Interesting the shift from "don't have the cattle" to great and optimistic starting point. Hopefully Razor can bring out the best in them.
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
For a blast from the past, I leave below Rattue's take on the worst XV of the Henry era - just prior to the 2011 RWC.
Aged like milk.
jesus...that might be the worst thing ive ever seen written down
14.) BEN SMITH
The renaissance man according to southerners. Have to take their word for it, since my devotion to Super rugby doesn't often extend to watching the Highlanders. Looked fairly ordinary in his All Black stint compared with the Sivivatus of this world. As for being Ben Smith - All Black wings need handles like Josevata, Hosea, Rico, Rene, Rudi, Cory, Sitiveni, Zac, Israel, Jonah. Call it the Engelbert Humperdinck effect. Do you think Sonny Bill Williams would be Sonny Bill Williams if he wasn't Sonny Bill Williams? Come on. Try Benny Boy Smith-Wesson and just watch your career take off.
that article is funny for so many reasons
He picked too many low hanging fruit by naming one test wonders. Should have aimed at a few guys who got picked regularly
Ma'a Nonu was already Ma'a Nonu V2 by 2011
Stephen Donald? When Colin Slade had already been picked in that position?
Lauaki is plain wrong. People remember that Aus test that was the end of him, but overlook the work before that, and the fact he was a huge loss for that 2007 Qtr Final
I would expect a better list from some of the lessor trolls of this joint
Every time we have a go at Stephen Jones we should really stop throwing stones in our glasshouse and hang our heads in shame that we come from a country that actually pays Chris Rattue to write about Rugby.
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
Every time we have a go at Stephen Jones we should really stop throwing stones in our glasshouse and hang our heads in shame that we come from a country that actually pays Chris Rattue to write about Rugby.
I accept no responsibility for him.
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
Every time we have a go at Stephen Jones we should really stop throwing stones in our glasshouse and hang our heads in shame that we come from a country that actually pays Chris Rattue to write about Rugby.
I accept no responsibility for him.
Apparently he spent a bit of time in the Bay as a youngster.
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@Nepia said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
Every time we have a go at Stephen Jones we should really stop throwing stones in our glasshouse and hang our heads in shame that we come from a country that actually pays Chris Rattue to write about Rugby.
I accept no responsibility for him.
Apparently he spent a bit of time in the Bay as a youngster.
Hopefully he was bullied mercilessly.
Did anyone catch that "Ineligible All Blacks XV" on stuff? Matt Proctor at 14?
If I was a NZR policy maker and I read George Bridge at 15, that would confirm to me that making overseas-based players eligible for the ABs would be DISASTROUS.
Leicester is the only real loss, but tbh test quality wingers emerge every few years in NZ.
@Punch_up said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@nzzp Rattue = dude who delivers bogus takes with high confidence in those bogus takes
Wish.com version of the walrus
@mariner4life oh come on, prior to the world cup Donald was one of the most "hated" guys in NZ rugby. Everyone read that bit and nodded hard.
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@mariner4life oh come on, prior to the world cup Donald was one of the most "hated" guys in NZ rugby. Everyone read that bit and nodded hard.
Yep, NZ fans did themselves proud with that carry on.
I for one was thrilled he did what he did.
@Punch_up said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
Leicester is the only real loss, but tbh test quality wingers emerge every few
yearsmonths in NZ.
FIFY
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@mariner4life oh come on, prior to the world cup Donald was one of the most "hated" guys in NZ rugby. Everyone read that bit and nodded hard.
I white knighted for him. thought he was under-rated... Hong Kong wasn't his fault. Fella got really unlucky.
Narratives stick though...
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@nzzp I was also in that camp iirc.
Same. I compared him to Bok legend Henry Honiball.
Years later I stand by this
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@nzzp I was also in that camp iirc.
Same. I compared him to Bok legend Henry Honiball.
Years later I stand by this
haha you're a mad lad. Honiball was excellent. Donald was a bit like Barnes - solid, but then had the odd stuff up each game.
@African-Monkey Yeah, I think Leicester will find that the landscape will have changed a lot in 18 months. Some wingers will have "runs on the board" (Ito number of test caps compared to his handful). The obligatory pair of uncapped young flyers making compelling cases for selection will be there. He might be looking up at Sevu Reece (who himself might be 5th in ABs wing pecking order at that time).
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
Narratives stick though...
So do legendary moments: Beaver coming on in a size-too-small shirt, the ABs with a penalty and as nervous as buggery, and he simply says "Just give me the fucking ball"
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
For a blast from the past, I leave below Rattue's take on the worst XV of the Henry era - just prior to the 2011 RWC.
Aged like milk.
What a hateful article, just putting the boot into everyone.
Besides it being totally wrong, as some of those guys are now legends, just saying this crap about guys being given a shot in the AB's, through injury or coaches trying new things.
This kind of stuff just pisses me off.
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
Narratives stick though...
So do legendary moments: Beaver coming on in a size-too-small shirt, the ABs with a penalty and as nervous as buggery, and he simply says "Just give me the fucking ball"
That hasn't happened at the time of the article obviously. But that game changed the narrative around Donald. Negative narratives take on a life of their own, and people stop seeing a balanced view of players.
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
Every time we have a go at Stephen Jones we should really stop throwing stones in our glasshouse and hang our heads in shame that we come from a country that actually pays Chris Rattue to write about Rugby.
Add Reason to that. But Rattue is the reason(no pun intended) why I have never brought a Herald after hin writing he would not support ABs after Deans missed out on AB job after 2007 WC.
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@mariner4life oh come on, prior to the world cup Donald was one of the most "hated" guys in NZ rugby. Everyone read that bit and nodded hard.
IMHO hated sounds too strong. Most people did not want him anywhere near the AB squad that is sure. I was not a fan but was thrilled for him to get the chance at redemption, as he seemed like a nice guy
@Darren said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
For a blast from the past, I leave below Rattue's take on the worst XV of the Henry era - just prior to the 2011 RWC.
Aged like milk.
What a hateful article, just putting the boot into everyone.
Besides it being totally wrong, as some of those guys are now legends, just saying this crap about guys being given a shot in the AB's, through injury or coaches trying new things.
This kind of stuff just pisses me off.
Yeah me too. Even guys on here naming ABs who aren’t that good gets tiresome after awhile ( puts hand up in guilty fashion for past misdeeds ) but for a “professional” to do a whole article like that is really pathetic.
If I was any of those players I’d be tempted to go up to him and punch him on sight to be honest.
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
Narratives stick though...
So do legendary moments: Beaver coming on in a size-too-small shirt, the ABs with a penalty and as nervous as buggery, and he simply says "Just give me the fucking ball"
That hasn't happened at the time of the article obviously. But that game changed the narrative around Donald. Negative narratives take on a life of their own, and people stop seeing a balanced view of players.
Interestingly, in his book, McCaw rated Donald's character and commitment as an AB really highly in his book
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
Narratives stick though...
So do legendary moments: Beaver coming on in a size-too-small shirt, the ABs with a penalty and as nervous as buggery, and he simply says "Just give me the fucking ball"
That hasn't happened at the time of the article obviously. But that game changed the narrative around Donald. Negative narratives take on a life of their own, and people stop seeing a balanced view of players.
Interestingly, in his book, McCaw rated Donald's character and commitment as an AB really highly in his book
I just thought he was a bit limited in the natural talent department and the incumbent was the opposite, so there was a bit of chalk and cheese going on when he played, compared to what we were used to.
@kiwiinmelb said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@Victor-Meldrew said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@nzzp said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
Narratives stick though...
So do legendary moments: Beaver coming on in a size-too-small shirt, the ABs with a penalty and as nervous as buggery, and he simply says "Just give me the fucking ball"
That hasn't happened at the time of the article obviously. But that game changed the narrative around Donald. Negative narratives take on a life of their own, and people stop seeing a balanced view of players.
Interestingly, in his book, McCaw rated Donald's character and commitment as an AB really highly in his book
I just thought he was a bit limited in the natural talent department and the incumbent was the opposite, so there was a bit of chalk and cheese going on when he played, compared to what we were used to.
Yeah but being compared to DC is unfair on anyone.
I liked the idea of Donald at 12 as a robust second playmaker til Nonu came of age truth be told.
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@canefan hence why I put "hated". Not, hated.
New Zealand ( well, and any other countries in the world ) has some absolutely munterish “fans”.
I remember how hated Mark Carter was and that was before the days of social media. What the fuck did he ever do to deserve that ?
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@MN5 you're drunk, go back to punching journalists online.
No, the beer isn’t ready til midweek and being Scottish I’m not buying any.
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
I remember how hated Mark Carter was and that was before the days of social media. What the fuck did he ever do to deserve that ?
Came from Auckland
Used sellotape
@Machpants said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
I was just kacking my pants, as we lost ten after ten after ten. It's not like there was anyone else, Donald was obviously next cab, but he was flaky. Didn't do much in the final, but nailed the clutch moment
Disagree, he defended well at 12 that game.
@MN5 said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@Bones said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
@canefan hence why I put "hated". Not, hated.
New Zealand ( well, and any other countries in the world ) has some absolutely munterish “fans”.
I remember how hated Mark Carter was and that was before the days of social media. What the fuck did he ever do to deserve that ?
I agree so much, Carter wasn't anything great, but was pk, didn't deserve the crap he got. Have seen it over the years where some rugby watchers expect every AB named to be a great or he isn't good enough, and so cops rubbish from people who generally aren't good enough to play top club rugby! Even with Donald, I agree he was limited in natural ability, but still the players I always love as a lot of what they do is through often hard work rather than natural ability? True greats like McCaw and Carter combine thet lot exceptional natural ability with never leaving a stone unturned to make sure everything is as good as possible. Always remember seeing a test in Brisbanes , I got there early, and it was to be noted that McCaw and Dan Carter were actually out on field going through warm ups etc probably 5 minutes before the rest of team.
Stuff understands Barrett’s new contract with New Zealand Rugby and the Blues, with a significant third-party contribution once again, is set to be revealed as early as this week after taking some time to get over the line. It will take him through until the 2027 World Cup.
until the 2027 World Cup
Even older, slower, less distance on kicks, more hospital passes than a lawyer chasing an ambulance, go ahead BB, prove me wrong!
@Bovidae said in All Blacks 2024 - no interminable Foster arguments:
It will take him through until the 2027 World Cup
If true, seems that Robertson sees him as integral to his plans to go one better than this year's model and win the Final.