Argentina have done themselves a huge favour by roping in World Cup Winning coach Graham Henry on a 1 year contract. Henry will act as an advisor to the team leading up to and during the new expanded Four Nations tournament.
Henry's role will include mentoring Argentina's high performance coaches.
Henry was also quoted by the UAR as saying: "For seven weeks of the year, my role will be to give the high-performance team and their trainers an idea of what it takes to create a national programme that will make the team more competitive at international level.
This is a fantastic development for the upcoming competition as this is sure to improve Argentina's confidence and performance.
Lastly I would like to congratulate SARU on giving the Rugby Championship or Four Nations the lamest most commercial name.The Castle Rugby Championship. When is SARU going to learn that having your team sponsored by the crappiest beer in South Africa is just bad form.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Why is Southern Hemisphere Rugby the best? Because it's true.
Every so often I come across threads on rugby websites where Northern Hemisphere supporters argue with their Antipodean brethren about the superiority of NH Rugby. It is not really fair to compare the two as the game is played in different conditions with each side employing a different playing philosophy. But the debate persists.
Below you will find some reasons why Southern Hemisphere Rugby could be arrogant if we wanted to be like that!
Wales
The media of the Home Nations in particular have made it almost impossible for me to cheer on any one of England, Scotland, Ireland, or Wales. Before just about every tour down South we are told that "this is the year that victory will be achieved" and other such absurdities. Wales in particular have been guilty of sheer arrogance despite consistently under performing against the top 3 rugby nations in the world. Almost winning is not winning, losing by 1 point is still losing and nothing will change that.
Mike Phillips is being hailed as the best scrum half in the world at the moment. My question is based on what? Is he better than Will Genia, Francois Hougaard, or Fourie Du Preez?
I have a particular dislike for the Welsh as every time the Springboks come up against them we have to read in the media that Wales are going to give it to us. Yeah Right. Let's take a look at the Stats.
VS South Africa
Span: 1906 - 2011 - Mat 26 - Won 1 - Lost 24 - Draw 1 - Win % 5.76
VS Australia
Span: 1908 - 2011 - Mat 32 - Won 10 - Lost 21 - Draw 1 - Win % 32.81
VS New Zealand
Span: 1905 - 2010 - Mat 28 - Won 3 - Lost 25 - Draw - 0 Win % 10.71
Hardly inspiring stuff.
England
Next up England. It seems like many moons ago when the home of the RFU home was dubbed Fortress Twickenham. Trust the English to come up with what has to be one of the lamest attempts at sounding vaguely intimidating. It was a fortress of sorts for a very short period of time before chaos descended. England certainly deserved their World Cup Victory in 2003 as they were the best team.
Since then England have regressed but long may the 2003 memories persist..... like 1966. South Africa face The Commonwealth/ South Africa XV formerly known as England 3 times in 2012.
VS South Africa:
Span: 1906 - 2010 - Mat 32 - Won 12 - Lost 19 - Draw 1 - Win % 39.06
VS Australia:
Span: 1909 - 2010 - Mat 40 - Won 16 - Lost 23 - Draw 1 - Win % 41.25
VS New Zealand:
Span: 1905 - 2010 - Mat 34 - Won 6 - Lost 27 - Draw 1 Win % 19.11
England may have invented the game but that is pretty much where it ended. Thank you, come again.
Ireland:
Ireland has given the world Guinness, Brian O'Driscoll and leprechauns. It has long been claimed by those up north that O'Driscoll or BOD as his disciples call him, is the reincarnation of some otherworldly being. Now there is no denying that O'Driscoll is one of the great centers in world rugby, but claiming that he is the best ever... a step to far in my opinion. The greatest players have claimed every trophy available and he has not. Ireland have a solid team and have shown a lot of improvement in the last few years but still struggle against the power of the South.
VS South Africa:
Span: 1906 - 2010 - Mat 20 - Won 4 - Lost 15 - Draw 1 - Win % 22.50
VS Australia:
Span: 1927 - 2011 - Mat 30 - Won 9 - Lost 20 - Draw 1 - Win % 31.66
VS New Zealand:
Span: 1905 - 2010 - Mat 24 - Won 0 - Lost 23 - Draw 1 - Win % 2.08
Scotland:
I like Scotland a little bit. But they still suck.
VS South Africa
Span: 1906 - 2010 - Mat 21 - Won 5 - Lost 16 - Draw 0 - Win % 23.80
VS Australia:
Span: 1927 - 2009 - Mat 26 - Won 8 - Lost 18 - Draw 0 - Win % 30.76
VS New Zealand:
Span: 1927 - 2009 - Mat 28 - Won 0 - Lost 26 - Draw 2 - Win % 3.57
I suspect that pretty much covers it. If any of you NH guys would like to dispute these facts please feel free and good luck.
Below you will find some reasons why Southern Hemisphere Rugby could be arrogant if we wanted to be like that!
Wales
The media of the Home Nations in particular have made it almost impossible for me to cheer on any one of England, Scotland, Ireland, or Wales. Before just about every tour down South we are told that "this is the year that victory will be achieved" and other such absurdities. Wales in particular have been guilty of sheer arrogance despite consistently under performing against the top 3 rugby nations in the world. Almost winning is not winning, losing by 1 point is still losing and nothing will change that.
Mike Phillips is being hailed as the best scrum half in the world at the moment. My question is based on what? Is he better than Will Genia, Francois Hougaard, or Fourie Du Preez?
I have a particular dislike for the Welsh as every time the Springboks come up against them we have to read in the media that Wales are going to give it to us. Yeah Right. Let's take a look at the Stats.
VS South Africa
Span: 1906 - 2011 - Mat 26 - Won 1 - Lost 24 - Draw 1 - Win % 5.76
VS Australia
Span: 1908 - 2011 - Mat 32 - Won 10 - Lost 21 - Draw 1 - Win % 32.81
VS New Zealand
Span: 1905 - 2010 - Mat 28 - Won 3 - Lost 25 - Draw - 0 Win % 10.71
Hardly inspiring stuff.
England
Next up England. It seems like many moons ago when the home of the RFU home was dubbed Fortress Twickenham. Trust the English to come up with what has to be one of the lamest attempts at sounding vaguely intimidating. It was a fortress of sorts for a very short period of time before chaos descended. England certainly deserved their World Cup Victory in 2003 as they were the best team.
Since then England have regressed but long may the 2003 memories persist..... like 1966. South Africa face The Commonwealth/ South Africa XV formerly known as England 3 times in 2012.
VS South Africa:
Span: 1906 - 2010 - Mat 32 - Won 12 - Lost 19 - Draw 1 - Win % 39.06
VS Australia:
Span: 1909 - 2010 - Mat 40 - Won 16 - Lost 23 - Draw 1 - Win % 41.25
VS New Zealand:
Span: 1905 - 2010 - Mat 34 - Won 6 - Lost 27 - Draw 1 Win % 19.11
England may have invented the game but that is pretty much where it ended. Thank you, come again.
Ireland:
Ireland has given the world Guinness, Brian O'Driscoll and leprechauns. It has long been claimed by those up north that O'Driscoll or BOD as his disciples call him, is the reincarnation of some otherworldly being. Now there is no denying that O'Driscoll is one of the great centers in world rugby, but claiming that he is the best ever... a step to far in my opinion. The greatest players have claimed every trophy available and he has not. Ireland have a solid team and have shown a lot of improvement in the last few years but still struggle against the power of the South.
VS South Africa:
Span: 1906 - 2010 - Mat 20 - Won 4 - Lost 15 - Draw 1 - Win % 22.50
VS Australia:
Span: 1927 - 2011 - Mat 30 - Won 9 - Lost 20 - Draw 1 - Win % 31.66
VS New Zealand:
Span: 1905 - 2010 - Mat 24 - Won 0 - Lost 23 - Draw 1 - Win % 2.08
Scotland:
I like Scotland a little bit. But they still suck.
VS South Africa
Span: 1906 - 2010 - Mat 21 - Won 5 - Lost 16 - Draw 0 - Win % 23.80
VS Australia:
Span: 1927 - 2009 - Mat 26 - Won 8 - Lost 18 - Draw 0 - Win % 30.76
VS New Zealand:
Span: 1927 - 2009 - Mat 28 - Won 0 - Lost 26 - Draw 2 - Win % 3.57
I suspect that pretty much covers it. If any of you NH guys would like to dispute these facts please feel free and good luck.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)