Showing posts with label timcronin. Show all posts
Super Rugby Round 1 Review
By Tim CroninNow that the first full round of Super XV is out of the way and we’ve had a look at all of the teams in action (except the Crusaders, who had the bye last weekend) it’s a good time to ponder who could be the key players across the competition, and what could be the determining factors in deciding the outcome of this year’s tournament. Today I’m looking at the New Zealand conference.
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timcronin
Into the Crystal (Oval-shaped) Ball we Gaze
By Tim Cronin
We might be nearly three years out from the next Rugby World Cup, but the IRB’s announcement of the first three teams in each of the four pools has given us an early insight as to how the tournament might pan out.
To be honest, most of the groups appear relatively clear-cut. In Pool B South Africa are joined by Samoa and Scotland, and it’s hard to imagine anything less than a first place finish from the Springboks. Scotland have 1000 days to ponder an all-or-nothing game against Samoa for the other play-off berth, and much will hinge on their ability to play with accuracy and defend stoutly against the flair of the Pacific Islanders.
We might be nearly three years out from the next Rugby World Cup, but the IRB’s announcement of the first three teams in each of the four pools has given us an early insight as to how the tournament might pan out. To be honest, most of the groups appear relatively clear-cut. In Pool B South Africa are joined by Samoa and Scotland, and it’s hard to imagine anything less than a first place finish from the Springboks. Scotland have 1000 days to ponder an all-or-nothing game against Samoa for the other play-off berth, and much will hinge on their ability to play with accuracy and defend stoutly against the flair of the Pacific Islanders.
Propping Up The Wallabies
By Tim Cronin
Australia should have a fantastic front row.
It’s no secret they are a sports mad nation, and the volume of their population who take part in sport obviously contributes to the fantastic global success they experience in any number of events. And it’s no wonder that people love to get outside and run around – the environment is simply conducive to playing sport.
So, with high participation levels and a country which is used to competing, and indeed achieving excellence, I can’t figure out why the Wallabies struggle year after year to get a decent front row together.
Australia should have a fantastic front row.
It’s no secret they are a sports mad nation, and the volume of their population who take part in sport obviously contributes to the fantastic global success they experience in any number of events. And it’s no wonder that people love to get outside and run around – the environment is simply conducive to playing sport.
So, with high participation levels and a country which is used to competing, and indeed achieving excellence, I can’t figure out why the Wallabies struggle year after year to get a decent front row together.
How Things Stack Up Going Into The First Rugby Championship
By Tim Cronin
The expanded southern hemisphere international rugby season is about to kick off for the first time, with the Investec Rugby Championship and I felt it was worth taking a close look at how the sides stack up at this stage in the season,
The three former Tri-nations teams Australian, South Africa, and New Zealand will be easy enough to get a gauge on based on the Super XV tournament, but the newly implemented Pumas of Argentina might be harder to get a handle on.
Firstly, South Africa and New Zealand look like good shape coming off the Super XV. In fairness the Australians shouldn't have had, and didn't deserve a home semi-final as the Reds only got in the top three because of the charity setup that SANZAR decided to use, which allows every conference winner a home final, regardless of where they finished on the competition ladder.
The expanded southern hemisphere international rugby season is about to kick off for the first time, with the Investec Rugby Championship and I felt it was worth taking a close look at how the sides stack up at this stage in the season,
The three former Tri-nations teams Australian, South Africa, and New Zealand will be easy enough to get a gauge on based on the Super XV tournament, but the newly implemented Pumas of Argentina might be harder to get a handle on.
Firstly, South Africa and New Zealand look like good shape coming off the Super XV. In fairness the Australians shouldn't have had, and didn't deserve a home semi-final as the Reds only got in the top three because of the charity setup that SANZAR decided to use, which allows every conference winner a home final, regardless of where they finished on the competition ladder.