Once bitten twice shy
June 19, 2008
Just when I thought it was safe to go back in the water.
Just when I thought Headmaster Henry would play his part of the bargain in meeting his many critics half-way, in order to hasten the healing of the wounds of the past, his trademark belligerence in the form of baffling rotation has struck again.
But this time around, I don't feel anything like the rage and the depression I felt after the calamity at Cardiff.
Instead, I simply feel mystified and sad that an opportunity to promote a more united fan-base has been trashed again...
Maybe that's because I would swap every test triumph in 2008 for a single World Cup win, meaning I'm not as anxious as last year.
Or probably more to the point, as I wrote in a recent blog, I'm determined not to ever let Henry and co. upset me and my love for the All Blacks to the same extent they have in the past.
This love affair of mine for the All Blacks stretches far too far back to let Henry's illogical behaviour totally ruin another day ever again.
All of which explains that rather than give way simply to anger, I am seeking every possible, credible reason as to why Conrad Smith has been ditched from the squad altogether for the second test against the Poms.
The following are the reasons, for and against, why I feel or have heard Smith has been dropped.
REASONS AGAINST:
Breaking up a successful combination from the two tests so far this season, just doesn't make sense.
The All Blacks midfield has been the toughest area to get right in recent times.
Most fans would like to see Nonu and Smith stay in place.
Most fans are over rotation.
Rugby needs harmony, not more dissention.
Why not bring Kahui off the bench?
REASONS FOR:
Because Henry obviously still believes Wayne Barnes lost us the World Cup and is determined to prove that rotation works.
Because he carries an extra vote to both Hansen and Smith.
Because he can.
If you agree with the reasons against, or can add more, please let me know. If you can help add reasons to those for, I also need your help.
I want to believe, but bringing back rotation is making it very hard for me.
Just when I thought Headmaster Henry would play his part of the bargain in meeting his many critics half-way, in order to hasten the healing of the wounds of the past, his trademark belligerence in the form of baffling rotation has struck again.
But this time around, I don't feel anything like the rage and the depression I felt after the calamity at Cardiff.
Instead, I simply feel mystified and sad that an opportunity to promote a more united fan-base has been trashed again...
Maybe that's because I would swap every test triumph in 2008 for a single World Cup win, meaning I'm not as anxious as last year.
Or probably more to the point, as I wrote in a recent blog, I'm determined not to ever let Henry and co. upset me and my love for the All Blacks to the same extent they have in the past.
This love affair of mine for the All Blacks stretches far too far back to let Henry's illogical behaviour totally ruin another day ever again.
All of which explains that rather than give way simply to anger, I am seeking every possible, credible reason as to why Conrad Smith has been ditched from the squad altogether for the second test against the Poms.
The following are the reasons, for and against, why I feel or have heard Smith has been dropped.
REASONS AGAINST:
Breaking up a successful combination from the two tests so far this season, just doesn't make sense.
The All Blacks midfield has been the toughest area to get right in recent times.
Most fans would like to see Nonu and Smith stay in place.
Most fans are over rotation.
Rugby needs harmony, not more dissention.
Why not bring Kahui off the bench?
REASONS FOR:
Because Henry obviously still believes Wayne Barnes lost us the World Cup and is determined to prove that rotation works.
Because he carries an extra vote to both Hansen and Smith.
Because he can.
If you agree with the reasons against, or can add more, please let me know. If you can help add reasons to those for, I also need your help.
I want to believe, but bringing back rotation is making it very hard for me.
such as the plane crash that took out the Man.U team in the 60's or the the terrorist attack
which wiped out the Israeli Olympic Team in the 70's, what happened at Cardiff was
disappointing and frustrating but hey, NOBODY DIED!!!. With Conrad, i agree it's perplexing
but if he got injured here we would be going in against Aussie with an untried Kahui.
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