Thanks for the heads up. 

networkn:

 

Lastly, I must say I am really missing Rugby. I underestimated how much time I spent watching etc it.  I'm not having trouble filling the time, but I'd rather be watching Rugby.

 

Yep, me too. It certainly drags out the Friday/Saturday evenings, especially with a few more early games this year so you could watch binge watch and not have to stay up half the night.

The biggest disappointment for me though is that I coach the local 1st15 and we were looking to be in reasonably good shape. Around 70-80 boys registered across all grades which is strong for our area, but only around 6-8 girls. While not a top 4 Premier grade team (which co-ed can compete against private/boys schools these days) I think we would have pushed a few teams as the boys were really keen, enthusiastic, training hard and all those good things.

The biggest issue now is, if we do get back to some play this year how many players will return. I'm confident most will, but many will be lacking 4-6 weeks of condition so back to square one.

This article in the Sydney Morning Herald is primarily about the NRL but it does suggest that the ARU was a week away from announcing a new broadcast deal with Optus before the COVID mess hit.

The SMH has no dog in this fight so is more reputable than the Murdoch controlled press.

Hmm a bit of news this week.

Bill Beaumont choosen as Rugby Chairman was a little bit of a surprise to me, but more surprised at who supported him (island nations). I would have thought the island nations would have been better served by Pinochet

Things were a mess before, but with Covid, I am really not sure what's going to happen. I don't neccessarily disagree with some of the plans Beaumont put forward, but do have doubts he will execute them.

Sam Cane was mildly surprising to me as pick for AB's captain. He is a good solid player without being exceptional and doesn't to my mind, with the exception of coming back from his serious neck injury to playing so well pretty much immediately, strike me as inspirational. I don't have an issue with him being captain, I am not sure exactly how I'd phrase it... Before it's suggested I am being one eyed again, I had thought Luke Jacobsen was an option (and probably a longer term option) though I understand he has still got concussion issues, which may have ruled him out. Whitelock did wonders for the Crusaders as captain and I rate him as a leader.

I do idly wonder who Scott Robertson would have picked.

Pinochet may have made some interesting changes to world rugby (if he was still alive). Pichot on the other hand wasn't proposing to do much, if anything, for the islands. He was very outspoken on tightening eligibility and making players only able to play for one country. That wouldn't have been a favourable change for the islands. Pichot is behind the change extending eligibility criteria to 5 years.

It really shows how little influence SANZAAR has with the islands, they have had no actual support from the SANZAAR nations so have no interest in supporting them. SANZAAR could have made the decision to support Fiji into super rugby but yet again chose self interest. 

The Six Nations teams play the pacific teams more often and have built up some good will. NZR jump up and down about supporting the islands but do nothing. It's no surprise who the islands choose to support. There is plenty of media on this. 

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2020/05/05/1157754/pacific-rugbys-message-to-sanzaar

networkn:

 

Sam Cane was mildly surprising to me as pick for AB's captain. He is a good solid player without being exceptional and doesn't to my mind, with the exception of coming back from his serious neck injury to playing so well pretty much immediately, strike me as inspirational. I don't have an issue with him being captain, I am not sure exactly how I'd phrase it... Before it's suggested I am being one eyed again, I had thought Luke Jacobsen was an option (and probably a longer term option) though I understand he has still got concussion issues, which may have ruled him out. Whitelock did wonders for the Crusaders as captain and I rate him as a leader.

 

I do idly wonder who Scott Robertson would have picked.

 

Scott Robertson would have picked Whitelock as the captain, if for no other reason than he gets his red and black eyepatch from the same supplier as you ;-)

Whitelock has perhaps one or two seasons left in him as an All Black (IMO). The team is being ‘refreshed’ by Foster, partly to put his own stamp on the team, but also with an eye to the next World Cup.

Jacobsen is too new.

If you look to how the Chiefs play with and without Cane in charge you may get an inkling as to how inspirational a leader he actually is.

The Crusaders have such an amazing team culture they would probably win without a captain, I don’t particularly rate Whitelock’s leadership skills, but then the only time I actually watch the Crusaders is when they play the Chiefs....

Dingbatt:

 

Scott Robertson would have picked Whitelock as the captain, if for no other reason than he gets his red and black eyepatch from the same supplier as you ;-)

 

Whitelock has perhaps one or two seasons left in him as an All Black (IMO). The team is being ‘refreshed’ by Foster, partly to put his own stamp on the team, but also with an eye to the next World Cup.

 

Jacobsen is too new.

 

If you look to how the Chiefs play with and without Cane in charge you may get an inkling as to how inspirational a leader he actually is.

 

The Crusaders have such an amazing team culture they would probably win without a captain, I don’t particularly rate Whitelock’s leadership skills, but then the only time I actually watch the Crusaders is when they play the Chiefs....

 

I'd probably suggest you'd need to watch more Crusaders games to get an idea on Whitelock's captaincy, or Scott Robertson's coaching style. Like most captains, there have been some interesting choices made in games, but being a leader doesn't mean getting everything right immediately.

Robertson shocked me and earned my respect for refusing to let Wyatt Crockett, a guy with 200+ Caps and in his last ever game for the Crusaders to boot, not play in a final because he wasn't right for the team. I don't see it as automatic he would have picked Whitelock unless he genuinely and truly thought he was the best man for the job (Which means to give Foster similar credit means he has a similar conviction on Cane).

I am not sure about Whitelock's future, this sabbatical will either make or break him in my view, his workload mental and physical over the past few years has been immense.

I am not saying Cane won't be a good captain, and I wasn't dinging him per-se, I am just unsure. As I said, I can't quite put my finger on why.

Whilst McCaw did have more experience than Jacobsen, he was still very inexperienced, but you are probably right, perhaps just not enough yet.

I am really missing Rugby, I am keen to see what Foster can do, though I do think he has been handed a poisoned chalice.

McCaw made his debut for the All Blacks in 2001 and was made captain in 2006. He had approximately 35 caps when he was made captain. Jacobsen made the team last year and has 2 caps. Oranges and apples

Handle9:

 

McCaw made his debut for the All Blacks in 2001 and was made captain in 2006. He had approximately 35 caps when he was made captain. Jacobsen made the team last year and has 2 caps. Oranges and apples

 

Wow, whilst I don't doubt it, it seemed much less than that!

networkn:

 

Handle9:

 

McCaw made his debut for the All Blacks in 2001 and was made captain in 2006. He had approximately 35 caps when he was made captain. Jacobsen made the team last year and has 2 caps. Oranges and apples

 

 

Wow, whilst I don't doubt it, it seemed much less than that!

 

http://en.espn.co.uk/statsguru/rugby/player/13784.html?class=1;template=results;type=player

It was a while ago and he was very young when he started.

So, they have a new NZ only format of "super rugby". Basically 5 NZ Super Rugby teams play over 10 weeks. At the end of that, whoever is remaining not in hospital will be our "new look" All Blacks!

I love watching the Derbies, but honestly, for 80 minutes I am watching the super hits and the massive tackles wondering how many key players will be out for the season afterward, and the newer format of the international SR comp, looked better with each team playing each other one time. 

I see there are talks of Ben Smith making a comeback for the Highlanders and Nehe Milner Skudder is now a Highlander! I would be super happy if Sam Whitelock plays for the Crusaders this year. I predict (and hope) reports of his international demise are greatly exaggerated. 

Anyone else keen to watch the new competition? 

Whitelock was confirmed yesterday to be playing.

Well, that is good news, I need to find a better source of Rugby news, since last I heard he was still mulling it over, and I was pretty sure it was yesterday!

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12331337

Maybe just stop working so much :)

Handle9:

 

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12331337

 

Maybe just stop working so much :)

 

You sound just like my wife :)

I do really need to get some balance back in my life, though some might say I have spent too much time playing assassins creed :)