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  • 16 October 2007

    Weekend Wrap

    I'm trying to forget the weekend as quickly as possible. The pack of Pensioners won another game at RWC, the Kiwi Rugby League team redefined the term "sporting embarrassment" and (now that I live away from the big smoke), Auckland voters showed they have as much political intelligence as American ones by electing John Banks as Mayor.

    But wait. All that pales into insignificance because ...

    Marina Erakovic, the darling of NZ Tennis, won ANOTHER $25,000 challenger event, this time in Rockhampton (somewhere in Australia apparently). That sure makes up for the disappointments of the last couple of weeks, doesn't it Kiwi sports fans.

    I see the rest of the world is still picking over the carcass of the All Black's quarter-final loss; this morning I have to read former Welsh winger Jonathan Davies accusing the NZ team and management of arrogance. Hmmmm - someone remind me exactly when was the last time the boyos from the valleys actually won a game against us? Even if the All Blacks had displayed signs of arrogance, which I don't think they had, winning 42 out of 47 games gave them the right - up until last Sunday - to walk around with a little bit of a strut in their step.

    So excuse my mirth when the very next article I read, about the search for the next Welsh coach, contains this classic piece of ... ummm, arrogance?

    (CEO of Wales RU) Lewis said he had been encouraged at the reaction to the panel's search.

    "What has been hugely encouraging is that everyone we have made contact with has been prepared to speak to us and hear what we have to say. That proves the role of coaching Wales remains one of the plum jobs in the world game."

    You gotta be fuckin kiddin me. The Welsh coaching job is a poisoned chalice, and the only reason coaches are even talking to you is the fat chequebook in your pocket. So to have Mr Davies accuse the All Blacks of "arrogance" while his own CEO is describing the Welsh coaching position as a "plum job in the world game" is laughable and pathetic in equal doses.

    God I hope Wales get drawn in our pool in 2011. Along with Fiji.

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    4 Comments:

    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    The Pensioners keep on going. It may not be expansive rugby but this England side is a team that is aware of its limitations and has constructed a game plan that wins games. The World Cup is about winning when it counts.

    There is no suggestion that I have seen over here that England are now one of the top two sides in the world. They are not. Which makes the fact that this team has got where it has all the more impressive and for that they should be given credit.

    I was at the England v SA pool game. Bloody awful stuff, one of the worst games I have been through both in terms of performance and the result. The anger and embarrasment that the players felt after that game may well carry them through on Saturday.

    England 3.1 on Betfair may be worth a look. Some lucky buggers got 280 about them after the SA game.

    4:10 AM  
    Blogger Rob Crawford said...

    "Luckily" I got 3.35 soon after the weekend as even though the prices IMHO are wrong I suspected patriotic money would not see the English price blow out, although it may do close to kick-off.

    Damn the Pensioners! Soiled my book somewhat which has always been heavily weighted towards SAF and France!!!

    8:52 AM  
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    I think big chockers are black cap always,either in cricket or rugby or........endless list.What the fuckin sport nation it is.

    7:05 AM  
    Anonymous Anonymous said...

    Yes you are right.I lay NZ always when they are playing in any tournament in any sport.Because i know they are the biggest chokers in world.

    7:33 AM  

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