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Field Theory: That's Super

Posted at 3:33PM on 13 Feb 09. Permalink.

This headline caught my eye this morning:

Read More Original Blog Entry

This headline caught my eye this morning:

Rugby chiefs reject Maori tour proposal

Mainly because tours are a good thing. And the New Zealand Māori touring the country or even overseas would be "good for the game".

The deal was rejected because the NZRU didn't want outside managerial control of the team. And I don't really care about that. What I care about was a throw away line in the article:

Last year the NZRU, worried about worsening global economic conditions, decided to sideline the Maori, Heartland 15 and Black Ferns programmes - saving $1 million.

Wait, what?

I knew the first two had been cut (and I was unhappy about it) but the Black Ferns? Our most successful rugby team ever!? Surely I had missed the press release. So I searched for "black ferns" in the NZRU release and admist the:

Black Ferns beat Wallaroos to win series

and other victories and team announcements, nothing.

At time of writing nobody has got back to me from the NZRU answering my questions, so I'm just going to assume it's true, hence, they can eat a bag of dicks. (I will rescind said bag should it turn out to be false and thanks to Richard Irvine for introducing me to the phrase).

Ok, now to the tournament you've been waiting for since the rugby season ended those many sports-void months ago: The Super (really fucking amazing) 14.

Actually it should probably be renamed "The Super 5, the 6 or so others that show flashes of brilliance and the 3 who just make up the numbers".

All the safe-bets are in with the TAB and the Crusaders seem to be the favourites, in New Zealand at least. This is despite the fact that God-like wundercoach Robbie Deans is plying his awesomeness overseas leaving the team to Todd Blackadder.

The Highlanders are overwhelmingly the optimistic favourite. The story for the last month is how good they are feeling about the upcoming tournament. Whether anyone will show up to watch is another matter entirely.

The Chiefs are raring to go. This is good. They still have Sione Lauaki. This is also good. Lauaki tends to play well at Super 14 level thus fooling All Black selectors into thinking he is a very talented player and not actually a bumbling fool. The Chiefs will fade down the stretch though, or whenever it is they start their South African trip (week 10).

And what is there to say about the Hurricanes? They will look incredibly good, have a win/loss record higher than 0.500 and make the play-offs before destroying the hopes of all of their supporters. Because that's what they do, they use you and then spit you out like garbage. God, why don't they love us and much as we love them! Ahem.

And finally the Blues. I have to careful what I say here because the boss likes this rag-tag bunch of misfits. I believe the last time the Dropkicks talked about the Blues with Russell he had a rum-based realisation that Pat Lam was going to be the coach and that might backfire. But really, seriously, don't be surprised if the Blues are in the final. They are that kind of team.

As for the foreigners, well I see Australia dominating the bottom of the table while South Africans get two teams (Sharks and Bulls) through to the play-offs.

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Heather W.
From: North Shore
Since: Nov 2008
Posts: 152

Posted at 3:33PM on 13 Feb 09. Permalink.

Small note - there is a spare 'S' on the link to Richard Irvine.

Kyle Matthews
From: Dunedin
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 4406

Posted at 3:40PM on 13 Feb 09. Permalink.

It's somewhat disappointing to learn that they cut the Black Ferns programme, which costs about as much as the pay of one whole All Black. Not even a very good one.

Shows the priorities of the NZ Rugby Union these days: "Girls. Meh."

Naly D
From: Wellington
Since: Sep 2008
Posts: 273

Posted at 5:11PM on 13 Feb 09. Permalink.

The Black Ferns will have a limited programme in 2009, which will be geared at maintaining continuity and preparations for the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2010. Women's players will be in contention for the New Zealand Women's Sevens team which will play at the first ever Women's Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament in Dubai in March.

Link

Hadyn Green
From: Wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1802
Moderator

Posted at 8:46AM on 14 Feb 09. Permalink.

Cheers Heather fixed
Cheers Naly
and
Cheers Kyle

I did the adding up too three programmes (two of which are quite successful) and you only save $1M. Jeebus! Imagine if they gave the Black Ferns $1M, they could be unbeatable (or rather more so).

Emma Hart
From: Christchurch
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 2629
Moderator

Posted at 9:48AM on 15 Feb 09. Permalink.

We love the Hurricanes. We want to see you guys make it all the way to the final, where you get beaten by the Crusaders. Cause you sure are fun to watch.

PS Keith is totally a werewolf.

LegBreak
From: Wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1095

Posted at 10:18AM on 16 Feb 09. Permalink.

Did anyone actually manage to watch all of that inept fumblethon that was the Hurricanes match?

Kyle Matthews
From: Dunedin
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 4406

Posted at 10:24AM on 16 Feb 09. Permalink.

Did anyone actually manage to watch all of that inept fumblethon that was the Hurricanes match?

Wait, rugby has started already?

No, pull the other one. Got bells on it.

Amy Galvani
From: Wellington
Since: Oct 2008
Posts: 25

Posted at 10:27AM on 16 Feb 09. Permalink.

Happy Birthday Hadyn!!!

Oh, and maybe the Balck Ferns could have a celebrity fundraiser - I think Anika Moa used to represent Canterbury in Women's Rugby.

LegBreak
From: Wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1095

Posted at 10:28AM on 16 Feb 09. Permalink.

It was some uncoordinated variant of rugby from the bits I saw Kyle.

It seemed to have quite a bit of basketball thrown in.

Tim Michie
From: Auckward
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 237

Posted at 11:05AM on 16 Feb 09. Permalink.

Thanks Hayden: Like you i'd not seen the Black Ferns included in this. I wasn't happy with the announcement of the Maori team taking an enforced break but from Naly's link (thanks Naly) the presser seems to want to be read as "Look, we're all tightning our belts. Even the ABs on 'assembly costs'."

Presumably the assembly costs are their gathering to train before internationals begin. And for promotion purposes.

And - all headrush over starving a winning team aside - this is what gets me: The areas the Union is growing it's audience and players are those taking the hit here. For a saving of 1 million now they lose how much future followers and funds.

Does-not-compute-won't-someone-think-of the-children-the-tryline's-the-other-way...

Bart Janssen
From: Auckland
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 745

Posted at 11:47AM on 16 Feb 09. Permalink.

Why don't they just call it pre-season training?

Hard grounds, sloppy skills, empty stands, random squads, hamstring injuries left right and centre.

What I saw was pretty awful really, not bad for a rehearsal but not really fit for the public.

Waiting for India to arrive so we can watch more real summer sport.

Peter Darlington
From: Nelson
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 552

Posted at 12:11PM on 16 Feb 09. Permalink.

Hard grounds, sloppy skills, empty stands, random squads, hamstring injuries left right and centre.

Seems a bit gauche watching rugby at this time of year. I'll stick to the cricket and the EPL and start to get interested in the Super 14 when I can sense a chill in evening air.

LegBreak
From: Wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1095

Posted at 12:30PM on 16 Feb 09. Permalink.

What Peter and Bart said.

The Indian tour has even more interest than normal as our players strut their stuff in front of the high bidders.

Hadyn Green
From: Wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1802
Moderator

Posted at 1:29PM on 16 Feb 09. Permalink.

I am, and prepare yourself for a shock, also awaiting the Indian series. it should be good.

I have often found the Super 14 hard to get into until the later stages anyway.

LegBreak
From: Wellington
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1095

Posted at 1:39PM on 16 Feb 09. Permalink.

And, in a shameless plug, a review of the NZ performance in the Trevor-Barry series and T20 match right here

Peter Darlington
From: Nelson
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 552

Posted at 3:55PM on 16 Feb 09. Permalink.

I am, and prepare yourself for a shock, also awaiting the Indian series. it should be good.

Yeh, me too. Really enjoyed most of the cricket so far this year, even though it's been a season of missed opportunities. The final overs before the game was abandoned on Friday night were astonishing. Guptil is some find for the Black Caps, a beautiful hitter of the ball. We may have replaced Astle??

Paul Williams
From: Sydney
Since: Nov 2006
Posts: 1354

Posted at 4:45PM on 16 Feb 09. Permalink.

It's somewhat disappointing to learn that they cut the Black Ferns programme, which costs about as much as the pay of one whole All Black. Not even a very good one.
Shows the priorities of the NZ Rugby Union these days: "Girls. Meh."

Well said Kyle. That's a crap decision. Just. Crap. A team doesn't win and remain dominant when they can't rely on financial support year-to-year. This is an incredibly shortsighted decision. One that the Minister for Sport and Rec ought to involve himself in.

Naly D
From: Wellington
Since: Sep 2008
Posts: 273

Posted at 6:56AM on 20 Feb 09. Permalink.

One that the Minister for Sport and Rec ought to involve himself in.

You're not the only one that has noticed his stunning silence since taking office on every sporting issue - not even congratulating the Halberg winners.

Cosgrove didn't like being Sport minister and hated SPARC, but he still made an effort.

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Field Theory: That's Super