rowan wrote:You've read way too much into my comment, Cashead. I'm very pleased this match has been arranged. Kudos to them. Just thinking aloud on the possible scoreline, however. I recall the first time they played very well, and also their clash at RWCIII, and am just doubful the All Blacks would be doing Japan too much of a favor if they humiliate them to the same extent. If that leads you to a rescission of such fixtures, then you have a wild imagination...
The last time the ABs played in Japan, they posted 50. Similarly, the last time the ABs played in South Africa, they scored 50. Oh geez, we're not doing the Springboks any favours humiliating them to such an extent.
.
Last edited by Eugene Wrayburn on Thu May 18, 2017 2:25 am, edited 2 times in total.
Reason:unnecessary abuse
I'm a god
How can you kill a god?
Shame on you, sweet Nerevar
rowan wrote:Somehow I don't think they'll be hell-bent on racking up a 3-digit score, like they were in that inaugural encounter back in 87, and also at the 3rd RWC in 95.
rowan wrote:You've read way too much into my comment, Cashead. I'm very pleased this match has been arranged. Kudos to them. Just thinking aloud on the possible scoreline, however. I recall the first time they played very well, and also their clash at RWCIII, and am just doubful the All Blacks would be doing Japan too much of a favor if they humiliate them to the same extent. If that leads you to a rescission of such fixtures, then you have a wild imagination...
Memory can't be that good given that the All Blacks didn't play Japan in 1987. But if you are going to bring up results, then why ignore the most recent result that was, unlike the first two, played in Japan?
Yes, they did. They played a 5 match tour, including two matches against the national Japanese team. Japan awarded caps but the All Blacks did not, despite being basically at full strength.
Oh, thanks for answering that one for me. I missed the original post. Yes, they were the All Blacks even if they didn't deem the internationals worthy of official test status. They racked up a ton in the first test but were held to a 74-0 scoreline in the second. That was in the days of 4 point tries. There was a very promising winger from Wellington in the side, Paul Simonsson, scored 7 tries in two games, but I can't recall anything about his career after that point. Was he part of the exodus to league that decimated the province toward the end of the amateur era? Great shame...
If they're good enough to play at World Cups, why not in between?
Jumped to league in 1990 to play for the North Sydney Bears in the NSWRL, and was part of the first ever Waratahs Super Rugby team in 1996 as well as playing 7s for the Aussies, but had to retire due to injury. He worked as part of the Aussie 5-0, before being part of other government bodies and is apparently now the head of intelligence as ASADA.
I'm a god
How can you kill a god?
Shame on you, sweet Nerevar
Strange, I don't remeber him playing for the Tahs or Aussie 7s, but that was all during my rugby journalism days when I was actually covering Super Rugby for the press. Perhaps the old memory is fading . . .
If they're good enough to play at World Cups, why not in between?
rowan wrote:Oh, thanks for answering that one for me. I missed the original post. Yes, they were the All Blacks even if they didn't deem the internationals worthy of official test status. They racked up a ton in the first test but were held to a 74-0 scoreline in the second. That was in the days of 4 point tries. There was a very promising winger from Wellington in the side, Paul Simonsson, scored 7 tries in two games, but I can't recall anything about his career after that point. Was he part of the exodus to league that decimated the province toward the end of the amateur era? Great shame...
Wellington? He might have played a few matches for them but he was originally and mostly a Waikato man.
______________________
Dominating the SHMB
======================
True, though I believe he popped up in the capital due to a transfer within the police force. He was also playing lower division in Wellington club rugby for some reason. Sadly that was the year I spent in Australia playing league, or else I might just about have ended up playing against him. I encountered a number of representative players during my undistinguished rugby union career, but can't claim to have ever been on the same pitch as an All Black - present, past or future.
My brother was in the same team as Ofisa Tonu'u at Rongotai College, however.
If they're good enough to play at World Cups, why not in between?
I have just 10 minutes ago, no shit, received an email from Ofisa Tonu'u regarding a match this weekend for our Prezzies grade team. (To be fair, I only played once last year and haven't even registered this season.)
______________________
Dominating the SHMB
======================
Small world! I interviewed Ofisa Tonu'u once, before he'd even made the Wellington team, and he told me his ambition was to play for the All Blacks. It was all I could do to prevent myself from breaking into hysterical laughter, because my brother reckoned he'd been a cry-baby at school. His older brother Hemi played the odd game for the rep side back then and was undoubtedly the fattest player ever to don the number 9 jersey for the province
If they're good enough to play at World Cups, why not in between?
Lizard wrote:Yes, they did. They played a 5 match tour, including two matches against the national Japanese team. Japan awarded caps but the All Blacks did not, despite being basically at full strength.
Fair enough. Highlights the perils of using stats guru, I guess. My apologies, Rowan.
Lizard wrote:Yes, they did. They played a 5 match tour, including two matches against the national Japanese team. Japan awarded caps but the All Blacks did not, despite being basically at full strength.
Fair enough. Highlights the perils of using stats guru, I guess. My apologies, Rowan.
These matches are in statsguru. The key is to enter the capped side as the primary team and the uncapped as the oppo. Putting "New Zealand" as the oppo will pick up "NZ XV" matches as well, but not if you put them as the primary team.
______________________
Dominating the SHMB
======================
His older brother Hemi played the odd game for the rep side back then and was undoubtedly the fattest player ever to don the number 9 jersey for the province