355 Comments

• 1.whatever:
  23 Aug 2011, 07:22 am

  Bolting Dragon?

• 2.HHS:
  23 Aug 2011, 07:30 am

  I thought Sivi was a GH favourite. I see he’s blue eye Toeava is in.
  Very good team but if Carter goes…….

• 3.boktillzero:
  23 Aug 2011, 07:31 am

  strong squad – do they have what it takes though

  lol @ englands 17/13 split . now thats how you win a world cup!
  bash up front – kick from deep , forwards hit hard – fly half drop kick at will from the pocket … hang on thats what the boks did against the AB’s and surprise surprise they won

• 4.NZINCHINA:
  23 Aug 2011, 07:35 am

  @boktillzero(boktillzero)-3:

  The Bokke don’t have the skills to play any other way, you don’t have a choice.

• 5.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 07:38 am

  slade the fade will falter…they better pray nothing goes wrong with carter…

• 6.NoRugbyGuru_0_:
  23 Aug 2011, 07:38 am

  @ NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA), why play any other way? It was very effective on saturday, don’t you think?

• 7.stew:
  23 Aug 2011, 07:41 am

  Why Wyatt Crockett is not in is a complete mystery – he had one of his best seasons ever probably the most improved player in S15 this year – i suppose he will be close at hand if there are any injuries but hell i think he was hard done by.

• 8.NoRugbyGuru_0_:
  23 Aug 2011, 07:41 am

  @ we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha), I think weepu will be back up flyhalf, GH will pick weepu, SBW and toeva on the bench

• 9.NZINCHINA:
  23 Aug 2011, 07:43 am

  @NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-6:

  Against our second stringers it was good enough, we both know with 10 changes and at Eden park that won’t be good enough. But do you agree you can’t play running rugby as the skill level isn’t high enough?

• 10.NZINCHINA:
  23 Aug 2011, 07:44 am

  @stew(stew)-7:

  Should be there, just ask the Stormers front row.

• 11.grant10:
  23 Aug 2011, 07:49 am

  no crockett…..

  no sivivatu….

  no hose gear…..

  wow….

• 12.NoRugbyGuru_0_:
  23 Aug 2011, 07:50 am

  @ NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA), off course I don’t agree, bulls scored the most tries in super rugby last year. WC will be won with defense and accurate kicking game, those 10 changes didn’t make the team much worst, dagg for mills, SBW for nonu, kahui for smith and whitelock for thorn

• 13.John Galt:
  23 Aug 2011, 07:58 am

  Crockett is a massive oversight by Henry. As is leaving Sivi out for toeava and Guildford.

  Bit like playing Mcalister instead of Mauger at 12.

  Or like playing Cullen at 13.

  Panicky much Mr Henry?

• 14.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 07:58 am

  GH feels Wyatt Crockett has a tendency to not hold up the himself in scrum and frequently goes down. Tony woodcock is absolute class, so he’ll get better through the pool stages and also with mike cron assisting he’ll be solid by knockout stages. In retrospect I didn’t think Colin slade played that badly against the Boks. It was his first start against a top tier team and in SA, which is not an easy place to tour, he’ll get better, and there’s always piri weepu as backup. Victor Vito for me is a surprise as he’s not impressed when he’s played in the black jersey but has oodles of ability and the size that the AB pack requires. This is a solid squad!

• 15.tuffa:
  23 Aug 2011, 07:58 am

  I can tell you now that there are some BIG smiles on some front row forwards this morning with the news Crockett has been left out. GH has made a big mistake!
  Good for us though!

• 16.Staal:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:00 am

  imo…

  although the Ab’s can’t start celebrating.

  There is no way any team will beat them at home in the WC…

  and that’s my honest rugby opinion.

• 17.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:01 am

  @boktillzero(boktillzero)-3:
  yeah, but if you look at it, they’ve been beaten with running rugby (the frogs twice), a mix of running & kicking rugby (the convicts twice) & old style kicking/defensive rugby (the boks twice)…seems they get beaten any which way most times at wc’s…

• 18.stand-off:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:01 am

  No decent replacements for key players.Good luck

• 19.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:02 am

  But I do think Sitiveni should have made it ahead of guildford, though both have high work rate Siti has better feet and they’ll be plenty of one on one situations at the WC!

• 20.Great White Shark:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:04 am

  @Staal(Staal)-16:

  Thing is, in RWC’s the impossible has been known to happen. I would be wary of Wales, England and Australia.

• 21.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:05 am

  @NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-8:
  playing players out of position..again?..hmmmm…

• 22.stew:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:06 am

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-14: Although i do rate woodcock , Afoa before Crockett is ridiculous – Wyatt annilated all comers this Super 15 so questions must be asked.
  Victor Vito has been shockin in the black , still have nightmares of him allowing Ben McC past him in the last test he played

• 23.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:09 am

  The team with real problems if injuries occur are the Boks. If Bismarck goes down, the Aura starts and chiliboy who’s better will only get 10-15 mins each game, jannie du plessis has no able replacement. Both matfield and ballots Botha have no equal replacements that would make anyone shudder. Without Brussouw the Boks are zero at the tackle point. The Boks have no running game so it’s ludicrous to have butch James as your no.1 10, so if Steyn goes down who’s your kicker who’ll provide you with zero error rate in front of the poles and accurate garryowens? The centre pairing are nullified as there’s no attack, so all you need is a pair with good defensive abilities.

• 24.NoRugbyGuru_0_:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:12 am

  @ we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha) Its like 2007 all over again the omission of sivi and crockett made my day (I feel sorry for them personally) but its great news for boks

• 25.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:14 am

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-19:
  that kid’s gonna get nervous in a big game, just you watch.
  wasn’t mr flash in the super final against the reds….

• 26.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:16 am

  Stew: I think with Afoa, GH has just gone with tried and tested, and if I’m not mistaken Afoa can play both sides if the scrum, I say this under correction. Vito made a massive mistake against the wallabies with the McCalman incident no question but Ted is probably thinking that with his size, mobility, and bit of mongrel he’s a better fit than messam cover 6 and 8. A gamble no question!

• 27.ufo:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:17 am

  Great squad… but thought crockett and sivivatu would make the cut…

• 28.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:22 am

  We have it on good authority: are you speaking of guildford or slade?

• 29.Transformation:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:25 am

  crockett demolished most tightheads this season, with both jannie & brok harris his biggest b*tches, was a beast in the loose popping up everywhere to run with the backs and even scored tries, where was afoa?

  Wyatt can really consider himself unlucky!

  Afoa? Fark me

• 30.BreakdownBoy:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:26 am

  No Crockett!!! Worst mistake of your life GH. You are going to regret it when we scrum you into the earth with “Pinecock” at TH, if the French don’t save us the trouble.

• 31.clownface:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:26 am

  whats happened to Aaron Cruden ,Matt Berquist, Luke Mccalister ? surely they’re better option than Slade?

• 32.BreakdownBoy:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:27 am

  @Transformation(Transformation)-29: Afoa got his *** handed to him on Saturday with decent locks behind him, along with Pinecock.

• 33.Transformation:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:28 am

  slad was putrid here in PE, i got home & watched the game again, one of his restarts that didn’t travel 10m resulted in a penalty for the boks after the scrum @ halfway. His garryowens were rubbish, with one actually landing a metre behind where he kicked it.

  As i said on sunday, Ted and his boys have made their bed.

• 34.RL:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:29 am

  ABs have a fantastic squad, Gear losing out to Toeava who covers fullback …weakness is Slade and Thomson. Afoa is their CJ.

  Important to note that there are less than 10 chokers who survived from 2007.

• 35.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:31 am

  Transie: a few reunion episodes ago do you remember Ted speaking about crockett’s weak point and the area of his game he was concerned with re: holding himself up in scrums? I think against the Aussies he went down a few times and copped some penalties. However, Afoa is a very big gamble, it can only be his versatility and test caps that got him over the line. However, Crockett is certainly unlucky! But don’t be too perturbed he’s prone to injury.

• 36.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:35 am

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-28:
  guildford

• 37.Ace11:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:36 am

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-23: Our main concerns, realistically, are brussouw and jannie. Jannie is more important for me as SA has no able replacement at all. Brussouw is a gem but Flouw could get us through most games, if our pack can dominate the scrums and tackle-point. Will struggle against Aus or NZ. We have replacements in the other positions who can do a decent job without being exceptional or reaching the level of our starting 15. Can’t wait for the squad announcement just to see if we get any shockers of our own. Will die if Wynand is anywhere near the WC squad!

• 38.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:39 am

  Transie: on balance I thought slade’s run out was not that bad in a makeshift team, with ostensibly a weak pack, given his still ball kicking was awful but his short kicking showed some promise and his running game has definite scope. In NZ he’ll exhibit far more confidence and will be more clinical. McCallister has just gone down hill since his sojourn in the NH, cruden will be there in 2015 but needs a few more Super series and ITM cups. Matt berquist has never been in the plans, and is not tested at the highest level.

• 39.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:42 am

  @clownface(clownface)-31:
  mcalister is one of the most hate men in new zealand right now ‘aparently’, so will never see the inside of an all black jumper again (news reports in the herald).
  it should have come down to cruden i think, but hey teddy-g sees things in his own way…

  @Transformation(Transformation)-33:
  agreed. lets see how he goes on the weekend if the ab’s are ahead and give him a cameo, otherwise he’ll prob get a run against japan, canada & maybe tonga…

• 40.heboric:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:43 am

  The Desperate Dads Army Thirty – will they be able to do it this time

• 41.WP_:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:44 am

  Vito a pretty average call imo. Going for Matt Todd as a back-up fetcher would have been a better bet… As was shown on Saturday, Thomson has a high work rate, but is no fetcher, he is and always has been a blindside

• 42.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:45 am

  for anyone going to the wc with a spare bit of cash, if your interested there’s a kiwi chick selling her virginity to the highest bidder….she needs the cash for her studies…

  http://www.iol.co.za/news/back-page/virginity-for-sale-1.1122448

• 43.captain fantail:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:45 am

  Absolutely gutted for Hosea Gear, he helps make the AB’s what they are…ahead of Guilford. Very sad for the guy.

• 44.ray-27:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:46 am

  @stew(stew)-7: I will go as far as to say that leaving Wyatt Crockett out, New Zealand have blown their World Cup chance.. Crockett has smashed every player before him in the scrums this year, and the stand-out front rower in New Zealand. Henry picked the Blues Front row that struggled against the boks in the set phases on Saturday.

• 45.captain fantail:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:46 am

  ..maybe they should have re thought SBW!!

• 46.captain fantail:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:49 am

  @NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-6: Yep showed once again they have to plan to win from halfway ala the poms as they dont have the power to break lines and score tries, but good on them for working to their weakness’.

• 47.ray-27:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:50 am

  @Transformation(Transformation)-29: i agree.. what a shocker!! its almost as if they have a quota system in New Zealand?

• 48.Papoose:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:50 am

  dont understand how the could cut out Wyatt Crocket??

• 49.Black Panther:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:52 am

  @stew(stew)-7:

  Afoa over Crockett is a complete JOKE. GH has picked Tarzan and Guildford as ‘form’ selections and yet picked Afoa and Toeava on reputation. Im not sure where Afoa gets the rep, but we can only assume his bleeper rating is high.

  Vito doesnt fill me with confidence after past 12mths deeds. Neither does Shaggy as a back-up openside.

  Happy Tarzan got the nod, he’s always excelled in the Black jersey. Not sure about Zac over Hosea, but his workrate has been high and thats what got him there.

  Boric seems to be highly rated. Not 100% sure why, altho his core-skills are solid.

  If they can get the best 22 on the field, they’ll be extremely tough to beat and thats all we can ask.

  KIA KAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA !

• 50.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:54 am

  We have it on good authority: I would have gone for Sitiveni, Ted has definitely made a mistake there and with Crockett for sure. Afoa is very average in each department and guildford though very fast and with high workrate should be behind Sitiveni who has the same assets but with an x factor.

  Ace11: if Wynand Olivier is anywhere near a bok jersey come the announcement, British airways or SAA should cancel touring squad’s bookings forthwith, meisiekind is bloody awful! Flow I don’t think will be brought in by PdV his played no part this year. Botha and matfield are key for the Boks upfront assault, if they are not there it’ll put their replacements in an unenviable position in set pieces. Stegman could possibly come in for Brussouw if Schalk is not fit and that’s just scary. I think the boks have real concerns if some frontline forwards go down.

• 51.captain fantail:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:57 am

  @Black Panther(Black Panther)-49: Yep some strange decisions and mutterings coming from man’,ment….still they must have their reasons.

• 52.stew:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:58 am

  @Black Panther(Black Panther)-49: KIA KAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA !

• 53.realkenyan:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:01 am

  wise decisions by GH. Crockets scrumming technique has been under scrutiny and many NH refs would penalise him in the world cup and GH is not willing to take that risk.also even if Crocket made it he would only get cameo runs in the pool games as afoa will.in the big games it will be Wood####,Mealamu,O franks with Hore and Franks on the bench.
  Toeava versatility gets him through ahead of Sivi and Gear who imo is one of the best finishers of this generations loses out to gulidford because of his low workrate not lack of ability

• 54.RL:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:04 am

  @captain fantail(captain fantail)-43: Gear does the hard work and it was he who cut infeld on Saturday, taking that offload from SBW before drawing in two defenders and setting the dragon Kahui free for his try.

• 55.captain fantail:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:05 am

  @realkenyan(realkenyan)-53: Everything you say is right and can see where you are comjng from re all the boys, except Gear,on the wing doesnt have as many opp’s for involvement. He’s stronger, more powerful, great under the high ball, more feared than Guilford and as you say a great finisher. I think this is their biggest mistake…but he may yet get his chance.

• 56.Monty:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:05 am

  Best team NZ could select. This is a world Cup winning team, and led by McCaw, with players like Carter Dagg, Franks, Nonu, Conrad smith, wonderful experience, knowledge,

  Our best team needs to play all games except maybe the Japan or Canada game.

• 57.ufo:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:14 am

  @Transformation(Transformation)-29:

  remember that andries bekker played with a stuffed ankle (which needed surgery hence not in world cup), a stuffed shoulder and a stuffed hip… in that game… also duane was injured…

  so crockett and the crusaders scrum was made to look better than they were…

  so to say it was harris’s fault is just not accurate…

• 58.captain fantail:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:15 am

  @RL(RL)-54: He makes metres, pulls defenders due to his explosive running and power and his fundamentals are great?

• 59.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:17 am

  The real problem for the ABs is if McCaw goes down there’s an enormous problem, no one in NZ fills that gap. Their impact upfront at the tackle point, breakdowns, ball carrier assists will be under pressure, read will have to do a lot of extra work with kaino.

• 60.realkenyan:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:18 am

  @captain fantail(captain fantail)-55: this quote from the Backline coach Wayne Smith gives a hint on why gear never made it…

  ‘We just pick the best players that play the best,’ said Smith. ‘You want people who can take the high ball, you want people who are able to chase, you want players with high work-rate who can counter-attack, and off phase play get from their side of the field to the other side. You want high number of touches and good ability in the backfield.

  admittedly he looks good every time with the ball in hand but he doesnt get involved enough times

• 61.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:19 am

  @Monty(Monty)-56:
  well, i think they should give slade time against the **** and canadians at the least & maybe even tonga if the ab’s build a lead. (he should at least be primed, just in case. remember carter limped off in 2007).
  same for a few others too.

  dirttrackers worked for sa in 2007.

• 62.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:21 am

  j aps..?

• 63.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:22 am

  Gear’s work rate is wanting, he’s a superb runner with the ball, solid under the high ball but does not look for work enough. Toeava is very lucky to get in, though he covers centre, wing, and fullback, he does not have a great track record for the ABs. Maybe he’ll prove me wrong, with not much game time this year this is risky!

• 64.mshiniwami:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:24 am

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-50:

  All Black squad a very solid one as usual but some very strange calls.

  So the AB’s do pick on sentiment and reputation….Woodcock is not the prop he used to be,got a pasting by Jannie this past weekend and so did Ben Franks when he came on.So the AB prop cover is not as great as first thought.Crockett not going is a travesty if one is looking at form,he does have a tendency to have his hip above his back level when it matters and sometimes lands him into trouble penalty wise-mainly due to his towering size for a prop-1.94m.But elsewhere he is now a better allround prop that Woodcock-who looked old on the weekend.Mike Cron or not time is telling on the once most feared loosehead in the world.

  Gear can feel agrieved as he has done little wrong and worked really hard under the high ball.Was the premier wing in NZ on EOYT last year and played decent in 3N.Toeava over Siti??? Another pick on sentiment and more importantly-to counter up and unders me thinks.Time will tell.

  Vito over Messam is another strange one,even though Messam hasnt det world alight at Test level barring his one French Test in 2009,he has certainly played better than Vito in last 12 months.Vito for all his size is still a bit soft.Im suprised the dropped Hoeatta and picked Boric who isnt a tighthead lock and robs them of a 4/6 option for their bench in 22.In Thorn they have the ONLY had grafting lock impressive at collisions-the rest are all 5′s really.

  If any of Thorn,McCaw,Carter-the All Black balance and dynamic changes altogether.

  But are still clear favourites.

• 65.mshiniwami:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:26 am

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-59:

  Very true. Going without another true openside with Todd,Braid available is strange. Shaggy isnt the answer no matter how much GH wants him to be.Was abysmal at breakdown on weekend.

• 66.Brigadier Van Zyl:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:32 am

  coeect me if i am wrong but thompson took a decent amount of lineout ball during the game….usually the nz achilles heal. that might of been factored in?

• 67.Papoose:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:34 am

  Thomson over Messam?
  hmmmm

• 68.rossoneri:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:38 am

  @John Galt(John Galt)-13: Guilford is in the squad.

• 69.danuk:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:38 am

  No Wyatt Crockett? Afoa instead? Very happy about that!

• 70.danuk:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:40 am

  Richie or Dan gets injured and I think ABs will struggle against SA and AUS

• 71.danuk:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:40 am

  If the Aussies can stay sober

• 72.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:40 am

  Mshini: Ted has always maintained that set pieces will be premium points during the WC, he believes that though Crockett has a superior game in the loose, hitting rucks, and tackle counts, he’ll be expensive at scrum time and at possibly crucial moments during knockout stages. I’m sure that cron had a huge say in the woodcock and Afoa decision. It surprised me that Ben franks lost the argument when played against SA as he’s usually very solid in the set piece, I think Ali Williams may not have put in the work he needed to. Tony woodcock will get better and with thorn behind he’ll have an edge as he goes through the pool stages, he will have to play every game! Boric is only solid nothing more, hoeatta is too inexperienced at test level but he would have made for a better replacement for thorn with his aggression. You are boric is more of a 5.

  Toeava’s optionality is what attracts Ted to him, however I’ve not seen him bring it at test level, as I said maybe he’ll prove me wrong. Sitiveni should be ahead of guildford, siti has experience, pace, workrate, and crazy feet. This selection puzzles me.

  Injury situations to Carter, richie, and thorn will decimate the blacks, there is no doubt. They’ll still be competitive but there won’t be the feeling of a team that will pull through tight situations.

• 73.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:51 am

  Mshini: either Todd or braid should have been included against Fiji, and definitely Baby Boks. Every makeshift 7 that Ted and Hansen have put forward during their tenure has not worked from tanerau latimer to shaggy. This is a real issue, Thompson does not do the key job that McCaw does, breakdown work on defense and offense is not up to scratch, he leaves the scrum too early on defensive scrums, and he’s not a link player in the mould of McCaw at international level. This is a huge problem for the ABs. Vito though always impressive at super and ITM level has not shown anything at test level, maybe Hansen has something up his sleeve but I’d have gone with messam. Afoa, one can only assume, because he’s less prone to penalties at scrum time and perhaps he can play adequately on either side of the scrum married with quite a bit of experience that’s what got him through.

• 74.NoRugbyGuru_0_:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:51 am

  I wish jake white would shut his mouth, who gives a shiit what he thinks? Of all the coaches who won the WC, he has the biggest mouth and is such a headline hunter! Ffuck off jake you snake!

• 75.Black Panther:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:57 am

  Slade obviously showed enough in the 1stH to just get the nod. He’ll go OK, he just needs to feel part of the environment, so he should be started in all fringe matches and subbed on, where scoreboard allows, in the Big Games. He’s no DC, but he’s sturdier than the Duck

• 76.RL:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:59 am

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-64: with 4 “fullbacks” one can see Henry’s thinking … he wants to have players who can take the high balls.

• 77.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:59 am

  I’m not sure what the Boks will do without Morne Steyn, their gameplan revolves around him to kick penalties. Boks have no running game at all at all, they so myopic that if their frontline kicker goes then there’s no one else to get them points. You can’t rely on butch, his still ball kicking won’t pass mustard at international level and he does not have range. Lambie is untested as a regular kicker at test level, to bank your house on him would be to seek vagrant status.

• 78.Black Panther:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:04 am

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-72:

  Actually, Toeava has shown glimpses of the promise that the 3 Blind Mice always said he did. I share concerns that he can die with the ball, but he has electric pace from standstill, can nail a spot tackle and is solid under the garryowen. The logic is there in his utility value, no other player was covering more positions (15/11/14/12/13). Im not his biggest fan but there is still enough to suggest, if his fitness allows, that he could explode on the Big Stage. He also appears more confident in the team mix, when previously a lack of confidence hindered him reaching his potential. Lets hope they were right and chch was wrong.

• 79.NoRugbyGuru_0_:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:07 am

  @ Black Panther(Black Panther), slade showed enough in the 1st half? he showed that he is very lucky to be part of the all black squad, weepu will be your back up 10

• 80.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:08 am

  I ope some of these saffas going on about woodcock and afoa being owned realise, like their 21 injured boks, played their first games after injury against the bok A team.

  the sharks/bok front row is poor. Bismarck, beast are poor scrummagers, let’s hope the refs ping beast for his continual boring in.

  Vito, Thompson shouldn’t be there. Matt todd should have been in the 3Ns squad.

  the cartel have shown they STILL can’t pick the right players.

• 81.NoRugbyGuru_0_:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:11 am

  @ poops, you’re so precious go watch the game again, go look at how the Nz scrum got their assses handed to them on a silver platter, did you not see the tighthead?

• 82.NoRugbyGuru_0_:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:14 am

  Nz scrum nicknamed ‘ la as on platter’

• 83.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:16 am

  norugbyguru.

  understand fully. you’re players were rusty coming back from injury, ours aren’t afforded that luxury?

  wait until woodcock has thorn behind him, different beast entirely.

• 84.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:17 am

  Sivivatu should have been there ahead of Guildford, in the humble opinion of the katman. And I was also a little surprised about Crockett. But this is still one hell of a team. And personally I think Vito is a phenomenal talent. The first choice combinations in that squad will be too much for most teams.

  Most, but not all…

• 85.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:17 am

  Poppa: you’ve started again! There’s no need for you to antagonize people, we’ve been having a wonderful discussion without any of your and helen’s madness! Just engage peacefully mate.

• 86.lapoftherugbygods:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:18 am

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-50:

  Ted,Wayne and Steve have made the call and frankly there are none better placed in the world to make the decision than those three guys. Their careers rest on it.
  They have decided the game plan and the positions where they have choice ie winger has come down to who will execute the game plan best not who is necessarily the best or fastest athlete. The second consideration is if something goes wrong who are the players that will react best under pressure.
  I back their calls 110 percent. I believe they have learnt from the last tournament where they had the best team on paper and lost and will be bringing home the cup to where it all first all started.

  They are exceptional coaches and NZ is extremely lucky to have guys of that calibre coaching the national team.

  I agree about Wynand Olliver. have never figured out his appeal. he seems a ok S15 but has never impressed at test level.

• 87.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:18 am

  go watch the bokke/shaekslover front row being murdered in super riugby.

  a full strength bok pack versus an AB pack minus 4 frontline ABs.

  of course that pack should have been shunted. but what do I know.

• 88.NoRugbyGuru_0_:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:18 am

  Woodcock has thorn behind him, sounds interesting I’m sure a beast will emerge hahaha what’s your take on sivi and crockett not being there?

• 89.Slumtown:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:21 am

  Adam Thomson?? After Saturdays perfromance? I reckon that Todd played far better this year but anyways. Give me Thompson any day.
  Victor Vito looking a bit thin on loose forward stocks. thats only 5 loosies?
  An injury to Read or McCaw will seriously weaken them.
  I also dont think Richie is as influential as he once was. if the breakdown gets policed properly at the WC he´s going to struggle to impose himself.

  No surprises at prop except for the ommission of Wyatt Crockett?? WTF? One up for us. Id rather have old Woodcock and Afoa than Wyatt.
  No surprises at hooker either. We´ll probably play Mealamu or Hore – either way we best them in that department and our props held their own on Sat.
  Locks pretty even.
  I´d say Read is their biggest difference in the forward pack. But more or less we are pretty even come forwards. I´d say SA edge it.

  Again no surprises at scrumhalf and flyhalf. An injury to Carter would be devastating for them. No surprises at centre either. Fullback same thing
  So the only 2 dedicated wings in the squad are Guildford and Jane? Reckon theyre missing something by omitting Sivivati and Gear.

  Sa better scrumhalf, NZ better flyhalf, centres NZ might just edge it but not much in it. Wings same. I think in players like Dagg, Guidlford, SBW they have a bit of an edge. Going to be closer than they think in some matches.

  Israel Dagg Zac Guildford, Cory Jane, , Mils Muliaina,

• 90.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:22 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-80:
  “continual boring in”..coming from an ab supporter thats a little rich dont you think pops?
  your front row seems to make a habit of it. not to mention those dirty franks driving through the scrum with arms by their sides.

  agreed on not picking the right players. in some ways i’m starting to feel for the ab’s in the way i feel for the boks righ now. saturday will be a watershed perhaps.

• 91.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:23 am

  All I remember from this much vaunted AB front row on Saturday is the massive trauma they suffered as those Sharks weaklings bulldozed them off their own ball. They were so freaked out that they started flailing wildly at the Boks when they came up for air afterwards. Poor Sam Whitelock wasn’t even in the front row and he’s had to go for counselling. This is partly due to the fact that he chose to flail at Mr Botha who told him sternly to calm the fck down. Sam later asked GH not to name him in the squad, but it was too late.

• 92.Slumtown:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:24 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-87: your biggest difference is Read – I seriously doubt wether McCaw has a serious impact on the scrum and saying Sam Whitelock is B team and Brad Thorn A team is much of a muchness. I cant see much difference in strength there. Front row even when Franks came on he didtn make much difference, so dont be too cocky just yet.

• 93.NoRugbyGuru_0_:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:28 am

  @ >^..^< katman(katman)

• 94.LITELOCK:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:32 am

  @Slumtown(Slumtown)-89: Fullback may be a surpise.When an interviewer ask GH if Dagg was picked as a starting wing,and he answered”He might have been picked as a starting fullback” Then again GH maybe just shitstiring.

• 95.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:32 am

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-91:

  it’s true whitelock doesn’t play in the front row.

  but he found himself there after one of the scrums.

  I’m still waiting for our chinese correspondent to tell us how awesome the all black scrum was.

  @we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-90:

  continual boring?

  yep, that sounds like pooper allright.

• 96.mshiniwami:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:33 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-80:

  Bok frontrow on weekend had only played one game vs OZ before weekend’s Test so really thats not a good enough excuse(Guthro has been out longer than Woodock) on Woodcock especially.Afoa has never been of any significance at setpiece,great in loosie.And Ben Franks when he came on also got owned and he had played the previous AB Tests this year.

• 97.Slumtown:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:35 am

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-96: Right on Mshini – you tell that boy! Ben Franks and bro Owned Franks.

• 98.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:36 am

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-85: where have I started?
  byu highlighting tat the Sharks/Bok front row were also manshamed during the S15?

  what about the Stormers front row? they too were manshamed…

  if you guys dont want to admit it, fine… no skin of my nose…

  wonderful how one comment from me brings out all the rabid dogs..

  excellent stuff…

• 99.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:36 am

  Lapoftherigbugods: the three wisemen are the best coaching team rugby has seen, period! I don’t doubt their ability for a moment, they continually revolutionize how the game is played. With that said, I can see their logic with woodcock and perhaps Afoa as Crockett is prone to penalties at scrum time, guildford and siti there I find them inconsistent, Wayne said he wants an individual who looks to touch the ball as much possible, take the high ball, counter attack, work off phase ball, siti has all these attributes but also presents the x factor which is critical in counter attack. Vito for me has not shown a thing at test level he’s akin to the duck, he always screws up. I’d have persisted with messam, and Thompson though a good player was woeful as an opensider, he just can’t be McCaw’s replacement. Toeava I don’t have too much issue with because he’s optionality is invaluable but he has a history of not showing up at test level, however he did have a useful game against the Boks.

• 100.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:36 am

  @Gunther(gunther)-95: whats that spider man? I see youve gone straight for the jugular, when I was talking rugby opinion…

  go figure dutchy…

• 101.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:40 am

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-96: Like I said previously, with 4 front line Ab forwards at least to return to the starting pack, getting excited over that scrum performance is premature…

  but continue, because SA are ALREADY WC winners this year arent they?

• 102.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:41 am

  continual boring

  they are going to write that on his tombstone.

  over and over

  

• 103.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:44 am

  @Gunther(gunther)-102: still no rugby opinion Gunther?

  thought not…

• 104.Proud Lion.:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:46 am

  NO BRAINS IN THE BACKS!!

  DC is the only backline general capable of dictating proceedings. much like in 2007 DC needs a player in the mould of Aaron Mauger to suppot him in this role for the big games where variation a of tactics may be required for the tight games. The centres are all one dimensional, with a lack of kicking options. Unless dagg starts there will be too much pressure on DC, as they are the only footballers there.

• 105.UptheGuts:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:49 am

  Biggest omission have to be Crockett. I still don’t know what to make of our scrum dominace with the all Shark frontrow but seeing Afoa and Woodcock there and not Wyatt makes my day. Owen Franks will make a difference, so will Thorn but since our lineout dominance seems to have dissappeared, a better scrum will do nicely. Huge mistake by Henry. It is official….it has begun.

• 106.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:49 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-103:

  my rugby opinion is that you are a twat deluxe who should be allowed out of the house without adult supervision.

  and a muthafucker to boot (if ya know what I mean).

  and that come the world cup knockouts, it’s anyone’s game.

  but the all blacks are favorites to be sure.

  aren’t they always?

• 107.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:51 am

  There seems to be a lack of respect seeping into people’s minds about McCaw and the way he plays now. Granted he’s no longer the king of the floor, there he’s been usurped pocock and Brussouw but he presents other facets that kill both Brussouw and pocock, the two’s primary focus is stealing, McCaw creates an environment where he blocks these steals by playing close to the ball carrier, Thompson forgot this on Saturday. At the tackle point, he facilitates for either his own pilfering or more commonly for the counter ruck by forming a bridge at the tackle point and places himself on the opposition side, which obstructs the oppositions ability to effect a good clean out whilst he has his hands on the ball, this slows down their recycle and allows the defensive line to form. His link play on offense and defense in transitional play is unparalleled. Brussouw and pocock are great on the ground but that’s where it stops.

• 108.LITELOCK:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:53 am

  @UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-105: These wont be the front row that play against the Boks though,no matter whats said the Abs respect the Boks more than that.

• 109.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:53 am

  @Gunther(gunther)-106:

  I know what you mean, Id rather be a mofo than a rock spider, aye kiddy fiddler..

  just how many kids have you “touched” personally?

• 110.UptheGuts:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:57 am

  And all saying that Wyatt is a liability at scrumtime? That is only if the ref sees it as such. And it is not as if he was penalised at every scrum. Ref’s mostly guess what’s happening at scrumtime anyway and will go *** for tat because of it. What he brings to the loose, fits the AB gameplan like a glove and because of his omission another prospect at frontfoot ball is lost.

• 111.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:57 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-109:

  you seriously want to go down this road again?

  have you no shame?

• 112.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:58 am

  @Gunther(gunther)-111: hey, you come at me first mate, I was talking rugby and you went straight at the insults..

  so go fark yourself…

• 113.UptheGuts:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:00 am

  @LITELOCK(LITELOCK)-108: I get that but no prop plays the full 80 anymore. So Woodcock and/or Afoa will be involved at some stage. So much better for the opposition now to know Wyatt isn’t there with the mission to wreak havoc for 60 or so.

• 114.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:01 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-109: The way you only come on here to mock and disrespect the locals, and then act all hurt and sad when they quite rightly point out that you are a kont, is worthy of its own psychiatric study. Has there been one day in the past few years here when you have refrained from being derogatory, argumentative, insulting? So you pretty much know what’s coming and you still do it. And then YOU are the victim? The poor little Maori fella, kicked and spat on by the big, mean dutchies. Fck off, Poeps. You are just an irritation here.

• 115.danuk:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:03 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-98: The Crusaders scrum did indeed monster the Sharks scrum, especially with John Smit as loosehead. With Beast on it looked much better.

  Regardless, the locks behind the front row is very different from the Sharks and Bakkies is a much better scrumming lock.

  Also, I think Wyatt Crockett was a very big part of the Crusaders scrum success.

  Woodcock will no doubt improve, but I think Afoa is overrated.

• 116.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:03 am

  cmon Gunther, you started this whole mess… your first comment to me was one of insult, nothing more and did nothing to counter my rugby opinion…

  I then gave you another out regarding your rugby opinion, you continued to hurl insults..

  but its always me right?

• 117.UptheGuts:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:05 am

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-114: Yeah no goodmorning, how are you doing. Just straight in, head first with the same old argumentative bs!

• 118.danuk:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:06 am

  @UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-113: I agree, I think he (crockett) is very unlucky not to be there. Definitely happier as a boks supporter that he is not there.

  Also, there’s no real backup for McCaw and I don’t think Thomson is the answer

• 119.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:07 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-112:

  because I said you were continually boring?

  straight for the jugular hey

  and your measured yet humorous respeonse was

  100.poppa69 said:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:36 am
  @Gunther(gunther)-95: whats that spider man? I see youve gone straight for the jugular, when I was talking rugby opinion…
  go figure dutchy…

  would you say keo has changed you again?

  for the better or for the worse?

  or is this your scorched earth policy?

  or are you just normally a bellend?

• 120.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:07 am

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-114: but the way the locals mock and disrespect is alright? some welcome huh? such gracious hosts, who do nothing but show their continual hatred…

  whats the matter, arent we allowed to banter or do we have to just shut up and take the rubbish dished up?

  not me Katgirl, I’ll stand up to people like yourself and Gunther, plain bullies who think they know it all..

• 121.BMM:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:08 am

  I believe that All Black squad is a huge psychological boost to the Boks!! Jannie, Smit, beast, Gurthro, CJ and co will be rubbing their hands together knowing they won’t have to face Wyatt Crocket! He murdered everyone this year and is an absolute rock in the scrum……and in open play actually!! The Boks can’t play behind a pack going backwards and Morne for that matter can only play with his pack going forward!! (Sat was a case in point)!! The Boks and Aussies odds to win WC have just been slashed!!

• 122.mshiniwami:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:10 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-101:

  Last yr the Bok scrum was missing: Beast(visa),Bakkies(suspension),Smit(injured),Brussow(injured),Smith(injured till Soweto) but AB’s still didnt dominate Boks in setpiece.Most telling was at breakdown.

  The much vaunted AB scrum power is yet to be proven vs Bok frontline neither.In Wellington this year Boks were missing entire pack barring Smit,Rossouw.

  But AB fan on both occassions were getting a helluva excited.So check your side of the fence as well mate.

• 123.UptheGuts:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:13 am

  @danuk(danuk)-118: That is why I commented I think it has already begun for the AB’s. 2 big selection blunders that. Guildford for Sivi isn’t that much of a loss as both pretty good in their own right. They don’t lose much by selecting either. Gear is an interesting one but someone had to miss out in that potent backthree mix, I guess. SBW for me looked lost for the 2nd test in arow. Sure he made some telling offloads and put in some big hits, but for the most part he almost looks like he gets/feels in the way. Is it just me?

• 124.oscarthedawg:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:13 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-120:
  “I know what you mean, Id rather be a mofo than a rock spider, aye kiddy fiddler..
  just how many kids have you “touched” personally?”

  It’s statements like those that make people dislike you. Implying that someone you don’t know is a paedophile doesn’t count for banter. At least not in my book. But hey, each to his own. Maybe you think it’s funny or witty or whatever.

• 125.danuk:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:13 am

  @BMM(BMM)-121: What team in the world can play behind a pack which is struggling? What flyhalf, 8th man, scrummie looks good behind a loosing pack?

  Can you name any team who’s scrum has been struggling looking good on 1st phase attack?

• 126.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:14 am

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-122: I never mentioned last year Mish, I mentioned the Super rugby comp this year…

  where have I said the ABs scrum will monster the Bokke scrum? havent said anything of the sort.. all I stated was the Sharks and Stormers front rows were bested by the Saders… but read into my comments whatever you wish…

  are we going to stick to the point at hand or are you going to move the goalpost again?

• 127.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:16 am

  @oscarthedawg(oscarthedawg)-124: like I said, I was sticking to rugby… Gunther did not counter my opinion at all, just went straight to an insult..

  so I will return serve if thats the case..

  but of course, you read the thread and seen this didnt you?

• 128.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:18 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-120: Just go away and don’t come back then. Wouldn’t that be easier for everyone? To quote some funny British guys, “This is a local shop, for local people. Are you local?”

• 129.danuk:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:19 am

  @UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-123: yes, I agree that I would have thought those players who have been selected, however I don’t think it will be that big an impact.

  The only major risk I think they face is if either McCaw or DC get’s injured, because there are no serious contenders to back these guys up in the squad. Definitely for McCaw.

  I think SBW will play better next to DC and with Guildford the combinations and plays will probably look a lot like the Crusader plays. It will be interesting to see if SBW starts, but I doubt it as GH seems to have chosen Nonu and Smith as the centre pairing.

  I think he will play SBW and Dagg as impact players in the main games

• 130.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:20 am

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-122:
  bonus points for using the word ‘telling’ in your post…

• 131.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:21 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-127:

  everybody has read the thread and seen exactly the type of person you are.

  continually boring

  =

  dutchie paedophile.

  is that humour or are you just different?

• 132.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:21 am

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-128: nah, Im not going to cater to your wish katman… but I will say this, the pack mentality evident on this thread, is it indicative of the local shop you make mention of?

• 133.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:23 am

  @Gunther(gunther)-131: yawn…

  you started the mess Gunther, why did you come straight with an insult…which is what it was, regardless..

  you always do whenever I post, and NEVER with a rugby counter, always personally aimed at me..

  so I’ll make it personal back..

• 134.oscarthedawg:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:23 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-127: Of course. Just returning serve. Hey, whatever floats your boat, it’s no skin off my nose.

• 135.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:25 am

  @Gunther(gunther)-119:
  ‘boring’ is a serious matter for the kiwis
  

• 136.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:27 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-133:
  are you nervous about the game on saturday, big guy?…

• 137.danuk:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:27 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-132: dude, as a south african living in london I come onto this site to hear the views from a South African point of view. The majority of bloggers on this site (as far as I can see) are Boks supporters and I think it’s perfectly reasonable that we are biased towards the Boks.

  If you are looking for a mostly NZ view, then go and blog on a .co.nz website …

• 138.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:27 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-133:

  continually boring?

  well aren’t you?

  I suggest you have a look at your body of work over the last few days.

• 139.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:29 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-132: Not just mine, bud. No one wants your “banter” here, whether you’re “returning serve” or not. I don’t understand how you choose to spend all this time bickering with people who genuinely dislike you. It’s just sad.

• 140.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:30 am

  @we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-136: not at all, Aussie will be better but I still think the Abs will outdo them in the forward battle…

  @danuk(danuk)-137: then Dude, I guess it is SA nature to be hate filled is it?

  @Gunther(gunther)-138: whatever gunther… do you EVER offer a rugby opinion? becasue I seldom see you do so… just cheap insults at anyone who isnt Saffa or who isnt white..

  continue bigot…

• 141.UptheGuts:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:32 am

  How about just ignoring him? @danuk(danuk)-129: mmm see what you’re saying. Too bad the Aussies had a bit of off field drama. Will they be focused enough to put the AB’s to the sword. Got a lot of time for Horwill though. Their chances at lifting the WC increased with that move imo

• 142.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:35 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-140:

  I offered you one earlier on which you ignored.

  Please don’t make this a racial thing now.

  Because that would be very sill indeed.

  You are getting desperate.

• 143.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:38 am

  @Gunther(gunther)-142:

  “my rugby opinion is that you are a twat deluxe who should be allowed out of the house without adult supervision.
  and a muthafucker to boot (if ya know what I mean”

  thats a rugby opinion is it? yeah, continue mate… gees, what position is that referring too? I dont see how it relates to the front row discussion we were having..

  but yeah, its always me who starts the rubbish aye?

• 144.UptheGuts:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:41 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-143: But you sure as hell want to finish it nuh?

• 145.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:43 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-140:
  if oz gets parity up front or not i think they’re gonna take a page out of the springboks playbook and look to kick a lot and spoil the ab’s tempo as much as possible. running failed them in the first test. they should play reds rugby a bit maybe? and just run good breakouts from cooper, genia and ioane now and again.

• 146.lapoftherugbygods:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:43 am

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-99: They get a hard time at times in Nz but any other national team with their win record they would have probably been knighted by now. I would have selected crockett over Afoa but Crocket has been susceptible to scrum penalties and I wonder whether Steyn or for that matter Beale as well kicking 50m penalties has made them wary of giving away penalties. If the AB backs don’t make the most of their opportunities like last saturday you can bet Steyn will keep the Boks in the game.

  Time and time again when you get an extremely dominant player ie McCaw,carter, Gregan etc you get a paucity of quality in the same position. Many of the younger ones tend to head oversea because they dont want to sit on the bench a la Evans for carter leaving the also rans as backups.

• 147.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:50 am

  @we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-145: The addition of vickerman will add more grunt to their pack, but will it be enough Im not so sure… Cooper will be looking to redeem himself, but the ABs know how rattled he gets if he doesnt have time on the ball… as evidenced at Eden Park…Aussie will be tougher at home, but I still think the ABs will be too strong as a unit.. I think the Ab team at PE tried to implement a reds style of game, not sure it works at the higher test level myself..

  Im tipping ABs by 12…

• 148.mshiniwami:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:53 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-126:

  Fact is that you amongst many AB fans have been celebrating the now apparently gargantuan AB frontrow stock yet its not yet proven to be dominant over Boks. Many a post commented on how great Crockett,Owen Franks,Ben Franks were going to decimate opposition looking at S15 form etc yet Crockett hasnt made the cut-gave away crucial penatlies in 3N,Ben Franks has struggled to assert himself when he has played.Owen is the big mover/shaker having improved immensely since 2009. Many were ready to put Woodcock to the pasture in favour of Crockett.Woodcock hardly impressed since 2009-last 18months his abilities have waned.Never thought I’d see Jannie du Plessis give AB loosheads such a hard time as this past weekend as i dont really rate him.But he did.

  Crockett is out,Flynn will not start an important Test-as he has never from 2003 RWC bolter status-always plays Namibia,Portugal etc. So what of the vaunted Saders frontrow? Coz they wont be at world cup.

  @we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-130:

  Thanks,hahaha LOL,straight out of the Hugh Bladen “scotch wretched playbook”

• 149.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:53 am

  @UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-144:

  “a muthafucker to boot (if ya know what I mean”

  yep, especially as I know exactly what was meant by this…

• 150.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:54 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-140:
  if oz gets parity up front or not i think they’re gonna take a page out of the springboks playbook and look to kick a lot and spoil the ab’s tempo as much as possible. running failed them in the first test. they should play reds rugby a bit maybe? and just run good breakouts from cooper, genia and ioane now and again.

  am betting on oz though.
  be honest, if you lose this will cause a funk of sorts in kiwiland, yes?
  it causes a triple headache for the ab’s…in having to concern themselves against oz, sa and the frogs.
  also, do you think ab’s might throw a game in their pool in order to get an easier ride through to the finals? it would be deviously smart if you did. you’d kill two birds with one stone by facing england in quarter and also leaving us to send off the frogs for you guys in the semi’s. samoa or wales will tire the ozzies and you back yourselves against them better than you do us or the frogs so that semi should work.

  then its left to face us in the final, by which time you’ll hope we’re tired out from the toughest pool stage in the comp as well the frogs and irish?….

• 151.UptheGuts:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:55 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-147: U should be tipping the Walabies mate. 3N’s and WC in the same year haven’t been done before, you know

• 152.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:55 am

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-148: have I ? please show me the specific post? Ive celebrated their decimation of both the Stormers and Sharks front rows… but I have never rated Afoa, and I agree about Woodcock.. but continue to formulate my opinion for me..

• 153.mshiniwami:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:57 am

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-148:

  So what of the vaunted Saders frontrow? Coz they wont be at world cup in important matches

• 154.danuk:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:57 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-140: Lol, where does the hate filled come from?

  However if you are going to say stuff which will piss-off boks supporters then take the comments you get on the chin.

  Nobody said this sight is full of objective neutral supports, just like the NZ websites, for example some nice objective insights from your countrymen about SA rugby:

  http://www.nzherald.co.nz:

  “It depends on whether you want to watch rugby or that garbage SA play. If you are happy to support a team that shows up once every four years and kicks their way to victory, good luck. I’d rather support a team that plays rugby week in and week out. Keep your World Cup, but maybe the name should not be William Webb Ellis because he was the guy who invented running with the ball.”

• 155.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:59 am

  @UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-151: I honestly dont think the wallabies can win the WC? I believe theyll in all likelihood if they can keep the same squad practically go into 2015 as favourites… they are still a young team that is starting to fulfill their potential… anything can happen in a one off test match at the WC, but I believe they still lack composure through the spine of the team…

  they are weak at centre, number 8, front row and without Pocock in the loosie department… but its all imo only..

• 156.danuk:
  23 Aug 2011, 11:59 am

  @UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-141: lol, that’s the problem with having a squad full of 21 year olds!

• 157.mshiniwami:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:00 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-152:

  Whats the use of celebrating S15 decimation when at least in terms of AB’s that front row WONT be facing Boks at world cup if they meet.As Woodcock & Mealamu will be the ones fronting as was this past weekend?

• 158.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:01 pm

  it would be a ‘low road’ strategy and it could work. and you guys are that sneaky ( i mean cheating, but in a nice way) i wouldnt put it past you.

• 159.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:03 pm

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-153: true, and the sharks front row will have much better locks behind them, but according to you Ive been saying the AB scrum will monster the Bokke scrum, when it couldnt be further from the truth..

  I am cionfident in the front row that will probably face the Bokkes (Franks, mealamu and Franks imo), but i have never claimed they will murder the Bokke scrum..

  got me confused with NZinChina?

• 160.danuk:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:03 pm

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-148: Here’s a thought, maybe these AB players peaked a little early … mmm …

• 161.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:06 pm

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-157: and whats the use of celebrating a scrum domination against a team without 4 first regulars in the starting pack? or does that not somehow matter? I would have much preferred Crockett to be there, but he is susceptible to giving aweay penalties, and seeing as that will be SA’s main weapon of attack, why hand them points?

• 162.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:08 pm

  @UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-151: have you noticed, since weve started talking rugby both Gunther and Katman have disappeared?

  strange huh?

• 163.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:09 pm

  From a NZ newspaper: Jerome Kaino was just 21 when he became an All Black — too early, he tells Alan Perrott. The rugby star talks about his struggle to cope with the pressures, including his drink-drive conviction, and looking forward to the tournament of his life.

  Tim Connolly was watching a sturdy pair of bookends when a wrecking ball caught his eye.

  As impressed as he was by the teenage rugby player, he kept his thoughts to himself. Who knew how the parents and coaching staff of the Papakura High School 1st XV would react to a poacher in their midst?

  Maybe they’d be more surprised than angry? After all their team was a perennial struggler and on this particular Saturday was coming a distant second to Aorere College.

  But Connolly saw gold in their defeat – as the newly-appointed coach of Saint Kentigern’s 1st XV it was a chance to keep pace with schoolboy rugby’s arms race. This was 1999 and, after the success of Graham Henry’s Kelston Boys’ sides, any Auckland school with ambitions of rugby glory was unashamedly dangling scholarships in front of the best raw talent from less well-off suburbs.

  On this occasion Connolly had turned up to check out the Afoa brothers, John and James, who were propping up the Papakura scrum. He knew their pedigree from his time coaching Counties’ youth sides – but it was a rangy Samoan kid playing at centre who grabbed his attention.

  Sure, he was a bit lax when turning to chase opposition kicks – much like Jonah Lomu in his early days – but that could be coached out of him.

  It was the natural speed and bone-crunching aggression that hinted at star quality.

  This was Connolly’s first glimpse of Jerome Kaino.

  Born on Tutuila, the main island in American Samoa, in 1983 and the third of six children, Kaino’s first home is dubbed “Football Island” because it has produced more professional gridiron players than anywhere else in the United States. If Kaino hadn’t come to New Zealand in 1987, following the lead of his father’s brother, his family reckons he would have ended up in the army.

  After settling in South Auckland, he began playing junior league for the Papakura Sea Eagles and turned to rugby at secondary school only so he could play with his new mates. Academically, not much was going on. He was almost marking time.

  “It’s not that I was a bad boy or anything,” he says. “I had the right friends and things like that, I just never focused that much on anything.”

  He and the Afoas had been mates since he was 12, so when Connolly convinced the brothers’ parents to send them to Saint Kentigern College, it was always likely their friend would tag along.

  Reunited as sixth formers the following year, the trio were joined by two more new recruits, Kieran Read (from Rosehill College) and Joe Rokocoko (from James Cook High School).

  If such blatant poaching angered the school’s southern rivals, as well as plenty of neutral observers, Connolly remains unrepentant.

  “I still don’t know if poaching is right or wrong,” he says. “But it went on in every rugby school I knew and morally I’ve got no issue with it when you consider what has happened to all those boys since.”

  Kaino was given a position in the Saint Kentigern forward pack.

  “He hadn’t filled out yet, but he was still a big boy and really destructive with it, so when the backs didn’t want him I threw him into number six straight away,” says Connolly. “The only problem was that we couldn’t lift him in the lineout, so he did the lifting instead.”

  With the Afoa brothers on board, Saint Kentigern finished fourth in the 1999 premier competition. Once Kaino and the others arrived the following year, they improved to second behind St Peters. Then in 2001, they beat King’s College in the final.

  Peter Milligan, one of the parents who watched every game, says Kaino stood out immediately. “My wife and I always said he was earmarked for bigger things and that if anyone in the team was going to be an All Black, it would be him. He could cut players in half, you’d hear the crunch from the sideline. You couldn’t help cringing.”

  Kaino’s growing reputation saw him recruited into Counties’ age-group rep sides, Auckland schoolboys and then the New Zealand schoolboys’ side on top of his 1st XV matches.

  As lifestyles go, it was already far from normal for the rising star.

  “It was kind of strange,” says Kaino. “Sometimes I do feel like I missed out on my youth. Like what my friends did.They’ve done their OEs, they’ve done the big parties and all the late nights, but from a young age, I’ve had to be pretty disciplined in what I do. I guess it’s what you have to do if you want to live your dream.”

  Even odd-jobbing became about rugby. When he wasn’t playing he was working at his aunt’s produce shop in the Otara shopping centre. It just so happened that the store was also part-owned by All Black prop Olo Brown and World Cup winning loosie, Michael Jones.

  It was from Jones that Kaino gained his playing credo: it is better to give than to receive.

  “I remember that everyone was very mindful at the time that he was a real star in the making,” says Jones. “I was very impressed with him. We had a few chats about the game and I remember he was a real sponge, he lapped everything up. He was also hugely respectful, your typical young Samoan, and I think he’s shown a lot of class in whatever he’s done ever since – which would suggest he’s making a really good fist of everything.”

  Then came 2004 and everyone’s expectations seemed to have been realised. Kaino was elevated to Auckland’s NPC team, appearing in every game, and he was named player of the tournament at the under-21 World Cup as well as IRB age grade player of the year. In November he was selected for the end-of-year All Black tour.

  This was heady stuff, and climaxed with his selection for the match against the Barbarians at Twickenham.

  “That was a really emotional time for me,” he says. “I never thought I would get the opportunity because I’d thought I was on tour mostly to get some experience of the All Black environment and learn the ropes. So when [captain] Richie [McCaw] handed me my first jersey, I was just stoked. That was something really special.”

  His performance was special as well. The man of the match not only rattled his former Auckland captain, Xavier Rush, and age-grade sparring partner Schalk Burger, he also made a goose of former Wallaby and Kangaroo Matt Rogers while scoring his first All Black try.

  But all was not as fantastic as it seemed.

  “It happened way too early for me,” admits Kaino now. “I was kind of selected on potential, and yeah, of course I was really happy to become an All Black. But then, the next year, I didn’t really show any substance to back it up … I guess everyone knew me after that tour and I was a bit of a marked man, but I hadn’t matured enough as a player to deal with it. I still needed to grow up a bit.”

  All the same, his potential saw him win his first test caps against Ireland in June 2006. Then he was dropped.

  It was a troubling time. Kaino had his first serious injuries to deal with, including a shoulder problem that required surgery, and his old focus issues were back with a vengeance.

  “I was only 21 when I was first selected and I was doing all the things that normal 21-year-olds do when I was supposed to be doing what 21-year-old All Blacks should be doing. My life outside rugby really wasn’t in line with what I did on the field and it took a while to get that together. I still managed to put in some good performances, but I realised pretty quickly that there was no way I’d get back in if I kept up my old lifestyle, my old mentality.”

  Instead of moping he tried using each mission as motivation to work harder. He had regular All Black six Jerry Collins in his way so he took on the hardman’s famous physicality and tried to take it a step further.

  Everything seemed back on track in 2008. His partner was pregnant and he was selected for the first two tests of the year.

  Then he almost self-destructed.

  On June 27, at 9am – the week before the opening Tri-nations test against South Africa – Kaino was involved in a nose-to-tail accident and failed a subsequent alcohol breath test. He not only had to appear in court, the NZRU was threatening a misconduct hearing.

  “That was a massive learning year for me, especially with that drink driving thing. It definitely hurt my family and forced me grow up a lot more. Mum and Dad had a few words for me as well, stuff like ‘it’s not what you’ve done, it’s how you come back from it’ and ‘make sure it doesn’t happen again, you’re a better person than that’.

  “That made me sit down and think about being an All Black and what I had to do to stay one, because the reality of being in the team is much better than I’d ever thought it would be. When I used to dream about it I only went as far as outfitting day – getting all that cool gear – but then, getting to live the lifestyle, having the team mates around me and the whole legacy of the jersey … it’s far exceeded my expectations.

  “So I used all of that as motivation for the next test. And with everything that was going on in the media, Graham Henry and all the coaching staff showed a lot of faith in selecting me. Getting out there and putting a performance in on the field was the only way I could pay them back.”

  In a tight match, Kaino scored the crucial second try and would have had another but for a crook offside call.

  And really, he hasn’t looked back since.

  “I’ve had so much that has happened in such a short time. But I think I’ve learned a lot and I now understand that as an All Black the spotlight is always on you. So I have to live a certain way and I have to be squeaky clean because a lot of people look up to us and kids look at us in a certain light. For me to appear in court was a real kick in the guts for them. So I keep myself busy looking after my daughter, Milan, and I go surfing with my brother-in-law.

  “There are times when being an All Black can get in the way, especially if I don’t play so well – people aren’t shy about letting you know – or if I want to take the family out to lunch, but on the whole it’s pretty good. I’ve only had a couple of nasty incidents. That’s when you have to bite your lip and walk away, reacting just isn’t worth it.”

  At 28, Kaino expects to keep playing until he’s 35. And with a family to look after he’s already thinking of life after rugby.

  He started a business diploma at AUT a few years back but dropped out. Now he’s thinking back on his aunt’s produce shop and considering following former All Blacks Eric Rush and Robin Brooke into the supermarket business.

  Such plans are on hold for now though. Everything is focused on getting to the World Cup, and his constant tugging on his shirt sleeves to get them past his large biceps shows he’s in fighting nick.

  He’s 1.96m of tattooed muscle and though he speaks softly his eyes flash when the tournament is mentioned.

  “Yeah, I’m excited … I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time, especially having it here at home. But I’m trying to stay relaxed and do what comes naturally. Whatever happens I have to make sure that when I walk on to the field I take the mana of being an All Black with me.

  “It’s a mentality that’s huge with us – when you put that jersey on you don’t take a step back, and when you’re surrounded by all the other guys in the team thinking the same way, that’s a powerful feeling to feed off.”

• 164.mshiniwami:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:13 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-159:

  Not sure about Franks/Mealamu/Franks combo,with Ben Franks covering 1/3 and Woodcock part of leadership group who Cron is fond off-I see them starting Woodcock and working him to full fitness as also Ben Franks changes bench selection dynamic.

  But being confident in your frontrow you should,its your country,your team.

  Well fair enough,dont think I have you confused with anyone but whoever is put out upfront of the A teams-it shall be interesting indeed.

• 165.UptheGuts:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:15 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-155: S15 not on the same level but the Reds showed enough composure to beat a virtual AB team bar a few players in the final. Make no mistake. The Wallabies can win it

  @danuk(danuk)-156: Yeah Deans must feel him having to deal with adolescents all over again!

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-157: Yeah and by the same token he disregards the composure the Reds showed in the S15 final.

• 166.danuk:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:15 pm

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-164: Question: Who would start as locks for the ABs? Brad Thorn and Whitelock?

• 167.danuk:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:19 pm

  I think the Wallabies don’t believe they can win against the ABs. Maybe if Ewen McKenzie was coach, because he is tactically better than Deans.

  The last game against the ABs the Aussies looked clueless, like they have no strategy to beat the ABs …

  ABs, so win comfortably before going into the RWC, 12 points plus …

• 168.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:23 pm

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-164: yeah, I can see your point re Woodcock, and agree he has struggled for quite some time… I just think with the inclusion of Afoa (who can play all three positions, none of them extremely well ) that the bench doesnt really become an issue because they have backup for either side… time will tell I guess… I think Ben franks offers more in the loose these days than Woodcock… even when fit Woody struggled in S15… I dont think we’ll see the Bok or the Abs dominate each other in scrums as much as we seen in the super comp…

  @UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-165: yeah, maybe… the Saders also had travelled a fair distance before that game, no excuse though, and had the opportunity to put it away with a simple pass from Thorn… full credit to the reds for that win, but I dont think the Saders were at their best that day, squandering a fair few opportunities…

• 169.Black Magic:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:23 pm

  @NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-6:

  It was very effective against a B team with untried combinations, at home when very desperate, …….and no try’s, hmmmmmmmm.

• 170.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:27 pm

  i am disappointed Maitland wasnt EVEN given an opportunity this 3Ns…

  has electric pace, great game awareness and a good workload..

  think the selectors missed a real trick there…

• 171.mshiniwami:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:29 pm

  @danuk(danuk)-166:

  Thorn & Williams…Williams in as much as he isnt the player he used to be,he is hugely influencial especially psyche of the All Blacks.He is also better in the air than Whitelock,more experience and a harder grafter at collisions-great mongrel for a 5.Whitelock is a great athlete though.

  @danuk(danuk)-167:

  Henry OWNS Deans…13-1 record….And counting

  interesting fact…in 11 games between boks vs AB from 2008-2011

  Henry vs De Villiers
  6 to 5

• 172.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:33 pm

  @lapoftherugbygods(lapoftherugbygods)-146: I agree with the sentiment of poor backups for established if not exceptional players in a team but with there being more of a squad focus, therefore a need to build depth the no.10 and no.7 position should have been prioritized from early on. There’s no excuse to Nick Evans not being Carter’s backup, none, Smith and Henry should have made a big effort to get him back, he’s brilliant. When he was playing for the blacks, him and Carter were 1 and 2 best 10′s in the world.

• 173.mshiniwami:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:36 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-170:

  He seems not to be rated by Ab coaches who capped even Ranger ahead of him last year.

  He is a classic winger,finisher. But with so many options who were they going to leave out of 3N? Jane hadnt been in good form in S14 so they wanted to see what he could do,same with Sivi,Guilford is new blue eyed boy,Toeava versatitlity,Hosea has been best winger in2nd half of yr/ITM onwards for 3 years now and was great on EOYT etc Plus Ben Smith….Maitland was never going to make it

• 174.UptheGuts:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:39 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-168: All ***** that happens in a game of rugby mate. Probably the story of your dismal WC showing anyway. You have got to be on top of your game for the full duration and by the chance you have an off day, you must be willing to win ugly. You guys were squandering tries last week too. Unsettled combo’s?

• 175.UptheGuts:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:40 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-170: horse has well and truly bolted on that one pops but I totaly agree

• 176.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:42 pm

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-171: Ali will start with Williams for sure, Ali irritated me a bit when he positioned himself as a key receiver in open play, slowed if not screwed up a whole movement. Especially when the ABs were 5 metres out from the Boks tryline, and he also gets isolated a lot does not hold his feet too well, perhaps a bit better than Matfield in that department.

  I’ve always said Deans is a dodgy Dingo, and he knows he has Wayne Smith to thank for his Super Series titles.

• 177.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:44 pm

  Mish

  Jane was always going to be there, always lifts in the black jersey.

  Not sold on guilford, good player but still have my doubts. I think Sivi is past it myself, doesn’t score many tries vs decent opposition these days.

  I believe they have picked the wings who are safe under the highball, hence Sivi and Gear not making it. both susceptible in this department, where those chosen are very competent in this regard.

  think we lack an out and out finisher, hence my disappointment.

• 178.UptheGuts:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:44 pm

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-176: Ali starts with Williams?

• 179.UptheGuts:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:47 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-177: Guildford is no better than Gear under the highball and by my account he did pretty good taking all kicks put up on his wing. I actualy thought because of it he’ll crack the nod, given his other attributes

• 180.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:49 pm

  @174

  yeah understand that fully. teams always seem to find that bit extra when playing us at WCs. hence why IMO they have gone with so much experience (bar three or so players).

  I think Carters droppie against Aussie shows they may be working on that aspect, and believe myself that they have over the last two years shown they are capable of playing this way.

  time will tell of course.

• 181.Guns:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:50 pm

  @NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-9:

  Absolute horse dung. Bok Rugby went down the minute JW left although P’Diddy just made it slower by milking an old system. The Boks play based on the current game plan introduced by Jake White years ago because the current Quota coach is absolutely useless. I would like to see the ALL Blacks would fare under an SA ANC government or simply with NO coach. Im not sure which is worse, probably better off with no coach..

  Super 15 top 10 overall Team Offensive Stats 2011
  (SA 5 Teams, Auz 3, Kiwi 2)
  Home Away Total
  1 Crusaders 238 198 436
  2 Cheetahs 263 172 435
  3 Queensland Reds 241 188 429
  4 Bulls 239 177 416
  5 Sharks 206 201 407
  6 Blues 235 170 405
  7 Stormers 177 223 400
  8 Waratahs 207 191 398
  9 Lions 190 161 351
  10 Western Force 152 181 333

• 182.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 12:55 pm

  @UptheGuts(UptheGuts)-179: gear doesnt seem to reproduce the blockbusting runs in tests that he does in Super rugby… but agree that Guilfords other attributes lifts him above gear… I would say it is based on pace and workload more than anything else…

• 183.Black Magic:
  23 Aug 2011, 13:10 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-170:

  Maitlands day will come. Still a boy and we are over loaded with wingers, in a year or 2 he will be an AB sensation

• 184.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 13:13 pm

  @Black Magic(Black Magic)-183: showed great form in the Super comp… but agree, just think he should have been brought into the squad, would hate for him to think he isnt good enough to crack the squad then lose him on an overseas sojourn before he gets the chance…

• 185.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 13:27 pm

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-171:
  thats because deans is a manchurian candidate.

• 186.stew:
  23 Aug 2011, 13:29 pm

  @Slumtown(Slumtown)-89</I also dont think Richie is as influential as he once was. if the breakdown gets policed properly at the WC he´s going to struggle to impose himself…….. You guys have been saying this for years , when will you guys learn that the King of Opensides always imposes himself !!!!!

  This will be the final run for the Legend – long live king Richie

• 187.NZINCHINA:
  23 Aug 2011, 13:42 pm

  @Guns(Guns)-181:

  Ok then tell me the last time the Bokke backs scored a great try against quality opposition?

• 188.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 13:47 pm

  @NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-187:

  all out tries are quality.

  unlike yours which are mostly touchdowns.

  hut hut..

  blue 42.

  blue 42.

• 189.stew:
  23 Aug 2011, 13:51 pm

  @NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-187: British Lions 2009 – Jacque Fourie – scary !!!!

• 190.NZINCHINA:
  23 Aug 2011, 13:52 pm

  @Gunther(gunther)-188:

  Sure tell us the last time though?

• 191.NZINCHINA:
  23 Aug 2011, 13:57 pm

  @stew(stew)-189:

  I said quality opposition.

• 192.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 13:59 pm

  @NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-190:

  I just told you my chinakins.

  Unlike you we don’t award tries bonus points for artistic interpretation.

  this is rugby not ice skating.

  A try is a try and we like our passes backward not forward and we don’t appreciate the art of running interference on tacklers when returning kicks.

  Pretty simple no?

  But don’t worry your boys are awesome and will surely tear us a new one.

  Especially up front.

  Look and learn boys.

• 193.NZINCHINA:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:01 pm

  @Gunther(gunther)-192:

  Ok funny guy we’ll let somebody else tell us, mate you try a little too hard with the humour sometimes.

• 194.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:06 pm

  @NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-191: youd be better pressed getting a rugby answer from a tibetan monk…

  such is Gunthers “knowledge” .. all cheap insults and no substance…

  but you knew that right?

• 195.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:07 pm

  @NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-193:

  that’s quite rich coming from you.

  everything I sad was true no?

  why don’t you tell us since you are obviously desperate to get something off your chest.

  you clearly have an opinion on the matter no?

  or are you just bitching?

• 196.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:10 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-194:

  here we go.

  are bonus points added for “great” tries.

  and who decides if they are great?

  your gatgabba in china?

  no pal that’s not how it works.

  if you want a rugby lesson just ask.

  and no more racist bullshit from you about tibetian monks.

• 197.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:12 pm

  @Gunther(gunther)-196: I see youve still avoided the original question, I’ll repost it for you, scholar.

  tell me the last time the Bokke backs scored a great try against quality opposition?????

• 198.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:16 pm

  @NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-187: We don’t have to score tries to win matches…. when was the last time a AB team could claim that??

• 199.ashampoopaloo:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:16 pm

  Henry missed a BIG trick here Wyatt Crockett should have been one the first names in his squad, also leaving out Gear and Sivi is a BIG call, suddenly AB’s don’t look half as menacing as previously thought.

• 200.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:18 pm

  Unfortunately, the Kiwis are still stuck in the whole ‘bonus-points’ mentality of S15. Sadly (for you) that will not overcome your choking habit

• 201.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:19 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-197: When was the last time:

  1) you won a world cup
  2) a world cup was won by a great tackle-offloader
  3) you beat the Boks?

• 202.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:19 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-197:

  sweet lord.

  I thought my post was very simple and easy to read.

  you seem to have the same comprehension issues as your china in china.

  who is quite determined to prove himself cleverer than everybody else.

  anyway, I’ll put a “lazy twenty ” on the all blacks scoring “the best” try of the tourney.

• 203.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:20 pm

  @NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-193: notice when we talk rugby Gunther disappears?

  @Helen(Helen)-198: yep, because Morne Steyn has proven how effective he is in kicking for posts OUTSIDE of SA…

  please, continue to pick him… thanks…

• 204.Guns:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:21 pm

  @NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA)-187:

  That is it exactly it mate – You said SA Does not have the talent/Players!!!

  I am saying that is BS it is the coach and the game plan that is the issue at test level.

• 205.UptheGuts:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:21 pm

  @Gunther(gunther)-188: Funniest thing ever!!!!!

• 206.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:22 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-201: so, one win in 5 games and suddenly you bring out that old chestnut? bwahahah delusional… bye Helen..

  @Gunther(gunther)-202: still cant answer the Question gunther? fair enough, prove my point that when it comes to rugby opinion you cant provide one…

• 207.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:22 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-203: I see you AGAIN refuse to answer MY questions. Not so brave now, are you? It takes a little lady with a size 6 shoe to shut you up. Typical kiwi. Imagine what our MEN will do to your precious team in a few weeks’ time!!! Just imagine!

• 208.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:23 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-206: When was the last time:
  1) you won a world cup
  2) a world cup was won by a great tackle-offloader
  3) you beat the Boks?

• 209.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:26 pm

  Notice how poop69 insists that we answer his questions, but refuses to answer ours. Such arrogance makes me believe that the Boks will win the cup this year. Such arrogance tells me the kiwis are very aware that when the chips are down, they choke on springbok droppings. Keep it up!

• 210.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:26 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-203:

  stop being a brownose.

  it’s unseemly in someone your age.

  I gave a legitimate answer to your question.

  I don’t give a toss about how “great” a try is.

  I care about winning. If you want to wank on about it then that’s your business.

  How thick is your skull?

  Honestly?

• 211.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:26 pm

  It doesn’t take much to get a kiwi off a blog, probably less than is needed to get them out of a tournament

• 212.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:28 pm

  @Gunther(gunther)-210: HHhahahahahahahahahahahahhahahhahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah

  well said sweetie!

  they’re running now, probably handing each off in the showers and offloading without a tackle

• 213.NZINCHINA:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:28 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-194:

  Thats quite funny, there are actually plenty in the city where I live, it was a genuine question and not a *****, I’m lucky tonight thought he didn’t call me knobhead or some other school boy quip.

• 214.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:30 pm

  @Gunther(gunther)-210: @Helen(Helen)-211: its always the female trolls that are so much worse, guess its because of the old adage, how do you trust something that bleeds but doesnt die?
  anyways, in 46 games, youve won 14…

  wonderful stuff…

  @Gunther(gunther)-210: still cant answer the question can you Spider man? fair enough…

• 215.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:31 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-206:

  I have given you two rugby opinions today and you have chosen to ignore them.

  You would rather talk about child molesting and dutchmen.

  Real rugby man you are.

  Real man.

  @Helen(Helen)-209:

  poops likes to think he talks rugby.

  the reality is he just wants you to tell him how great the all blacks are.

  every day.

  Play nice now poops you piece of ****.

• 216.DAS:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:33 pm

  Man, I feel rough for Gear. I would have picked him over Guildford and it wouldn’t have been close. Maybe I’m old fashioned, but Gear to me is leagues better at the core job of a wing: beating your man one and one and putting the ball over the try line. His workrate has also improved vastly, and he’s solid under the high ball.

  Also — with due respect to Woodcock — he got lucky. A couple of scrum penalties against Australia aside, Crockett has been the most destructive loosehead in NZ this year. He can feel genuinely unlucky.

• 217.Bod:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:34 pm

  Aaaah…. The most opportune time to make my re-entry

  My favourite subject….the almighty All Blacks

  Two of my three favourite AB lambs to the slaughter brothers in full cry wrt the invincibles

  My learned friend guntertjie retorting….

  Just gotta figure out who the hell Helen is

• 218.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:35 pm

  @Gunther(gunther)-215: poops, still no answers? FAIL!

  Now, go back to the showers and treat your china in nz to a special hand-off ala SBW (but without the requisite tackle)

• 219.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:36 pm

  @Bod(bod)-217: why so keen to figure out who I am?

  Gunther, that last comment was for poops’ sake, so don’t jump on that high horse of yours again, you hear?

• 220.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:36 pm

  @Gunther(gunther)-215: really? where? what was the answer to when last have the Bokke backs scored a decent try against decent opposition?

  I cant see the answer, please point me to the post number?

  please PETER PARKER, answer the question that was posed to you about 20 posts ago…. please dont prove your ignorance by not being able to..

  are you sure you come here to talk rugby or do you just come here because no one in the real world will listen to your bullshit?

• 221.DAS:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:36 pm

  Toeava to me is a tough call too. His talent is massive — he’s led the Super 15 in line break for two years in a row until his injuries, he’s got pace and a massive boot. But he always looks out of it in test match rugby. I think part of this may be that he’s a natural #15, not a wing.

  ABs likely back 3 for elimination matches? Muliana, Toeava, and Dagg? With Jane on the bench?

• 222.NZINCHINA:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:38 pm

  I have to run as this will turn into a bad attempt at comedy and at some stage Helen will post her/his dream Bokke side for the 97th time today.

• 223.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:38 pm

  Fukkitpoeps, are you still going? Do you have a man from Guiness Records there with a clipboard and stopwatch?

  Made any friends while I was gone? Made any since 1982? Well you’ll always have your cat.

• 224.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:38 pm

  Are there any Kiwis here who can answer three questions?:

  When was the last time:
  1) you won a world cup
  2) a world cup was won by a great tackle-offloader
  3) you beat the Boks?

  I will be nicer if you can just answer these questions. It’s not rocket science, but then again for kiwis everything that does not involve a solid four year old sheep and a bottle of KY is probably rocket science

• 225.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:39 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-218: yawn?

  another Saffa who thinks the WC is the be all and end all..

  helen, how many test against NZ have you won in the last 20 years?

  I know its more than 2 to 1 in our favour, but you do have 2 WCs 12 years apart to make you feel better..

  perhaps you’ll be able to stir more n those 2 Wcs if you use any number of the many wodden spoons your team consistently wins..

  now run along rag girl..

• 226.UptheGuts:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:39 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-214: You should know that is not what SA rugby is about. Like Gunther said, artistic beauty doesn’t feature. Just to piss you kiwi’s off, I think we should go for a 4 try bonus point just with the rolling maul next time we meet. Why would you wanna know something so trivial anyway?

• 227.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:39 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-223: Usually, I think you’re an idiot, but that comment was priceless

• 228.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:39 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-220:

  what is a decent try?

  I told you I don’t care.

  how stupid are you?

  were you delivered anally as a baby?

  shampies.

• 229.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:41 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-225: Still no answers??? Damn, it must be more painful than I imagined!

  It can’t be easy being a kiwi at a time like this when everything points to a kiwi victory, but deep down inside, you just know it is never going to happen.

  Be a dear and answer my questions?

• 230.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:41 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-218:
  not as much fun from a kiwi cos the pass is almost always forward and never on the ‘money’…

• 231.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:42 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-223:

  the good news is that there is a man with a clipboard.

  the bad news is that he isn’t from the Guinness Book of records.

• 232.Bod:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:42 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-220:

  Pops buddy

  I have to go with my learned friend here and answer your question with a question he has being trying to ask you the whole thread…. and a question that needs to be begged

  Why and who cares???

• 233.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:42 pm

  @Gunther(gunther)-228: hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

  you’re a legend “delivered anally”!!!!! bwhaahahahahaha

• 234.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:42 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-227: Usually I don’t think about you.

• 235.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:43 pm

  @Bod(bod)-217:

  Hola.

  How’s the Costa Less?

• 236.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:43 pm

  @we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-230:

  The only place they’ll score with an offload at this RWC, will be in the showers!

• 237.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:45 pm

  bwahahaha

  helen and spiderman, how dandy…

  the fact you cant remember when the Bokke backline scored a try is priceless..

• 238.Bod:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:45 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-219:

  Not keen, just curious

  You scribe in a very similar way to someone from the past here…

• 239.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:45 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-229: You and Poppa are at it again! I could swear that you two are going through the asset allocation phase of your divorce.

• 240.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:46 pm

  Come now kids.

  No fighting.

  We are all here for poopers intervention.

  Don’t make it about yourselves.

• 241.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:46 pm

  oook look, the pack mentality is back..

  womderful, SA’s are gutless…

• 242.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:46 pm

  … methinks the kiwis will not answer my questions. I rest my case.

  Now, poop and china in nz, go do your tantric, kama sutra stuff with those fluffy, white things trembling on the back porch!

• 243.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:46 pm

  @Bod(bod)-232: Well well, if it ain’t Colonel Katemba himself.

• 244.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:48 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-241: answer the questions poop!

  otherwise, go away

• 245.ufo:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:49 pm

  @Bod(bod)-217:

  welcome back bod bud…

  been too long…

  now we just need the katstaman to show up and join you and gunther and things are gonna get real funny real quickly…

• 246.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:49 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-241: sadly for you, there is a gutless pack waiting to beat you without scoring a single try.

• 247.ufo:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:49 pm

  speak of the katman…!!

• 248.Bod:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:50 pm

  @Gunther(gunther)-235:

  ¡hola! ¿Que tal?

  Costa Crisis aqui a la momento

  no wonder… six weeks and still no plucking adsl

• 249.Bod:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:52 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-241:

  C´mon son…. you,ve got more in the tank than that

• 250.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:52 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-241: Indeed. But you’re a one-man poodle pack, poeps. You don’t need nobody.

• 251.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:52 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-237:

  poops.

  the only person here who thinks paedophilia is funny is yourself.

  which is not a good look.

  you are sitting right at the bottom of the food chain.

  there is no pack mentality at work here.

  you jumped in with a two inch hardon because you thought your pal from china was being clever.

  and now you have made a tool of yourself again.

  people are just reminding you of the fact.

  now answer the question.

• 252.Bod:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:53 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-243:

  Señor Bod to you plank

• 253.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:54 pm

  gunther

  keep fiddling sunshine.

• 254.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:55 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-233:
  it happens…called a fourth degree perineal tear.
  involving rupturing of the fourchette, perineal skin, vaginal mucosa, muscles, anal sphincter, and rectal mucosa and susequent tearing.

  basically the kid comes out the arsse and ****** all at once.

  did it happen to pops? i dont know….

• 255.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:56 pm

  you could ask him…

• 256.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:56 pm

  @Bod(bod)-252: Just because you’ve got all tricksy with your topsy turvy question marks doesn’t make you cultured, boet. How that par three T-off coming along?

• 257.Bod:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:57 pm

  @ufo(ufo)-245:

  hola ufo

  Personally I think the Katman has lost his edge of late seemingly co-inciding with the moment he chose to add that stupid little computerised catface to his nic

• 258.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:58 pm

  @Bod(bod)-249:

  actually he doesn’t.

  we have converted him to run on flatulence.

  which means not only is poops enviromentally friendly but we have proivided society with an important source of renewable energy.

• 259.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:58 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-253: When was the last time:
  1) you won a world cup
  2) a world cup was won by a great tackle-offloader
  3) you beat the Boks?

• 260.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:59 pm

  @we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-254:

  I dunno.

  But I’ll bet he looked like a burst haggis.

• 261.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:59 pm

  @Bod(bod)-257: You wish you had one too. But the only design that emulated your “bod” looked like this (and you’re very self-conscious):

  ( . )

• 262.Ace11:
  23 Aug 2011, 14:59 pm

  Must try out this predictor application:

  http://au.sports.yahoo.com/rugby/world-cup/my-picks/

  Just realised that, if Samoa beat Wales in our pool, it will be an Oz/Samoa quarterfinal. Somehow I got a bit excited at the prospect of the convicts trying to prove that Samoa’s victory last month was a fluke.

• 263.Bod:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:01 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-256:

  Culture is my middle name, which brings me to my answer to your question regarding the direction and trajectory of my golf balls off the tee box

  Just as my middle leg…. long and straight

• 264.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:01 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-256:

  Don Boderick is still exploring the Costa Bravas glorious selection of put put courses.

  That way he can drink and golf at the same time.

  Everyone is a winner.

• 265.Bod:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:03 pm

  @Gunther(gunther)-258:

  I think poops is all pooped and gang banged out

  Pity

• 266.ufo:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:03 pm

  @Bod(bod)-257:

  hehehe…

  the katman stills has the claws to rip apart the best of them… so well they don’t always realise it…

  which can be sad and funny at the same time…

• 267.charo:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:05 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-80:

  “I ope some of these saffas going on about woodcock and afoa being owned realise, like their 21 injured boks, played their first games after injury against the bok A team.

  the sharks/bok front row is poor. Bismarck, beast are poor scrummagers, let’s hope the refs ping beast for his continual boring in.

  Vito, Thompson shouldn’t be there. Matt todd should have been in the 3Ns squad.

  the cartel have shown they STILL can’t pick the right players.”

  nice opening post pops!

  to which mpundulu had to retort;

  “Poppa: you’ve started again! There’s no need for you to antagonize people, we’ve been having a wonderful discussion without any of your and helen’s madness! Just engage peacefully mate.”

  pops, you enter every room with fists swinging and teeth gritted.
  until your arrival, there was actually a good discussion on the ab rwc squad between saffas and kiwis.
  ffs, let it go man, you are embarrassing yourself and your fellow kiwis.

• 268.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:05 pm

  @Bod ( . ) bod-263: Definitely like your middle leg (as I remember it) – crooked, ugly, short and very offensive to the people on the previous green.

• 269.ufo:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:07 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-268:

  TMI…

• 270.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:08 pm

  @Ace11(Ace11)-262: Also saw that if Fra beat NZ in the pool game (which, on history is not too far – fetched), we could have a SAvsAus final.

  Poop’s silence on the matter tells me he agrees with me, so the kiwis must be poop69-ing themselves at the thought of Fra beating the invincible gods of all things rugby!

• 271.oryx:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:08 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-201:

  Helen – for your amusement:
  1) you won a world cup: 1987
  2) a world cup was won by a great tackle-offloader: I take it you’re referring to SBW, you need to be specific otherwise there have been great off load passes in previous cups. And if you are referring to SBW then given this is his first WC I will have to say ‘we will wait and see’ – no guarantee he will even make the field.
  3) you beat the Boks? – Wellington 2011 – and bloody good game to watch.

  Now shut the f… up and lets talk rugby. Great to see the Boks are WC favourites after than one dazzling display in the weekend. You really made the world sit up and say what a wonderful team and what a great spectacle.

• 272.Bod:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:09 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-261:

  To the contrary. I need to log on with the new name my Spanish brothers have given to me after my visit down to the playa valencia the other day.

  After frolicking in the surf with las chicas topless they all suddenly started calling me ¨el magneto¨

  I am still trying to figure out why…

• 273.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:09 pm

  @ufo(ufo)-269: ?

  (I tried to use an upside down question mark, but my Mac isn’t retarded)

• 274.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:09 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-268:

  dogleg?

• 275.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:10 pm

  @Bod(bod)-265: We underestimate the strength of our ‘pack’ mantality. Poop overestimates the debating skills he acquired from rogering a dozen sheep before breakfast every day

• 276.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:11 pm

  @Bod(bod)-272: I think they’re calling you El Debbo.

• 277.Bod:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:12 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-268:

  I didnt realise you spent so much time studying my middle leg

  Yegads!

• 278.ufo:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:12 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-273:

  too much info… describing bod’s middle stump… AND the fact that you remember it so well…

  

  also can’t do the upside down ? – gonna throw my macbook away…

• 279.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:13 pm

  @oryx(oryx)-271:

  Sorry Oryx.

  SA won world cups in ’95 and ’07

  Tavkle off-loads are fancy, nice to see things, but it does not win world cups. Instead it is conservative set phases, discipline, goal and line kicking and strong defense which win world cups. All of which, I might add, SA has sufficient experience and skill.

  Yes, you are right, you are only as good as your last game, which sadly the kiwis lost with a record margin.

• 280.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:13 pm

  @Gunther(gunther)-274: Ja, like a Yorkshire Terrier’s leg after being run over several times by a Hummer. He landed on the green. But it was a green about 50m away and almost behind us to the right. And it had people on.

  Ah neely dahd.

• 281.Bod:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:15 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-273:

  I wish we could say the same about the Macs¿¿¿??? owner

• 282.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:15 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-275: no strength in a pack mentality helen… its a serious case of weakness…

  like your rugby arguments..

  weak…

• 283.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:16 pm

  @ufo(ufo)-278: I was talking about his tee shot. He’s the one who likened it to his tottie.

• 284.ufo:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:17 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-283:

  i’ll take your word for it… although most here will doubt it…

  

• 285.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:17 pm

  @Bod(bod)-265:

  ja he fought the good fight badly.

  we hope he comes back as a better person but this stage it’s not looking good.

  @Bod(bod)-272:

  they were trying to tell you that half the sand in the costa was holidaying in your plumbers special.

  if you were wearing those limited edition cycling shorts of yours they were probably calling you el hombre con dos vegtales y poco carne.

• 286.Bod:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:20 pm

  Its siesta time for el magneto

  Short but sweet (Why doed an image of katman jump out at me with those words¿¿¿¿¿)

  Adios

• 287.Bod:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:24 pm

  @Gunther(gunther)-285:

  Sorry… I only do speedos on the beach

  Nope… it was a clear as the AB world cup trophy case, ¨es un muy guapo magneto¨.

  Magneto bod out!

• 288.oryx:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:25 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-279:
  You asked for answers to the questions and you got it – if you feel that you can only measure your countries success against the WC then that’s great for you and your fans. Just having more of something doesn’t make you the richer person.

  Well with that Helen you have surely won the right to favourites for the world cup. I see you now have your team playing Australia in the final – want to predict the score for that.

• 289.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:27 pm

  @Bod(bod)-287:

  the locals on the beach here call me bwana one shot.

  its a cross I have to bear.

  adios.

• 290.Hurricane:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:31 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-198:
  lol
  wow if thats suppose to impress, its completely backfired

• 291.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:33 pm

  @oryx(oryx)-288: thats all ANY of them measure it against…

  since readmission they have gone the way of the NH and only “build” for WCs…

  not the same Springbok we used to get up at all hours to watch during the night…

  no honour and very little respect from this once great rugby nation…

• 292.ufo:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:33 pm

  sheesh

  wham bham thank you mhan…!!!

• 293.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:38 pm

  @ufo(ufo)-292: How you say… el bandwidth capo?

• 294.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:44 pm

  @ufo(ufo)-292:

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-293:

  internet cafes are expensive on the costa.

  it’s peak season.

  and el magneto’s overtime has been cut.

• 295.ufo:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:44 pm

  ibom.oek ot dehctiws yrros namtaK

• 296.ufo:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:46 pm

  ecaf tuoba ssa sgniht tog

• 297.Hurricane:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:48 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-270:
  Helen, are you a bit crazy at all?
  Anyway for your info, that last 10 years, france have beaten the Boks 6 out of 10 games. Instead of laughing at NZ, you should really be worried about your team. Honestly 1 win in the 3 nations and it seems you have the RWC in the bag. SCotland,England,Ireland,Australia,NZ and a few pub teams in england have all beaten Boks in the last few years, lucky those pub teams wont be included in the RWC

• 298.oryx:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:51 pm

  HELEN – are you still there? I asked you a question?

  “I see you now have your team playing Australia in the final – want to predict the score for that?”

• 299.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:52 pm

  @Hurricane(Hurricane)-297:

  have you found out where andrew small is from yet?

  is he still “english”?

• 300.ufo:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:54 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-293:

  lol… very good…

  @Gunther(gunther)-294:

  oh… thought he was at work…

• 301.ufo:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:57 pm

  u?op ?p?sdn pu??s I ?? ?????q ?q ll?? ?? ?q???

• 302.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 15:59 pm

  @Hurricane(Hurricane)-297:
  unlucky for you france, oz and sa will be included in the wc….

  played:
  France 4 times – wins 2 – losses 2
  South Africa 3 times – wins 1 – losses 2
  Australia 2 times – wins 0 – losses 2

  can you read the numbers?…..it speaks…listen:
  ‘whispers’…if you buid it…the choke is on….

• 303.ufo:
  23 Aug 2011, 16:01 pm

  Sorry keo.mobi doing strange things

• 304.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 16:09 pm

  @ufo(ufo)-303:

  the swahili app?

• 305.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 16:13 pm

  out of 9 games against the heavy hitters the all blacks have only won 3….tssssk, tssssk, tsssk…..

  33.3%…sucks…..

• 306.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 16:16 pm

  @ufo(ufo)-303: Try flipping your SIM card around.

• 307.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 16:17 pm

  thats like an F grade…shame…
  juju would be proud.

• 308.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 16:38 pm

  @we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-307:

  you mean like only winning one game out of your last 6 against Aussie…

  ag shampies..

  would juju be proud with that?

• 309.ufo:
  23 Aug 2011, 16:48 pm

  @Gunther(gunther)-304:

  hehehe…

  just found out i shouldn’t try and blog on my phone when in a meeting…

• 310.ufo:
  23 Aug 2011, 16:49 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-306:

  yeah… why didn’t i think of that…??

  will do it next time…!!

  

  

• 311.oryx:
  23 Aug 2011, 16:56 pm

  Poppa69 – have you seen HELEN? Asked her a question and she just disappeared.

  Maybe she tried to mount a ewe and got lost in the fleece

• 312.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 16:57 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-308: In the mood for a question or two?

  Or are will you run again like the spineless little man you are?

• 313.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 16:58 pm

  Kiwis, tell me:

  1) How many world cups have you won?
  2) How many world cups have been won by flashy moves and off loading in the tackle?
  3) Who won the last NZ vs SA test?

• 314.Helen:
  23 Aug 2011, 17:00 pm

  Silence

• 315.Michael:
  23 Aug 2011, 17:11 pm

  Oh lord, the Lone Ranger of Poop is still at it.

• 316.Michael:
  23 Aug 2011, 17:17 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-313:
  1. 1987; an invitational-only cup. How an invite tournament-only tournament can be called a WC…
  2. Ben Tune’s try in the 1999 final iirc and Australia’s tries in 1991. Not in 1995 (though Ruben Kruger should not have been denied his try), 2003 or 2007.
  3. Viva la Bokke

• 317.oryx:
  23 Aug 2011, 18:11 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-313: Helen, I asked you a question before based on your statement that it will be an AUS v SA final – would you care to answer it – or are you just a hypocrite? See post 288 if your lost

• 318.Black Panther:
  23 Aug 2011, 20:39 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-313:

  History:-

  Played 83
  Won 46
  ABs 56% wins

  Since Neutral Referees:-

  Played 49
  Won 33
  ABs 67% wins.

  This is all that matters.

• 319.Black Panther:
  23 Aug 2011, 20:47 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-128:

  ‘local shop’ ?

  since when is the www ‘local’ ?!

  Segregation is never a good look, Ladies. Besides, the thread is clearly announcing the All Black squad, isnt it. So WHO let you in ?

• 320.Black Panther:
  23 Aug 2011, 20:54 pm

  @Gunther(gunther)-192:

  Now far be it for me to stick my nose in

  but

  you appear to be avoiding an Answer.

  why ?

• 321.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 20:55 pm

  Blackies

  Its the .co.za that gives it away.

  In case you are confused.

  poops certainly is.

• 322.Black Panther:
  23 Aug 2011, 20:58 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-209:

  the last time the ABs met your precious Boks in a RWC ?

  *ahem*

  popguns dont work at the O-Keo Corral.

• 323.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 21:00 pm

  @Helen(Helen)-279:

  “Yes, you are right, you are only as good as your last game, which sadly the kiwis lost with a record margin.” your words Helen..

  a record margin? fark what a laugh… you know absolutely nothing about rugby..

  the Abs biggest losing margin to SA is 17 points, way back in the 30s I think..

  SA’s Biggest losing margin to the ABs is approx. 40 points..

  can you do the maths you dumb fok…

  BP – dont worry about Gunther, these guys ghere were raised and believe in a segregated society, it is ALL they know… they implemented it for 60 odd years, and as we can see today, almost 20 odd years after “transformationj” they still wish for the bad old days, clearing trying to reintroduce segregation… as gunthers post indicates…

• 324.Black Panther:
  23 Aug 2011, 21:00 pm

  @Gunther(gunther)-321:

  Im not confused, Gunther.

  I always make my kids share their toys. You Ladies look positively childish playing with your own.

• 325.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 21:00 pm

  Blackie how am I avoiding an answer?

  I think all our tries are great.

  I certainly don’t give a toss what what your shitstirring pal in china calls them.

  At least the passes go backwards.

  Are we clear?

• 326.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 21:03 pm

  @Black Panther(Black Panther)-324: shhhh dont mention kids, youll get Gunther all excited again..

  he has a thing for them…

• 327.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 21:04 pm

  Blackie

  I think our kiwi cousins add much needed spice.

  However sometimes SCUM poison the dish.

• 328.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 21:07 pm

  Poops

  Go **** your mother.

• 329.Black Panther:
  23 Aug 2011, 21:08 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-323:

  Im not sure all that political nonsense is appropriate here, Pops.

  You stick to keeping the blindside secure, fella, and noone gets hurt.

  Ive never seen Gunther step too far out of line. Like Cane, he has the advantage of a quick tongue which allows pisstaking to be delivered with a smile despite the content being no less abrasive than your blindside hits.

• 330.Black Panther:
  23 Aug 2011, 21:10 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-326:

  I dont think thats funny, at all.

  @Gunther(gunther)-328:

  neither that.

  Youre both out-of-line.

  WTF

• 331.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 21:13 pm

  And poops

  You have no idea how or where I was raised.

  You bullshit with kids is WAY out of line as I have told you before.

  And now you have found what you have been looking for.

  SCUM.

  I enjoy the kiwi contribution here but you are a piece of ****.

• 332.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 21:14 pm

  I’m done with this.

• 333.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 21:17 pm

  @Gunther(gunther)-331: funny that Gunther, you only ever deride me, even when I talk rugby, as proven on this very thread..

  but somehow thats ok? then you do exactly the same thing you accuse me of??

  hypocrite much, scum…

• 334.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 21:26 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-333: Fukme, but you are a persistent and tiresome one. Pack it in, big fella, No one likes you here. Spend your time better. Meet a girl. Go for drinks with a mate. You’re wasting years of your life in a never ending fight with a bunch of people who mostly like each other and completely dislike you. Surely this can’t be as good as it gets for you?

• 335.Great White Shark:
  23 Aug 2011, 21:30 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-334:

  Normally with these chaps, five fingers to the left and right ear seems to bring a hush….followed by a loud ringing sound.

• 336.spartan:
  23 Aug 2011, 22:17 pm

  @we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-302: Choke what choke the only 1 who choked in 2007 was Barnes 03 intercept try 99 Frenchies did what only they can do ,everyone knows what happened in 95 and in 91 some Campese magic closed the deal . those weren’t no chokes . 07 , 03 , 99 , 95 NZ didn’t get the rub of the green ( and thats being nice ) in 91 the best team won . Contrary to popular belief , the 1 constant in NZs world cup record is not choking pal it is the fact that referees are pedantic with NZ and loose with who ever we are playing .

• 337.Hurricane:
  23 Aug 2011, 22:39 pm

  @we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-302:
  Well unlike a few on here i am not discarding any of those teams.
  Can you even read some of the dumb comments on this thread? Or is it the one eye on NZ posts and the other ones blind?
  Every RWC is different is it not?
  So we have a bad percentage in that cup,better there than in the overall international rugby.
  One thing i must say is that what will happen if SA dont win the RWC?
  Thats the only thing you guys can comeback at us on and if thats taken away,lol oh boy i will see a few members of Keo leaving.

• 338.Hurricane:
  23 Aug 2011, 22:43 pm

  @spartan(spartan)-336:
  Spartan
  You have to realise that a few of these guys respect no team at all. NZ were not beaten by a better team on the day in any of those RWCs, just like when SA are beaten at all, its everyone elses fault and bugger all congratulations to the winning and better team. They cant get there head around how anyone can be better than them. So let them have there fun cos i think in 2 months time a few of these posts will be alot different, except the usual blame the refs and travel, thats bred in them

• 339.Hurricane:
  23 Aug 2011, 22:49 pm

  @Gunther(gunther)-299:
  Nah hes dutch isnt he?
  Anyway you being a bit slow, i was talking about the refs at the PE test, you know that but seem to be trying to take the a$$hole of the month award at keo land.
  Keep going, i really have no problem with you at all gunther but you seem to be really quick on the draw when a kiwi posts,have you a problem with the Kiwis?

• 340.Black Panther:
  23 Aug 2011, 23:03 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-334:

  so this is where you come to meet friends and hang out with people “who mostly like each other” ?

  Sad and Sadder….

• 341.Hurricane:
  23 Aug 2011, 23:23 pm

  @poppa69(poppa69)-326:
  Pops
  I understand you have been getting alot of stick from some of these guys, they dont enjoy the head on attack that you seem to have.
  But mate i have kids and i really dont dig the comments you are saying, keep it clean and get back to the old pops of giving them heaps without stooping to low, you have a skill of the banter but dont go below the banter line brother.

  From your concerned kiwi brother

• 342.corporal punishment:
  24 Aug 2011, 00:25 am

  Back to the rugby…. it’s a strong AB squad. The top 15 are very strong team, and the bench is pretty handy as well. Some serious and obvious depth issues in the remaining 8, so injuries (and hopefully the lack of them) will have a massive influence on how we go.

  I hope the selectors have made the right calls in keeping Ali Williams (who has been great in the lineouts but terrible in all other facets of the play including messing up backline moves that he has no place in) and Tony Woodcock (who was clearly well off the pace in PE. Hard to second guess the selectors at this stage however, they have all the data on where the fitness of these guys is at, and will have accurately plotted how fit the will be come the world cup.

  Crockett Gear and Sivi are unlucky, but I can understand the reasons for them missing out. If Woodcock goes down, I think Crockett will be straight back in. I think the boks killed off the chances of Gear and Sivi – I think the first choice wings will be Dagg and Jane, as the selectors want fullbacks in those positions who are great under the high ball and who can kick. I.e. I think they have made essentially defensive selections rather than choosing the most exciting attacking players.

  The team isn’t as exciting as in 2007, but hopefully we are better prepared for the road ahead!!!

• 343.Black Panther:
  24 Aug 2011, 01:46 am

  STILL cant fathom Afoa over Davey !

  Hosea 6th Gear is desperately unlucky, the Gear whanau must dread RWC announcements. He was injured at the wrong time, which didnt seem to affect the less-worthy Boric. Interesting to nb there being only one specialist-winger in Guildford, the others being wing-fullback’s.

• 344.Black Panther:
  24 Aug 2011, 01:48 am

  Terry Wright has alot to answer for (the original AB wing-FB).

• 345.Black Panther:
  24 Aug 2011, 01:52 am

  @corporal punishment(corporal punishment)-342:

  can anyone say, with absolute certainty, who the starting AB lock combo is ? Ali W has been played to get him up to speed, and rightly so, but Whitelock is the come’r and has the combo with Bad Thorn who, presumably, is a starter.

  and they must think alot more of Boric than the rest of us to have picked him without any gametime.

• 346.corporal punishment:
  24 Aug 2011, 02:38 am

  @Black Panther(Black Panther)-345:

  I don’t like it, but I think Williams will be the starting lock partnered with with Brad Thorn (the latter a certainty to start in all the big games). I just can’t see what Williams would offer off the bench, and Henry and Co aren’t going to leave him out of the match day 22.

  Williams won’t be good for the whole 80 mins, so they will have to run Whitelock or, I suppose, Boric off the bench. That means we will only have one loose forward to cover all three positions, that will be Thomson I guess or Vito if he is injured.

  Henry might go for a 5/2 split against a team like the boks, and have both Vito and Thomson on the bench…. with Weepu and Toeava covering the whole backline.

  If Brad Thorn was was tall enough to be a strong lineout jumper, Vito could cover lock and 6/8 (he is actually taller than Thorn I think), but Thorn isn’t a real lineout option against the boks in particular and also Aus – so we have to have a tall, specialist lock on the bench.

  I think this is why Gear and Sivivatu missed out. They are not going to be starting players, and are no good on the bench as they cover only one position. If one of the starting wingers picks up a serious injury, Henry & Co can always bring Gear or Sivi back into the team as a specialist replacement.

• 347.corporal punishment:
  24 Aug 2011, 02:41 am

  PS I think this means that the starting wingers will be Guilford and Jane, or Guilford and Dagg, with either Dagg or Jane on the bench covering wing and fullback.

• 348.aliboy:
  24 Aug 2011, 03:59 am

  @Black Panther(Black Panther)-345: Boric looked pretty good in the S15 and the last EOY tour. I think that he is genuinely picked on current form and has moved up from his previous years performances where he mostly looked a bit average in the internationals. In the S15 I think he was the best of the Blues locks, and don’t feel that he should have missed out. I like Williams with his slightly wider abilities, but on current form I don’t feel he is doing enough in the tight. I suspect he is there for his lineout work which has looked very good, but he needs to hit more rucks and tighten up a bit. Thorne is a certain starter in the big games, so they may go for Williams to beef up the lineout, although I think Whitelock is a better choice all round, and even Boric if he can get fit. It will probably be a ‘horses for courses’ pick to partner Thorne depending on whether they want extra physicality or extra lineout security.

• 349.aliboy:
  24 Aug 2011, 04:01 am

  @corporal punishment(corporal punishment)-347: I am picking Jane and Dagg starting with Toeava on the bench as the first team pick.

• 350.Black Panther:
  24 Aug 2011, 04:34 am

  @corporal punishment(corporal punishment)-347:

  exactly what I was alluding to re Guildford. Odd because it essentially ranks him as our No1 winger at the moment.

  @aliboy(aliboy)-348:

  The 3 Blind Mice like what Ali brings to the team dynamic too, an ability to lighten the mood off the pitch and turn on the nutcase all-action gig on the pitch. He is vastly experienced and his lineout prowess both on or off AB throw has returned to high standards. Its noticeable that the speed has left him, understandably with an achilles injury, and the sneaky shirt-pulls are going to catch his team out when he gets found out in the centres. He strikes me as a bigmatch player tho, a willingness to take the lead. He’ll also be playing on home turf at Eden Park and in front of his family who are tight.

• 351.>^..^< katman:
  24 Aug 2011, 09:18 am

  @Black Panther(Black Panther)-340: You make no sense. This forum is no different to any online forum. People mostly congregate because they enjoy each other’s company. They like to shoot the breeze, talk a bit of rugby, a bit of life. And when they ruffle feathers, it’s done with the same good nature as if you were with mates in real life.

  So why exactly is that sad?

• 352.Black Panther:
  24 Aug 2011, 12:38 pm

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-351:

  its sad because you think ‘blogging’ , ie sitting at a desk tapping away on a computer, equates to “enjoying each others company”.

  I cant entertain the concept of ‘meeting friends’ with anyone unless its face2face.

  This is a blog. Not a halfway house for the recently de-friended.

• 353.Helen:
  24 Aug 2011, 12:41 pm

  @Black Panther(Black Panther)-352: hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahah

  post of the day!

• 354.Black Magic:
  25 Aug 2011, 09:45 am

  LOL
  Reading some of these posts is a scream. The Boks A beat the ABs B, at home, scoring no tries and only kicking penalties against a very rusty B team, and all of a sudden the Boks are the second coming.
  ABs A will rip the bokee apart at home. Maybe you guys should concentrate on soccer as it seems kicking the ball between the posts is all you can do now.

• 355.Transformation:
  25 Aug 2011, 09:47 am

  @Black Magic(Black Magic)-354: you all black supporters must be ashamed cheapening your jersey like that with 2nd stringers and cotton-wooling you main guys…how many times have we heard that the best team always puts on that black jersey? hahaha

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