Just as well the Crusaders Captain Richie McCaw can think on his feet !
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You find that concept genuinely intriguing yet a bit of a conundrum don’t you ?
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What counted on the score board was a victory to the home team, with the Crusaders beating a tenacious Highlanders side 32-17, but that was not all that went on in Christchurch at the weekend.
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In an interesting turn of events referees will finally be publicly accountable for their decisions at Post Game Press Conferences of Super 14 rugby matches this season, a result of the refereeing hierarchy’s efforts to add transparency & accountability to the game’s whistlers and their decisions.
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Richie McCaw’s work at the breakdown is the text book studied by aspiring flankers, now the teacher is going back to school.
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New Zealand come up against International Rugby Board (IRB) sevens champions South Africa on the opening night of the Wellington tournament starting tomorrow. A tournament that has NZ coach Gordon Tietjens on edge but also looking to his team to make it three tournament wins a row.
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Blatantly plagiarised from elsewhere – still amusing nonetheless 🙂
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NZRU president John Sturgeon will represent the New Zealand rugby community delivering birthday wishes & a special All Blacks cake to NZ’s oldest living All Black, Eric Tindill, who turns 99 on Friday.
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NZ’s proposal to the IRB of an amendment to eligibility rules that would enable players to switch National allegiance late in their careers has been rejected by the International Rugby Board.
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Richie McCaw the 28-year-old AB Captain is the recipient for the IRB’s prestigious Player of the Year award straight after leading his side to a comprehensive 39-12 victory over France at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille today where he earned his 80th test cap (43rd as Captain) against the French. McCaw having also won IRB player of the year in 2006 is only player ever to have been honoured twice.
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Paddy O’Brien, IRB referees’ chief, met with Graham Henry in London yesterday to apologise to the All Blacks for the Stuart Dickinson’s handling of the AB v Italy game last weekend.
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Was this cited ? It was not. Continue reading →

Dan Carter gets to sit out the Italy game for his tackle on Martin Roberts. The judge was easily convinced there was no malice in the tackle, impressed by Carter’s spotless record, forthrightness in regards to the matter & apology to Roberts immediately after the game. Carter waived the right to appeal the ban wanting to simply put the entire unpleasant episode behind him and as much as Warren Gatland will wail & flail – the matter is now closed.
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Games played: 24
Wins : 21 – 87.50%
Most wins in a row : 20
Total points scored : 722
Highest score : 55
Largest winning margin : 52
Average points per game: 30.08
Average points difference per game : 20.71
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Bolters & Babies aside, the biggest gasp was saved for the announcement for the All Blacks coaching revamp which has Coach Graham Henry, and assistants Steve Hansen & Wayne Smith swapping responsibilities ahead of their EOYT to Japan & Europe.

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On rugby re-joining the Olympic Games :

McCaw (76 Test Caps, 39 times as Captain) – “Playing for New Zealand and pulling on the All Blacks jersey have been a huge honour. As a rugby player, to be able to do that at an Olympic Games would be just huge & something that every rugby player in this country would be motivated by.”

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Often communities question the wisdom and more importantly the economic value of hosting major sporting events. Well, the proof of the pudding is said to be in the eating … or in this case the measuring. RevPAR (Revenue per Available Room) is the Hotel Industry’s Key Performance Indicator in addition to being recognised as barometer of the health for the Tourism Industry as a whole.

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