Cover for McCaw unclear

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4257118a1823.html

By RICHARD KNOWLER
The Press
Thursday, 1 November 2007

Mose Tuiali'i may be switched to openside flanker if Richie McCaw is injured next year.
With specialist No. 7 Johnny Leo'o signing with French club Racing Paris Metro, the Crusaders have opted for Kieran Read, George Whitelock and Tuiali'i as their back-up options for McCaw next season.
None are noted as specialist opensiders.
Whitelock captained the New Zealand under-21 team at No. 7 against Canada this year but was used in all loose forward positions by Otago in the Air New Zealand Cup.

"The skill set on both sides is identical," coach Robbie Deans said.
"We'll make sure our preparation is as robust as possible, so that we prepare for every potential scenario."

The Crusaders will use its three pre-season matches to test the players in the fetcher role, which will give Tuiali'i time to adjust to the unfamiliar position before the opening Super 14 match against the Brumbies at AMI Stadium on February 15.
Blindside flanker Read has previously had some experience at No. 7, but played all his matches for Canterbury on the other side.
In previous seasons the Crusaders have selected three specialists opensiders.

This year Leo'o and Jonathan Poff backed up for McCaw and last season Tanerau Latimer was drafted from Bay of Plenty.
Peter Nixon was also used at openside this year, but was not considered because he is having shoulder reconstruction.
Poff was not picked up by any Super 14 franchises yesterday.
Canterbury's Hayden Hopgood, who was drafted to the Hurricanes this year, has been sent to the Chiefs.
While Brad Thorn, who has spent the last three seasons with the Brisbane Broncos, has the ball skills to be an effective ball runner at No. 6, Deans stated he will be used primarily at lock.

"Brad is aware that his ears will be getting rubbed together."

With Thorn joining Ali Williams, Ross Filipo, Michael Paterson and Reuben Thorne as the locking options there was no room for Kevin O'Neill who signed for Waikato but could be loaned back to Canterbury next year.

Isaac Ross was expected to be drafted to the Blues but ended up at the Highlanders instead.

All Blacks to attend charity fashion show

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0710/S00290.htm

Tuesday, 30 October 2007, 9:52 am

Press Release: Word of Mouth Media

Media release – October 30, 2007

All Blacks Richie McCaw and Corey Flynn to attend charity fashion show in Christchurch on Sunday
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw and Canterbury captain Corey Flynn will attend a charity fashion show in Christchurch on Sunday.

Proceeds from the fashion show at MU steakhouse and bar will go to the local Ronald McDonald House.
Ronald McDonald has houses in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Each year the houses care for more than 3000 families of children undergoing hospital treatment at either Auckland Starship Children's Hospital, Wellington Hospital or Christchurch Public Hospital.

Stores involved in the fashion show are Frankie,3 Wise Men, Marocka, Sergios, Urban Surf, Wee Kiwi,Undiesonline, Gillian Melhop, Hattertude, David and Goliath, Vivacious and Katrina's Hats.
Celebrity models are Jason Kerrison, lead singer of Opshop, Honor Dillon from the Black Sticks NZ women’s hockey team, Charlie and Serena from What Now, Aaron Gilmore from Dancing with the Stars.
McCaw and Flynn will be attending and drawing a raffle. The 3pm event is being run by Maree Harris of M Factor events.

**

Did HE hear your prayer???

Just a reminder for the newbies

You are lucky people! The oldies are really nice with you : Izzy told me that I should put this link online so that you might get a sum up of the life of Richie. This interview dates back from May 2006 and was first broadcasted on tvnz (which is a very nice channel : the show is still available online now!!!)

Enjoy ;)

May 4th, 2006 : THE REAL McCAW
An exclusive insight into the life and loves of All Black captain-elect Richie McCaw. 20/20 reporter HADYN JONES talks to one of the country's most sought after men about his secret passion and the type of woman he likes.
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/video_popup_windows_skin/710660?bandwidth=128k


-> If you want to get other videos, here is a link to a video article published this summer (MY summer)
http://richie-mccaw.blogspot.com/2007/07/videos.html

IRB Awards (it's not because it was not HIS year that I won't talk about it...)

http://www.scrum.com/39_48832.php

Following in the footsteps of team-mate Schalk Burger, Habana was crowned atthe IRB awards tonight, beating off competition from Argentina centre Felipe Contepomi, New Zealand flanker and 2006 winner Richie McCaw, French centreYannick Jauzion and Argentina fly-half Juan Hernandez.



The flying wing equalled Jonah Lomu's record of eight World Cup tries as histeam claimed the title with a 15-6 win over England yesterday.Fittingly, the Springboks were named Team of the Year, with their coach JakeWhite crowned top coach.



The winners were selected by the an independent panel of judges made up offormer internationals, with every Test from the start of The RBS 6 Nations tothe World Cup final taken into account.Pierre de Coubertin, Wilson Whineary, Dr Danny Craven, Gareth Edwards and JohnEales were inducted into the IRB's Hall of Fame after a public vote, whileFrance's veteran lock Fabien Pelous was handed a Special Merit award.



Takudzwa Ngwenya's try for USA in their World Cup pool defeat to the Springboks, during which he outstripped the jet-heeled Habana, was named Try of the Year.
South Africa were named IRB Team of the Year and Jake White won the IRB Coach of the Year award, to add to the IRB Rugby World Cup crown they claimed at Stade de France against England on 20 October.
Habana was picked ahead of four other nominees – Argentina centre Felipe Contepomi, New Zealand flanker and 2006 IRB Player of the Year Richie McCaw, French centre Yannick Jauzion and Argentina fly half Juan Hernandez.
Habana has scored 13 tries in 10 internationals during 2007, including four tries during RWC 2007.
The winners were selected by the Awards' independent panel of judges, made up of former internationals with over 500 caps between them. The Awards panel deliberated on every major Test match played this year starting with the first Six Nations match and finishing with the IRB Rugby World Cup final.
New Zealand, overall winners of the IRB World Sevens Series 2007-08, have been named Sevens Team of the Year. New Zealand speedster Afeleki Pelenise, who played such an important part in snatching victory from Fiji to claim the title, has won the award for Sevens Player of the Year.

Jacob Thompson was the winner of this year’s Development Award. Thompson came home to Jamaica from England in the early 1970s and started a mission to bring Rugby to the island that continues to this day. Thanks to Thompson, Jamaica now counts the sport amongst its social fabric.
Thompson played for Jamaica, coached a number of local teams and was appointed Chief Organiser for Schoolboy Rugby, a position he has retained up to now.

He has been the Chairman of Jamaica Rugby Union since 1999, and was appointed Vice-President of West Indies Rugby Union from the period 2005-2007. In 2007 he was selected as an Executive Committee Member of WIRU.
This year’s winner of the Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service was a great of Spanish rugby, Jose Maria Epalza, who has contributed enormously to the sport in that country and beyond, both on and off the field.

Epalza continued to coach and captain his club in Madrid, Club de Rugby Cisneros, at the same time as representing his country, whom he turned out for a total of 38 times, including captain on a number of occasions.
He went on to coach the national side between 1986 and 1990 before concentrating on rugby administration.
From 1992 to 1996 he was Vice-president and Technical Manager of the Spanish Rugby Union. In 1992 he was elected onto the European Rugby Federation (FIRA-AER) Board, becoming Vice-president in 1996. From 1996 to 2005 he represented FIRA-AER as a member of the IRB Executive Committee.
The IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service went to Dick Byres.

Having refereed 14 international matches, he was appointed as an IRB Referee Selector in 1997 when the Merit based panel was first formed and was the longest serving selector until his retirement in Jan 2007.
This year’s IRB Women’s Personality of the Year winner was Sarah Corrigan, who in April became the first female to referee at an IRB fifteens Tournament outside the Women’s Rugby World Cup, when the Australian took charge of the IRB Under 19 World Championship match between Zimbabwe and Canada.
This came on the back of her appearances at the IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2005, culminating in the third place play-of between France and Canada.

The IRB Under 19 Player of the Year was named as Robert Fruean who was the standout performer at this year’s IRB Under 19 World Championship in Ireland. His strong running and sidestep caused havoc amongst opponents’ defences, including three tries against Wales in New Zealand’s opening match on their way to the title.
In 2006 he was a member of the New Zealand Schools side and he also represented Wellington Under 18 in 2005 and 2006.

For many, having a missing leg would end all thoughts of athletic endeavour. For Nicolas Pueta, however, it has provided no such obstacle to this year's Spirit of Rugby Award winner.
Pueta has a passion for rugby that sees him play flanker for St. Andrew’s FP in Argentina. It is a heady example of triumph over adversity and mind, or spirit, over body.

Full list of IRB Awards winners:

IRB Player of the Year – Bryan Habana, South Africa

IRB Team of the Year – South Africa

IRB Coach of the Year – Jake White, South Africa

IRB Under 19 Player of the Year – Robert Fruean, New Zealand**

IRB Sevens Team of the Year – New Zealand

IRB Sevens Player of the Year – Afeleke Pelenise, New Zealand**

IRB Women’s Personality of the Year – Sarah Corrigan

IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service - Dick Byres

Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service – Jose Maria Epalza

IRB Development Award - Jacob Thompson

Spirit of Ruby Award – Nicolas Pueta

IRPA Try of the Year - Takudzwa Ngwenya, USA (vs. South Africa)

IRPA Special Merit Award – Fabien Pelous, France

IRB Hall of Fame inductees - Pierre de Coubertin, Wilson Whineary, Dr Danny Craven, Gareth Edwards, John Eales

Back to last night's match

It may shock some of you, but since this world cup was THE aim of the 2007 season, I decided to publish some pics from last night's match (just the after-the-match pics) even if our 'chouchoux' weren't part of it. We of course wish our favorite captain the best of luck for tonight's IRB Award :)

The final was a pretty good match (I like the referee mister rolland so I have nothing to say against him -yet Flood who pushed Percy Montgomery into the camera should have been penalised...)

The monarchy is supposed to be neutral but the princes were definitely showing their colours!
(one remark : William is officially THE "black cat" of his national team... someone should prevent him from attending the matches -Harry, you know what you have to do now!!)

I liked the idea of a rainbow nation (who else would have raised their president holding the cup?), I also appreciated the all-generation nation (with rooky Francois and old man Os)

And even if last night's security services at the stadium seemed to have started their holiday earlier (see the guy by the scrum and the guy holding the cup), I hope you all had a great time during this World Cup -whether you watched it at home or visited France.
It was a real pleasure living & sharing this experience with you ;
see you in 4 years AT HOME!!!!

Now, what's going to happen?
The European championships will be on this winter (our time). The Southerners will enjoy their summer break. We have 3 months till the Super14 starts again but it doesn't mean that the blog will have its summer break : I'll still be here (with my computer problems, ok, but still there!!!) so keep chatting in the chatterbox, keep emailing pics, articles, anything, they'll be published ;)

End of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Behind the scenes...unsure it's the only reason why though...

http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/RugbyWorldCupVideo/tabid/394/articleID/37310/Default.aspx#video
Rugby World Cup update: 19th Oct 2007
Fri, 19 Oct 2007 11:45p.m.

Dobbo, Byron Kelleher and Frank Bunce talk about Sunday's upcoming final.

****
Rugby: McCaw was carrying an injury
5:00AM Sunday October 21, 2007

All Black halfback Byron Kelleher has revealed that captain Richie McCaw took the field against France in the ill-fated World Cup quarter-final carrying a calf injury and after a viral infection.

The news of McCaw's injury helps to explain a strangely muted game from the All Black skipper. It is likely to ramp up criticism of the Graham Henry-led campaign which placed so much store on rotation and reconditioning of players to make sure they were fresh and peaking at the right time to win the Cup.

The All Blacks camp has not previously revealed that McCaw played carrying and injury and Kelleher also said that he was one of a number of players who had not agreed with the rotation policy but who had curbed their opinions to help the team build towards its common goal.

Speaking on TV3's late night World Cup Update, Kelleher also said that, at the time the All Blacks most needed a drop goal to win the match, the only two players who had practised for such a situation - Daniel Carter and himself - were both on the sidelines and he agreed with the contention that both Doug Howlett and Aaron Mauger should have played.



Kelleher, who is staying in France to play club rugby there, said of McCaw: "He had a bit of a viral infection in the week before and his immune system was a bit drained.

He also has a calf injury. Richie McCaw is such a hard man. Due credit to him, he does such a fantastic job for the All Blacks and New Zealand rugby. But he was carrying an injury and that can hinder momentum and performance in a game as well."

Asked if he felt Howlett and Mauger should have been playing as the All Blacks seemed to lack experience in the last 20 minutes, Kelleher said: "That's dead right. Those guys were just gutted at not playing and not even being in the 22.
"You can't replace experience. No matter how much flair and talent might be coming through from youth, experience is what it is all about. England has been showing us that. They have a lot of players in there who know how to win games and that is unfortunately in the nature of this competition."

On rotation, Kelleher said he had never enjoyed being a senior player but still having to bide his time on the bench because of rotation.
"Some of the players didn't really want to believe in it [rotation] but we were all as one in this World Cup and we all buy into the concept together and that was the coach's strategy for this World Cup.
"We do make comments in the All Blacks and sometimes we agree to disagree at times so we are all heading in the same direction and all on the same wavelength to achieve the ultimate goal."

Asked about the desperate All Black struggle to score the winning points against France, Kelleher - who had been subbed by this time - said: "We did a lot of pick-and-go towards the sidelines when we should have been heading towards the middle of the field, towards the goalposts and then set ourselves and have a shot. We have some great kickers in our team and obviously the communication just wasn't there.

"The only two who had practiced [drop goals] were Dan and myself and we were sitting on the bench. [Carter was injured] and no finger pointing and not blaming the other players, but it was definitely something we should have worked towards."

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10471164

****

again : thank you very much to Izzy for the links :)

Captain McCaw gets his smile back (The Press)

http://www.rugbyheaven.co.nz/4244992a22363.html

By JEFF TOLLAN

The Press

Saturday, 20 October 2007

While he would rather be flying across a field in Paris, landing a DC3 at the Rangiora airfield this week brought a smile to the face of All Black captain Richie McCaw.

As part of his training toward a pilot's rating, McCaw, who is the patron of the Southern DC3 Trust, flew in behind the controls of the trust's restored DC3, ZK-AMY.

McCaw has a private pilot's licence and he has about 200 hours of flying under his belt.

The 26-year-old said while he would rather be "over there" playing for the All Blacks in the World Cup rugby final this weekend, piloting the Dakota was fun.

"I'm pretty happy to get a chance to fly one of these. Not many people with a private pilot's licence have this in their logbooks," he said.
"It was good fun to fly, and it's a lovely old machine."

He had flown the plane from take-off at Wigram, where it is based, to the landing strip at the Rangiora airport.
His mentor and Air New Zealand A320 Airbus captain David Horsburgh said McCaw's flying was impressive.

"It's like he's got 1200 hours already. That was a terrific approach and landing. And he had to do the whole thing himself. It's a very good effort."

McCaw was humble when it came to praise, however, and said it was thanks to Horsburgh that he had come so far.
He did have one suggestion for the use of the plane and his honed pilot skills.

"We could make a end-of-season trip with it. We'll load it up (with Canterbury players) and go somewhere."
However, McCaw had found it "a little nerve-racking".
"The first time I was a little nervous – it's a lovely old aeroplane and I wouldn't like to do anything bad to it.
"I have five hours left (to train), which will allow me to be the co-pilot in ferry-flights."

McCaw took up the opportunity to be the patron of the Southern DC3 Trust in October 2006, after being approached by Horsburgh.

"Dave asked me. I did a bit of flying with him and said I was interested. I didn't think too much about it until I went for a ride."

Horsburgh said the Dakota would be flying over Canterbury again soon.
"We're very proud of this aeroplane – to keep it in the skies over Canterbury – and it will be back before Christmas."

****

additional link :

http://www.southerndc3.com/

thank you very much Izzy for the scans and the links (the local spy is back to her official job activities... just kidding sweety : MERCI!)

12.10.2007. MoreFM Canterbury interview

http://content.mediaworks.co.nz/radio/morefm/christchurch/ritchie%20mccaw%20fri%2012%20oct%20MORE%20FM.mp3

The boys catch up with Ritchie McCaw
(link sent by Izzy...thanks again!)

Support message to Richie and the All Blacks

Sunday October 7th.

*** Joel L. (also known as Mary's dad) wrote ***:

I’m 50 and I’m French, and since my childhood I’ve always loved rugby. Four years ago, with my wife and my daughter, we went to Australia to follow the 3 first pool matches of our national team ; but this year, I had decided to follow the All Blacks for the whole pool session. I also have tickets for the semi final next Saturday and I really wanted to see you guys playing next Saturday…
But there it is : France lost to Argentina in the opening match and thus faced you in Cardiff… Like many people, I wanted this match to be the final!
Honestly, I’m at 100% with you, supporting your sorrow. And I hope I’ll live long enough to be part of the next world cup, your world cup, in Aotearoa…
Once again : THANK YOU!

*** Lothi from Spain wrote ***:

I'm a Richie McCaw Girl or "Chica Richie McCaw" here in Spain. I know I'm not the only one New Zealand supporter here, but we live in a country that doesnt have a strong rugby tradition. To be true, I wasn't interested in rugby at all till I watch the All Blacks play.
Now I'm quite obsessed - in a healthy, sane but very "fan" way, lol- and Richie McCaw, Ali Williams and Nick Evans (my favourite players) have a lot to do with that. They can make a girl interested, and not only because they are hunks. Nope. They have talent, nerve and will.
They deserved to win. I still feel very numb myself, but I can figure how bad, sad and such they are feeling right now. But, as MaryL said, no matter what the "real press" will say about you, we still love you. A lot. And to our favourite Captain, we love you even more because you are a really *great* captain for a really *great* team.

Desde España en montón besos y abrazos para los All Blacks y, sobre todo, para Richie McCaw
From Spain, a bunch of kisses and hugs for the All Blacks and specially for Richie McCaw

*** Solange I. From France wrote ***:

I am a French girl but I'm sorry of All black's defeat.
I'm so sad for Richie McCaw captain and for others all blacks. I would like to support them. For me, they are the best team of the world and their game is wonderful !
It's hard to see them so disappointed but I will contine to cheer the team.
Bisous to them and Bisous to You

*** Rose W. from the USA wrote ***:

To Richie & the boys,

Now we support you, more than ever. You have given us a magnificent run of rugby over the last year. BE PROUD of your many achievements. Rugby is a game that is played by human beings and the referee is human, too. Therefore, any single game of rugby is subject to the mistakes of humans. That is why I do not believe that the winner of the RWC is necessarily the best rugby team in the world. We know this is true, because the All Blacks are the best rugby team in the world -- year in and year out.

Every All Black gave his best. That is all that anyone can ask. You took the penalties like professionals, even though you did not agree. It is simply that the rugby gods did not smile on you this day.

Oh yes, you cried, or wanted to. Which just shows that you are a decent bunch of blokes, if there ever was one. Go ahead and cry. I did and so did many of your supporters. However, tomorrow is a new day. Some of you will go to your new teams in Europe. Some of you will go home and return to the NPC to play. But the next big thing on the agenda is 2011. You must go forward, as hosts, to make RWC 2011 in New Zealand the best ever.

You STAND IN BLACK and we proudly STAND IN BLACK beside you!

*** Charlie from the U.K. wrote ***:

I cant believe all these 'so called' fans, they only supported the ab's during this word cup thinking that they were dead certs to win nd so they became a 'fan' but as soon as they loose a bloody tough match they start slating them! they're not bloody fans!
I always thought fans were there to support a team even during the hard times...these people get on my bloody nerves!!!

*** Marni B (and partner Richard) from Otago wrote ***:

I have been reading your blogs and your site for awhile.

I just thought I would send my best wishes to the All Blacks and especially to Ritchie Mccaw. My partner wanted me to e-mail this as a thank you for the boys playing so well and giving everything they had for the love of the game.
As the All Blacks are coming home to New Zealand this week. I am sure their WAGS will be there to pick up the pieces and help them train for the next crack at the HOLY GRAIL.
As Ritchie and Mr Henry said - We were the second team on the day.
Most people call me ICE.

*** Jasmin from Switzerland wrote ***:

I just hope that the guys (inkl. the captain and Graham Henry) don't get blamed too much from the press and the people in nz. In sport, winning has a lot to do with skill and determination but also with luck, and I think that's what many persons seem to forget. The All Blacks played well. But not well enough. And that's it. I'm not blaming the team or anybody involved in the game, I just think that luck was with the French team. Who know's, maybe luck is waiting for 2011 to show up...!?

*** Gaelen from South Africa wrote ***:

Hey Richie. You guys are still my heroes, especially you! It’s a shock and a horror but sh!te happens. You’re still awesome and most welcome in SA anytime!!!!

Monday October 8th.

*** Adeline V. from Paris, France wrote ***:

Hi guys,
I just want to say you thank you for all your work in the RWC, you were really wonderfull and I have seen the rugby I love. I am french and I yet think you are the most amazing team of the world, I really wanted you to win the cup.
Don't blame the team, don't blame your coach (he did an excellent job the last years, and I'll miss him), maybe you can blame the referee, but maybe the french were just better this time...
I am really sorry for you, but I want you to know that you never disappointed your "fans" or your country.
Captain Richie, you deserved your award of the best player in 2006, and you were also the best for me in 2007. We are behind you, and I am sure you will win the world cup (YOUR world cup) in four years. Please stay in New Zeland, you are an All Black, stay in this team, I am sure that you'll win in 2011.
Don't be sad, you made a great job, you made a perfect year, you didn't deserved that, but we don't blame you and we still support you!

*** Regina from New Zealand wrote ***:

I don’t usually write about players, celebs etc but only this time I feel I need to. Please pass this on to the All Blacks.
Ritchie McCaw is the best All Black captain there is. He is humble, he plays for his team and he is a great leader, just like Sir Peter Blake. He is a real kiwi and I am very very proud of him, and the All Blacks.
Shit happens and they don’t deserve to lose but that does not take anything away from who they are and how he has led the All Blacks these last four years. They have won almost every game and they have won the hearts of all the people around the world.
One world tournament does not make a team. They may not be the World Champs this October but they have been World Champs the last four years, and will be for the next four years.
So chin up Ritchie. Let the French have their day (God knows they need it!). We want you for the World Cup 2011 and we will kick butts then.
You have our hearts and minds. We are with you all the way.

*** Chrizaan from South Africa wrote ***:

Richie you are a brilliant player, an excellent captain and you are a very brave person. You did your best and we still love you and the All blacks in South Africa. Keep your head high because you have nothing to feel ashamed about. Shit happens. This too shall pass.
Stay strong and if those New Zealanders give you shit remember you are always welcome in South Africa.

*** Violaine P. (and her mother) from France wrote ***:

I regularly connect myself to your blog because I am a fan of Richie’s: really great player, born leader and so cute. I would like to thank you for giving a chance to the fans to send a message to the guys.

What upsets me the most is the French press publishing papers on “the All Blacks are too confident” “they are too relax” “they don’t see this match as a tough one”…This is not what I felt nor what I saw. They were accused of showing themselves too much, of being entertainers –but thanks God they were here! They were the only team who showed some respect towards their fans and yet they remained humble! The players must know that their fans are behind them because they are proud of these men I do hope that their fans back home will be nice to them. The All Blacks remain the best team in the World, I say it again and again, no other team is able to reach skies as they do.

Saturday night was a nightmare for me! If I am French, I support New Zealanders because I have so much pleasure to see them play! I believed they win until the end of the match and I wanted them to win because they are the best players of the world. Whatever people think and whatever the abs themselves say, they did play well. They didn’t give up, they fought till the end and I really thought Luke’s drop goal would be in… Some of the ref’s decisions are unclear, but re-doing the match is not the aim of my message. Yes, one can be French, support the all blacks and not blushing after their performance on Saturday night, nor being ashamed of it…

So my message for the guys is the following: “Thanks guys, You are still the bests, the defeat is not your fault because you really play your maximum. Dan, Byron and Nick, I hope you’ll get well. And Richie: keep faith! You’re a great captain and one of the best players in the world, be sure of that”. I hope their return in New Zealand will not be too hard. Guys, thank you very much for all the pleasure you’ve given us –spectators! Be strong ; tomorrow is another day…
I send a lot of kisses to all the guys (my mother too, she loves the Blacks).

*** Sophia from France wrote ***:

I've been supporting you guys since 2001 and I will as long as I can :) I watched very good games of you and I'm proud to be one of your supporters!! I'm waiting now for a return match with France in 4 years I hope :D Your French supporters will be all there for you! You are the best ever in that sport and nothing will change that.

For now, congratulations to the team for these fabulous matches that you offered to us :) and I hope you enjoyed you trip in France in spite of everything :S You will always be welcome in France !! :)

Go the All Blacks !! ^^ See you soon ...[Hope you get well soon Dan]

*** Cédric from France wrote ***:

OK I'm happy because France won this match but I do really feel sad for the all blacks and for all the nation of New Zealand ! Once more New Zealand can be proud of their team, you are really the best. I hope for a final for the next world cup France/New Zealand and a victory for you (but as hard as possible!)
In any case please don't be sad, each time I see a match with the all black the big winner is RUGBY !!!
Keep in touch, au revoir !

*** Maud L. from France wrote ***

We were dreaming of a Final between France and New-Zealand.
We made black bracelets to always think of you.
We wrote the New-Zealander national Athem Lyrics in our agendas.
We couldn't think that New-Zealand can loose this World Cup.

But Saturday evening was a crash.
I remember the match, I was the only one who supported New-Zealand, even my sister threatened me "You're French ! you have to support France ! not New-Zealand !" ok, I'd support France...but when the French tried, I didn't feel as happy as the other supporters. When the 70th minute came, I really, really wanted you to try the last try of the match. But you didn't, all the supporters were screaming their joy whereas I was crying your loss. I spent the worst night I ever knew. All the pictures, Byron crying, You in Ali's arms, dejected Nick...its was terrible. But, bit by bit, I realized what was happening. I wasn't living a nightmare, you lost the match, ok, so what ? you'll still be the best team of the world, each team can loose a match, it's human ! you can't be the best everytime everywhere. People saw that the All Blacks were human after all, not just a physical strengh which always win its matches.
It's a sad situation, but you are human, we can't blame you. All the efforts you made for this World Cup will help you for the next one. In your country, with your fans, in your stadiums, the things will be totally different. I'm sure of it.
I know you will never give up and that's why I'm proud to support New Zealand.

Wednesday October 10th.

*** Floriane L. from France wrote ***

Hi Richie!
I suppose you have already received thousands support messages, but here is one more!
Of course I am quite disappointed, like everyone, that the All Blacks leave the competition, but Saturday's match was really... WOW! I almost die ("thank you"... :D) by a stroke! So even if you're eliminated, I want to say THANK YOU (this time I'm not joking :D) for giving us such emotion!!
I'm not worried for you, I'm sure you'll be the second All Blacks' captain who'll win the World Cup. And in four years, we'll be there, and in 8 years, we'll be there...
Hope you're all fine.
Flo (a French supporter. ok, I'm French, but I'm fair-play - I hope so! :D)

Friday, October 12th.

*** Caroline from Brittany, France, wrote ***

I know you will receive a lot of letter like this and mine is just one but I
wanted to congratulate you for your efforts and your course in the world cup
even if you don’t win. You had a good team and each one did hi best.
Moreover you are an excellent captain who knew to direct his players, and to
encourage them to be the best in the victory and the defeat
No matter that you go lost, you remain the best team in the world and nobody
will contradict it. I wish you to make a success of your next match, to make a good super14 and succeed in the tri nation. And for the world cup see you in 4 years! Your French fans will always support you ; kisses

*** Juju from France wrote ***:

I’m French and great fan of the All Blacks since…1987, the final against France, I was just a kid, too young to know the rules of this game, but my daddy told me ''c'est les meilleurs du monde"...Twenty years after, (I know the rules!...) All Blacks are still the best with their game so fast and magical.
Players turn but the spirit is the same. Even if you aren't world champion, you can be proud; you are faithful of the gallantry of the silver fern. French really appreciate your game and your behaviour for these few weeks in our country.
My personnal good memory? the training session in Toulouse after the game against Romania...It was great to see the best players in the world just play with a ball, like kids, thank you for this moment!
Next time (ok, it's long...) it will be your time, at home, like in 1987!!! Be sure!
To Richie McCaw and the All Blacks, current and future, continue to be "les meilleurs du monde".

*** Tessa from New Zealand wrote ***:

Hey Guys,
Great to have (most) of you back home. It is the end of an era for some of you; I wish you all the very best and every success with whatever the future holds.
Now is the time to get back some “normality” into your lives (is life as an All Black ever normal?) Enjoy the summer (it IS coming...honest!) and I look forward to seeing you all in action for 2008!
So much has been said about the events of…y’know…and it will seem like an eternity before those flashbacks stop replaying in your head. Then having to deal with stuff on a very personal level & of those closest to you. The constant reminders from what you see, hear & read WILL ease off over time. I know, it’s hard to avoid in this little rugby obsessed, everyone’s an expert, passionate nation of ours.

What will always remain is the unfailing pride and support we as AB’s fans have for the rugby world’s #1 team!
Keep showing us your desire to succeed & the pure enjoyment you have for the game.
We stand in Black with you always!!! Huge thanks for the personal sacrifice and bloody hard work guys!
Mac ( Richie)…Thanks for your loyalty & giving us another 2yrs to enjoy your exciting, on the edge, NO FEAR, style of play….long may it continue! Your leadership, personal integrity, core values& ideals of what it means to wear the black jersey mean you’ve already entered AB history as one of the greats. You’ve re-newed my interest in the game & ..o.k. being a girl means there are shallow reasons too but I won’t go there today!
Hope you get plenty of gliding in over the summer; bring on those thermals& infinite blue skies where you can “escape” above that majestic southern landscape! Take care and CHEERS!

Saturday October 13th

*** Siska from Singapore wrote ***:

I will Stand In Black always.
I am sad that the year ended the way it did, I cannot lie. But I am looking forward to next year. You do have a few trophies to defend. Although it will not be the same without some of the old boys – it has been a pleasure watching you in the Black jersey. Thanks Guys, for a great rugby experience. Have fun playing in Europe. Show them how it is done :)
To Richie – I am wishing that next year comes soon. Can not wait to see you playing rugby again. I will be cheering you and the Crusaders. How fun will it be with Ali on the team, eh? I will miss Jacko, Azza, and Rico, and Johny of course. But I know you can lead the new-look Crusaders well, as always. And I hope you are still keen on being the AB captain. You are the best captain I know.
So until next year - in the mean time, have a good summer. We will be here when the season starts :)

Tuesday October 16th

*** Ria from Napier, New Zealand, wrote ***:

"To the men and women involved in the NZ RWC 07 squad.. thank you for going to France and giving it your all! I am proud to call myself a Kiwi and I will continue to support the All Blacks, win or lose, and you all should walk tall and keep your heads high.

To the players and especially our captain, don't beat yourselves up, that won't change to outcome. I still believe you ran out on the that field wanting to do yourself, team-mates, friends and family and all the fans and supporters in nz proud! And the reception that you received at chch airport was testament that all of ur fans believe that as well!

I just hope you all had fun up to that last game and you will all live to play another day!"

Wednesday October 17th

*** Chill from Cape Town, South Africa, wrote*** :

2007 was meant to be the year of the All Blacks. There were high hopes, in fact, people were confident that rugby’s greatest prize would be heading back to the shores of the Land of the Long White Cloud. Then on a strange night in Cardiff in October, all those dreams came crashing down by the hands of a familiar foe. France had been smarting from their unexpected loss to the tournaments dark horse, Argentina, and had been consigned to this quarterfinal showdown against the Blacks away from their beloved France. Scribes and fans alike had the result penned down before kick-off – victory to the All Blacks – it was after all their year. I have been an All Blacks fan for quite a few years and have lived through world cup heartbreaks, but before the tournament kicked off this year, I felt quietly confident that the team I had come to love would be able to do the business. However, as they ran out for the second half I caught myself thinking what if we don’t win this? I hadn’t been confident of the result, but didn’t want to come across as a woe-be-gone so I kept my opinions to myself. The result as we now know is history. I sat and watched the shell-shocked expressions of each All Black – Daniel Carter’s pained expression from the sideline was an image embedded in my head – thinking oh no I can hear the chants starting. Chokers …

I, however, am not going to attack this team. They have achieved great things over the past few years, achievements that they should be lauded for. They went to France to win, not to lose in a quarter final and people should remember that. While the fans mourned over the loss, the team I am sure were hit even harder by it. They had been working relentlessly for the past few years to achieve this elusive goal and the weight of expectation had been really high this time around. But labelling them names and discrediting their achievements does not take away the result, nor is it going to help anyone now. Those wanting to insult and name call players and coaches should try walking in the shoes of that world cup team. They put all they had into it and didn’t get what they wanted. It doesn’t make them a bad team. Their stars who have since been maligned aren’t suddenly bad players cos of this result. Life happens and sport is no different. So while we have a reason to be sad over the loss, we don’t have a reason to not support them and we certainly don’t have a right to be abusive towards anyone involved. It doesn’t matter why we lost or who is to blame, what should be remembered is that this All Blacks team has taken rugby to a new level and inspired millions around the world with their audacity, skill and passion for the game. They are not world cup winners, but to me they will always be the best in the world.

Thursday October 11th.

***Lissie from Australia wrote*** :

I support you even if you did not get Bill
Things go wrong as they sometimes will
And I am sure your trudging seems uphill

But please remember us fans that still
Think you’re a team of superior skill

And I really want to instill
The Dreams you possess you can fulfill
With the help of our best wishes & goodwill

Later on…

*** MaryL from France wrote ***:

Hi guys, I really didn’t know if I’d write something down… but reading all these support messages made me feel that I was not alone behind you and that I had to!
First thank you ; because thanks to you –but mostly thanks to your captain! –I’ve met people with whom I shared and have shared great moments : chatting with the girls on the ‘Richie Blog’ or talking rugby with people in a pub after a match for instance, that’s only thanks to you!

Then, thank you because I was in the stands for your pool matches : getting sunburned in Marseille, catching a cold in Lyon (little wind) and another in Edinburgh (big wind and some showers!) and eventually crying in Toulouse (just because this was the end of MY world cup!) –it was worth it!

I had already attended rugby matches, but I had never felt I was part of the supporters, I had always ‘behaved’ as a self-controlled person (clapping when someone scored a try or succeeded his kick of a penalty). This time was different.

As an official All Black fan and a representative of the Richie Girls (the word may ‘shock’, but it’s way much easier than saying : girls chatting on a blog and supporting All Black captain Richie McCaw –even if it’s the definition of the Richie Girls!), my ‘mission’ was to live fully the matches, take anything I could take and then forward it onto the girls…

I started writing my World Cup diary but I do believe that the pics I took express better my feelings and what I lived better than the diary… So I lived your matches as my first real matches ; for the first time, I was officially an All Blacks fan, supporting the All Blacks among the All Blacks fans –I really had great moments during these 3 weeks! And being back home was a really hard time for me but you can’t be on holiday for the rest of your life otherwise you wouldn’t enjoy precious moments like these, right?

Saturday’s match was your first match without me in the stand and honestly, you can say anything you want but that’s the only reason why you lost… Just kidding! Back to serious : watching you playing from my house (and not from the stands!) was tough but I had prepared myself, I was really ready to get over it… till Betsen fainted and stopped my cheering.

I’m sorry guys, for you and for the French players, because seeing Serge lying like that on the field made me realize (I already knew it but…) that you were human beings. Like me. That however strong and confident you may seem to be, anything could happen… I’m sorry because after he left the field, I had only one thing in mind : that was not a victory for New Zealand, nor for France, that was just seeing you all alive at the end of the match –-quite far from rugby-cheering, isn’t it?

So at the end of the match, I was of course sad because I knew I wouldn’t see you in Paris the next Saturday ; but inside, I was happy because you had survived! It’s only the next day, during the last quarter final (and more precisely during the “Flowers of Scotland” that I had heard 3 times from the stands in September) that I realized that not only MY world cup was over, but also yours –and that’s why I decided to launch this support article. Because I knew that I was not the only one with this feeling…
I want you all that we will always be there for you (all of you ; because even if we are officially the Richie Girls –and boys! –we are also the All Blacks Girls –and boys!)

Message for Richie now :

whether you keep the captaincy or not (for the Crusaders, for Canterbury and/or for the national team), the blog will remain online and be regularly updated. I made a promise to the girls (again, yes, but what would I do without them?) that the blog will be online during your whole career –even if some day, like a Kiwi fan told me during the world cup, you decide to leave your island to play in Europe! We’ll always be there, even if it’s just on the cyber world, to support you and cheer on you (and your team/s)

Bisous to the crew of the All Blacks plane (staff, management, players and especially the captain!)

Ps : The messages published here were sent via emails ; other messages were posted in the chatterbox of the blog (but the chatterbox messages can’t be copied so they aren’t in this common message). Just know that there were many sharing the same ideas : we still support the All Blacks and we are proud of you!

Thanks for your support!

Not only am I very happy to have had your support messages (you have till Wednesday to keep sending them, the laptop still being out of order!), but I am all the happier since the site meter report confirms that the blog is growing step by step.
So again : THANK YOU!!!!

Site Summary

Visits

Total ....................... 55,237

Average per Day ................ 986

Average Visit Length .......... 3:00

This Week .................... 6,905

Page Views

Total ....................... 95,837

Average per Day .............. 1,635

Average per Visit .............. 1.7

This Week ................... 11,446

(non NZ news...England did it!)

Yes, we are all sad about last week's defeat, but the World Cup is still on and last night, England showed the world that THEY were the defending champions! Will they remain the World champions? Don't know yet... all we know, is that in a (very boring) match, they were good enough to beat the host of this competition...when I say 'they', I mean 'he' -of course : Jonny Wilkinson! Without this man, honeslty, the match would have been worst than boring!

But that was not the aim of the article : the aim was that it was the family's last tickets for this World Cup and there were some Kiwis left. I didn't attend the match but my dad & my uncle did and they got a Kiwi friend -a farmer, whose name they didn't get but who was very nice! And since they mentionned the blog (I mean, I did it -coz the man was talking to me on the phone!), here you are mister Anonymous Farmer from New Zealand! Thanks a lot for the fern...

That's what rugby is about : connecting people!!!!

Photos : mister Anonymous Farmer on the phone with me and then with my uncle ; dad and the fern on his beret (this morning). The pictures of the match are on my Bebo.

useful link

As Izzy our "Local spy" often talks about the morning show on MoreFM Canterbury and the great interviews those two guys (Si & Gary) do, here are the links I use to listen to MoreFM Canterbury :

http://canterbury.morefm.co.nz/ListenOnline/tabid/175/Default.aspx

http://canterbury.morefm.co.nz/Portals/2/playerControl07.htm?tash=new

So far, I haven't found Richie's interview on Friday (?) morning ; but if anyone gets it before, you know who to send your link to...if you don't see what I mean, here is a reminder :

'send me the link at marykoala@hotmail.fr '

Anyway : thanks for your contribution, this blog is yours (you know that) and again sorry about the delay in posting -laptop still 'sick'...

MaryL

ps : keep mailing your support messages at the same addy ; 3 days left (or maybe more since I won't be home before Wednesday and I won't have access to the Internet if my laptop is still convalescent..lucky you, late people!)

Links to welcome home videos (mostly)

http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/SunriseVideo/tabid/572/articleID/36549/Default.aspx
sunrise at ch-ch airport
****
http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/SunriseVideo/tabid/572/articleID/36587/Default.aspx?articleID=36587#video
ch-ch mayor ready to welcome the abs
****
http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/CampbellLiveVideo/tabid/367/articleID/36651/Default.aspx#video

campbell live

****

http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/RugbyWorldCupVideo/tabid/394/articleID/36646/Default.aspx

all blacks welcomed home

****

http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/RugbyWorldCupVideo/tabid/394/articleID/36646/Default.aspx?articleID=36646#video

welcome home

****

http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/SportsNews/Story/tabid/415/articleID/36637/Default.aspx

full press conference in ch-ch

*****

http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/RugbyWorldCupVideo/tabid/394/articleID/36609/Default.aspx?articleID=36609#video

richie humbled by homecoming

http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/RugbyWorldCupVideo/tabid/394/articleID/36616/Default.aspx?articleID=36616#video

extended video

****

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/multimedia/video.cfm?c_id=522&objectid=10468963&content_media_id=4921346

welcome home on NZ Herald video (links and pictures sent by Beth -merci!)

=> related article : all blacks home but "scared"

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/event/story.cfm?c_id=522&objectid=10468963&pnum=2

*****

article on rugby heaven

http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/articles/2007/10/10/1191695949870.html

*****

yes, they lost but here are 5 reasons to be cheerful the abs lost (link sent by adeline -merci!)

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/event/story.cfm?c_id=522&objectid=10468957

*****

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/video_popup_windows_skin/1397229?bandwidth=128k

mixed reaction over ABs return

*****

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/video_popup_windows_skin/1397211?bandwidth=128k

heroes welcome for All Blacks

Misc articles after Saturday's match

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4230537a1823.html

All Blacks: Return of the Living Dead
By TONY SMITH in Cardiff

Fairfax Media Tuesday, 9 October 2007

Welcome to something resembling a scene from the horror movie, Return of the Living Dead. Enter at your peril.

Imagine 30 black-clad chaps sequestered on the site of a former mental hospital on the rural outskirts of Cardiff.

They had the haggard look of men who'd just witnessed unimaginable terrors. They could have come out of theIr foreboding Victorian villas which conjure up images of padded walls, strait jackets, electric shock treatments. There are still a few abandoned buildings at the Vale of Glamorgan grounds in the sleepy hamlet of Hensol.

In clutches of twos and threes, they'd filed out of plush chambers at a swank hotel resort - temporary home to New Zealand's All Blacks.

They so clearly didn't want to be there - nor did we, for that matter. There is a clause in the journalists' code of ethics which deals with intruding on private grief. But there was a duty to be done. Both groups were honouring it.

Some players were slumped against walls, seated on the floor. Others bent their bodies into chairs, staring blankly into space, wishing they could be anywhere else but here. Taciturn Taranaki hooker Andrew Hore let out a whoop and a cheer when he was released without a microphone shoved in his direction. Other escapees looked like kids released from class as they streamed towards the exits.

Among those who stayed, a tear or two was shed. Mils Muliaina, the fab fullback who'd done a manful job in midfield, was consoled by Isaia Toeava - the young man showing his respect for the master.

This was not a time for that standard opening gambit: "How do you feel?"

But it's a journalistic set-piece, the scrum and ruck of the hack's repertoire. We had to ask it, on your behalf, anyway. "Gutted..." was senior midfielder Aaron Mauger's short, succinct summation.

Skipper Richie McCaw reckoned the still-raw loss to France felt like "a bad dream" - one he still hoped he would "wake up from" soon. Yet McCaw's performance before the cameras and notebooks was one of the true pro's best.

Keith Robinson, the lanky lock who's brought some feistiness back to the All Black pack, didn't want to talk about his future. A year ago it seemed he didn't have one on a rugby paddock. After back surgery and a knee injury his career had hung in the balance.

But the bionic bloke bounced back to be part of the World Cup squad. A gold medal would have crowned a glorious comeback.

It was painfully obvious Robinson wasn't in the mood to talk. Best to give the big bloke a wide-ish berth. But, asked how long he thought it would take to recover from the quarter final trauma, he paused and offered: "I don't know if you ever get over it."

This is a time where compassion kicks in - for even the most hardened of hacks. Sport is a fundamentally positive pastime. No-one enjoys picking over its entrails.

It falls to some of us to attempt to analyse reasons for the All Blacks' World Cup demise. Yet it's tough to do when looking into the eyes of people you've known nine or 10 years. It's harder still when it's men who may never get another chance - the Maugers, Robinsons, Anton Olivers, Reuben Thornes, Leon MacDonalds, Chris Jacks who are almost surely at their last World Cup.

Mercifully, the trial was soon over - post-mortem adjourned, if not complete. New Zealand rugby being as obsessed as it is, someone will always seek to exhume the World Cup corpse.

Is it too much to ask to allow it to rest in peace?

When one dream dies another should soon take its place.

*****
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4231431a1823.html

Beaten All Blacks still lead world rankings
Stuff.co.nz Tuesday, 9 October 2007

It will be laughable to many, but the All Blacks have retained their number one spot in the latest International Rugby Board rankings despite crashing out of the Rugby World Cup in the quarterfinals.


The All Blacks' conquerors, France, are the big movers, jumping from fifth position to second, just 1.25 ranking points behind.

Australia, also beaten in the quarterfinals, have plummeted to fifth, just ahead of England who eliminated them.

South Africa and Argentina remain third and fourth following their respective quarterfinals wins over Fiji and Scotland.

The All Blacks World Cup pool opponents, Scotland, Portugal, Italy and Romania are ranked eight, 22nd, 11th and 14th respectively.

The world rankings are calculated using a ?points exchange? system, in which sides take points off each other based on the match result. Whatever one side gains, the other loses.

The exchanges are based on the match result, the relative strength of each team, and the margin of victory, and there is an allowance for home advantage.

Points exchanges are doubled during the World Cup Finals to recognise the unique importance of this event, but all other full international matches are treated the same, to be as fair as possible to countries playing a different mix of friendly and competitive matches across the world.

Any match that is not a full international between two member countries does not count at all.

The top 10 teams are:

New Zealand 89.63, France 88.38, South Africa 86.44, Argentina 86.04, Australia 84.21, England 83.63, Ireland 78.66, Scotland 76.83, Fiji 75.82, Wales 74.08.

*****
just because he is right, I publish a link (sent by our local spy Izzy -who also sent the 'men crying article') to Neil Reid's blog on what is a real tragedy
http://nz.blogs.yahoo.com/neilreid/502/putting-a-few-things-into-perspective

Fans visiting battlefields in Belgium
http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/071008/10/1z24.html

McCaw up for IRB double

http://www.allblacks.com/index.cfm?layout=displayNews&newsArticle=7106

All Black captain Richie McCaw is in line to defend his 2006 IRB Player of the Year title as he was selected among five nominees for this year's award.

The 26-year-old flanker is the only New Zealander nominated and also the solitary forward in a group consisting almost exclusively of Southern Hemisphere players.

He will battle it out against Argentinean utility backs Juan Martin Hernandez and Felipe Contepomi, South African winger Bryan Habana and French centre Yannick Jauzion, who scored the decisive try in his side's 20-18 victory over the All Blacks on Saturday.

The award is based on player performances during the calendar year, starting with the 6 Nations Championship and finishing at the World Cup.

The winner will be announced at an IRB awards ceremony on October 21, the day after the World Cup final.

*****

All Blacks captain Richie McCaw has been nominated for the International Rugby Board Player of the Year Award, it was confirmed last night. McCaw, who won the title last year, is on the shortlist with Argentinian centre Felipe Contepomi, South African wing Bryan Habana, French centre Yannick Jauzion, and Argentinian first five eighth Juan Hernandez.

The IRB unveiled the shortlist at a media conference in Paris at the Main Media Centre, following the conclusion of the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals. The IRB Awards ceremony will take place in Paris on October 21.
IRB chairman Syd Millar said the award was the "ultimate accolade" for a player to receive in his career.

"It takes on added significance in a Rugby World Cup year and takes into account player performances in all major internationals including matches in the RBS Six Nations Championship, Tri-Nations Series, the June International Series and of course the tournament," Dr Millar said.
"The list of past winners of this prestigious award is very impressive and comprises players of the calibre of Schalk Burger, Dan Carter, Jonny Wilkinson, Richie McCaw, Fabien Galthie and Keith Wood.".

The nominees were selected by an independent panel of judges, made up of former internationals with over 500 caps between them. The panel, which also votes on the IRB Coach and Team of the Year during the same period, has deliberated on every major Test match played this year starting with the first 6 Nations match and finishing with the Rugby World Cup final.

Francois Pienaar, Michael Jones, Fabien Galthie, Keith Wood, Gavin Hastings, Will Greenwood, Jonathan Davies, Dan Lyle, Federico Mendez and convener John Eales have watched over 80 matches between them, awarding points to three players in every match.

The award winner will be determined immediately after the Rugby World Cup final, Dr Millar said. The IRB Player of the Year is one of 12 categories of awards that include the IRB Coach of the Year, IRB Team of the Year, IRB Sevens Player of the Year, IRB Sevens Team of the Year and IRB Women's Personality of the Year.

http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/071008/3/1z0d.html

ma vie...: We still love you -send your support to the guys!

ma vie...: We still love you -send your support to the guys!

e-mail me your support message and I'll forward it on to the guys ;)

What they said after -yesterday's press conference

Richie McCaw wants to remain captain (of course! who said you had to leave? you did nothing wrong... YOU HAVE TO STAY!)

http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/SportsNews/McCawwantstoremainAllBlackcaptain/tabid/394/articleID/36434/Default.aspx#video

other interviews on ABs.com

audio interview on Newstalk ZB
http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/audio2/08123444.wma

****
Graham Henry could be gone by Christmas
http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/RugbyWorldCupVideo/tabid/394/articleID/36377/Default.aspx#video

****
The full coverage of the press conference

http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/ExtendedVideo/tabid/315/articleID/36399/Default.aspx#video


****
Henry looking forward to Rest & Relaxation
http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/RugbyWorldCupVideo/tabid/394/articleID/36432/Default.aspx?articleID=36432#video


****
Graham Henry speaks to Campbell Live
http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/CampbellLiveVideo/tabid/367/articleID/36435/Default.aspx?articleID=36435#video

ma vie...: Sum up of the pics...

ma vie...: Sum up of the pics...

Various videos

http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/SportsNews/ManyKiwisblamerefereeforWorldCupshockloss/tabid/394/articleID/36353/Default.aspx#video

World Cup shock loss
Sun, 07 Oct 2007 04:05p.m.

The post-mortem into the All Blacks dramatic loss to France has started and so has the finger pointing. Rookie English referee Wayne Barnes is under fire after two crucial decisions controversially went against the All Blacks. With the French hot on attack early in the second half, the Englishman sent Luke McAlister to the sin bin for obstruction. "Well that's garbage," Grant Fox said about the yellow card decision. "Luke McAlister was turning, he's entitled to do it." There was further dismay when a forward pass which led to France's second try went unnoticed 15 minutes later. New Zealand's Paddy O'Brien, who heads the IRB referees panel, says New Zealanders should not blame Barnes for the loss, and that as a nation we should "grow up".

*****
The shock of defeat
Sun, 07 Oct 2007 04:50p.m.

For the first time in history New Zealand does not make it to the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup. The French staged a magnificent performance, aided by some dubious refereeing, to score an astounding 20 - 18 victory. Once again it can be said that at the time it counted most, the All Blacks choked under the pressure. As fans began to leave Cardiff's Millenium Stadium their reaction was more anguish than anger as they began to accept that they had seen the last of the All Blacks at this World Cup. The analysis of what went wrong will roll on for weeks but at the centre of the debate will be two issues - if Luke McAlister deserved to be sin binned and whether a forward pass went undetected in the lead-up to the second French try.

The All Blacks and their fans must now wait for four more years for another chance to win the elusive World Cup.
http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/RugbyWorldCupVideo/tabid/394/articleID/36356/Default.aspx?articleID=36356#video

****
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/488124/1392403

What they said: Rugby reaction
Oct 7, 2007

"We can't do anything about it now. It's going to hurt for a long, long time. I'm lost for words."- New Zealand captain Richie McGaw on the quarter-final defeat by France.
"Today we were a really brave team and when we have the spirit, it's difficult to stop us."- France captain Raphael Ibanez on how his team won 20-18.

We still love you -send your support to the guys!

Hey everyone!

Just because it's now or never, I invite you to send me your support wishes for the guys and I'll publish them in a common article. Just for the newbies, my addy again :

marykoala@hotmail.fr

You can all send whatever you want (poems, draws, pics, 'letters',...) -just know that if you send things like Cameron Blake wrote in the chatterbox, I won't publish them...I'm sure you'll all get why!

And as the weather guy said (thank you Izzy) : the sun will still come up tomorrow... (and for the enxt 4 years!) ; we love you ;)

Bisous to you and to the All Blacks,
MaryL

Last day for this 'exam' : after the semi finals, next Sunday (my time).

Some videos

So good to see Tony -sorry, I'm being a bit selfish but Tony was just a great player who didn't get the rewards when he was playing so i'm trying to compensate now...

http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/RugbyWorldCupVideo/tabid/394/articleID/36336/Default.aspx#video
The World Cup dream is all over.

Once again France has knocked the All Blacks out of a World Cup – revisiting the horrors of 1999.

This time it was 20-18 in the second quarter-final in Cardiff.
The All Blacks, who were heavily favoured going into the match, raced away to an early 13-0 lead only to see it whittled away by an inspired French side.

Les Bleus took advantage of Luke McAllister's absence due to a controversial yellow card to split the All Black defence.

It is the worst World Cup result for New Zealand in history, the first time they have not made it to the semi-finals.

The All Blacks are the second southern hemisphere side to make an unexpected exit from the tournament - in the first quarter-final defending champions England beat Australia 12-10.

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I found this title (a bit) too strong... A nation in mourning

New Zealanders are today mourning the loss of their World Cup dreams to the French.
The All Blacks were ranked number one in the world and after France's loss to Argentina, Kiwis were confident that there would be a much happier result today.
The French pulled back from a 13 - 0 deficit to score an astounding 20 - 18 victory over the All Blacks in a game marked by some dubious refereeing.
New Zealanders watching the game on TV3 this morning could best be described as feeling gutted with the result.
The small French population of New Zealand, however, were absolutely overjoyed with their miraculous victory over the World Cup favourites.

http://www.tv3.co.nz/VideoBrowseAll/RugbyWorldCupVideo/tabid/394/articleID/36345/Default.aspx?articleID=36345#video

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http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/488120/1392078

Henry : the French had great passion.

Oct 7, 2007

French passion and fire combined with superb defence knocked favourites New Zealand out of the World Cup on Sunday, All Blacks coach Graham Henry said after a 20-18 defeat at the Millennium Stadium.

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In an epic quarter-final, France hit back from a 13-0 deficit to leave New Zealand still waiting for a second World Cup success after they won the inaugural tournament in 1987.

Henry said the All Blacks had not taken scoring chances at decisive moments but conceded the better side had won.

"The French played particularly well defensively, were pretty astute in their gameplan and took their opportunities," Henry told a news conference.

"We are disappointed but realistic and understand the better side won on the day and a lot of credit goes to them. We gave it our best shot and it wasn't good enough. That's the fact of the matter and we have to live with it, accept it and get on."

New Zealand enjoyed almost three quarters of the possession throughout a pulsating 80 minutes but scored just two tries, one in each half from Luke McAlister and Rodney So'oialo.

France lost flanker Serge Betsen to an early head injury, the veteran knocked cold by a stray knee. Their confrontational stance to New Zealand's haka -- staring down their opponents within breathing distance -- was replicated on the pitch as the French put their bodies on the line time and time again.

Asked where the game had been lost, a downbeat Henry said: "That last pass close to the goalline... we knocked the ball on or did not secure it properly.

"The French took their opportunities. We had a large territorial advantage in the second half, had opportunities ... didn't quite finish it. I guess from the All Black point of view that was our Achilles heel.

"From the French point of view, I think they defended superbly. They certainly played with a huge amount of passion and fire and it was a different French side to the one we have played in recent times."

Captain Richie McCaw summed up the mood in the All Blacks dressing room, saying: "The pain in the eyes and the body language sums it up. Some of the guys have probably played their last test for the All Blacks, that hurts as well.

"It's hard to put in words, there are some pretty shattered guys as you would expect.

"I'm at a loss to say why we didn't put our game together as we would have liked. You can make a whole lot of excuses but the boys were ready to play today, but we just couldn't put it out there."

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All Blacks stunned by France
Oct 7, 2007
By Alan Granville

The All Blacks' dream of World Cup victory is over after France stunned the favourites 20-18 in Cardiff.

The New Zealanders blew a 13-0 lead to let the tenacious French back into the game and a match against England in the semi-finals. The quarter-final loss was the earliest World Cup exit ever for the All Blacks.

Graham Henry's men were the victims of some poor refereeing decisions and a controversial Luke McAlister sin binning proved crucial. A forward pass in the second French try was also missed.

Both teams crossed for two tries - McAlister and Rodney So'oialo for the Kiwis while Thierry Dusautoir and Yannick Jauzion responded for the French. In the end a wayward Luke McAlister conversion was the difference between the sides.

The French showed right from the off that they meant business. At the haka, they came right up to the half-way line to stare down the New Zealanders, adding to the tension of the do-or-die match.

A typical intense start claimed its first victim on five minutes when French big man Serge Betsen was knocked out by a stray Joe Rokocoko arm. The forward needed treatment for over five minutes before he was lead from the field.

Dan Carter was the first man on the scoreboard thanks to a 12th minute penalty and it was nearly the opening try from the All Blacks moments later when great work from McAlister eventually saw the ball coming out to Ali Williams, but the big lock just went into touch before placing the ball.

But it wasn't long before the All Blacks did cross for the first try when a neat Carter offload came to McAlister and the 24-year-old sliced through the French defence. A quick offload to the powerful Jerry Collins came back to the centre and McAlister crossed under pressure. Carter converted for a 10-0 lead on 17 minutes.

The All Blacks certainly had more of the ball in the first half, and they were helped by some wayward French line-outs.

The Kiwis moved out to 13-0 on 30 minutes when Carter struck a beautiful 43-metre penalty.

The French fluffed two chances to get on the scoreboard with stray penalties but Lionel Beauxis finally got the men in blue some points with a penalty with the last kick of the half.

Bernard Laporte's men started the strongest after the break and they were helped when McAlister was controversially sin binned for obstruction. A Beauxis penalty on 45 minutes narrowed the gap to just seven points.

The All Blacks stepped up the intensity despite being a man down but the French defence held strong against the wave of Kiwi pressure. But France broke clear on 54 minutes when some great team pressure saw Thierry Dusautoir cross for the first French try. Beauxis converted to tie up the scores. McAlister returned but it was the last action of the game for Carter, who limped off the field when his calf injury flared up again.

A raft of changes from Graham Henry gave the New Zealanders fresh legs and they were rewarded on 62 minutes when Rodney So'oialo placed the ball on the chalk for the second Kiwi try. McAlister missed the conversion as the All Blacks led 18-13 with 17 minutes left.

French playmaker Frederic Michalak was brought on in the 67th minute and instantly made an impression setting up Yannick Jauzion for try number two. Jean-Baptiste Elissalde converted to give France the lead for the first time in the game.

In the end the French hung on for a famous victory and a match against England in the semis.

New Zealand 18. Tries: Luke McAlister, Rodney So'oialo. Conversions: Dan Carter. Penalties: Dan Carter (2)

France: 20 . Tries: Thierry Dusautoir, Yannick Jauzion . Conversions: Lionel Beauxis, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde . Penalties: Lionel Beauxis (2)

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/454218/1392002