ALL IN THE SCRUM:A rugby miscellany
LIKE everything Graham Henry’s All Blacks do, it is with efficient professionalism.
Promptly after the match on Saturday evening, Henry arrived in the media room along with assistant coaches Steve Hansen, Wayne Smith and captain Richie McCaw.
All spoke candidly.
Before opening it up to the floor for questions, Henry always provides a synopsis of what has just unfolded.
On Saturday night he momentarily shelved rugby matters to speak about the trapped miners at Pike River coal mine on the west coast of the south island of New Zealand.
No contact has been made with the 29 men (who include a South African, Australian and Scotsman) since an explosion cut communications at around 3.50pm local time on November 19th.
Two of the miners are well known rugby players – Blair Sims is the West Coast rugby league player of the year for the past two seasons and Michael Monk is a hooker with the West Coast union team.
“I’d like to pass on our thoughts to the people of Pike River,” said Henry. “I know they are going through a hard time at the moment.
“I hope things work out positively there. Our thoughts and prayers from the All Blacks to you people. And stay strong.”
Henry, like his team, particularly McCaw and Carter, are more than just sporting superstars and they are keenly aware of this.
They are inspirational ambassadors of their country.
They wear it well.
O’Gara looks down: Sexton has to screen out chief rival
It was interesting to see a little dramatic intervention during Ireland’s match against the All Blacks.
It came just after 10 minutes when Ireland were awarded their first penalty of the match and Jonathan Sexton stepped up to take the kick from the half-way line.
The giant screen inside the grounds immediately cut to Ronan O’Gara, the spurned outhalf for this match, sitting on the replacement bench up in the stands.
You just have to wonder what was going through Sexton’s mind when he looked up to see on the screen directly behind the goal into which he was kicking at the Lansdowne Road end, the giant image of O’Gara looking down on him. Sexton did what he is trained to do and landed the penalty.
Big sell: Eden shows how
WHILE 46,302 people in the Aviva Stadium was not an embarrassing number, considering the ticketing fiasco, the IRFU might now take a look at what other countries have been doing to get people into stadia for big rugby matches.
The renovated Eden Park in Auckland will host World Cup matches next September, but rather than put tickets on sale and expect people to lap them up, the organisers have also arranged free public transport from the city to all of the matches.
While there should be no difficulty filling Lansdowne Road for the big home matches in the Six Nations against France and England, the IRFU might consider other incentives for the pre-World Cup friendly matches Ireland have organised for next summer.
Prop man: Borlase keeps end up after tough start
PAUL Borlase was the latest Southern Hemisphere tighthead prop to be imported (until the gargantuan Clint Newland arrived at Leinster a few days later) and the Kiwi received some immediate criticism for his scrummaging against the Wallabies last Tuesday night.
Just like Stanley Wright did a few years back and look how that turned out.
However, the more knowledgeable Munster supporters will appreciate how Borlase and co reacted to finding himself in difficulties at scrum time.
When the dust settled after the brawl, a snappy conversation between New Zealand referee Bryce Lawrence and his Irish touch judges Alan Lewis and David Wilkinson failed to identify who threw any of the punches.
As the rain thundered down, Lawrence was unable to say much to the captains, James Coughlan and Berrick Barnes: “Something happened in the scrum, okay? Now, there is plenty in it but no one’s actually got anything for me, okay? For no more than 10 seconds speak to your players, okay? Discipline!”
“Okay,” replied the smirking Coughlan as the Munster pack went back to engineering another memorable occasion in Thomond Park.
NO SPOILS FOR THIS VICTOR
“LAST year’s end of game against Ireland at Croke Park was the first time in my life that I was dominated by an opponent running his team’s lineout. I kept changing things, but he kept one step ahead of me. This autumn when he didn’t play, we could all feel the difference.”
– Springbok captain Victor Matfield on Ireland’s absent pack leader Paul O’Connell.
“I think the crowd appreciated a good old ding dong battle out there. Nine years ago it was exactly the same type of game. I always enjoy playing in Dublin. Lansdowne Road was a pretty cool place even though it was an older (ground), this stadium is exceptional. Good to have a run around.”
– Richie McCaw enjoys the “ding dong” battle with Ireland as much as his debut as an All Black on this patch of land in 2001.
