Praise the rugby gods, I am healed
July 08, 2008
The healing is well and truly underway. I defy any fan from either side of the great divide of recent times not to still be basking in that emphatic All Blacks win from the weekend.
I also defy any All Blacks fan not to be relishing the fact that pretty much the same team is now almost certain to be selected for the remainder of the Tri-Nations tournament.
I also believe this reverting back to the best players maintaining their positions is vital to the healing that is taking place amongst the fan-base.
To me, this stability of selection is less about the rights and wrongs of rotation but more about promoting the feeling that the All Blacks are ours again.
I for one, am loving the fact that the tradition of All Blacks selection is largely back intact. And that, like most other fans of international sports teams whatever the code, I can look forward to the most deserving heroes of the day turning out regularly, game after game.
Manchester United fans thrive on seeing Ronaldo play most of the season. Melbourne Storm fans similarly depend on seeing Greg Inglis and Billy Slater doing their thing in the NRL throughout the whole season.
So why shouldn't All Blacks fans derive the same sense of ownership and predictability by seeing a resurgent Ma'a Nonu and a confident Jerome Kaino for example, cement their positions test after test.
Forget the painful debate. It's over. The scars are disappearing fast and will continue to do so by everybody involved in All Blacks Inc. reverting back to what made this iconic brand so revered in the first place.
As an aside, I'm pleased to see Steve Tew turned down his good mate, Steve Hansen's request to become the Crusaders' head coach while maintaining his role with the All Blacks.
On this occasion, not even their close friendship could obscure the fact that it was one of the most daft, unworkable coaching propositions to have come along in ages.
A LEGENDARY ERA.
Finally in this blog, I just want to acknowledge how wonderful it is being around during the Tiger Woods / Roger Federer era.
Both these legends simply continue to fill our senses as sports fans with every shred of wonderment and worship possible.
Tiger Woods is has currently met with injury. Roger Federer appears to have met his match.
But whatever their individual plights, these gracious freaks can always be relied upon to be involved with the highlights of the sporting year, whenever and wherever they appear.
Your thoughts on any of the above please.
I also defy any All Blacks fan not to be relishing the fact that pretty much the same team is now almost certain to be selected for the remainder of the Tri-Nations tournament.
I also believe this reverting back to the best players maintaining their positions is vital to the healing that is taking place amongst the fan-base.
To me, this stability of selection is less about the rights and wrongs of rotation but more about promoting the feeling that the All Blacks are ours again.
I for one, am loving the fact that the tradition of All Blacks selection is largely back intact. And that, like most other fans of international sports teams whatever the code, I can look forward to the most deserving heroes of the day turning out regularly, game after game.
Manchester United fans thrive on seeing Ronaldo play most of the season. Melbourne Storm fans similarly depend on seeing Greg Inglis and Billy Slater doing their thing in the NRL throughout the whole season.
So why shouldn't All Blacks fans derive the same sense of ownership and predictability by seeing a resurgent Ma'a Nonu and a confident Jerome Kaino for example, cement their positions test after test.
Forget the painful debate. It's over. The scars are disappearing fast and will continue to do so by everybody involved in All Blacks Inc. reverting back to what made this iconic brand so revered in the first place.
As an aside, I'm pleased to see Steve Tew turned down his good mate, Steve Hansen's request to become the Crusaders' head coach while maintaining his role with the All Blacks.
On this occasion, not even their close friendship could obscure the fact that it was one of the most daft, unworkable coaching propositions to have come along in ages.
A LEGENDARY ERA.
Finally in this blog, I just want to acknowledge how wonderful it is being around during the Tiger Woods / Roger Federer era.
Both these legends simply continue to fill our senses as sports fans with every shred of wonderment and worship possible.
Tiger Woods is has currently met with injury. Roger Federer appears to have met his match.
But whatever their individual plights, these gracious freaks can always be relied upon to be involved with the highlights of the sporting year, whenever and wherever they appear.
Your thoughts on any of the above please.
And who says the headmster has stopped his rotation policy? I haven't seen any proof of that. I'm kinda with coopa1 on this subject - YAWN!!! and it is only the beginning of the season!
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