The All Blacks have nemed their squad for the upcoming Steinlager Series against Ireland and Wales. They have selected four new caps for the series. The Following from the All Black camp:
All Blacks coach Graham Henry and his assistant coaches Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith have named their squad for the All Blacks three-Test Steinlager Series against Ireland and Wales, with the selection of four new caps the key feature of the 26-man squad.
This year sees 100 years since an official New Zealand Māori side 1st took the field. The following from the NZRU: New Zealand Māori made a winning start to its rich and successful history when the first official New Zealand Māori side met and defeated a Rotorua sub-union team 100 years ago today.
That encounter, played in Rotorua and won 25-5 by New Zealand Māori, launched the team on a Century of rugby that would see them play 429 times for 297 wins and only 109 losses, with 23 drawn matches. Those results included 58 wins over international sides against 30 losses and five draws.
Try-scorers in that historic first match included H Harrison (Thames Valley), C Tipene (Otago), R Dansey (Otago) and Southland’s Billy Stead. The team was captained by Alex Takarangi.
Following the Rotorua match, the team toured New Zealand taking on Auckland and a South Auckland XV before heading to Australia for an 11-match tour and returning to further domestic fixtures. They finished that inaugural season having played 19, won 12, drawn three, and lost seven matches, scoring 315 points and conceding 160.
The development of an official national Maori team owes a great deal to the vision and commitment of Wiremu Teihioka (“Ned”) Parata. Recognising the presence of rugby league among Maori, Parata took his idea of a Maori team to the-then New Zealand Rugby Football Union which agreed and supported the concept. Another of Parata’s masterstrokes was to entice Billy Stead, the vice-captain of the 1905 “Originals” All Blacks side and pioneer of the first five-eighth position, out of retirement to make the tour. Parata subsequently managed Maori teams for the next 16 years.
The establishment of a New Zealand Māori side built on the legacy of the privately-organised New Zealand Natives team which toured in 1888-1889 and which featured predominantly Maori players.
New Zealand Māori Rugby Board Chairman Wayne Peters said the Centenary was a milestone of significant importance in sporting terms, recognised on the international stage by the presence during the centennial year of teams of international standing as well as being accepted as the opportunity to pay tribute to those who have supported Maori rugby at all levels
“Māori rugby holds a special place for Māori, and New Zealand rugby followers generally, as it represents a distinctive and unique aspect of rugby in New Zealand. So it is appropriate that we celebrate the past and, in particular, those players, coaches and management and supporters who have contributed to the game over 100 years,” he said.
Mr Peters said the Centenary would be celebrated during the Sealord New Zealand Māori Centenary Series next month. New Zealand Māori take on the New Zealand Barbarians in Whangarei, Ireland in Rotorua and England in Napier, while a series of luncheons being held in each venue would create an opportunity to honour the former players and those others who have contributed so much to the success of the team and Maori rugby.
About New Zealand Māori:
The first New Zealand Māori team was officially selected in 1910. The idea of a wholly Māori side was first mooted in the 1880s, resulting in the formation of the New Zealand Natives, whose famous 1888 tour was to have a tremendous impact on New Zealand rugby. Since their debut in 1910, the New Zealand Māori side has played almost every provincial side in New Zealand as well as numerous national sides and has toured extensively overseas. The team has a proud record, including victories in the professional era over England, Argentina, Scotland and Fiji, and an historic win over the 2005 British and Irish Lions.
There have been quite a few serious posts on the blog of late, what with the all the Super 14 Highlights, Naqelevuki’s required deportation (check the date this was first published) and of coarse the Cheerleaders (which you all seem to love). So we thought you all needed some humor for the day. Much like the previous Haka performed by the Teletubbies, we bring you the Haka performed by the Gingerbread Men. You have to admit this one takes the cake. I mean, makes the cookie crumble… Just watch the clip and enjoy.
Judging from this weeks nuclear refereeing fallout, it would seem as if it’s about time the IRB seek new sponsorship with one of the major cotton wool manufacturers, because at the rate that they keep wrapping their referees in a cotton wool protective cocoon, it might become expensive.
This whole debacle with the state of refereeing in this year’s competition is reaching boiling point after the latest incident involving Steve Walsh’s refereeing display during round 11 of the 2010 Super 14, in the game between the Waratahs and the Brumbies.
For those of you who have been living under a rock for the past few days, the whole issue revolves around the Brumbies being extremely dissatisfied with the way in which Steve Walsh refereed the match between the two Australian franchises, in which the Brumbies lost.
The Brumbies were particularly unhappy about Steve Walsh not awarding a try to Adam Ashley-Cooper, in which Walsh ruled there was a double movement.
Referees make these types of calls on a game to game basis, sometimes they are questionable, sometimes spot on. In the case of the questionable decisions, sometimes they will be for you, sometimes against. The law of averages might suggest that these for/against calls will balance out in the end and that should be the end of it.
But in a competition as closely contested as this year’s Super 14, where about 10 of the 14 teams still have at least an outside chance of making the playoffs, one questionable decision could mean the end of the season for you.
Adam Ashley-Cooper’s disalowed try: [s14twentyten]
I thought it was clear as daylight, but you be the judge?
One could also take into consideration the substantial financial implications Read More >>
The search is on! SANZAR are on the look out for a permanent CEO to manage and develop the Super Rugby and Tri Nations tournaments.
SANZAR search for CEO
The international search for a permanent Chief Executive Officer to lead SANZAR, the South African, New Zealand and Australian Rugby Unions joint venture, will commence this weekend with the role being advertised in all three countries.
The creation of the new role to head up a Sydney-based SANZAR organisation to manage and develop the Super Rugby and Tri Nations tournaments follows a review of SANZAR’s existing management structures in 2009.
The CEO will report to SANZAR’s Executive Committee and will be charged with driving a strategic growth plan across multiple countries and improving SANZAR’s operational effectiveness.
Current SANZAR and New Zealand Rugby Union CEO Steve Tew said this was a major milestone for SANZAR as it evolves not only its competitions but also its organisational structures to a new level during 2010.
“The SANZAR joint venture has been incredibly successful through the cooperation of the three Unions which have rotated the secretariat responsibilities up until this year. With the expansion of the competitions from 2011, it is timely to move to an independent, permanent executive that can focus exclusively on driving Super Rugby and the Tri Nations competitions.”
We will have to wait and see, what and if any, noticeable improvements or changes take place.
Who do you think should grab the title of SANZAR CEO? On that note, I wonder what Jake White’s future plans are looking like..?
My internet was on the blink again last night (damn you iBurst), and I’ve been super busy today, so I wasn’t able to post the team-sheets for your fantasy rugby selections for round 4 of the 2010 Super 14. If you haven’t made your selections yet, and need the team-sheets, you can click here for a quick fix. Not as sexy as what I usually bring you, but team-sheets non the less.
Instead, I’m featuring some rugby humour on the site today. I saw this clip featured on our good mate, Seth Rotherham’s blog, 2oceansvibe yesterday, and thought it was hilarious. Now before anyone gets offended, this is in no way meant to belittle the Haka (which I love, and have great respect for) in any way. Funny stuff non the less.
Supersport have for the 3rd time this season have shown a blatant disregard for their subscribers, [who pay a hell of a lot of money, I might add, to subscribe to their channel on DSTV] when they didn’t broadcast the All Blacks VS Barbarians rugby game this weekend.
Even if we look past the fact that their were 9 South Africans playing in the star studded Barbarians squad, any Barbarians game is one of the star attractions of the sporting season. How can Supersport possibly justify not broadcasting the game on one of their numerous channels?
If you remember, back in August, we wrote a post about Supersport FAIL-ing us by not broadcasting majority of the Currie Cup games one weekend. They then proceeded not to broadcast the final Bledisloe Cup game between the All Blacks and the Wallabies. To say I am livid about now missing this game is an understatement! Maybe Sky Sports should think about moving into the South African market. I’m sure they would actually deliver value for money to their subscribers.
I am a big fan of watching the Haka, as I feel it is one of the greatest sporting traditions in the world today. It literally gives me goosebumps every timeI watch it, and I never like to miss it, so 1st up, here’s the weekend’s Haka.
All Blacks captain, Richie McCaw, in what can be deemed as a complete joke, has been named the International Rugby Board Player of the Year for 2009.
The 28-year-old McCaw became the first person to have been awarded rugby’s most prestigious individual accolade twice, having previously been named IRB Player of the Year in 2006.
Now before the die-hard McCaw fans put a hit out on me, let me explain: There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that McCaw is a great player, perhaps one of the best to ever play the game, as well as an inspirational leader. The teams he has played for have for many years dominated the face of rugby worldwide, but let’s be honest, 2009 was not anywhere near McCaw’s best year in the game. In-fact, 2009 has been one of the weakest years I have ever seen in All Black rugby.
[Remember the video we posted of just how KAK the All Blacks have actually been this year?]
He was injured for the beginning of the season, playing only 10 tests. He didn’t have a great Super 14, nor did he win the Tri Nations, where he was largely dominated by the new kid on the block, Heinrich Brussow.
If you look at the stats [Rugby Stats] McCaw made less tackles on average than Brussow did, made less turnovers than both George Smith and JaqueFourie and gave away the same amount of penalties on average.
Perhaps McCaw could have won the award in 2008, but the award is called the “IRB Player of the Year Award” because it should be awarded to the best player of the current year, based on that year’s form alone, not past form, nor reputation. The fact that he won baffles my mind in a year where Both FourieduPreez and Brian O’Driscoll have been ahead of him.
Being a South African, maybe I am biased, but let’s take a look at FourieduPreez’s year in rugby:
Who will come out tops in the Autumn Internationals?
So I came across this website called Hostel Bookers the other day and decided to have a look. They have a well set out, user-friendly website which lists literally hundreds of hostels, at which you can stay, in not only Europe, but worldwide. It’s as easy as selecting your destination from the dropdown menu and seeing which hostel suites you best. The website also allows you to choose which currency you would like the rates to display in.
What a great idea if you plan to follow your favourite team on their autumn tour. The Hostel Bookers website is easy to use, and shows you a comprehensive list of the locations and rates of various hostels at which you can stay near to the venue that your team will be playing at.
For instance, let’s randomly say you’re a Wallaby fan and you’d like to watch all the games on their tour schedule. You can find locations near to the stadiums at each leg of the tour, and it’ll leave you with enough cash over to either celebrate or commiserate with many a cold pint. We’re travelling around Europe, so I chose Euros. Let’s do the math quick:
That’s a measly €55.85 to the Grand Slam. I’ve spent more than that on one night out with the boys. Let’s face it, that’s pretty damn cheap to visit four countries, watching your team on their quest for the Gland Slam Title. If you are travelling with a bunch of mates, click here to book group accommodation.
Check out all fixtures below and visit Hostel Bookers to book your place. Bookings will be going quick, so visit their website now to avoid losing out on your chance for the trip of a lifetime:
Check the dates and locations to book your accomodation now
The All Blacks have nemed their squad for the upcoming Steinlager Series against Ireland and Wales. They have selected four new caps for the series. The Following from the All Black camp:
