Emirates announced as Rugby World Cup 2011 Major Sponsor
Welcome back!
Emirates Airlines have been announced as major sponsor of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Emirates were a major sponsor of the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France and have continued their connection with international rugby. Emirates are a major sponsor of the Western Force in the Super 14 and are a major sponsor of global sporting events around the world.
Boks press for ELV changes
The global battle that is the ELVs in Rugby continues as South Africa has fallen into line with the northern hemisphere insisting upon changing the ELVs to that of the global ELVs for next years Super 14.
Both Australia and New Zealand are happy to continue with the rules as per the Super 14 this year but the Boks are concerned as they will play the British Lions next year and the Spring tour with the global ELV laws.
The main difference between the two sets is that the ELVs used in the 2008 Super 14 award was that free kicks are awarded for offences that are generally penalties under the global ELVs. This is particularly visable around the ruck and breakdown where the free kicks have kept a fast paced Tri-Nations tourament and Super 14.
The debate will go on but the ELVs have a long way to go until the IRB make a final decision in August 2009 on whether to continue or not with the ELVs.
Watch Live Rugby
I have been checking out where you can watch live rugby on the net lately and I have found what I believe to be the best service available.
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All these live Rugby matches can we watched and enjoyed. If you want to just watch one game you can do that or if you want to see a range of matches you can watch a whole season of Rugby such as watching the Six Nations live or Tri-Nations live.
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Do yourself a favour and check it out today and signup to watch your favourite rugby. I have.
IRB Awards - Top 5 Rugby Stars of 2008
The International Rugby Board (IRB) player of the year award will be awarded on 23 November where five players will all compete for the biggest honour in the game.
Four players from the northern and one from the southern hemisphere were shortlisted by the panel after watching almost 50 hours of rugby and 35 tests.
The shortlisted players were Dan Carter (New Zealand), Shane Williams and Ryan Jones (Wales), Mike Blair (Scotland) and Sergio Parisse (Italy).
THe players stood out after the panel went through each match and selected the three best players from each match. The panel consists of Tana Umaga, Raphael Ibanez, Will Greenwood, Francois Pienaar, Agustin Pichot, Gavin Hastings, Scott Quinnell, Paul Wallace and is chaired by John Eales.
If Dan Carter was to win he would be the first player to win two IRB player of the year awards.
Who do you think was the best player of the year?
Auckland Blues sign Ali Williams
Ali Williams has returned to his former stomping ground of Auckland after playing 2008 for the Super 14 championshi winning Canterbury Crusaders.
Williams left Auckland after the 2007 Super 14 competition due to a major fallout with then Auckland coach David Nucifora, now the Australian High Performance coach. Williams had been with the Blues for six seasons at the time.
The departure of Robbie Deans and Dan Carter from the Crusaders may have played some part but as Williams regards Auckland as home he was always likely to return as some stage. Williams will link with new Auckland coach Pat Lam.
Philips walk away from All Blacks Sponsorship
Philips will end their sponsorship deal with the New Zealand All Blacks on 31 January 2009 after 15 years as an All Blacks sponsor. The departure of Philips from the All Blacks sponsorship is a blow to New Zealand Rugby as Philips have been a huge supporter of the All Blacks.
Philips will focus their attention on larger markets such as the emerging developing nations of Brazil, Russia and China.
All Black stars sit out Air NZ Cup
The All Blacks are resting their big guns ahead of the November tour of Europe in hope to give their stars ample rest time after a busy Super 14 and international season.
Dan Carter is one star unlikely to play again until the tour and Ali WIlliams and Brad Thorn are two other stars who will be rested until the tour as the All Blacks preserve their big guns.
Other players will slowly return the to Air NZ Cup with Richie McCaw, Mils Muliaina, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith and Rodney So’oialo becoming available at the quarter-finals.
The touring party will be named on 26 October.
All Blacks accuse Wallabies of spying
One of the more farcical things to come out of the afterwash from the Tri-Nations final was the claims by Steve Hansen that the Wallabies were spying on the All Blacks training session on Thursday last week.
Hansen claimed that Channel Seven, the local free to air provider of Rugby in Australia were spying on their training session and provided this to the Wallabies. Hansen said we know this because the Wallabies told us. The Wallabies have denied this but Channel Seven were indeed kicked out by All Blacks security for filming as this footage was shown on Channel Seven news.
I think this is typical of Steve Hansen, the guy is paranoid and if the Wallabies did see and use the footage, perhaps they would have won the match. Plus what is so special about training runs and drills. We know all the solid tactics are determined behind closed doors. Just paranoia from the All Blacks.
What do you think, are the All Blacks paranoide or right to protect their training from prying eyes?
All Blacks retain Tri-Nations & Bledisloe Cup: Video Highlights
The All Blacks were too good for the Wallabies 28-24 last night reclaiming the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup. The Wallabies who have not won the Tri-Nations in 7 years has their chances but were unable to seal the victory with the All Blacks surging home and the Wallabies employing inferior tactics when they were leading 17-7.
Watch the match highlights from Fox Sports below.
Tri-Nations - New Zealand 28 Australia 24
The All Blacks came from a 17-7 deficit early in the second half to storm home to win 28-24 in a sensational Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup decider.
The All Blacks were near dead and buried with the Wallabies leading 17-7 until coach Graham Henry inspired the All Blacks with three key positional changes bringing on Weepu, Donald and Mealamu. The masterstroke changed the tide of the match as the All Blacks through fresh legs scored three tries in a row through sheer weight of possession and dominating the breakdown.
The All Blacks were dominating and the Wallabies had no answers only bringing on fresh legs in the last 10 minutes. at this stage the match was virtually gone. The Wallabies scored a late Ryan Cross try and with less than two minutes remaining the Wallabies trailed 28-24. The Wallabies were deep in attack but the ball was turned over at the breakdown and the match was lost.
The All Blacks had recliamed the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup for 2008.
The match started promisingly for the All Blacks with an early lead 7-0 through a Mils Mulieana try. The Wallabies dominated possession in the first half as Carter and McCaw were neutralised. It was not until just before half-time that the Wallabies scored with a fantastic try to Adam Ashley-Cooper. The Wallabies went into the break 10-7 leaders.
Apart from the first few minutes of the second half where the Wallabies looked like they could have runaway with the match the All Blacks soon upped a few gears and eventually took the match out with a greater degree of tactical nous and determination at the breakdown.
On a losing side George Smith did everything to nullify McCaw and did but ended up on the losing side. The Wallaby forwards were sensational, Sharpe and Horwill were exceptional and Richard Brown who replaced Palu in the first half has a long future with a great performance off the bench with a high workrate and hard running. Ryan Cross and Adam Ashley-Cooper constantly challenged the defence with direct running and evasive skills.
The All Blacks were well served by the replacements Weepu, Donald and Mealamu who added zest off the bench. Kaino was also strong with some massive hits and constant involvement. It was hard not to be impressed with the team effort from the All Blacks, what makes them different to other teams is they know how to dig deep and play for each other. The All Blacks were deserving winners on the night.
The less said about the pathetic effort from the referee Kaplan the better.
New Zealand 28
Tries: Mils Mulieana, Tony Woodcock, Piri Weepu, Dan Carter
Goals: Dan Carter 4 conversions
Australia 24
Tries: Adam Ashley-Cooper, James Horwill, Ryan Cross
Goals: Matt Giteau 3 conversions, penalty