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Two down, one to go
The All Blacks have completed the final leg of their World Cup build-up by
retaining both the Bledisloe
and TriNations trophies, with a 26-12 defeat of the Wallabies at Eden Park on
Saturday. "It's great playing in these real pressure games where
everything's riding on the line," said star first five-eighth Daniel
Carter, who kicked seven from seven penalties in the match. "I love these
occasions and like to lift for these games especially [but] we can't sit back
and be happy with how we're playing." The All Blacks remain odds-on
favourites to win the World Cup, a feat they haven't achieved in 20 years
despite being consistently ranked the world's number one side. All Black legend Zinzan
Brooke sees the task at hand as difficult but doable. "I am a lot more
comfortable with the squad New Zealand are taking to this World Cup than the
last one," he wrote in what will be a regular online column for the BBC.
"It has better players, better organisation, a good chemistry within the
team, and they have been performing for the last two or three years." The
final 30-man All Black World
Cup squad will be named on August 14.
(22 July 2007)
Japan nets All Black great
Former All Black John Kirwan has signed a two-year contract to coach Japan's
national rugby team. Kirwan will lead the side in its World Cup efforts this
year, with plans to hone 60 elite players down to a World Cup squad during the
Pacific Nations Cup in June. "We are determined to do our best to win all
the matches in the World Cup," he says. Kirwan played in Japan's top league
for the final three seasons of his career and recently wrapped up a coaching
spell with Italy's national side.
(9 January 2007)
Kiwis fly in Wellington
Putting a week of controversy behind them, the Kiwi rugby league team put the
English away in emphatic style over the weekend 34-4 at Wellington's Stadium.
The result puts pressure on England, who must now win their final pool game
against the World Champion Australians to deny the Kiwis a place in the
Tri-Nations grand final. Confidence is high in the Kiwi camp following their
win, with the team already booked in to a Sydney hotel in anticipation of what
they hope will be an Australian victory, and a lifeline for the defence of their
Tri-Nations title. According to Kiwi coach Brian McClennan, Reuben Wiki and his
boys will be "blowing up green and gold balloons, getting streamers and
putting them around the room and cheering for the Aussies".
(11 November 2006)
Former AB and famous father
Former All Black Brian
Fitzpatrick has died aged 75. A sturdily built five eigthths, Fitzpatrick
was a strong runner and tackler. He made two tours with All Black sides in the
early 1950s, playing in three tests and 19 other first-class matches for NZ.
Terry McLean, who covered Fitzpatrick's last tour, rated him the best tackler in
the team. Fitzpatrick also played for Victoria University, New Zealand
Universities, Wellington and Auckland. Brian Fitzpatrick's son, Sean, is the
most capped All Black in history.
(2 October 2006)
All Blacks 7, Opposition 0
The All Blacks remain undefeated in 2006 having secured both Bledisloe and
Tri-Nations trophies after a ferocious Eden Park test against Australia on 19
August. The victory puts Graham Henry's team on the verge of breaking a record
that has stood for 36 years. For five unparalleled years the likes of Brian
Lochore, Kel Tremain, Ken Gray, Colin Meads, Ian Kirkpatrick, Fergie McCormick,
Chris Laidlaw and Earle Kirton reigned supreme, unbeaten from 1965-70. No All
Blacks team - until now - has come close rivalling this record. For a period in
the late-1980s New Zealand was unbeaten in 23 games, but that stretch featured
win sequences of 12 and 10, interrupted by a 19-19 draw against Australia. The
current All Blacks is on a winning run of 14 tests. If they can win their two
upcoming matches against the Springboks they will be on 16 wins, one test away
from what was considered an unreachable mark.
(21 August 2006)
End of one era, beginning of another
All Black captain Tana Umaga has officially retired from the game aged 34, with
a stellar career behind him. "Already he has been admitted by his
countrymen into the exclusive band of great NZ captains, along with Colin Meads,
Sean Fitzpatrick…and the first All Blacks skipper, Dave Gallaher," says
the Observer. "The contrasting emotions that the [O'Driscoll spear tackle]
episode inspired in the rugby world placed him out on an edge where few find
themselves and from where fewer still return in triumph." In addition to 74
Tests and 37 tries, Umaga was the first ever NZ player to be awarded the
prestigious Pierre de Coubertin trophy for fair play. Family friend Ken Laban
and former All Black and race relations conciliator Chris Laidlaw credit Umaga
as changing the face of New Zealand rugby in a profile on the Captain on stuff.co.nz.
"People see a Samoan player and they typecast him as rough and ready to
rumble - they don't see them in the captaincy or a leadership role," says
Laban. "People don't see a lot of our people in the boardroom. They see
them on the factory floor, they see them carrying the ball up and making the
tackle but they rarely see them leading the team out and speaking on behalf of
the country. That's the legacy I reckon Graham Henry and Tana are going to leave
behind."
(15 January 2006)
All Black domination
The All Blacks have continued their domination of their Northern hemisphere tour
with a 23-19 victory over England. Easy victories over Wales and Ireland were
useful opportunities for trying out new playing combinations, but the Twickenham
match proved to be a true test for the All Blacks who played their best side
with the exception of Ritchie McCaw who was a late withdrawal. The All Blacks'
forward pack stood strong against a highly rated English front row fresh from an
annihilation of the Wallabies. With three All Blacks sent to the sin-bin, the
side was one man down for a full 23 minutes in the final stages. With the Scotland match firmly in their
sights New Zealand are now within a game of repeating their northern hemisphere
Grand Slam of 1978.
(20 November 2005)
Rugby fever reaches new heights
The All Blacks demolished the British and Irish Lions in three straight Tests,
in one of the most highly anticipated rugby tours of recent years. The hype both
at home and in the UK was spectacular, with thousands of Lions supporters making
the trip Down Under for the series. Reuters ran a sequence of articles on the
history of Lions tours in NZ and the BBC set up a
weblog for Lions and All Blacks fans to share their experiences of the tour
online. Planet
Rugby published an unofficial set of awards, including Player of the
Series (All Black Daniel Carter), Match of the Tour (NZ Maori’s first ever win
over the Lions), and Best Crowd Signage ('Will exchange wife for Test tickets' -
sighted in the stands of the Westpac Stadium during the Wellington match).
(May-July 2005)
One step at a time
Jonah Lomu is making a strong recovery
from his July kidney transplant and has already named next year’s rugby sevens
world cup as his comeback date. “That's great news because sevens can provide
him with the perfect avenue back to top-class rugby,” says sevens coach Gordon
Tietjens. “The special environment in the NZ sevens side would be good for him.
No-one would put any pressure on him - we'd support him.” Lomu’s
long-term goal is to play for the All Blacks in the 2007 World Cup in
France.
(12 September 2004)
Junior All Blacks victorious
Ireland was “forced to acknowledge New
Zealand's continuing supremacy” at the IRB U-21 World Championships in Scotland,
going down 47-19 to the junior All Blacks. NZ’s stellar performance included a
hat-trick of tries by flanker Tony Koonwaiyou.
(28 June 2004)
Jonah, His Story
Rugby icon Jonah Lomu is back in the news thanks to the release of his
highly-anticipated autobiography, Jonah My Story. The Age praises
the “simple yet emotionally taut language” Lomu uses to portray his rise from
troubled and abused youth to international superstar. Belfast Telegraph
reviewer Peter Sharkey compares Lomu at the 1995 World Cup to Viv Richards, Mike
Tyson, and Muhammed Ali at the peak of their achievements – “sporting greats at
their ruthless best.”
(May
-
June 2004)
Home turf win
NZ cruised to the top of the
International Rugby Sevens table with a resounding 33-15 win over Fiji in the
Wellington series final. Matua Parkinson, who had assumed the captaincy due to
the unavailability of both Karl Te Nana and Eric Rush, went for a simple and
effective game plan: "We
just had to get hold of the ball and keep hold of it." NZ ran in 5 tries to
Fiji's 3, with Brad Fleming scoring the winning two in the final minutes of the
match.
(8 February 2004)
Kiwis tie down Kangeroos
The Kiwis convincingly defeated the
Australian Kangeroos with a rousing 30-16 victory in a rugby league test at
North Harbour Stadium in Auckland. Led by the hat-trick of tries by Clinton
Toopi (a trans-Tasman record) and another two to Vinnie Anderson the Kiwis
reversed a 48-6 loss earlier in the season. Shell-shocked Australian players, on
the eve of a tour to Great Britain, admitted they had been handed a king-sized
"reality check." Phil Gould: "All honours must go to New
Zealand".
(19 October 2003)
It's a black-out
SMH:
"they [the Wallabies] simply cannot beat the All Blacks". The All Blacks join England as World Cup favourites after winning both the
Tri-Nations' Trophy and and Bledisloe
Cup, making it two out of three thus far in 03. John Mitchell's side remained unbeaten in both
competitions, and racked up two record victories over South Africa (52-16) and
Australia (50-21) in the process. The Bledisloe Cup win against Australia was
the first since 1997 (a cup difficult to wrench off the holders under current
two-game format because the winner needs to win both matches home and away) and caused "a quite untypical rapture" amidst the
All Black ranks. Said
captain, Reuben Thorne; "After a long wait we were desperate to get it
back. It took everything we had." The match was the centenary
of All Black test rugby and also the 100th Bledisloe Cup match. For the
record in the period 1903-2003, the AB's have won 269 games,
lost 87, and drawn 17 - one of the most consistently impressive histories in
international sport.
(July-August 2003)
Alone he stands
Christian Cullen's signing to Irish side
Munster after his exclusion from the 2003 All Black squad has created
controversy at home and disbelief abroad. One person happy with the outcome is
Munster rugby boss, Alan Gaffney, who goes into hyperbolic overdrive when
describing his famous import. "[Cullen is] probably the most important and
biggest signing ever made by any team in European rugby history […] His
signing is just a fantastic thing not just for Munster, but for all rugby
supporters in the northern hemisphere. Quite simply, he is an icon of the world
game."
(6 August 2003)
Paddy meets his match
Paddy O'Brien became New Zealand's most capped referee in Test rugby after
officiating at the Six Nations game between Wales and France in Paris. The match
marked O'Brien's 27th Test and 181st first class game. O'Brien: "To be the
most capped Test referee in New Zealand rugby history is something which I am
going to take a lot of pride out of."
(28 March 2003)
Sevens
heaven for home-crowd
NZ's rugby sevens team
delighted a 32,000-strong crowd in Wellington, beating England 38-26 to win
their first home series in four years. NZ now lead the 11-leg International
Sevens series with 68 points, followed by Fiji and England on 56 and 46
respectively.
(9 February 2003)
Rugby as it should be
Former All Black captain Ian
Kirkpatrick was a guest of honour at the 30th anniversary of 1973's legendary
NZ vs. Barbarians match. Dubbed "rugby's Mona Lisa," the Barbarians'
victory is viewed by many as the most thrilling game ever played. The London
Hilton ceremony brought together over 900 rugby enthusiasts, including the
surviving members of both teams.
(25 January 2003)
Pinetree chews the fat
"If you want a snapshot of the way rugby used to be, there is no more
impressive monument to the past than Colin Meads, a man as straight as he was
hard." The Observer talks rugby, film, and controversy with the man
we call Pinetree, the 64-year old legend who "still looks capable of
sticking his head in a scrum." Meads pronounces on everything from touch
judges ("interfering") to his blokeish modesty at recently being voted the greatest
player of all time ("a judgment he accepts with the utmost
reluctance.").
(10 November 2002)
Sevens heaven
Kiwi dominance
impresses at Manchester where they prove themselves masters of the form:
"New Zealand dominate seven-a-side rugby the way that Lance Armstrong lords
it over cycling, Tiger Woods bestrides the world of golf and Ian Thorpe rules
water like a modern Poseidon clad in daft goggles and size 14 flip-flops."
Matt Dawson: "they had the edge
when it mattered".
(4 August 2002)
Will they be drinking
their tea out of saucers?
From Wellington to Wagga
Wagga it's Bledislode
time again. The All Blacks come to July's Tri-Nation series against Australia and South
Africa with a string of wins under their belts, some less than convincing.
They'd better win warns Zinzan. Mitchell's mob head to the business end of the season with victories over
tourists Italy and Ireland, followed by a 68-18 defeat of Fiji at Wellington's
Westpac Trust Stadium.
(June - July 2002)
Munster monster of ABs makes Top-10 Sporting Shocks
Irish club side Munster's shut-out 12-0 defeat of the 1978 All Blacks
proclaimed by Observer Sport Monthly as the tenth greatest shock in
sport's history. Munster playwright James Breen (Alone
It Stands - about the events surrounding the match) describes
Munster's proudest day as "the last great folk memory."
(7 April 2002)
All blue
Former Kiwi rugby player centre Tony Marsh" a major force" in French rugby's resurgence
in this years Six Nations tournament as the French take the Grand Slam for the
first time since 1988.
(5 April 2002)
The Milligan side-step
Revered and irreverent icon of comedy ex-Goon and Bad Jelly author Spike
Milligan passed away on 26 Feb. A huge rugby fan with many NZ connections, he
never got his biggest rugby wish: to have Willie John McBride lead Ireland to
victory over the ABs at Landsdowne Rd. Milligan once wrote in The Telegraph
of an attempt to fell All Black captain Ian Kirkpatrick, "I drunkenly
charged the great man with my pathetic attempt at a crash tackle. I was
concussed for about four months but Kirkpatrick just went on drinking his
Guinness before inquiring after my health. What a man! Granite! No wonder they
never lose."
(27 February 2002)
Toddy
the Scotsman
Edinburgh rugby eagerly
awaits the presence of Canterbury's finest.
(17 September 2001)
The lion doesn't sleep tonight
'If you must know, I woke up at two o'clock. My mind was racing. I tried to read
for a bit, dropped off and woke again at four thirty. Mind racing again."
Lions coach kiwi Graham Henry lets on that the pressure told.
(15 July 2001)
Pinetree speaks
Colin Meads on touch
judges: "Boy do
they give you a gut ache. Last year when there was a bit of a fight in a test
match a touch judge ran on the field to break it up. Hell, in our day he would
have been discreetly knocked over and told he doesn't belong there."
(22 May 2001)
Doubtful honour
Big Norm Hewitt's in-yer-face rendition of the All Black haka and English hooker Richard 'Cocky' Cockerill's
gracious eyeball-to-eyeball acceptance makes the Guardian's list of the "top-ten sporting feuds".
(8 April 2001)
Pinetree growl
"Colin Meads, the grim, great New Zealand lock, was once asked why
British and Irish forwards were inferior to those produced by the southern
hemisphere - especially the forbidding, beetle-browed men produced by New
Zealand. "Too many sweatbands, not enough sweat," he growled."
(25 March 2001)
Hakaed out?
Has over-exposure taken the edge off the AB's haka?
(16 January 2001)
Awards of Merit
Controversial clergyman and academic Lloyd Geering carried off the highest
honour in the New Years' list, Principal Companion of the New Zealand Order of
Merit. Colin "Pinetree" Meads, All Black 1957-71 and all-time greatest
AB, is one of five Distinguished Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
(31 December 2000)
Tumeke Te Nana
Karl Te Nana picked up Man of the Tournament and R10 000 after New Zealand's
winning sevens effort in Durban.
(20 November 2000)
Cullen
a keeper
Christian Cullen has resisted overseas contracts to concentrate
on winning the World Cup for New Zealand in 2003 (which will be held in
Australia and New
Zealand). "The World Cup is the only thing I haven't won for
New Zealand, so I'd really love to do that" says the speedy full-back.
(10 October 2000)
As good as it gets? Back in black!
"The jagged edge is back to New Zealand's game, the legal violence of
execution beneath the blades of the All Black harvester." writes the Sydney
Morning Herald. We couldn't have said it better. Shell-shocked Aussie
captain John Eales: "I doubt if there's ever been a better or more
remarkable game of rugby ever played."
(17 July 2000)
"Absence of cutting edge" proves Scots undoing
The All Blacks proved the theory and continued with breathtaking conviction
to erase uncomfortable memories when they trounced Scotland 48-14. As Andy Nicol, the Scotland captain remarked later, "that is as ruthless a team as
I have played against."
(2 July 2000)
Kiwi powerhouses overwhelm Aussies to seal women's rugby title
New Zealand strengthened by a
full national side for the first time, thrashed fellow antipodeans 36-10 to win
the Hong Kong Women's Sevens for the second year running yesterday.
(25 March 2000)
Jonah the barbarian: tackled by media frenzy
"Images of him snarling, smiling and sneering as he tore through
defences like a crazy cartoon character were the most memorable of the
tournament and his performance has gone down as one of the the most
almighty in sporting history ... five years on people still peer through
bar doors to catch a glimpse of the man whose status in the sport is
unequalled".
(29 May 2000)
They shoot horses don't they? Crusaders put down the Brumbies
The Canterbury Crusaders beat the ACT Brumbies 20-19 to win the
Super 12 rugby union series for the thrid year running. New Zealand
Teams have now won all five editions of the Super 12 competition, and the
win restored a measure of pride after their disappointing World Cup
campaign.
(29 May 2000)
"The greatest game ever played? This one's the winner"
A world record crowd at Stadium Australia witnessed what was acclaimed as one of
the great test matches. A waltzing Jonah scored the winning try in injury time
in a miraculous end to a thrilling match, "one of the most explosive and
dramatic imaginable ... it's difficult to see how you could have improved on the
drama even if you'd scripted it."
(16 July 2000)
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Lomu in charity match
Rugby World Cup's top try-scorer Jonah Lomu, 33, will play for the International
Select XV in a charity match called, 'Help the Heroes' at Twickenham in
September. The fundraiser will be staged to help with the care and
rehabilitation of British service personnel injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Lomu scored 15 tries in the 1995 Cup including a quartet against England in the
1995 semi-final, running over Mike Catt in the process. "As soon as I heard
about the Help for Heroes cause and the game, I knew it was something I wanted
to be a part of," he said, adding: "There are some great names already
signed up to this fixture and I'm really looking forward to being a part of
it." Lomu has recently been training with the New Zealand Warriors.
(15 July 2008)
Juniors bag victory
New Zealand has won the world junior rugby under-20 championships in Swansea,
Wales, beating England 38-3 in a four-try match. The young All Blacks may have
been the overwhelming favourites from the start of the tournament but they did
not expect to win the final with such overwhelming ease. Even with the victory,
New Zealand captain Chris
Smith said there had been a lot of pressure on his team entering the final.
"A lot of preparation went into this, and I'm just so proud, I couldn't be
happier," Smith said. New Zealand are bringing out the worst in England
this month, sweeping all before them this year with some exhilarating,
intelligent rugby.
(23 June 2008)
Deans' ultimate crusade
The Crusaders, who have won more titles than any other team in the franchise,
have claimed another winning this year's Super 14 against the Waratahs and coach
Robbie Deans, who leaves to coach the Wallabies, said it was great to be a part
of the 20-12 victory. Canterbury was fuelled by what captain Richie McCaw called
a "passion" to furnish Deans and retiring players with a final
championship. "It was a deserved victory," Deans said. "The
defence was remarkable. They deserved it and they got it. I'm just stoked for
the blokes. I don't do it they do it." Deans will lead the Wallabies into
the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He is the first ever foreigner to coach Australia, and
players have all been gushing with praise for the quietly-spoken Deans.
Australian wing Digby
Ioane said: "He's an awesome bloke. His knowledge is just great; it's
going to be good for Australia."
(1 June 2008)
Oliver the Oxonian
Former Highlander Anton Oliver, 32, will play the last rugby matches of his
career at Oxford University while he studies for an MSc in Biodiversity,
Environment and Management. Oliver, winner of 55 New Zealand caps at hooker who
was last seen in action for the All Blacks during the World Cup, says he feels
very privileged to be accepted by the University. "I see my time at Oxford
as a clear demarcation in my life, leaving behind a life as a professional
sportsperson for one of academic rigour and thought," he says. "The
chance to play in the Varsity match - which is clearly a unique event in rugby
union - is also very exciting and I see it as a natural way for me to finish my
playing career." Oliver played a record 127 games for the Highlander
franchise.
(12 May 2008)
A diamond in the rough
A little-known NZ rugby book has received critical acclaim in the UK. Inside
French Rugby: Confessions of a Kiwi Mercenary offers an insight into author John
Daniell's experiences as a professional player, and is described as a
"gem off the beaten track" in the Observer. "Daniell
depicts it all with a beautifully understated humour and affection, while still
managing to shake his head in disbelief at some of the excesses of his confreres,"
reads the review. "You may have to delve behind the more prominently
positioned rugby books to find this one, but it will reward you long after the
clamour surrounding the others has drifted away on the wind." Inside
French Rugby is published by Wellington's Awa Press.
(11 November 2007)
Something to Crowe about
Russell Crowe is gradually proving the naysayers wrong as co-owner of the South
Sydney 'Rabbitohs' rugby league club. Crowe and businessman Peter Holmes a Court
took over and privatised the beleaguered club in 2006, sparking numerous
protests from fans and league officials. "What we're doing has never been
done before," said Holmes a Court in the Sydney Morning Herald.
"I still don't know if we're going to be successful. I know this is a crazy
thing to do. It doesn't stack up on any of the numbers my accountant will agree
to as a business deal. But I know this club would not have survived." The SMH
is impressed with the pair's efforts so far: "As anyone at the club who was
there for a nanosecond of the dark days will attest, their influence has been
remarkable."
(30 July 2007)
ANZACs honoured in Acton
The second annual ANZAC Sports Challenge will be held at Twyford Park in
Acton, London, on April 21. The event celebrates NZ and Australia's shared ANZAC
heritage by staging friendly matches across a range of sports codes, including
rugby, touch, Aussie rules, netball and soccer. Non-sporting attractions include
food, beverages and merchandise from home, as well as an array of musical and
cultural performances from both NZ and Australia.
(March 2007)
Home town tribute
A memorial to legendary All Black captain Dave Gallaher is being planned in his
home town of Ramelton, Ireland. The Dave Gallaher Society is proposing the
transformation of a bottle recycling waste ground into a walled garden with
murals, a fountain and a central bronze statue of Gallaher in classic rugby
pose. The society also wants to hold a "twinning" ceremony with
Gallaher's adopted home of Katikati, which is well known in NZ for its extensive
public artwork. Dave Gallaher was born in Ramelton and emigrated to NZ with his
family in 1878. He played 33 matches with the "Originals," so named
because they were the first NZ rugby team to use the All Black name. The
Originals won 32 of their 33 games.
(26 January 2007)
All Blacks depart Europe undefeated
The All Blacks completed their European end-of-year tour with a comprehensive
victory at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, overcoming the Welsh 45-10.
The result, means that the All Blacks finish the 2006 season with 13 wins from
their 14 internationals, their only loss coming against the South Africans in
September during the Tri-Nations. While much of the pre-match commentary focused
on the controversy surrounding the non-performance of the traditional haka, the
All Blacks remained undeterred. For the fourth match in a row in this European
tour, it was the defensive power of the All Blacks that stood out as the key to
their victory. Reporting on the match for The Guardian, Paul Rees observed
"Wales were rushed into making mistakes. New Zealand, as at Twickenham and
in Lyon, absorbed pressure by applying their own and attacked from turnovers
when the defence was disorganised. It was simple, brutal and lethal." In
Scotland, All Black domination of world rugby this season continued, as Ritchie
McCaw was named the IRB player of the year. According to reports by Reuters,
"the fiercely competitive and destructive flanker was at the heart of his
country's Tri-Nations success and victorious European tour". The All Blacks
were named the international team of the year, and Graham Henry awarded coach of
the year. All Black selector Sir Brian Lochore was also honoured at the
ceremony, receiving the Vernon Pugh award for Distinguished Service. The All
Blacks now return home to New Zealand to start planning for their return-trip to
Europe in September 2007, where they will be aiming for another clean-sweep tour
to win back the Webb Ellis Trophy.
(29 November 2006)
One for the true fan
In the era of selling Britney Spears' used chewing gum on eBay, Adidas has
released a limited edition All Blacks poster containing DNA
samples from every member of the national team. According to Chris Waugh of
Adidas NZ, the appropriately titled Bonded by Blood poster "[reflects] the
depth of support All Blacks fans give to their team. Adidas believes rugby is an
essential part of NZ's DNA and we wanted to show how the players and their
supporters are inextricably linked - how supporting the All Blacks is in our
blood." The DNA was taken from sterilised blood samples donated by the
players.
(24 June 2006)
Home turf heroics
NZ went to the top of the IRB Rugby Sevens table after their third straight
victory in the Wellington tournament. The Kiwis beat Argentina 31-7, giving them
52 points in total, ahead of traditional rivals Fiji on 44. In December
NZ won the South African leg at Outeniqua Park Stadium, beating Fiji 33-19. The
next tournament takes place in LA.
(5 February 2005)
Six out of six Sevens
NZ claimed its sixth successive IRB Sevens World Series victory, ahead of the
final leg of the competition in France. By the end of the London Sevens
tournament in June, NZ had enough overall points to stand clear of any other
competitor.
(6 June 2005)
Ooh ah Umaga!
A Rugby Heaven feature charts
Tana Umaga’s meteoric rise from early flirtations with rugby league to becoming
the All Black’s first Pacific Island captain. “Bob Marley would have seen
another rebel in Tana Umaga, a fellow Rastaman, dreadlocks swinging, face
leathered, hawk eyes glinting […] Umaga does not have to carry a guitar or
thunder political campaigns for freedom from oppression through reggae concerts
as did the Jamaican. He conducts more muscular campaigns, through mesmerising
feats of hand and foot, through deed and sweat rather than song and ganja haze.”
(7 August 2004)
AB's win "by strangulation"
The All Blacks beat Australia 16-7 in
miserable Wellington conditions to retain the Bledisloe Cup for the first time
in seven years. Guardian: "For
all the major effect the elements had in ruining this contest as a free-flowing
spectacle, it was still as dominant a display of forward power as has been seen
by the All Blacks in a decade. The Wallabies got close on the scoreboard but
nowhere else."
(17 July 2004)
All Blacks 3-0 start for
2004
Two crushing
wins over England and a scratchy performance against Argentina started the
Graham Henry-coached, Tana Umaga-led 2004 All Blacks. Coverage from The
Independent on the victories at Carisbrook, Eden
Park and Hamilton
Next matches are against the Pacific Islanders at Albany on 10 July, Australia
at Wellington on 17 July and South Africa at Christchurch on 24 July.
(29 June 2004)
Black day for ABs
After starting as promising co-favourites the All Blacks finished a
disappointing third in the 2003 World Cup being knocked out in the semi-finals 22-10
by a more professional and committed Wallaby performance. England defeated
Australia 20-17 in an utterly memorable final. Solace for Kiwi fans facing
another 4 years of hurt: the Aussie fans weren't expecting it either and the
ABs have again fallen victim to another of rugby's greatest
upset wins. "It's
only a game". Lock Chris Jack, breakaway Richie McCaw, and the speedy back three of Joe
Rokocoko, Doug Howlett and Mils Muliaina made the tournament Fantastic
XV. "Don't lose sight of the fact that this New Zealand team are the
ones who have set
the standard for world rugby this year. They are a very, very good
side." Wallaby coach Eddie Jones (who at least nurses an empty trophy cabinet
through the off-season)
(15 November 2003)
Robin Williams: "I realised I could fall out of Jonah's nose ..."
Jonah Lomu has announced his withdrawal from this year’s NPC competition, and
has given up any hope of making the 2003 World Cup squad. The most famed of wingers has
experienced foot and calf muscle problems as a result of his dialysis treatment.
In Peter Fitzsimons' SMH
column Robin Williams recalls his encounter with the taro-fuelled combine
harvester: "It is so freakin' brutal. I met Jonah Lomu. I never knew how
huge he was. I felt like a peasant in a Godzilla movie. Quickly! Tell the other
villagers! We go now! I realised I could fall out of Jonah's nose, and he
wouldn't even know."
(18 September 2003)
Fast and furious Springbok safari
The All Blacks thrashed South Africa 52 - 16 in the Tri-Nations opener in the
high velt fortress of Loftus Versfeld. It was South Africa's worst
home defeat with the ABs producing a fine display of getting-it-wide running
rugby based around a sturdy forward platform. In a complete performance they ran
in seven tries to South Africa's one, including a brace each to wings Doug
Howlett (above) and Joe Rocokoko.
(20 July 2003)
NZ rugby the winner on the day
The Auckland Blues emerged victorious in a NZ dominated Super 12
competition. The ACT Brumbies were the only non-NZ team to scrape into the
semi-finals.
The final
saw Auckland beat defending champions the Canterbury Crusaders 21-17. Southern
Hemisphere domination didn't immediately translate globally though, as the ABs
were beaten 15-13 by a resilient
England on 14th June in the World Cup year season opener. In the subsequent
weeks they picked up victories over the Welsh (55-3) and French (31-23).
(24 May 2003)
Captain Kirk at the helm
Former All Blacks captain, David Kirk, has been appointed chief executive of
troubled Australian publishing company PMP. Chairman Graham Reaney believes the
ex-Rhodes scholar and governmental advisor has what it takes to turn PMP's
fortunes around: "He has a strong track record of growing shareholder value
by driving change throughout all levels of a business."
(11 February 2003)
Golden boy
In a rare coup for a Kiwi,
Warrior Stacey Jones has been awarded rugby league's top honour: the Golden
Boot. The trophy represents the sports media's pick for best player in the
world. Andrew Johns, Golden Boot winner of the past two years, had nothing but
praise for his rival: "It's not really his strengths - it's his weaknesses,
he doesn't really have any these days."
(20 December 2002)
All Black mana enhanced
"Playing New Zealand means battling against the myths, legends and history
of the All Blacks. In this professional era the aggression, determination and
sheer ferociousness of the New Zealand game make them so hard to beat."
English coach Clive Woodward: "The All Blacks are still the glamour team, the
Brazil of rugby". In the IRPA Awards openside Richie McCaw was named
newcomer of the year and the All Blacks were voted team of the year. Outstanding
winger Doug Howlett and impressive flanker Marty Holah made World
XV's after the matches.
(2002)
Tri-nations champions
The All Blacks positioned themselves to take the Tri-nations title for the first
time since 1999 with a gripping and eventful
tussle with the Springboks (including a spectator who took the game into his own
hands). The ABs won 30-23 and secured
the title a week later when Houdini switched sides for once as South Africa put
away the Wallabies 33-31, scoring the winning points in the dying stages. Seven All Blacks made the Zurich World XV
named after the tournament.
(August 2002)
"Oh the shame"
Crys the Sydney Morning Herald. In a great weekend for trans-Tasman
rivalry the All Blacks put one hand on the Beldislode Cup with a tough
12-6 victory
over the Wallabies in atrocious conditions in Christchurch and the All Whites
"humiliated"
the Socceroos 1-0 to win the Nations' Cup and gain entry to next June's
Confederation's Cup against such global heavyweights as Brazil and France. The
ABs followed up with a convincing
win a week later, over-powering
the Springboks 41-20 at Wellington's cake-tin.
(15 July 2002)
Canterbury Crusaders find rugby holy-land
"New Zealand's
Crusaders put up a persuasive case as world
rugby's champion provincial team with their unbeaten sweep through the Super
12 series" ... sealing the tournament with a dominant 31-13 win over the
ACT Brumbies. Earlier the Crusaders approached rugby nirvana in the final
round - routing the NSW Warratah's by an incredible
96-19. It was like a mismatched fathers vs. sons beach match. Competition
records:
biggest win, biggest margin of defeat, most
tries scored in a match. It was NSW rugby's biggest loss in 120
years of representative football, "the blackest day for the blue
shirt" whimpers the shell-shocked Sydney
Morning Herald. Can the AB's continue the form? Alarm
bells ring in Aussie.
(12 May 2002)
School of hard knocks
Jonah Lomu talks to The Independent
about growing up on South Auckland's mean streets. "I lost an uncle
decapitated in a shopping centre and a cousin who was stabbed. That's when my
mother said I was off to boarding school. Her greatest fear was that I didn't
know my own strength...once I learned to control my anger...that was the biggest
turning point in my career". The street's loss - world rugby's gain ...
'till the fields ring again and again?
(16 January 2002)
On a wing and a prayer
Jonah Lomu, "the world's greatest living
player and rugby's most global individual commodity", turns to the Bible
for inspiration on the rugby field. Says Lomu, "It says there, 'tis greater
to give than receive', so that's what I do when I'm on the pitch. I make sure
that I give a load, then I'm less likely to have to receive any".
(11
December 2001)
Times past
It was fourteen years ago today that Captain Kirk got the boys to play, winning
the inaugural Rugby World Cup at Eden Park.
(20 June 2001)
Founder found
The lost grave of Denis Hoben, founder of the New Zealand Rugby Football
Union, uncovered in Sydney.
(9 June 2001)
Bachelor of the game
Training? How about a degree in rugby (Certificate in High Performance Athlete
Management) from Massey University and the New Zealand Rugby Academy.
(19 May 2001)
Not thick-skinned enough
Rugby players who feel invincible because of protective clothing are more
likely to be injured than their non-padded co-players says Otago study.
(18 May 2001)
Strange happenings in rugby
"Somewhere in the depths of the very European Six Nations Championship, two
New Zealanders have been having some pretty bizarre experiences."
(8 April 2001)
Never a softie
Colin Meads played 55 games for New Zealand, with "not a soft match in his
entire 14 years at the pit face. No wonder the legend lives on".
(5 April 2001)
Kingsley link
Phil Kingsley-Jones manages Jonah - his son, Kingsley
Jones, has been likened to All Black Josh Kronfeld.
(7 January 2001)
All Black's blunt edge in 95 World
Cup final attributed to poisoning
A former major in the South African Police has backed up claims
that
the All Black team was poisoned on the eve of the 1995 World Cup final, "I
only have the evidence of my eyes but there's no doubt in my mind that it was
deliberate," said Rory Steyn, linking it to a betting syndicate.
(16 June 2000)
Kiwis claim Hong Kong
New Zealand enhanced their reputation as stars of the sevens game with a
crushing victory over the defending champions Fiji in the final of the Hong Kong
Sevens.
(March 2000)
Rugby: Brits gush about
All Blacks
"To watch the
sheer brilliance of New Zealand's opening passage of play against the Wallabies,
and then to have that followed by the marvellous fightback which took Australia
to level pegging—and for that quality to be sustained throughout the second
half—is to understand what rugby can offer."
(02 September 2000)
Jonah and a large fish: a Biblical sports story?
Rugby Superstar Jonah Lomu joins Anna
Kournikova and David Beckham to star in
Adidas global advertising campaign. The ad was shot in New Zealand.
(May 2000)
Superstar Jonah shows that he's got grass-roots
Rugby superstar Jonah Lomu, shows he still knows what the game's all about
in the professional era, and will play for a local club in the Wellington second
division club rugby competition.
(17 May 2000)
Gulf rugby shock
The Arabian Gulf 7s team are rather daunted by the thought of meeting New
Zealand at the World 7s Series. "When I heard the draw I was lost for
words," said Arabian coach Darryl Weir.
(31 October 2000)
Graham Henry first non-British coach of the Lions
Call it post-colonial, call it usurping, but New Zealander Graham Henry
will be charged with giving the British Lions Rugby-Union team a new roar
for their tour of Australia next year. Citing his will to win and his
professionalism as reasons for his selection, ex-Lions centre Scott Gibbs
also believes he will be the right man for the job, because "he hates
the Aussies even more than the Poms do."
(24 June 2000)
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Making rugby Canadian
Taranaki former All Black fullback and provincial coach Kieran Crowley now heads
the national Canadian squad. On the job for a month now, Crowley is in the midst
of a cross-Canada tour during which he's surveying the rugby landscape while
visiting with players and coaches. He inherits a team ranked 15th in the world,
but says: "It's just a matter of developing skills and how to play the game
a little bit - game knowledge and that sort of thing. Rugby where I'm from is
probably like hockey is here." Crowley was a member of the 1987 World Cup
winning All Black side.
(27 May 2008)
Union commute
First five-eighth and fullback Aucklander Nick Evans has signed a three-year
contract with English side the Harlequins for the 2008-2009 Guinness Premiership
season. Considered the high-quality understudy to Daniel Carter, Evans is one of
many New Zealand players leaving for spells in the UK. The New Zealand Rugby
Union is considering tailor-made contracts to allow players to skip overseas -
in Carter's case to Toulon in France - and collect mega-bucks in short bursts of
a few months. It is an arrangement pioneered by Tana Umaga, who commuted between
Toulon and Wellington last season. Chief executive of the Crusaders Hamish Riach
said: "They are flexible contracts which would make it easier for guys to
have their cake and eat it."
(11 May 2008)
Mighty totara of NZ rugby mourned
All Black and NZ Maori legend Pat
Walsh has died of cancer aged 71. Renowned for his versatility, Walsh played
13 Tests in four positions between 1955 and 1963. He served as an All Blacks
selector from 1969 to 1971 after a knee injury ended his playing career, and
went on to work as a hotel publican and philanthropist. NZ Herald
obituarist Don Cameron describes Walsh as "one of the legendary characters
of New Zealand rugby - and certainly among the mightiest totaras of the Maori
game...He had speed, skill and superb balance anywhere in the backline and
spiced these assets with the mischief (and sometimes the mystery) that only
Maori seemed to possess in those days of uninhibited rugby."
(24 November 2007)
Carter in Adidas viral
All Black Daniel Carter stars in a new viral advertisement for Adidas. The ad
was shot at Carter's parents' house, and shows Daniel and his father talking
about his childhood spent kicking goals in the back yard. "We shot the
whole spot in 30 minutes," said copywriter Nick Marzano of Dutch ad agency
180 Amsterdam. "It was totally unscripted apart from a couple of scribbles
on a scrap of paper - just Dan and his dad at home in the backyard, having a
kick around, a good laugh and talking about old times." The ad will be
seeded virally on websites such as YouTube.
(18 September 2007)
Watch this space
Former All Black star Jonah Lomu believes he is back to his physical peak and
will not rule out a return to rugby - or even a switch to rugby league.
"It's irrelevant what everyone else thinks," says the 32-year-old.
"I've always been a dreamer and I will be until I die." Lomu was
struck down by a rare kidney condition at the height of his All Black career. It
is rumoured that he recently turned down a contract with Australian rugby
league's newest franchise, the Titans, because it would compromise his
multimillion-dollar deals with rugby sponsors.
(15 July 2007)
World firsts for NZ ref
North Canterbury's Nicky
Inwood made history this month as the first woman to officiate in a Six
Nations women's rugby match and the first to referee at England's Twickenham
Stadium. The 37-year-old controlled the match between England and Italy, the
curtain-raiser to the men's Six Nations clash between the same countries.
"It is an absolute honour and delight to represent NZ as an international
referee, and to be involved in a women's Six Nations game is simply the
best," she said in the NZ Herald. A former player for Canterbury and
Wanganui, Inwood represented the Black Ferns from 1989 to 1991. She has been a
referee since 1999 and has officiated in two women's rugby World Cups.
(10 February 2007)
Haka faux pas #46
The haka continues to be flavour of the month in international marketing
circles. This time, an English women's rugby team has caused controversy by
including an image of a topless haka in their fundraising calendar. Canterbury
Women's Rugby Club spokeswoman Rebecca Willis has apologised for any offence
caused: "It was based on the haka but it wasn't necessarily the NZ haka ...
We didn't know we would be treading on toes and we didn't think it would get as
far as NZ." Maori Party MP Pita Sharples has played down the incident in
the international press: "Some Maoris were upset by it, not terribly upset,
but they thought it was in bad taste. When the club comes to NZ, I would expect
them to respect the haka. But over there, as a fundraising effort, I wish them
well."
(9 January 2007)
Capping off a great year
Following their seven-try, record-breaking victory last week against the French
in Lyon, the All Blacks continued their run of success in Paris against the host
nation at the Stade de France. Despite the French side showing greater resolve
in front of a home crowd of 80 000, the All Blacks claimed a hard fought 23-11
victory. Meanwhile, the rugby world's fascination with Ritchie
McCaw continued as the All Black captain was named International Rugby
Players' Association's Player of the Year. "It's special to be acknowledged
by your peers, and I'm really grateful for that. The All Blacks have had a good
season and my teammates are part of this award too," McCaw said,
recognition of the fact that four of the five category finalists came from the
All Black side. Adding to what has already been a highly successful year for
Graham Henry's squad, Jason Eaton was named international newcomer of the year
and the All Blacks were awarded team of the year. McCaw and Daniel Carter are
also shortlisted for the soon-to-be-announced, International Rugby Board's
Player of the Year award. The Tri-Nations champions conclude their European tour
against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.
(24 November 2006)
JK on growing the game
The Observer talks to All Black legend John Kirwan about his
globetrotting ways and aspirations to coach in the UK. “Kirwan was a travelling rugby player long before it became the fashion it
is today…Unsurprisingly for a man with such a thirst for different cultures,
Kirwan becomes impassioned when discussing the importance of the game
growing.” Formerly head coach for Italy, Kirwan now lives in Venice and works as a consultant for Japanese club side NEC Green Rockets.
(5 February 2006)
A victory for the underdogs
Not to be outdone by their rugby union counterparts, NZ's national rugby league
side achieved a momentous Tri-Nations win against traditional rivals England and
Australia. The BBC describes the NZ's 24-0 victory over Australia in the series
final as "one of the most remarkable performances in rugby league
history." Manu Vatuvei scored two tries and Paul Whatuira and Brent Webb
each scored one. Australia has not lost a Test series since 1978 and the match
marked their first scoreless result since 1985.
(26 November 2005)
Five million in the stands
Despite widespread international media opinion that we would be out in the first
round, New Zealand has won the bid to host the 2011 Rugby World
Cup. After South Africa's unexpected removal from the running, New Zealand
and Japan were left in contention with the final round of voting going New
Zealand's way. Australia voted for Japan. After a campaign tour of 12 countries
in 20 days, the final pitch included presentations from Helen Clark, Tana Umaga,
Jock Hobbs, Colin Meads and Chris Moller. Clark was the first head of state to
visit the IRB offices in Dublin, an appearance that cemented New Zealand's
commitment to the Cup. Former All Black Captain-turned commentator Sean
Fitzpatrick summed up the bid's key messages: "Every New Zealander feels
they have a share of the All Blacks. They love their rugby union and will do
everything to make sure the event is one to remember."
(18 November 2005)
2005: year of the All Black
The All Blacks' decisive win over Scotland on December 2 made them the first NZ
side since 1978 and the first team since Australia in 1984, to complete a
"grand slam" of the UK and Irish home sides on a single tour.
"The grand slam and what we have done previously has capped a great year,
which is delightful," said coach Graham Henry. "They wanted to set
some history in NZ and they have done that, something very special." As
expected, NZ took out all major categories at this year's International
Rugby Board awards. Daniel Carter won player of the year, Graham Henry coach
of the year, and the All Blacks team of the year. A 2005 recap: the AB's won 11
of 12 Tests, crushed the Lions 3-0, won back the Tri-Nations, retained the
Bledisloe Cup, and became the second All Blacks side in a century to achieve a
grand slam against Wales, Ireland, England and Scotland.
(2 December 2005)
A winning formula on and off the field
Hyde Pride, Washington's only all-African American school rugby side, has a Kiwi
connection that extends beyond its game of choice. Established in 1999, the team
at Hyde Leadership Public Charter School has been sponsored by the NZ embassy
since 2002. Ambassador John Wood stumbled upon the school whilst looking for a
new ground to host the embassy's annual rugby tournament - the Ambassador's
Shield. "We discovered that Hyde school had a pretty good ground," he
says. "We found they had a pretty good rugby program, too. But no
money." The embassy adopted Hyde Pride, raising $10,000 for the team from
tournament profits last year. Head coach and founder Tal Bayer describes the
team's story as amazing. As well as its phenomenal success on the field, the
game has undeniably helped team members, many of whom were sent to Hyde as a
last resort for disciplinary problems, in their own personal development. More
important than winning games, Bayer points out, is the fact that every Hyde
Pride player has gone on to attend college.
(14 November 2005)
Golden Oldies return to the source
Wellington is to host next year’s World
Golden Oldies Rugby Festival, the first time the event has been held in NZ since
it was launched there 28 years ago. The festival is expected to attract
approximately 5,000 35+ competitors and supporters from 18 different countries.
“Wellington is the home of NZ rugby and it will give the players and their
supporters a really warm welcome,” says Ambassador for the 2006 Festival Andy
Leslie. “It’s also a great city to visit ... I, for one, am looking forward to
being part of next year’s Festival.”
(19 May 2005)
Plays hard, plays fair
All Black captain Tana Umaga received the Pierre Coubertin Trophy from the
International Committee of Fair Play on December 9. Previous awardees include
Martina Navratilova and Nelson Mandela. The trophy recognised his good
sportsmanship in helping Welsh captain Colin Charvis, who was knocked
unconscious during a June 2003 Test match in Hamilton. Umaga removed Charvis's
mouthguard to ensure he did not swallow his tongue and placed him in the
recovery position while play continued around them. Later in December, the
Guardian picked Umaga to lead their 2004 dream team, which included
fellow All Blacks |
