How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?
-
So I went to a fundraising dinner last night with Mark Reason and Stephen Jones speaking.
Rattue was supposed to be speaking originally but replaced by reason at late notice.
Firstly I'll comment on Reason.
Terrible public speaker, his whole speech was basically about how the 1971 game between Canterbury and the lions ruined what was a great game forever. Apparently Canterbury and New Zealand rugby teams have acted like arrogant thugs ever since.
In the questions and answers after an old bloke who was mates with Alastair Hopkinson stood up and had a real go at him. Apparently hoppy after the field had 2 black eyes and a broken cheek bone and was furious at the lions tactics that day.Secondly Stephen jones.
Excellent speaker, talked about how much he enjoys lions tours, loves touring New Zealand and loves the passion we have for the game. Thinks the lions have become far too commercial and is certain we won't see another tour here in 12 years.
Really worries about the game at grassroots level, and talked extensively about that.Afterwards I had a good chat to both. Chatted with Stephen for several minutes about local club rugby and my passion for that. Also asked him about his writings that seem to annoy so many NZers. We had a good laugh about that.... He said its because he loves the game so much, and with the the amount of articles he writes there's always the potential to someone to disagree with him.
Best part of the conversation is that he told me to give him a wave in the press box tonight. He will come and say hello and let me watch the game in there with him if I want!
In summary .... Mark Reason confirmed piston wristed gibbon, Stephen Jones not a bad bloke
-
@SammyC Good luck on the Press Box offer.
That's interesting information about Hoppy. I met him a couple of times - one of the funniest people I've met. I've got a friend who knew him very well - I'll ask him sometime whether they ever talked about that game.
According to TP McLean's book, Hoppy punched Sandy Carmichael in the first scrum and eventually Carmichael had been hit so much he couldn't see and was invalided out of the tour. But the other guy who was invalided out of the tour in that game was Ray McLoughlin, who broke his hand punching Alex Wyllie in the side of the head.
It's nearly 50 years ago now, so regardless of the rights and wrongs - people need to let it go. It doesn't bode well for Tana!
-
This was published on stuff earlier this week about "that" 1971 match:
-
Some interesting comments from the selectors regarding Jordie Barrett v Damien McKenzie
-
DMac does have a really high error rate that would be punished at test level. Being a midget doesn't help either. Wonder how much his AB games last year weighed on the selectors minds. He was clearly substandard.
Still, his tackling improved leaps and bounds this year. I don't see why he can't cut his error rate down as well.
-
I'm happy with that explanation except for this: Why pick Jordie? He's only played at 15 at super level , and there is plenty of cover there with Smith and Dagg - do we need to carry a 3rd FB? I'd have rather had another loosie in there, or a fullback wing like NMS or even Nanai. They must reaaaaaly like Jordie. I agree he has the tools, but I don't see why we need to carry a third FB - unless he's seen as a better FB than Dagg.
-
@Toddy said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
DMac does have a really high error rate that would be punished at test level.
Yeah, he just has so many involvements at such a high pace and a percentage of those are always going to go awry. It's fine at Super level but agree it needs tightening at test level.
-
-
Hansen is confident Kieran Read's thumb will have sufficiently healed to lead out his team at the start of the series, although he is set to sit out Friday night's clash with Samoa at Eden Park.
Jerome Kaino will take the field this week after completing his recovery from knee surgery, while Brodie Retallick and Ben Smith are both free of concussion symptoms and Ryan Crotty will be "touch-and-go" with his damaged ribs.
Aaron Cruden will miss the Samoa match but should be available against the Lions, having received good news from this morning's scan on the knee he hurt in the Chiefs' win over the Hurricanes on Friday night.
Scott Barrett (knee) has also been passed fit, leaving only two All Blacks as confirmed absentees for the first test, with both Dane Coles (concussion) and Liam Squire (thumb) long expected to miss out.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11874333
-
-
@Donsteppa said in How are the AB's tracking heading into the BIL series?:
Excellent news. Very happy that Kaino will be playing
this week.Fixed that for ya
-
Good photo of the 3 of them, but they probably needed Ardie next to them to give us some context.
-
-
