Neil Reid

The making of Richie McCaw

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:55:59 -0800

Stinging criticism can do vastly different things to different athletes.

Some will adopt a virtual siege mentality, and come across with a virtual 'poor me' attitude.

Others tend to go into their shell, losing confidence and dropping off their game, whatever sport they play.

But the real champions are those that come back better than before.

And in that group you would have to include All Black captain Richie McCaw. ...

No room for sentiment in Cup decision

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:40:29 -0800

The out-pouring of dissatisfaction from up north following their culling from the Air New Zealand Cup was to be expected.

But by the same token, so too was the decision from the New Zealand Rugby Union to not extend an invitation to them for the 2009 Air New Zealand Cup.

In the wake of the decision to remove both Northland and Tasman from the competition next year, there has been a lot of emotive things spoken of the Whangarei-based union. ...

So much for the doom and gloom

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 03:48:04 -0800

If a bakery had a tasty recipe for humble pie then they should have been doing a roaring trade on Sunday morning.

Because there certainly wasn't a shortage of those who should have been made to eat their words in the wake of the All Blacks' outstanding 39-10 win over the appointed 'master-coach' Robbie Deans' charges at Eden Park on Saturday night. ...

No quick fix for All Black weaknesses

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:57:03 -0800

Saturday's loss to Robbie Deans' Wallabies should have some alarm bells ringing in terms of the All Blacks' short-term fortunes.

But one of the most concerning aspects is that there is certainly no quick fix to the glaring weaknesses which have been exposed to the rugby world in their two test losses in succession.

The Wallabies were outstanding on Saturday night in Sydney, clearly employing a wise game-plan from coach Deans. ...

Deans an adopted son in Aussie

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:24:26 -0800

There is no mistaking the rapidly-increasing admiration club which is welcoming Robbie Deans with open arms into the Wallaby fold.

And there is also no mistaking the size of the challenge that awaits the All Blacks when they land in Sydney late this week to take on the Wallabies in the Tri Nations showdown. ...

Top stadium only thing missing in Dunedin

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:02:23 -0800

Dunedin turned on a blinder for last weekend's pulsating 30-28 Springbok win over the depleted All Blacks last Saturday.

Unfortunately the only thing it couldn't provide was a stadium of true world-class.

The southern city deserves all the credit it has received in the wake of the lead-up to the second match of the Tri Nations.

The locals were hospitable, as always. ...

SA Rugby are the ones to say sorry

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 00:15:24 -0800

South African rugby bosses, and not Craig Dowd, are the people who should be making a public apology.

Dowd has become public enemy No 1 in some sections of South African rugby after stating the bleeding obvious; that Springbok coach Peter de Villiers is a "puppet".

Dowd, speaking after the Boks' 19-8 loss to the All Blacks in the first match of the Tri Nations, said: "While the Springboks have some good staff, de Villiers is merely a puppet". ...

Beware of the wounded Bok

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 04:38:44 -0800

There are many superlatives which could be thrown around when describing the All Blacks' win in the opening match of the Tri-nations.

The 19-8 win over the world champion Springboks promoted the All Blacks back up to the No 1 spot on the IRB's world rankings and has seen some serious questions now being asked about new Bok coach Peter de Villiers.

But without appearing to come across as a party-pooper, I think it is a little too soon to be getting too carried away. ...

If Deans can coach, so too can Hansen

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:11:43 -0800

If the NZRU are prepared to help improve Robbie Deans' coaching, then surely they have to give the green-light to Steve Hansen's bid to take charge of the Crusaders.

Hansen confirmed late last week that he had applied to coach the Crusaders in 2009, at the same time as remaining on staff with the All Blacks as forwards coach.

For a start, it is a move which is allowed for under the NZRU's board-enforced protocol. ...

McCaw injury further exposes depth issue

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 02:25:36 -0800

The untimely injury to All Black captain Richie McCaw has revealed another area where New Zealand rugby is seemingly stretched depth-wise at the highest level.

Ligament damage to McCaw's left ankle has thrown a major spanner in the works as the All Blacks prepare for the Tri-nations. ...