Uriah Heap

The penalty was for incorrect entry to the ruck. Referee Joubert deemed McCaw not to be the tackler, so he then needs to retreat behind the ruck and come in "through the gate". The problem with Joubert's ruling is that McCaw was in fact the tackler and, as such, had full rights to contest the ball. No matter what McCaw had done earlier in the game, that particular penalty was incorrect. My take on it would be that, if you are going to award a penalty, in a 2 point ball game, with 2 mins to go, then you need to be absolutely certain that it is a penalty.

That's a fair point you make there Crusty. But it's the way of the world isn't it. For instance I don't know about you, but when I get together with old rugby mates we happily recall our old hedonistic, risk taking days full of binge drinking, damaging pubs, driving in unwarranted cars, etc. All the things we lecture our kids against today.

Yes that's right I had forgotten about that final fence. About 100 metres out, just for the crowd, most likely. They'd never had it there previously and never again after they noted poor old Final Luca was too tired to rise at it. I don't recall the protest (too young I suppose), but I do remember Teak cut the other horse up as they went through the one panel gap.

I can explain this one Crusty. It's to do with Track and Field where the white men and women have virtually no chance of winning a gold. So they got together and decided that they could "Win" silvers and bronze, for coming 2nd and 3rd.

Hey Final Luca, I was interested in your Race Cafe name. As a boy I was at Trentham the day Final Luca approached the last jump, 30 lengths clear, with the race in the bag should he clear it. He never rose, crashed through the jump, fell and knocked down a panel. Teak and another horse headed for the gap, with the white horse Teak getting there first and going onto win. My Grandfather knew both Barney Lumsden and Freda White the trainers of Final Luca and Teak respectively. I clearly recall his mixed emotions as he headed off to commiserate with one and congratulate the other. As for me, my Dad had put one each way on Teak for me, so I had no such mixed emotions.

Flexibility and not Black and White is what is required here. NZRU should ask 1. Is there a women's team for this woman? - Answer "No". 2. Have someone neutral view and assess her playing a game at the level she wishes to play. 3. If she is seen to be competitive, have her sign some sort of disclaimer saying she won't take NZRU to Court, if/when she gets injured. 4. She plays with the boys.

The Minister tried to go wide and gas it around the outside of security, when everyone knows he should have taken the Fat Man's Track.

No it's not. It's sitting on a dirt runway in Krygyzstan.

Hey Opo Your 5PM club appears to be a vehicle for knocking anything promoted by the Left or Liberal side of the political spectrum, while being generally supportive of anything promoted by the Right and in particular the National Govt. Now this would be the same National Govt which, in tandum with the Maori Party and led by that brave crusader and Minister for Waitangi Treaty Settlements, The Right Honourable Christopher Finlayson, has secured for Iwi millions of dollars worth of Treaty settlements. Settlements you have made it clear that you oppose. I am confused Opo. I have my voting paper in my hand ready to place my Tick/s, but you are sending me mixed mesages. Why don't you clarify where you stand in all this

I must say I have to agree with Crusty on this one. I'm no great fan of the Israeli's, but to be fair to the people of Gaza, Hammas probably should fire their rockets from somewhere else.

They could start by selecting defenders who stay on their man.

No it won't. It's another boring replay.

In a humourous manner this raises a pertinent question. Is Rugby Union still a game for players of all shapes and sizes, where the "Fat keg on leg" can have his game within a game (those big boys love their scrums) - Or is it now primarily for those Fat kegs on legs, watching from their comfy couches?

Germany - extra time Argentina - 90 mins

You can rest assured some members of Tainui will be doing very well financially out of these settlements and others will not be seeing much benefit at all. Such is the way of the world. Haves and have nots. It could be argued that those "Have nots" will feel a sense of well being by being a part of a wealthy Iwi, in charge of their own destiny.

You can't come around a ruck or maul and you can't reach over the top and touch a half back. But if the Crusader came through the ruck, then that would sound OK. However if the All Blacks are leading 10 - 9 in the World Cup Final with 5 mins to go, I don't reckon Steve Hansen would want any of his players to try that. Those Refs can rule just about anyway they want at the breakdown.

Honestly I'd have no idea. These are who I'd like to see go through. Germany on Penalties Columbia 90 mins Argentina Extra time Netherlands 90 mins

From Wainui would have to make you a softball supporter wouldn't it Kiah? LOL Seriously though, in answer to one of your questions. I gauge these sports people over a period of time. How they act, what they say, are they team players, etc, etc. As such I have never rated the great cricketer Chris Cairns highly as a person and was not at all surprised when match fixing allegations emerged. To me it appeared to fit his profile. On the other hand McCullum has always appeared a straight up guy, team player, with values that would preclude him from taking up any match fixing offers. If it turns out McCullum has fixed matches, my faith in my judgement of people will be severely dented, and I will need to start considering the possibility that Ewen Mac Donald was indeed "Not Guilty" of murder.

Black Caps have a big win in a series away form home, against a half decent team. On the same day Lou Vincent decides to purge his soul to the media and grabs the headline. Ahhh Lou, one bad decision after another. Can't you get anything right?

The new Principal comes on board and wants to "exert his authority". Wants to be seen as a "hard task master". No doubt that is true - exactly what a new Principal at a traditional all boys school would want to do and what the majority of parents would be wanting him to do. "The kid is rightly miffed". I'll bet he was, as were the others who got told to get their hair cut shorter. There are many rules at many schools, especially the traditional all boys schools, strictly enforced by Principals, that make kids "miffed". Do we want to challenge them all? Where does this leave our new Principal now. Somewhat emasculated I'd say, having been seen to have been put in his place by the "miffed" kid, his father and the High Court. Is this what the majority of parents wanted for St Johns College and their new Principal - I'll bet it's not. A short sighted victory.

Someone now needs to go to the High Court and challenge Bars that won't let you in if you wearing $250. trainers, but will (let you in) if you're wearing $30 black school shoes from the No.1 Shoe Wharehouse. It's another arbitrary rule, made by the person in charge, wanting to show that they are in charge. It's just waiting for some zealot to get all worked up over.

France Germany Argentina USA

The lads a pawn in his father's fight against "The Man". "People have always looked down on me because of my dreads", " I have often felt like a 2nd class citizen because of my long hair". "Lets all head off to the High Court cause I've got heaps of cash and am on a crusade, against 'The Man' ". "Lets plaster my boy all over the paper so I can take it to 'The Man' " Give it a break Dad and let the boy get on with his own life.

Who is he again?? I

Brazil Columbia Netherlands Costa Rica