Field Theory by Hadyn Green

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Field Theory: Analyse This

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  • Rich of Observationz,

    Do they always announce the World Cup draw 2 years out?

    Looks like NZ can't meet France until the final, right?

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Hadyn Green,

    I believe they do announce it this early but this is the first year it hasn't been a random draw (again, kinda dull).

    And if the structure stays the same as last time then we shouldn't see France again until we beat them in the final </false confidence>

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    France are in our pool and are likely to be the first team we face??? Or do you mean we won't face them post-pool play until the final?

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Yeah, coz if they beat us in the pool it just means a different side in the quarter finals. It's the knockout stages that really matter.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Megan Wegan,

    First of all a two-finger salute and a raspberry to Chris Rattue and all of the other Robbie Deans fan club members.

    Who has (Chris) been remarkably quiet since the beginning of November. Coincidence? I think not....

    I think Conrad Smith is better than Richard Kahui

    RK is doing MUCH better on my particular ratings scale.

    There doesn't look to be any Pool of Death this time around, which is a little dull.

    Oh but there is.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report

  • Naly D,

    To those who want to listen to Hadyn's interview;
    http://www.95bfm.co.nz/default,189748,sunday-breakfast-30-november-2008.sm

    Pool of death is such a crap analogy. I always think of one of those motorbike-in-a-round-cage things. It never delivers.

    Those stats are good, it is nice to see journalists actually presenting hard data.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report

  • Hadyn Green,

    To those who want to listen to Hadyn's interview;

    Naly you bastard!

    Though I think I was just filler before Neil Gaiman

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report

  • Naly D,

    Naly you bastard!
    Though I think I was just filler before Neil Gaiman

    Well, it'll give people who took yesterday and today off to watch the cricket something to do, besides mowing the lawns.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report

  • Luke Williamson,

    Where has Chris Rattue gone? Has the Herald pulled him because he was getting too bitter and twisted? Or is he waiting for G Henry to lose before he makes a return to print? Pity about the "world's best coach" and his team losing to Wales (how many times have they beaten NZ in the last century?).

    Warkworth • Since Oct 2007 • 297 posts Report

  • Naly D,

    well hey, turns out it's not the first thing he's wrong about. Maybe we NEED him to give our teams success.

    Oh goodness, I hope that link code worked.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Do they always announce the World Cup draw 2 years out?

    It means they can lock down venues. Assuming any of them are built in time that is.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • LegBreak,

    It’s closer to 3 years out from the World Cup.

    But I guess you can do that in a sport where the international pecking order shifts at glacial speed.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

  • Paul Williams,

    I didn't see all the games however, from what I did see, I'd say that Muliaina, Nonu, Kahui and Kaino had great tours. Thorn too. Donald's was mixed which makes Carter's sabattical all the more challenging.

    Interesting that the second graphic Haydn posted showed it was the damned Aussies that let the South down by losing to the Welsh. I'll make sure I let them know.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report

  • Richard Irvine,

    It just feels a bit flat to me. Where's the fun in going over and bullying the home nations into another grand slam - didn't we just DO one of them in 2005?

    I guess it's not our fault the home nations are a bit crap at the moment, but is the grand slam going to become another meaningless IVECO series? The brght spot was the Munster game for sure, but we all know how often international sides play provinical sides these days...

    Auckland • Since Dec 2006 • 242 posts Report

  • Naly D,

    It just feels a bit flat to me.

    Just like the BLACKCAPS top order.

    Sorry, I'll give it up now.

    Wellington • Since Sep 2008 • 307 posts Report

  • LegBreak,

    No Naly,

    The NZ top order is fresh, exciting, and is all over before anyone can start to get bored of it.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    'Flat' is the type of wickets we'll need to keep preparing in NZ to win over the next couple of years.

    On a side tangent, does anyone know why our first class games are 4 days? It seems obvious to me that part of the reason that our batsman aren't any good at batting for more than a day is that our domestic cricket has a structure which discourages it. Particularly given that more often than not you're going to lose some time to weather in NZ.

    Does any other cricket do four days for 1st class?

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    The English county championship is 4 day games, as is the Sheffield Shield.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • James Roberts,

    The whole tour suffered from the lack of clarity around the interpretation of breakdown laws.

    They’re far too open for interpretation and as a consequence its allowing referee's to dictate the fortunes of a rugby game.

    If the All Blacks had been allowed to play the game at their pace it would have been a total blow out.

    Interesting seeing Henry’s comments about how he thought this year’s team is better than last! Which to be honest I agree with. No Luke McCalister for a start. We can all but hope that pretty face doesn’t get muddied by lush kiwi grass again…..

    Since Aug 2008 • 1 posts Report

  • Hadyn Green,

    Interesting seeing Henry’s comments about how he thought this year’s team is better than last! Which to be honest I agree with.

    Except for the scrums, where we went from a team that could demolish anyone to a team that was just strong competition

    The whole tour suffered from the lack of clarity around the interpretation of breakdown laws.

    I totally agree. We're currently looking at a game where different top level teams all play by different rules. AFAIK the only other sport that currently does this is Major League Baseball.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2090 posts Report

  • Luke Williamson,

    Chris Rattue is back in NZ Herald this morning! And Robbie Deans is easily best coach of the year!!! No mention of the loss to Wales in the weekend. He's STILL very bitter about the loss at the World Cup.

    Warkworth • Since Oct 2007 • 297 posts Report

  • Megan Wegan,

    Oh yes he is...

    The 2007 All Black World Cup project remains and will always remain a colossal disaster, a master class in false thinking unless the deal was to promote Corsica as a lovely place to top off a restful year. The foolhardy planners should have been given the axe in favour of the remarkable Deans, and nothing will ever change that.

    ahahahhahahahahahahahahaha. One word Chris: Wales.

    God he's bitter.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report

  • Luke Williamson,

    I can't decide whether he really believes what he is writing or whether he just does it for fun to wind everyone up. His own little joke. I hope it's the latter.

    Warkworth • Since Oct 2007 • 297 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    The foolhardy planners should have been given the axe in favour of the remarkable Deans, and nothing will ever change that.

    Whilst I'm certainly not a Rattue fan, I agree with that particular point. Pelt me if potatoes if you must.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Megan Wegan,

    Pelt me if potatoes if you must.

    If only I could find you....

    Look, I'm from Canterbury. I love Robbie Deans (though I don't think he is nearly as pretty as Chris seems to). My point is, all this happened a year ago, and maybe now would be time to get over it?

    I don't think, as per the column, anyone described the RWC as 'a learning experience' at the time. I remember the word 'gutted' being bandied about ad nauseum. But surely it is a good thing they are now admitting they made mistakes and are learning from them?

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report

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