The current form of the All Blacks is a matter of serious concern.

5 Comments

  1. Neil says "I used to care very deeply about how the All Blacks played but I don't any more. The game has been spoiled by a number of things - rule changes, the super 14, too many tests and not enough long tours, night games e.g - so I'm more of a league follower now. The other effects of the commercialisation and professionalisation of the game are that provincial and club rugby seem to withering away and that should be a matter of serious concern to the people in charge."

    August 5th, 2009 at 12:28 PM

  2. Get Real! says "It's a matter of serious concern that you ask if the form of the All Blacks is a matter of serious concern. Why should anyone care other than people who enjoy rolling around in the mud, thumping fellow players and getting drunk afterwards? Just remember when New Zealand wins or fails to win the next "world" cup that fewer than 20 countries are in the competition - and there are 195 countries in the world. And a recent poll showed 60 per cent of New Zealanders are not interested at all in rugby. Does that put it in perspective for you? "

    August 8th, 2009 at 07:16 PM

  3. Alan Lewis says "It is interesting to note that recently Canada's national sport, ice hockey, is having fewers fans, also. Soccer, the international sport is taking over in Canada and is played by boys and girls in many, many schools. The recent game between Spain and Toronto in Toronto, brought out record crowds and will result in more Canadian teams being formed. This is because it is a game of skill and not continuous brawling"

    August 9th, 2009 at 03:09 AM

  4. Alan Lewis says "It is interesting to note that recently Canada's national sport, ice hockey, is having fewers fans, also. Soccer, the international sport is taking over in Canada and is played by boys and girls in many, many schools. The recent game between Spain and Toronto in Toronto, brought out record crowds and will result in more Canadian teams being formed. This is because it is a game of skill and not continuous brawling"

    August 9th, 2009 at 03:09 AM

  5. Pete Masters says "Firstly, thanks Denny & Wally for teaching me the rudiments of the game and for etching into my brain "If it doesn't hurt it's not doing you any good." There are several issues which need addressing: Rugby used to engender a sense of community at all levels and I don't think we'll get it back 'til we drop the Super 14. Talented local players get poached from the smaller unions by the money which is on offer elsewhere. Those players often end up warming the reserve benches if they're lucky. Some may be loaned to smaller franchises for a season who give them an opportunity to develop their talent. That done the big boys grab them back and the small fry get a new crop the next season and so on. Whilst they're affiliated to a local club they rarely appear so we end up "supporting" a bunch of strangers so attendance at matches slips down the priority order for many. As I see it the only benefit NZ rugby has received from the S14 has been to come to terms with travelling to South Africa. Unlike Australia and England, rugby in NZ was always for the ordinary bloke and his family. The demand for money to pay for the flash stadia and salaries is such that few families will be attending the RWC final at Eden Park. But the "old farts" and their trough-feeding UK ilk will be there. Coaches need to coach. Ted needs to get rid of the cling-ons and do the job he used to be good at and which gave him the opportunity to lead our national side. Captains need to be real captains and take full responsibility for what happens on the field instead of looking to the coaching staff for the latest instruction. When did that last happen? The value of the AB jersey needs to be restored and that's not done by subbing a player in the last 5 minutes of the game so he can get a test cap. Good luck to the unions like Tasman, Hawkes Bay, West Coast, Buller, Southland and Taranaki who espouse more of the old fashioned values and whose players are familiar with the old addage "No pain, no gain". Oh, yes, while I'm at it ... Bring back the biff ... and Buck!!"

    August 10th, 2009 at 11:09 PM

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