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Jerome Kanio and Joe Rokocoko - Source: Photosport -
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Round Two Questions
14. What's up with the baby Blues?
Okay I must concede that I'm stealing some of Phil Kearns' thunder here, but he makes a valid point.
Coincidence or not, but how on earth did Jerome Kaino, Joe Rokocoko and Taniela Moa all end up having baby leave in the same week?
Kearns' and his honchos suggested that it was all conceived at some NZRU function but simple science tells another story.
Nine months before the middle of February the 2008 Super 14 playoffs kicked off, which of course the Blues just missed out on. Go figure.
13. Who is going to get up for the Sharks v Lions at 6:10am on Sunday?
This mouth-watering clash pits one of the competition's favourites against one of the certain cellar-dwellers.
Yet it must be one of the world's most boring unexplained mysteries you see, because it seems that South African derbies are always close, tight, yawning affairs: in fact, I mean YAWN at 6:10 in the morning.
12. Who is going to be the Hurricanes' 150th player?
While wise money suggests Victor Vito is a shoo-in for this 'who cares accolade,' but inside information has emerged that suggests he could be a victim of his surname.
Although the uncapped Api Nakatini is on the bench, rumour has it in some quarters, that if he can make the field on Friday night against the Highlanders at any stage, he will supersede Vito as the Hurricanes' 150th player.
Whilst Vito may be the starting number eight, as Big Bird told us many moons ago: the letter N is indeed before the letter V. Sorry Victor.
11. Who is the heaviest player in the Super 14?
The heaviest and lightest players in the competition indeed validate some of rugby's most loved cliches.
The heaviest is no other than Highlanders prop Clint Newlands at 130kg who is just 1kg heavier than his team-mate Jamie Mackintosh.
For your information the lightest player is the Stormers halfback Bolla Conradie, tipping the scales at 76kg.
10. Who is Dan's back-up? (part two)
Young Colin Slade took the points over Stephen Donald on Saturday, controlling the game well and setting up two tries while another rookie, the Hurricanes' Daniel Kirkpatrick also showed some nice touches.
But if Slade is serious about being an All Black he will need to improve his erratic goal kicking (2/4) and put more thought and direction into his tactical punts.
9. What is the match of the round?
Look no further than the Crusaders against the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday night.
This fixture should give a fair indication of the Crusaders true mettle without three influential senior players. If they can get up, watch out for yet another crusade.
8. Would Brendon Leonard be good at league?
Anyone watching Brendon Leonard play against the Crusaders on Saturday would have noted that this guy has enough acceleration off the spot to match Mr Bolt over 10 metres.
Well maybe not, but the more he sniped and the more he fooled defenders with subtle steps and not so subtle dummies, the more he looked like a true hooker.
The Warriors and the NRL in general are blessed with some pretty good number nines but Mr Leonard would be far from out of place.
7. Is Stirling Mortlock looking over his shoulder?
Stirling Mortlock recently featured in a top-10 list, dedicated to Mathew Hayden's belligerent denial that his days were numbered.
While Mortlock isn't quite in Hayden's shoes yet the 31-year-old would have noted, along with the rest of Australia, the dynamic performance of 19-year-old Rob Horne for the Waratahs in Wellington on Saturday.
The kid is a freak, one to watch.
6. Who has the weirdest name in Super 14?
It's a toss up between Kieran Longbottom (Force) and Chiliboy Raepelle (Bulls).
5. What mid-field back used to be a schoolboy hooker?
It's a little known fact but the Blues second-five eight this weekend, Jamie Helleur, used to be a schoolboy hooker.
In 1995 he captained the Auckland Walter Dickson team (under 45kg) from the front before converting to a centre or fullback at Auckland Boys Grammar.
4. Should Gordon Titejens get to select who he wants for the Dubai World Cup?
While this is a subjective matter there are two important points to consider.
Firstly, it would be nice to see a New Zealand's men's rugby team actually win a world title and secondly, the winner of Dubai essentially wraps up the World Series title: double the points are on offer at the World Cup.
3. Should the cameramen in South Africa get a pay rise?
Despite the supposed recession the general concession in pubs around the country is: hell yes!
In fact in the Bulls match against the Reds last weekend the cheerleaders featured at a greater rate than scrums and lineouts put together.
2. Who is a better cricket coach: Robbie Deans or Ricky Stuart?
On Sunday we will found out.
In a classic clash of the codes the coach of the Wallabies will direct Steve Waugh's team and the ex-Kangaroos' headmaster will team-up with Mark 'Tubby' Taylor to raise money for the Victorian bushfires.
Deans of course has an esteemed cricketing background, playing for age-group rep teams as a teenager, so goes into this Twenty20 match at the SCG as clear favourite to win bragging rights.
But that won't concern the unpredictable Stuart; he has other things on his mind, telling the Daily Telegraph in Sydney that he has plans for Tubbs who traditionally fielded at first slip in his playing days.
"I really hoped I'd get Tubby in my team, as I'll be overruling the captain in regards to field placings,'' Stuart said.
"He'll be somewhere where he has to run.''
Good on ya Ricky!
1. Would headgear prevent Richie McCaw getting concussions?
Research conducted by Andrew Macintosh at the University of New South Wales concluded that padded headgear does not reduce the rate of head injury or concussion.
After monitoring three groups of 1493 players, one with headgear, one with standard headgear and one with modified headgear, for approximately 10,000 playing hours, he and his researching chums found that the three groups shared essentially the same concussion rate.
However, while the research should be congratulated for shattering a well held urban myth, the findings failed to identify the playing position of those who sustained concussion.
Thesis, anyone?
What are your burning questions? Feel free comment to 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