday, July 11, 2011
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Super rugby final
Yeah yeah I know,its been a while since I blogged!! Some days are spent doing other things and occassionally I get the urge to write like crazy and express my thoughts,usually elsewhere though,and my blog here is a second thought!
Anyway,this Saturday its the Super rugby final(Inaugural Super 15 final) between the Crusaders and the Reds
Lets have a look at these two sides and also see if we can bankrupt the TAB with some smart bets.
Firstly,the NZ TAB has got it wrong.The Crusaders are far too short in my opinion at $1.52 and the Reds present far better value at $2.40.This doesn't mean that I think the Reds will win,far from it.It just means that I think it will be far closer than the TAB thinks.
Why?
Firstly we have to remember that the Reds finished the round robin games a top of the table and deservedly so.The are also playing this game at home,a huge factor and with a sold out Stadium they will be up for it.
On the other hand,the Crusaders have to get over the travel factor.Timaru to Durban then back to Brisbane.Thats some serious miles!
Considering all this,I still feel that the Crusaders have hit some ominous form in recent weeks,and they are,minus Israel Dagg and possibly Andy Ellis,at full strength.And that is key.These finals are decided sometimes through acts of sheer brilliance or acts of sheer stupidity.An experienced side like the Crusaders will absorb all the pressure and relish it.
Big finals are decided up front,the engine room,where all the grunt comes from.Here the Crusaders have a decided advantage.We have heard all about Quade Cooper and the dangerous Reds backs,but with flatfoot ball or ball taken going backwards its going to be hard for them to launch attacks.The scrum and lineout dominance of the Crusaders will win them this match.
Carter v Cooper? Its a no contest.Granted,Quade Cooper has been in sensational form,but he has hardly been put under any real pressure and with the ball going forward on the dry track of Suncorp he has looked the goods.But Carter has been in the big time since 2003 and has consistantly been the worlds best number 10 in all sorts of situations.Carters poise under pressure,his ability to read the game,his pinpoint kicking game allied with solid tough defence leaves him in a class of his own.Cooper lacks the same kicking game and direction,but most telling is his noticable lack of a big defensive game.And I am sure that SBW and Robbie Fruean will have taken note!Look for some early cuts and hits down Coopers channel on Saturday night!
So now,how do we make money here?The Crusaders are at $2.80 to win by 12-. Thats good money.The other interesting bet is to take the draw at halftime or fulltime at $9.This game will be tight and a draw at halftime will be no surprise.The other interesting option that the NZ TAB have is the highest scoring half and I'd take the second half as the highest scoring half at $1.70.The first half will be all about set piece dominance and sorting each other out,hence low scoring.As for points margin,take 2 bets.The Crusaders 1-7 at $4.25 and the Crusaders 8-14 at $5.Throw $20 on those 2 and you will double your money and more.
Good Luck and Go the Crusaders!
Straight Shooter-telling it like it is
Anyway,this Saturday its the Super rugby final(Inaugural Super 15 final) between the Crusaders and the Reds
Lets have a look at these two sides and also see if we can bankrupt the TAB with some smart bets.
Firstly,the NZ TAB has got it wrong.The Crusaders are far too short in my opinion at $1.52 and the Reds present far better value at $2.40.This doesn't mean that I think the Reds will win,far from it.It just means that I think it will be far closer than the TAB thinks.
Why?
Firstly we have to remember that the Reds finished the round robin games a top of the table and deservedly so.The are also playing this game at home,a huge factor and with a sold out Stadium they will be up for it.
On the other hand,the Crusaders have to get over the travel factor.Timaru to Durban then back to Brisbane.Thats some serious miles!
Considering all this,I still feel that the Crusaders have hit some ominous form in recent weeks,and they are,minus Israel Dagg and possibly Andy Ellis,at full strength.And that is key.These finals are decided sometimes through acts of sheer brilliance or acts of sheer stupidity.An experienced side like the Crusaders will absorb all the pressure and relish it.
Big finals are decided up front,the engine room,where all the grunt comes from.Here the Crusaders have a decided advantage.We have heard all about Quade Cooper and the dangerous Reds backs,but with flatfoot ball or ball taken going backwards its going to be hard for them to launch attacks.The scrum and lineout dominance of the Crusaders will win them this match.
Carter v Cooper? Its a no contest.Granted,Quade Cooper has been in sensational form,but he has hardly been put under any real pressure and with the ball going forward on the dry track of Suncorp he has looked the goods.But Carter has been in the big time since 2003 and has consistantly been the worlds best number 10 in all sorts of situations.Carters poise under pressure,his ability to read the game,his pinpoint kicking game allied with solid tough defence leaves him in a class of his own.Cooper lacks the same kicking game and direction,but most telling is his noticable lack of a big defensive game.And I am sure that SBW and Robbie Fruean will have taken note!Look for some early cuts and hits down Coopers channel on Saturday night!
So now,how do we make money here?The Crusaders are at $2.80 to win by 12-. Thats good money.The other interesting bet is to take the draw at halftime or fulltime at $9.This game will be tight and a draw at halftime will be no surprise.The other interesting option that the NZ TAB have is the highest scoring half and I'd take the second half as the highest scoring half at $1.70.The first half will be all about set piece dominance and sorting each other out,hence low scoring.As for points margin,take 2 bets.The Crusaders 1-7 at $4.25 and the Crusaders 8-14 at $5.Throw $20 on those 2 and you will double your money and more.
Good Luck and Go the Crusaders!
Straight Shooter-telling it like it is
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Here we go again...
The bloody Warriors,seen it all before..THIS IS THE YEAR!! Yeah right!!
Promise so much but deliver so little!
yeah yeah its the first game of the season...BUT...it was at the Garden of Eden,with 39,000 people,a RECORD crowd..with the hype .."the best team ever" blah blah.
Lance Hohaia had a shocker,and thats not like him.He is one of my favourites.Manu gone for 6-8 weeks with a MCL strain.Fisiaahi seemed overwhelmed.Mateo seemed underwhelmed.Captain Mannering became a Private.Packer and Rapira were out-monstered.The NZ connection(Hayne,Horo and Kearney) had the last laugh.
All was not well.
The best is to come,but when you have the NZ sporting public eating out of the palm of your hand,you DO NOT want to have them spewing it back up.The Warriors did that to the few 'fly by night' fans and they may not be back for a while.The faithful few will stay,and we'll be back to a crowd of 10-13,000 for the next game at Mt Smart.
Straight Shooter-telling it like it is
Promise so much but deliver so little!
yeah yeah its the first game of the season...BUT...it was at the Garden of Eden,with 39,000 people,a RECORD crowd..with the hype .."the best team ever" blah blah.
Lance Hohaia had a shocker,and thats not like him.He is one of my favourites.Manu gone for 6-8 weeks with a MCL strain.Fisiaahi seemed overwhelmed.Mateo seemed underwhelmed.Captain Mannering became a Private.Packer and Rapira were out-monstered.The NZ connection(Hayne,Horo and Kearney) had the last laugh.
All was not well.
The best is to come,but when you have the NZ sporting public eating out of the palm of your hand,you DO NOT want to have them spewing it back up.The Warriors did that to the few 'fly by night' fans and they may not be back for a while.The faithful few will stay,and we'll be back to a crowd of 10-13,000 for the next game at Mt Smart.
Straight Shooter-telling it like it is
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Chokers..
I'm scared.Really scared!
I've seen it all before,in 1990 and again in 2002,and especially in 2006.World beaters.On top of the world.Unbeatable.Certainties to win the rugby World Cup.
Then...the unthinkable.Defeat.And a nation is in mourning!!
And here we are again.On top of the world.Certainties to win the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Well I dont buy it.Never,ever,ever.Sure,we are in a good position,but something irks me.This whole 'chokers' tag.Its been said often enough,that it starts to become non-fiction,a sort of mental repetitiveness that leads the listener to believe.
And it scares me....
Straight Shooter-telling it like it is
I've seen it all before,in 1990 and again in 2002,and especially in 2006.World beaters.On top of the world.Unbeatable.Certainties to win the rugby World Cup.
Then...the unthinkable.Defeat.And a nation is in mourning!!
And here we are again.On top of the world.Certainties to win the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Well I dont buy it.Never,ever,ever.Sure,we are in a good position,but something irks me.This whole 'chokers' tag.Its been said often enough,that it starts to become non-fiction,a sort of mental repetitiveness that leads the listener to believe.
And it scares me....
Straight Shooter-telling it like it is
Monday, July 26, 2010
ABs so far-report card.
2 matches into the Tri-Nations and the NZ rugby public is all cock a hoop.And with good reason.Not only have we dealt to the current World Cup holders twice,we have scored two 4 try bonus point victories in the process and denied our fearsome foes a solitary point!
Add to that the nature of the way we have played the game and we can be as pleased as Punch to be sitting atop the table with a maximum of 10 points.The speed,skill and execution of our rugby was a joy to behold as we stretched the cumbersome Boks all over the park.The counter attacking abilities of our back 3 were there for all to see,and maybe the exclusions of the likes of Hosea Gear and Zac Guildford can be explained a lot clearer now with the emphasis on the counter as a back 3 unit.Mils Muliaina showed that age has not slowed him down and indeed he showed that he is in as good a form as ever.
Smith and Nonu continue their world class combination and Smith especially is proving invaluable with his ability to be in the right place at the right time and he offers a real solidity to the midfield.
And Dan Carter?Out of form?Yeah right.Form is temporary and class is permanant...Nuff said!
I thought Cowan perforwed well in the first test against the Boks,certainly not as bad as everyone made out.He did the job he was asked and that was to provide a quick solid link,and put pressure on the Boks with the odd snipe around a ruck or a kick over the top.Weepu was outstanding in the second test.So the halfback battle now becomes an intriguing contest again.
Kieran Read is now world class,and probably the best 8 in the game.He completely overshadowed the massively over-rated Pierre Spies in all facets of the game.Simply enormous on defence with his offensive 'D' and a dangerous and ever present ball carrier,as evidenced by his second test try.Jerome Kaino has realised all that promise he showed when scoring a try on debut against the Barbarians several seasons ago.Again,like Read,a real Warrior and workhorse,the perfect pair.And Captain Fantastic has relished the new laws and interpreted them as his own making,in leading the side from the front.
Brad Thorn = Legend.Nuff said!Tom Donnelly continues to surprise,he has matured his game to the point that even if Ali Williams were fit,I'd still have Donnelly as the first pick lock with Thorn.
Tony Woodcock has returned to some excellent form and Owen Franks has cemented the number 1 tighthead prop position.Keven Mealamu has been huge in the set piece,a domain that has seen Hore preferred ahead of him,but he has owned the tight play so far.
All in all two very accomplished performances and we have to give credit where its due,and plant a huge kiss on Graham Henrys cheek...after all,it was this Straight Shooter who had a few questions for him when he named his initial squad!
Still,lets keep our feet firmly planted,and remember that a World Cup is not won 12 months beforehand.Us All Black supporters know that only too well!
Straight Shooter-telling it like it is
Add to that the nature of the way we have played the game and we can be as pleased as Punch to be sitting atop the table with a maximum of 10 points.The speed,skill and execution of our rugby was a joy to behold as we stretched the cumbersome Boks all over the park.The counter attacking abilities of our back 3 were there for all to see,and maybe the exclusions of the likes of Hosea Gear and Zac Guildford can be explained a lot clearer now with the emphasis on the counter as a back 3 unit.Mils Muliaina showed that age has not slowed him down and indeed he showed that he is in as good a form as ever.
Smith and Nonu continue their world class combination and Smith especially is proving invaluable with his ability to be in the right place at the right time and he offers a real solidity to the midfield.
And Dan Carter?Out of form?Yeah right.Form is temporary and class is permanant...Nuff said!
I thought Cowan perforwed well in the first test against the Boks,certainly not as bad as everyone made out.He did the job he was asked and that was to provide a quick solid link,and put pressure on the Boks with the odd snipe around a ruck or a kick over the top.Weepu was outstanding in the second test.So the halfback battle now becomes an intriguing contest again.
Kieran Read is now world class,and probably the best 8 in the game.He completely overshadowed the massively over-rated Pierre Spies in all facets of the game.Simply enormous on defence with his offensive 'D' and a dangerous and ever present ball carrier,as evidenced by his second test try.Jerome Kaino has realised all that promise he showed when scoring a try on debut against the Barbarians several seasons ago.Again,like Read,a real Warrior and workhorse,the perfect pair.And Captain Fantastic has relished the new laws and interpreted them as his own making,in leading the side from the front.
Brad Thorn = Legend.Nuff said!Tom Donnelly continues to surprise,he has matured his game to the point that even if Ali Williams were fit,I'd still have Donnelly as the first pick lock with Thorn.
Tony Woodcock has returned to some excellent form and Owen Franks has cemented the number 1 tighthead prop position.Keven Mealamu has been huge in the set piece,a domain that has seen Hore preferred ahead of him,but he has owned the tight play so far.
All in all two very accomplished performances and we have to give credit where its due,and plant a huge kiss on Graham Henrys cheek...after all,it was this Straight Shooter who had a few questions for him when he named his initial squad!
Still,lets keep our feet firmly planted,and remember that a World Cup is not won 12 months beforehand.Us All Black supporters know that only too well!
Straight Shooter-telling it like it is
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Ahem..attention Mr G.Henry
Just what are you doing?
Just when you had the rugby public in the palm of your hand,just when everyone was thinking 'we have got it right'...you go and throw out some curve balls!
Aaron Cruden as a halfback?Are you serious?Why on earth would you want to go doing that to last years IRB Under 20 player of the year,who incidentally won the award while playing 1st 5!
And you dump Isaac Ross,tell him to stay at home from last years tour to "bulk up" and be more physical,then tell him to focus on his mobility because you now see him as a loose forward!Seriously?
Guildford plays out of his skin yet he is goooone in favour of a bloke who got 20 minutes and blew a try!Granted,Rene Ranger is explosive and a huge talent,but for goodness sakes just come out and be honest with us and tell us you are still experimenting!Kahui and Ranger are wing cover?Oh dear,have you heard of Hosea Gear!(Hey that rhymes too :) )
And John Afoa...what?Has he played at prop in the last few weeks or has he made the side on the basis of his one game at hooker for the BaaBaas?And is he now a hooker that props or a prop that hooks?Specialist positions?Remember the last few World Cups?Ouch!
Did Adam Thompson start a test?And what may have happened had he started 3 First Class games in 2 weeks like Liam Messam was able to do because Messam was a Maori?Again,not that I dont agree with the selections but it all seems rather odd.
Luke McAlister was rushed back in last year and was hopelessly out of form,suffered injuries and was persisted with.Now he is injury free and in great form and he cant make it.Go figure!
Oh well,we can only hope and trust!
Straight Shooter-telling it like it is
Just when you had the rugby public in the palm of your hand,just when everyone was thinking 'we have got it right'...you go and throw out some curve balls!
Aaron Cruden as a halfback?Are you serious?Why on earth would you want to go doing that to last years IRB Under 20 player of the year,who incidentally won the award while playing 1st 5!
And you dump Isaac Ross,tell him to stay at home from last years tour to "bulk up" and be more physical,then tell him to focus on his mobility because you now see him as a loose forward!Seriously?
Guildford plays out of his skin yet he is goooone in favour of a bloke who got 20 minutes and blew a try!Granted,Rene Ranger is explosive and a huge talent,but for goodness sakes just come out and be honest with us and tell us you are still experimenting!Kahui and Ranger are wing cover?Oh dear,have you heard of Hosea Gear!(Hey that rhymes too :) )
And John Afoa...what?Has he played at prop in the last few weeks or has he made the side on the basis of his one game at hooker for the BaaBaas?And is he now a hooker that props or a prop that hooks?Specialist positions?Remember the last few World Cups?Ouch!
Did Adam Thompson start a test?And what may have happened had he started 3 First Class games in 2 weeks like Liam Messam was able to do because Messam was a Maori?Again,not that I dont agree with the selections but it all seems rather odd.
Luke McAlister was rushed back in last year and was hopelessly out of form,suffered injuries and was persisted with.Now he is injury free and in great form and he cant make it.Go figure!
Oh well,we can only hope and trust!
Straight Shooter-telling it like it is
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
So,what happens now to our non-Maori players?
The first All Blacks squad of the season has been named,along with the NZ Maori squad.But I have been looking these past few days for the New Zealand 'A' squad and cant find it!
So,what happens now to our non-Maori players who are on the fringe of All Black selection but who now have no pathway to push further for selection?Unlike those in the Maori squad such as luke McAlister,Corey Flynn and Hosea Gear,these non-Maori players are expected to impress the All Black selectors with their ability to shine at club level,hardly a level to gauge the abilities of readiness for test match rugby.
And who are these non-Maori players who are disadvantaged?
Jason Rutledge the Highlanders hooker for one.John Afoa.Josh Beckhuis.John Schwalger.Chris Jack.George Whitelock.Alby Mathewson.Kahn Fotuali'i.Brendan Leonard.Andy Ellis.Robbie Robinson.Colin Slade.Ryan Crotty.Robbie Fruean.Rene Ranger.Rudi Wulf.Paul Williams.Tim Nanai-Williams,just to name a few off the top off my head.
Surely the NZRU could send this NZ 'A' side off to the Churchill Cup,or arrange some games against our Pacific neighbours,OR,surprise surprise,a 'test' match against Australia 'A'.
Now dont call me racist either! I'm all in favour of our Maori side and I cant wait to see them sink their teeth into the Poms,but lets be fair on ALL our players.
Straight Shooter-telling it like it is
So,what happens now to our non-Maori players who are on the fringe of All Black selection but who now have no pathway to push further for selection?Unlike those in the Maori squad such as luke McAlister,Corey Flynn and Hosea Gear,these non-Maori players are expected to impress the All Black selectors with their ability to shine at club level,hardly a level to gauge the abilities of readiness for test match rugby.
And who are these non-Maori players who are disadvantaged?
Jason Rutledge the Highlanders hooker for one.John Afoa.Josh Beckhuis.John Schwalger.Chris Jack.George Whitelock.Alby Mathewson.Kahn Fotuali'i.Brendan Leonard.Andy Ellis.Robbie Robinson.Colin Slade.Ryan Crotty.Robbie Fruean.Rene Ranger.Rudi Wulf.Paul Williams.Tim Nanai-Williams,just to name a few off the top off my head.
Surely the NZRU could send this NZ 'A' side off to the Churchill Cup,or arrange some games against our Pacific neighbours,OR,surprise surprise,a 'test' match against Australia 'A'.
Now dont call me racist either! I'm all in favour of our Maori side and I cant wait to see them sink their teeth into the Poms,but lets be fair on ALL our players.
Straight Shooter-telling it like it is
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