The Rugby Championships

[zer0]

Given that he'll be 33 in 2019, I'm not sure what point there is in selecting Romano over someone like Tuipulotu.

[zer0]

I had overlooked that Ngatai wasn't there. He's a quality player, though his inclusion may have meant there were too many rapiers and not enough hammers in the midfield. As it stands now there's two of each. So I'd imagine/hope that Ngatai would be first cap off the rank for Crotty or Lienert-Brown (any maybe even if one of the other two go down).

[rowan]

Probably not a major factor for a second rower like Romano, but seems like All Blacks speedsters have something in common with drug-abusing musicians . . .

What do Christian Cullen, Jeff Wilson, Joe Rokocoko and Jonah Lomu have in common? The quartet, firmly among New Zealand's greatest outside backs, never featured for the All Blacks beyond the age of 27.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/ar ... ref=NZH_fb

[Mr Mwenda]

I love the reasons given to advertise and sell different shirts. There's been some great creativity shown around the Ireland and England shirt press releases recently.

[rowan]

Red is not a winning colour. Look at all the red teams - they lose. France tried red in the quarterfinals of the last World Cup and got hammered off the park. Big mistake. If only they had worn their usual colors or white reverse strip that day. Instead they just wound up confusing themselves.

[rowan]

So I suppose that on the basis of the summer tours and Super 18, we should see the All Blacks dominate as per usual, the Boks come in second and the Wallabies & Pumas scrap it out for 3rd. Hopefully the Pumas get their almost customary one win of the competition, probably at home to Australia, while the Wallabies might just beat the Boks in Aussie. Pretty sure the All Blacks will go unbeaten, though it might be tight in SA. Not much chance of that elusive first Pumas win over NZ happening this year.

[rowan]

All-time head-to-head records:

NZ 55 SA 35
NZ 109 Aus 42
NZ 23 Arg 0
SA 46 Aus 36
SA 21 Arg 2
Aus 21 Arg 5

[Spy]

Jordie Barrett's shoulder injury's ruled him out for the season. Crusaders fullback David Havili has been called up.

Rude. I was looking forward to seeing him play more in black. His goal-kicking ability is a tremendous plus.

[rowan]

All-time head-to-head records:

NZ 55 SA 35
NZ 109 Aus 42
NZ 23 Arg 0
SA 46 Aus 36
SA 21 Arg 2
Aus 21 Arg 5

Amazing, given SA led 20-15 prior to the first World Cup and 21-18 at the end of the amateur era. That means, NZ is 40-15 since the first World Cup, and 37-14 in the pro era for a winning average of around 74%. That's the most successful team in international rugby against the second most successful. Good for the game . . . ?

[J Dory]

Jordie Barrett's shoulder injury's ruled him out for the season. Crusaders fullback David Havili has been called up.

That's a shame, was looking forward to seeing Jordie get a real crack in the black jersey. Anyone got insight into Havili, from what I've seen he's solid but maybe lacking game breaking ability. I haven't seen much of him to be fair.

[rowan]

Jordie's time will come. Havili's the guy Kwagga took out in the Super Rugby final, as you are no doubt aware. Did a good job of spinning around in the air and landing on his head anyway. That's about all I know.

[BlackEyed]

Hoping to see more of Damian McKenzie (sp) but may not be till Ben Smith takes his sybatical.

[rowan]

The Springboks will play in a red away jersey against Argentina in round 2.

Now, before we have people screaming in horror at such sacrilege and shitting all over themselves, it comes as part of a 4-colour jersey set, incorporating the colours of the South African flag to commemorate the 25th anniversary of "rugby unity" and the Springboks being re-admitted to test rugby.

There's been a little controversy about that, unsurprisingly:

Bakkies Botha has slammed SA Rugby for changing the Springbok jersey to red for the Rugby Championship match against Argentina in Salta.

SA Rugby announced on Tuesday that the jersey had been commissioned to mark the 25th anniversary of rugby unity in South Africa.

The Boks traditionally play in a white away jersey, and normally only when there is a colour clash against Ireland.

When asked about the red jersey on Twitter by former Bok flank Rob Louw, Botha said the following:

http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/detail ... ok-jerseys

[zer0]

I think Coles is reaching the stage where he should consider taking the rest of the year off to well and truly get over, and avoid further, concussion problems.

[scuzzaman]

Any RRs got a hot tip for a sports bar in Singapore?

I'll be there over the weekend. Tried to book a table at Boomerang but long since booked out.

Cheers
SM

[rowan]

Very predictable first round.

[Spiffy]

NZ are still obviously the team to beat. They did fade in the second half, but you always feel they can up their game when it counts.
The SA/Argentina game was physical and tough, but the quality of basic skills was the pits. A lot of these players don't seem able to deliver a pass at belly button level and in front of the receiver, so that he can accelerate on to it. The number of passes that were head high, straight at the receiver- so he had to check his run to stop and collect the ball, or behind the receiver was staggering. SA managed to score a try after a passage of play where he last three passes were all flung at the receiver's head. The SA scrum half, Cronje, was one of the major culprips and looked totally off the pace of international rugby with his slow, lobby and mis-directed passes. You can see better passing skills from a well-coached school team.

[morepork]

NZ are still obviously the team to beat. They did fade in the second half, but you always feel they can up their game when it counts.
The SA/Argentina game was physical and tough, but the quality of basic skills was the pits. A lot of these players don't seem able to deliver a pass at belly button level and in front of the receiver, so that he can accelerate on to it. The number of passes that were head high, straight at the receiver- so he had to check his run to stop and collect the ball, or behind the receiver was staggering. SA managed to score a try after a passage of play where he last three passes were all flung at the receiver's head. The SA scrum half, Cronje, was one of the major culprips and looked totally off the pace of international rugby with his slow, lobby and mis-directed passes. You can see better passing skills from a well-coached school team.

Did you see their series against France recently? Three tests of 80 minutes worth of big dudes running one out into each other.

[rowan]

Anybody tipping an upset in Salta? I think the Boks will take it comfortably. SA by 15.

[rowan]

3-7 SA midway first half

[rowan]

10-10 late first half

[rowan]

Late 1st half, disaster for the Pumas, yellow card and Boks score. 10-17 heading into HT. That could be crucial.

[rowan]

Argentina with two cards in the first half. Very poor.

[rowan]

Pumas are woeful, now it's a red card and a penalty try and the Boks hold a commanding 13-31 lead going into the final quarter.

Update: They actually fought back to 23-31 despite all that, but the Boks have since added a penalty. Inside the final 10 now.

[rowan]

Anybody tipping an upset in Salta? I think the Boks will take it comfortably. SA by 15.

3 points out.