• Categories
Collapse

The Silver Fern

Good Rugby Reads

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Sports Talk
215 Posts 62 Posters 41.6k Views
Good Rugby Reads
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • Billy TellB Offline
    Billy TellB Offline
    Billy Tell
    wrote on last edited by
    #111

    <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="ulsterman" data-cid="551876" data-time="1452524865">
    <div>
    <p>This may be Kinsella's best article yet - deconstructing Munster's humiliation away to Stade Francais. He was (before serious injury) in the Munster academy, which may explain the very cutting (though not inaccurate) tone:</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p> </p>
    <p><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:15.6px;">‘These lads are shitting themselves,’ Stade would have thought after this, or after the string of four major mistakes in the seven minutes that followed half time – when Munster </span><em>should </em><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:Georgia, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:15.6px;">have been playing with confidence and energy against 14 men.</span></p>
    <p> </p>
    <p> </p>
    <p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.the42.ie/analysis-munster-stade-francais-champions-cup-2541782-Jan2016/'>http://www.the42.ie/analysis-munster-stade-francais-champions-cup-2541782-Jan2016/</a></p>
    </div>
    </blockquote>
    <p>I have to say I have minimal sympathy.  Having lived in Munster, it would be fair to say their fans think the sun shines out of their ass more than Kiwi rugby fans, which is already quite damning in itself.  But they seemed to plan extremely poorly for the end of their golden era, then basically seemed to organise a coup to get rid of Penney, with Foley appointing all his mates with zero coaching experience to take the reigns.  They were absolutely appalling in the weekend, only their SA import Stander (who may well now wear green) looked anyway decent.  It looks a long long way back for Munster.</p>

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • MilkM Offline
    MilkM Offline
    Milk
    wrote on last edited by
    #112

    <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Don Frye" data-cid="548927" data-time="1450773055">
    <div>
    <p>Finished the Dan Carter book over the weekend while I was on holiday.</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p>Expected it to be bad. Turned out to be worse.</p>
    </div>
    </blockquote>
    <p> </p>
    <p>I just finished it and enjoyed it. Perhaps it was because I read it straight after Deans' book (which I hated).</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p>Over the last 6 months I've read heaps of rugby books: John Mitchell, Robbie Deans, Jerome Kaino, Cory Jane and Dan Carter's.</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p>I enjoyed the younger players' books far more: maybe because I could relate to them better, but I think mainly because they were so much more open than the older guys. I read Deans' book and was hoping for lots of insight into all the stories we've speculated about over the last 15 years, but got pretty much nothing. Here's the thing: it's written in the third person so has no limitation on how much gushing the author can do over his achievements (the other books are written in the first person so there is only so much self adulation kiwi readers will put up with), and when it's not patting Deans on the back it's using statistics and hindsight to try and explain how the things that didn't go well were either not so bad or not his fault. I mean, that's fine, but surely there is at least one story he can tell where he made a mistake? He even distances himself from his role in the Mitchell era.</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p>There are a couple of cool insights into his time in Australia, like the confirmation of how hard it is to manage the players over there, the politics, and how Nucifora was trying to undermine him. But I was hoping for way more. Dyed in the wool Cantabs might get a bit more out of it because he's living history in terms of his contribution and the people he has worked with. Nothing but adulation and excuses might work well for that audience, but I was hoping for more.</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p>Alternatively, I got a massive amount of perspective from Carter's book. Finally a book that covers all the good, but also the bad: selfishness, arrogance, naivety, mistakes... flaws we can all relate to but none of which you'd expect from Dan Carter. Did everyone know that his 2013 Achilles injury was a result of him being so angry that he didn't get subbed onto the field against Wales that he flogged himself during the warm down and ignored the pain until he wrecked it? Unfortunately most rugby books I've read are too focused on making the subject look flawless. At least this one removes some of the gloss.</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p>Carter's book has some problems though, the main one being it's timing. It doesn't really cover the 2015 RWC because it was published so soon after. It goes somehow of overcoming it by having 2015 diary excerpts spread throughout the book that are very insightful, and creates momentum that feels the book is building up to the a seminal moment: the 2015 RWC final. However, the diary excerpts stop with the semi final with kind of 'and the rest, as they say, is history' kind of vibe. So it's a pretty inventive approach to the timing issue, but the truth is that we want to hear about the final and no creative way of avoiding that is going satiate it.</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p>By the way, I found Mitchell's book quite unintentionally funny. The way that guy can tell a story as if it's just some funny yarn, but that leaves me with serious alarm bells, is something else. Like when he casually mentions that following a court session the All Blacks players locked him and Robbie Deans in a toilet stall and one of them got a black eye/shiner as they tried to escape.</p>

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • rotatedR Offline
    rotatedR Offline
    rotated
    wrote on last edited by
    #113

    <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Milk" data-cid="552302" data-time="1452695571">
    <div>
    <p>Like when he casually mentions that following a court session the All Blacks players locked him and Robbie Deans in a toilet stall and one of them got a black eye/shiner as they tried to escape.</p>
    </div>
    </blockquote>
    <p> </p>
    <p>I think this is why Ted went with two assistants - one of whom has considerable girth. Literally impossible to lock all three of them in a stall.</p>

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • TimT Away
    TimT Away
    Tim
    wrote on last edited by
    #114

    <p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.theguardian.com/sport/behind-the-lines/2016/jan/28/roger-wilson-interview-ulster-ireland-rugby-union'>‘Jesus, I’ve got slow’: the pain of approaching the end of a rugby career</a></p>

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • mariner4lifeM Offline
    mariner4lifeM Offline
    mariner4life
    wrote on last edited by
    #115

    <p>That was awesome Tim. Different levels obviously, but i really identified with how he was feeling, in terms of during the game, after the game, and what i miss the most. I finished at the same age he is as well.</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p> </p>
    <p> </p>
    <p>I am most of the way through Dan's book. One thing i will say, it's refreshingly honest. </p>

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • MN5M Offline
    MN5M Offline
    MN5
    wrote on last edited by
    #116

    <p>I've pretty much given up on Rugby books to the point where I won't even flick through them at Whitcoulls. Norm Hewitts was awesome and head over heels above the rest cos he wasn't afraid to have a go at people he thought had wronged him, Peter Fats, Justin Marshall and Josh Kronfelds were also pretty good although far less eye opening but you get the feeling with the rest that none of the former ( as is usually the case ) players want to bite the hand that might still feed them one day. They're just boring.</p>

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • taniwharugbyT Offline
    taniwharugbyT Offline
    taniwharugby
    wrote on last edited by
    #117

    <p>I guess people just see things differently too, different cultures, different eras, plus if you've had a decent fist of it, maybe you just don't have an axe to grind, or the issues you did have, weren't ones you felt were worth writing about?</p>

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • MN5M Offline
    MN5M Offline
    MN5
    wrote on last edited by
    #118

    <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="taniwharugby" data-cid="554993" data-time="1454035981">
    <div>
    <p>I guess people just see things differently too, different cultures, different eras, plus if you've had a decent fist of it, maybe you just don't have an axe to grind, or the issues you did have, weren't ones you felt were worth writing about?</p>
    </div>
    </blockquote>
    <p> </p>
    <p>Yeah fair call and then I guess it comes down to the fact that the life of a sports person, even at the elite level, often isn't particularly compelling reading unless there's a few brushes with the law, substance abuse etc.</p>

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • taniwharugbyT Offline
    taniwharugbyT Offline
    taniwharugby
    wrote on last edited by
    #119

    <p>but then the modern sportsmen (well most of them) are all managed and given training/guidance of what they should and shouldn't do, a few still manage to stray from the line and get a bit stupid, but for the most part, these guys know it is a job with a limited shelf life so toe the line.</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p>Sure they may cut loose away form the sport, but again, in todays world, they are likely still on guard as there is always some dickhead with their camera out to catch you dry humping some dog!</p>

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • boobooB Offline
    boobooB Offline
    booboo
    wrote on last edited by
    #120

    <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MN5" data-cid="554989" data-time="1454035027"><p>
    I've pretty much given up on Rugby books to the point where I won't even flick through them at Whitcoulls. Norm Hewitts was awesome and head over heels above the rest cos he wasn't afraid to have a go at people he thought had wronged him, Peter Fats, Justin Marshall and Josh Kronfelds were also pretty good although far less eye opening but you get the feeling with the rest that none of the former ( as is usually the case ) players want to bite the hand that might still feed them one day. They're just boring.</p></blockquote>
    <br>
    I felt Kronfeld's was a bit of a whinge fest. Interspersed with "I'm so laid back and cool" comments. Made me duslike him where I didn't previously.

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • U Offline
    U Offline
    ulsterman
    wrote on last edited by
    #121

    <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Tim" data-cid="554914" data-time="1454023850">
    <div>
    <p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.theguardian.com/sport/behind-the-lines/2016/jan/28/roger-wilson-interview-ulster-ireland-rugby-union'>‘Jesus, I’ve got slow’: the pain of approaching the end of a rugby career</a></p>
    </div>
    </blockquote>
    <p> </p>
    <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="554916" data-time="1454024949">
    <div>
    <p>That was awesome Tim. Different levels obviously, but i really identified with how he was feeling, in terms of during the game, after the game, and what i miss the most. I finished at the same age he is as well.</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p> </p>
    <p> </p>
    <p>I am most of the way through Dan's book. One thing i will say, it's refreshingly honest. </p>
    </div>
    </blockquote>
    <p> </p>
    <p>Not so fecking awesome for me - he is a prime member of a back row whose most effective asset is (until the end of the season, at least) Nick fecking Williams . . .</p>

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • mariner4lifeM Offline
    mariner4lifeM Offline
    mariner4life
    wrote on last edited by
    #122

    I can relate to that as well. By his age i had been moved from 7 into the world's smallest 2nd rower

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • jeggaJ Offline
    jeggaJ Offline
    jegga
    wrote on last edited by
    #123

    <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jan/30/eddie-jones-england-six-nations'>http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jan/30/eddie-jones-england-six-nations</a><br><br>
    Really enjoyed this

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • KiwiPieK Offline
    KiwiPieK Offline
    KiwiPie
    wrote on last edited by
    #124

    <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="555380" data-time="1454207783">
    <div>
    <p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jan/30/eddie-jones-england-six-nations'>http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jan/30/eddie-jones-england-six-nations</a><br><br>
    Really enjoyed this</p>
    </div>
    </blockquote>
    <p>Yep that was fascinating.</p>

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • DonsteppaD Offline
    DonsteppaD Offline
    Donsteppa
    wrote on last edited by
    #125

    Reminded me of the Wayne Bennett quote along the lines of 'when I stop chipping them, they're either perfect or they're gone - and they need to decide which one pretty quick'. Some similarities there.

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • mariner4lifeM Offline
    mariner4lifeM Offline
    mariner4life
    wrote on last edited by
    #126

    <p>Finished Dan's book last week. As i said, i respected its honesty (likes beers, bored of the tri nations, wanted to quit) but i felt it was really light on these same areas that could have made it a sporting book with a bit of difference.</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p>It's also badly written. Did you know Gilbert Enoka is the fantastic All Blacks mental skills coach? It's only mentioned about 100 times in the book.  </p>

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • MilkM Offline
    MilkM Offline
    Milk
    wrote on last edited by
    #127

    <blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="555778" data-time="1454368114">
    <div>
    <p>It's also badly written. Did you know Gilbert Enoka is the fantastic All Blacks mental skills coach? It's only mentioned about 100 times in the book.  </p>
    </div>
    </blockquote>
    <p> </p>
    <p>That, and the fact that he'd like to get into player's off field development once he retires. I think at one point he says it twice within three sentences.</p>

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • antipodeanA Offline
    antipodeanA Offline
    antipodean
    wrote on last edited by
    #128

    <p>Great interview with Mike Gibson.</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/other-rugby/im-not-sure-id-have-wanted-to-be-a-professional-paul-kimmage-meets-rugby-legend-mike-gibson-34430028.html'>http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/other-rugby/im-not-sure-id-have-wanted-to-be-a-professional-paul-kimmage-meets-rugby-legend-mike-gibson-34430028.html</a></p>

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • U Offline
    U Offline
    ulsterman
    wrote on last edited by
    #129

    <p>Murray Kinsella's at it again:</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.the42.ie/ireland-wales-scrum-analysis-4-2595266-Feb2016/'>http://www.the42.ie/ireland-wales-scrum-analysis-4-2595266-Feb2016/</a></p>
    <p> </p>
    <p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.the42.ie/analysis-ireland-wales-six-nations-2016-attack-2594078-Feb2016/'>http://www.the42.ie/analysis-ireland-wales-six-nations-2016-attack-2594078-Feb2016/</a></p>
    <p> </p>
    <p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.the42.ie/analysis-ireland-defence-wales-six-nations-2016-2591653-Feb2016/'>http://www.the42.ie/analysis-ireland-defence-wales-six-nations-2016-2591653-Feb2016/</a></p>

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
  • jeggaJ Offline
    jeggaJ Offline
    jegga
    wrote on last edited by
    #130

    <p>Mick Byrne interview</p>
    <p> </p>
    <p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/former-all-blacks-skills-coach-mick-byrne-is-open-to-a-future-with-the-wallabies/news-story/b45fa8fa17705ce188ebfe888c2a92e5'>http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/former-all-blacks-skills-coach-mick-byrne-is-open-to-a-future-with-the-wallabies/news-story/b45fa8fa17705ce188ebfe888c2a92e5</a></p>

    1 Reply Last reply
    0

Good Rugby Reads
Sports Talk
  • Login

  • Don't have an account? Register

  • Login or register to search.
  • First post
    Last post
0
  • Categories
  • Login

  • Don't have an account? Register

  • Login or register to search.