Italy1 Paraguay 1 Match commentary
The All Whites' group at the World Cup is wide open after a 1-1 draw between their rivals Italy and Paraguay.
Both teams were widely predicted to be the two countries to advance to the second round, but their draw might just open up the door for a third country to get into the mix.
If New Zealald would be able to shock the footballing world and beat Slovakia in Rustenburg tonight it would take the lead in Group F.
Italy did most of the running in the rain-drenched Green Point stadium in Cape Town, but Paraguay took a surprising 1-0 lead when defender Antolin Alcaraz headed home a beautiful Aureliano Torres free kick.
Italy piled on the pressure after the break, but needed a goalkeeping error to get back on level terms.
Experienced goalkeeper Justo Villar underestimated a corner by Simone Pepe and Daniel de Rossi was on the spot to stab home the equaliser at the far post.
Both had chances to take the win, but the draw leaves Group F in an interesting state if either New Zealand or Slovakia managed to upset the form book.
If either team managed to get all three points tomorrow, the pressure on Italy will be huge to get a win against New Zealand, which would play into the hands of Ricki Herbert's men.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Honda drives Japan to win
Japan 1 Cameroon 0 Match commentary
Keisuke Honda carried Japan to their first World Cup finals victory on foreign soil when he scored the goal which beat Cameroon 1-0 in a Group E match this morning.
Paul Le Guen's Cameroon had been expected to ease to victory against an out-of-form Japan in what on paper appeared their easiest group fixture.
Takeshi Okada's Japan had other ideas and bustled their way to a deserved win to join the Netherlands as the day's Group E winners after the Dutch beat Denmark 2-0 in the early match.
""Recently our team has not been delivering very good results and to be honest the mood was not the best but ... our team delivered our best and this very good result today," man of the match Honda said.
A dour first half was briefly illuminated by Honda's 39th minute goal. Daisuke Matsui was allowed time and space on the right wing to float in a cross that evaded everyone but Honda at the far post, who finished neatly.
Cameroon had registered the game's first shot on goal shortly before Honda's strike but the Indomitable Lions failed on too many occasions to feed the ball to their front three.
They improved after the break with captain Samuel Eto'o beating four players down the right wing before setting up Eric Choupo Moting, who curled his shot wide of the far post.
Cameroon's Stephane Mbia hit the bar late on with a rasping 30-metre drive but the African side, who left normal first-choice midfielder Alexandre Song on the bench, did not threaten enough as Japan left Honda up front while the rest defended their lead.
Japan will again be underdogs in their next match against group favourites the Netherlands in Durban on Sunday.
"The next game we will be up against the Netherlands so we have to go further. This is the first win for us on foreign soil, but this is not an achievement for us at all, what is coming next is the point," Japan coach Okada said.
"Today our players have done a good job but what we have to do against the Netherlands was the immediate thought that I had after the game," he added.
Keisuke Honda carried Japan to their first World Cup finals victory on foreign soil when he scored the goal which beat Cameroon 1-0 in a Group E match this morning.
Paul Le Guen's Cameroon had been expected to ease to victory against an out-of-form Japan in what on paper appeared their easiest group fixture.
Takeshi Okada's Japan had other ideas and bustled their way to a deserved win to join the Netherlands as the day's Group E winners after the Dutch beat Denmark 2-0 in the early match.
""Recently our team has not been delivering very good results and to be honest the mood was not the best but ... our team delivered our best and this very good result today," man of the match Honda said.
A dour first half was briefly illuminated by Honda's 39th minute goal. Daisuke Matsui was allowed time and space on the right wing to float in a cross that evaded everyone but Honda at the far post, who finished neatly.
Cameroon had registered the game's first shot on goal shortly before Honda's strike but the Indomitable Lions failed on too many occasions to feed the ball to their front three.
They improved after the break with captain Samuel Eto'o beating four players down the right wing before setting up Eric Choupo Moting, who curled his shot wide of the far post.
Cameroon's Stephane Mbia hit the bar late on with a rasping 30-metre drive but the African side, who left normal first-choice midfielder Alexandre Song on the bench, did not threaten enough as Japan left Honda up front while the rest defended their lead.
Japan will again be underdogs in their next match against group favourites the Netherlands in Durban on Sunday.
"The next game we will be up against the Netherlands so we have to go further. This is the first win for us on foreign soil, but this is not an achievement for us at all, what is coming next is the point," Japan coach Okada said.
"Today our players have done a good job but what we have to do against the Netherlands was the immediate thought that I had after the game," he added.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Soccer: Nelsen tips new ball will worry cup keepers
All Whites skipper Ryan Nelsen predicts a rough ride for the World Cup goalkeepers because of the new football to be used in the tournament which starts next week.
But he and fellow veteran Simon Elliott have refused to join the controversy over the adidas Jabulani, which has been given a decent kicking by a host of players from other countries.
"It floats a bit differently and has its own unique trajectory. There could be some really interesting goals - the keepers are worried men. When you hit it right, it moves a mile," said Nelsen last night from Austria.
"In baseball you have what is called the knuckle ball and this ball can wobble like that. The keepers can't get set properly - they have to wait until the last moment.
"But you can control it. It just takes a while to get used to, although you feel it travels quicker sometimes compared to others, even though you hit it the same."We don't think of it as a problem though - just different. We were all talking about the ball the first day of training, not so much the second day, and now nobody brings it up."
Goalkeepers, including England's David James, would love to hurl the ball away because of its erratic behaviour and outfield players have also complained that it is hard to control, particularly at higher altitudes where many games in South Africa will be played.
Elliott, an international for 15 years, reckoned the fuss would die down come World Cup kick-off time.
"Before every World Cup someone says the ball is doing this and that. When the tournament hits, everyone forgets about it.
"If the ball flies a bit differently and there are more goals scored, that's good. We've got good strikers so it won't worry us."
Meanwhile Nelsen will reassess his All Whites role after the World Cup.
He said a World Cup appearance had always been his goal. "I'll sit down and have a little reflect afterwards," he said. "While I'm playing I'll always be open to New Zealand football although maybe not in the same role."
All Blacks World Cup pool tickets sell out
The strong demand for All Blacks matches and seats at Eden Park has seen them oversubscribed as more than 600,000 ticket applications poured in during the first phase of sales for next year’s Rugby World Cup.
They were the hottest items as tournament officials looked at the washup to applications for venue and team pool packs which closed on May 21.
There were 125,000 applications for packs. In addition, 40,000 applications were received for the quarterfinal weekend packs in Wellington and Christchurch and the Bronze Final.
That meant a total demand for more than 600,000 seats which has delighted organisers.
"This is a great start and is clear evidence that both New Zealand and overseas fans will strongly support this tournament," Martin Snedden, CEO for Rugby New Zealand 2011 (RNZ 2011), said.
But there will be disappointment for some fans.
"There has been oversubscription for the Eden Park venue packs and also the New Zealand team pack. As well, there has been some specific seating category oversubscription within some other venue and team packs," Snedden said.
"It will not be possible to satisfy demand from all fans who applied in Phase 1. Unfortunately some people will be unsuccessful and, no doubt, will be disappointed. Where possible we will be going back to unsuccessful applicants with second chance pack offers."
In cases where demand exceeds availability, a randomisation process will determine success.
Successful applicants will have credit card payments deducted over the next month. All applicants - successful or otherwise - will receive written advice on the outcome of their applications by early July.
Overseas demand has been strong with the most popular team pool packs (aside from New Zealand), being England, Ireland, France, South Africa and Australia.
"Fans are realising how special this tournament will be in New Zealand and this bodes well for future ticketing phases and for the event itself," Snedden said.
"There has also been strong demand for quarter-final weekends packs in both Wellington and Christchurch. Demand for tickets at venues aside from Eden Park, has been solid and in line with expectations."
The second phase of RWC 2011 ticketing, involving the sale of individual match tickets (excluding semifinals and the final) will most likely begin in September. Details of this phase will to be confirmed in July.
Ad Feedback The third phase - a ballot for tickets to the semifinals and the final – will take place in early 2011.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Cycling: Lance Armstrong a drugs cheat, friend alleges
Lance Armstrong has been accused of being a drugs cheat by his former teammate Floyd Landis, who this morning broke his silence about his own doping offences.
Disgraced US cyclist Landis revealed the new cheating allegations in a series of messages to sponsors and officials.
In them he alleges that former teammate Lance Armstrong not only joined him in doping but taught others how to beat the system and paid an official to keep a failed test quiet.
Landis admitted for the first time what had long been suspected - that he was guilty of doping for several years before being stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title.
His fresh accusations, contained in emails sent last month, prompted Armstrong to hold an impromptu press conference before he began the fifth stage of the Tour of California in Visalia.
"If you said, `Give me one word to sum this all up,' credibility," the seven-time Tour de France winner said. "Floyd lost his credibility a long time ago.
"We have nothing to hide. We have nothing to run from."
Though Landis lost his title, he denied cheating until now, and his recent emails detail his blood doping.
"I want to clear my conscience," Landis told ESPN.com. "I don't want to be part of the problem any more."
He claims that Armstrong and longtime coach Johan Bruyneel paid an International Cycling Union official to cover-up a test in 2002 after Armstrong purportedly tested positive for the blood-boosting drug EPO. The UCI, however, denied changing or concealing a positive test result.
In an email Landis sent to USA Cycling chief Steve Johnson, he said Armstrong's positive EPO test was in 2002, around the time he won the Tour de Suisse. Armstrong won the Tour de Suisse in 2001 and did not compete in 2002.
"We're a little confused, maybe just as confused as you guys," Armstrong said, with Bruyneel by his side. "The timeline is off, year by year."
Landis also implicated other cyclists, including longtime Armstrong confidant George Hincapie and Olympic medalist Levi Leipheimer - both Americans - and acknowledged using human growth hormone starting in 2003. The Wall Street Journal reported another email from Landis also linked another top American racer, Dave Zabriskie, to doping.
"Look forward to much more detail as soon as you can demonstrate that you can be trusted to do the right thing," Landis wrote in the email to Johnson.
Landis said he was asked at one point to stay in an apartment where Armstrong was living and check the temperature in a refrigerator where blood was being stored for future transfusions. "Mr Armstrong was planning on being gone for a few weeks to train he asked me to stay in his place and make sure the electricity didn't turn off or something go wrong with the refrigerator," Landis wrote.
Hincapie said he was "really disappointed" by the allegations. Jim Ochowicz, a former top USA Cycling official - who was also implicated by Landis - defended himself and Hincapie.
"These allegations are not true, absolutely unfounded and unproven," said Ochowicz, now the president of BMC Racing, Hincapie's current team. "This is disappointing to anyone who works in the sport or is a fan of the sport."
Johnson said USA Cycling would not comment about Landis' series of emails, citing its policy on not discussing "doping allegations, investigations or any aspect of an adjudication process."
The US Anti-Doping Agency also declined comment for similar reasons, and Landis did not respond to messages left by The AP.
More accusations from Landis could be coming, however. In his email to Johnson, Landis indicated he has several diaries detailing other experiences.
"I've always known Floyd as an angry person ... somebody who's basically angry with the world," Bruyneel said. "To me it sounds like he just wants to drag down people who are still there and enjoying this."
Until about 2005, Armstrong worked extensively with Michele Ferrari, an Italian doctor who was linked to numerous doping issues, but was cleared by an appeals court in 2006. Landis claimed Ferrari extracted "half a litre of blood" from him in 2002, so he could have it transfused during the Tour de France.
"Mr Armstrong was not witness to the extraction but he and I had lengthy discussions about it on our training rides during which time he also explained to me the evolution of EPO testing and how transfusions were now necessary due to the inconvenience of the new test," Landis wrote.
Andy Rihs, the owner of the Phonak team for which Landis rode when he won the Tour, issued a statement saying Landis' claims were "lies" and a "last, tragic attempt" to get publicity. In the April 30 email, Landis alleges that Rihs was aware of his doping and helped fund it.
Like Armstrong, UCI president Pat McQuaid questioned Landis' credibility.
"He already made those accusations in the past," McQuaid said. "Armstrong has been accused many times in the past but nothing has been proved against him. And in this case, I have to question the guy's credibility. There is no proof of what he says. We are speaking about a guy who has been condemned for doping before a court."
Armstrong said Landis started threatening him and other top riders such as Leipheimer and Zabriskie to make allegations like these long ago.
"I'd remind everybody that this is a man that's been under oath several times and had a very different version," Armstrong said. "This is a man that wrote a book for profit that had a completely different version. This is somebody that took, some would say, close to US$1 million from innocent people for his defence under a different premise. Now when it's all run out the story changes."
- AP
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Indy could have record five women in starting field
Janet Guthrie can see progress moving at full throttle.
The pioneering racer is now watching five women try to duplicate her milestone achievement by qualifying for this year's Indianapolis 500. There are women climbing over the wall for pit stops and female engineers dissecting data at Indy, giving a male-dominated sport the kind of female touch Guthrie always envisioned.
"I thought it would take two generations," she told The Associated Press. "But it's only taken a little more than one."
It's been 33 years since Guthrie became the first woman to start a race at the famed Brickyard, and for most of that time, Guthrie stood virtually alone.
From her breakthrough moment in 1977 until 1999 only one other woman, Lyn St James, qualified for Indy's 33-car starting grid. No more than two women were entered in any 500 from 2000-06.
Now the numbers - and perceptions - are rapidly changing.
This year's potential female starters at Indy consist of the glamorous Danica Patrick, the first woman to win an IndyCar race; the personable Sarah Fisher, the first woman to win an IndyCar pole; fan favourite Milka Duno and two relatively unknown but promising rookies, Brazil's Ana Beatriz and Switzerland's Simona de Silvestro.
If each makes the May 30 field, it would mark the first time any has been part of a race featuring five women.
"I think it would be neat," Fisher said. "But what's really cool is they're all qualified (drivers)."
While fans and officials welcome the influx of women, the times haven't always been so cordial.
When Guthrie started her quest to qualify at Indy, she became the target of a letter-writing campaign to keep her out. Companies insisted they feared sponsoring a woman because of racing's dangers, a refrain that included an airline company telling Guthrie it didn't want "anything to do with a sport that involved crashes." Guthrie even remembers her team owner explaining why NASCAR put three women on the 1977 Firecracker 400 starting grid - to prove they didn't belong.
Guthrie's calm, eloquent demeanor helped stop those arguments, even though it wasn't until 2001 that Fisher noticed a different clientele at the track.
"You'd see fathers bringing their daughters to the autograph line," Fisher said as she pointed toward a photo of a girl driving a go-kart. "Now I sign a lot of pictures like this."
Four years later, Patrick joined the circuit and her emergence changed the sport again.
A fourth-place finish at Indy in 2005 kicked off Danicamania and instantly turned her into the series covergirl. Suddenly, the questions were no longer about whether Patrick belonged in IndyCars at the age of 23. Everyone wanted to know how long it would take her to win.
"I remember coming into the first year and thinking, 'Well, you know, there's no guarantee that I would stay if I don't do well my first year. Who knows what's going to happen,'" she said. "You know, kind of after the first part of the season, which included through Indy and stuff, I went, 'I think maybe I'll get another job next year.'"
Patrick has been one of the series most popular drivers since that race, and her success had a huge impact for future generations of women.
Sponsors that once backed away from Guthrie saw the obvious marketability of having Patrick pitch their products and started lining up to get on Patrick's team.
"I think that would be hard to question," said Terry Angstadt, president of the IRL's commercial division.
The pace of change cranked up again in 2008 after Patrick's victory at Japan put the IndyCar women's movement back on center stage.
A month later, Fisher came to Indianapolis as the first woman with full ownership of her own team since Guthrie in 1978. Last May, Anna Chatten, went over the wall as Duno's air jack operator, a job she has again this year with KV Racing's Mario Moraes.
Why has the IndyCar Series become a world full of women?
"I think it's more open because Danica has been here a couple of years now," said de Silvestro, who led four laps in her IndyCar debut in March. "I'm sure it will change everywhere else if girls can be competitive."
Winning races, of course, is what matters most - even to the guys.
"I think it would cheapen the experience for the fans, for the stakeholders, for the competitors if it was just a circus-act sideshow," driver Townsend Bell said. "But the fact there are some women who can run at the front of this race here authenticates what they can do."
The 72-year-old Guthrie never doubted this day would come. She just wasn't sure she'd be around long enough to see it.
What Guthrie likes most, though, is seeing a whole new generation of women drivers doing their thing, their way.
"I'm perfectly delighted, especially with Ana and Simona because they've both shown terrific talent in the lower levels and they deserve a chance at the top spot," Guthrie said. "Having five women start at Indy? That would be spectacular. I'd love it."
The pioneering racer is now watching five women try to duplicate her milestone achievement by qualifying for this year's Indianapolis 500. There are women climbing over the wall for pit stops and female engineers dissecting data at Indy, giving a male-dominated sport the kind of female touch Guthrie always envisioned.
"I thought it would take two generations," she told The Associated Press. "But it's only taken a little more than one."
It's been 33 years since Guthrie became the first woman to start a race at the famed Brickyard, and for most of that time, Guthrie stood virtually alone.
From her breakthrough moment in 1977 until 1999 only one other woman, Lyn St James, qualified for Indy's 33-car starting grid. No more than two women were entered in any 500 from 2000-06.
Now the numbers - and perceptions - are rapidly changing.
This year's potential female starters at Indy consist of the glamorous Danica Patrick, the first woman to win an IndyCar race; the personable Sarah Fisher, the first woman to win an IndyCar pole; fan favourite Milka Duno and two relatively unknown but promising rookies, Brazil's Ana Beatriz and Switzerland's Simona de Silvestro.
If each makes the May 30 field, it would mark the first time any has been part of a race featuring five women.
"I think it would be neat," Fisher said. "But what's really cool is they're all qualified (drivers)."
While fans and officials welcome the influx of women, the times haven't always been so cordial.
When Guthrie started her quest to qualify at Indy, she became the target of a letter-writing campaign to keep her out. Companies insisted they feared sponsoring a woman because of racing's dangers, a refrain that included an airline company telling Guthrie it didn't want "anything to do with a sport that involved crashes." Guthrie even remembers her team owner explaining why NASCAR put three women on the 1977 Firecracker 400 starting grid - to prove they didn't belong.
Guthrie's calm, eloquent demeanor helped stop those arguments, even though it wasn't until 2001 that Fisher noticed a different clientele at the track.
"You'd see fathers bringing their daughters to the autograph line," Fisher said as she pointed toward a photo of a girl driving a go-kart. "Now I sign a lot of pictures like this."
Four years later, Patrick joined the circuit and her emergence changed the sport again.
A fourth-place finish at Indy in 2005 kicked off Danicamania and instantly turned her into the series covergirl. Suddenly, the questions were no longer about whether Patrick belonged in IndyCars at the age of 23. Everyone wanted to know how long it would take her to win.
"I remember coming into the first year and thinking, 'Well, you know, there's no guarantee that I would stay if I don't do well my first year. Who knows what's going to happen,'" she said. "You know, kind of after the first part of the season, which included through Indy and stuff, I went, 'I think maybe I'll get another job next year.'"
Patrick has been one of the series most popular drivers since that race, and her success had a huge impact for future generations of women.
Sponsors that once backed away from Guthrie saw the obvious marketability of having Patrick pitch their products and started lining up to get on Patrick's team.
"I think that would be hard to question," said Terry Angstadt, president of the IRL's commercial division.
The pace of change cranked up again in 2008 after Patrick's victory at Japan put the IndyCar women's movement back on center stage.
A month later, Fisher came to Indianapolis as the first woman with full ownership of her own team since Guthrie in 1978. Last May, Anna Chatten, went over the wall as Duno's air jack operator, a job she has again this year with KV Racing's Mario Moraes.
Why has the IndyCar Series become a world full of women?
"I think it's more open because Danica has been here a couple of years now," said de Silvestro, who led four laps in her IndyCar debut in March. "I'm sure it will change everywhere else if girls can be competitive."
Winning races, of course, is what matters most - even to the guys.
"I think it would cheapen the experience for the fans, for the stakeholders, for the competitors if it was just a circus-act sideshow," driver Townsend Bell said. "But the fact there are some women who can run at the front of this race here authenticates what they can do."
The 72-year-old Guthrie never doubted this day would come. She just wasn't sure she'd be around long enough to see it.
What Guthrie likes most, though, is seeing a whole new generation of women drivers doing their thing, their way.
"I'm perfectly delighted, especially with Ana and Simona because they've both shown terrific talent in the lower levels and they deserve a chance at the top spot," Guthrie said. "Having five women start at Indy? That would be spectacular. I'd love it."
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Cricket: Three last over 6s lift Aussie
GROS ISLET, St Lucia - Michael Clarke was so nervous he couldn't even watch Mike Hussey's final-over heroics in the World Twenty20 semi-final in St Lucia.
Needing 18 off the last over to pass Pakistan's 6-191, Hussey hit 6-6-4-6 from consecutive balls to deliver Australia a spot in the final against England in Barbados.
Clarke could be seen on TV biting his fingernails as the game see-sawed to its exciting climax, but in the last few balls he was out of view.
"I enjoy biting my nails when I'm nervous I guess," the skipper said.
"I couldn't watch the last over. I watched the first ball when Mitchell Johnson got a single.
"Then I've gone back into the change rooms. I heard loud cheers.
"I knew it was a six and then another six and I thought oh my God, what is going on out there?
"I was too nervous. I couldn't watch."
Hussey said he had a fairly simple game plan in the final over.
"Just try to slog every ball for six," he smiled.
"I knew he (spinner Saeed Ajmal) would probably try to spear a few fast yorkers in. If he got them right then I don't think there's too much I could have done.
"Thankfully he probably just missed his length a little bit.
"I don't know what I was saying to myself. It's all a bit of a blur.
"I was just saying please this last ball, please come out of the middle.
"I just wanted to feel what it felt like. I didn't know what it was going to feel like and it's an absolutely amazing feeling.
"It's the best feeling you can ever have, to hit the winning runs for your country, particularly in such a big game as a semi-final.
"I'm so happy and it was great to see the elation on all the other boys' faces. We're so excited to be in the final."
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis refused to blame his bowlers for letting the game get away from them.
"We didn't go wrong anywhere," he said.
"One should give credit to Australia the way they batted. They kept the momentum going all the way.
"Especially Cameron White's innings (of 43) and then Hussey who did the real damage.
"I still can't believe it."
- AAP
Needing 18 off the last over to pass Pakistan's 6-191, Hussey hit 6-6-4-6 from consecutive balls to deliver Australia a spot in the final against England in Barbados.
Clarke could be seen on TV biting his fingernails as the game see-sawed to its exciting climax, but in the last few balls he was out of view.
"I enjoy biting my nails when I'm nervous I guess," the skipper said.
"I couldn't watch the last over. I watched the first ball when Mitchell Johnson got a single.
"Then I've gone back into the change rooms. I heard loud cheers.
"I knew it was a six and then another six and I thought oh my God, what is going on out there?
"I was too nervous. I couldn't watch."
Hussey said he had a fairly simple game plan in the final over.
"Just try to slog every ball for six," he smiled.
"I knew he (spinner Saeed Ajmal) would probably try to spear a few fast yorkers in. If he got them right then I don't think there's too much I could have done.
"Thankfully he probably just missed his length a little bit.
"I don't know what I was saying to myself. It's all a bit of a blur.
"I was just saying please this last ball, please come out of the middle.
"I just wanted to feel what it felt like. I didn't know what it was going to feel like and it's an absolutely amazing feeling.
"It's the best feeling you can ever have, to hit the winning runs for your country, particularly in such a big game as a semi-final.
"I'm so happy and it was great to see the elation on all the other boys' faces. We're so excited to be in the final."
Pakistan coach Waqar Younis refused to blame his bowlers for letting the game get away from them.
"We didn't go wrong anywhere," he said.
"One should give credit to Australia the way they batted. They kept the momentum going all the way.
"Especially Cameron White's innings (of 43) and then Hussey who did the real damage.
"I still can't believe it."
- AAP
Wynn Gray: Murky Questions - but few answers
Kia Ora. Sorry for not using that greeting before and, while we're on that theme, how about an apology from the All Blacks for their rest and rotation policy during the last World Cup campaign?
Murky question, the old race and rugby business. But there has been an apology to Maori affected by their exclusion from New Zealand teams because of South Africa's apartheid regime. Happenstance, politically motivated, good timing, carefully calculated in this centenary year for Maori rugby?
It does not matter. The apologies have been delivered from both New Zealand and South Africa for the non-selection of Maori on tours to the republic.
Curiously there have been players chosen for the Maori side who did not qualify. Lock Daryl Williams was a classic case - a good athlete of Fijian and Samoan connections who was picked for the team about 20 years ago until his mother revealed his bloodlines did not allow his inclusion.
Long-time All Black centre Frank Bunce played for Auckland Maori when his ancestry connected him to Niue and Samoa. There were also doubts expressed by staunch proponent Billy Bush about the racial qualifications of Christian Cullen, Tasesa Lavea and a number of others chosen in New Zealand Maori squads.
There was apparently no doubt, though, about the authenticity of the fair-skinned duo Lee Stensness and Tony Brown.
But there are still dramas.
A journalist colleague rang the NZRU the other day to inquire about the Maori squad and those who would be eligible for selection in their three-match programme next month.
You would think the NZRU would hold a register of those qualified for the Maori for the selectors to consider for that programme against Ireland and England next month. The query was related to Rene Ranger, the outside back from the Blues who has Cook Islands ancestry. It should have been easy enough to locate a list and give a response. The questioner is still waiting.
Just as we all are for some sort of decision about the officials who will be used during this year's Super 14 playoffs.
During round-robin matches, the tournament's organisers picked referees based on ability and perceived competence rather than a desire for national neutrality. It made economic and scheduling sense.
That policy has hit a few speedhumps, such as Marius Jonker's control of the Bulls game last week against the Crusaders. He made some decisions which favoured the Bulls in the crucial late minutes, but the biggest decision came from a linesman.
If Sanzar thinks we should revert to neutral referees for every match, shouldn't that apply to linesmen and television match officials too?
Imagine the cost, with no guarantee they would be any better than local touchies. And how will it all pan out next year, when the Super 15 is played in domestic pools before it splits into overseas games and extended playoffs?
Murky question, the old race and rugby business. But there has been an apology to Maori affected by their exclusion from New Zealand teams because of South Africa's apartheid regime. Happenstance, politically motivated, good timing, carefully calculated in this centenary year for Maori rugby?
It does not matter. The apologies have been delivered from both New Zealand and South Africa for the non-selection of Maori on tours to the republic.
Curiously there have been players chosen for the Maori side who did not qualify. Lock Daryl Williams was a classic case - a good athlete of Fijian and Samoan connections who was picked for the team about 20 years ago until his mother revealed his bloodlines did not allow his inclusion.
Long-time All Black centre Frank Bunce played for Auckland Maori when his ancestry connected him to Niue and Samoa. There were also doubts expressed by staunch proponent Billy Bush about the racial qualifications of Christian Cullen, Tasesa Lavea and a number of others chosen in New Zealand Maori squads.
There was apparently no doubt, though, about the authenticity of the fair-skinned duo Lee Stensness and Tony Brown.
But there are still dramas.
A journalist colleague rang the NZRU the other day to inquire about the Maori squad and those who would be eligible for selection in their three-match programme next month.
You would think the NZRU would hold a register of those qualified for the Maori for the selectors to consider for that programme against Ireland and England next month. The query was related to Rene Ranger, the outside back from the Blues who has Cook Islands ancestry. It should have been easy enough to locate a list and give a response. The questioner is still waiting.
Just as we all are for some sort of decision about the officials who will be used during this year's Super 14 playoffs.
During round-robin matches, the tournament's organisers picked referees based on ability and perceived competence rather than a desire for national neutrality. It made economic and scheduling sense.
That policy has hit a few speedhumps, such as Marius Jonker's control of the Bulls game last week against the Crusaders. He made some decisions which favoured the Bulls in the crucial late minutes, but the biggest decision came from a linesman.
If Sanzar thinks we should revert to neutral referees for every match, shouldn't that apply to linesmen and television match officials too?
Imagine the cost, with no guarantee they would be any better than local touchies. And how will it all pan out next year, when the Super 15 is played in domestic pools before it splits into overseas games and extended playoffs?
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Rugby: IRB clears way for Argentina to join Tri-Nations
Sanzar has welcomed an International Rugby Board (IRB) rule change which clears the way for Argentina to join a new Four Nations competition in 2012.
At its council meeting this week, the IRB decided to alter regulation nine which governs the release of players for international duty, thereby meeting a condition set by Sanzar that Argentina were required to field their best players to participate in the Four Nations tournament.
The change, set to take effect from June 1, 2012, will ensure that the release period for the new Four Nations aligns with the new dates for the competition from late August through until early October.
In September, Sanzar issued an invitation to the Pumas to join the competition from 2012, subject to several conditions which have now been resolved.
Negotiation of a participation agreement with Argentina Rugby (UAR) remains the last hurdle for inauguration of the new competition alongside the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks.
"This is an exciting step for Sanzar and for world rugby, as it confirms Argentina's participation in a top-flight rugby competition, which they thoroughly deserve, and will add a dynamic new element to the current Tri-Nations, which is already regarded as one of the world's toughest tournaments," Sanzar and New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew said in a statement.
"We now need to finalise a participation agreement with the UAR so we can move to full planning for the introduction of Argentina in 2012."
The IRB confirmed in March that it would match Sanzar and provide an investment of US$2.5 million ($3.5 million) per annum from 2012 to 2015.
Sanzar also confirmed today that the three Sanzar unions and their Super rugby teams will work with the UAR to look at providing greater opportunities for Argentinean players to play in Super rugby teams as part of the lead-up to the new Four Nations.
IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset welcomed the likelihood of Argentina joining the competition.
"Today's announcement represents an historic milestone in the process of Argentina's integration into an expanded Tri-Nations tournament and is an extremely exciting development for UAR and rugby around the world."
At its council meeting this week, the IRB decided to alter regulation nine which governs the release of players for international duty, thereby meeting a condition set by Sanzar that Argentina were required to field their best players to participate in the Four Nations tournament.
The change, set to take effect from June 1, 2012, will ensure that the release period for the new Four Nations aligns with the new dates for the competition from late August through until early October.
In September, Sanzar issued an invitation to the Pumas to join the competition from 2012, subject to several conditions which have now been resolved.
Negotiation of a participation agreement with Argentina Rugby (UAR) remains the last hurdle for inauguration of the new competition alongside the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks.
"This is an exciting step for Sanzar and for world rugby, as it confirms Argentina's participation in a top-flight rugby competition, which they thoroughly deserve, and will add a dynamic new element to the current Tri-Nations, which is already regarded as one of the world's toughest tournaments," Sanzar and New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew said in a statement.
"We now need to finalise a participation agreement with the UAR so we can move to full planning for the introduction of Argentina in 2012."
The IRB confirmed in March that it would match Sanzar and provide an investment of US$2.5 million ($3.5 million) per annum from 2012 to 2015.
Sanzar also confirmed today that the three Sanzar unions and their Super rugby teams will work with the UAR to look at providing greater opportunities for Argentinean players to play in Super rugby teams as part of the lead-up to the new Four Nations.
IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset welcomed the likelihood of Argentina joining the competition.
"Today's announcement represents an historic milestone in the process of Argentina's integration into an expanded Tri-Nations tournament and is an extremely exciting development for UAR and rugby around the world."
Rugby: Russia to host World Cup Sevens
LONDON - Russia will host the next Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2013, three years before the sport returns to the Olympics.
The event, announced today by the International Rugby Board, will be the biggest rugby tournament to be staged by Russia, which also makes its debut at the 15-man World Cup in New Zealand next year.
The sixth World Cup Sevens will include 24 men's and 16 women's teams, and the IRB said it would provide an indication of which nations will be the leading contenders for Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
Although rugby was in the Olympics until 1924, it is returning as a 7-a-side sport.
Wales and Australia won the men's and women's titles last year in Dubai.
The event, announced today by the International Rugby Board, will be the biggest rugby tournament to be staged by Russia, which also makes its debut at the 15-man World Cup in New Zealand next year.
The sixth World Cup Sevens will include 24 men's and 16 women's teams, and the IRB said it would provide an indication of which nations will be the leading contenders for Olympic gold in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
Although rugby was in the Olympics until 1924, it is returning as a 7-a-side sport.
Wales and Australia won the men's and women's titles last year in Dubai.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Star trio back for Warriors
The Warriors have been boosted by the return of skipper Simon Mannering alongside strike players Manu Vatuvei and Brett Seymour for Saturday night's clash with the North Queensland Cowboys in Auckland.
While dynamic wing Vatuvei (hamstring) and playmaker Seymour (broken thumb) were expected to be back in action following last week's bye Mannering has also managed to overcome his hamstring problem and will line out for just the third time this season as the Warriors look to get their campaign back on track following three consecutive losses.
Warriors coach Ivan Cleary has also brought back young wing Kevin Locke for Patrtick Ah Van who broke a jaw in the last loss to Canberra.
Young prop Mataupu Poching will make his debut.
Cleary is delighted to get some senior players back involved for a 10th round match that the Warriors must win.
"We've been waiting patiently for Simon, Manu and Brett to return and it's a great boost for us to have them back straight after the bye round," said Cleary.
"All three are obviously hugely important to the side for a whole range of reasons. We've had to battle through recently without them but at last we have some better news in terms of our injured players."
While the three big names return with more than 300 NRL games between them, Saturday night's game will be just the start of an NRL career for 22-year-old Poching.
A foundation player for the Junior Warriors in the NYC's first year in 2008, the Mangere East product was troubled by injury last year. However, he has impressed for the Auckland Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup, earning a call-up as the Vodafone Warriors' 161st NRL player and the third NYC graduate to debut this season.
"Upu is rewarded for his consistency for the Vulcans. He has really stood up for them every week and has done everything we've asked of him," said Cleary.
Poching has been named to team up with Kiwi prop Sam Rapira in the starting front row. Rapira has shurgged off his knee injury from last week's Anzac Test loss to Australia.
There is also another change in the back row where the returning Mannering will have Ukuma Ta'ai as his second row partner in the run-on side. Mannering replaces Lewis Brown while Ben Matulino moves to the bench.
With Seymour back at halfback, James Maloney replaces Joel Moon at standoff.
Mannering last played on March 28 after being forced off the field with a recurrence of his hamstring injury 23 minutes into the third-round game against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
Vatuvei was sidelined after his hamstring injury flared up again early in the second half of the Vodafone Warriors' fifth round victory over the Bulldogs. In his only appearances so far this season – two full games and two half games – Vatuvei has scored six tries and was involved in each of the club's three wins so far.
Ad Feedback Despite playing only 240 minutes of a possible 640 this season, Vatuvei still ranks among the NRL's top 10 try scorers and line breakers for the season to date.
Seymour, the Warriors' major off-season signing, has been out of action with a broken thumb since his club debut against Gold Coast in the opening round of the season.
Saturday night's match will produce a milestone moment for centre Brent Tate who will make his 150th NRL appearance. Tate's try against Canberra was the 50th of his career.
Warriors: Lance Hohaia, Kevin Locke, Brent Tate, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Brett Seymour, Sam Rapira, Aaron Heremaia, Mataupu Poching, Simon Mannering (captain), Ukuma Ta'ai, Micheal Luck. Interchange (one to be omitted): Ian Henderson, Ben Matulino, Jeremy Latimore, Russell Packer, Jesse Royal.
While dynamic wing Vatuvei (hamstring) and playmaker Seymour (broken thumb) were expected to be back in action following last week's bye Mannering has also managed to overcome his hamstring problem and will line out for just the third time this season as the Warriors look to get their campaign back on track following three consecutive losses.
Warriors coach Ivan Cleary has also brought back young wing Kevin Locke for Patrtick Ah Van who broke a jaw in the last loss to Canberra.
Young prop Mataupu Poching will make his debut.
Cleary is delighted to get some senior players back involved for a 10th round match that the Warriors must win.
"We've been waiting patiently for Simon, Manu and Brett to return and it's a great boost for us to have them back straight after the bye round," said Cleary.
"All three are obviously hugely important to the side for a whole range of reasons. We've had to battle through recently without them but at last we have some better news in terms of our injured players."
While the three big names return with more than 300 NRL games between them, Saturday night's game will be just the start of an NRL career for 22-year-old Poching.
A foundation player for the Junior Warriors in the NYC's first year in 2008, the Mangere East product was troubled by injury last year. However, he has impressed for the Auckland Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup, earning a call-up as the Vodafone Warriors' 161st NRL player and the third NYC graduate to debut this season.
"Upu is rewarded for his consistency for the Vulcans. He has really stood up for them every week and has done everything we've asked of him," said Cleary.
Poching has been named to team up with Kiwi prop Sam Rapira in the starting front row. Rapira has shurgged off his knee injury from last week's Anzac Test loss to Australia.
There is also another change in the back row where the returning Mannering will have Ukuma Ta'ai as his second row partner in the run-on side. Mannering replaces Lewis Brown while Ben Matulino moves to the bench.
With Seymour back at halfback, James Maloney replaces Joel Moon at standoff.
Mannering last played on March 28 after being forced off the field with a recurrence of his hamstring injury 23 minutes into the third-round game against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
Vatuvei was sidelined after his hamstring injury flared up again early in the second half of the Vodafone Warriors' fifth round victory over the Bulldogs. In his only appearances so far this season – two full games and two half games – Vatuvei has scored six tries and was involved in each of the club's three wins so far.
Ad Feedback Despite playing only 240 minutes of a possible 640 this season, Vatuvei still ranks among the NRL's top 10 try scorers and line breakers for the season to date.
Seymour, the Warriors' major off-season signing, has been out of action with a broken thumb since his club debut against Gold Coast in the opening round of the season.
Saturday night's match will produce a milestone moment for centre Brent Tate who will make his 150th NRL appearance. Tate's try against Canberra was the 50th of his career.
Warriors: Lance Hohaia, Kevin Locke, Brent Tate, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Brett Seymour, Sam Rapira, Aaron Heremaia, Mataupu Poching, Simon Mannering (captain), Ukuma Ta'ai, Micheal Luck. Interchange (one to be omitted): Ian Henderson, Ben Matulino, Jeremy Latimore, Russell Packer, Jesse Royal.
Monday, May 10, 2010
NZ rugby 'owes Maori apology'
Former All Black Bill Bush says the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) must apologise to Maori for excluding players from tours to South Africa on the basis of race.
His call came after South Africa's Sport Minister, the Rev Makhenkesi Arnold Stofile, officially apologised to Maori players who were denied the chance to tour South Africa in 1928, 1949 and 1960.
The NZRU bowed to pressure from the New Zealand and South African governments of the day by fielding teams without Maori. Bush said it was time that the NZRU followed the South African Government's example.
"An apology would just heal the gaping wound," said Bush, who also played for New Zealand Maori.
"It's nothing to say 'I'm sorry' is it? 'I'm sorry for what happened in the past', that's all they have to say."
The NZRU had spoken to the New Zealand Maori Rugby Board about the issue and been told it would be wrong to be critical of apartheid-era decisions.
Maori board chairman Wayne Peters said it was time to focus on the future, not the past. However, Bush said Peters' hands were tied by the NZRU.
"I understand the position the Maori board are in. They're governed by the New Zealand Rugby Union, so I think it should come from the New Zealand Rugby Union board, not the Maori board," Bush said.
"He [Peters] has made a couple of comments to say that he's more interested in the celebration of 100 years of Maori rugby [this year], but he's actually there for us.
"His mandate is to get the best for us Maori people and players, and that includes an apology. But I don't think the New Zealand Rugby Union want to bring it up, or the New Zealand Government. They just hope it goes away."
The 1970 All Blacks team was the first "integrated" side to tour the republic.
Stofile said in a letter to the Sunday News that black South Africans hated Maori halfback Sid Going and Samoan wing Bryan Williams for being part of that team, referring to them as "honorary whites".
Bush, who was in the All Blacks team that played in South Africa six years later, said that antipathy remained.
"I feel it even when I go there now," he said.
"I go there twice a year and I take them [tour groups] to Soweto and one of the tour guides that we used, she knew I was there in 1976 and I don't think she was too happy about me, even though I didn't go there as an honorary white.
"But as far as I was concerned, I did something to break the barriers of apartheid down, by going there and trying to beat them.
"We did the haka when the South Africans didn't want us to, and that's my contribution."
GWJ8PXUEZCUN
His call came after South Africa's Sport Minister, the Rev Makhenkesi Arnold Stofile, officially apologised to Maori players who were denied the chance to tour South Africa in 1928, 1949 and 1960.
The NZRU bowed to pressure from the New Zealand and South African governments of the day by fielding teams without Maori. Bush said it was time that the NZRU followed the South African Government's example.
"An apology would just heal the gaping wound," said Bush, who also played for New Zealand Maori.
"It's nothing to say 'I'm sorry' is it? 'I'm sorry for what happened in the past', that's all they have to say."
The NZRU had spoken to the New Zealand Maori Rugby Board about the issue and been told it would be wrong to be critical of apartheid-era decisions.
Maori board chairman Wayne Peters said it was time to focus on the future, not the past. However, Bush said Peters' hands were tied by the NZRU.
"I understand the position the Maori board are in. They're governed by the New Zealand Rugby Union, so I think it should come from the New Zealand Rugby Union board, not the Maori board," Bush said.
"He [Peters] has made a couple of comments to say that he's more interested in the celebration of 100 years of Maori rugby [this year], but he's actually there for us.
"His mandate is to get the best for us Maori people and players, and that includes an apology. But I don't think the New Zealand Rugby Union want to bring it up, or the New Zealand Government. They just hope it goes away."
The 1970 All Blacks team was the first "integrated" side to tour the republic.
Stofile said in a letter to the Sunday News that black South Africans hated Maori halfback Sid Going and Samoan wing Bryan Williams for being part of that team, referring to them as "honorary whites".
Bush, who was in the All Blacks team that played in South Africa six years later, said that antipathy remained.
"I feel it even when I go there now," he said.
"I go there twice a year and I take them [tour groups] to Soweto and one of the tour guides that we used, she knew I was there in 1976 and I don't think she was too happy about me, even though I didn't go there as an honorary white.
"But as far as I was concerned, I did something to break the barriers of apartheid down, by going there and trying to beat them.
"We did the haka when the South Africans didn't want us to, and that's my contribution."
GWJ8PXUEZCUN
Golf: Woods withdraws from TPC with injury
PONTE VEDRA BEACH - Tiger Woods withdrew from The Players Championship today with an injury that he fears might be a bulging disk in his upper back.
"I've been playing with a bad neck for about a month," Woods said.
After hitting his drive well to the right on the seventh hole, Woods called for an official. He hit his second shot and grimaced, then walked to the middle of the fairway to shake hands with playing partner Jason Bohn before leaving on a golf cart.
Woods had his head bowed for several minutes as he sat in front of his locker, and other times kept his eyes closed as if he were in the middle of a nap before answering questions from three reporters.
"I've been playing through it," Woods said quietly.
"I can't play through it anymore."
He said he first felt the injury before the Masters and plans to have an MRI next week. He said he was having a hard time with the pain, and that there was a tingling sensation on his right side down to his fingers. As he was driven off in a golf cart, Woods continuing squeezed his right hand and released his fingers.
"I might have a bulging disk," he said.
Woods said he does not know what caused the injury, only that "playing doesn't help it."
It is the first time he has withdrawn from a tournament since the Nissan Open at Riviera in 2006, when he narrowly made the cut and withdrew from the final two rounds because of the flu. He also withdrew from the 1995 US Open at Shinnecock Hills as a 19-year-old amateur because of a wrist injury from hitting out of deep rough.
Woods started the final round 10 shots out of the lead and was two over through six holes
It was only his third tournament back from a five-month hiatus after he was caught having extramarital affairs. Woods tied for fourth at the Masters, then missed the cut last week at Quail Hollow with the second-highest round (79) and the highest 36-hole score (153) of his PGA Tour career.
Woods at times stretched and rolled his neck between shots over the last three days, when he produced some good golf along with some shots that didn't remotely resemble the No 1 player in the world. He popped up two tee shots with his 3-wood, and hit another one at a 45-degree angle. In relatively easy scoring conditions, Woods had rounds of 70-71-71 and was tied for 45th going into the last round.
- AP
"I've been playing with a bad neck for about a month," Woods said.
After hitting his drive well to the right on the seventh hole, Woods called for an official. He hit his second shot and grimaced, then walked to the middle of the fairway to shake hands with playing partner Jason Bohn before leaving on a golf cart.
Woods had his head bowed for several minutes as he sat in front of his locker, and other times kept his eyes closed as if he were in the middle of a nap before answering questions from three reporters.
"I've been playing through it," Woods said quietly.
"I can't play through it anymore."
He said he first felt the injury before the Masters and plans to have an MRI next week. He said he was having a hard time with the pain, and that there was a tingling sensation on his right side down to his fingers. As he was driven off in a golf cart, Woods continuing squeezed his right hand and released his fingers.
"I might have a bulging disk," he said.
Woods said he does not know what caused the injury, only that "playing doesn't help it."
It is the first time he has withdrawn from a tournament since the Nissan Open at Riviera in 2006, when he narrowly made the cut and withdrew from the final two rounds because of the flu. He also withdrew from the 1995 US Open at Shinnecock Hills as a 19-year-old amateur because of a wrist injury from hitting out of deep rough.
Woods started the final round 10 shots out of the lead and was two over through six holes
It was only his third tournament back from a five-month hiatus after he was caught having extramarital affairs. Woods tied for fourth at the Masters, then missed the cut last week at Quail Hollow with the second-highest round (79) and the highest 36-hole score (153) of his PGA Tour career.
Woods at times stretched and rolled his neck between shots over the last three days, when he produced some good golf along with some shots that didn't remotely resemble the No 1 player in the world. He popped up two tee shots with his 3-wood, and hit another one at a 45-degree angle. In relatively easy scoring conditions, Woods had rounds of 70-71-71 and was tied for 45th going into the last round.
- AP
Soccer: Rooney aggravates groin injury
MANCHESTER - England striker Wayne Rooney aggravated a groin injury while playing for Manchester United today, a month before the World Cup begins.
The 24-year-old Rooney limped off in the 77th minute of United's season-ending 4-0 victory over Stoke.
Hampered by groin and ankle problems for more than a month, Rooney had initially been ruled out of the final two matches of the club season but returned to help United's failed bid for a fourth straight Premier League title.
"He has aggravated his groin again," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "I don't think it is serious - he should be OK for England."
England coach Fabio Capello announces his provisional 30-man World Cup squad Wednesday (NZT).
England has two friendlies before the final squad is announced at the start of June - against Mexico on May 24 and Japan on May 30.
The team's first match of the tournament is against United States on June 12.
The 24-year-old Rooney limped off in the 77th minute of United's season-ending 4-0 victory over Stoke.
Hampered by groin and ankle problems for more than a month, Rooney had initially been ruled out of the final two matches of the club season but returned to help United's failed bid for a fourth straight Premier League title.
"He has aggravated his groin again," United manager Alex Ferguson said. "I don't think it is serious - he should be OK for England."
England coach Fabio Capello announces his provisional 30-man World Cup squad Wednesday (NZT).
England has two friendlies before the final squad is announced at the start of June - against Mexico on May 24 and Japan on May 30.
The team's first match of the tournament is against United States on June 12.
Super 14 The Final Playoff Equation
Buckle up for Friday as the Super 14 heads for sudden death on both sides of the Tasman.
New Zealand teams have been involved in the playoffs in each of the past eight years but with one round of qualifying left, all five teams sit outside that leading group.
However, in a quirk of scheduling, the Crusaders host the fourth-placed Brumbies before the third-placed Waratahs are challenged at home by the Hurricanes. The winners of both games should make the semifinals.
But there are all sorts of permutations to consider before the qualifiers for the final season of Super 14 are confirmed once the Stormers host the Bulls in the last match in Cape Town.
One detail is certain. The Bulls have qualified top again after seeing off the Crusaders in a furious final few minutes of a game of high quality and controversy in Pretoria.
Strangely, the second-placed Stormers could still miss the playoffs. They lost yesterday to the Sharks and a final round loss to the chart-topping Bulls could see them tipped out of the last few weeks of the competition.
There is also an outside chance the Reds could slip into the finals action.
They would need a bonus points victory against the Highlanders and a raft of other results to go their way.
But the red-hot inquiries will revolve around the opening two matches this week.
The Crusaders are first on to centre stage. They return from three overseas defeats to a visit from the Brumbies who reclaimed senior flanker George Smith and signs of their pedigree in beating the Highlanders.
The Crusaders were within a blast from Marius Jonker's whistle of halting the Bulls' long run of successes at Loftus Versfeld and must now win and rely on other results to continue their qualifying run which began in 2002.
Five eighths Daniel Carter began to show more of his thoroughbred talent as his pack delivered greater sting to their work. But they have to travel home from the republic, regroup and face a Brumbies side which may yet be boosted by the inclusion of dangerous centre Stirling Mortlock.
It would be best if the referees' panel did not appoint Steve Walsh to control this game or the next after he battled through his comeback at Waikato Stadium.
The Hurricanes travel to meet the Waratahs in Sydney in the second match on Friday.
The Canes have won their last four games since drawing with the Crusaders, as they vie for their third successive semifinal in coach Colin Cooper's final season.
That target has become more attainable after a weekend body count.
The Canes should get flanker Victor Vito and centre Conrad Smith back from the medicos' tent, while the Waratahs are surveying some serious damage. They beat the Chiefs but topped the casualty list.
Loosehead prop Ben Robinson has reinjured his arm after having some time out of the game with a cracked bone in that limb, and his frontrow sidekick Tatafu Polata-Nau has suffered some shoulder damage.
The Waratahs' chances of winning on Friday and qualifying for the playoffs will drop significantly if their senior frontrowers cannot front against the Hurricanes' international front row.
New Zealand teams have been involved in the playoffs in each of the past eight years but with one round of qualifying left, all five teams sit outside that leading group.
However, in a quirk of scheduling, the Crusaders host the fourth-placed Brumbies before the third-placed Waratahs are challenged at home by the Hurricanes. The winners of both games should make the semifinals.
But there are all sorts of permutations to consider before the qualifiers for the final season of Super 14 are confirmed once the Stormers host the Bulls in the last match in Cape Town.
One detail is certain. The Bulls have qualified top again after seeing off the Crusaders in a furious final few minutes of a game of high quality and controversy in Pretoria.
Strangely, the second-placed Stormers could still miss the playoffs. They lost yesterday to the Sharks and a final round loss to the chart-topping Bulls could see them tipped out of the last few weeks of the competition.
There is also an outside chance the Reds could slip into the finals action.
They would need a bonus points victory against the Highlanders and a raft of other results to go their way.
But the red-hot inquiries will revolve around the opening two matches this week.
The Crusaders are first on to centre stage. They return from three overseas defeats to a visit from the Brumbies who reclaimed senior flanker George Smith and signs of their pedigree in beating the Highlanders.
The Crusaders were within a blast from Marius Jonker's whistle of halting the Bulls' long run of successes at Loftus Versfeld and must now win and rely on other results to continue their qualifying run which began in 2002.
Five eighths Daniel Carter began to show more of his thoroughbred talent as his pack delivered greater sting to their work. But they have to travel home from the republic, regroup and face a Brumbies side which may yet be boosted by the inclusion of dangerous centre Stirling Mortlock.
It would be best if the referees' panel did not appoint Steve Walsh to control this game or the next after he battled through his comeback at Waikato Stadium.
The Hurricanes travel to meet the Waratahs in Sydney in the second match on Friday.
The Canes have won their last four games since drawing with the Crusaders, as they vie for their third successive semifinal in coach Colin Cooper's final season.
That target has become more attainable after a weekend body count.
The Canes should get flanker Victor Vito and centre Conrad Smith back from the medicos' tent, while the Waratahs are surveying some serious damage. They beat the Chiefs but topped the casualty list.
Loosehead prop Ben Robinson has reinjured his arm after having some time out of the game with a cracked bone in that limb, and his frontrow sidekick Tatafu Polata-Nau has suffered some shoulder damage.
The Waratahs' chances of winning on Friday and qualifying for the playoffs will drop significantly if their senior frontrowers cannot front against the Hurricanes' international front row.
Bring on Four Nations - Blockbusting Blair
Kiwis vice-captain Adam Blair is as good as anyone to cast a barometer over the Anzac test and he believes New Zealand has the most to gain heading towards the Four Nations.
Blair, the blockbusting lock who plies his trade with the Melbourne Storm, was at the heart of an encouraging effort in his home town as the Kiwis fought back to a narrow 12-8 loss in Melbourne on Friday night.
Blair lined up against four of his Storm team-mates, arguably the best in the business, and saw plenty of encouragement for the young Kiwis team from this mid-season test.
Bitterly disappointed at losing, he feels New Zealand can fire up and have a decent crack at taking Australia's Four Nations crown when the tournament is played on either side of the Tasman in October and November, with England and Papua New Guinea joining the trans-Tasman rivals.
With a core of experienced players set to return for that tournament, Blair is excited at the prospect of exacting revenge on Australia, especially with their tournament clash happening at Eden Park in Auckland.
"We were short on a few leaders but the boys that stepped into the team put up a good fight and I think we have a good future with the Kiwis and the young boys coming through."
It was Blair's 17th test and 12th in a row under the guidance of Steve Kearney.
"The young guys brought a lot of energy and I think it showed on the field. We had them there in the last 10 minutes but we just ran out of time, we left it too late."
However, the result still left Blair hugely disappointed, a reflection of the competitiveness in him that comes with playing for the standard-setting Storm team.
"Yeah, I'm gutted. We put in the effort but it just wasn't good enough at the end.
"We can't afford to give away soft penalties and I think that's what cost us in the end. But it's something we will learn from."
There are few prouder Kiwis than the workaholic Blair who showed his running and offloading skills and put in plenty of defence to be one of the busiest and best forwards on the new AAMI Park.
He has tasted grand-final success – albeit having last year's title stripped from him amidst the Storm's salary cap scandal – but says it's hard to compare that to a test atmosphere which he believes is unique.
"Look, they are very different teams. In the Kiwis you know that your brothers are there for you. It happens in the club too, but with the Kiwis we are a tight family and you are going to go really hard at it for each other. It's just the way we are. It's a brotherhood and I really enjoy that."
Blair's belief in the potential of the Kiwis backed up similar sentiments from Kearney and captain Benji Marshall who were both adamant their team would only get better through this experience and, hopefully, with the core of injured stars back in their midst.
It's a long casualty list that robbed the world champion Kiwis of so much experience and game-breaking talent – Manu Vatuvei, Fuifui Moimoi, Frank Pritchard, Simon Mannering, Jeremy Smith, Roy Asotasi and Dene Halatau.
Ad Feedback The Australians were gracious enough to admit they had squeaked their way out of a tight test in Melbourne.
Coach Tim Sheens also acknowledged the increased danger New Zealand would present in the Four Nations on their home soil and with their playing stocks replenished. But he was also quick to point out the wet conditions had probably suited the young Kiwis' side better.
The rain nullified Australia's dangers out wide although classy centre Greg Inglis was a constant threat and wonder wing Brett Morris showed his finishing skills to nab both of the Kangaroos' tries.
To their credit New Zealand hung tough when Australia scored their second try after halftime to go 12-nil up and looked capable of ripping the test open as they have done in so many of these Anzac tests, producing lopsided results on a lopsided ledger that now stands 10-1 in the Roos' favour.
But it was the Kiwis who finished stronger and, while they finished short again, that has given them no shortage of hope.
Blair, the blockbusting lock who plies his trade with the Melbourne Storm, was at the heart of an encouraging effort in his home town as the Kiwis fought back to a narrow 12-8 loss in Melbourne on Friday night.
Blair lined up against four of his Storm team-mates, arguably the best in the business, and saw plenty of encouragement for the young Kiwis team from this mid-season test.
Bitterly disappointed at losing, he feels New Zealand can fire up and have a decent crack at taking Australia's Four Nations crown when the tournament is played on either side of the Tasman in October and November, with England and Papua New Guinea joining the trans-Tasman rivals.
With a core of experienced players set to return for that tournament, Blair is excited at the prospect of exacting revenge on Australia, especially with their tournament clash happening at Eden Park in Auckland.
"We were short on a few leaders but the boys that stepped into the team put up a good fight and I think we have a good future with the Kiwis and the young boys coming through."
It was Blair's 17th test and 12th in a row under the guidance of Steve Kearney.
"The young guys brought a lot of energy and I think it showed on the field. We had them there in the last 10 minutes but we just ran out of time, we left it too late."
However, the result still left Blair hugely disappointed, a reflection of the competitiveness in him that comes with playing for the standard-setting Storm team.
"Yeah, I'm gutted. We put in the effort but it just wasn't good enough at the end.
"We can't afford to give away soft penalties and I think that's what cost us in the end. But it's something we will learn from."
There are few prouder Kiwis than the workaholic Blair who showed his running and offloading skills and put in plenty of defence to be one of the busiest and best forwards on the new AAMI Park.
He has tasted grand-final success – albeit having last year's title stripped from him amidst the Storm's salary cap scandal – but says it's hard to compare that to a test atmosphere which he believes is unique.
"Look, they are very different teams. In the Kiwis you know that your brothers are there for you. It happens in the club too, but with the Kiwis we are a tight family and you are going to go really hard at it for each other. It's just the way we are. It's a brotherhood and I really enjoy that."
Blair's belief in the potential of the Kiwis backed up similar sentiments from Kearney and captain Benji Marshall who were both adamant their team would only get better through this experience and, hopefully, with the core of injured stars back in their midst.
It's a long casualty list that robbed the world champion Kiwis of so much experience and game-breaking talent – Manu Vatuvei, Fuifui Moimoi, Frank Pritchard, Simon Mannering, Jeremy Smith, Roy Asotasi and Dene Halatau.
Ad Feedback The Australians were gracious enough to admit they had squeaked their way out of a tight test in Melbourne.
Coach Tim Sheens also acknowledged the increased danger New Zealand would present in the Four Nations on their home soil and with their playing stocks replenished. But he was also quick to point out the wet conditions had probably suited the young Kiwis' side better.
The rain nullified Australia's dangers out wide although classy centre Greg Inglis was a constant threat and wonder wing Brett Morris showed his finishing skills to nab both of the Kangaroos' tries.
To their credit New Zealand hung tough when Australia scored their second try after halftime to go 12-nil up and looked capable of ripping the test open as they have done in so many of these Anzac tests, producing lopsided results on a lopsided ledger that now stands 10-1 in the Roos' favour.
But it was the Kiwis who finished stronger and, while they finished short again, that has given them no shortage of hope.
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