Fans get close look at rugby stars

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelsonmail/4375480a6007.html

By ELISE VOLLWEILER
The Nelson Mail
Saturday, 26 January 2008

The game featured some of rugby's biggest names, but the atmosphere was refreshingly grass roots at Friday's Hurricanes vs Crusaders warm-up match.

Motueka's Sports Park hosted the preseason Super 14 game, and fans were full of compliments for the refurbished stadium.

"They've done a fantastic job," Nelson's Johnny Double said. "It's magical - look how close everyone is. We've got superstars here, and they're so close we could reach out and touch them."

Crusaders prop and ex-Golden Bay boy Wyatt Crockett said it was great returning to play in Motueka.

"Coming from a small place myself, I feel more at home here. It's good to get out there and see some of our supporters who don't see us that often."

The front row prop felt the supporters were just as passionate - and certainly as vocal - as those in the country's bigger centres. "Some of those line-out calls were pretty hard to hear," he laughed.

Sean Austin, commercial and marketing manager for the Tasman Rugby Union, said the crowd of about 10,500 was even better than they had hoped for.

"There weren't a lot of seats left in the house. It just goes to show what having top level rugby coming to the regions means to smaller communities." He said Motueka was moving forward as a town and hosting a rugby game between two high-profile teams was evidence of that.

Fans took advantage of their proximity to the sporting superstars, rushing on to the field after the game to gather their heroes' signatures. Richie McCaw's unintelligible scribble was so sought after he was eventually given a police escort through his sea of admirers and off the field.

This did not deter him from putting in an appearance at Motueka's Huia Rugby Club rooms later in the evening, where he and several other players, as well as coach Robbie Deans, spent about an hour chatting with a steady stream of grateful fans.

Match report :
http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,518,0,0,html/Match-Reports

Misc news about the teams (Crusaders & All Blacks)

http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4370277a6429.html

New rule will suit Tuiali'i
The Press
Thursday, 24 January 2008

Mose Tuiali'i hopes one Super 14 rule change this season will have No. 8s smiling and first five-eighths cringing

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http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelsonmail/4370005a6419.html

Close eye on impact of law changes
By WAYNE MARTIN
The Nelson Mail
Wednesday, 23 January 2008

Robbie Deans might be playing down the impact of the experimental law variations in his pre-season planning. But expect one of the most astute coaches in Super 14 rugby history to be factoring them into his systems for the coming season.

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http://www.rugbyheaven.co.nz/4371401a22363.html

Grand Slam bid closer for All Blacks
Thursday, 24 January 2008

The All Blacks will play England at Twickenham in November, setting up the chance of another grand slam.

An agreement between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football Union was announced this morning.
IRB consent is required for the match, scheduled for Saturday, November 29, and has been applied for.
The test will offer the All Blacks the opportunity to again attempt the "grand slam" against the home nations - achieved by beating England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales in one tour.
The England test will follow tests against Scotland on November 8, Ireland on November 15, and Wales on November 22.
The All Blacks achieved their first grand slam in 1978 and the 2005 team repeated the effort.
"This is an exciting addition to the All Blacks' northern hemisphere tour programme," NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said.
"Not only does it create the opportunity for the All Blacks to pursue a grand slam in 2008 against the Rugby World Cup runners-up, but it also provides another opportunity for the many All Blacks fans in the UK and Europe to see and support their team."
RFU chief executive Francis Baron said the test would provide England another opportunity to play a test match at the highest level.
"The All Blacks at Twickenham are always a fantastic spectacle for rugby fans and I'm sure England supporters will be looking forward to the 29 November date this year."
Before playing the All Blacks, England will face the Pacific Islands on November 8, Australia on November 15 and South Africa on November 22.

Pre season action

http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,517,2539,0,html/Referee-Pollock-to-ride-with-the-Crusade

Referee Pollock to ride with the Crusade
January 17, 2008
Leading referee Chris Pollock (pictured, background) will be keeping a close eye on Richard McCaw (foreground) & his Crusaders team-mates, as he joins the squad for three days next week to help with the education process around the new ELVs.

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http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,517,2540,0,html/Crusaders-amp-Canes

Crusaders & 'Canes
January 19, 2008
With the countdown underway to the opening pre-season game of the 13th Crusade, here's a look back at some of the history between the Crusaders & the Hurricanes prior to the 'Battle of Cook Strait'

***

http://www.crfu.co.nz/main/index.cfm/1,517,2541,0,html/Motueka-Almost-Sold-Out-for-Battle-of-Cook-Strait

Motueka Almost Sold Out for 'Battle of Cook Strait'
January 22, 2008
It might be a small holiday town, but Motueka could be full to capacity on Friday night when the Crusade calls, with tickets selling fast & a 10,500 capacity expected for the Crusaders game against the Hurricanes

Williams out to win over Cantabs

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4361161a10295.html

By RICHARD KNOWLER, The Press

Friday, 18 January 2008

The sight of Ali Williams in Crusaders colours this season will prove almost surreal.

In recent years only one other player has been able to generate more feelings of angst among Canterbury diehard supporters and that was Williams' former Auckland and Blues team-mate Carlos Spencer.

Spencer, the man who went head to head against Canterbury's Andrew Mehrtens for the All Blacks' No. 10 spot, often earned the Christchurch crowd's wrath for his flamboyant haircuts and sledging of players but it was his popping of the bird to it in 2004 that had some fans frothing in apoplectic anger.
So when Spencer left Auckland for England in 2004, Cantabrians had to find someone else to set their sights on.

For many, Williams proved an easy target.

In 2005, in a Super 12 match between the Blues and the Crusaders, the frustrated lock was sent off for raking Richie McCaw's head in a ruck at Eden Park and was subsequently suspended - somewhat harshly - for six weeks. In Crusaders territory, Williams became public enemy No. 1; no-one dares ruck the head of the golden boy and gets away with it.
Predictably, the radio talkback lines sizzled as angry punters vented their spleens.
How times have changed. Williams, recruited to fill the space left by fellow All Black second rower, Chris Jack, is now a Crusader.

After his falling out with Blues coach David Nucifora, when he was sent home before the Super 14 semi-final match against the Sharks in Durban last year, Williams was snapped up by Robbie Deans. His defection from the Blues is a big gain for outgoing Crusaders coach Deans, but the 2.02m lock says he harbours no desire to make Nucifora rue the day he forced his hand.

"I am down here to give my services to the Crusaders and hopefully leave them in a better state than what they were. That's a pretty hard task with their record. I think too many people think I have come down here for my own personal things as well. It's neutral ground. I hope both parties benefit."

When Williams was sent home the news topped most bulletins and created speculation that his World Cup spot was in jeopardy. All Blacks coach Graham Henry ignored the dramas. Williams was always certain to travel to the World Cup, proved the team's best performer and was rated as one of the global tournament's top locks.

"It's just one of those things that happened," Williams said referring to his bust-up with Nucifora. I just want to play rugby. As much as I am caught in the s... with the media and all that crap, I don't actually apply for it. It just happens. I am who I am and I don't believe in being the `ideal person'. I would rather be the person that I am."

Williams has signed with Tasman and despite speculation he may return to Auckland for the Air New Zealand Cup, he says he has not decided which province he will represent later in the year. Although he has had his brushes with the management of the Blues, he says he is no wild man.

"No, I'm not. I'm portrayed as a bit of a clown and a goose but I just have fun and when the time is right and when the time is right to get serious I do that," Williams says. "I have found that it has taken me a few years to do that but now I'm in a good place to do that."

Despite the ban for rucking McCaw in 2005, Williams and the All Blacks and Crusaders skipper are good friends and are flatting together in Christchurch.
A keen fisherman who likes to hook snapper, he hopes to get an opportunity to try his hand at catching salmon in the South Island.
And Williams' new allegiance to the Crusaders means there should be the added benefit of not having to cop flak in the city's bars and clubs after matches.
Although he believes the ribbing is worse following provincial matches between arch-rivals Canterbury and Auckland, the Blues players have always been aware they were in hostile territory.
He wants the change in colours to lead to him being given a friendlier reception from the Crusaders faithful.

"I might be able to come down here and someone will talk to me and say `well played' or something like that -- not like that I would like to shoot you, or `you are a f... wit' and that sort of stuff. But that's Canterbury and that's what you expect when you come down here. If you didn't get that you would feel almost welcome ... A lot of teams fear it (playing in Christchurch) because not only of the team on the field but the passion the fans have. I reckon it will be great and have people supporting you instead of trying to bag you."

http://rugbyheaven.co.nz/videoplayer/121424a22473.html

Pics found on photosport.co.nz

Article sent by Izzy

Video sent by Siska

NB : the 2007 Baby Richie Degree has been updated ;) Enjoy your weekend (last day of the 1st round of the European cup over here!)

“I’m trying to forget” (L'Equipe)

By Ian Borthwick, in Christchurch

Published in L'Equipe newspaper

Thursday, January 17th, 2008

We left Richie McCaw on October 7th in Cardiff, eyes still red the day after a loss to France (18-20), in the World Cup quarterfinal that shattered New Zealand's dream. On Tuesday morning, in Rugby Park, the old stadium in the outskirts of Christchurch the Canterbury Crusaders use as a basecamp, we met with the All Blacks' captain. For the first time since his return home, he accepted to talk about the trauma of this defeat and share his hopes for the future.

- Are you over your failure in the World Cup?

- Right now I'm trying to focus on the future. A new season is starting, I’m in the middle of the preparation, and it feels good to go back to the field. For this I'm lucky, as I'll have, I hope, the opportunity to redeem myself after Cardiff. But I'll always have a thought for those for whom it was the last All Blacks match (Kelleher, Oliver, Jack, Mauger, Howlett...). It must be harder.

- About the quarterfinal, on the field, did you feel that the match was slipping away?

- Some say we lost the plot. But I don't see it that way. Yes, the French had wind in their sails during the second half, but even if we were less efficient than usual, until the last second we were still in the game. We had our chances, we were attacking, and we felt it was about to work... We just made a few mistakes, there was the yellow card, a sum of little details that went against us... (sigh) And the French being the French, suddenly they started believing in it. Let's not forget they delivered a big game that day, and with all those litlle details, we fell short. It's a very bad memory. I can't wait to start over again, to make a fresh start. I'm trying to forget, but it crosses my mind again often.

- A lot of pundits, including in France, have criticized the refereeing of Wayne Barnes during this match...

- I know where you're getting at. But here it is : when we left for the World Cup, we knew there would always be external factors we could not control. And the referee is part of that. Whatever the quality of the referee, be he good or bad, whatever the quality of our opponents, we should have been strong enough to overcome it and prevail. It was our goal.

- We asked you this question already, on the night of the quarterfinal, but why not attempt a drop-goal at the end of the match?

- (smile) It's a question that comes up all the time since I came home. Of course I thought about it. During the match the idea came up often. But we were convinced we would manage to score by being true to our ways.

- Alright, but during all the trainings we watched during the World Cup, or before, not once have we seen you practice drop-goals collectively...

- (pause) You're right... (pause) Someone like Dan Carter, he's been kicking drop-goals for years, and I think that if one of our fly-halves[1] had been on the field at the end of the game, they could have made the right decision. That's the way it is. Nevertheless I’ll admit the drop-goal is a game element we never discussed as a team. Maybe it’s a mistake, collectively, we were all wrong about that. But it my heart I was sure we would make it by trusting our attack game. Either by scoring a try, either by pushing our opponent to a fault. During four years this is what worked for us, even in the tighter games, and a drop-goal was really not in our plans.

- Something to consider for the future maybe?

- For all my career I’ve never been in a team where we would sit around a table to say “This is how you score a drop-goal”. Maybe it’s time for our rugby to follow the example of other teams. We can’t be afraid to add new phases to our game.

- Do you think that the restrained style of rugby that prevailed during the last two weeks of the World Cup could put in question the rugby the All Blacks have been playing for four years?

- No. The style we played is the style that fits the New Zealand players. From 1 to 15 we have players who know how to play ball and aim to try things. Maybe in a World Cup where the stakes are so high, and the teams so cautious, we should lower our standards. But there’s no way we would change our philosophy : this is why we play rugby, because the game is spectacular, and this is what we enjoy.

- Did your view of the World Cup change after October 6th?

- I learnt that you need to keep the proper perspective. Should we forget all the great moments we had, all we accomplished in four years, because of one game? When you look at this, and you see a team like England who made it to the World Cup final after being trashed in the pool stages[1], it makes you wonder... It proves the World Cup is a special competition, where you need a stroke of luck to make it to the end. The World Cup is very important in itself. But if we focus our emotions only on it, we’ll never make it. If four years of success are judged on the outcome of one game, we, the players, will never be able to enjoy it. We’ll see what happens in 2011, but in the meantime we have to learn from this failure to become even stronger.

- While keeping in mind the memories of Cardiff?

- This memory will never leave me. Sometimes you need a fresh start, and in June, there’ll be a new squad of All Blacks, a new cycle beginning. If I keep obsessing about Cardiff I’ll never be able to move on. What matters is to draw strenght from it and to see to it that New Zealand rugby keeps improving. And that the All Blacks may remain as skillfull as they have been for the past four years.

[1] Both Carter and Evans were injured and McAlister was fly-half.
[2] South Africa beat England 36-0 in a pool game, then 15-6 in the final.

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Translation by Cécile ; merci quand même à Emilie, Camelia et Sofy d'avoir proposer leur aide... Votre tour viendra! Quant à celles qui veulent le scan de l'interview par e-mail, je peux vous l'envoyer (marykoala@hotmail.fr) -sujet du mail "Scan l'Equipe de jeudi 18". Merci...

McCaw ready for 2008

http://www.allblacks.com/index.cfm?layout=showS14News&newsArticle=7365

28/12/2007
Sportal.co.nz

Crusaders and New Zealand captain Richie McCaw is eager to start the new rugby season after enduring a turbulent year.

The All Blacks flanker lost his grip on the Rebel Sport Super 14 trophy with the Crusaders before New Zealand disappointingly crashed out of World Cup in the quarter-finals.

"It comes back occasionally, but you've got to be philosophical about it," he said. "You can't do anything about it, and as a rugby player you've got to move on. But you do still think about it and it annoys you.

"I'm looking forward to the Super 14 for starters, it's pretty exciting with the team we've got. I want to get back into it and put this year behind us.

"I've had a good six-week break and it's what we do. You enjoy having a break, but then you really want to get back into the routine of training and playing. That's the way I'm feeling."

On top of the on-field disappointments, McCaw also saw coaching upheaval, with Graham Henry's position questioned and Robbie Deans announcing his departure from the Crusaders after this season.

"From a player's point of view, we can't get caught up in it," the former world player of the year told The Christchurch Press.

"We've just got to accept other people's decisions - that's what administrators are for.

"Whoever is coaching is whoever is coaching. We've just got to get on with it and not worry too much about it."

The Crusaders warm-up for the 2008 Super 14 against the Hurricanes on January 25 in Motueka.

Photo sent by Izzy.
Follow this link for other Crusaders training pics (especially the new Crusader, mister Ali Williams!) :
http://www.photosport.co.nz/search.php?searchField=ALL&searchstring=Super%2014%20-%20Crusaders%20Training,%2015%20January%202008&albumId=44321

(not a Richie news) Back to the stars...

Some videos found onTV3 (I'm sure you'll get the same on tvnz or even on your local TV channels websites)

Sir Edmund Hillary dies aged 88 http://www.tv3.co.nz/Video/SirEdmundHillarydiesaged88/tabid/309/articleID/43281/cat/87/Default.aspx

Full 2005 Campbell Live interview with Sir Edmund Hillary

http://www.tv3.co.nz/Video/Full2005CampbellLiveinterviewwithSirEdmundHillary/tabid/309/articleID/43293/cat/87/Default.aspx

Would you like a day off every year on ‘Sir Edmund Hillary day’?

http://www.tv3.co.nz/WouldyoulikeadayoffeveryyearonSirEdmundHillaryday/tabid/309/articleID/43448/cat/87/Default.aspx#video

Tribute paid by Rudy, a Richie Girl : http://thewritingtrenches.blogspot.com/2008/01/i-want-to-be-sir-edmund-hillary.html

Your 2007 Baby Richie Degree

First of all, congratulations to all the participants!

As some decided to take just the 2008 part of the exam, I chose to post two articles :

*your thoughts on 2007 : http://richie-mccaw.blogspot.com/2008/01/thoughts-on-2007.html

*your wishes for 2008 : http://richie-mccaw.blogspot.com/2008/01/wishes-for-2008.html

If you have forgotten to send your paper, don't worry, I can add it to the article(s) -send your 'work' to marykoala@hotmail.fr

I'm still flattered to see than many of you like to contribute into the job around the blog (sending their exam papers or articles/pics, asking offline questions about the blog, ...) and as the main contributor of this blog, I just wish to make a better blog for 2008!

Thanks again for your job & your help : you all passed your 2007 Baby Richie Degree !!!!

Bisous & Bonne année,

MaryL

Wishes for 2008

Gillian from Cape Town, South Africa

It shapes to be another packed rugby calendar; I have been fortunate to watch some European rugby and am enjoying it bar the inclement weather of course lol. The Super 14 is around the corner and it will be interesting to see how the teams do this year – if SA can show they weren’t lucky to win the cup last year or if the NZ teams will prove to be winners again.
The Tri Nations will be the true test as Robbie Deans squares off against Graham Henry. I am a big fan of Robbie and I think appointing him the Wallabies coach was a masterstroke by the ARU. Throw South Africa in wanting to prove their world cup triumph wasn’t a fluke, will make it a very interesting and hopefully competitive series.
Hopefully 2008 sees the Pumas finding a home in the Tri Nations or Six Nations and the Islanders being looked after better by the IRB.

Marni from Otago, New Zealand

I think I will start like TED as a clean state and say nothing about this rugby year.
2008 – It has to be better than 2007

Maud from South of France

I Hope it will be more dense than 2007.
I Hope the All Blacks will still be the best.
I hope that Lièvremont will do something good with the French team.
I hope that we'll have nice test match in November, with the european tour of the All Blacks.
and I just want to be surprised by all these talented players who are in the All Blacks team.

Caroline from Brittany, France

Iwish the best for the all blacks and first wish that a NZ squad can win the super 14 and that they can win the tri-nation and all their matchs (or most of them). I just i hope this year can be better than 2007!
Just GO ALL BLACKS!

Izzy from Christchurch, New Zealand

All I want for 2008.....
* to see RMC injury free during the year and back to his dazzling best (oh and to finally meet him would be fantastic!)
* For a NZ team to win the Super 14 final, preferably the Crusaders to send off Robbie with style
* to see "Razzle" (aka Ali Williams) play in a Red & Black Crusaders jersey, to play well and rub the Blues nose in it
* for all the bitching and back-stabbing to stop over the coaching role (i.e. Henry vs Deans), lets just get on with the game (we can moan at the end of next season if we didn’t like how it went)
* for Graham Henry to finally settle on a player for the centre position
* the end of rotation in the AB’s
* to see the battle for the halfback position unfold between Andy Ellis & Brendan Leonard (and Piri Weepu?)
* the new rules for the Super 14 to work, and do some good for the game
* to see some of the AB’s turn out for their province
* to see bigger crowds at the game, lower tickets prices would be good!
* the end of the squabbling over the Eden Park re-development for the 2011 RWC (to see them actaully make a start would be really good!)
* DC to sign on with the NZRU for at least another year when his contract expires, and not head offshore (the end of any more offshore signings would be good thing)
* no sensational headlines of AB’s going on drunken binges, assaulting people or getting up to other unmentionable antics
* no more debacles over the Black jersey (the Scottish game jersey issue at the RWC was a joke)
* I have to say it (for various reasons), respect to be shown for the Haka by the opposition team
None of these things are in any particular order, except the first!

Sorry if this is a little NZ orientated but it's the best I could come up with. As for 2007, for everyone's sake let's just leave it alone and move on, I think enough has been said, argued and written about it. End of story.

Siska from Singapore

And now 2008 is here. Super14 starts in about a month and I cannot wait. It has been a long off season. A lot of the ol' kiwi boys are playing rugby in the Northern hemisphere and I will miss them, but new guys are lining up to show off their talent. It is going to be super exciting. Richard Kahui is now finally healthy, yay! Ali Williams is joining the 13th Crusade along with Captain Fantastic and DC as his vice captain. I can't wait to chant, Reuben Thorne, Reuben Thorne, Reuben Thorne…… Reuben Thorne! come May this year.
This year's Tri Nations is going to be weird though with Coach Deans siding with the Wallabies. I am just going to wait and see. I wish him the best but my All Blacks are going to give him a tough fight, as always! Lots of silverware to defend this year.
What is going to be the most exciting part this year is having the RGs around (well, around the world but together in the rugby universe) to share the rugby action and passion. I did not come from a rugby nation (I should have been J I think) so I did not have a lot of buddies who enjoy the game. Now I do!
Cheers to an exciting 2008 rugby season.

Melissa from New South Wales, Australia

What i am hoping for in 2008 is rugby once again focusing on the up & coming game, no future planning, waiting for next year or the end of the year. Back to teams putting out the best team possible for the team they are about to be playing, all players trying to win their spots and more consistency with selections not experimenting or resting players for a future event. It will be good to have rugby get back to concentrating on each tournament they play & have each tournament mean something again not just a rehearsal or build up to the every 4yr one like it has been the past couple of years.

I now thanks to new friends have interests in other tournaments besides the southern ones, even though i don't get to see the games i enjoy everyone keeping me updated & i like having i guess you could say my rugby knowledge expanded and yes of course you all know me....my eyes opened to new players!!!

I too like the rest of you am looking forward to the S14 to re-commence, the break from rugby for us southerners has been good but i am starting to have withdrawls & look forward to seeing who will be on top in May. I of course have my fav's i am loyal to my home team and the one we all follow, where they end up will be interesting.

Unlike alot of people i am happy the wallabies have secured Robbie Deans, i dont expect him to waltz in & our opposition to be annihilated but i look forward to seeing how he sculpts and moulds the wallabies into his own coaching style & look forward to them in 2009 but then again he may be able to achieve all this immediately so i look forward to watching their progression this year and hope to be pleasantly surprised.

MaryL from France

*Robbie Deans to get the Super14 title for his last Crusaders...
*AS Clermont Auvergne to (finally) get the national title (Rumours about Vern Cotter joining Robbie in the staff of the Wallabies are growing)
* some great rugby during all the tournaments.
* Scotland to win one game & get back on their rugby feet.
* Rugby values to be spread to other sports : coz 2008 is an olympic year & rugby is NOT an Olympic sport! Yet its values must be taught to the world...

Thoughts on 2007

Gillian from Cape Town, South Africa

As an All Blacks fan, 2007 was all about the World Cup. My favourite super 14 team the Crusaders fought valiantly despite the reconditioning programme and eventually crashed out to the Bulls who I have to say were lucky to go on and win the Super 14 :)
The rest of the year did not always go according to plan and the devastation of the loss to France in Cardiff probably won’t ever leave just like the previous defeats. But there were many good things that came out of the rugby year.
With Pierre Spies picking up an almost life threatening disease forcing him out of all rugby indefinitely, it gave me the chance to reflect that sport is not the be-all or end-all in life. We love the game, but it’s just a part of life – it was that realisation that helped me put the All Blacks’ loss into perspective. Of course, its wonderful news that Pierre is able to continue his dream and start afresh in the 2008 Super 14.
Other wonderful rugby related issues was the emergence of Argentina in the World Cup as a true force; they surprised many and watching from a distance it was nice to see it.
The World Cup event in France was awesome – it was filled with vibrancy and colour; the locals put on the best cup ever and by all accounts, the hospitality was outstanding. Coupe du Monde 2007 was a great success.
2007 also saw me discover what I consider to be the best blog on the web. Many of us who don’t have much in common except a love for rugby came together and have formed incredible friendships because of it.

Maud from South of France

well, to begin with, I will focus on the 2 test match France/NZ in June. Caro and I discovered mister Nicolas Durand, number 9, who played against the all blacks, what a memory ! ^^

then, the Tri-nations but I just keep an eye on it with newpapers. The All Blacks won, then nothing could prevent them from winning the World Cup !

September, and the World Cup began. Big disappoitment with the loss of France against Argentina. then, the loss of NZ against France, and I kept this nightmare till the end of the World Cup (with the magnifical win of South Africa against England)

and after the world cup ? almost nothing. all the teams went back home, and we didn't have any news.

Henry is the All Blacks Coach for the next two years, what a good news !
I met Jo Maso, what a nice man he is !
and France changed their Coach, better later than never !

Caroline from Brittany, France

I was a bit disapointed that the crusaders loose the super 14 but it revealed françois steyn so it was not such a bad thing.
This summer, the all blacks won the tri-nation which was hard but they succeded pretty well. it was so nice to see their joy after. It was a good prediction for the world cup because everybody though that they could win the world cup.
So the rugby world cup:they begun well , italy ,roumania,scotland,... but unfortunalty there was france after that. In my opinion France didn't diserve to win but the all blacks didn't play such a good game and France had the will to prove that they can beat new zealand. A sad moment. But of course at the final I was for the boks. And I was so happy when they win, they deserved to win against england.
Now i am fond of toulouse and hope that they can win this year.

Siska from Singapore

2007 was still dreadful and anticlimactic. My season ended too soon in Cardiff – in a very different way than I had imagined it not too long ago. Coach Deans' departure from New Zealand rugby sealed it off as the most depressing year in my rugby history.
But there were some highlights during the year and they were:

- Rugby Roundtable. Jedi and Stafford are so amusing. I learned a lot about kiwi rugby from them.
- Canadian boys. They came to New Zealand fighting and they were not half bad, eh?
- Bledisloe Cup, got it. Freedom Cup, yep that too. Tri Nations, back in the trophy case.
- All Blacks – Portugal. It was my favorite RWC match. A lot of the Portuguese players were amateurs, I think. But oh the passion and the pride in their eyes and their excitements were inspiring!!
- Argentina. They are awesome. JMH is so hawt!!
- Personal highlights – I spent the month of August in godzone and went to, not one, but two AirNewZealand Cup matches. Auckland vs Waikato at Eden Park (my first live rugby game ever in my life) and Canterbury vs Wellington at Jade Stadium (well, it was already AMI Stadium, actually that was the first game at the newly renamed stadium and they gave away the AMI beanie and Canterbury flag as welcome gifts and I have them J)

MaryL from France

*January : was trying to get closer to our reader
*February : beginning of the Super14 without the All Blacks who were in conditionning camps
*March till June :
- Super14 : the Crusaders ended the season in Top4 but didn't make it through the finale ;
- Europe : former Canterbarian Tony marsh won the European Challenge with A.S. Clermont Auvergne but lost the national championship finale vs. Stade Français Paris. This match was Tony's last match... I will miss him!
- Meanwhile in New Zealand : France double C team met the Men in Black & Caveman became the new Media icone!

*July : Tri Nations : The New Zealanders won the tournament but lost to South Africa ; the Boks decided to send their B team to Oceania... The future proved they were right to do so
*August : some pre-RWC matches but nothing for the Graham Henry & his boyz.
*September : what the whole Rugby Whanau hade been waiting for 4 years : the RWC... Was a great moment -sharing this event (physically) with my parents & thousands of fans & (mentally) with you all... Looking forward to the RGs NZ 2011 Tour !!!
*October : - oups for the All Blacks vs. angry Bleus! A couple of days later, the death of my laptop made me realized what had happened that Saturday...(weird! I know...)
But the following Saturday, Silverfoot-Wilko cured my pain! Another cure was to watch the match (& not attend it!)
- Unfortunately for Prince William & Harry, Prince Wilko was not enough against the Rainbow Nation....

*October till December : lucky us (Northern Hempishere people) to have our national & continental championships so as to focus our hearts & minds & eyes on this new season --though we have not forgotten what our favorite national teams went through during the RWC!

The Golden team !!!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4347580a10295.html

Carter natural as Crusaders VC

The Press

Tuesday, 08 January 2008

All Blacks star Dan Carter's elevation to the Crusaders' vice-captaincy is a "natural progression", head coach Robbie Deans says.
Carter, 25, was confirmed yesterday as skipper Richie McCaw's deputy when the Crusaders resumed pre-season training.
Deans said Carter was "a logical replacement" for former All Black Aaron Mauger, the Crusaders' long-term vice-captain now playing for English club Leicester.
Carter said the new role was "a real honour" but becoming DC the VC would not alter his on-field approach.
"In the last couple of years I've taken a bit more of a leadership role in helping run the team. It's good being named vice-captain, but nothing's going to change from my end. I'll just continue to work hard on my game and do what's best for the team. Although we've lost a lot of players we've still got a lot experience there."
Carter - who last captained a team "in the young age grade stuff" - said the decision-making was a collective responsibility in the modern game.
He was confident the continued presence of players like Greg Somerville, Reuben Thorne, Corey Flynn and Caleb Ralph would assist him and McCaw as team leaders.
The Southbridge pivot said he was accustomed to calling the shots from first five-eighths so helming the backline was just a natural extension of his regular role.
He is taking over long-time cohort Mauger's vice-captaincy duties but is not sure if he will occupy the departed ex-All Blacks' midfield role.
The Crusaders can call on Carter, Stephen Brett, Tim Bateman and Hamish Gard who all have experience in the No. 12 jersey. But Carter - who has donned it in the test arena - said he was "looking to play as much in the 10 jersey as I can. It's where I've played the last few years. It's been 3½ years since I've played at 12."
Carter said Brett had had a good year for the Crusaders and Canterbury and would be "pushing for a spot" in the Super 14 starting team, "as will a lot of players".
He said Mauger had been "a real general" in the red-and-black backline and would be a huge loss.

"We've got a couple of young talented players ... and I guess if I can help them the way Aaron helped me when I first started that will help their game and help their confidence. I'll be looking to make them as comfortable as I can so they can go out, take their opportunity and play their natural game."
Carter said he had "a good break" to get over the World Cup disappointment and had taken the time to "reassess goals and where you want your career to head. In my break, all I wanted to do was come back and play for the Crusaders and put in the hard yards to get in the right shape for another big campaign."
Deans said Carter was a perfect fit for the vice-captaincy because he was experienced and was "well-respected within the group".
The Crusaders' Super 14 squad is injury-free, but wider training group member Alfred Pelenise, the Tasman and New Zealand sevens wing, is rehabilitating after knee surgery.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4345753a10295.html : article about Corey Flynn's new business (on & off the field!)

***

Links for this article & other links on stuff.co.nz sent by Izzy

Stache pic with Dougie sent by Izzy & laid-back pic sent by Nikki (via Chill)

The RGs are always there!

All Blacks' poor year reflected in poll

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4345558a10295.html

RugbyHeaven.co.nz

Saturday, 05 January 2008

A disappointing 2007 for the All Blacks has been reflected in a poll of journalists to find the world’s best player. South African lock Victor Matfield has pipped Argentinean Juan Martín Hernández and 2007 IRB Player of the Year Bryan Habana in a poll run by influential French sporting paper Midi Olympique.
The paper polled 111 journalists, of whom 56 were French, with the remaining 55 from other countries. New Zealand players have regularly featured at the top of the yearly poll with Dan Carter rated the best in 2006 and flanker Richie McCaw winning in 2005.
This time around the best finish for a Kiwi went to prop Carl Hayman who came in at fifth, while McCaw dropped to seventh and Carter disappeared out of the top 10 all together.
Unsurprisingly the top 10 featured five members of the 2007 World Cup winning South African team.

Midi Olympique's Top 10 rugby players for 2007 are:

1. Victor Matfield (South Africa)
2. Juan Martin Hernández (Argentina)
3. Bryan Habana (South Africa)
4. Fourie du Preez (South Africa)
5. Carl Hayman (New Zealand)
6. Agustín Pichot (Argentina)
7. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
8. François Steyn (South Africa)
9. Juan Smith (South Africa)
10. Andrew Sheridan (England)

Same article by Yahoo : http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/080104/10/3hnw.html

Video : http://www.stuff.co.nz/videoplayer//120971a22473.html

Pic : Merci Caro!!!

Super 14 teams head back to 'the office'

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4343865a10295.html

RugbyHeaven.co.nz

Friday, 04 January 2008

The 'summer of rugby' is about to begin and for the New Zealand Super 14 squads the brief Christmas break is just about over as they continue preparations for another gruelling season.

The Blues players have had a two week break over Christmas and New Year but with a trip to South Africa very early in the campaign the players spent the lead-up with the strength and conditioning team of Mark Harvey and Byron Thomas.

There was unlikely to be too much over-indulgence from the Blues players over the break with the high humidity and extreme heat of venues such as Bloemfontein and Johannesburg just around the corner.

The South African sides are notoriously strong at home and combined with the new Experimental Law Variations to be showcased in the 2008 Super 14, the players are expected to be put under extra aerobic stress.

The most successful team in Super rugby history, the Crusaders, return to training on January 7 with one last chance to pinch a Super 14 title for their beloved coach, Robbie Deans, before he takes on his responsibilities as Wallabies coach.

Prior to Christmas, the bulk of the squad was involved in strength and conditioning-based work, with the team breaking for its summer holiday on December 21.

The last assignment prior to Christmas was a quadrathlon event on Lyttleton Harbour and around the Port Hills, involving swimming, kayaking, running and cycling.

While January 7 will officially mark the first day where the full Crusaders outfit has been at work together, all of the squad’s All Blacks were involved in some form of training prior to the Christmas break.

When the new season kicks off against the ACT Brumbies, All Black fullback Leon MacDonald will become just the fifth Crusader to 100 matches for the side.

Prior to that, the Crusaders have three warm up matches, beginning with a first ever pre-season hit-out against the Hurricanes.

Their pre-season opponents from the capital had a similar end-of-year event as the Crusaders with their third annual Surf to Peak duathlon.

The race, which wrapped up the Hurricanes' pre-Christmas training programme, started at Lyall Bay, with the players cycling to Oriental Parade before running the steep hill climb up Mt Victoria.

Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper will be pleased to see All Blacks centre Conrad Smith come out on top after an injury plagued 2007.

Cooper is sure to be looking forward to the new law changes, particularly the requirement of backline defenders to stand five metres behind their own No 8's feet.
The extra space will provide a platform for his talented trio of loose forwards and half back Piri Weepu.
The Hurricanes will start out the New Year with skills work before moving into contact and their first pre-season hit-out against the Crusaders in Motueka on January 25.
Their Super 14 opener is against the Waratahs on February 16.

Chiefs coach Ian Foster is another coach who will be looking at the new rules with glee.
With the 2008 season expected to be faster and more aerobically taxing than ever before, Foster will be looking to unleash his speed merchants Sitiveni Sivivatu, Sosene Anesi, Lelia Masaga and Viliame Waqaseduadua.
But after an injury blighted start to the 2007 season Foster will be treating his squad with kid gloves ahead of their Super 14 opener against the Blues at Eden Park.
After their warm up matches against the Highlanders in Invercargill on January 26 and the Hurricanes at Taupo on February 2, Foster will be having a camp in Whangamata for a week where he will assess the condition of his players and manage their training intensity.

One side with nothing to lose are the Highlanders, written off before they have even played a game in 2008, they are looking to show they are not there to just make up the numbers.
After ditching the 'locals only' policy new coach Glenn Moore has assembled a squad with nine Super 14 rookies and a glaring lack of experience after the departure of many veteran players.
The Highlanders assembled on November 27 for strength and conditioning training before their Christmas break.
They reconvene on January 7 to prepare for warm-up matches against the Chiefs in Invercargill and the Blues in Dunedin, as well as an internal trial.
But it is their opening match against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane on February 15 where they will be looking to prove the doubters wrong.

Pix : Rudi Wulf, Blues

Note : sorry about the delay. You will all understand that I needed some time to fix "the" issue... & thanks for your support!

Message to our readers & posters

Message <- click here

Last Request (1st published on Dec. 21st)

I have often asked you to participate in the building of the blog, and you have ALWAYS done it -so here is my last request...for 2007!

Here are the topics :

What are your thoughts on the 2007 rugby-season?
What are your thoughts on the 2008 rugby-season?

You have till January 10th to send me your "exam" at

marykoala@hotmail.fr
Come on guys, it's the last exam of the year! I'm sure you'll all get your 2007 Baby-Richie Degree :

Thank you for your help anyway,
Mary*L