Dingbat32 says...

7ton,

I agree, and I criticise PdV and John Smit for publicly going tears too far in their criticism of Lawrence, with the latter certainly knowing better.

I simply respected Henry more when I thought he was the man who quietly took it on the chin then turned it around 4 years later. The ref mistakes were only ever a minority part of the reason for the loss.

Posted 07:43 06th August 2012

7ton says...

Dingbat32

Thank you again

I'm sure you're aware that plenty of people from other countries have whinged about their WC woes as well.

I assume you will read the actual book as it should give a better idea if Henry is just stating the thoughts that went through his mind or actually seriously making accusations. I probably won't read it as I don't have much of an opinion about the wrongs and rights of it.

In regards to 07 I would be untruthful if I were to say the idea of a fix or blatant biased officiating never entered my mind but the sensible side of me (if i have one) thinks that it is very unlikely. Looking at the replays there may have been poor refereeing but NZ had plenty of chances and did not take them and they can only blame themselves. Credit also must be given to France and well done to them.

As for 95 while it did appear that many of the AB's may have had stomach upsets it is very unlikely that they were deliberately poisoned and I haven't seen any real evidence to say otherwise. S. Africa rose to the occasion and played very well and full credit to them.

Posted 16:33 04th August 2012

ruckingkiwi says...

Dingbat, Henry's reference to "Squeaky McCaw" disobeying orders was to the 2011 world cup final which we won, nothing to do with 2007 and Wayne Barnes and whoever. You've confused even yourself in your unsubstantiated rant.

So references to suspected match fixing means he is accusing someone of match fixing? I am yet to see where, who he has accused of match fixing, please share.

Potentially big trouble.. shouldn't you say he is in big trouble if you are so sure?!

Anyway, it's not so much Barnes who missed the forward pass, take a look at the touch judge running exactly in the line of play who called play on, maybe that might explain why no forward pass was called :)

Posted 22:02 03rd August 2012

Dingbat32 says...

7ton,

In asnwers to the questions:

"so who in NZ are you accusing of sullying each world cup?" - Mains, now Henry, and all those who support their comments rather than have the decency to at least look sheepish and embarassed like Sean Fitzpatrick does everytime someone mentions Susie.

"And who has Graham Henry accused of match fixing?" His references to suspected match fixing mean that at the very least he infers that Wayne Barnes is corrupt. Ask a lawyer how the law works on this - he is potentially in big trouble!

"And what is Graham Henry accusing Richie McCaw of?" - I raised this for 2 reasons - 1) to make a bit of mischief as I know how NZ'ers will not tolerate any criticism of Squeaky McCaw 2) to make a point that there are lots of reasons NZ lost that game, as stated in the independent report commisioned in NZ. So why is McCaw not getting as much flack as Barnes??? To be fair Henry did get the flack for his part in the loss (poor selections, substitutions and preparation).

Posted 11:41 03rd August 2012

Chubbylugs says...

@jaystar

Spent a season in ct a few years back so am by default a stormers fan, have to apologise, but haven't seen much of the s15 this year so I'm forging an objective view.

However, I'd rather see the stormers in the play offs and winning rather than the occasional great performance amongst 10/11 average games and ending mid log

Let's put it into perspective and call it progress. The foundations of a great side come from defensive prowess and set piece

Agree re Robbin fleck. Everyone in SA knew he could only step off one foot and made a career on the rest of the world not figuring this out. I think rassie

Posted 23:28 02nd August 2012

Rosbif says...

@JayStarr, maybe Stormers could have signed Michalak? (who is likely to be overlooked or played out of position at Toulon....) For me, Grant is the epitome of "safe", although hard to leave out a 90%+ kicker. Or hasn't Joe P played a bit at 10? That might get you back to Newlands, no?

Posted 14:33 02nd August 2012

markpat says...

@ruckingkiwi - as I've alreasy posted, "As far as Graham was concerned, the major reason the All Blacks had lost was not because of conditioning or rotation policies or decisions by his captain, but purely and simply because the officials had refereed only one team, to a degree unprecedented in the history of the sport."

What is a "formal allegation of match fixing"?

"libel 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), writing or broadcast through radio, television or film, an untruth about another which will do harm to that person or his/her reputation, by tending to bring the target into ridicule, hatred, scorn or contempt of others. Libel is the written or broadcast form of defamation, distinguished from slander which is oral defamation. It is a tort (civil wrong) making the person or entity (like a newspaper, magazine or political organization) open to a lawsuit for damages by the person who can prove the statement about him/her was a lie. Publication need only be to one person, but it must be a statement which claims to be fact, and is not clearly identified as an opinion. While it is sometimes said that the person making the libelous statement must have been intentional and malicious, actually it need only be obvious that the statement would do harm and is untrue."

Henry is saying that the officals only refereed one team, not that they were poor, or missed things and suggests that they should be investigated, not their performances reviewed (which is standard practice).

Or are you reading something else that I'm not?

Posted 11:29 02nd August 2012

ruckingkiwi says...

Dingbat, so who in NZ are you accusing of sullying each world cup?

And who has Graham Henry accused of match fixing? And where....?

(this space for the evidence please) .. for example, a name, evidence he has issued a formal accusation of match fixing... a link to quoted material or an official document. Anything other than what he may have thought..

Most of us think many different things each day, some of yours no doubt involve Freddy Mercury , but does that make you a flammer?

And what is Graham Henry accusing Richie McCaw of?

Ummm disobeying orders to win?

Errr.. ok, we're all against him now.

Posted 01:36 02nd August 2012

Dingbat32 says...

Just found this online "Elsewhere in the book, it's revealed All Blacks captain Richie McCaw disobeyed instructions from the coaches' box during the last 30 minutes of the 8-7 Rugby World Cup triumph against France at Eden Park last year.

Ad Feedback Henry demanded the All Blacks play for position and kick the ball deep into French territory late in the nail-biting final.

But McCaw, fearing a match-winning French counter-attack, chose to defend the game in the middle of the park, backing his players not to give away penalties."

Will NZ fans still defend Henry now that he is blaming Sir Richie Golden Balls McCaw? The independent report commisioned is undoubtedly the fiarest assessment of what happened.

Posted 12:06 01st August 2012

Dingbat32 says...

ruckingkiwi & mnyes - I think you know EXACTLY what I mean by NZ trying to sully world cups in which they have not won.

ruckingkiwi - No I aim not aiming that comment at every individual in NZ, and I think you know that, but apologies if it has hurt your feelings. That said, bringing up apartheid is pretty pathetic in a discussion based entirely on post apartheid era rugby. So you are right, your 'comparison' is childish, pathetic, irrelevant and inaccurate.

Posted 21:34 31st July 2012