This morning’s first game starts really early, but should be worth watching if you’re up.
Kick-off in Auckland is at 07h35 SA time.
Blues: 15. Charles Piutau, 14. Frank Halai, 13. Francis Saili, 12. Ma’a Nonu, 11. Lolagi Visinia, 10. Simon Hickey, 9. Bryn Hall, 8. Peter Saili, 7. Luke Braid (Captain), 6. Jerome Kaino, 5. Tom Donnelly, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 2. Keven Mealamu, 1. Tony Woodcock
Replacements: 16. James Parsons, 17. Sam Prattley, 18. Angus Ta’avao, 19. Hayden Triggs, 20. Piri Weepu, 21. Steven Luatua, 22. Ihaia West, 23. Pita Ahki
Waratahs: 15. Israel Folau, 14. Cam Crawford, 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12. Kurtley Beale, 11. Rob Horne, 10. Bernard Foley, 9. Nick Phipps, 8. Dave Dennis (Captain), 7. Michael Hooper, 6. Jacques Potgieter, 5. Kane Douglas, 4. Will Skelton, 3. Sekope Kepu, 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1. Benn Robinson
Replacements: 16. Tola Latu, 17. Jeremy Tilse, 18. Paddy Ryan, 19. Patrick McCutcheon, 20. Wycliff Palu, 21. Brendan McKibbin, 22. Jonathan Lance, 23. Matt Carraro
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I wonder what the opinionated Mallet would have to say about the Tantrumtahs’ handling….will he also have scathing remarks about the poor skills of oz players? 🙄
How many years has it been since Mallet last coached a proper team (not barbarians)? He needs to get back in the water, and stop being a sideline critic.
His post match comments has become stale and predictable.
Time to move on….maybe the Kenyan woman’s rugby team can make use of his self proclaimed coaching skills? 😉
@FireTheLooser (Comment 1) : There should be – it’s shocking! 😯
@FireTheLooser (Comment 1) : Mallett did well with Italy. His influence is still evident in how they play.
@rhineshark (Comment 2) : It is bad, but it is not indicative of a demise in the skills of the ozzies…we all know the ozzies are well skilled, yet they suffer the same mistakes as our players.
When it’s our players doing it, Mallet is quick to jump on the “poor skills” bandwagon, but when it’s an ozzie team it will be chalked up as fatigue or lack of concentration.
Sadly it’s the same comments coming from the same person every single week.
@rhineshark (Comment 3) : And how many years back was that?
The game keeps changing, but he’s still hanging on to his “successes” (what did he achieve, beat the Scots at home?) with the Italians.
I’m sorry to say, but I’d like to hear a fresh perspective for a change, his whinging has now become dated.
Time to freshen up, get someone like Brendon Venter to give a fresh perspective.
HT score:
Blues 8 – 3 Tantrums
@FireTheLooser (Comment 4) : More accurately when the Sharks do it! He is happy to find positive aspects of the Bulls and Stormers even when they cant win. Maybe he is jealous of Jake? But Naas is even worse, he is just a glorified fan boy.
Why are so many of these NZ coaches, Sir’s?
@Seth101 (Comment 8) : If we win the super 15 Jake becomes a Sir as well!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 4) : Maybe he’s harder on SA teams cos he’s a patriot…not that I think patriotism is an admirable quality…
Why are we calling them the Tantrums these days? I am so out of the loop.
@Seth101 (Comment 8) : The queen can’t find soccer coaches worthy of the title
@Original Pierre (Comment 9) : Really? I cant tell if you trolling me because I honestly don’t know how it works 😛 Do rugby coaches honestly deserve to be Sirs :/ they hardly bettering the world.
I am so anti Royal Family, cant stand the concept of people who have power just because of the family they are.
@Seth101 (Comment 13) : Ummm…Clive Woodward and Graham Henry are both Sirs… 😕
Jake can’t get one though cos he isn’t the citizen of a Commonwealth nation. At least, I believe that’s the restriction.
@klempie : Because everytime they lose it’s someone else’s fault, never their own. Did you not hear how coach Cheika breaks doors 😈
@Son Of Mayhem (Comment 16) : Like I said, I’ve been out of the loop. :p
Blues 18 – 10 Waratahs
Around 20mins remaining
Closer to 10mins
21-13 final score. Entertaining game
OMW I can’t believe it, against all odds I got this one right, mmm super nice! Now for a bulls upset and I’m back in the top 50 on sharksworld and top the other pool I’m apart of once again.
Fulltime
Blues 21 – 13 Waratahs
@klempie (Comment 15) : South Africa us technically a commonwealth country no?
Just miss Out on a margin point. 1/1
Nobody picked waratahs on LMS, disappointing 😥
@Seth101 (Comment 24) : Nope, I think the Nats removed us from the Commonwealth in 1961, when we became a republiek.
Im not sure why we are still allowed to play games with all the queens subjects though.
The above could all be untrue as my recollection of history sucks.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 27) : http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations We were reintroduced in 94.
Good result for us.
Now we just need to win tonight.
South Africa is very definitely a member of the Commonwealth.
Being a member of the Commonwealth is not the same thing as recognising the Queen as head of state, though.
Also, it’s up to each individual country to decide who they want to award honours to.
Hence Clive Woodward, as a Brit, was knighted by the Queen.
No clue who knighted Henry… maybe the local Hobbitt chieftain?
@robdylan (Comment 31) : Hahahahahahaha
The highest honour available to a South African citizen, as far as I can tell, is the Platinum Order of Mapungubwe. Maybe Jake should strive for that one instead.
aaah…
Awards are made by the Queen (in her capacity as Queen of New Zealand), on ministerial advice.
So looks like Henry was nominally knighted by Lizzie
Hobbit Chieftain lmao 😆
@robdylan (Comment 33) : What is that even? Never heard of it….
@robdylan (Comment 30) : I knew this as it was how I was able to apply for the Royal Navy. But they have changed that now, to needing to have citizenship and reside in the UK for 5 years. It amazes me though how many South Africans don’t realise they are part of the commonwealth.
So what does being a member of the commonwealth actually mean.
@robdylan (Comment 31) : 😆
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 38) : You get to take part in the commonwealth games :P.
@robdylan (Comment 34) : So we cant get sirs in SA. Pity, imagine bumping into a Sir Mac Maharaj or Sir Benni McCarthy or even a Sir Earl Rose at your local shebeen.
@Seth101 (Comment 40) : Yay, I think. You would think they would offer us all dual citizenship, the dole and a pension. They are probably still pissed off a the Boertjies and the Zulus for bloodying their noses all those years ago.
@Seth101 (Comment 37) : Did you get into the royal navy.
@Seth101 (Comment 24) : Not since 1961, no. We are a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, which is a grouping of former and current British colonies. But we are not a Commonwealth country ourselves (i.e. sworn allegiance to the Crown)
@Seth101 (Comment 28) : You can be a part of the Commonwealth of Nations without swearing allegiance to the Crown (thereby making yourself a Commonwealth e.g. Aus, NZ, Canada). In fact, Commonwealths in the CoN are the minority.
Being a member of the Commonwealth means I’ve been able to vote in UK elections ever since living here, despite not being a British citizen
@robdylan (Comment 30) : Member of the Commonwealth of Nations, but not a Commonwealth. Stupid Brits confusing everybody by overloading terminology.
@robdylan (Comment 46) : Did you have a British passport when you arrived?
@robdylan (Comment 31) : IT would probably have been the Governor-General of NZ, who represents the Queen as Queen of NZ.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 38) : Not very much. Think of it as really pathetic subset of the already pathetic UN. It’s a bunch of countries related only by the fact that they were once subjugated by the Brits (apart from Mozambique). There are some loosely defined trade agreements and cooperation agreements in various areas, but not much else.
@klempie (Comment 50) : Hello Klempie. Hoe lyk dit?
@Pokkel (Comment 51) : Hey swaer!
@klempie (Comment 48) : no
@klempie (Comment 47) : interesting that you define yourself as a soutpiel, yet call the Brits “stupid”.
Guess you have one stupid foot… what does that make you? Only half stupid?
The way teams are pegging each other back – I wonder what the magical log position will need to be for first place this year
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 42) : I never got in unfortunately, passed everything but failed my medical. @Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 42) : You say that. I actually got my own national health card and number through a mistake by them. So even tho I am South African with now British passport, I have NHS. The only problem is the plane tickets are a bit expensive 😛
@robdylan (Comment 54) : Really? You’re going to go genetics on this one? I am ethnically British AND French (at least as far back as I can trace my heritage). I can’t stand either of those two cultures.
@klempie (Comment 57) : Snap I am Scottish and French Mauriation. I would love to have British citizenship.
@Seth101 (Comment 58) : live?
@klempie (Comment 59) : @Seth101 (Comment 58) : Happy? :/
@Seth101 (Comment 60) : Sorry, I wasn’t being a typo troll. The “snap” threw me. I would also like British citizenship but only for freedom of movement purposes. 😛
@klempie (Comment 57) : haven’t met too many British people who have anything nice to say about you either
@Seth101 (Comment 56) : Thats a pity, sorry to hear. There was a nice little frigate (HMS Portland) in Cape Town the other day, I thought you may have sailed on her.
@robdylan (Comment 62) : I’m cool wit dat. 😎