Posts by Russell Brown
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Peter Malcouronne has posted a North & South essay he wrote about Sonny Bill. He both notes some interesting parallels with Ali and scorns SBW's boxing ambitions.
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Hard News: The good guys, in reply to nzlemming,
I think he deserved it. He has worked wonders with Deans’ leftovers. Now he needs to be a little more gracious in the post-match interview – it’s not just the players who are supposed to be professional. Stephen Moore (who I’ve never had much time for but now do) pissed all over him.
Yeah, Moore was so classy in that after-match interview.
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The SBW and the kid story hits Vice.
It's safe to say that handsome-pants Sonny Bill Williams—winner of two NRL premierships, a boxing title, and now two rugby World Cups—is actually the man who has it all. The man simply owns. And what do you do when you have it all? Why, give stuff away, of course.
After a jaw-dropping performance yesterday, in which the All Blacks put the nail in Australia's coffin with a sensational try, Williams saw a young pitch invader get tackled by an aggressive security guard, and gave him. his fucking. gold. medal. Honestly, it doesn't get classier than this, people.
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Hard News: The good guys, in reply to AndrewJ,
One area where there is definitely some room for improvement is in the selection of post-match celebration music
Don't you go Belieber-shaming now.
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Very interesting interview with Dan Carter (lifted from the Daily Mail!), especially the parts about focus. And also why he kicked his last ever test goal with his right foot ...
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This is interesting too: Sam Whitelock on his recovery routine – which includes getting on an exercycle after the game:
"First of all making sure you get rehydrated, take on some food, pretty much get yourself back to a normal state as soon as possible,” he said.
“Any niggles you are getting the ice packs out, then probably having a light flush on the bike.”
That could be tough after matches like the semifinal, but the rugged Cantab said it was a necessary evil, particularly when the next match was the most important of his life.
“Sometimes that’s hard getting the legs ticking over, but depending on how long you played, the level of the game, it’s just trying to get everything moving again, free everything up. Then it’s into the ice baths, compression, reporting anything you might have to the medical team.”
After 72 tests, Whitelock reels off the recovery protocols like they’re second nature and says New Zealand rugby’s system through academies, provinces and Super Rugby have ensured even younger players are all well versed in best practice.
“Everyone has their own ideas and research to back it up, but basically it’s that first 48 hours you really want to ice heavy. It’s the old RICE, rest, ice, compression, elevation, then stay away from harm, no alcohol, then its heat, running, massage off the top of my head.
“You basically have to get moving again, get active. If you stay still too long it prolongs being sore and takes along time to get the body moving. We have an awesome medical team, they are world leading in what they do.”
The day after a test the All Blacks massage room is a sea of bodies and even after the semifinal most of the squad were back in the gym lifting their regular weights three days later.
With Wednesdays set as the team’s day off to get away from the grind, the All Blacks are back into full contact training by Thursday each week.
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Hard News: The good guys, in reply to George Darroch,
They've also pretty much cut out sugar, an interview with their nutritionist reveals. Which makes them a weird fit for Coca-Cola's sugar-water brand Powerade, but the commercial reality remains.
That is fascinating.
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The All Blacks have won everything at the World Rugby Awards – with the exception of coach of the year, which went to Michael Cheika. Fair enough, really – he's done wonders with that team in a year.
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Hard News: The good guys, in reply to Kevin McCready,
I don’t see significant change of the brand re alcohol.
Steinlager continues to buy its way in, as it has done since 1986, and we get inflicted with bullshit nonsense like this attempt to claim the All Blacks’ virtues for a nondescript commercial lager.
But in the dressing room after the game, many players weren’t drinking beer. And I like Hansen’s approach to players’ drinking. In the past we’ve lurched from booziness to alcohol bans, which only serve to make it seem more of a problem. Hansen basically said: “If you want to have a beer, have a beer. But remember your responsibilities.”
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Hard News: The good guys, in reply to Eediot,
Did he mean predecessor?
Yes :-)
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