24 Nov 05
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Originally posted by sjegFrance are not consistant enough to be called the top team.
Quite right- Actually I'd rate France as the best side in the world at present.
But there are those who say the best two teams are the All Blacks A, and the All Blacks B.
That'd one not to miss.
I do agree with you that the 30 top NZ players are the top 2 teams in the world at the moment. Man they've got talent depth there.
Although many of the 'islanders' are playing for NZ now, the All Black rugby culture and coaching structures are moulding them into awesome players.
EDIT: I see I replied too quickly, there are later posts talking about the NZ imports...
The islanders go to live and work in NZ, but NZ moulds them into great players. These guys would not be able to produce the same quality of rugby if they played for their respective nations. And they can't make a living there playing rugby.
24 Nov 05
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At the moment the All Blacks could probable make 2 different teams 0f 15 and they would be close to number 1 and 2 in the world. The only other good team is South Africa and then there is not much more than that.
England can look good at times, France cant have 2 good games in a row, Wales have all their top players injured, Ireland look useless without O'Driscal, Australia have a few good individuals but make too many mistakes and dear old scotland cant do anything (unfortunatly). I predict at least a 60 point margin when we play the All Blacks on saturday, we are rubbish, our stand off and centres cant tackle so the wingers have to come and stand in the middle to help.
We will be demolished.
David
24 Nov 05
Originally posted by JackoThe bokke are the only team at the moment who can realistically take on the all blacks. we really have an awesome team and they're quite youg, so the future is looking very rosy indeed.
At the moment the All Blacks could probable make 2 different teams 0f 15 and they would be close to number 1 and 2 in the world. The only other good team is South Africa and then there is not much more than that.
If we can just cut all the politics out of the way, we will have the consistancy we need to become the best team in the world for an extended period of time.
24 Nov 05
Originally posted by Tirau DanThis writer (http://tinyurl.com/84crz) makes an interesting point about the lack of development of the sport in the last 20 years. The then top five teams are still the top five today. The second tier are still in the second tier with a few new entrants like Samoa and Italy. The IRB needs to get off its fat, complacent, money-grabbing butts and develop the game internationally by spreading some of the loot around. The Pacific islands could be a good start. As would have been a place in the Super 14 or a more permanent Grand Slam tour for the islanders. For all possible reasons, awarding the 2011 World Cup to NZ was the worst choice. If it was for development, then it should have gone to Japan. If it was about money, then it should have gone to South Africa. There's just too much politics and not enough love for the game.
Anyway.. the latest buzz is that the NZ Union is about to sign big numbers of league players to Union. Something to do with an ethnic "whitening" on League down under to make league a more acceptable game... All BS media reporting but all isn't as well as it should be in paradise.
PS The writer is one of those on my top ten list of all-time dickheads for his role in the mess that SA rugby was and is.
24 Nov 05
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Originally posted by buffalobillYup, why it went to NZ is beyond me. Obviously I wanted it to come here, especially since the 2010 soccer WC will be staged here the year before and for just that reason it made sense. But if it went to Japan, they (the IRB) would've made a big stride in promoting the game 'world wide'.
This writer (http://tinyurl.com/84crz) makes an interesting point about the lack of development of the sport in the last 20 years. The then top five teams are still the top five today. The second tier are still in the second tier with a few new entrants like Samoa and Italy. The IRB needs to get off its fat, complacent, money-grabbing butts and develop t ...[text shortened]... hose on my top ten list of all-time dickheads for his role in the mess that SA rugby was and is.
The North-South divide also plays too much in their own hemisphere that I can see why 'The rest of the world' thinks the IRB acts like an 'old boys club'.
Argentina, The Pacific Islanders, USA and Asia really needs to be included more so they can develop the game.
The Argentines have great talent and they are showing this by putting in good performances against the top teams.
Just think how interesting the international game would be if the USA started developing rugby (they have major $$$ and a big potential player base) and the Islanders could hold on to their talented players?
12 Quality teams competing for the world cup? That would be awesome!
24 Nov 05
Originally posted by CrowleyArgentina's never progressed or got stronger and this is my point. Why not? Where's the new Hugo Porta? Now there was a giant of his era.
The Argentines have great talent and they are showing this by putting in good performances against the top teams.
Just think how interesting the international game would be if the USA started developing rugby (they have major $$$ and a big potential player base) and the Islanders could hold on to their talented players?
12 Quality teams competing for the world cup? That would be awesome!
Argentina remain a bunch of tough, talented and disjointed players spending most of their time in Europe and will do so until there's some incentive for them to stay at home.
I would accept six or even seven teams in the hunt for the semi-finals. That would show progress is being made. The way it stands at the moment, it's all down to the draw.
What bets on NZ taking the 2011 WC? I'll even bet even now that they get the easier draw. Like France in the quarter-final in Dunedin at a crappy little ground that takes maybe 30 000 spectators. And there will be maybe 500 French supporters in the crowd.
I despair because the game needs a way forward - not sideways.
24 Nov 05
Originally posted by Tirau Danha ha ha..I like the way you suggest a Scot wanting to play for England. He would die first and we would not welcome either, and sjeg,before you say it, Rooney and Owen were born in England and that makes them English
The islands rely on money from jobs in NZ. Thousands of islanders live and work in nz to support extended families back home. The children are often shipped off to nz for a better education and start in life. The extended familes are mostly dual nationals.
Once they get to secondary school it often becomes apparently they are destined to be pro footb ...[text shortened]... re acceptable game... All BS media reporting but all isn't as well as it should be in paradise.