James McOnie: Ten things rugby has given New Zealanders this year
After a confronting Northern Tour, James McOnie takes the alternative route and remembers what’s going well for New Zealand Rugby.
The stark realisation that the All Blacks are mortal was tough for some to take last week.
After congratulating Ireland for their first-ever win at home against the men in black, many New Zealanders immediately went to their sheds to get their pitchforks and formed an angry mob in the town square of social and mainstream media, baying for blood.
So maybe it’s time to Eric Idle the situation and look on the bright side. And since we never celebrate Thanksgiving in New Zealand, late November seems the perfect time to appreciate certain people and some of the things that rugby has given us this year. Here’s 10 anyway…
- Ireland
The All Blacks have a foe who we respect and who are teaching us lessons (sorry, “learnings”). They beat us without three or four of their best players last weekend and let’s be honest: New Zealand needed a new nemesis. Ireland have arrived just at the right time, to give us a solid kick in the pants a year out from the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
I love Jordie Barrett. Jordie Barrett can play anywhere. He’s a 6-foot-6 Swiss army knife. He just scored four tries against Italy, playing on the right wing for the first time in a test. Jordie made one mistake (a quick throw-in) against the Springboks in Wellington and all hell broke loose – on the night and with his stocks, which dropped sharply. So what?! It’s unbelievable what he can do with the ball. He has the skills of that kid who can do the Rubik’s cube with his feet, upside down or while juggling them.
Akira played the house down in 2018 and was arguably the second best number eight in the country (usually grounds for All Blacks selection), but instead he was left out of a… wait for it…. 51-man squad! What’s more, he responded by playing even better. It’s obvious he’s crucial to the All Blacks in the future. And if he stays on this trajectory, that future begins the next time Steve Hansen selects a team.
- Ben Smith
Ben From Accounts doesn’t whinge. Ben just goes about his business. He is business-like. He’s the world’s best fullback (registered trademark) but hardly ever got to play there for his country this year. He just slots in on the right wing, and NEVER packs a sad. He’s just so dependable. Ben is the kind of guy who’d be best man at five or six weddings. We all need to be more like Ben Smith.
- Karl Tu’inukuafe
Let’s not forget that a few years ago, big Karl was 170kg and working as a nightclub bouncer. He’s a Jenny Craig success story but his Jenny was rugby. Apparently the 25-year-old is so unaccustomed to his new, trim 130kg frame that he forgets he can still move around with ease. He’s been plunged into test rugby without much of a warm-up and, despite a lesson from Ireland’s outstanding Tadhg Furlong, we can only say he’s been a revelation.
- The Rush Defence
It’s our Kryptonite but we’ve seen enough of it now (from the Lions, Springboks, England and Ireland) that like Superman, we can retreat to our Fortress of Solitude (The Coromandel Peninsula) and figure out ways to combat the suffocating defensive system. There are gaps to be exploited.
- Professional Women’s Rugby
They set the bar so high as amateurs, imagine what the Black Ferns will do as professionals? It’s been an overdue year of progress for the world champions. Meanwhile, the Black Ferns Sevens won Commonwealth Games gold and World Cup gold (the All Blacks Sevens did the double too), meaning 2020 Olympic gold in Tokyo is even more likely. The women’s game is on the rise.
- Kieran Read
Kieran dropped the ball against Ireland and everyone lost their shit. Then most people recovered their shit and realised he’s the G.O.A.T number eight and we should just give him space. Read is an incredible rugby player – on a par with Richie McCaw in many respects – but he may not get that kind of recognition unless he wins a third World Cup. Other nations covet Kieran – what they would give for a number eight of his ilk. And when he retires we will miss him like crazy. Also, I really hope his book is called A Great Read.
- Free Rugby
They threw open the gates to Eden Park, confident that (insert Kevin Costner voice over here) “they will come”.
And they did – more than 20,000 of them. The Auckland Rugby Union’s decision to allow free entry to the Mitre 10 Cup premiership final was inspired. The atmosphere initially spooked some of the players, who were more accustomed to hearing their own voices echoing off empty seats, but it helped create one of the greatest finals in NPC history. Auckland got the W after extra-time and the fish-heads got it right.
- The Number 10s
Have we ever had three first-fives as exciting as this All Blacks trio? Answer – no. Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo’unga and Damian McKenzie can all set a game alight. Their diverse talents have created all sorts of debates. But just be happy we have these three charging around in the black jersey – because after the World Cup, who knows what price they’ll fetch on the European market. And who can blame them for leaving? Enjoy them while you can.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments