<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bristol-iain @ Jul 2 2009, 11:10 AM)
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (C A Iversen @ Jul 1 2009, 11:13 PM)
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (shtove @ Jul 2 2009, 10:03 AM)
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (C A Iversen @ Jul 2 2009, 09:44 AM)
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This could be a case of something being such common knowledge that it's generally not said that often at all and when it is I happen to not see those posts. I was away for a long time from this site and have just been on again in the last 3 weeks.
Anyhow, I don't come on here looking to clash with people over this kind of thing, it's something I'd genuinely encountered for a while (predominantly sighting negative comments towards NZ rugby). All it takes is a genuine comment here or there to let me know it's not the case and I've finally heard that. So I don't really have a problem with this now as far as I can see.[/b]
Don't want to spoil the party, but I reckon the ABs are bottom of the SH pile at the moment. (put an "it" in there and my comment looks a bit snarky!)
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Hey I wasn't saying I wanted them to be favoured too much, just respected. I'd be the first to admit that the power in this Tri-Nations will be with the South Africans, the skill will be with the Australians. We'll be requiring the luck. We are woefully in need of a firm reliable hand in leadership, talent which plays well consistently and most of all a decent gameplan. This season will probably finish off Graham Henry.
The Lions really wanted to be touring us this year. I'll say that you guys would've won.
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Honestley mate I'm surprised Henry has made it this far as coach, I would have thought he'd be gone after 2007 RWC.
I dont see much of the Super 14 or the 3N but one thing I have noticed is the sheer amount of players used by NZ in games, almost a totally different side played against france than the one that faced Wales, England etc in the fall.
That cant seem good for team momentum not knowing who is going to play, from my perspective the Aussies and the Springboks seem the far settled squads.
Obviously the Kiwis could claim strength in depth but I feel a settled 22 is better than a depth 26 man squad, I'd go for Austraila to take the Tri-Nations mainly because they havn't had to face such a draining series with a top quality and high profile side.
That said I could just be talking utter PDV's (I'm using that turn when referring to BS)
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Trying not to hijack this thread, but I needed to say that I believe your not talking PdV's (good term). We have had a lot of injuries since last years end of season tour (some of them long term) and a few players that have left our shores (again), so the side is fairly different. We only have so much top line depth to give before we weaken. So, thats why the side is looking a little shabby after the injuries.
I also believe that we should've lost Henry after the World cup and started our Deans era. Australia are looking bloody sharp for taking him. One of our most respected former coaches Laurie Mains has said earlier this week that he thinks 6 years is too long for any coach and Henry in particular. I'm inclined to agree.
Henry seems to have a golden effect for about 3 years and then he's taught all he can. From there he just seems to overcomplicate a sometimes simple game-plan requirement. Could be wrong, but thats what's happening on the field.
I said to all of my friends that NZ had made the wrong move endorsing Henry after the world cup. I went so far as to say that every other time we lost a world cup, we ditched a coach when we should've kept them and this time we kept a coach we should've changed. It's not absolutely true, but it's fairly close to the mark from the feedback I've had.
