Unlike its elder sibling and New Zealand’s national game, Rugby Union, league is always played in a fashion which promotes ball running, and hence maximises try scoring. The tackle rules also necessitate that kicking (away possession) is reserved largely for attacking situations.
Rugby Union in New Zealand is undoubtedly some of the very best and most entertaining in the world. While this makes rugby in this country largely enjoyable, it does not bode well for the sport in other countries. Northern Hemisphere teams in particular rely far too much on the Johnny Wilkinson approach—kick, kick and kick some more.

The major downfall of league, in terms of national popularity, is its lack of global recognition. The likes of rugby and football are much more globally played sports, especially on the international stage. This fact is regularly highlighted in the annual Halberg awards, with rugby a consistent frontrunner, and football having recently taken the stage. The latest awards were dominated by the All Whites, despite having failed to make the second round of the World Cup; whereas the Kiwis completed a major upset of their own in becoming world champions.
One of the major factors behind the excitement of league is the far greater level of physicality, compared to rugby and particularly football. This is another aspect which is heavily influenced by the laws of the game(s). League is by far the most lenient of the three sports, in terms of “tackling” rulings. Watch just one game and this becomes so very clear. I can’t remember the last time a crunching shoulder charge didn’t result in strict disciplining in a rugby match (dear Ma’a and Butch—switch code while you still can!).

Rugby is certainly very much a contact sport, but it stops short of defining the term, due to rules assumedly designed to prevent injuries. However, look at statistics for injuries sustained in rugby and league and I very much doubt they would be a telling factor. This is due at least in part to the vastly differing tackle-ball areas of the games. The elimination of the hassles caused by this area, as well as set pieces, is another factor which leaves league clearly leading when it comes to non-stop action and entertainment.

The reliance on forward packs in modern rugby makes for a much less entertaining format, in my not so humble opinion. But let’s face it, we want to see running rugby and try scoring, not fucking drop goals (although it seems somewhat of a given that the ABs need to learn how to in order to nab a second World Cup). Whatever happened to the “All Backs”? … I guess once you go Black, you do indeed never go back. League players, including the forwards, are all about the cardio (by necessity). Coupled with the brilliant interchange system, this promotes the fast-paced, attacking style and hard-hitting defence that rarely fails to enthrall.

Where rugby flails, football falls flat on its face. The seemingly dying craze that erupted during the All Whites’ admirable road to the FIFA World Cup, and unbeaten run therein, looks set to be replaced imminently by a renewed fervour for rugby, as the Rugby World Cup approaches.

It’s difficult to see how a sport in which a scoreless draw is fairly commonplace can garner such a colossal worldwide audience every day. Yes, there are plenty of intriguing and exciting contests played out, but watching two sides play out a game without troubling the scorers is an a hour and a half you simply can’t get back.

While league players have proven to be successful in extra-curricular activities in the ballpark of boxing, football players (with the exception of the likes of Vinnie Jones—that guy’s a fucking legend!) would be more at home at acting school. Thank god referees are starting to crack down on “Hollywoods”, because nobody likes a faker. That shit is just sad.

Another of the key aspects which makes league such an exciting game is salary capping. With the exception of those who chose to code-switch (not mentioning any names *cough* SBW *cough*), league players are among those who can often be presented as playing for the “love of the game”; a trait which eludes too many professional sportsmen of today. Yes, there’s a salary cap in the A-League but let’s face it, it’s not exactly what you’d call world class.

I don’t disagree with Kiwi rugby players heading abroad to finish off their careers, and talented local football players need to leave New Zealand to improve their game, but surely there’s an element of personal and national pride which needs to be instilled.

Probably the most compelling reason to watch league is the NZ Warriors’ very own Manu “The Beast” Vatuvei. The immense 112kg, 189cm Beast defies all laws of physics to hold his own with the quickest wingers the NRL has to offer, as well as offering a wicked step and the drive force of a bulldozer. Manu has already broken the Warriors’ try-scoring record at just 25 years young, averaging the best part of a try a game, and seems to get even better every single season. Unfortunately, he will be out for up to eight weeks following a knee injury suffered after just 14 minutes into the Warriors’ opening game of 2011.

Although Manu is a big loss, and round one saw a disappointing loss to the Paramatta Eels, the Warriors squad looks perhaps even stronger than the side which finished fifth in 2010, thanks to the smart signings of nippy Australian veteran Shaun Berrigan, blockbusting offload specialist Feleti Mateo and Kiwi goalkicking utility back Krisnan Inu. The future also looks bright, with the Junior Warriors having won last season’s Toyota Cup and already looking slick this season. Watch this space!

Rugby and football are decent enough sports; they just don’t deserve to be so much more popular than league. In my opinion, the majority of (one-eyed) rugby supporters who slander league have probably never given it a proper go. And football simply is not New Zealand’s finest sport. Having said that, indoor football is some seriously good fun. Check out the Multiple Scoregasms carving shit up on Wednesday nights at Shed 1. I hear they are fucking class.

The majority of professional winter sport in New Zealand is finally winding towards its conclusion. With the outbreak of summer nigh and some cracking weather already being enjoyed—even in Hurricane country—it seems wrong that summer sports should still be held back by those of the winter variety. The serial offender, rugby, is gearing up for domestic finals in weeks upcoming, and following the completion of the ITM Cup (and the Heartland Championship), the likes of cricket will finally have their moment in the sun.

The domestic men’s cricket competitions will kick off in early November, with the first of three pre-Christmas Plunket Shield rounds. The Shield competition won’t end until April 2011, with the other disciplines being
contested between rounds. The one day competition will get underway in the New Year, with the opening round on 9 January, while the much hyped HRV Cup will be held throughout December, leading up to the 2 January final.

On a personal note, while I believe Twenty20 isn’t really cricket, it is certainly an excitement machine, and this season’s HRV Cup looks set to be as entertaining as ever. New Zealand cricket is, as always, keen to trumpet this aspect, and with markedly increased (SKY) television coverage this season—with 19 games to be featured from the competition—the ever increasing fan base is sure to continue its rise. Perhaps even more significantly for the competition, there looks set to once again be a classy contingent of imports
taking the field.

Canterbury and Wellington have already dipped into the international market, with both having secured one import, and looking set to sign a second. Canterbury have signed in-form Twenty20 ‘wizard’ Ryan ten Doeschate, and are keen to complement the Dutch all-rounder with Aussie expressman Shaun Tait. Meanwhile, the Firebirds have secured the services of English short-game specialist Luke Wright, and look set to add another prolific Aussie Brett Lee.

Both Wellington CEO Gavin Larsen and coach Anthony Stuart are excited by Wright’s signing, believing that the all-rounder has the ideal skill-set to compliment the Firebirds’ side in the shortest form of the game. I believe the addition of Lee would be an even greater coup, and would stand the side in good stead for the competition. Let’s just hope neither is as much of a flop as English batsman Owais Shah was last season.

Elsewhere, the Northern Knights have been perhaps the most active in the import market, with South African master blaster Herchelle Gibbs almost certain to ply his trade with the side, while the likes of dashing Aussie opener David Warner, and powerhouse all-rounders Kieron Pollard (West Indies) and Andrew Symonds (Australia) have also been linked to the province.

Meanwhile, the Otago Volts have already filled their quota with two somewhat anonymous English all-rounders—big hitting Darren Stevens, and Brendon McCullum-recommended Chris Nash—who management
believes have the skills to fill crucial voids left by last season’s import Dimitri Mascarenhas, and Black Cap Nathan McCullum who is on international duty.

The upcoming domestic cricket season looks sure to be an absolute cracker, with the international flair set to complement the local flavour. The Black Caps also have a relatively busy upcoming schedule in the lead-up to next year’s ODI World Cup—one which looks set to be equally exciting, with an abundance of
youngsters looking to stake their claims, and the imminent return of uber-talented bad boy Jesse Ryder.

I’ll leave you with the great words of our very own Th’ Dudes: “I don’t like cricket, ah… I love it, ah!”

The biggest event on the Australasian motorsport calendar gets underway this weekend, as the V8 Championship Series heads to Mount Panorama for the Bathurst 1000. Kiwi and Aussie petrol heads alike will be glued to their screens throughout “The Great Race” on Sunday, with yet another nail-biter on the cards. While the overall series itself is shaping up as somewhat of a four horse race, Bathurst is, as usual, wide open.

The somewhat controversial decision to prohibit teams from using their two ‘main game’ drivers in a single car had the potential to change the dynamic of this season’s endurance races—the goal of the organisers being to make the likes of Bathurst more even. In reality, however, the move looks set to have little to no effect. The relative pull of the teams has already proved significant when it comes to finding co-drivers, with the top teams able to secure the services of better helmsmen.

Mount Panorama has been home to a proud history of motor racing, for New Zealand as well as Australia. Kiwi driver Jim Richards is the second most prolific winner of Bathurst—his whopping seven titles only bettered by legendary “King of the Mountain” Peter Brock. In more recent times, Greg Murphy has more often than not carried the Kiwi Bathurst flag, having accumulated an impressive four titles.

Plenty of teams have a legitimate shot at making the podium. Despite this, my resident V8 connoisseur, “Tequila Pete” Hutchings, expects that one of the Team Vodafone cars will more than likely to take it out. Hutchings couldn’t decide between Whincupp and Lowndes’ cars, up until Philip Island, when Lowndes and co-driving super-sub Mark Skaife took the chequered flag. Given current form, his prediction is hard to argue against.

Lowndes’ chances in the enduros were given a massive boost after securing the services of ex-partner and multiple-Bathurst winner Skaife. As defending Bathurst champions, Whincupp and Lowndes’ chances cannot be downplayed, especially given their form has continued into this season (currently lying second and fourth respectively in the championship). Despite championship leader James Courtenay clearly being the in-form driver, his co-driver Warren Luff does not quite have the calibre of some of the other wingmen.

Although the V8s have been dominated by Aussies in recent years, there is certainly hope for Kiwi fans at Mount Panorama. Despite a few disappointing years, Murph is always a threat at Bathurst—still holding the fastest lap record set during the top ten shootout of his title-winning performance in 2003—and recently has had two fourths and a second in his last three digs. Another podium possibility is Jason Richards, who finished third at Philip Island with co-driver Andrew Jones, and also has an impressive recent record at Bathurst, including second the past two years, and fourth in 2007.

Aside from Team Vodafone and the aforementioned Kiwi drivers, Mark “Frosty” Winterbottom—who finished second at Philip Island, and is third in the championship—is another in-form driver in with a shot at Bathurst.

In my opinion, the value money has to be on Richards and Jones, and the safe bet on Lowndes and Skaife. Having said that, my heart is adamant either Murph or one of the Jack Daniels cars will bring it home.

I hope you’ll be joining me in front of The Great Race this coming Sunday—with a slab of cold VB—to cheer on HOLDEN!

The New Zealand Rugby Sevens team will attempt to win their fourth consecutive Commonwealth Games gold medal in Delhi next month. Coach Gordon “Titch” Tietjens has led a side to victory at all three previous Games in which Sevens has been included. Titch has named another tremendously powerful squad to contest this time around and has every right to be confident going in.

As at the last Commonwealth Games, Titch has bolstered his side with fringe All Blacks. A quartet of unwanted recent All Blacks was recently included in the squad—Zach Guildford, Adam Thompson, Ben Smith and Hosea Gear. Unfortunately Otago flanker Thompson—one of many Kiwi rugby stars to come to fruition under Titch’s wing—has since been ruled out, after sustaining a knee injury which will keep him out of rugby for eight to ten weeks. Fortuitously for the Kiwis, another of Titch’s proteges, Waikato flanker Liam Messam, is believed to fancy Thompson’s place in the squad. Failing that, Wellington wing Julian Savea is on standby.

The All Blacks’ losses are Titch’s gain, with unlucky flyers Guildford, Smith and Gear ready to set the field alight in Delhi. Gear in particular has continued where he left off at the end of the Super 14 with his scintillating form surely making an All Blacks recall a matter of ‘when’, rather than ‘if’. Guildford was in the All Blacks for the June tests, and will likely see the Games as an opportunity to push his own claim for a recall. Hawkes Bay speedster Guildford is particularly raring to go, despite being asked to stay home by his worried mother.

Tietjens is excited about his side’s prospects, despite a relatively disappointing World Series. He believes the combination of established national sevens players, along with the x-factor brought by the likes of Smith and Guildford, will give the side every chance of continuing its unbeaten Commonwealth Games record.

If the Kiwis do manage to regain their winning ways, it will bode well for next year’s World Series, and ultimately 2016, when Sevens makes its summer Olympic debut. I really hope Titch sticks around long enough to guide us to Olympic glory. It sure would put a cherry on top of a truly incredible coaching career.

The New Zealand Warriors’ season came to an abrupt end last weekend, after just the first week of the NRL finals. Hopes were high that the Warriors could have a genuine tilt at the title, following a late-season surge which saw them finish fifth in the regular season. A loss to the fourth-placed Gold Coast Titans meant the Warriors needed two of the teams who finished below them to lose. Unfortunately, narrow wins to both the sixth-placed Sydney Roosters and seventh-placed Canberra Raiders sealed our fate. There are, however, plenty of positives to draw from the Warriors’ season.

Coach Ivan Cleary believes his side has been hardened by a tough season, and will have a chance to reap the rewards next year. The Warriors were forced to play the entire season without inspirational former captain Steve Price, as well as dealing with numerous other key injuries. CEO Wayne Scurrah believes that, on the back of said injury setbacks, simply making the top eight was a fantastic achievement. In addition, Cleary sees the bright side of the injury-ridden season, with the opportunity arising for youngsters to step up, as well as for incumbents to take on extra responsibilities.

The Dally M Wing of the Year-winning performances of Manu “The Beast” Vatuvei—who scored a whopping 19 tries in just 18 games—were crucial in the Warriors’ late season charge. Cleary believes that the recruitments sorted for next year—namely Eels duo Krisnan Inu and Feleti Mateo, and former junior Kiwi Steve Rapira—will ideally complement the likes of Vatuvei. With the loss of veteran Aussie centre Brent Tate to the Cowboys, the Warriors will be hoping this comes to fruition.

With the depature of the two highest-paid Warriors, as well as an increase in the salary cap, Cleary must have enough spare money to further bolster the predominantly youthful side. Having failed to secure Kiwi enforcer Steve Matai’s signature, this will surely go towards filling the big void left by Tate. Succeeding in reinforcing the centres should ensure the Warriors have the makings of a premiership-contending squad, with the youthful forward pack on the rise, and the new halves pairing of James Maloney and Brett Seymour having really clicked. Perhaps the only other area of concern would have been the departure of nifty Scottish hooker Ian Henderson, but said concern has been all but alleviated by the form of the up-and-coming Aaron Heremaia.

I believe next season has the potential to be very successful for the Warriors, even if hit by injuries again. Unfortunately the Kiwis look to have their work cut out for them in the upcoming Tri Nations, with talismanic half Benji Marshall and in-form powerhouse Frank Pritchard in doubt, and the likes of Manly five-eighth Kieran Foran already ruled out. However, you can never rule out the ‘world champion’ Kiwis, and I will be alongside the Mad Butcher, cheering them on all the way!

The future of Kiwi basketball looks bright enough. The Tall Blacks made it past the competitive pool stages for the third consecutive time at the World Championships, with some unprecedentedly strong showings along the way, such as a narrow, hard-fought loss against defending champions Spain, and an impressive 82-70 victory over the highly-ranked French. The Kiwis were realistic about their chances before the tournament, and despite being knocked out by Russia in the second round on Tuesday, they have once again proven themselves to be a genuine threat on the world stage. This form can only be a blessing for the New Zealand Breakers in the upcoming Australian National Basketball League (ANBL) season.

Breakers’ coach Andrej Lemanis recently finalised the player roster for the season starting on 15 October. Guard Kevin Brasswell has returned to the club and, in Lemanis’ view, “rounds out the roster nicely”. The American was credited with being crucial to the Breakers’ late charge last season, thanks to his passing game and vision, which allowed him to link superbly with playmakers such as CJ Bruton and Kirk Penney.

The Tall Blacks’ success is promising for the Breakers, with the bulk of the Auckland-based club’s talent being local. Standout performances from the likes of mountainous prodigy Thomas Abercrombie, returning hard-man Mika Vukona and ever prolific scorer Penney are excellent signs. Add to that the likes of Tall Black ANBL veterans Dillon Boucher and Paul Henare, and young gun Corey Webster, and the homegrown talent looks set to make up a solid backbone for the side. The re-signing of Brasswell, and signing of big American forward Gary Wilkinson, along with the undisputed talents of Australian guard Bruton, makes sure the Breakers’ roster is as strong as ever.

The success of three-on-three basketball at this year’s inaugural Youth Games is filling the sport’s organisers with hope that basketball will continue to be included in future Olympics. This means that the growth of basketball in New Zealand could be further buoyed—perhaps as much as the post-2002 era, following the Tall Blacks’ extraordinary fourth-placed performance at the World Championships.

The Breakers were one of the title favourites last ANBL season, and I expect it will be the same for the upcoming season. With the inherently close nature of the Australian league, however, it is always hard to pick a winner. This always makes it exciting to follow, as I will certainly be doing from the outset.

Let’s hope Kiwi basketball continues to grow and impress.

All Whites players were predicted to make an impact in the overseas transfer market following New Zealand’s unprecedented success at the recent World Cup. The team’s achievements have since lead to a range of outcomes for the players concerned.

While there have not been wholesale, or particularly exceptional transfers, the most outstanding result has to be 22-year-old defender Winston Reid’s signing at EPL club West Ham. Reid was unknown in New Zealand before the World Cup, but that has all changed. His late equaliser against Slovakia in the All Whites’ opening match grabbed headlines, and made him an instant household name.

Since the World Cup, Reid has been linked to a number of top European clubs, including All White captain Ryan Nelsen’s Blackburn Rovers. However, the Hammers secured the talented youngster for three years, with a reported £4 million transfer from Danish side FC Midtjylland.

While Reid’s induction to the Premier League has been well publicised, another All White—18-year-old striker Chris Wood—is also currently plying his trade in England’s top flight. Wood’s West Bromwich Albion was promoted for this season, making him the youngest Kiwi in the competition.

The All Whites’ other World Cup goal scorer, Shane Smeltz, was another big transfer prospect. Smeltz’s prolific form in the A-League over the last few years—including successive golden boot performances—has been nothing short of phenomenal, and this made him hot property even before the successful World Cup campaign. Smeltz has since been signed in on a big money, two year deal to play in China for Super League club Shandong Luneng.

However, these players’ successes have not been without hiccups. Reid made a surprise start in West Ham’s first EPL match of the season, only to make a decidedly average performance in a losing side. He has since picked up a hip injury which has seen him miss the last couple of games, putting his (near) future aspirations in further doubt. Meanwhile, Smeltz reneged on his Chinese deal after spending just five days in the country, and returned to A-League club Gold Coast United. The striker has now signed with Turkish club Genclerbirligi, despite the risk of repercussions for breaking his Shandong contract.

Perhaps most disappointing for All White fans could be Chris Wood’s apparently uncertain future at West Brom. The club recently signed former Celtic striker Marc-Antoine Fortune, and is expected to put both Wood, and fellow striker Simon Cox, up for loan once the Championship window re-opens. However, Wood made an appearance off the bench against English and European giants Liverpool just over a week ago—surely a career highlight—and his young age makes him an almost certain star of the future.

Playing in strong leagues overseas can only strengthen the All White squad as it moves into a new era. Let’s hope Kiwi football can continue its stellar run—both home and abroad.
With a few minor tweaks, the Phoenix will certainly have the potential to grant the latter!

The NPC is underway, and the opening rounds have again provided plenty of upsets. After two weeks, Counties Manukau— one of the wooden spoon favourites—top the table, as one of only three teams to have recorded two wins from two. Canterbury remains the favourite at the TAB, following a draw and a win leaving them in fourth place, while Waikato and Auckland (third and fifth respectively) are third-equal favourites.

The biggest disappointment so far has been local boys Wellington. They’re sitting in the bottom half following a narrow win over the other wooden spoon favourites Tasman, before being the victim of perhaps the biggest upset so far, with a loss to Tana Umaga’s Steelers in round two at the Cake Tin. However, at least the Lions have showed glimpses of class and fight—reason enough to remain second favourites.

Fellow Hurricane franchise sides Manawatu, Hawkes Bay and Taranaki have had vastly differing fortunes so far. The Turbos are not expected to do much more than cause a few upsets, and almost did so with a gut-wrenching 26–27 loss to Canterbury. On the other hand, the Magpies have been excellent in recent years, and hence will be disappointed with an 11–30 defeat at the hands of Bay of Plenty. This was following on from yet another strong showing against Canterbury (23-all in round one). Meanwhile, Taranaki has had a mixed start, backing up a narrow upset loss to in-form Northland with a solid win over Tasman, to currently fly the Hurricane flag in seventh place.

The surprise packages so far, other than the table-topping Steelers, have been Northland and Bay of Plenty. Despite only recording one win apiece, both have caused upsets, and been narrowly denied hard-fought victories in their other games. My favourite moment so far was Taniwha veteran David Holwell’s canny try against North Harbour—a classy left-foot step capped off by ducking under the last defender’s tackle. While it is far too early to make many predictions, there are certainly good early signs that this season could be tight and exciting. I still have faith in Wellington’s ability to finish at the top, and failing that there is always the mighty Wairarapa-Bush in the Heartland Championship.

I feel sure the sides will perform better than in the Super 14, and the All Blacks’ commanding form in the Tri Nations bodes well for Kiwi rugby on the whole.

Formula One has continued to be rife with controversy in recent years, and following the widely publicised Max Mosley scandal, this year has been no different. The season is starting to reach an epic climax, with the top five drivers separated by less than a single win following the Hungarian Grand Prix. However, the last two races in particular have been marred by intra-team shenanigans.

The illegal utilisation of team tactics has been under the spotlight, with Ferrari having already been convicted and fined $100,000. Felipe Massa was indirectly instructed to let more likely championship contender Fernando Alonso pass him at the German Grand Prix (“Fernando is faster than you”), while leading a Ferrari one-two. Veteran V8 driver Russell Ingall has said that if he was told to let a teammate pass while leading a race, he would have given team management the “one finger salute”. The outspoken Australian asserted that Formula One had no credibility remaining, and that if he wanted to see a manufactured sporting result, he would watch Pro Wrestling.

The incident resonates back to the antics of Michael Schumacher and his team back in his glory days with Ferrari. Ferrari has been widely criticised for constantly forcing long-time teammate Rubens Barrichello to allow Schumacher to pass him. The tables were turned somewhat at the Hungarian Grand Prix, when Barrichello passed Schumacher late in the race to claim the last race point. Schumacher’s infamous questionable sportsmanship came to the forefront again, as he nearly forced Barrichello into the wall by closing the gap dangerously late.

There was also rumour at Hungary that Red Bull’s Sebastien Vettel had been instructed to maximise the distance between himself and leader teammate Mark Webber behind the safety car, in order to give Webber time to pit. Red Bull fervently denied this, and in reality this does seem farfetched, given Vettel’s bemusement at his drive-through penalty (received for slipping further than ten car lengths back)—stating that he did not know what it was for at the time. Additionally, Vettel and Webber’s rocky relationship—which climaxed when the pair collided at the Turkish Grand Prix—would make the use of team tactics seem highly unlikely.

Despite the controversy surrounding Formula One etiquette, this season looks set to go right down to the wire, for both the Drivers’ and Constructers’ Championships, with Red Bull leading McLaren by just eight points and Webber only four ahead of second-placed Lewis Hamilton going into the Belgium Grand Prix. With seven races left, Ferrari cannot be counted out yet either, and it is nigh on impossible to pick a winner from the top five drivers.

The Black Caps embark on a tri-series against Sri Lanka and India this month on the back of the recent naming of the year’s contracted players list. As per usual, the makeup of the list was not without controversy. Five changes have been made to last season’s twenty, with a number of star rookies making their presence felt.

Veteran domestic toilers Andy McKay and Nathan McCullum have been added to the list, alongside BJ Watling and exciting prodigy Kane Williamson, while Scott Styris gets his place back following Shane Bond’s retirement. The casualties are underperforming batsmen Neil Broom and Daniel Flynn, and all-rounders James Franklin and Ian Butler.

The new points system used to select the contracted players played a big part in the demise of Ian Butler, who was pinpointed as the “unluckiest player” by coach and selector Mark Greatbach. Test performances are now worth double those of ODIs and T20s, making it difficult for limited over specialists like Butler to make it—especially with a relatively large quantity of test cricket coming up. Butler has surely outperformed the likes of Styris and Jacob Oram over the last year.

The “Baby Caps” head to Sri Lanka as clear underdogs (currently paying around $4.50 to win the series), due in no small part to its youthful nature. The distinctive lack of captain fantastic Daniel Vettori and master blaster Brendon McCullum leaves the Kiwis somewhat underpowered. It will be interesting and worthwhile seeing how the Ross Taylor-captained side manages in their absence.

The most publicised Black Cap news is the continued unavailability of injury-prone star Jesse Ryder. Ryder has been ruled out of the tri-series, due to an aggravated elbow injury sustained prior to the Twenty20 World Cup in May. Ryder’s injury-prone nature has caught the attention of Greatbach, who believes that the big hitting all-rounder needs to start working just as hard off the field as on it in order to avoid continued injuries. This is a view trumpeted by ex-Black Cap Craig McMillan, who believes Ryder is not doing his best to get fit, and hence has a questionable work ethic.

Ryder’s place has been taken in the tri-series squad by Central Districts’ opener Peter Ingram—a twist of fate following his absence from the contracted players list. His spot was originally reserved for fellow un-contracted batsman Aaron Redmond, however, the Otago opener has wedding commitments.

The touring squad is far from ideal, while the contracted list also (debatably) leaves a lot to be desired. But you can never count out the Black Caps when it comes to ODIs. I will be keenly following the tri-series, starting on the 10th against India. With plenty of promising youngsters coming through the ranks, New Zealand cricket is hopefully on the way up.

The future looks bright once more for the New Zealand Warriors. The seemingly inherent erratic nature of the Warriors has come to the fore again this season, with some stellar performances being cancelled out by some absolute shockers. However, four top-notch wins on the trot has breathed new life into a once faltering NRL campaign.

A gutsy 12–6 win over the high-flying Panthers showed the fighting spirit of the young side, backing up from a dazzling 34–6 demolition of the hapless Parramatta Eels. The ability to back up victories with continued solid performances is a feat which has so often eluded the Warriors, and thus this purple patch holds great promise.

Even in the face of terrible luck with injuries and refereeing this year, the Warriors have managed to haul themselves right back into contention for the top eight, lying sixth after 16 rounds. The excellent form shown in the last month means the Warriors are in a prime position to have a genuine tilt at the title, provided consistency and solidarity continue to be prioritised.

Despite the recent retirement of influential ex-skipper Steve Price, and the departure of equally respected centre Brent Tate at the season’s end, the predominantly young side looks certain to be a force in future years. The signings of Kiwi utility Krisnan Inu and blockbusting Tongan Feleti Mateo, along with the re-signing of workhorse Michael Luck, gives the Warriors a strong base of talent to work from. Management are also confident of luring big-hitting Kiwi centre Steve Matai to Auckland—a signing which would really bolster the midfield stocks.

At around the midway point of the NRL, the tussle for finals places already looks set to go down to the wire, with an ever-even competition shaping up. Only two points separate positions four through nine, meaning that a single victory could end up defining a club’s season. Hence the Warriors must also be aware of point differential, with the likes of the dangerous Rabbitohs, Broncos and Sea Eagles breathing down their necks.

The victory over the Panthers comprised all of the aspects crucial to the Warriors’ success—refs, injuries and consistency. The refereeing was well below par, with the Warriors forced to combat the likes of a lopsided penalty count, a disallowed try and a dubiously awarded try to the Panthers (their only score!). The bruising nature of defending wave after wave of Panthers attack also means that there are yet more injury concerns for next game. Hopefully, however, the overriding factor will be that the Warriors can maintain their current form, and continue to fight to the end.

Could this be a year to cherish?

The 2010 Investec Tri Nations got underway on Saturday, and the All Blacks’ prospects remain in the balance. The New Zealanders started the tournament in the unfamiliar position of underdogs, with South Africa’s dominant performances in the Super 14 making the Springboks the undeniable favourites. Despite only starting as slight favourites at the TAB ($2.10, as compared to the All Blacks at $2.25 and Wallabies at $5.50), the Boks must also have a morale advantage over the ABs.

The All Blacks’ build-up to the Tri Nations has been reasonably promising, with comfortable wins over both the Irish and Welsh (twice). However, their performances were somewhat overshadowed by an outstanding New Zealand Maori side. The Maori celebrated their centenary in style with hard-fought wins over the New Zealand Barbarians, Ireland and England. In the process, some stellar individual performances gave the All Black selectors some food for thought.

Controversial selections are seemingly inherent in (New Zealand) sport, and the Tri Nations squad is no different. Four players have been dropped from the squad used during the Steinlager Series—winger Zach Guildford, prop Neemia Tialata, loose forward Adam Thompson and hooker Aled de Malmanche. Replacing them are Ma’a Nonu, John Afoa, Liam Messam and Corey Flynn, with varying degrees of credibility.

The most glaring omission from the squad is in-form Canes winger Hosea Gear; on the
back of a solid finish to the Super 14 and a scintillating centenary series, which included a match-winning hat trick against England. Gear would have been one of my first picks for the Tri Nations, but Henry and co have instead opted for the likes of has-been Joe Rokocoko and the inexperienced Rene Ranger. Zach Guildford was also somewhat unlucky, having done little wrong in the Steinlager Series. Perhaps his mediocre Super 14 form was the underlying reason for his demise… *cough* shouldn’t have left the Canes *cough*.

The reasoning behind some of the controversial selections is equally dissatisfying—in particular Henry’s logic behind the preference of Rokocoko over Gear. The only possible reasoning behind Rokocoko’s selection that I can see is his superb try-scoring record. However, although he has amassed 45 tries in 62 tests (third most prolific in All Black history), his career has surely passed its climax. Gear offers the same attributes once almost exclusive to Rokocoko—strength, pace and a nose for the try-line—in more frequently destructive doses.

Henry is adamant that harmony at the back is key to victory, and asserts that Rokocoko
has the ability to work with the other two. In that case I fail to see how a Wellington back three (Guildford included) would not be a creditable option. The selectors’ decisions are questionable foremost because of the lack of evidence behind them. Another example is the dropping of Aled de Malmanche, who was only afforded a few minutes’ game time against Wales and Ireland.

Whether or not the selectors have chosen the right squad to compete against the
Springboks, the Tri Nations will be an important step on the road to RWC 2011. Let’s just hope Henry doesn’t “Ted up” our future prospects.

Following a bitterly disappointing Super 14 campaign for New Zealand’s franchises, the short-term future appears somewhat uncertain for the All Blacks. With the Steinlager Series and Tri Nations coming up in the next couple of months, the time is ripe to up the ante and regain our usual levels of respectability.

The 2010 Super 14 season was New Zealand’s second worst season since 1996, with less than two Kiwi sides making the semi-finals for just the second time, as well as the absence of a Kiwi representative in the final for just the third time. Over the years there has been a fairly accurate correlation between Super Rugby form and Tri Nations performances. Although the All Blacks are currently equal favourites with the Springboks (at the TAB), they will likely go into the Tri Nations with less confidence than usual.

Ultimately, of course, all international rugby played from now on is in preparation for next year’s World Cup. While there may be concern that the All Blacks are slipping off the pace from the likes of the in-form South Africans, the TAB still (as usual) has us as favourites to win in 2011.

The All Blacks have been the form side going into all previous World Cups in the professional era. As this form has consistently failed to lead to World Cup success, there is no reason to suggest that going into 2011 as underdogs would be a disadvantage. In addition, if history is anything to go by, it can be deduced that home advantage has influenced results somewhat; significantly including the All Blacks’ victory at the original World Cup in 1987 (co-hosted by New Zealand and Australia). The ‘Baby Blacks’ were undoubtedly dark horses at best, having lost the majority of their first-choice side to the rebel Cavaliers which toured South Africa.

The All Blacks’ chances in the Tri Nations are further in jeopardy, thanks to the extensive injury woes currently being felt. Utility back Isaiah Toeava is the latest on a star-studded casualty list which includes the likes of Ma’a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Mike Delany, Andrew Hore, Mils Muliaina and Ali Williams.

The Steinlager Series (against Ireland and Wales) should give us at least some idea of how the All Blacks are shaping up, and should give the coaches a chance to organise the squad for what is shaping up to be another competitive Tri Nations.

The Formula One season is well and truly underway, and the drivers’ championship is now wide open. With no fewer than four world champions in the starting lineup, the championships were always going to be anyone’s game. Following an action-packed sixth race at the Monaco Grand Prix, this verdict remains much the same.

Defending world champion Jenson Button went into Monaco with a three-point lead over Fernando Alonso atop the drivers’ standings, only for a blown engine to end his race just three laps in. The stage was set for pole-sitter Mark Webber to take a second successive victory, with the Australian leading teammate Sebastien Vettel home for a somewhat predictable Red Bull one-two. The duo are now equal point leaders on 78, with Webber the new championship leader thanks to an extra victory.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso made a blistering finish, to climb from last to an original placing of seventh. However, more than two hours of deliberations saw seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher stripped of sixth place due to an illegal pass on the safety car-influenced final lap. This ensures Alonso enters the Turkish Grand Prix just three points adrift of the leaders with 75 points.

What was predicted to be one of the most competitive seasons ever has so far proven no different, with the top eight drivers separated by a mere 22 points—less than a single race win! The top four in particular have so far been difficult to separate, and with the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa close enough to take advantage of any slip-ups, the drivers’ championship already looks sure to go down to the wire.

The constructors’ championship is more predictable. The superior quality of the Red Bull cars was evident in the earliest races, with Webber and Vettel reaping the rewards of consistently good speed and reliability. However, while Webber has remained more than content with his ride throughout, Vettel has had to rely on others’ misfortune on the back of some technical and alignment issues.

Meanwhile, leading contenders McLaren and Ferrari have had their share of problems, while Williams is currently investigating what caused both cars to crash heavily at Monaco. Based on current form, it would be hard to bet against Red Bull taking the constructors’ title, and betting agencies agree. However, Ferrari is as usual right in the mix, and at just twenty points back cannot be discounted; while McLaren is the only team with two world champions on board.

Webber’s back-to-back victories have him moving up to second favourite ($3.50) behind Vettel ($4.20) at the TAB, with two-time champion Alonso third at $4.50 However, I believe his superior car reliability and experience make the Aussie the new man to beat. Many experts, including Frank Williams—one of Webber’s ex-bosses and a three-decade veteran in the sport—are also starting to take this position.

The remainder of the F1 season promises to be ultra-competitive and exciting, so if you’re a motorsport fan, you’d be crazy to miss it.

The future of New Zealand’s role in the World Rally Championship is in jeopardy, following the release of the 2011 schedule. The distinctive lack of a Rally New Zealand carries the concern that the recent 2010 event may have been the last. While the 2009 event was “gut-wrenchingly” cancelled due to the economic climate, it was hoped the re-inclusion would be more permanent. However, next year’s exclusion—due to date clashes with the Rugby World Cup, as well as apparent failures to meet promotional objectives—has also put the rally’s future beyond 2011 in doubt. The decision has come not without discontent, with Kiwi fans and drivers alike left feeling disappointed.

Rally NZ has hosted rally greats aplenty, with the likes of off-road legend Carlos Sainz, the late great Scot Colin McRae, six-time defending WRC champion Sebastien Loeb and four-time winner Marcos Gronholm enjoying their share of success. The rally has also been a breeding ground for Kiwi racing prodigies, and there’s no better an example than 23-year-old national champion Hayden Paddon’s triumph in the production class of this year’s edition.

Rally NZ originated from the 1969 Shell Silver Fern Rally, and was first included as a round of the WRC in 1977. In the process, New Zealand has become the home of the longest-running world championship event in the Southern Hemisphere. Such history is one of the major reasons for dejection at the pending exclusion(s).

Moreover, word is that it is likely most of the 2011 calendar will remain the same in 2012. It is the word “most” which is giving organising chairman Chris Carr hope. In addition, John Key has not ruled out stepping in to save next year’s rally; although he remains non-committal, due to the alleged $750k pricetag.

The drivers are certainly among the avid supporters of the rally, with the likes of Loeb and this year’s rally victor Jari-Matti Latvala professing their admiration for the picturesque and vehicle-friendly nature of the stages. Latvala’s Finnish countryman Mikko Hirvonen also endorsed the “fast, smooth, fun” rally as one of his favourites. He also, however, pointed out the economic reality of the rally—New Zealand not being a big market for car manufacturers.

In essence, if it were up to the drivers, Rally NZ would be a permanent fixture on the WRC calendar. However, the governing body has the ultimate say—so here’s hoping the history and support of our world-class rally is enough to keep it in the picture.     

Officiating has become a rampant area for discussion in the professional sporting era—especially as a result of recent technological proliferation. There is widespread daily debate on the topic of the use of technology to make difficult decisions. Currently in Australasia, rugby refereeing is close under the spotlight.

The recent draw between the Hurricanes and Crusaders is a prime example of where technology is used incorrectly. Experienced South African referee Jonathan Kaplan awarded an injury-time try to Crusaders hooker Ti’i Paulo, when video footage showed insufficient evidence. Kaplan did the right thing originally by going upstairs for confirmation. However, he instructed television match official (TMO) Glenn Newman to try to find any reason NOT to award the try. Hence, as replays were inconclusive, Kaplan awarded what his first reaction had been—a season-altering try.

The TMO is there to make decisions, and as the rules in rugby favour the status quo (i.e. benefit of the doubt to the defending side); as such (all too frequent) incidents of a ball lost in a ruck should result in an attacking five metre scrum only.

Another highly controversial decision led the standing down of ex-Kiwi ref Steve Walsh, who disallowed the Brumbies what appeared to be a legitimate try, which would have given them the chance to snatch a draw against the Waratahs. These two incidents in particular have been critical to the semi-final hopes of all the teams involved. Surely nobody wants to see a South African final!

Although rugby does have a reasonably good technology setup, there are those who believe human error is part of sport. Surely, though, it is better to be safe than sorry, in a world which prides sporting achievement very highly.

Rugby is certainly better equipped than football, technology-wise. FIFA is yet to allow any off-field influence on match decisions. This has been to the detriment of the sport, as there have been multiple incidents of great importance to many. Most recently, as I have touched on previously, Thierry Henry’s ‘Hand of Frog’ denied Ireland a spot at this year’s World Cup, while Chris Payne’s ‘Hand of Payne’ condemned our Phoenix to defeat at the A-League’s penultimate hurdle.

Sports such as tennis and cricket have introduced challenge/referral systems to avoid umpire blunders, and I believe this is an excellent initiative.

In crucial match situations, bad calls are very costly, and lead to widespread discontent. However, there should at least be measures in place to minimise bloopers, and referees should not only come under the spotlight for match-altering decisions. In this day and age, technology is our ally, and should be utilised to its full potential.

I am sure you would agree that another ‘Wayne Barnes’ at a sporting pinnacle should be avoided at all costs!

The forecast for this NRL season is “fine and sunny with no chance of a Storm”. At least, this is the verdict of one of the Facebook groups devoted to the anguish currently being felt by the Melbourne Storm.

The Storm was recently stripped of the 2007 and 2009 premierships, as well as being fined a total of $1.6 million, for “massive, long-term salary cap breaches”. They were also stripped of all points gathered so far in the 2010 NRL season, as well as losing the ability to accrue any (further) points.

Apparently, the NRL authorities were tipped off by bookies, who reacted to successive bets being placed on the Storm to be wooden-spooners, at odds of 250-1. Sportingbet Australia dropped their odds to $1.01, in the process claiming the biggest odds change in history. Other betting agencies followed suit, while TAB Sportsbet kept its market open, until a $40,000 collecting bet was added to by further punters. The revelation that the Storm was to be stripped of all competition points put an end to any betting on the club.

AFL CEO Andrew Demetriou has supported the NRL’s decision to punish the Storm, based on the “very serious” salary cap cheating, which matched his league’s decision to fine Carlton $1 million, as well as stripping them of top draft picks in 2002. The Storm are alleged to have utilised dual-booking, to add $1.7 million of illegal value over five years.

Centrebet suspended betting on the Storm versus Warriors game at the weekend, based on a potential Melbourne player revolt. However, a strong Storm side was fielded, and destroyed the Warriors 40-6, suggesting that the team is not going to fold this season.

There have been differing reactions to the Storm’s calamity, with the Leeds not going to ask to for the 2009 World Club Challenge, while the Manly MP is calling for the 2007 Premiership to be awarded to the Sea Eagles. However, Leeds does have a chance of receiving AUS$83,000 in compensation.

While club bosses back up the NRL’s decision, there are critics, including Collingwood AFL boss Eddie McGuire, who believes the NRL is “destroying the future of Melbourne Storm”, and in the process obliterating the game.

There are rumours aplenty that salary cap breaches are widespread in the NRL, and this has led to further criticism of the punishments, as well as the Storm considering the idea of challenging the decision, on the point gathering at least.

Storm assistant and Kiwis’ coach Stephen Kearney claims to be oblivious and “gobsmacked” to the side’s misdemeanours, and this theory is supported by the NZRL, who remain in full support of Kearney as coach, in the lead-up to the ANZAC test.

In essence, the Storm’s misfortune gives our Warriors a better chance of making the finals, and hence I am biased in supporting the NRL’s decision. However, there is certainly a hush over the league’s integrity as a whole.

The 2010 Twenty20 World Cup gets underway in the West Indies this Saturday (New Zealand time), and the Black Caps are well in contention. One of the appealing aspects of the shortest form of the game is the fact that anyone can win. Hence, while you would expect the big guns to make their mark, there are no guarantees.

Significantly, there are four pools of just three teams apiece. With each team only having two pool matches to stake their claim for a finals spot, a single loss could be a critical blow.

The Black Caps kick off their campaign in the opening game of the cup against Sri Lanka at 5am in Guyana, following warm-up matches against Ireland at 5.30am on Wednesday and the West Indies at 9am on Thursday. The warm-up games will offer the Kiwis an opportunity to get a feel for the conditions and to reform team bonds, while the Sri Lankans will provide a real test for our cup chances.

The Black Caps will have to deal with a number of IPL stars in the opener, such as world-class batsmen Kumar Sangakarra, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillikaratne Dilshan, as well as crafty paceman Lasith ‘Slinga’ Malinga and the ever wily Muttiah Muralitharan. The Kiwis do, however, have batsmen to match in the forms of the prolific Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum, as well as the all-round talents of Captain Fantastic Daniel Vettori.

While Sri Lanka will be an immense challenge to kick off against, New Zealand should (hopefully) have the edge over Zimbabwe, in a match that could decide our fate, next Wednesday from 1.30am.

The TAB has Australia and India as joint favourites at $4.50, with the Black Caps fifth favourites at $8. However, Twenty20 is such a difficult game to pick, and no team—with perhaps the exception of rookies Afghanistan ($750)—can be ruled out. Defending champions Pakistan are paying a very generous $9 to win—odds which certainly make them the value bet, despite star Twenty20 bowler Umar Gul having been ruled out.

The Black Caps will be sweating on the fitness of big-hitting allrounders Jacob Oram (knee) and Jesse Ryder (abdominal), as the squad gets finalised for battle. The injury-prone stars will be a huge asset to the side if fit, especially with the small boundaries in the Caribbean.

Whether or not our Black Caps perform well, the fast-paced, competitive nature of the Twenty20 game will undoubtedly keep the fans enthralled throughout
the cup.

Triathlon has become one of New Zealand’s most competitive individual sports, especially since the flourish in interest triggered by the Kiwi one-two at the 2004 Athens Olympics. The last six years in particular have proved that New Zealanders can punch above their weight in a sport predominantly contested in the northern hemisphere. Despite the retirement of Athens gold medallist and Kiwi icon Hamish Carter in 2007, New Zealand still has plenty of world class talent to support in the lead up to the Delhi Commonwealth Games in October, and ultimately the London 2012 Olympics.

The 2010 ITU World Championships got underway last weekend in Sydney, and some promising results will have the Kiwi contenders in good early season spirits. Following a disappointing 13th placing in his 2009 campaign, veteran Bevan Docherty needed a solid start to get back on track. Along with fellow Kiwi hope Kris Gemmell (8th in 2009), the duo would have wanted to take advantage of the absence of last season’s top two finishers, Alistair Brownlee and Javier Gomez. Thanks largely to a late break on the bike and a signature strong finish on the run, Docherty took gold in a time of 1:51:27, six seconds ahead of Russian Alexander Brukhankov and Frenchman Alexander Hauss. Gemmell was next best of the Kiwis, one minute and 18 seconds back, in 15th place.

Meanwhile, major women’s hope Andrea Hewitt (3rd last season) was pipped by a metre into second place by Chilean rookie Barbara Riveros, while Debbie Tanner managed a gutsy 16th placing in the heat. Mountain-running convert Kate McIlroy disappointingly pulled out early in the 10km run with an aggravated injury, in her first championship race since an excellent debut season in 2009, where she finished a creditable 20th.

The Kiwi triathlon contingent for the Commonwealth Games looks set to be very strong, with three podium finishes and two top five place-getters backing up from Melbourne in 2006. For the men, Melbourne silver medallist Docherty and fifth placer Gemmell will lend their experience to lead a group of talented youngsters such as Tony Dodds, Clark Ellice and Terrenzo Bozzone. The women will also be buoyed by the great success of 2006, which produced a two-three-four finish for Sam Warriner, Hewitt and Tanner respectively. All three will likely be starters in Delhi, along with up-and-coming stars McIlroy and Nicky Samuels.

In Melbourne, Australia and New Zealand shared all six triathlon medals, and based on recent form, I wouldn’t bet against it happening again—with the likes of Aussie stars Emma Moffatt (3rd last weekend) and Melbourne Games champion Brad Kahlefeldt also showing good form.

The bottom line is, triathlon appears to be becoming somewhat of a Kiwi forte—à la rowing.
  

An alternative guide to all things sport

Golf’s Tiger has traded fame for infamy, since allegations of adultery have become public. The prolific winner has amassed an astonishing 71 victories on the PGA Tour since he turned pro in 1996, including 14 majors—second only to legend Jack Nicklaus. However, Tiger’s ever-increasing recognition took a massive blow following investigations into a 27th November car ‘accident’. He has not played since the incident, citing ‘personal’, reasons, which he has now admitted involve several instances of infidelity. Having sought rehabilitation for sex addiction, Tiger plans to make his return at the Masters in April—Augusta being the site of his maiden major victory back in 1997.

Augusta has been an especially happy hunting ground for Tiger, with four wins and eight top five finishes from fifteen consecutive starts. It is this outstanding record, along with a reputation for being unflappable, that makes Tiger the undisputed favourite to win (odds of about 3–1), ahead of the likes of world number two Phil Mickelson (7–1) and in-form Irishman Padraig Harrington (16–1).

Tiger has accrued a whopping $100 million in career prize money, and according to Forbes, he is now the world’s first sporting billionaire, thanks to huge endorsement deals. However, he has recently been dropped by major sponsors Accenture, Gatorade and AT&T, and while money is not an issue for Tiger, his reputation and saleability must have taken a further pounding.

Unsurprisingly, Tiger’s antics have given him comedic value. Jokes aplenty have sprung up over the web, such as my personal favourite: “What’s the difference between a golf ball and an SUV? Tiger can drive a golf ball 300 yards.” His infidelities have even prompted a book, The Tiger Woods Syndrome (Why Men Prowl and How to Not Become the Prey). Psychiatrist Dr Jerry Bruns and Dr RA Richards have cashed in on the happenings of 2009—dubbed The Year of the Serial Cheaters—which included confessions of illicit liaisons from Lateshow host David Letterman and vice-presidential candidate John Edwards.

While Tiger’s carefully crafted reputation has certainly been wounded, his stunning strokeplay and charismatic approach is still guaranteed to draw wide support wherever he goes. You need look no further than his foundation—set up in 1996 to help disadvantaged youths get a good education—to know that Tiger is pure at heart, and simply needs to sort out the sexual and commitment issues he has vowed to correct. The players and officials agree, with the general feeling being that Tiger’s presence is vital for the game.

The 2010 Masters should be very competitive and exciting, with a top-class field battling it out to take out the prized first major of the year. My personal favourite is the plucky Harrington, who has won three majors in recent years—all from behind after 54 holes—and seems to step up for the majors, with an impressive 13 top ten finishes to his name. The value bets would have to be the rising South African star Charl Swartzel (51–1), or even 2008 champion Trevor Immelman (151–1!), whose two PGA victories have been over Tiger himself.

The Phoenix’s golden run to the finals came to an abrupt end in the preliminary final less than two weeks ago. The defeat at the hands of Sydney will, however, be a talking point for many more to come. Despite being definite underdogs against the minor premiers, Wellington fans would have been confident of a good showing. The Nix have gathered exponentially increased support this season, following a first ever top six finish, which in turn resulted in two packed home final appearances. However, the fans were left both disappointed and enraged by the resulting 4–2 loss.

While the Nix were outplayed by a clinical Sydney outfit, the game was marred by controversy thanks to a 30th-minute Chris Payne goal, now known colloquially as the ‘Hand of Payne’ goal. The young striker had already come off the bench to provide a superb opening strike in the 21st minute, only to spoil his reputation by steering a Karel Kissel cross past a disbelieving Liam Reddy with his forearm. Although the ‘goal’ did not prove to be the winner (thankfully), it certainly changed the course of the game. The Phoenix players appeared to lose some spirit, and having worked hard to keep the sky blues at bay, the flood-gates opened up midway through the second half.

The Phoenix defence—almost unbreakable at home—was put under constant pressure by the slick Sydney attack, in particular from the combination of a superb Alex Brosque and Mark Bridge. Liam Reddy was again outstanding, making several top-notch saves. However, the Wellington defence—especially on the flanks—was too often left wanting, leaving Reddy with somewhat of a lost cause. Reddy looks set to join Sydney next season, leaving Mark Paston with the responsibility of filling a big void.

There has been mixed reactions from the ‘Hand of Payne’ incident. While the Phoenix players were distraught when the goal was allowed, they are mostly forgiving of Payne, and instead critical of the match officials who failed to pick it up. Ricki Herbert, on the other hand, described the goal as “three times worse” than Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’, or Thierry Henry’s ‘Hand of Frog’, and questioned Payne’s ethics and professionalism. He also felt that Wellington’s pain was no different to that felt by the Irish after Henry’s hand helped William Gallas end their World Cup aspirations. The other obvious example in New Zealand sport is the blatant forward pass that led to the All Blacks’ eviction from the 2007 World Cup—once more at the hands of the French (hissss!).

The ‘Hand of Payne’ is the latest in a series of glaring official mistakes in football, and surely FIFA must be starting to take notice. Most major sports nowadays have some form of off-field intelligence to minimise such mistakes, and as the most global sport, football must be next. The Phoenix fans appear to be on the same page as Herbert, however, with several anti-Payne groups having been formed on Facebook. The main examples are “Chris Payne.. Sydney FC’s Thierry Henry – Cheating Bastard”, “Chris Payne is a cheating prick!” and “Chris Payne is a cheating C**nt”; along with the more general “Same old Aussies, Always Cheating!” While I struggle to argue with the latter (think 1981!), it must be noted that the Phoenix had an amazing season, and managed to silence their critics ON the field.

I look forward to next season being an absolute cracker!

The Black Caps have once again proven themselves as more than able challengers of Australia in the shorter form(s) of the game. It is in the test arena, however, that our real problems arise. While the Black Caps seem to have something over the Aussies in the 50-over scene—especially at home—the seemingly terminal frailty of the top order cannot be overcome in the longest version of the game.

New Zealand has won just 68 out of 357 test matches, including only seven of 48 versus Australia. Recent history is perhaps even more concerning, with the Black Caps having lost nine and drawn four of the 13 matches played against the baggy greens since 2000, and not having tasted victory since 1993—that’s 20 matches ago! The only somewhat promising match statistic for the New Zealanders to go by is that their record at the Basin Reserve—where the two-match test series kicks off on the 19th—is much better than their overall record against the Aussies (five draws, two losses and a win).

Whether or not our Black Caps can compete with the Aussies in the tests should not be reason enough to keep the fans away, especially from the opener at the Basin—New Zealand’s premier and most iconic cricket ground. New Zealand—and Wellington in particular—has proven itself to be home to one of the more raucous fan bases in world cricket, especially when the Australians tour. The classic fan-to-player insult (feel free to use it) is “[insert two syllable name]’s a wanker”…“clap, clap, clap clap clap”. This has been demonstrated well so far this tour, with Mitchell Johnson often on the receiving end, since his unprovoked clash with Scott Styris in the first ODI.

My advice is to make the most of Wellington’s wonderful sporting atmosphere—of which the pinnacle has to be a good day at the cricket. Also, just how long our beloved Basin will remain as we know it is unknown, with plans still in action to build a flyover over the ground. The benefits of such a venture (namely traffic de-congestion) are far outweighed by the detrimental outcomes.

While the proposed flyover could save drivers up to a mere 30 seconds, both the price and effects on the Basin make it far from worthwhile. The approximately $50 million price tag will come out of the tax payer’s pocket, even though the public is strongly against the flyover’s construction. This is an exorbitant amount for a project which will not make for a significant improvement. In addition, and most importantly, the history and atmosphere of the Basin is far too precious to endanger.

Having become New Zealand’s first dedicated cricket pitch in 1866, the Basin has been home to some outstanding performances and priceless memories, as can be recalled at the on-site New Zealand Cricket Museum, which is itself regarded as “significant” by the Historic Places Trust. The Basin is in my opinion the finest sporting ground in the world, and should not be overlooked as a place close to New Zealanders’ hearts. Find all the relevant information at www.savethebasin.org.nz and sign the petition to save the Basin.

See you at the cricket!

The 2010 NRL season kicks off this Friday, and it remains to be seen which Warriors side emerges from the sheds. 2009 was a major disappointment with the New Zealanders having started the season as one of the favourites—only for a mid-season slump to put an end to any realistic premiership aspirations. Add to this the fact that Kiwi teams are dominating the early phases of the Super 14, and it would appear that rugby league could have its work cut out to reel in on-the-fence New Zealand audiences.

Despite the recession causing a drop in fan numbers (so say rival codes), the NRL will not have the same troubles, according to boss David Gallop. Gallop would have been encouraged to no end by the excellent crowds turning up to trial matches last week. This included an unprecedented 17,000 at the Warriors-Manly trial in Auckland, as well as a record 27,221 for the Charity Shield match between St George Illawarra and South Sydney.

The Warriors have long been the Hurricanes of league, with often scintillating skill being hampered by erratic form. Until last year the club had become a force to be reckoned with, on the back of a solid pack and lightening backline. The only real weakness has been the inability to find a top-class halves pairing to control the game. This is where it will be hoped star half signing Brett Seymour can kick the Warriors into gear.

Seymour had his contract at the Cronulla Sharks terminated last season for behavioural issues (namely alcohol abuse), but is a natural talent, having racked up 101 NRL appearances, including 62 for the Brisbane Broncos, alongside the great Darren Lockyer. Seymour has also represented the Australian Schoolboys, and at just 25 should bring plenty of energy to go with his experience. Among coach Ivan Cleary’s most challenging decisions will be who partners Seymour in the halves—assuming the bad boy also proves his worth. Among the leading contenders are new 23-year-old signing James Maloney and incumbent Joel Moon, who will be unlikely to return to the centres following the imminent return of Brent Tate.

The return of Tate (the Warriors’ $300,000 man), as well as electrifying fullback Wade McKinnon, should give the Warriors back the experience and versatility lacking from last season. Add to this mix the power and speed of star winger Manu Vatuvei and the raw talent of 2009’s rookie of the year Kevin Locke, and the Warriors have the backbone of a formidable backline. Along with a solid pack combining youthful talent and big game experience, the Warriors have a strong lineup.

The Warriors start the season as $30 (TAB) outsiders for the premiership, with the Parramatta Eels and Melbourne Storm joint favourites at $6. However, the Eels have been very unimpressive in pre-season. This leaves the Storm as perhaps the side to beat, having just become the first Australian side to win the World Club Challenge twice, following a defeat of three-times defending Super League champions Leeds. However, history is against the Storm, and only 20 per cent of voters in a Yahoo!Xtra poll believe the Storm can go back-to-back again. Personally, I will be tuning into the NRL every week, and won’t be if my dark horse Warriors pick up their game to a title-challenging level.

The 2010 Winter Olympics are all but over, with the last of the Kiwi action airing today. It has been a bumpy ride to say the least. While the largest New Zealand team ever has been unable to really challenge for the medals, there have been promising performances from some bright prospects. This should instil some optimism in the fans, on the road to 2014.

Kendall Brown and Blake Skjellerup have been two admirable performers, and both have remarkable stories to accompany their successes. Speed skater Skjellerup had plenty of luck on his side when finishing second in his 1000-metre short track heat. After trailing for the entire race, the Kiwi was able to sneak into second—and hence the quarter finals—following the collision of two competitors on the final lap. The race sparked memories of Australian Steven Bradbury’s gold medal winning run—probably the luckiest of all time—at the 2002 games.

There was nothing lucky about snowboarder Kendall Brown’s 15th placing in the half-pipe. Vancouver has been 20-year-old Brown’s second Olympics, having finished 25th at Turin in 2006, at the age of just 16. Brown was also joined by her brother Mitch this year, and showed grit and determination beyond her years when making her later runs with a twice dislocated shoulder. Another snowboarder to watch out for in the future is 18-year-old Rebecca Sinclair, New Zealand’s youngest athlete in Vancouver, who finished a creditable 21st in her first games.

One of the major disappointments of the games for New Zealand has been the number of withdrawals from events, due to injury and illness. Skeleton racer Iain Roberts was not the only athlete to have troubles on the the track he describes as “an unforgiving beast”, after receiving neck abrasions from crashing in practice. Roberts rebounded to race in the competition, only to eventually pull out due to concussion received from a second run crash.

The most publicised issue was the withdrawal of cross country skier Ben Koons, due to higher than permitted haemoglobin levels. Koons was barred from competition for five days—which meant he missed his first two events—before his haemoglobin levels returned to normal, proving the results were not sinister. Koons was then free to compete in the 30km and 50km pursuits, only to pull out of the 30km event part way through, due to a stomach bug. Another to succumb to illness was fellow cross-country skier Katie Calder, who was unable to start her final event because of gastroenteritis.  

While Vancouver has not been a huge success for New Zealand, it was never expected to be, with no Kiwi athletes ranked in the top ten. However, there have been five top 20 performances, and it was a refreshing change to watch something different to ordinary Kiwi sports… with the exception of curling.

With the final Super 14 season underway, and the Black Caps’ summer heating up, Wellington promises to play host to some worthy sporting spectacles this summer. Following on from the Phoenix’s most successful season, as well as packed AC/DC concerts and NZI Sevens this year, the Cake Tin will have its work cut out to continue such a rich vein of entertainment.

The Black Caps’ home summer will finally kick into gear when Australia arrives on Wednesday for a two Twenty20, five ODI, and two test series. The tour kicks off right here this Friday the 26th at 6.30pm, with a Twenty20 at Westpac Stadium; following the White Ferns’ opener against their Aussie counterparts (2.30pm). After indifferent performances against an average Pakistani outfit, and somewhat of a walkover against Bangladesh, the Aussies will offer a real test of our position in world cricket; as well as providing the exhilaration only a fast-paced series against our greatest rival can.

The Black Cap selectors have blooded a few new faces this summer, at the expense of some more experienced campaigners. The top order has been the Kiwis’ Achilles heel for some time, and this had been reflected in the selections of openers BJ Watling and Peter Ingram. Young gun Watling was selected for the Pakistan series, and has since shown signs of the backbone and potential required to make it at the top, while domestic veteran Ingram’s prolific form over the past few seasons finally reaped higher reward with inclusion against the Bangladeshis. While both men have performed admirably thus far, the Australian test will decide their real worth.

The selectors appear to have finally decided to prioritise form and results in their decisions, as has been shown in the dropping of the underperforming Peter Fulton, Daniel Flynn and Scott Styris this summer. Thus no players—especially batsmen—can afford to rest on their laurels, especially with injured Wellington stars Jesse Ryder and Grant Elliott on the road to recovery, as well as the return to form of players such as ex-Black Caps Lou Vincent and Jamie How. The most nervous team member must be opener Tim McIntosh, who has yet to string any strong performances together,
despite numerous opportunities.

The Australian tour will also be a real test for newly promoted left-arm paceman Andrew McKay, who was a bolter for the Bangladesh series, and has so far bowled with excellent discipline and pace. The newly pledged Wellingtonian has been clocked at up to 147km/hr, and with the rest of the New Zealand pace bowling line-up operating at only medium-fast, it is hoped that McKay could fill the void of spearhead Shane Bond, who has recently retired from test cricket—New Zealand’s most problematic form of the game. 

It seems peculiar that the rugby season should be kicking off in the middle of February, but the packed schedule of the professional game today means there is no time for an extended break. Hence, the southern hemisphere’s premier club competition is underway. With the New Zealand football season all but over, promoters will be hoping that viewers will be switching over to the “national game”.

The Hurricanes are historically a hard team to support, due to their erratic nature. In recent years, however, the Canes have strived hard to shake off this unwanted trait. Improved performances have seen Colin Cooper’s men make four semi-finals and a final since 2003. These successes have been largely thanks to a world-class backline. Despite losing rising prodigies Zach Guildford and Robert Fruean to nemesis Canterbury (to whom we have lost all but one of our playoff encounters), the Canes still have a top-notch selection of backs, including All Blacks aplenty, as well as ample potential. This suggests that 2010 has every chance of being another success. Being coach Cooper’s final season in charge, look for him and his players to pull out all the stops, in search of a worthy send-off.

The Canes have always been one of the most entertaining sides in Super rugby, with their tagline “expect the unexpected”, and you can expect this season to be no different. Despite having improved their consistency drastically, as shown in their composed opening round win (34–20) away over the Blues; with excitement machines such as Ma’a Nonu, David Smith and Corey Jane in their midst, anything can happen. Having kicked off their home campaign against the Western Force on Saturday, the Hurricanes will be looking to maul the Lions this Saturday the 27th at 7.30pm, Westpac Stadium.

Wellington is the sporting hub of New Zealand. Make the most of it.