ABs sitting pretty
30 Nov 2009
The All Blacks have increased their lead at the top of the IRB world rankings.
Richie McCaw’s men will finish the year as the world’s best team following their emphatic 39-12 win against France and the Boks’ 15-10 loss to Ireland.
Ireland jump France into fourth spot as the highest placed European nation. England and Argentina both rise one spot with Wales falling two places after their disappointing 33-12 loss to the Wallabies.
Lower down the rankings, Italy jump Samoa into 11th spot with their 24-11 win against the Pacific Islanders.
IRB world rankings (top 10)
1(1) New Zealand 91.68
2(2) South Africa 88.59
3(3) Australia 85.55
4(5) Ireland 84.58
5(4) France 82.40
6(7) England 80.72
7(8) Argentina 80.55
8(6) Wales 79.89
9(9) Scotland 76.59
10(10) Fiji 75.91
126 Comments
Pages: « 1 [2] 3 » Show All
1 Dec 2009, 06:31 am
You’re far better off with a reputation and no cups than cups and no reputation.
Have the reputation and the cups will come.
Have no reputation but cups and those cups will go.
Cups are reminders of the past — of where you once were. Reputation is about the future — of where you are heading.
Tomorrow won’t be in the past. Tomorrow is in the future. And we only move in that direction.
1 Dec 2009, 06:43 am
Wow a kiwi blog, wonder where the real men, the Maori, instead a bunch of scrawny white boys.
AB will choke at home in the WC, cant wait, choke, choke…
1 Dec 2009, 06:47 am
Choke
1 Dec 2009, 07:04 am
As a South African, I think some of my compatriots are in serious denial. South Africa’s wins this year have not been unequivocal bar the test in Bloemfontein and Perth.
Watching the ABs on Saturday 2 hours after the Ireland game, it is clear that the ABs are back on track. They play exciting, intelligent, creative rugby. Notwithstanding the long season, they did not appear jaded, lethargic or indifferent. The fact is that the Boks played mediocre, one-dimensional rugby against an overrated Ireland team…and lost. There is no doubt the ABs would have thrashed Ireland as well.
It is clear that SA does have an abundance of talent. What is depressing is the mismanagement of that talent. We see problems with selections, a lacklustre gameplan and unintelligent remarks from coaching staff.
Why does SA persist in this way? That is the mystery. Politics is only part of it. That doesn’t account for this 10 man game which they cannot seem to transcend. It would be nice to see the management acknowledging the problems and fixing them. Who knows, perhaps they are doing that in private, but I wouldn’t raise my expectations.
1 Dec 2009, 07:04 am
@KevinRack: AB’s are going to be very tough to beat at home so you may want to take it easy on the choking thing otherwise you may be the one choking, on those words, after the world cup.
1 Dec 2009, 07:08 am
@rex: Spot on! And agree Ireland were pretty average.
1 Dec 2009, 07:18 am
You on the Bundy again Kev?
1 Dec 2009, 08:09 am
I would add…
The Boks can run the ball. But why only in the last two minutes as if suddenly the rugby synapses suddenly begin firing at long last. We have all seen this before. They kick away possession again and again until a few minutes before the game ends as if they suddenly realize it’s going nowhere. Then suddenly they run the ball and appear as if they are a different team. Either there is a genuine lack of intelligence or maybe they were paid by the mob to throw the game but had to make it look as though they were really playing at the end.
1 Dec 2009, 08:12 am
@TheTackler:
“Have the reputation and the cups will come.”
Stated with such confidence… yet while the ABs have had the world’s-best-team reputation for decades… THE Cup has not come since 1987…!!
Having said that… Congratulations to the ABs on regaining the number 1 spot. They certainly finished the year on the up and deserve the top ranking…
Will make the 2010 3N very interesting and see which way the Boks go…
Strange thing is…this time last year the PdV doubters (and haters) said they would judge him by the Lions tour and then the 3N… now they’re saying we will have to judge him on the upcoming 3N…
Come what may… hell or highwater… win or lose… this time next year they’ll be saying… You can only judge Peter De Villiers on whether he wins the World Cup or not…
Also… congratulations to the Aussies… I was expecting Wales to beat them and give them a tough time… They really picked it up after the Scotland game and ended their year on a high note too…
1 Dec 2009, 08:15 am
@rex: My sentiments exactly, we were awesome with 1 minute to go where as the Kiwis were unbelievable from beginning to end, they should pace, power, made great decisions and changed things up constantly and we allowed a very over rated Ireland get bragging rights over us, very disappointing to say the least.
1 Dec 2009, 08:33 am
I reckon John Smit summed up the difference in approach between the Boks and ABs, with his comment that the game plan against Ireland was based on kicking into their half and forcing errors through pressure from the chasers which would be converted into penalty points.
The ABs, on the other hand, go out to win the game by outplaying the opposition.
Basically, we rely on the opposition to give us the game rather than us going out and taking it.
That approach is also the reason why we rarely manage to win by more than a few points. We won’t take the risk of going for them.
1 Dec 2009, 08:35 am
@David: 100%
1 Dec 2009, 08:39 am
@TheTackler: When it comes to winning percentages , the good money is always on Black.
1 Dec 2009, 09:11 am
@David: Very succintly put
Watching the match between us and Ireland, and between France and NZ, which was a better advert for rugby? Ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong ping-pong penalty, versus a fluid, exciting running game…I know which I would rather watch!!
1 Dec 2009, 09:12 am
@David: Actually that game plan is an old Crusader ploy. Kick, kick, kick and kick it until the opposition falter. Crusaders prided themselves for many season of giving the opposition all the ball they could… so they could pulverise them to err. Amazing how many times the Crusaders converted mistakes into good fortune and it was called ‘broken play’.
Old game plan revisited!
1 Dec 2009, 09:21 am
@David:
Great comment David…!!
1 Dec 2009, 11:09 am
@TheTackler: Time for your Prozac.
1 Dec 2009, 12:13 pm
@RugbyRulz: So it’s vintage. Well the boks wore it to the Trinations, you can’t keep wearing the same dress to all functions. People will notice and start to talk.
1 Dec 2009, 12:50 pm
@KiaKahaNZ:
Best post from a Kiwi for a while!
1 Dec 2009, 12:52 pm
@Paddylock:
Agreed. The Irish used to be easy pickings for the Boks (in Ireland and at home). You seem to be getting your house in order thats for sure.
Can only be good for World Rugby.
1 Dec 2009, 12:53 pm
@TheTackler:
As a Sharks fan I would trade all the ‘Top of the Log finishes’ for some more trophies!!!
1 Dec 2009, 13:00 pm
I@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark): I can understand that, but it’s only the one little cherry on the very top of the cake. Owning the whole cake minus that one solitary cherry isn’t exactly a terrible thing.
The cherry-eater will be hungry after 20 minutes, but by then you’ll barely have eaten half of the 20 slices of the cake you own.
1 Dec 2009, 13:56 pm
@TheTackler:
MATE, I’m still ****** hungry after the 2007 Super 14 final.
1 Dec 2009, 14:30 pm
@Test: @55
what, and deprive him of his 1 and only joke ?!
1 Dec 2009, 14:41 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark): @36
last time someone here on Keo told me to ‘Google (something) Sth African’ it was “are Sth Africans”
Can I expect that answer to be the same ?
1 Dec 2009, 14:50 pm
@WakaNathan:
Aha.
Here you are.
1 Dec 2009, 14:55 pm
@WakaNathan:
Who invited you to the do?
1 Dec 2009, 15:29 pm
@Dawn:
are you stalking me, Dawn ?
@Dawn:
My company bought a table.
1 Dec 2009, 21:10 pm
@whatever:
#50
All those cups and still at the end of the season NZ are the number one team,what do you guys have to do?
1 Dec 2009, 23:47 pm
NZ were good against France but lets not forget that this is the same France that got smashed by England in last seasons 6 nations. That match was over as a contest quicker then saturdays match.
2 Dec 2009, 00:39 am
@dquinn25: Aaah but the AB’s hardly ever lose in the north – not like the Bokkes, they do lose more than they should.
We respect the Bokkes effort, dont get us wrong, however, this year, everyone, not just AB supporters, have been saying this is teh weakest AB team we have seen in many a year – probably since 1998, its called a trough, and if anyone should know about that, it should be you guys, your record over the entire 3N is not as good as ours.
No, Im not talking RWCs here, knockout v round robin is an unbalanced comparison
2 Dec 2009, 01:17 am
@KiaKahaNZ:
Funny, you lose to the Boks and suddenly it’s your weakest team since 1998………………pleeeease.
2 Dec 2009, 01:20 am
@Hurricane:
We still got the cups. You have the ranking. I know what fills up the cabinet! You had a good spurt at the end of the year whilst we had it when it counted in the competitions. Again, I know which I prefer. You have a good record inbetween WC’s whilst we do the business at the competition. AGAIN, I know which one I prefer……….you getting the message dude?
2 Dec 2009, 01:31 am
@whatever: aah no, we lost to France this year too, struggled to beat them in Wgtn, scraped past Italy twice, it hasnt been great has it?
In 1998 we lost 5. Therefore, when else have we been this weak, its pretty straight forward dont you think?
Most we’ve ever lost in one year in between these times has been 2 games (in the one calendar season)
Why would try to twist into something else?
2 Dec 2009, 02:52 am
@KiaKahaNZ:
Got nothing to do with your opposition hey? They never get better and make winning everytime harder? The only twisting being done is you blokes twisting your own BS!
2 Dec 2009, 02:54 am
84. They try to twist it because they are in denial about the current state of Bok rugby as compared with NZ. Until the Boks face these facts, they will never be a consistently excellent creative team. They probably could be on a par with the ABs consistently, but they do not learn from errors.
2 Dec 2009, 03:10 am
@rex:
Mate, NZ does not have to put up with the political BS that is rife in SA Rugby. Period. Right now boet we are not only on a par, but better. You are only good as the last three games you played against each other! How come you blokes always think the sun shines outaya a hole all the time?
2 Dec 2009, 03:15 am
Jeez, the boys went off the boil at the end of the season and now all the frign Kiwi’s come running out of the woodwork shouting “we are the champions”………..hello people. Wake up, did you win when you should have this season? No. Did you collect the 3 Nations? No. One swallow does not make a summer dude!
2 Dec 2009, 03:40 am
@whatever: you say ” One swallow does not make a summer dude!”
I couldnt agree more. Like we’ve said, enjoy your moment, do we moan on and on when we win a 3N, no, coz some of you lot start dissing it, and start mentioning RWC’s etc.
Are you ever able to accept the AB’s are overall a better team than SA – as our record against you shows? Or is that hard for you to accept, ie, the truth?
Currently, yes, the last 3 games you win, it happens, we’ve done it to you too cowboy, swings both ways.
I dont think any kiwis are proclaiming anything of the sort – ie that we’re the champions etc, we maybe on top of the rankings, whoop-de-f***,
I think the Frogs took us on at a running game, a similar style that has worked for them against us in the past, but it backfired, a nice win for us, but they allowed it to happen too.
Why you so hot under the collar about all of this?
2 Dec 2009, 04:00 am
@KiaKahaNZ:
Mate you can swing whichever way you want with whatever coyboy you want, thats your choice.
What I think is pathetic is this constant “my team is better than yours” from you Kiwi blokes. Are you trying to make up for something?
You had a great game against the Frogs, well done. But, how many times have you seen the Frogs string two good games together? They played there big game of the season against a flat Bok side.
Don’t give me this BS about us going on about the WC. If you had won a blooming WC recently you would be unplayable. You gaan aan about overall records just as much as we may go on about WC’s. Pot calling kettle not so? Well it would be if you openned your other eye!
2 Dec 2009, 04:28 am
Great to have these visitors to our South African rugby blog. Try this New Zealand rugby blog; http:// w w w.bestgayblogs. com
2 Dec 2009, 04:44 am
Whatever ain’t you a saffa living over in Kiwi land just like Tackler, so whats the deal how come you so ingratuitous to yr kind hosts.
Tackler on the one hand always sticking the knife into his ex home nationality and you sticking the knife into your adopted one. Can’t quite work out who is less honorable, the jarpie hater or the kiwi one.
Maybe its true what they say, saffa’s truly are a weird complex bunch.
2 Dec 2009, 04:45 am
@Oxy moron:
enjoy your slide down the rankings.
Rankings is an accumulation of points over time and that means not just this year but last.
In case you did not know…hope you did…if you did not then that would make you a doos.
2 Dec 2009, 04:53 am
@whatever: Whatever whatever.
I dont mind discussing genuine facts etc, but your unbridled bravado ruins any sentiment you carry.
I will recind any comments on the AB’s being the best, as I feel its a moving title anyway, its relevance is only fit for the desperate.
I take great delight in being an AB supporter, as they have delivered many times, and have generally been a pleasure to watch.
Im glad you mentioned France having one good game, we’ve been saying that for years, we found that out the hard way in 99 and 07
2 Dec 2009, 04:56 am
@Paddylock:
The reason why Ireland is not above Aus is because Ireland plays against weak teams in the six nations.
You have to beat teams above you to go above them.
Playing weaks sides multiple times does not give you points to move up.
2 Dec 2009, 05:02 am
@skopskiet:
No mate, just sticking up for my home country. Big difference. Just get sick of the AB suporters arrogance. Great country, but as you would know, each country has it’s a-holes…..
2 Dec 2009, 05:03 am
@whatever:
You are a sook!!
“They played there big game of the season against a flat Bok side.”
did you not say you are tired of NZers saying they are better. Well arent you saying just the same.
You seem to give your teams game against the French credence and not the same for the AB’s
Jealousy makes you look ugly!!
2 Dec 2009, 05:04 am
Oh, and skopskiet, it is not a “host” type situation. The country simply needs immigrants to post a positive growth. Economics of a small country.
2 Dec 2009, 05:04 am
Yeah seems France are adept at lifting themselves for about 1 good top drawer game per season. If they could keep that intensity up with any degree of consistency it would be France at the top of the heap year after year. Good thing they got feet of clay and minds made of marshmallow else Ab’s and Bok’s would be snapping at their heels more than the other way round.
2 Dec 2009, 05:05 am
@wallabie.:
And you would know, hey dingo?
Pages: « 1 [2] 3 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.