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Murphy is enjoying himself so much in the land of thenever setting sun that his reports are few and far between!!
22nd May 2001
Here is the gosss in New Zealand.
The All Blacks have a new skipper. Anton Oliver was named captain of
the
2001 team on Sunday, as the selectors picked specialists in almost
every
position. The 30-man training squad is -
Anton Oliver (c), Mark Hammett
Carl Hoeft, Carl Hayman, Gordon Slater, Greg Somerville
Troy Flavell, Norm Maxwell, Chris Jack, Mark Cooksley
Reuben Thorne, Jerry Collins
Scott Robertson, Marty Holah
Ron Cribb, Taine Randell Justin Marshall, Byron Kelleher
Andrew Mehrtens, Tony Brown
Pita Alatini, Mark Ranby
Tana Umaga, Keith Lowen
Jonah Lomu, Doug Howlett, Jeff Wilson, Roger Randle
Christian Cullen, Leon MacDonald
There are three locks around the country, Royce Willis, Todd Blackadder
and Dion Waller, who will be disappointed but will have prepared for
that
disappointment. They, more than anybody, know what is required of lock
forwards, and knew that the battle for the number four and number five
jerseys was tighter than it had been in decades. Those who thought
that
Willis was leading the bunch, myself included, were obviously wrong.
Hayman, in the end, got the nod over Kees Meeuws as the fourth prop
because of his work-rate this year and the fact that he is comfortable
on
both sides of the scrum.
Filo Tiatia, Deon Muir, Sammy Vahafolau, Jonno Gibbes and Kelvin Middleton
are all great footballers, but in the absence of Kupu Vanisi and Justin
Collins through injury we needed to pick the most mobile young breakaways
available. So Jerry Collins and Marty Holah won the race for the backup
loosie spots, and with the selectors unable to ignore Taine Randell
because of his tackling and sheer all-round class, it meant that both
Muir
and Tiatia missed out. Ron Cribb and Scott Robertson were always fairly
safe, the patchy form of their Super12 sides notwithstanding.
Roger Randle was preferred over Bruce Reihana and Caleb Ralph for the
fourth wing spot, and deserves his chance after many years' consistent
form. Mark Ranby and Keith Lowen made great strides also, and have
been
picked as a backup combination as much as individuals.
So a good structure is in place. Not only did the selectors go for
specialists, and a neatly-rounded squad of thirty, but they have a
nice
mix of youth and experience, and will now set about building what could
be
a real dynasty.
Matt Te Pou named a 24-man NZ Maori squad for the game against the
Wallabies on the ninth of June. As predicted, there was quite a bit
of
crossover with his team and the All Blacks.
Kees Meeuws, Greg Feek, Deacon Manu Norm Hewitt, Slade McFarland Mark
Cooksley, Norm Maxwell, Dion Waller Deon Muir (c), Taine Randell, Matua
Parkinson, Troy Flavell, Ron Cribb Rhys Duggan, Brendan Haami Carlos
Spencer, Glen Jackson Daryl Gibson, Rua Tipoki, Caleb Ralph Roger Randle,
Bruce Reihana, Brad Fleming Leon MacDonald
With fourteen current or former All Blacks in the squad, the Maoris
look
as strong as ever. The game will be a final chance for many on the
fringe
of selection for the test side.
I felt duty-bound to watch the semi-finals of the Super12. The Brumbies
were dead certs, of course, no matter what any delusional banana-benders
might have thought. Not even three South African officials could manage
to
manufacture a final in the Republic... but then why they had officials
so
vulnerable to partiality accusations was beyond me. Not that it mattered
-
George Smith and the Brumbies dismantled the Reds, patiently and
systematically.
The darker side of my nature needed to keep count of the injuries -
depth
in the Aussie midfield took a pounding. And in the other match, I so
badly
wanted someone to tag Butch James I could taste it - maybe Venter and
Erasmus high and low from different directions as he took a floating
pass
off the back of a lineout or something. After four weeks touring New
Zealand and Australia, making no friends with his dirty tackles and
cruising for a very nasty bruising, he escaped unpunished.
With no New Zealand team contesting the play-offs, now seems like an
appropriate time to mention what many of you have accused me of ignoring,
a perceived drop off in form of this country's top talent. Never having
subscribed to any such view myself, in fact having strongly argued
against
it, I feel unclean for even acknowledging it. But I'll give you my
ten
cents worth for the record.
Ask any group of rugby-playing farmers to outline what's wrong with
New
Zealand rugby, if anything, and they'll give you the correct answer.
Nothing. Their memories are too long to find blame with such recent
aberrations as the rise of professionalism. The problem isn't our rugby
-
an inability of the All Blacks to totally dominate in any given year
is
almost inevitable from time to time. But a long line of successive
vegetarian governments has destroyed the wealth of the rural communities,
and the backbone of the nation was also in the past also the backbone
of
our national sport.
These large, hard men of the land used to congregate in big numbers
to
bash themselves bloody every week as a nice break from their punishing
routines. As the protection they enjoyed for their industry evaporated
in
a cloud of tariffs, boards and quotas and the urban drift started,
their
clubs struggled to maintain membership.
But that is also just a trough on a longer scale, which took half a
generation to manifest itself in rural New Zealand. The big cities
that
hosted the Super12 still managed to find die-hard support in the
boondocks, and the game meanwhile has grown exponentially worldwide.
Since
forever, we have produced and will continue to produce the hardest
side in
the world to beat. This year's All Black team might wipe the floor
with
all-comers, and what would the knockers say then? Would they remember
what
that crazy old Inky said - we will march on a road of bones to the
next
three World Cups in a row, the third in 2011 having the United States
in
the quarter-finals, and by that time Gridiron and League will be weird
local pastimes like Aussie Rules and Gaelic football?
This has the look of the most skilled All Black side since 1997, and
I'm
not damning with faint praise. Any other rugby-playing nation in the
world
would gladly take a 17-11 win-loss record, in the year's since then,
and
throw themselves a street parade. Then again, the English will do a
victory lap if they win the bloody coin toss...
If there ever was a worm, it just turned. Hell, no-one thinks it's crazy
to suggest that Tiger Woods will win nine Green Jackets.
29th March 2000
Sorry about the delay I have been very busy. I scored a trip to Orlando
with work. Took 29 hours from door to door. Mickey and Goofy are all fine
and send their regards.
Ere are my words
Super 12 Heaven
The kiwis are all very pleased about the progress of their sides in the Super 12 competition.
This is the competition made up of 5 sides from NZ, 4 sides from South Africa and 3 sides from Australia. The 5 New Zealand sides are selected from players who compete in the NPC ( National Provincial Championship, there are 3 divisions). The sides in the 1st division of the NPC are
North Island
Northland
North Harbour
Auckland
Waikato
Taranaki
Wellington
South Island
Canterbury
Otago
Southland
Give or take a couple.
The teams in the Super 12 are
North Island
The Auckland Blues mainly from North Harbour and Auckland
The Waikato Chiefs mainly from Waikato and Northland
The Wellington Huricanes mainly from Wellington and Taranaki
South Island
The Canterbury Crusaders mainly from Canterbury (my local team go Toddy’s army)
The Otago Highlanders mainly from Otago and Southland.
The top of the table is held by Otago, then the Hurricanes and the Crusaders are hard on their heels. It has been interesting to see how the locals react, they stopped talking about rugby as soon as the final whistle was blown in the match they lost against France, there is almost an unwritten code of behaviour in New Zealand that you cannot talk about the All Blacks when they lost there last match. As soon as they win a match then the taboo is lifted. I first noticed it when I came to NZ in 93, England had beaten the All Blacks earlier in the year and I heard nothing scathing about England until they were thrashed by the ABs in the 95 world cup.
This country is so passionate and proud of its rugby history that it is almost scary. The kiwis are motivated more by the fear of not losing than the joy of winning. The organisation that they have for each team within a club is an eye opener in itself, When I joined the local clubs fourth 15 in 94 it had its own coach and manager and another man to run the line for each game. Every side expects that level of organisation.
The local parks are seething with young kids playing organised games on A Saturday morning. Joe my 8 year old son will start his fourth season of rugby in about 2 weeks. They want to continue their success in this code. I think that they will.
So back to the Super 12 the kiwis are starting to hold their heads high in the rugby world again and the locals are happy that the South African and Australian teams are all faring worse than the majority of NZ teams.
It could be worth pointing out that the Super 12 has only been won by two teams so far. Auckland Blues 97, 98
Canterbury Crusaders (My local team) 98,99.
In that time span there have been two world cups one won by South Africa and the other by the kangaroo molesters across the Tasman Sea. SO if NZ wants to really dominate the next world cup then it should not read the form of the Super 12 into the international pecking order.
My pick for Super 12 team this year is Toddy’s army to get their third title in a row, there is a crunch game this Saturday when the Crusaders play the Highlanders (a repeat of last years final). It will be a very close hard fought battle but Toddy’s army should prevail.
Having got the AB coach right I think I should have a stab at the next All Black captain, my pick is Todd Blackadder the captain of the Crusaders, because I am biased and Tane Randell has had the opportunity and buckled under pressure once too often to be given another opportunity. Other changes in personnel I’m tipping, Robin Brooke is too old and will not play for the ABs again. His new team mate Troy Flavell is receiving rave reviews and could become the next lock. Another player receiving a lot of plaudits is Ron Cribb a No 8 who is playing for the crusaders this year. Anton Oliver the hooker will have to improve his lineout work if he is to hold onto his place.
Finally, the new All Black coach and co coach will in my opinion be very effective, Wayne Smith has a very shrewd rugby brain (he was the crusader’s coach when they won their two titles). He is also a man capable of building a real team spirit. John Hart tried to make the All Blacks a marketing machine and a rugby team second. His successor will not fall into this trap. Watch out for their performances this year.
That’s it. I trust that all members of Verwood will only support the Crusaders in the super 12 competition.
6th January 2000
Here is an addition for your links site:
All Blacks Screensaver
This has the screensavers for the All Blacks.
The preparations for the Super 12 are starting and it looks like being
a great competition.
As regards the make up of the All Blacks for next year I can see the
demise of Tane Randell as captain and I expect that a battle hardened captain
will be chosen to lead them. My pick is Toddy Blackadder he is the captain
of the Canterbury Crusaders, to date he has only played as a loose forward
for the ABs, he has now moved very succesfully to Lock. He would be a good
replacement for Robin Brooke who is widely viewed as past his sell by date.
17th December 1999
It would be a pleasure to act as your NZ rugby correspondent.
The elections happened here a few weeks ago and there has been a change
of
government. The Nationals (Conservatives) have been kicked out after
9 years
(3 terms). There is much talk about this being a backlash due to the
All
Blacks faring so badly in the World Cup.
The other major news is Jonah's transfer to Wellington. Next Year he
will
play for the Wellington Hurricanes (Super 12) and the Wellington Lions
(National Provincial Championship, NPC). This will be a big boost to
the
local McDonalds franchises.
A panel of ex-All Blacks has been commissioned to choose the next All
Black
coach.
They are all ex-forwards so there is some doubt as to their cranial
capacity
(not one I share). The front runners are:
Wayne Smith Coach of the Canterbury Crusaders (winners of the Super
12) for
the last two years) and technical advisor to the All Blacks backs for
the
last 3 years.
Tony Gilbert coach of the Otago Highlanders, they were the favourites
to
win the Super 12 but were defeated in Dunedin by the Crusaders in last
years
final.
Peter Sloane ex-coach of the crusaders among other coaching roles.
There are others but the general mood is that it will be one of these
two,
Wayne Smith may be tainted by the 1999 World Cup debacle. However,
he has
played for the All Blacks. Tony Gilbert has been extremely successful
rising
from a club rugby coach to the coach of a leading Super 12 team in
only 5
years.
As I am based in Christchurch (the home of the Crusaders) I will pick
Wayne
Smith but it will be close.
The decision is imminent. I think it may well be Wayne Smith &
Peter Sloane.
They worked very well together at the Crusaders who were regarded as
not
having the strongest players but able to get the best out of their
team to
win the Super 12.
There is a lot of talk in the papers about the new coach being less
dictatorial and this is certainly Smith's style.
I have of course been completely wrong in the past and why should this
be
any different.
Apologies for the tardy response life has been very hectic in the land
on
the long white cloud or long tin roof as they say in the back blocks.
G'day
John Murphy