I'm hoping to work 'grog-slut' into September's.

Plleeeeeease do this.

I do like the way she'll fly to Auckland for a rugby test and spend two hours before kick-off shopping for shoes in Newmarket.

I once sat in the media box at the Stadium filing my nails. Never have I…

She's a chick?! I always assumed Tracy to be short for "Spencer Tracy" or something. How can a woman be both into rugby *and* statistics?

It's Tracey with an e, and she's a scientist — an insect pathologist, to be precise.

She also knows more about rugby than almost anyone…

World champs rather than chokers, too. Sorry bout that.

Actually, in a threadmerge sort of way, the first time I encountered the Vuvuzelas was at a Women's NPC (or whatever it's called now) Rugby match at Eden park. There were only a handful of us supporting North Harbour (long story),…

Is there no end to our emasculation?

World champs rather than chokers, too. Sorry bout that.

'cocknuckle'... 'grog-slut'

Your fellow fresh columnist may be able to suggest some pearlers from his time in the trenches

She's a chick?! I always assumed Tracy to be short for "Spencer Tracy" or something. How can a woman be both into rugby *and* statistics?

Next you'll be telling me they play the bloody game too. Is there no end to our emasculation?

Incidentally, Tracy is a common boys name…

Pre-feminised for your convenience.

Really? How cool!

I'm hoping to work 'grog-slut' into September's.

Oh ffs, dude, I just got 'cocknuckle' into the next edition of Metro.

Really? How cool!

I still don't really get what the difference is betwixt a deliberate punch & a deliberate knee. At the end of the day the sanction is supposed to discourage violent* behaviour – are they not both violent?

In ice hockey punches tend to be a complete waste of time, as everyone…

We shouldn't ever talk about it.

Fight club, innit

No, no, when we lose, it is our fault, Danielle. We shouldn't ever talk about it.

I thought when we lost it was Graham Henry's fault.

Punching would often (not always) involve another willing participant. Kneeing a player in a ruck not so much.

Not unusual in other sports. A…

Fare thee well cocknuckle

Oh ffs, dude, I just got 'cocknuckle' into the next edition of Metro. 'Cuntingfuck' is going to be considerably harder work.

Or a netball game? In fact netball is worse, at least in Derby the players wear pads and have some sympathy for the opposition.

I…

Tom, have you ever been to a roller derby bout?

Or a netball game? In fact netball is worse, at least in Derby the players wear pads and have some sympathy for the opposition.

EDIT: upon reflection cuntingfuck is my new favourite swear. Fare thee well cocknuckle

As I write my sports programme this morning, I am shaking my head at how I am contributing to the feminisation.

Yes, I tried to comment earlier, but drew a blank. Oh no, these feminising effects are more powerful than I could have imagined.

Damn you and your wily ways!

As I write my sports programme this morning, I am shaking my head at how I am contributing to the feminisation. Can someone stop me please? And as I look up at the television, I can see more than…

Tom, have you ever been to a roller derby bout?

A friend of mine keeps threatening to make me go to watch her, but I am uncertain as to if I wouldnt be scandalised at the open displays of common vulgarity that appears to be one of the attractions of…

See, I thought that only happened when we *lost*.

In the 1966 World Cup Italy was eliminated after a loss to North Korea and we decided to take it out on immigrants instead, banning foreign players from the domestic league. The ban was rescinded in 1981, and in 1982 we…

the trip back to Women Shouldn't Talk About Rugby Land

See, I thought that only happened when we *lost*. Have the rules changed?

it has a certain wonderful what-the-fuckness about it that I would hate to spoil.

It is kind of... yeah. Wow. Tom, I'd suggest you start making either more sense, or less noise. (Your fingers are typing. You might want to look to that.)

Also the trip back to Women Shouldn't…

I challenge you to disprove that the times are increasingly feminised. Now for instance she's nearly quarter to seven.

Ever wonder why everyone thinks "Italian man" is an oxymoron?

"Just go out there and smash them".

The words still echo in my head because I was transfixed by everything he said and did.

Of course he wasn't talking about…

feminised times

Bill Maher? Is that you?

Not unusual in other sports. A punch in ice hockey will get you in the penalty box, a deliberate knee is likely to get you an early shower.

Do many people get straight red cards for punching someone in the head twice?

Im assuming there's a dust up of some sort fairly often, but I don't recall too many red cards for punching.

Whats really the difference…

"...seeking to disable an opponent..."

This is pretty much the role description of #1 and #3, but then our commentators do like to gloss over the "mysterious dark arts of the front row, ho ho ho".

And thus you see men using their heads as weapons in ways that would seem idiotic were…

Well, even Michael Jones probably went into tackles with the intention sometimes of making it hurt, but that's not the same thing as seeking to disable an opponent by injuring him in the head.

I guess I'm conflating 'hurt' with 'injure', and as much as I liked watching Jerry Collins,…

And Orwell defined sport as 'war, minus the shooting'.

Tom Wolfe wrote a fascinating piece about a successful football player who realised this point and promptly quit football and became a fighter ace in Vietnam.

And Orwell defined sport as 'war, minus the shooting'.

I have wondered what the nexus of sport and international relations is. This rather fascinating literature review seems to give an insight.

The horrific descriptions of what Colin Meads used to do to people at the bottom of rucks have always made me wonder why he's so revered

I would add this to that as well:

"1 Sir Colin Meads, former All Black: Do you think you are doing too much for…

Well, even Michael Jones probably went into tackles with the intention sometimes of making it hurt, but that's not the same thing as seeking to disable an opponent by injuring him in the head. Boxing's the only caper where that's acceptable.

The horrific descriptions of what Colin Meads used to…

apparently sprigs up Tim Cahill got his just rewards...

In my completely non-expert opinion I didn't think that the tackle this morning deserved anything more than a yellow card, but imho, he got just reward for his work against NZ.

Still no. 'Winning' (with superior skill, and yes maybe strength) and 'hurting' are not compatible in any sport other than boxing, that I'm aware of. If everyone had that attitude we would never get to watch the world's best players as they would be injured all the time.

Well, even…

Jim Kayes called it "pathetic" that Waynes Barnes refused an interview.

I agree. Since when the hell is a ref obliged to give an interview ? Kayes is generally ok, but that comment made him look arrogant and conceited.

Marx had the theory that a popularist, successful sports team can distract the oppressed masses and prevent an uprising.

It doesn't seem able to prevent riots, though, does it?

'because it makes me happy'

Happiness is counter-revolutionary, obviously.

Antonio Gramsci said: ‘How can you have a revolution when the enemy has an outpost in your head?’

Marx had the theory that a popularist, successful sports team can distract the oppressed masses and prevent an uprising. A theory I had drummed into me by an old colleague who couldn't…

“The reason sport became a worldwide phenomenon can be summed up in three words,” says Professor Joe Maguire. “The British Empire.”

Or Was it?.

Andrew Jennings, scourge of FIFA, has a theory about this. “When we’re enjoying sport, we’re all open, we’re…

I do, however, believe there is a need for players in rugby (and other contact sports) to have an intent to hurt the opposition.

Still no. 'Winning' (with superior skill, and yes maybe strength) and 'hurting' are not compatible in any sport other than boxing, that I'm aware of. If…

I'm with Hadyn on this, and I watch a lot of Rugby. Ask the other people in my house. We don't need this in the game.

I agree there's no place for foul play.

I do, however, believe there is a need for players in rugby (and other contact sports)…

I'm with Hadyn on this, and I watch a lot of Rugby. Ask the other people in my house. We don't need this in the game.

Quite. Barnes had no choice but to show the red card there.

If you go into the match with the intent to injure your opponent then you have no right to be out there in your national colours.

Don't watch much rugby eh?

I'm with Hadyn on this, and I watch a lot of Rugby. Ask the other people in my house.…

If you go into the match with the intent to injure your opponent then you have no right to be out there in your national colours.

Don't watch much rugby eh?

I'm glad Barnes awarded a yellow instead of a penalty try as the crowd…

Good to see C Jane getting the recognition he deserves. He is one helluva player.

Yeah I'm glad they stuck with him despite early wobbles with the ABs. I also enjoyed watching him yell at the other backs when he went to make a run with only Dagg in support.…

I'm interested in how people thought our midfield defence shapes…

Carter seemed enthused about having a thinking, talking player outside him

Fair point, but I'd still have Nonu in there for his line-breaking qualities and the fact defences seem to concentrate on him leaving space out wider.

Interesting that Benson Stanley apparently missed 4 tackles when we've heard so much about his phenomenal defence.

All in the second half, I think, but yes, odd. OTOH, Carter seemed enthused about having a thinking, talking player outside him.

Good to see C Jane getting the recognition he deserves. He is one helluva player.

I thought the All Blacks' structure started to wobble after Kaino was subbed off, but I gather Tracey Nelson's stats will show that Vito did make a lot of tackles.