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Michael Witt -
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Can Michael Witt be an All Black?
The way All Black caps are thrown around these days it's not against the realm of possibility and if Witt impresses enough early in his fledging rugby career Graham Henry and co may blood him - at least once - to prevent Dingo Deans and his honchos pulling a swifty.
Daniel Bowden's imminent return to Auckland at least opens up the door for a Super 14 berth at the Highlanders, but truthfully, only a permanent breakdown of DC and a total loss of form in Stephen Donald will have an AB jersey remotely achievable.
But the one real reason that Witt will never be an All Black is simple: a condition known as CCE (cross-code ego).
"If he's not good enough for the Warriors, there is not a chance that he can be an All Black," will be the popular train of thought uttered among the rugby fraternity.
What record are the Bulls fast approaching?
I may be jinxing a scenario that is still weeks ahead of being realised and if I am, well - so be it.
But the Bulls' fifth win of the season in Wellington on Friday night now means they have racked up nine consecutive victories stretching back to last season.
If they can somehow negotiate the rest of a tricky road trip unscathed - Highlanders, Crusaders, Waratahs and Brumbies - they will be staring down the barrel of the record for the most consecutive Super 14 wins.
The Crusaders racked up 16 straight in the 06/07 seasons and if the Bulls can, God forbid, stay unbeaten through the rest of the regular season, they will have amassed 17.
Rugby's new cult hero?
Chiefs winger Leila Masaga is certainly doing his All Black chances no harm with his electric form of late, but of more interest to this column, is of course, his smooth dance moves.
Not since Jonah shaved 11 into his eyebrow has a rugby fad appealed so much to schoolboys across the nation.
The 'Masaga Shuffle' should be more accepted by Mums and Dads too. After the 1995 World Cup there was a huge increase in the consumption of shavers and ACC have indicated there was also a significant rise in facial cuts to minors.
Quote of the week (1)?
"That's pretty gay, isn't it?" Former All Black captain Murray Mexted asks when the camera pans to bunch of young lads drinking Speight's in a spa on the sideline of Carisbrook.
Quote of the week (2)?
Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper sticks it to the uncertainly of the ELVs increasing and number of rugby bashers:
"The ELVs have just given a whole lot of knockers of the game an opportunity to have a crack at us, at our game. That pisses me off because I'm not only hearing it in the media, but I'm hearing it from coaches, ex-coaches, and profile people who are having a crack at our game. I don't think that's good," he told a Fairfax publication.
The match of the Entertainers?
The match between the Reds and the Chiefs on Saturday night has been the dubbed the match of the entertainers.
The Chiefs lifted their entertainment stock to unforeseen levels in their demolition of the Blues, but the Reds are another story.
Sure their surprise win against the Sharks two weeks ago was against the run of play, but the fact of the matter is that the Queenslanders have only racked up one four-try bonus point this season.
They may attempt to give the ball width but that doesn't make you an entertainer.
As with everything - execution is the key.
The great Palmy North debate?
There is seemingly no losers in the Highlanders' decision to relocate their match against the Bulls to Palmerston North.
The Manawatu rugby union gets to give a big one finger to the Hurricanes, the Manawatu rugby fans (4,000 at last figure but hoping to be in excess of 10,000) get to a have a taste of Super rugby, the Highlanders will get some much needed capital and the Bulls will avoid a crisp night at the bottom of Godzone.
MVP Round six?
Take a bow, Sione Lauaki. This bugle of muscle set the stage for the Chiefs' ruthless disposing of the Blues on Saturday night with a blockbusting performance.
If only he could play like this every week. There is little doubt that when Lauaki is in that kind of mood he is the most destructive player in world rugby.
Honourable mention: Adam Thomson.
Sighted?
Blues training at Eden Park on Wednesday was no ordinary gig: Sam Tuitupou, former Dancing with the Stars winner (oh and Northern Mystic) Temepara George and the Indian Sport Minster MS Gill all graced the hallowed turf.
While Tuitupou was the centre of attention, MS Gill was spotted checking out the Blues forward pack attack the scrum machine with great interest.
Forget about the US or Japan - rugby's next great frontier is, cough, India.
What are your burning questions? Feel free to comment below.
Add a Comment:
Post new commentsamuelleague said on 2009-05-15 @ 15:30 NZDT: Report abusive post
Im a fan of Waikato Smash ya'll, and the auckland burn in hell. Have nice rings to them, All that matters is the Chiefs are going to win the comp unless the bulls finish first then we'll get 2nd
samuelleague said on 2009-05-15 @ 15:30 NZDT: Report abusive post
Im a fan of Waikato Smash ya'll, and the auckland burn in hell. Have nice rings to them, All that matters is the Chiefs are going to win the comp unless the bulls finish first then we'll get 2nd
Bullethole said on 2009-05-15 @ 14:40 NZDT: Report abusive post
The Waikato Burn
Bullethole said on 2009-05-15 @ 14:39 NZDT: Report abusive post
I've always been of the opinion that the Force should recognise Perth's rich maritime history by renaming themselves the Western Australian Anchors, or WAAnchors for short.
Zaz01 said on 2009-05-15 @ 12:50 NZDT: Report abusive post
Canterbury All We've Got Is Rugbys or Waikato Wish We Were Aucklanders