All Blacks squad for Lions I

[Spy]

Agree with EW. Probably Whitelock to captain. Can't see Akira Ioane figuring in the squad to play the Lions. Inexperienced, and form that isn't demanding selection, promising though he is.

[dk4]

How did Read perform in the super 18 this year?

[Eugene Wrayburn]

How did Read perform in the super 18 this year?

Barely played.

[rowan]

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen says he is unlikely to continue in the role after the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

Hansen has been head coach since 2011, guiding New Zealand to victory at the 2015 World Cup, and was previously an assistant to Graham Henry from 2004 to the 2011 World Cup, which also won by the All Blacks.

In an interview Friday, Hansen said "without committing to it 100 percent, I can't see myself extending beyond the World Cup.

"I guess I am kind of arguing against myself but it will be eight years as head coach and eight years as assistant coach —16 years all up ... but top of the pyramid is my family and it will probably be time to give them more."

http://www.sobserver.ws/en/27_05_2017/r ... n-2019.htm


New Zealand Provincial Barbarians coach Clayton McMillan has today confirmed the final selection of his squad to open the DHL NZ Lions Series on 3 June at Toll Stadium in Whangarei.

Forwards:
Aidan Ross (Bay of Plenty)
Tolu Fahamokioa (Wellington)
Sam Anderson-Heather (Otago)
Andrew Makalio (Tasman)
Marcel Renata (Auckland)
Oliver Jager (Canterbury)
Keepa Mewett (Bay of Plenty)
Joshua Goodhue (Northland)
James Tucker (Waikato)
Mitchell Dunshea (Canterbury)
Lachlan Boshier (Taranaki)
Matthew Matich (Northland)
Peter Rowe (Wanganui)

Backs:
Jack Stratton (Canterbury)
Richard Judd (Bay of Plenty)
Bryn Gatland (North Harbour)
Dwayne Sweeney (Waikato)
Kaveinga Finau (Inga) (Canterbury)
Jonah Lowe (Hawke’s Bay)
Sevuloni Reece (Waikato)
Sam Vaka (Counties Manukau)
Luteru Laulala (Counties Manukau)
Junior Ngaluafe (Southland)

http://www.allblacks.com/News/30833/pro ... -confirmed

[zer0]

So the All Blacks have got a "new" logo/badge.



http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all- ... o-revealed

Pretty naff. Will, hopefully, only be for the Lions series.

[Lizard]

I'm not a fan of adding more crap to the Black jersey. Mind you, the fern is probably the most tinkered with element.



The "crest" outline is reminiscent of the 1888-89 Natives logo, so is not totally without precedent.



I'm pretty sure I remember seeing an earlier All Blacks' alternate strip which was white, with a black crest featuring the silver fern.

[Lizard]

I'm pretty sure I remember seeing an earlier All Blacks' alternate strip which was white, with a black crest featuring the silver fern.

Maybe I'm thinking of this, actually (1981):

[Lizard]

Actually, now I've got it. I thought it was a much older jersey- like pre-WW2. Of course we only wore white at home until more recent times, and I assumed it would have been against Scotland however their first tour to NZ was only in 1975.

Then I remembered that the 1930 Great British team (not yet known as the Lions) controversially wore dark blue, forcing their gracious hosts to wear white:



So if you are feeling charitable, you could say the badge is a nod to the 1930 All Blacks (who won 3 tests to 1).

[morepork]

I'm not a fan of adding more crap to the Black jersey. Mind you, the fern is probably the most tinkered with element.


The "crest" outline is reminiscent of the 1888-89 Natives logo, so is not totally without precedent.



I'm pretty sure I remember seeing an earlier All Blacks' alternate strip which was white, with a black crest featuring the silver fern.

The United Tribes flag...

[Lizard]

Indeed. That flag would have been the obvious choice at the time, too. It had been formally gazetted as the the flag of New Zealand in 1835 and remained in common use at least up to the 2nd Boer War (1899-1902). The current NZ flag was formally adopted only in 1902. There were various Blue Ensign based designs used as naval flags before then but these were not usually used on land.

[morepork]

Indeed. That flag would have been the obvious choice at the time, too. It had been formally gazetted as the the flag of New Zealand in 1835 and remained in common use at least up to the 2nd Boer War (1899-1902). The current NZ flag was formally adopted only in 1902. There were various Blue Ensign based designs used as naval flags before then but these were not usually used on land.

It was used as a shipping ensign before we were officially a British colony. Commercial entities could not register to sell goods in NSW without one...

[rowan]

Beware the cheating Kiwis!

Jonathan Kaplan has cautioned match officials to be vigilant of 'questionable' All Blacks tactics in the upcoming series against the British & Irish Lions.

The former South African referee, who holds the record for the most Tests officiated (70), has been in control of 18 matches involving the All Blacks, and said they were his toughest tasks.

'New Zealand are masters of the subtle nuances, which often determine the difference between winning and losing,' Kaplan wrote in the Telegraph. 'They often flood the breakdown with numbers when there appears to be a numerical mismatch, some of it not always legal.

'There are not many penalties given for this type of infringement now and the rewards supersede the downside by far. Turnovers are the name of this game, and this tactic provides dividends. If they get quality ball in this situation, they have the game breakers and steppers to kill off any team.

'One questionable tactic which one sees periodically is the killing of quality ball after a linebreak or close to the goal line. Referees often – but not always – pick up the infringement, but then fail to recognise that it is cynical and often designed not to allow the possible try.

'One of the more nefarious tactics used is the clearing of opponents who are not taking part in the ruck or post-tackle situation. It happens consistently every week down south – and with all southern hemisphere international sides, especially New Zealand – and it is a tactic referees are very poor at picking up.

'It appears that there is either a lack of will or lack of quality personnel to deal with these on-field indiscretions. It causes a huge amount of frustration for the non-offending team, who are trying to defend legally and often leads to retaliation as a result. Teams get away with it quite often and hence some big holes are opened up for the attack to exploit.

'There will be lots of pressure on the match officials. The whole country will basically come to a standstill. That is a beautiful thing, but it makes it ultra-intense.'

http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/detail ... ghest-task

[Cameo]

Haha doesn't seem much in that. I'm sure the Irish players will be shocked at the idea that you might clear someone not involved in the ruck

[rowan]

Lions tour: New Zealand sport fans the 'most arrogant in the world', says 2005 Lion Ben Kay

Former Lions lock Ben Kay has labelled New Zealand sports fans as 'among the most arrogant in the world'.

Kay toured New Zealand with the Lions during the disastrous 2005 tour and played in two tests against the All Blacks.

The Englishman said New Zealand's reaction to the Lions' scratchy 13-7 win over the Provincial Barbarians in Whangarei on Saturday was predictable after the tourists were branded 'mediocre', 'incompetent' and a 'disgrace to the jersey'.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/inte ... on-ben-kay

[morepork]

This is from a touring party that had Alistair Campbell-end along as media liaison.

anyway. Fuck it. Looking forward to the games.

[rowan]

This is from a touring party that had Alistair Campbell-end along as media liaison.
.

Yes, forgot about that. Enjoyed listening to Tana & SBW telling the British press to shut up about 2005 as well!

[jared_7]

Ben Kay's side got lost by an average of 23 points a game over the 3 tests. I think he is having difficulty distinguishing "arrogance" from "realism".

[Mellsblue]

Ben Kay's side got lost by an average of 23 points a game over the 3 tests. I think he is having difficulty distinguishing "arrogance" from "realism".

Orienteering was never his forte.

[Len]

Whats with the ex players putting the boot in? Healey, Kay. Have any of ours had a dig at them yet?

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Whats with the ex players putting the boot in? Healey, Kay. Have any of ours had a dig at them yet?

Ian Jones stirred the pot a little.

[morepork]

When in doubt, wail on the Haka.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/ar ... d=11872087


"Nobody wants it to turn into an international incident, but surely someone in the Blues set-up should have spotted the tasteless juxtaposition," Corrigan told his readers.

[Spy]

He's probably got a point in this case.

[morepork]

Sticky.

[jared_7]

He's probably got a point in this case.

No he doesn't. I've probably been more critical of the haka, and its commercialism, than anyone.

But its a part of Maori tradition and needs to be viewed and understood through a Maori cultural lens. Trying to apply a western lens to actions in a Maori war dance, and then drawing western conclusions as to what you think they mean, is pointless. In their culture its a challenge and a sign of respect, it probably didn't even cross their mind that people would relate what they were doing to what happened in London, and nor should it.

All I see is an English bloke trying to tell another culture what aspects of theirs offends him.

[Spy]

Mmm. We had just had a minutes silence at the ground to commemorate the victims of the London attacks, literally immediately before the haka. Said victims, of course, having been attacked with knives, and I believe, having had their throats cut. I don't think it's a case of applying a Western lens to an indigenous culture. It's just a bit of common bloody sense, IMO.