Tri-Nations latest (Wed)
28 Jul 2010
Keo.co.za brings you the news from the Tri-Nations.
Sanzar dismiss Cooper appeal
Quade Cooper will play no part in the next two Tests against New Zealand after having his appeal for a ban rejected on Wednesday.
A Sanzar Appeals Committee has dismissed an appeal for the two-week suspension imposed after the Test in Brisbane last week. Cooper was suspended after being cited for a dangerous tackle.
Cooper will be eligible for selection from 9 August.
All Blacks betrayed
The Australian media have published the All Blacks’ game plan notes after Graham Henry was photographed with them at training.
The photos, which were taken by Australian-based Kiwi Scott Barbour and published in The Australian, The Age and Herald Sun, revealed the All Blacks’ tactics for the Wallabies this weekend. It shows that the All Blacks aim to target Wallabies pivot Matt Giteau and wing James O’Connor on defence and to counter openside flank David Pocock. It also revealed five separate plays and moves from scrums and lineouts.
See the game plan photo on SA Rugby mag’s Facebook page
Assistant coach Steve Hansen said the photographer has broken the trust between the All Blacks and media.
‘At the end of the day you guys and photographers come to training and there are a few unwritten rules and the photographer has breached the trust. There’s no too much we can do about it,’ Hansen told the media.
‘The good thing about it yesterday was a defensive training day so we won’t have to change our tactics too much.
‘Most of the time we get great response from people – our guys have been pretty good over the years but every now and then someone makes a mistake and you have to go away and have a talk about it. There are a whole lot of things that are going to happen on Saturday night and I don’t think one photo is going to make too much difference.’
Hansen admitted that the media attempting to capture plays on camera is an ongoing concern. Last year, the All Blacks removed a South African camera man from training in Durban after he was suspected.
‘Everyone in world rugby and world sport knows it is a concern.’
60 Comments
28 Jul 2010, 07:26 am
Cheating DRAGONS!
28 Jul 2010, 07:31 am
…but it has to be said, I have read some very nasty comments about the cheating Australians when this story broke earlier today…NOW I see it was a cheating Kiwi who took the photies
But not only did he take the photos, he then went and sold it to Aussies papers!!!
BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Nothing like a bit of neighbourly love hey?
28 Jul 2010, 07:39 am
What I love about this scenario is that after the game, one side will be whinging about the ref or making accusations of cheating, only days after lambasting the Boks for the same thing.
Now we just have to wait and see which team dons the hypocrite tag first…
28 Jul 2010, 07:51 am
sounds like a game plan Jake White would employ. So jake is giving some tips to old G Henry …. explains alot
28 Jul 2010, 07:58 am
Mshiniwami…
Irregular heart beat sidelines
Robbie Fruean
Heart issues have returned to dog rising
centre Robbie Fruean, who has been ruled
out of Canterbury’s national provincial
championship rugby opening match against
Hawke’s Bay in Christchurch on Friday.
Canterbury will begin the defence of their
domestic crown with a new-look team
featuring seven newcomers – six of whom
are on the bench.
Of concern is an irregular heart beat
(arrhythmia) identified by medical staff
when assessing Freuan on Monday. He has
been observed at Christchurch Hospital and
will continue to be monitored before
returning to rugby.
Two years ago, soon after helping New
Zealand win the under-19 world title, Fruean
was diagnosed with rheumatic fever and a
life-threatening heart condition. He had a
new heart valve attached that enabled him
to continue breathing and, miraculously,
return to playing rugby.
Fruean’s absence has forced a backline
shuffle that sees Ryan Crotty and Stephen
Brett start out one place wider than usual at
centre and second five-eighth. Colin Slade
will wear No 10.
The debut starter is wing Patrick Osborne
while newcomers on the bench are hooker
Paul Ngauamo, lock Rob Verbakel, flanker
Brendon O’Connor, halfback Matt George,
midfielder Robbie Flynn and wing Telusa
Veainu.
Canterbury are missing seven players on All
Blacks duty, along with an injured group -
Fruean, No 8 Nasi Manu (knee), halfback
Andy Ellis (toe), midfield back Adam
Whitelock (concussion) and midfield backs
Sonny Bill Williams (knee) and Adam
Whitelock (concussion).
They have started each of the last two
seasons with opening-round losses before
going on to claim the provincial crown.
Canterbury: Sean Maitland, Patrick Osborne,
Ryan Crotty, Stephen Brett, Tu Umaga-Marshall, Colin Slade, Willi Heinz, Ash Parker,
George Whitelock (captain), Matt Todd, Isaac
Ross, Luke Romano, Pete Borlase, Steve
Fualau, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Paul
Ngauamo, Andrew Olorenshaw, Rob
Verbakel, Brendon O’Connor, Matt George,
Robbie Flynn, Telusa Veainu
28 Jul 2010, 07:59 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-2: It was Getty that sold the photos to the Australian media and the photographer shoots for Getty. His mistake was not deleting the shot or shots before they reached Getty. In a lot of cases the photographer/subject or photographer/client relationship is based on trust. The photographer has full control over what gets delivered and here, unfortunately, he has crapped in his own nest.
28 Jul 2010, 08:01 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-5: Transi – you now a “Porra The Fat Speedster” wannabee?
28 Jul 2010, 08:15 am
@Muttonbird(Muttonbird)-6:
But surely he knew what they were going to sell?
28 Jul 2010, 08:15 am
@Staal(Staal)-7:
Wannabe correspondent.
28 Jul 2010, 08:17 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-9:
Yep, whatever it takes.
28 Jul 2010, 08:18 am
The story has as much stealth to it as G Henry and Co sitting in the stands of Suncorp (Brisbane) watching the Boks v Wallabies.
28 Jul 2010, 08:23 am
@RugbyRulz(RugbyRulz)-11:
Ja but what if they used binoculars?
28 Jul 2010, 08:31 am
@Staal(Staal)-7: @Staal(Staal)-7: hey Ferro why would you say that?
28 Jul 2010, 08:32 am
kiwi photographer – trust
shades of the aussie cricket team tactics shoved under the door of the opposing team.
28 Jul 2010, 08:34 am
@Dawn(Dawn)-9: how’s my favourite cougar today?
28 Jul 2010, 08:36 am
Lets kill him.,……………whos with me
28 Jul 2010, 08:38 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-16:
No man, let him be, he looks ok to me…
28 Jul 2010, 08:39 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-17:
lol
Yeah thought so
28 Jul 2010, 08:42 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-16:
best post i’ve read all week!
28 Jul 2010, 08:47 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-12:
28 Jul 2010, 08:57 am
Rumour has it he first offered the ‘visually enhanced’ shots to Di cky and Gary but they had trouble coming up with the scratch. He then tried to flog them to Dingo D, but he’d have none of it. Deans reckoned they looked familiar and that he could glean more from watching re-runs of previous tests.
Darn tricky these Kiwis
28 Jul 2010, 09:05 am
Absolutely shocking.
It appears nothing has become private or sacred anymore, all in the name of the press.
I am all for freedom of the press, but privacy is just as important a right.
I deplore our current celebrity/papparazzi culture where nobody is apparently safe from being photographed. The advent of mobile cameras has just compounded the situation.
28 Jul 2010, 09:13 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-8: Yeah. That’s what I mean. He’s either done it on purpose, knowing that Getty would want to distribute it (a mistake, if he wants to continue covering the All Blacks) or he’s left it in there by mistake after intending to delete it(also a mistake). Sometimes you just take a shot because it’s instintive to shoot something you see as being valuable without really considering whether you’ll hand it over or use it for anything. The key is to shoot first and ask questions later – you can easily unshoot it (delete) but you may not be able to shoot it again.
The photo was taken on a long lens and has been heavily cropped. It was taken from behind and I suspect the photographer was interested in something else when he saw Henry waving the sheet around. Snap.
28 Jul 2010, 09:28 am
I wonder how many times KEO will print this story today. i’m counting 2 so far.
Anything for a bit of news eh Keo.
28 Jul 2010, 09:30 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-5:
Howzit Ndoda
Sad to hear that,he showed glimpses in S14 this yr of his ability at times.Raw still in a lot of facets but his physical gifts are something to behold.Still has a bit to go though,was looking fwd to seeing him alongside Sonny Bill Williams.
Hopefully its just precautionary measure.
If he is healthy & give him 2 more years….he’s going to be a beast at 13.Only 22 yrs old
28 Jul 2010, 09:41 am
It’s in the Australasian blood to do something criminal. That and the penchant to drink excessively and fight with the wife.
South Africans are beastly, aggressive and confrontational due to our Germanic and Dutch roots but we manage to keep a lid on our behaviour off the field.
28 Jul 2010, 09:46 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-26: Like James Small? And Bullet Dalton? And Henry Tromp? And Japie Mulder? And…
28 Jul 2010, 09:47 am
Referee to pass judgement on Bledisloe Cup turf
NZPA
Last updated 18:26 28/07/2010
Relevant offers
South African referee Craig Joubert will be a focal point in the Bledisloe Cup rugby opener, long before a ball is kicked inside Etihad Stadium.
Joubert’s verdict on the turf at Saturday’s test venue will determine whether the match between trans-Tasman rivals Australia and New Zealand will proceed.
He has already expressed concerns to International Rugby Board referees manager Paddy O’Brien. The surface has been labelled unstable by Australian Football League clubs and the AFL Players Association, and debate is continuing about the possibility of All Blacks and Wallabies being injured.
Joubert contacted O’Brien after being confronted with damning stories about the ground on arrival in Melbourne.
All Blacks and Wallabies management were yesterday united in being comfortable with the game taking place, though Joubert will have the final say once he makes his own inspection.
“At the end of the day, a referee’s obligation is to check the playing surface. So it is his responsibility to make sure it is safe and that’s what he’s doing,” O’Brien told The Australian newspaper.
All Blacks head coach Graham Henry had no doubt the game would proceed as scheduled, saying both sides would have to “make the best” of conditions.
Wallabies counterpart Robbie Deans insisted the teams would be competing “on a level playing field”.
The All Blacks visit the stadium tomorrow to assess what the fuss is about, though they are forbidden to train on it as ground staff try to stabilise the surface ahead of Friday’s AFL match between St Kilda and Essendon.
“Obviously it’s proven troublesome for the AFL but our game’s a little different,” said All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen.
Rugby players wore different footwear and did not change direction the same way as in Aussie Rules, he said.
The scrums, however, do pose a potential problem.
“Obviously at scrum time we’ll be hoping the surface holds together,” he said.
“At the end of the day we’ll have to deal with it. If that means getting a bit closer as two forwards packs and scrummaging slightly different because of the surface that’s what we’ll do.”
O’Brien said uncontested scrums — employed when front row stocks were compromised by injury or foul play — were not an option.
Meanwhile, AFL boss Andrew Demetriou did not rule out the possibility of switching AFL fixtures to alternative venues if the ground was considered too dangerous before reiterating: “There is no suggestion that this surface is unsafe.”
28 Jul 2010, 09:47 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-26: Why dont you blame it all on those n i g e r i a n s, the media does.
28 Jul 2010, 09:48 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-26: so is it German or Dutch roots that P3 displayed? would have to be dutch Im guessing
he tried to keep a lid on his behavior, but ultimately he pulled the short straw didnt he?
28 Jul 2010, 09:54 am
HaaHaaaa have to cheat to beat us now! Quite Flattering for the AB’s really – couple of nice moves in there – I bet P Divy is examining them closer than anyone!
As all of the moves except one – we’ve got to win the lineout first!
28 Jul 2010, 09:55 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-25: sawubona sbali
yeah i know, showed a spark in that one game against the blues where he bounced stephen brett & concussed him on his way to the tryline. As u say, hopefully it’s precautionary.
28 Jul 2010, 09:55 am
The line is out and I’ve already bagged two Kahawais…
28 Jul 2010, 10:05 am
@WestAussieBok(WestAussieBok)-3:
There will be none, cause look whos the ref, not a mediocre type we always have to get.
I hope he will enforce it the right way, blow Mcaw and Pocock off the field.
He wont give Mcaw 5 warnings!!!!
28 Jul 2010, 10:14 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-30: @TheTackler(TheTackler)-27:
Easy easy…
Norm Hewitt
Andrew Walker
Sione Lauaki
Andrew Johns
Wendell Sailor
Sitiveni Sivivatu
Robin Brooke
etc
28 Jul 2010, 10:18 am
O donner.
Craig Joubert will once again be out of his depth.
28 Jul 2010, 10:26 am
New Zealand on verge of greatness, says Macqueen
Reuters – July 28, 2010, 6:55 pm
MELBOURNE, July 28 (Reuters) – New Zealand are the litmus test for teams with World Cup ambitions and have assembled a side that stands on the cusp of greatness, former Australia coach Rod Macqueen said on Wednesday.
Macqueen, who led the Wallabies to their second World Cup triumph in Wales in 1999, said the All Blacks possessed the hallmarks of the Sean Fitzpatrick-captained sides of the 1990s.
“I suspect that it’s a side at the moment that’s probably on the verge of greatness and looking back at the last decade, probably getting back to the Fitzpatrick-type days — that kind of team that’s quite measured and doing very well,” Macqueen told reporters.
“(New Zealand’s) Achilles heel in the past has been not having a plan B, when things start to go wrong, they continue to go wrong.
“But we’re seeing instances now within the New Zealand side that they’re making decisions themselves within the team and they seem fairly confident and when things start to go wrong they come back pretty quickly.”
The top-ranked All Blacks were second to South Africa in the Tri-Nations last year, but routed the champions in their opening two home matches with an ominous blend of pace and power. They face the Wallabies at Melbourne’s Docklands stadium on Saturday.
Much of the All Blacks’ quality could be put down to the captaincy of flanker Richie McCaw, Macqueen said, who had anchored the playing group over a period of years.
“(McCaw’s) been a nice steadying influence in there over a period of time and when you look at some of the down-times New Zealand had, they were chopping and changing the captaincies and so on.
“You’ve got a fairly stable lot there now. The coaching staff hasn’t changed a lot for quite a while and the captaincy and leaders within the group (haven’t changed), and it’s come together quite nicely.”
Macqueen was less bullish about Australia’s World Cup prospects, saying the young side had hard work to do and needed to take notes from their match on Saturday.
“I think they’ll know a lot better after this match. I think this is going to answer a lot of questions,” Macqueen said.
28 Jul 2010, 10:28 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-26:
Troll.
28 Jul 2010, 10:33 am
@Muttonbird(Muttonbird)-37:
Another ego stroking attempt by the Aussie’s.
Mcqueen wants to say something but can’t quite put his finger on it, so instead comes up with tripe like that.
Notice he doesn’t quite commit himself in his views one way ot the other. Comments like “on the verge” is sitting on the fence in my book.
He will have no problems drawing the blade if the AB’s stumble on the weekend.
28 Jul 2010, 10:35 am
@Brads(Brads)-39: Gee Brad, McQueen is stating pretty much what everyone in New Zealand and Australia are thinking. Dude when you finally reach the same page…
drop us all a line
28 Jul 2010, 10:48 am
@RugbyRulz(RugbyRulz)-40:
Read his comments again.
He is non committal, suggesting he supports the idea the AB’s are the next big thing, but doesn’t actually say that in his opinion they are the next big thing.
As you say, what he has stated is exactly what everyone else is saying. What makes his comments any more worthy than the man in the street.
It is hardly enlightening.
28 Jul 2010, 11:06 am
@Brads(Brads)-41:
I dont know where or why you think his comments warrant committing to predicting the ABs are the next best thing. Clearly the comment,
“I suspect that it’s a side at the moment that’s probably on the verge of greatness and looking back at the last decade, probably getting back to the Fitzpatrick-type days — that kind of team that’s quite measured and doing very well,”
says it all. PROBABLY is mentioned twice.
Think you should try reading it again… ‘probably’ you will come up with what most would reading it.
Have fun
28 Jul 2010, 11:11 am
@Muttonbird(Muttonbird)-38:
Skirt
28 Jul 2010, 11:13 am
@RugbyRulz(RugbyRulz)-42: Probably is a helluva lot stronger than “possibly” and tends to imply a greater likelihood of it happening than not.
28 Jul 2010, 11:20 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-44:
Probably
They are looking quite good.
28 Jul 2010, 11:22 am
Laterz folks
28 Jul 2010, 11:27 am
@RugbyRulz(RugbyRulz)-42:
Sorry, I clearly failed to qualify my objection to his comments, or more correctly my dismissal of them.
As far as I can tell, he has been asked during an interview relating to other rugby issues he is involved with what his thoughts are on the AB’s this year, and this is what he has come up with. Fair enough.
But so what. Ask anyone else who knows anything remotely about rugby and you will get the same comment.
Except the way the Rueters article is presented it suggests he called a press conference to echo what the man in the street is saying.
Okay, hardly his fault, but I also dismiss his comments as nothing more than a media interview version of flotsam.
28 Jul 2010, 11:30 am
@NZMaori(NZMaori)-31: You are playing the Ausies not the Boks, that info is useless to the Boks this weekend, but I think the old Robbie might be able to use it.
28 Jul 2010, 11:34 am
@JA-JA(JA-JA)-48: @NZMaori(NZMaori)-31: Sorry think I read your comment to quick, my bad
28 Jul 2010, 23:33 pm
Can anyone answer thsi question for me: Why, if we have agreat lineout, are we not kicking the ball out to compete for it, and slow the game dwon (when we do kick it)?
I always thought Morne was not kicking out on purpose under teh old rules, because that way we got better defensive alignment when they ran it back at us. But now it seems we dont, and we still dont klick it out properly?
28 Jul 2010, 23:52 pm
thats really funny, oh well I’m sure the abs got more tactics up their sleves. But still is really checky printing them in the newspaper, wonder if this is a first?
28 Jul 2010, 23:58 pm
@SjamBok(SjamBok)-50: The current laws make it very difficult for offensive teams to kick the ball directly into touch, simply because there is a lot less scope to do so.
Teams kicking off to the opposition are using shorter kicks, forcing the 9 to pass the ball from outside his 22 to the 10 waiting inside the 22. Of course, kicking the ball out directly then will only result in a line out from where you’ve kicked.
In general, teams are instead trying to win field position and trying to force the opposition to kick the ball out so that we can get the throw-in.
But of course – and I think this is your observation too – you can aim to kick a ball out without doing it in direct fashion (forcing it into the corners behind the back 3).
I think this is a very good point you’ve raised.
29 Jul 2010, 01:04 am
A deathly silence from the usual suspects who whine on and on about the evil “Anzac Conspiracy” at the news that Quade Cooper’s two-match suspension has NOT been reduced on appeal, and that this first-offender effectively misses just as many games as the repeat offender, Jaque Fourie?
29 Jul 2010, 01:32 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-53:
More games isn’t it?
I’ve read “theories” on other forums that they didn’t reduce the ban just so the RSA’s don’t s.h.i.t their pants again.
What an uncontrollable sense of entitlement some of them have!
29 Jul 2010, 01:46 am
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-28:
Great.
My favourite referee, Craig Joubert.
How lucky we are.
Watch out for Our Craig to get influenced by the crowd, or overturn a decision because the Captain asked nicely, or allow a linesman to overrule him whilst looking deadly serious indeed, or make a completely wrong call on a match-turning decision.
Its surer than death.
29 Jul 2010, 02:02 am
Great trickery from GH.
He posed for the photo with a dud set of moves just so the Wobbilies will think it’s real and prepare the wrong defence.
I heard there going to use a SA style aerial bombardment and not run the ball at all
29 Jul 2010, 02:31 am
@Black Magic(Black Magic)-56:
“I heard there going to use a SA style aerial bombardment and not run the ball at all
”
Nice, you have set today’s precedent with that crack.
29 Jul 2010, 02:59 am
Aussie distracted on two counts – no Quade Cooper and wondering what the ABs game plan is. The TAB here in NZ has ABs at $1.28 to Aussie $3.50. If the ABs win with a bonus point this weekend can we just be declared the winner of the Tri-nations, the Bledisloe and of course the Freedom cup and be done with it.
Of course that is no reason to sit back – there will still be the game in SA to watch – have the Bok learnt anything yet?
29 Jul 2010, 03:23 am
@Monty(Monty)-58:
You left out World Champions 2011…
29 Jul 2010, 08:12 am
@Monty(Monty)-58:
And since when can ABs ‘win the Bledisloe’ after winning 1 match from a 3-match Series ?
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