But the last Grand Slam we won with almost two completely different teams playing consecutive games. Middle of last year I would have rated our B side to beat any of the above, not so much this year with the exodus.

yeah that was sweet

Well, I did say "if…

But then there looms the prospect of losing to England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, etc and often. that idea would lose support faster than a pulled-down maul.

Well, I did say "if I thought it would work for us".

But the last Grand Slam we won with almost two completely different…

Of this110 players we select 60 elite players. The players are selected on the basis of being part of 2 equivalent yet mutually exclusive All Blacks squads.

I don't want to even think of the logistics of that selection process. "Sorry Dan, you don't get to travel to Europe this…

Approx 110 players are selected each year into the 5 NZ Franchises. Of this110 players we select 60 elite players. The players are selected on the basis of being part of 2 equivalent yet mutually exclusive All Blacks…

(And we can tell some of our NH opponents that if they don't want to send a top team, don't bother coming)

If I thought it would work for us, I'd be tempted to suggest that when the ABs are on tour, there should be two teams doing completely separate…

Perhaps that is (and I'm only speaking for myself here) the sad sad truth about the oversell and over-promise of last years RWC cosmic joke. Losing doesn't hurt as much

When the NZRU gives us 12 tests in a season the chances of going through unbeaten are nigh on impossible.…

I thought we missed Jerry in the weekend.

Someone needs to edit a youtube video of that last try and edit in Jerry Collins flattening him like he did with that Welsh chap a few years ago.

The rugby games that get played in our head are always much better.

That said, I'd like to see a game between the overseas-based All Blacks and the NZ resident ones. Not too shabby a team there.

Sweet Jesus Balls! That'd be awesome! Even the overseas non-All Blacks could front a decent squad... that might just become a Dropkicks post today.

while the…

A brief shrug of the shoulders, a couple of "ah well, rugby was the winner on the day, Sth Africa probably deserved the win on balance, etc etc", poured myself another glass of wine, and the…

They repeatedly had no defensive player to the right-hand side of the ruck, and the halfback snuck through again and again.

Being an Andy Ellis fan, I put it down to missing Richie, Brad and Ali. Too many Crusaders out of action :-) (how do you do that tongue-in-cheek smiley?)…

The Crusaders had the same problem a few years ago against (I believe) Waikato. They repeatedly had no defensive player to the right-hand side of the ruck, and the halfback snuck through again and again.

I'm surprised I haven't heard anyone asking some questions about how the springbok halfback was able to waltz down the side of the ruck.

Apparently it was Chris Carter's fault for not fostering a competitive attitude in primary school sports.

What makes it worse was that he’d already made 4 or 5 breaks from the base of the ruck.

Having his knee cut open I believe.

That's nothing! Colin Meads would be out there!

At the risk of looking like I want to select a drunk, I kind of agree with this. Where art thou Brendan Leonard?

Having his knee cut open I believe.

I don't travel in sports talkback type circles, but I'm surprised I haven't heard anyone asking some questions about how…

Where art thou Brendan Leonard?

Come back Piri, all is forgiven!

We should emulate the attitude of the South Africans!

Heh, we should lose and then win, not win then lose.

Andrew Ellis is crap!

At the risk of looking like I want to select a drunk, I kind of agree with this. Where art thou Brendan Leonard?

Some of the main themes...

* It's the gummint's fault!
* It's the education system's fault!
* Andrew Ellis is crap!
* We have no leadership!
* Our coaches are crap!
* We should…

The good thing with the boks is they always send a good strength team to NZ .

Peter's clearly only been a rugby fan since…

Plus, I again wonder how much of the gnashing & wailing of teeth is created or reflected by our media, who remain rubbish.

I can’t recall an All Black loss at home that has been greeted with such universal apathy and resignation as this one. The stadium of 4 million people has gone pretty quiet.

Heaven forbid this is the much-vaunted maturity people have been banging on about since the ridiculousness of 1999…

I can’t recall an All Black loss at home that has been greeted with such universal apathy and resignation as this one. The stadium of 4 million people has gone pretty quiet.

It's a fine line. Do we want there to be stories where there aren't any?

and check out the first comment here:

Now we’re talking; that’s much better.

I’m not implying conspiracy as such. More the ongoing spin coming from the black shed on the Wgtn waterfront.

It just seems a bit arranged.

You're not implying (checks to see who might be listening) conspiracy are you?

It was dry for that Eng test in 2003. But you’re right about it being dark though…

I remember it well. Mitch and Robbie circling the ground slowly before kick-off, resplendent in their long black coats, looking like a couple of old-fashioned spies.

Then Johnson marshalling the troops for…