There's a punchline in there somewhere

It might just be the most scrutinised annual list in the country. With all apologies to Mr English and his budget, but this is important!

John Afoa (Auckland), Jimmy Cowan (Southland). Wyatt Crockett* (Canterbury), Stephen Donald (Waikato), Andrew Hore (Taranaki), Cory Jane (Wellington), Richard Kahui (Waikato), Jerome Kaino (Auckland), Tanerau Latimer* (Bay of Plenty), Brendon Leonard (Waikato), Keven Mealamu (Auckland), Liam Messam (Waikato), Mils Muliaina (C) (Waikato), Ma'a Nonu (Wellington), Kieran Read (Canterbury), Josevata Rokocoko (Auckland), Isaac Ross* (Canterbury), Conrad Smith (Wellington), Adam Thomson (Otago), Brad Thorn (Canterbury), Neemia Tialata (Wellington), Isaia Toeava (Auckland), Piri Weepu (Wellington), Ali Williams (Auckland), Tony Woodcock (North Harbour), Rudi Wulf (North Harbour).

This is a cautious list, like the budget. It cuts back on overseas options (McAlister). It's waiting for some damaged investments to return to full fitness (So'oialo) while backing others (Leonard). It is wary of previous pitfalls (Lauaki) but it creates some interesting puzzles (who goes where in the loose forwards) and big questions (where's Masaga?).

And like the budget I'm not quite sure how to interpret the overall situation.

I know we'll come out of the internationals unscathed (though maybe with a few injuries) but how we'll fare against the South Africans is uncertain (or the Aussies for that matter).

------

Occasionally in the action-packed world of blogging I get email, like this one from Robert (please take this as sic though the links are mine).

Mr Green, I usually read Russel, but your previous post about the Champions League, and then this little effort leading with your dissapointment in a chap called McCaw (I think), not starting for a troup known as the, 'All Blacks', caught my attenetion.

I'm a NZ'er in China and have to say your barely hidden envy of Fergie, as a manager of a team that has transmorgrified over the years was petulent, childish, and oh so kiwi.
Get over it, you live in a lovely little country, playing a lovely little sport; decaying as we speak.
As to the 2011 (WORLD CUP?) sideshow, enjoy. I'll be in Chong Qing, with people who are part of a world that was glued to Man C.v.Barca.

Wow, if anything makes you think Manchester United fans are dicks, it's this. I am assuming he's a Man U fan and not a City fan as he implies.

I thought I had already swallowed the rat on this one and admitted to being wrong in saying Sir Alex may be "overrated", but apparently not (for clarity, I was wrong, he is very, very rated). Though it seems I am, naturally, envious of "Fergie" (seriously when I first read this I thought of the former member of the house of Windsor who had her toes sucked by a Texan, remember that? Ahhh the nostalgic past).

The "World Cup" slur is interesting. There are world cups in many sports, but only football is The World Cup. I imagine this is a similar usage of "the" as in Winnie the Pooh. Without my AA Milne at hand I remember Pooh having a rather interesting discussion on the word "the" and how it was used in the context of his name.

"The World Cup", said with a slight 'r' sound at the end of the "the" or with a very pronounced 'eeee'. An 'e' for "exclusivity" if you will.

------

And just in case I get more angry emails: Well done Black Caps, you beat India (in a 20/20 warm up match)

LegBreak, 16:12 Jun 2, 2009

I’d say he is actually a Man City fan; there are limits to people’s sarcasm.

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

Richard Wain, 16:34 Jun 2, 2009

and big questions (where's Masaga?).

He's off to Fiji (and Samoa) with the Juniors to work on his aerial ball skills and kicking, apparently. ABs backs coach Wayne Smith says they're treating wingers and fullbacks as more or less interchangeable now: wingers have to be able to kick and field high balls.

Get over it, you live in a lovely little country, playing a lovely little sport; decaying as we speak.

What a dick. For a start, NZ is way bigger than England and many other countries: we're a bit bigger than the whole UK in fact. Just not so many people!

Also, rugby's growing massively up north. Keeping those players here is only going to get harder and harder... time to give up that communist NZRU central contracting bizzo and pick from overseas?

The general sniffy fitba vs rugby tone from your correspondent just doesn't work does it? I mean, I'm a huge fan of the round ball code but there's room for many sports in my view.

Since Nov 2006 • 155 posts Report

Simon Poole, 16:40 Jun 2, 2009

It's waiting for some damaged investments to return to full fitness (So'oialo) while backing others (Leonard). It is wary of previous pitfalls (Lauaki) but it creates some interesting puzzles (who goes where in the loose forwards)

Two questions:

1) Why are there more players from the Blues than any other franchise, when their defense was so irredeemably shit?

2) Bryn Evans.

I pick Messam to start at 8, with Latimer on the openside and one of Read/Thompson on the blind. That would put Kaino on the bench for impact, unless Henry et al decide to play him based on past experience. TBH, I wasn't hugely impressed with his season, and think it's his versatility that beat out Lauaki to the black jersey.

Since Dec 2008 • 161 posts Report

Kyle Matthews, 16:52 Jun 2, 2009

That and the fact that Lauaki consistently plays badly in the black jersey.

Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

giovanni tiso, 17:13 Jun 2, 2009

Ah, the old "I don't read your blog, but I had to get in touch to tell you that you suck" email. Everyone's favourite.

Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

Simon Poole, 17:13 Jun 2, 2009

Kyle: Agreed, and there's only so many times the selectors will want to get burned on that one, however it does seem that more than a couple of players have been picked on past form, rather than current.

Simon Poole, 17:19 Jun 2, 2009

Edit: I should probably qualify that by saying that some players are picked on some amazing previous form. Ie: Smokin' Joe.

Kaino, however, has hardly had a stellar AB's career, nor a great S14 season.

Richard Wain, 17:20 Jun 2, 2009

it does seem that more than a couple of players have been picked on past form, rather than current.

That's probably why Hadyn was wondering where Masaga was... but then the Rocketman does usually turn up in black!

Not sure what Wulf's doing there though... I thought Rene Ranger looked promising too. Smith called him "green" at Eden Park on Sunday though...

I understand Adam Thompson may get the nod at 7 ahead of Latimer, which would be a good call in my book, I've been amazed watching his workrate in an inferior side. Imagine how good he could be as an All Black!

Hadyn Green, 17:27 Jun 2, 2009

Wulf was my reason for wondering as to Masaga's whereabouts. I'm still sitting on the fence about Rokocoko.

Like when he was an All Black? :)

I found Thomson to be quite variable in his performance (though I should really dig up some data to back that claim up)

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report

Simon Poole, 17:30 Jun 2, 2009

Hadyn: I think the money quote (From Russell?) was something about Thompson being so incredibly quick to the breakdown, and so utterly ineffective once he was there.

I gather he has worked hard on this. It'll be interesting to see him in play against the Wallabies or Boks. The South African team is looking very scary this year.

Richard Wain, 18:07 Jun 2, 2009

Thompson played flanker didn't he? Yeah he's been there but I reckon he's much better this season and will do a great job at 7, if he is indeed ahead of Latimer in the fetcher stakes...

Naly D, 21:28 Jun 2, 2009

Ok the thing about Masaga is that yes he's fast, but from watching him this year I've found out the following;

His workrate is very low. On defence he plays more of a kicking defence, very rarely is he up in the line and he almost never gets involved in rucks - which is an area where if wings were trainedto steal pill there'd be a shitload more turnovers (and the game would be a LOT faster still)

He is weak under kicks. While he's not Gopperthesque, he'll either leave it for Mils or misjudge it.

When he's running he's electric, but lacks vision. He'll treat each tackle one at a time (and he always steps left!) which is why on tge set piece he very rarely makes line breaks.

Finally, for a modern wing he's very small.

Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report

LegBreak, 21:43 Jun 2, 2009

What Naly said. Ecept I'd add that anyone who lazily conceeded that try against the Brumbies by being lazy and watching the ball should never play for the All Blacks in the same calendar year.

Surely no-one seriously expected him to get picked?

tim kong, 22:53 Jun 2, 2009

And to add to all that Naly said about Masaga.... may I present this as evidence for the prosecution.

Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 153 posts Report

tim kong, 22:56 Jun 2, 2009

With apologies and hat-tips to Naly D - as that link's via the dropkicks.

It did make me smile a lot.

Jimmy Southgate, 12:10 Jun 3, 2009

Can't add much to what Naly D has already said about Masaga, if he proves himself in the Junior ABs he might get a chance, but it would seem he doesn't really have the full skillset yet.

As for Bryn Evans - the word from the coaches is that of all the locks outside of Thorn, Williams, Boric & Ross is that he does the core things better than the likes of Thrush et al. So he's good at taking kickoffs, good at the lineout and does the tight-stuff well. They think they'll be able to add the sizzle that players like Thrush and all already have.

Wellingtown • Since Nov 2006 • 103 posts Report

Rachel Prosser, 21:15 Jun 8, 2009

I read that and caught myself thinking: Smokin' Joe - he retired years ago.

Joe Stanley that is. When did Joe Rocks take over that nickname?

Christchurch • Since Mar 2008 • 228 posts Report

Hadyn Green, 08:58 Jun 9, 2009

When did Joe Rocks take over that nickname?

When sports writers got lazy. I thought Joe R was "the rocket"

But Smokin' Joe was Joe Frasier

Field Theory by Hadyn Green

18 responses to this post