StraightUpShoot

http://kingsofcommentary.net/2011/07/31/weepu-joins-wellington-exodus-signs-with-blues/ Upheaval around the Wellington Hurricanes shows no signs of relenting with confirmation halfback Piri Weepu is heading north to play for the Blues in 2012. Piri tweeted confirmation to the twittersphere this afternoon

http://straightshooterstraightup.blogspot.com/2011/08/brian-mcclennan-gets-top-warriors-job.html

http://straightshooterstraightup.blogspot.com/2011/07/all-blacks-in-loselose-situation.html Could you imagine if the All Blacks had lost to Fiji last weekend in the same fashion that Australia did to Samoa? What an outcry,what a disaster,what a complete rabble etc. Sure,the Australians got roasted and were subjected to some intense and warranted criticism.But reality set in.Several top players were rested,Samoa were on fire and lets face it,who is really going to care about that result come the business end of the World Cup in October? The New Zealand public on the other hand....well,lets just not go there. Which brings us to this weekends game against a side many are labelling as a Springbok 'B' or 'C' team.What can we,or what should we, expect from our All Blacks? The scenario is thus.A convincing All Blacks win,and of course preferably more than the scoreline that the Wallabies ran up against the same outfit.That means we demand and expect a win by more than 19 points.And if we do?Oh well the naysayers will say,its 'only' the Springbok reserves.Who cares. The other scenario is that we stutter and scramble to an unconvincing win,or heaven forbid,a loss! What would happen.All hell would break loose and the Coaches would need to be sacked and we "have no chance" at the World Cup.Yeah right. So regardless of the outcome,its a lose/lose situation that our All Blacks are facing on Saturday night.I just hope we win and secure our maximum Tri Nations points and remain injury free.And in the event that that doesn't happen?Who cares.The main event is in October....

http://straightshooterstraightup.blogspot.com/2010/12/chokers.html I'm scared.Really scared! I've seen it all before,in 1990 and again in 2002,and especially in 2006.World beaters.On top of the world.Unbeatable.Certainties to win the rugby World Cup. Then...the unthinkable.Defeat.And a nation is in mourning!! And here we are again.On top of the world.Certainties to win the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Well I dont buy it.Never,ever,ever.Sure,we are in a good position,but something irks me.This whole 'chokers' tag.Its been said often enough,that it starts to become non-fiction,a sort of mental repetitiveness that leads the listener to believe. And it scares me....

http://kingsofcommentary.net/2011/07/20/coach-henry-aces-all-blacks-selection-test/ Graham Henry

http://straightshooterstraightup.blogspot.com/2011/07/stephen-donald-modern-day-philpott.html "Stephen Donald to the Blues" the headlines have screamed these last few days.Has he or hasn't he?Confirmed reports by the Sunday Star Times then denials by the Blues franchise. But why the fuss? Probably because Stephen Donald is the most mis-understood All Black of the modern era.Despised by many and admired by few.He polarises opinion more than any other All Black of my generation.The modern day Shane Philpott."Shane who" I hear you say. Shane Philpott put his All Blacks 'cap' up for auction.He was in his words "ashamed" to have been labelled an All Black.The criticism he copped during his playing days was cruel and callous,and he took it all on board and saddled himself with the burden.He believed he wasn't deserved of the jersey,so when he was presented with his 'cap' he wanted to get rid of it.Sad.Yet could we blame him?The rampant fervour and outspoken feelings we have for our beloved All Blacks can also be a dark black lonely hole if you happen to be one of the chosen few who seemingly don't deserve the honor from our 4 million All Black selectors. And so to Stephen Donald.The man who holds the season record for the Chiefs of 133 points set in 2006.The former NZ age group rep who in 2003 played for the World Champion u21 side.He logged 45 games for Waikato and 71 games for the Chiefs(and 731 points).He was a NZ Junior All Black in 2005 and 2006 and became a fully fledged All Black in 2008,going on to play 24 games for the ABs including 22 tests,scoring a total of 113 points. Yet,despite this impressive resume he has become the All Black no one wants.Even Blues fans were so outspoken on their feelings towards him that they petitioned the Blues board in their droves to not sign him! Stephen Donald is a proven performer at NPC and Super rugby level and the Blues would have welcomed him with open arms as any Super franchise would.He has had his faults in the All Black jersey but he has also played soundly most of the time.Disregard his performance in Hong Kong last year,and what you have is a tough,durable playmaker with great vision and skill,who has served his Waikato,Chiefs and All Black teams well,in a position that requires brains and tactical nous let alone nerves of steel.Stephen Donald can look back on a fine rugby career,and I only hope he gets treated in the way he deserves...with dignity and with respect and he is remembered as a deserving All Black,as they all are. It would be a sad day for Rugby fans if we have another All Black that feels they were not entitled to the jersey and their 'cap' simply because a minor section of the rugby public voiced their vitriolic criticism.

http://kingsofcommentary.net/2011/07/18/the-ugly-truth-wallabies-v-samoa-post-mortem/ Faith: the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen. In other words, if you can see it and believe it, you can have it.

http://straightshooterstraightup.blogspot.com/2011/07/ditch-farcical-fiji-game.html Awesome,the All Blacks play on July 22nd at Carisbrook.Fantastic.The last International rugby game to be played at the hallowed ground,and the first test match for the All Blacks in World Cup year.Massive anticipation. Get in quick for your tickets...BUT..wait for it.Who are we actually playing? What? Fiji? Are you kiddding me!What an absolute farce.90-0? Come on NZRU you can do better that this.Half the Fiji side won't be allowed in the country to play anyway because of the rule on the Fijian military being excluded!Even if it was a 'full strength' Fijian side,what sort of opposition will they provide? I have a suggestion.Cancel this game NOW.Its not too late.Replace it with a game against a side that would be ranked in the top 4 in World Rugby. The New Zealand 3rd XV!!! Thats right,play a virtual 'trial' against those players who have missed out on the named 30(or 34 including the injury cover).What a game that would be.Intensity,intrigue and most of all,a real contest. Here is my team to play the All Blacks and feel free to add your 2 cents worth too 15-Sean Maitland 14-Jo Rockocoko 13-Robbie Fruean 12-Jarrod Payne 11-Rene Ranger 10-Aaron Cruden 9-Alby Mathewson 8-Fritz Lee 7-Daniel Braid 6-Victor Vito 5-Tom Donnelly 4-Luke Romano 3-Jamie McIntosh 2-Hika Elliott 1-Neemia Tialata Now,tell me that this game wouln't attract 10x the interest that a farcical game against Fiji will create. July 22nd,Carisbrook.All Blacks vs Barbarians.Bring it on!!