deals and disappointments
Sorry - this may turn into a bit of a disjointed rant...especially if you don't try and keep up with the rugby news I've been posting. Here's some facts to help you along:
I, Cort, am not a fan of European rugby. Yes - rugby has styles. There's a style of play that is common in Europe (England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France) and then you have your outliers (Georgia, Italy, Argentina, Japan, Canada) who have their own very different way of going about the game - which isn't a very good way of going about the game but it's unique to them, and then there's the Southern Hemisphere (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Samoa, and I'll even lump Tonga in there). The two main hemispheres play rugby very differently. There's more crap that goes on in the north - but they would say that their game is more about the "trenches" and less about the try-scoring (as if to say that our defense suck because the scores in the SupeRugby are high.
I am a loyalty girl at heart. I hate trades and trade deadlines in the NHL - even though I don't want hockey all that much. I know that all these players get paid and there's contracts and stuff but I had the trading before the season is done. I don't like how players go looking for championships and flip teams to accommodate that goal. I think there should be time violations or salary penalties if that's the case. What are we teaching the youth that's growing up to watch these games and following teams? Whatever it takes to get to the top. Loyalty is crap as long as your fealty is to the championship. Teams with heart don't exist anymore - it's just about the most stacked team.
It's definitely interesting to me all the deals and signing and unsigning and moving and shifting in the rugby world these days. I don't like it. Part of me thinks that all the European players can stay in their part of the world and keep playing their
dirty style of rugby and all of our beautiful, skillful running men can stay in the southern hemisphere. And yes - that would mean players like Danny Cipriani would need to pack up and go home - but I don't want our players going North to get hurt and defiled just because Europe appears to have disposable paychecks for players. The last time Dan Carter was in France to play he ruptured his achilles...don't go Dan. I bring all of this up because Dan Carter was offered 4.8 million to go play for the Paris Racing Metro club. Barf. I can't think of him leaving the SupeRugby league again. Besides - they don't televise many Racing Metro games...and that sucks too. But that's $31,000 a WEEK. Hard to say no.
But he's not the only one...and he hasn't made the decision to leave yet. Bakies Botha (not that I really care...I don't like him) is signed on with Toulon along with Matt Giteau who both pack up after the World Cup and head North for an undetermined amount of time. I think it's probably a good move for Matt Giteau. It means that he can play 12 off of Jonny Wilkinson instead of 10 for the Brumbies. And let's face it...the Brumbies aren't doing so hot. I'd be interested to see who would get kicking rights in Toulon...based on Matt's showing th
is week - it would definitely be Jonny.
Highlanders (15) vs. The Brumbies (9)
So - speaking of how the Brumbies did this week. If you thought they were on the ropes last week again the Waratahs and needed to win to have a chance at playoffs - this week was only more important. In my head I was like - they're playing the Highlanders - there's a shot. Famous, FAMOUS last words. No deal. They just couldn't do it. Their scrum was crap, Steven Moore is still out of the line up (who would have thought I would be complaining ab
out that but dude that takes his place is FOREVER going down with injuries...He just needs to join the back line and call it a day). Their offense looked solid but there were knock ons and knock ons mean scrums and their scrums sucked! If you can't win scrums - you can't win games. It's too much of the game! They even gave up a penalty try because of their stupid scrums. And then there's Matt Giteau's kicking. He was quoted to say that it was his fault...I mean - only one kick scored points that whole game so Matt wasn't the only one feeling it but you're paid to get the ball through the two sticks - it's time to start making good on the job that you're paid to do - regardless of where and who you're playing for next year. You're not in Toulon yet Matt. Ack! I think it may be official - The Brumbies only have pride left this season to play for.
The Chiefs (16) vs. The Waratahs (23)
Again with running out of hope. The Chiefs are on the ropes right now too...and with Muliaina still not on any roster any time soon and Delany pla
ying very similar to Donald - The Chiefs are running out of go-to options. And then they left Tana Umaga out of the line up for the game. Okay - let's think about this for a second...I get that he's old and maybe doesn't line break as hard as some guys but you've got Captain Mils out indefinitely on injury and that's a lot of experience left off the field...you need experience at this point and then you take the dude that has captained the All Blacks off the roster...um - hello? Use your head...experience is worth it's weight in gold, especially when that experience can still keep up with the kids.
I do have to say that Masaga is looking pretty sweet. There was a sequence where he broke about 4 tackles in a row and stayed in bounds. The man is a force to be reckoned with. I will be very, VERY interested to see how things play out this summer to decide on who will represent NZ at the world cup.
I, Cort, am not a fan of European rugby. Yes - rugby has styles. There's a style of play that is common in Europe (England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France) and then you have your outliers (Georgia, Italy, Argentina, Japan, Canada) who have their own very different way of going about the game - which isn't a very good way of going about the game but it's unique to them, and then there's the Southern Hemisphere (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Samoa, and I'll even lump Tonga in there). The two main hemispheres play rugby very differently. There's more crap that goes on in the north - but they would say that their game is more about the "trenches" and less about the try-scoring (as if to say that our defense suck because the scores in the SupeRugby are high.
I am a loyalty girl at heart. I hate trades and trade deadlines in the NHL - even though I don't want hockey all that much. I know that all these players get paid and there's contracts and stuff but I had the trading before the season is done. I don't like how players go looking for championships and flip teams to accommodate that goal. I think there should be time violations or salary penalties if that's the case. What are we teaching the youth that's growing up to watch these games and following teams? Whatever it takes to get to the top. Loyalty is crap as long as your fealty is to the championship. Teams with heart don't exist anymore - it's just about the most stacked team.
It's definitely interesting to me all the deals and signing and unsigning and moving and shifting in the rugby world these days. I don't like it. Part of me thinks that all the European players can stay in their part of the world and keep playing their
dirty style of rugby and all of our beautiful, skillful running men can stay in the southern hemisphere. And yes - that would mean players like Danny Cipriani would need to pack up and go home - but I don't want our players going North to get hurt and defiled just because Europe appears to have disposable paychecks for players. The last time Dan Carter was in France to play he ruptured his achilles...don't go Dan. I bring all of this up because Dan Carter was offered 4.8 million to go play for the Paris Racing Metro club. Barf. I can't think of him leaving the SupeRugby league again. Besides - they don't televise many Racing Metro games...and that sucks too. But that's $31,000 a WEEK. Hard to say no.But he's not the only one...and he hasn't made the decision to leave yet. Bakies Botha (not that I really care...I don't like him) is signed on with Toulon along with Matt Giteau who both pack up after the World Cup and head North for an undetermined amount of time. I think it's probably a good move for Matt Giteau. It means that he can play 12 off of Jonny Wilkinson instead of 10 for the Brumbies. And let's face it...the Brumbies aren't doing so hot. I'd be interested to see who would get kicking rights in Toulon...based on Matt's showing th
is week - it would definitely be Jonny.And as mentioned last week - Adam Ashley-Cooper had a big decision to make this last week...and a decision he certainly made. He will be wearing blue next year - but not the navy blue we're used to seeing him in. He'll be in baby blue and red - playing the back three with Dean Mitchell and Kurtley Beale. I would say that somebody is after a SupeRugby Title. I really like AAC but I just wish there was a better way to win championships then jumping ship to the better team. And why couldn't that better team be the Brumbies?
Highlanders (15) vs. The Brumbies (9)
So - speaking of how the Brumbies did this week. If you thought they were on the ropes last week again the Waratahs and needed to win to have a chance at playoffs - this week was only more important. In my head I was like - they're playing the Highlanders - there's a shot. Famous, FAMOUS last words. No deal. They just couldn't do it. Their scrum was crap, Steven Moore is still out of the line up (who would have thought I would be complaining ab
out that but dude that takes his place is FOREVER going down with injuries...He just needs to join the back line and call it a day). Their offense looked solid but there were knock ons and knock ons mean scrums and their scrums sucked! If you can't win scrums - you can't win games. It's too much of the game! They even gave up a penalty try because of their stupid scrums. And then there's Matt Giteau's kicking. He was quoted to say that it was his fault...I mean - only one kick scored points that whole game so Matt wasn't the only one feeling it but you're paid to get the ball through the two sticks - it's time to start making good on the job that you're paid to do - regardless of where and who you're playing for next year. You're not in Toulon yet Matt. Ack! I think it may be official - The Brumbies only have pride left this season to play for.The Chiefs (16) vs. The Waratahs (23)
Again with running out of hope. The Chiefs are on the ropes right now too...and with Muliaina still not on any roster any time soon and Delany pla
ying very similar to Donald - The Chiefs are running out of go-to options. And then they left Tana Umaga out of the line up for the game. Okay - let's think about this for a second...I get that he's old and maybe doesn't line break as hard as some guys but you've got Captain Mils out indefinitely on injury and that's a lot of experience left off the field...you need experience at this point and then you take the dude that has captained the All Blacks off the roster...um - hello? Use your head...experience is worth it's weight in gold, especially when that experience can still keep up with the kids.I do have to say that Masaga is looking pretty sweet. There was a sequence where he broke about 4 tackles in a row and stayed in bounds. The man is a force to be reckoned with. I will be very, VERY interested to see how things play out this summer to decide on who will represent NZ at the world cup.
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