Returning All Blacks make the difference

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Each side had three All Blacks returning to the Air New Zealand Cup but there was only one team it all game.

Canterbury played Wellington for the Ranfurly Shield on Saturday and it was a one sided affair. Canterbury dominated in every aspect of the game with the help of Dan Carter, Richie McCaw and Brad Thorn. Canterbury won 36 points to 14.

Wellington did not have an answer to the strength of a determined Canterbury onslaught to retain the shield. Wellington have struggled throughout the Air New Zealand Cup and Saturday was no exception. It would have been nice to see a closer contest but it was the class of Canterbury that shone through.

So well done Canterbury. Maybe next time for Wellington.

Alternative Commentary All Blacks vs Australia 22 August 2009

More alternative rugby commentary for the All Blacks against Australia.

Source: Alternative Rugby Commentary - http://www.arcrugby.co.nz/

He made all the difference

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Yep, Dan Carter made all the difference in the win against the Aussies on Saturday. His kicking was spot on and his skills around the field were like had had never left the game.

Compare his game to Stephen Donald. As soon as Stephen came on, he started the usual "let's kick the ball in the air and see what happens" routine. IT DOESN'T WORK! Stop doing that. It just gives the ball away to the opposition. Graham Henry should have a quiet word in his ear and tell him that if he does that type of kicking again, he's going to get a jolly good clip around the ears... :(

The game on a whole was not the All Blacks best, but they did grind out a win. The Aussies must be thinking that an All Blacks side that is not playing at 100% can still beat them. Poor ol' Dingo Deans must be feeling a bit crook at the moment. And it only gets worse for him with the South Africans in town next weekend. Poor him.

The big 'DC' is back!

Daniel Carter has been selected in the All Blacks team to play against Australia on Saturday 22nd August. It will be great to see him back in black where he belongs after his lay off due to injury and his short term overseas "break".

The All Blacks team is as follows:

Mils Muliaina, Joe Rokocoko, Conrad Smith, Luke McAlister, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Daniel Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, John Afoa, Jason Eaton, Rodney So'oialo, Brendon Leonard, Stephen Donald, Ma'a Nonu.

Alternative Commentary Test Number 3

More alternative rugby commentary for the All Blacks second test against the South Africans.

Source: Alternative Rugby Commentary - http://www.arcrugby.co.nz/

Dan Carter is back in black

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Wisely, and not suprisingly, Dan Carter is back in the black jersey. Even though one man can't win a test, his influence, skill, leadership and vision of the game will help the team "click" and we will start to see what the real All Blacks are made of.

No pressure Dan!

The broad sholders of Captain Richie

After reading this article in the New Zealand Herald: click here - I had two reactions:

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1. Very honest. Well done stating the obvious that our lineouts are not up to scratch. At least someone had the guts to come right out and say it!
2. What do they do at rugby practice? The coaches get paid all that cash and this is the result!

I don't know what to think really. At least Richie McCaw realises that there is a problem and hopefully they can sort something out in the next couple weeks, ahead of the Aussies.

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The Alternative Rugby Commentary

If you are looking at alternative commentary with a bit of humour thrown in, take a look at these highlights from the first test All Blacks vs South Africa on the 25th of July 2009. Kids, you may have to block your little ears as there is a little bit of swearing in these videos, but it's all in good humour.

Source: Alternative Rugby Commentary - www.arcrugby.co.nz

Welcome but straight into it

After a few years absence of writing a game by game review of the All Blacks performances, I am back with my words of "wisdom", views from the sidelines (or the couch mostly) and my general ranting and raving about the rugby team, the refs (!) and anything rugby related really.

Enough of the introduction, let's get straight into it.

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The current All Blacks team - hmmm, where does one start? I could start at the top with Graham Henry. I will let you all know now, I was in support of Graham retaining the top spot as coach of the All Blacks. The NZRFU and the rugby public have this obsession of turfing someone out as soon as he loses a few matches. Yes, yes, I know it was the Rugby World Cup but look at his record. Compare that to the coach of England in the lead up to their Rugby World Cup win. It was shocking. If he was a NZ coach, his days would have been numbered long before the RWC started. We need some continuity in the game. Graham did introduce the rotation policy which I did not like. It didn't work too well but at least he tried it. Everyone would have been singing his praises if it worked and we won the world cup.

Graham does need to take some responsibility for the way the All Blacks have been playing of late. With it seems one game plan only per game, the players are more than likely doing what they have been instructed to do. But the calibre of top class players we have in the team, they should be able to think on their feet if a game plan does not work. But they don't so we lose games.

Now onto the players. I am starting at the number 9 position. I still believe that Piri Weepu is

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our top number 9. I do not know why the coaches still bring him on as an impact player. If he is so good why not start him. Jimmy Cowan is not up to test match standard as a starting number 9. Swap roles and bring him on in the second half and let Piri Weepu run the game from the beginning. Without a decisive number 10 controlling the play, we need someone who can see what is going on and have the experience to go through with it.

Which naturally leads me to the number 10 position. Stephen Donald is a good player but at number 10, he should be reading the game and telling the other players around him what to do. And stop all the aimless kicking of the damn ball (that is not soley directed at Stephen). After watching past test matches where Daniel Carter would kick the ball into the corners and then attack from there, this is what we are dearly missing from the current tribe of individuals. Some structure and "thinking rugby" and not all this 'let's kick the ball and see what happens" tactic. It does not work!

Constant pressure is what is missing from this All Blacks team. The days of the All Blacks having 70-80% possesion and territory have gone because we are under the illusion that with the new rules, territory and possesion don't count for anything. The All Blacks need to go back to the basics of rugby and not throw it out left, right and centre hoping that holes will appear - they won't. It's all down to pressure of the opposition. That is why the South African team is so good - it comes down to pressure in the lineout, kicks, scrums, rucks - everything really. Something that the All Blacks were once good at.

Phew! Heavy stuff right from the start. I needed to offload this and get it out in the open.

Let's hope that a three week break will help the All Blacks get their heads around what they need to do to actually win games. Don't blame the refs, don't blame the coaches (to some extent), but look at the players themselves.

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Even though the coaching staff are trying to play it cool when it comes to getting Daniel Carter back in the All Blacks, stating that we will have a look at him playing in the Air New Zealand Cup and then we will decide. We all know full well that they can't wait to get him back. I know he is only one man but if he can dictate play then the All Blacks will win games. Fact!

But one positive coming from these losses (yes there is one), is that the All Blacks are not peaking too early for the Rugby World Cup in 2011. Maybe the South Africans and the Australians will burn themselves out before then. Here's hoping.

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