MIDWEEK MAUL: By JIM KAYES - The Dominion Post | Wednesday, 12 March 2008
You've gotta love the New Zealand Rugby Union. It certainly knows how to spend money.
In the Midweek Maul's letterbox this week was a flash new copy of the NZRU's Community Rugby Plan with a letter confirming $25 million will be spent on community rugby during the next four years.
It means, according to Brent Anderson's letter, that $48 million will be spent during eight years.
That's a a huge relief for Midweek Maul because last year we had dared to mention that New Zealand rugby was a bit slow in bringing Pacific Islanders through as referees, coaches and administrators.
It was noted that in many ways South Africa was actually doing more to ensure the sport represented its people at all levels of the game. A day later an e-mail arrived from the NZRU's Harbhajan-spinners, highly critical of what was written and asking "haven't you read the community plan?".
So it was with breathless anticipation that the latest, glossy booklet (three copies, actually) came in the post. A quick scan of the contents showed lots of areas were being covered but nothing specifically aligned with ensuring the massive contribution Pacific Islanders have made as players, was also reflected in the refereeing, coaching and administrative ranks.
Perhaps it will be in the next community plan. Can't wait.
THE LACK of Pacific Islanders helping to run the game was debated in Wellington last week, with Wainuiomata's "Mayor" Ken Laban rasing a few sticky points when he was asked to speak.
Laban noted that reigning Air New Zealand Cup champions Auckland were coached by a Samoan, and that when Wellington last won the NPC they were coached by Dave Rennie, a Cook Islander.
He pointed out that Alama Ieremia, a Samoan, was sacked as Lions coach last year and now coached the province's academy.
Laban also noted there were no Pacific Islanders involved at a governance level in Wellington rugby.
As Laban later remarked, South Africa has a coloured Springboks coach. The All Blacks have been captained by a man of Samoan heritage in Tana Umaga, but will they ever be coached by one?
ALL BLACKS great John Kirwan may have come to the aid of scrum guru Mike Cron and kicking coach Mick Byrne. The pair have been part of the All Blacks landscape under coach Graham Henry but their involvement was being scaled back under a leaner, post-World Cup management.
Enter Kirwan, who has asked the International Rugby Board to employ the two specialists to coach club sides in Japan. If the deal is approved, Cron and Byrne will earn their money in Japan but should still be able to help the All Blacks, which, for the cash-strapped NZRU, will be a great result.
MARIST ST PAT'S stalwart Kevin Horan is set to join Irish club Leinster as their forwards coach and former Samoa first five-eighth Earl Va'a starts in mid-April as Japanese club Yokogawa Electric's backs coach.
NO ONE should be surprised that the northern hemisphere unions are already expressing doubts about the new laws being trialled in the Super 14.
Speed the game up! Use the ball more! Make sure rugby's entertaining! Bah humbug. Just look at the Six Nations last weekend. Scotland 15, England 9 (all penalties). Wales 16, Ireland 12 (one try to Wales). No wonder Brits are so skilled at dividing by three.
A FAIRLY decent team could be named of New Zealand-born Super 14 players from the four Australian squads, while the team could be coached by former All Black John Mitchell, and Reds assistant coach Damon Emtage, who was born in Auckland.
A starting XV could be: Digby Ioane (Reds), Brendan Va'aulu (Reds), Sam Harris (Waratahs), Junior Pelesasa (Force), Francis Fainifo (Brumbies), Quade Cooper (Reds), Adam Clarke (Force), Leroy Houston (Reds), Tamati Horua (Force), Ole Avei (Reds), Troy Takiari (Force), Dean Mumm (Waratahs), Herman Hunt (Reds), Huia Edmonds (Brumbies), John Ulugia (Brumbies). Reserves: Pek Cowan (Force), Charlie Fetoai (Reds), Chris Siale (Reds), Josh Tatupu (Force).
The bench is a bit skinny with Takiari a prop, playing lock, but at 1.91m tall he is only a millimetre shorter than Reuben Thorne. Avei is a hooker who has played loose forward.
CONGRATULATIONS to Hutt Old Boys-Marist who won the Spillane Cup last weekend with a 22-20 win against North Harbour in the final.
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