ABs: ‘France no grudge match’
23 Nov 2009
Steven Hansen played down the ‘grudge match’ talk on their clash with France this weekend.
The All Blacks face France on Saturday, a match that has been branded as the main event of the European Tour. Considering France have proved to be the All Blacks’ bogey team over the years – as they dumped the New Zealanders out of the 1999 and 2007 World Cups – many expect them to fight harder for victory.
Hansen, however, disagrees. Speaking to the New Zealand media shortly after the All Blacks’ arrival at their hotel in Marseille, the backline coach said there will be no extra influence on the game.
‘They’re one of the top sides in the world, and anybody involved in the game likes to play the top teams,’ said Hansen. ‘But, no [it's not a grudge match], it’s just another good side to play. The venues you normally play them in are outstanding, and it’s just an enjoyable occasion.’
Both teams will have a score to settle after they beat each other earlier this season when France toured Australasia.
Hansen said the All Blacks will look to beat the ‘impressive’ French side and restore some southern hemisphere pride by remaining undefeated against the European nations this tour.
‘We see it as we’ve played them twice already this year and it’s one-all,’ he said. ‘We know it’s going to be a big occasion, they’re playing well, they beat South Africa a couple of weeks ago and now it’s our turn to front up. Marseille will be pumping and hopefully so will we.
‘There are not too many times you get the opportunity to play an opponent that’s beaten you during the year… it is the last Test match of what’s been a long year, but we’ve got the opportunity to do something other southern hemisphere teams haven’t done, and try to go undefeated.’
100 Comments
23 Nov 2009, 09:08 am
massive weekend coming!
23 Nov 2009, 10:03 am
I don’t usually support the All Blacks against anyone but I hope they F*** up those froggies on Sat.
23 Nov 2009, 10:07 am
Question is… “What French team will pitch up”. AB’s all the way, but they where not convincing against a poor England side. Hoping for a good game.
23 Nov 2009, 10:52 am
I see a choke on the horizon. ABs will be hoping the other french team pitches, if not its de javu time for the chokers.
23 Nov 2009, 11:27 am
This will be a very tough encounter!
23 Nov 2009, 11:52 am
The AB of 2009 are not the one we have come to know or fear, they are a shallow broken bunch that have seen the best and worst of AB rugby in their tenure. The AB have relied on their indivual talent for too long and have stood by their substandard coaching staff (us saffas know the feeling) for too long. Just look how their lineout has become pitifull and their attacks less pwerfull.
If the French can be consistant then they have a good chance, but if they stay true to their nature then we will see a typical inconsistant performance and the AB should win.
This is a hard one to call, but then again so is the Leprecons vs the Boks! LOL
23 Nov 2009, 12:49 pm
@Slappes:
…..Leicester….*choke*……France……*choke*……..Saracens…….*choke*……..Italia…….~gasp~……..Ireland……
looks like your own oxygen supplies are looking a bit low there, boet.
23 Nov 2009, 13:02 pm
@WakaNathan: Waka mate, You know well that when we played the club games (Leicester and Sarries) we never had our 2nd best side there. If the coach does not select the 2nd best that were sitting back home in SA then no we wont beat sides with those players. About 10 players left behind that should have gone.
We never choked against France. France were the better team and they beat us fair and square.
We did however White Wash the All Blacks this year and beat Oz twice and win a Tri-Nations cup and a Lions Series Cup too. Very proud of our Boks winning those comps. Also Bulls won the S14 too.
We are also now missing four players that played in those tourneys. Fransie, JdV, Juan and Spies. Those players do make a difference.
I for one never worry about rankings. More about winning a Series. These eoyt for the SH countries we only get one chance to play against a country up there. If we had to play countries up there twice it would be a far better way to judge a rugby team. Think if we had a chance against Ireland now we sorte out our front row and with Deysel and starting with WO we could beat France if we had another chance. One off games you cant really tell to be fair.
23 Nov 2009, 13:02 pm
@WakaNathan:
Not again ….
23 Nov 2009, 13:04 pm
@WakaNathan: He he – it did look at half time that the choke was on the cards
23 Nov 2009, 13:04 pm
meant if we had a chance against France not Ireland. Typo there.
23 Nov 2009, 13:29 pm
No grudge match, sure. A WAR.
On form Frogs vs slowly getting up ABs.
23 Nov 2009, 13:31 pm
By the way, the only team that has ever beaten Frogs in Marseille, are Argentina. Proud history is on the cards.
23 Nov 2009, 13:48 pm
@Puma:
I agree Puma, but it seems if Boks lose to France it was because they were ‘well beaten’ and yet if ABs do they ‘choke’. A theory that smugly fits the notion that SA retain their pride and NZ lose theirs.
Of course the Club team losses do not affect the Test records and should be considered in their own context but both those Club teams were severely depleted and should have been roadkill for the Bok Bs (no matter whether you dis/agree with the selections). I saw a Bok B team who mirrored their Senior team by fading (choking ?) in the 2ndH on each occasion, a malaise of sorts on the road to domination. Thats not just fitness, thats also mental barriers not being crossed. Choking ?
The ABs seem to be getting criticism even when they win, comfortably, by 13pts. But their Bs still beat a fullstrength 6N team in front of 80,000 – not a depleted Club team.
Slappes is praying that the ABs will choke vs France, but perhaps he should just worry about Dublin for now
ABs vs Fr
Played 7
Won 5
Boks vs Fr
Played 7
Won 1
23 Nov 2009, 13:49 pm
This is going to be huge.NZ might not be the force they once were but they’re still a very capable team,as their ranking suggests.France…ja well,this has been said a 1000 times but it all depends WHICH FRENCH SIDE WILL SHOW UP.They will certainly look to outmuscle the AB in the same way they bullied the Bokke but with Picamoles and Hardinordoquy out for this clash,it’ll be interesting to see if they will be as effective in the physical exchanges.What I’d really like to see though is an encounter in the class of the 99 semi…Wishful thinking I know
23 Nov 2009, 13:51 pm
@Dawn:
This is a NZ vs France thread, Dawn. Why are you here ‘again’ ?
23 Nov 2009, 13:52 pm
I’ll be cheering for the All Blacks against France. I wonder who will be singing the New Zealand national anthem in France.
23 Nov 2009, 13:53 pm
@stew:
I was at HQ and not for 1 minute ever felt an air of anxiety. Even with DC misfiring and Eng punching above their recent-weight, it always felt like only 1 team was threatening.
It will be different in Marseilles, France surely go in to the match as marginal favourites now.
kia kaha
23 Nov 2009, 13:55 pm
Hey Wankathon, at least we scored some tries against Italy.
23 Nov 2009, 14:01 pm
haha, i love the kiwi trying to pull the wind up over midweek games
if the boks are that bad, what does that say about the kiwis who went down 3-0 in 2009?
LMAO!
23 Nov 2009, 14:12 pm
@katman:
more tries than AB B team ?
Its entirely understandable how proud you must feel.
23 Nov 2009, 14:14 pm
this is not a rwc game so blacks should win.
2011 might be a different story though
23 Nov 2009, 14:15 pm
france to kick some kiwi *** again.the kiwis will be choking on some french frogs again and will do so in 2011 as well.frog doesn’t go down well with the sheep shaggers it seems!
23 Nov 2009, 14:20 pm
@Puma: “We never choked against France. France were the better team and they beat us fair and square.”
Hi, Puma! Could you explain what “choking” means, because (as I have seen) it is applied here exclusively in case when the losing side is the ABs, no matter who the opposition are or whether the opposition played better and won fair and square or not.
I do not see any difference at all between NZ losing to France in June and SA losing to France in November.
23 Nov 2009, 14:23 pm
@WakaNathan: Waka mate, It is a very sore point here in SA about those that got selected for our so called 2nd side. There were players playing their hearts out this year and are knocking on the Bok door but don’t even get selected to play as our 2nd side?
Something not right there. If we keep doing that not selecting our best for Boks or our 2nd best to play the mid-week games. Those player will eventually leave SA and play club rugby in Europe. Or please never let it happen but for Oz.
The selectors need to start selecting the best. Otherwise we will lose those players. They wont sit around here forever.
23 Nov 2009, 14:23 pm
@Nils: “Could you explain what “choking” means, because (as I have seen) it is applied here exclusively in case when the losing side is the ABs” incorrect this blog loves using it when refering to any loss by the SHarks as well. I think its the colour of the jerseys
23 Nov 2009, 14:24 pm
@Nils: i think “choking” as used with reference tot he ab’s refers to the fact that they were AGAIN favourites for 2007 but AGAIN went down (this time even more spectacularly by not even making the semis).
but it could refer to the tears dan and richie were choking back that night.
23 Nov 2009, 14:26 pm
@charo:
It seems the Boks run scared of playing France, and yet their fans take great delight in mocking NZs record against France instead.
It took 12 years for SA to meet France in the previous 10 Tests, and yet only 6 years for NZ and France to meet over 10 matches.
NZ vs France
Played 10
Won 8.
SA vs Fr
Played 10
Won 3.
oh, no wonder….
And in RWCs, fortune has favoured the Boks somewhat. Theyve only met ONCE, an extremely controversial win in SA, 1995. So it was somewhat lucky the Boks avoided France in 2007. Phew !
23 Nov 2009, 14:29 pm
@rangerman: Well, if so, NOW the main favourites to win WC are the Boks. You know what it means.
Failure = choking.
23 Nov 2009, 14:29 pm
@Nils: Well I never said that ABs choked. So not sure either. Many say the same about my team the Sharks. That we choke but it is just a word. I don’t take it serious.
France beat us. They played better than us and deserved the win.
We need to select right too. I would start with WO at inside centre this week but we all know that wont happen.
Our front row should be Beast LH, John Hooker and BJ TH.
I would have given JdV and Frans Steyn a call too. That will never happen either but with the players there. WO should start ahead of Adi. That is where we are going to be weak. They will target Adi’s channel for sure. Also hope that Deysel starts and not Burger. See he is training but Deysel is far better at blinside (7) in SA.
23 Nov 2009, 14:30 pm
meant – blindside.
23 Nov 2009, 14:35 pm
@Puma: I was referring to a general trend here, not specifically you, didn’t intend to offend you in any way.
Pity for the Sharks back there in 2007. Such an agony.
And good luck for Dublin Test, Boks certainly will need it, as Irish ain’t pushovers and are much better than Italy with all respect to Azzuri men.
23 Nov 2009, 14:39 pm
@WakaNathan:
the 95 bok win was nowhere near as controversial as the 2007 france win
23 Nov 2009, 14:40 pm
@WakaNathan: Waka to be honest France were not playing great rugby in world cup 2007. Arg even beat them in the opener.
What cost the Abs was them trying for a try for about 15 min on the French line. Wasted far too much time there and McCaw should have called for the drop. That is all it would have taken and ABs would have been through to the semi and final.
Boks played great Rugby in France 2007 feel we would have beaten that French side.
Should have been a Bok/AB final. It was not to be. It wont be in 2011 either as we meet in the semi. Strange how they work that out in rugby that the number one and two sides in the world meet in a semi. Most sports it is worked out that those two sides if they win all the games would meet in the final.
Now if we are both still number one and two then one of us are out before the final. Sad actually.
23 Nov 2009, 14:40 pm
@Nils:
Puma is too much of a gentleman to say ‘choke’, but my feline friend still has his own subtle way of getting his message thru.
23 Nov 2009, 14:41 pm
@charo:
after 95 france didn’t go into a state of national angst and write a 4000 page report on it
23 Nov 2009, 14:43 pm
why should it be a Bok/AB final when one team wasn’t good enough to get there? that’s disrespectful to the other teams.
23 Nov 2009, 14:45 pm
@Nils: ja, that is true nils.
but if we win it…?
23 Nov 2009, 14:46 pm
@Nils: No problem Nils, You never offended me at all.
Yes, I still feel the pain of that S14 final when Sharks lost to the Bulls, we should have won it had we kicked it out. That is how it goes. Just have to live with it. Maybe one day we will win it. Hoping.
Ireland are going to be really tough to beat. I have no illusions about this game coming up this weekend. Going to be really hard. Just hope for a Bok win being a Bok supporter.
23 Nov 2009, 14:49 pm
@rangerman: Then you will be worthy winners, no argument.
@Puma: Perhaps it’s about noise there. Remember, how lucky Sharks were that year to beat Saders when all they needed is to kick that bloody thing out, but Brett didn’t. Probably he did not hear the bloody hooter.
That was an awesome game anyway.
23 Nov 2009, 14:50 pm
@WakaNathan: He is a gentleman, no doubt. Never a rude word or middle finger to us – virtual “foes”.
23 Nov 2009, 14:53 pm
@Big Hit: Hi, BH, you mean, disrespectful to the other … erm… referee?
Ok, ok, France are good when they bother to play, I know. They showed it in Toulouse already and hopefully will show it in Marseille (but it will not be enough this time).
23 Nov 2009, 14:56 pm
@WakaNathan: Oh, so when it’s your lot you pull out the A-team vs B-team defense?
And I have little doubt that the Leicester and Saracens sides that beat us would beat your so-called B-team too.
23 Nov 2009, 14:56 pm
@Nils: I guess it was a case of what goes around comes around
But you have to hear the hooter now,I am sure they have made it a couple of notches higher, can’t miss it now 
23 Nov 2009, 14:58 pm
@Nils: I’m sure every team’s supporters could’ve complained about a referee, not all were that unsportsmanlike.
France have lost a couple to injury since the Bok match but I wouldn’t be surprised if they won, Marseille is a stronghold for them.
23 Nov 2009, 14:58 pm
@Nils: Yes Nils, Agree that is what I said a few months back here. That hooter at the Tank is very soft.
Saders never heard it that time as they said so themselves. So maybe Fransie never heard it either. Then there is the score board for players to see.
That hooter at the Tank is still too soft. Even if you sit in the stands you hardly hear it. I hardly heard it when I was watching on tv too. It is a problem and think they should fix it.
23 Nov 2009, 15:01 pm
@Nils:
There are others here too, our Latvian-correspondent incl.
@Puma:
But you know France better than that. France are almost pure-psychology driven as a team. They struggle to get up for Argies or other mid-tier teams like Ire or Wales and yet maifestly reinvent themselves for superior opposition like ABs and Boks. The proof is there in how they recover – invariably if they beat NZ they are flat and lose the next match.
So to say ‘France beat Arg at RWC and therefore…..’ is not the entire story. France ALWAYS get up for NZ/SA & Engl (as their traditional derby-rival). They are their foes and where the glory lies. Which is Frances great strength but also their greatest weakness.
23 Nov 2009, 15:01 pm
@Puma: They have notched it up, during this cc you couldn’t miss it! But then admitedly the stadium was never very full as it is during S14.
23 Nov 2009, 15:04 pm
@katman:
BH has made a similar song’n'dance for the past 12mths about the day the AB B team played Munster. How Munster, depleted themselves, ran the Blacks ragged and showed all the World what patsys the Kiwis really were. And how he laughed and all his willing and many Keo-supporters joined in for a good oldfashioned mocking.
NZ won.
23 Nov 2009, 15:06 pm
@WakaNathan: loads of myths
they do get up for the Argies, the Argies are just strong where they are usually weak – the forwards. France don’t like it when you play tight rugby against them.
NZ usually try to run it around them, France enjoy this and sometimes better them, Wales sometimes beat France in a similar manner. When you open the game up it becomes a lottery.
What’s scary and unusual about France’s win over the Boks was that it was based on forward dominance, they battered a very good Bok pack, this makes me think they could be a genuine World Cup contender next time around.
23 Nov 2009, 15:07 pm
@WakaNathan: NZ only won because they brought senior ABs on late in the game. They were in the same position as the Bok sides this year until they did that. If Boks had loaded their bench they could’ve got out of it too.
23 Nov 2009, 15:07 pm
@Big Hit: Well, yes and no. Rarely you see the case when WC eliminator is being refereed by relative rookie and he do not penalize one team (who are on the backfoot for most of the time, mind you) at all whole 2nd half and a couple of times in the whole game. I mean, it can be swallowed if this is just an ordinary Test but this was a WC eliminator, ffs. That’s why people were pissed off.
No probs with France, they are great team and with some consistency could be at the top.
In comparision, screaming in rage here when the same gentleman was refereeing SA Tests was deafening. Cheetahs vs BIL Lions, Boks vs Australia, Boks vs France anyone?
23 Nov 2009, 15:08 pm
@WakaNathan: Yes agree with you there Waka. Maybe France should get up to that level all the time against all teams.
23 Nov 2009, 15:09 pm
@Nils: unsportsmanlike excuses, not one of them relevant.
It’s all right to have a bit of a whine after the game but they took it too far.
23 Nov 2009, 15:09 pm
@Sharksgirl: Well, nevertheless it was a great game, one of the most enjoyable of the season, even my team lost. Atmosphere – awesome and nailbitting finish.
By the way, I still think Odwa Ndungane is a liability. I have rarely seen a player so easily spilling ball with tryline begging as this guy. He does it on regular basis.
23 Nov 2009, 15:11 pm
@Big Hit:
Its taken you 12mths to acknowledge the ABs ‘won’ vs Munster so atleast that looks like real progress for you, BH. How did that minor stat ever escape your many and lengthy Reviews on that game ?
23 Nov 2009, 15:14 pm
@Big Hit: Ok. When your team will meet such fate thanks to the referee (be it rugby, soccer or cricket), be nice and practice what you preach.
23 Nov 2009, 15:16 pm
@WakaNathan: I thought Munster were moral victors, was harsh to take it away from them by bringing on senior ABs late in the game. Would’ve been like SA bringing on Botha, FDP et al v Leicester/Sarries etc.
23 Nov 2009, 15:17 pm
@Nils: it wasn’t thanks to the referee, it was dumb rugby, all the other major nations in NZ’s position would’ve been thinking drop-goal. There’s no point you carrying the unsportsmanlike behaviour on their behalf.
23 Nov 2009, 15:24 pm
@Nils: Agreed! That was the most exciting game in my opinion, of course it helped my team won. I always enjoy the games between the Crusaders and SHarks. Was disapointed with this year’s game though, both teams looked a bit lacklustre in the match. Only up is I got to finally get Richie McCaw’s signature, and a photo with him. Have to say he is a lovely person, no arrogance about him, quite happy to talk to us, although he was getting mobbed.
I agree with you on Odwa, its for some time now that I have been advocating he be dropped to the bench. I used to really like him, as although never great he was solid, but now he has last all speed and is prone to knock on or drop ball. I am hoping Plummers sees sense this year and starts with Lwazi Mvovo, a far better prospect, he is fast, strong and always looks dangerous with ball in hand.
23 Nov 2009, 15:25 pm
@Big Hit: And may I ask why all the other major nations would’ve thinking drop-goal? Isn’t it because they are damn sure the ref was never going to give you a penalty?
Alright, we agree to disagree, no need to drag on about it.
23 Nov 2009, 15:26 pm
@Big Hit:
as for emptying the bench, it seems like Engl ran out of extras at HQ, how many players do you need ?
Now I understand why you focus only on the RWCs (ps NZ vs Engl, Played 3, Won 3) because now your rugby team has the same number of subs as your football team does for ‘friendlies’.
Meanwhile, at the Big Boys Table, France name their squad to play ABs. 4 changes all stregnthen the squad – in come Servat, Nallet, Ouedraogo (the new loosie-star of Fr rugby who missed Bok match) and Mermoz; =
French squad:
Forwards (13): Fabien Barcella (Biarritz), Sylvain Marconnet (Stade Francais), Nicolas Mas (Perpignan), Thomas Domingo (Clermont), Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Francais), William Servat (Stade Toulousain), Romain Millo-Chluski (Stade Toulousain), Sebastien Chabal (Racing-Metro), Lionel Nallet (Racing-Metro), Thierry Dusautoir (Stade Toulousain, capt), Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier), Julien Bonnaire (Clermont), Julien Puricelli (Bayonne)
Backs (10): Julien Dupuy (Stade Francais), Morgan Parra (Clermont), François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), Yannick Jauzion (Stade Toulousain), Maxime Mermoz (Perpignan), David Marty (Perpignan), Vincent Clerc (Stade Toulousain), Benjamin Fall (Bayonne), Damien Traille (Biarritz), Maxime Medard (Stade Toulousain)
23 Nov 2009, 15:27 pm
@Big Hit:
off you go for a quick Moral Victory Lap whilst the rest of us get a well-earned beer then.
23 Nov 2009, 15:28 pm
@Sharksgirl: Mvovo going to be a real star. Should have kept on playing with him in the CC instead of bringing Odwa back.
Mapoe too a brilliant new comer. JPP better watch it otherwise Mapoe will take his place in the Bok squad. JPP just not playing well at the moment.
23 Nov 2009, 15:31 pm
@Nils: no you think drop-goal late on in a tight knockout game, ever seen the 03 RWC final?
but yes, no need to drag on
@WakaNathan:
that wasn’t a victory lap and you know it, another myth waka, you long cloudists love your myths 
@WakaNathan: Big boys table? we hammered France this year. They lost that big Picamoles guy and Harinordiquy, two top backrows.
23 Nov 2009, 15:35 pm
@WakaNathan: And we all know what happens when both the Boks and the Blacks trot out their A-teams. I can send you some Tri-Nations links if you need reminding.
23 Nov 2009, 15:40 pm
@Big Hit:
myths ?
so, exactly what IS a ‘moral victory’ if not a myth ?
@Big Hit:
I understand your desperation to dine at the Big Boys table but theres only just enough room for 6.
Hey BH, a Ques:- what do you call the game to decide 7th & 8th on the World Rankings Table ?
A. The Calcutta Cup.
23 Nov 2009, 15:46 pm
@WakaNathan:
Brawler.
23 Nov 2009, 15:48 pm
@Big Hit: By the way, I think JW saved English in that final, as Watson was doing all he could to help Aussies win. Alas, Kiwis did not any worthy drop-kicker left on the pitch to see off Barnesey.
Any team could be happy to have reliable drop-kicker when country desparately needs him.
23 Nov 2009, 17:17 pm
@Nils:
Not if that reliable drop-kicker chooses-to and executes the DG on Saturdays match at HQ that Wilko did.
If the fact that Wilko chose to stand so deep in the pocket whilst creating 1 x break to DCs flat positioning ability to create 7 x breaks over the same 80mins did not convince anyone that the DC vs Wilko debate is officially redunadant, then surely Jonnys innate decision to waste Engl best field-position with a lame DG was surely it.
23 Nov 2009, 17:20 pm
@WakaNathan: Which just proves that JW is a nothing but human even while landing dropgoals. If that is urgently needed, he is a valuable asset. Just like Morne Steyn. Or (sometimes) his namesake Francois.
23 Nov 2009, 17:41 pm
@Nils:
Which is also to highlights ones limitations.
Morne Steyn is the most ruthlessly coldblooded placekicker on the Planet. But his inability to play outside a certain narrow structure and playing pattern means that the Boks will lose games away – eg vs France – where their collective class should dictate that they can win matches in more than 1 way. The flipside of that coin is that Ruan Pienaar is probably a better bet for SA against France IN France because he has far more variety, therefore adaptability, to his game than Morne. But he struggles to kick so much as a tumbleweed in the dessert, so its more more a gamble to select him. Currently, the Bok backline remains dormant.
23 Nov 2009, 17:45 pm
@WakaNathan: I am not such an expert but I am sure that guy with JW or MS abilities could save ABs in Cardiff, when nothing else worked right.
Sometimes I rue very much the lack of coldblooded drop-kickers in the squad. Just in case.
23 Nov 2009, 17:58 pm
@Nils:
Its even harder to plan for when 2 of them are injured off.
I was less a fan of ‘reliable DG-kickers’ when the Blacks had Foxy entrenched at no10 that at any time thereafter. For the ABs to choose a reliable-kicker over an attacking 5-eighth would be like Brazil resorting to 4-4-2 against England at a World Cup.
Inconceivable.
23 Nov 2009, 18:29 pm
@WakaNathan: You know DC is not world famous for his drop-goals, I suspect, he has kicked only a few in whole his career be it for Canterbury, Crusaders or the ABs.
And in the situation when you should know that referee will not give you penalty no matter what, drop is the only option. Ok they tried to force a try, which was much harder to do, as the opposition (classy, by the way) was free to do what they see necessary in defence without fearing penalty.
That was the moment, I rued lack of specialist drop-kicker. It may be not flashy but it could land them in Paris instead of Auckland.
23 Nov 2009, 18:45 pm
@Nils:
Fairly hard to kick a DG on 1 leg, let alone from the bench.
Dont get me wrong, any points are welcome via any method. DC has only kicked 2 x Test DGs to Wilkos 31, but then Wilko has scored 7 x Test tries in 78 Tests to DCs 25 in 64.
You cannae have everything. More often than not, teams that over-use the DG are those with white line-fever, which is a team with inner-doubts.
Reducing the DG to 1pt is a must if rugby wants to progress. Tell me ONE good reason 2 x DGs should count for more points than a Try ?
23 Nov 2009, 21:15 pm
World Champion Chokers – the only accolade the AB will win in 2011. France will torment them.
24 Nov 2009, 00:43 am
@Nils: That sort of rugby is not played in NZ, maybe if they reduce the DG to 1pt than that sort of option would be reduced on the field and running rugby would prevail, I would keep penalty 3pts.
24 Nov 2009, 00:45 am
@Slappes: So why mention it, this is common so that wouldnt be a shock, Ive seen too many losses to be heart broken, Whos #1 currently…..ALL BLACKS
24 Nov 2009, 00:55 am
The Froggies are in for the mother of all whippings.
24 Nov 2009, 02:06 am
@Breakdown Boy When was the last time you watched an AB game, stupid boy, nothing wrong with the lineout, we are the only team in the history of the game to go through NHTeams since 2007 without having a try scored against us, and also undefeated, something no other SH team can say, of course you are WC but so have the Poms so have the occa’s, and so have we won the WC, but as I said no one but us has done the above!!!!
24 Nov 2009, 02:09 am
@Slappes: Your team is the best in the world at choking, it took three games before you won one, take a look in your own back yard before you critise us!!!
24 Nov 2009, 02:12 am
@Puma: First time in how many years??? That makes you chokers sunshine dont it!!!
24 Nov 2009, 02:16 am
@rangerman: At least we lost to the supposed WC’s, not like your lot, lost to teams that would find it hard to get into our S14 comp.
24 Nov 2009, 02:18 am
@CHAZ: Dude. Seriously? Unnecessary.
Just makes you look like a doos.
24 Nov 2009, 02:23 am
@Big Hit: Jeez, no wonder people are pissing off to other countries to live BH, strewth do you eat last years bread and meat as well, beacuse I have never heard anyone go on about the past as much as you do, shite BH, don’t you know its 2009 and your rugby team is ****,like your weather, and yes I have lived there so I know all about it, its not a nightmare BH, wake up smell the roses!!!
24 Nov 2009, 02:24 am
@SodaJoe: Unlike your dipshit self then??
24 Nov 2009, 02:28 am
@CHAZ: Grow up. Nothing worse than a bore.
24 Nov 2009, 02:29 am
@CHAZ: yawn
24 Nov 2009, 03:15 am
@CHAZ:
Win a WC then log on a have a crack at the Boks ya dipstick!
24 Nov 2009, 04:00 am
The AB’s are the Frogs ***** at World Cup. You will loose the WC at home because you will choke (hisory) but you will win this weekend as the French are not that hot so far. I am sure they will lift a little for this game.
If Dicko is reffing, no problem but if it is a northern hemisphere ref but not from England I think it will be scrap.Maybe McCaw will be carded for tackling and tripping players without the ball and diving in the ruck form the side, then again maybe not. I think we shall see a fight.
We will see the up and unders that you soo bleated about. Go France!!!
24 Nov 2009, 08:53 am
listen to all the Saffa wankers going on about choking… haha lets talk season 08, the trinations, what happened there ? ranked number 1, WC champs and came stone last… if that isnt a choke..
but that was because of selections right ? you guys are so sad… when you lose its never because you were outplayed, this year when the ABs lost 3 times to you most AB supporters didnt blame novice players, didnt blame travel, we accepted the better team won…
its the fact that NZ can go to the NH and continually beat teams that SA cant… if France beat us this weekend then full credit to them…
seriously, as world cup champs (remember that 4 week tourny where you didnt play anyone ranked higher then 5th?) surely you should be able to beat club sides, no matter who was selected…
I’ll tell you this now, once Bakkies and Victor and FDP and Smit leave the game, and lets face it, it wont be too long until they do, SA is again going to crumble… you can all see it in your next generation of player coming through, it is obvious without your first choice players you are rubbish…
NZ has copped the losses, brought in some youth and this will stand us in good stead… as for 11, who knows what will happen…
24 Nov 2009, 09:06 am
@poppa69: actually NZ supporters went a step further than the travel and ref excuse, they blamed the game of rugby itself
24 Nov 2009, 09:14 am
@Big Hit: lol… thats right, because the NH is choking the kaka out of it…
not releasing players for the 2003 world cup is tantamount to treason of the highest order…
not fully trialling the ELV’s before deciding they werent any good is another one…
24 Nov 2009, 09:20 am
@poppa69: we didnt need to trial them, just had to watch them in the S14 to see they were ****, you don’t need to drink the poison to know it’s poison
24 Nov 2009, 10:58 am
@rangerman:
Or the 2005…… ad nauseum teams that went down
24 Nov 2009, 11:19 am
BigHit I bet its hard to raise a pint without any bones in ones wrist.
24 Nov 2009, 13:30 pm
@CHAZ:
There are some days when Im reminded that my beloved homeland has more than its fair share of @-h*les.
Like every time you open your mouth.
24 Nov 2009, 13:35 pm
@KevinRack:
Hey, Dipsh*t.
1stly, its ‘lose’. Your clearly have problems with the basics in all walks of life, but your pants wont stay up if theyre still ‘loose’.
When you call someone a ‘looser’ (which appears to be your favourite taunt), bizarrely enough it has a habit of shooting the messenger.
2ndly, perhaps the French have the ABs number at RWC-time. But the French have the Boks number. Full. Stop. .
24 Nov 2009, 13:43 pm
@Big Hit:
I must say its rather pathetic that you have failed to say 1 decent word about the AB performance or any of their players or to even have the grace to congratulate any Kiwi bloggers here after the ABs win over Engl. The win was convincing and without controversy.
To a man, the Kiwis here have all congratulated the Boks on every win this season despite any banter, good natured or not, that has preceded it in the leading years/months/days.
Your baiting of NZers and festering jealousy of their rugby is well documented. Now and then its also impt to show not a little spine in fronting up to the opposition with beer in hand.
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