ABs face battle to keep precious home record

By BEN FAWKES - The Dominion Post | Friday, 04 July 2008

hey are the reigning world champs - but even the Springboks concede that counts for precious little when they take on the All Blacks on Saturday night in Wellington.

South Africa has not won in New Zealand for a decade - a statistic that skipper John Smit admits rankles with the current squad.

"It's a burning desire purely because it's been so long and the majority of us that have come a long way together over the last four or five years have just never been able to put one over, over here.

"So it certainly does put a bit of fire in the belly and it's a box that hasn't been ticked."

With Ireland and England vanquished, the first Tri-Nations test is looming as a grudge match as Graham Henry's men seek to avenge the Cardiff meltdown that paved the way for South Africa to be crowned the world's best.

But the Springboks are up against the All Blacks' daunting home record, with 29 straight wins since losing to England in Wellington in 2003.

All Black fullback Mils Muliaina said the Springboks would be anxious to live up to their world-champion tag.

He was one of several players who visited the Weta Cave film memorabilia store yesterday. Aside from cavorting with ray guns and Lord of the Rings merchandise, Muliaina said there had been a noticeable lift in intensity at training and at the team hotel, as the side geared up for what he described as the biggest test of the year.

"It's always a big game against them, there is a lot of history ... They are our biggest foe. Everyone wants to kick the Tri-Nations off on a high."

Young ABs face inquisition Springbok-style

By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE in Wellington - RugbyHeaven | Friday, 04 July 2008

Test preview: It's an enormous step into the unknown. And it's not just about the new ELVs that make their debut in the Tri-Nations opener on Saturday night. This is more to do with how eight young All Blacks front up to the Springboks for the first time.

Andy Ellis, Ma'a Nonu, Rudi Wulf, Jerome Kaino and Adam Thomson will be there at Wellington's Westpac Stadium from kickoff for a match that will involve more fury than anything they have experienced.

Stephen Donald, Anthony Boric and Sione Lauaki will sit on the bench waiting for their introduction, wondering whether they will be needed to try to protect a 29-match home winning streak against the world champions.

Yes, there is a core of experience running through the team – all fingers will be crossed that Ali Williams makes it to the start – but this is a completely new level for many of the players involved.

It's one thing to see off an ordinary English team, it's another matter to front the Boks who have earned their tag the hard way as New Zealand rugby's greatest rival.

Graham Henry has labelled this match as the biggest of his five-year reign with the All Blacks. Are his side at their most vulnerable in that time as they square off against a confident Springboks team that are on a 14-match winning streak of their own? Remember, nestled in the midst of that was a World Cup final win.

"I think we are into the unknown to some extent. There are a large number of players in the 26 who haven't had long careers in the All Blacks and could well have," said Henry, suggesting this was their "acid test".

He added: "It's just a matter of how these fellows are going to handle the demands of playing South Africa. That's the challenge and it will be interesting to see how that challenge is met.

"They have trained well and they are very focused. It's just how they handle the big test match. The one thing they will do, is they will do their best."

Then there are the ELVs. They get their first taste of test action and Henry and his fellow coaches get their first chance to show their innovations after watching them played during the Super 14.

But, again, there is an unknown factor here with the new lineout law of unlimited numbers and the decision to allow mauls to be sacked.

All of this adds to pressures as the new-look All Blacks face their most significant test in nine months since you know when.

"Again it's a wee bit of an unknown," Henry says of the lineouts. "You're not quite sure how the opposition is going to work in that area. A lot of it is going to be how you respond on the track.

"It's a totally different situation, that none of us have ever experienced before. So to be able to react on the hoof in the heat of the battle is going to be very important.

"Our coolness of head and being able to react under those circumstances is going to be very important."

What we can expect is for the All Blacks to try to maximise the quick throw-ins that are now on offer again. The less lineouts they have to front up against Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha, the better for an area of New Zealand's came that has been shaky over the opening three tests of the year.

So the ball will be thrown in quickly by whoever is there and to whomever is available.

The All Blacks will be out to play a quick game. Of that there is no doubt. They will see the new rules as helping their more adventurous approach compared to the Springboks' more methodical style of play.

They weren't willing to buy into that theory on Friday though. "We will have to see. It will be interesting to see how the two teams respond to those (the ELVs)," was all Henry would say.

The Boks have spoken much about their desire to reveal a more attacking style and there was little doubt that their Super 14 sides started to look more comfortable with the new rules the longer the tournament wore on.

Henry is a fan of the ELVs and as one of the deeper thinkers of the modern game, he will surely have a twist or two to add to what we have seen over the past few months.

But he also has an old concern: "The big thing about the ELVs is the tackle area still and the refereeing of the tackle area. If the refereeing is accurate and the team plays well at that area, I think it increases the spectacle of the game."

But Henry stressed not much had really changed with the basic requirements of the game. And test rugby doesn't get much more basic or primal than All Blacks v Springboks clashes.

They will bash heads up front, the ball will go to the air, kickable penalties will be attempted at every opportunity and when the time is right the backs will try to strike.

Every All Black who has spoken publically this week has mentioned the physical approach and toughness of the South Africans. But only those who have fronted the Boks really know the added dimensions that come with that tag.

There's also a mental toughness about them that has been New Zealand's undoing on more than one occasion.

So Henry is right – this really is a venture into the unknown, even for the Springboks who face their biggest assignment under their new coach Peter de Villiers.

Can New Zealand's scrum advantage outweigh the Springboks' superiority at lineout time?

Are the All Blacks able to get by without Richie McCaw? Does the new-look back-row have what it takes against an area of South African strength?

Can Dan Carter's sublime form move into this arena? Is Andy Ellis really our top halfback and can Ma'a Nonu do what few have done and bust through the middle of the Boks?

So many questions and so few answers and you could also throw the weather into that mix, given Friday's glorious sunshine compared to the gloomy forecast for Saturday night.

But that's what is great about this test. There is intrigue in every area, not least being the result.

 

NEW ZEALAND: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Rudi Wulf, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Andy Ellis; 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Rodney So'oialo (c), 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock. Reserves: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Sione Lauaki, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Leon MacDonald.

SOUTH AFRICA: 15 Conrad Jantjes,14  Odwa Ndungane, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Ricky Januarie; 8 Joe van Niekerk, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Gurthro Steenkamp. Reserves: 16 Bismark du Plessis, 17 Brian Mujati, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Luke Watson, 20, Bolla Conradie, 21Francois Steyn, 22 Percy Montgomery.

Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Aus).

Boks` top spot on the line

Thursday 03rd July 2008 | www.planet-rugby.com

New Zealand and South Africa will be playing for more than Tri-Nations points when they meet in Wellington on Saturday - the winners will also secure top spot on the IRB World Rankings.

The Springboks currently head the rankings, just 1.02 rating points clear of the All Blacks, meaning that a win for the hosts at Westpac Stadium in the first of back-to-back encounters will see the teams swap places.

The All Blacks have moved to within striking distance thanks to their series victory over England last month. Even a one-point victory on New Zealand soil will see Graham Henry's side return to top spot, but a win by 15 points or more could give New Zealand an advantage of over one rating point to defend when the sides meet again in Dunedin on July 12.

However, if the world champions manage to score their first win in New Zealand in ten years, they would strengthen their position as the number one side and possibly quadruple their advantage, depending on the winning margin.

New Zealand would remain second even with a loss by 15 points or more in Wellington, although their cushion over the other Tri-Nations side, Australia, could reduce to around three points if the Wallabies once again prove too strong for France in Brisbane on Saturday.

Australia's 34-13 victory over les Bleus in Sydney last weekend saw the Wallabies swap places with Argentina who slumped to a disappointing loss to Italy.

If France cause a major upset at Suncorp Stadium and claim their first win Down Under in eighteen years, they could climb one to sixth at Wales' expense with the Wallabies falling two spots below Argentina and England. A heavy loss, though, and Australia could slip to their lowest ever ranking of sixth.

There is one other top ten change at stake when Fiji head to Nuku'alofa to face Tonga in the final round of the IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2008.

Apart from playing for third place in the tournament Fiji have the added incentive this time of knowing that victory should lift them two places to eighth in the rankings and above both Ireland and Scotland. A loss however would see Fiji fall one to 11th and outside the top 10 for the first time since the 2007 World Cup.

A first PNC victory in 2008 for Tonga though could see them return to 13th, regaining the two places they lost after losing 20-15 to Samoa last weekend.

The match between Samoa and Japan in Apia is unlikely to see Samoa move from 12th spot regardless of the result, however a Japanese victory would be significant for John Kirwan's side.

After convincingly beating Tonga in Round two and leading the NZ Maori at half-time last weekend, the Japanese will be eager to claim another scalp which could see them climb one or two places to a potential new high of 14, depending on the result.

IRB Rankings on July 3

1 SOUTH AFRICA 90.81
2 NEW ZEALAND 89.79
3 AUSTRALIA 84.56
4 ARGENTINA 83.42
5 ENGLAND 83.16
6 WALES 80.12
7 FRANCE 79.24
8 IRELAND 77.18
9 SCOTLAND 76.92
10 FIJI 76.77
11 ITALY 75.57
12 SAMOA 72.35
13 GEORGIA 69.43
14 CANADA 68.81
15 TONGA 68.52
16 JAPAN 67.57
17 ROMANIA 67.20
18 RUSSIA 63.94
19 URUGUAY 63.69
20 USA 63.11

Tri-Nations: New Zealand

Friday 04th July 2008 | www.planet-rugby.com

With the Tri-Nations set to kick-off in Wellington this weekend we are bringing you our unique team-by-team guide. This time it's New Zealand...

Last year: In a tournament where away wins are so paramount, New Zealand essentially had the tournament wrapped up by the second week when a late surge claimed a 26-21 win over South Africa in Durban. This was the team that was set to go on and win the World Cup, and their win in Durban underlined their apparent global superiority - the Boks were the only team thought capable of challenging them. The long return trip to Australia proved too much for the squad to handle and the All Blacks succumbed to a 20-15 defeat, running out of steam late in the game. But both home games were won comfortably, along with the tournament, in July.

This year: With so many of last year's squad moved on to other, more northerly, things, you'd be forgiven for expecting a lean period from the All Blacks. Think again. The new All Blacks put down a spirited Irish challenge before romping home in back-to-back wins over the English in June, and those two wins were marked by several tries in the limited space afforded by the old rules. The thought of what the new All Blacks might do under the new rules is a little disconcerting for those who would take their crown. It's tricky to see the outsized Tri-Nations trophy going anywhere this year.

Captain: Richie McCaw was one of the hardy few not to stuff his wallet after the World Cup, and underlined his commitment to the All Black cause with a pair of truly magnificent performances against Ireland and England. A leader by example in the Johnson mould, he will be sorely missed during the first half of the tournament. Step up Rodney So'oialo, who leads the Hurricanes with the same quiet determination that McCaw shows, and now has his chance to add to his world reputation. A ringing endorsement from John Smit on the eve of the Wellington Test, in response to criticism from Corne Krige, is proof enough of the respect the rugby world holds for him.

Coach: Graham Henry survived the post World Cup fallout, despite the endless clamour for Robbie Deans and the obvious errors he made during 2007, and despite going through a rigorous re-application process. He appears thus to have out-smarted every one of his detractors since the defeat to France, having spent most of the four previous years out-smarting his opponents. Now comes his stiffest test yet, bringing through a new generation, finding the right mix to exploit the new rules, and facing off against the man most of New Zealand wanted to replace him. What a fabulous sub-plot that will be!

Key man: Dan Carter is so good that he becomes the first player to have a national union engineer a new type of contract so as to retain his services and allow him to make his million. Genius! As if he wasn't good enough at finding extra space anyway, he can now show off his talents with five extra metres at scrums and line-outs. Yikes!

Rising star: Adam Thomson announced his international presence to us with three distinct pieces of flawless positional play during his full debut against England a fortnight ago, in the midst of what was generally an excellent all-round display. A former sevens player, the flanker is possessed of plenty of pace and power, but over the next eight weeks it will be his game-play intelligence that will make him stand out from the crowd.

Squad: Adam Thomson, Ali Williams, Andrew Hore, Anthony Boric, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Jerome Kaino, John Afoa, John Schwalger, Keven Mealamu, Neemia Tialata, Richie McCaw, Rodney So'oialo, Sione Lauaki, Tony Woodcock, Andrew Ellis, Anthony Tuitavake, Conrad Smith, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Leon MacDonald, Ma'a Nonu, Malili Muliaina, Richard Kahui, Rudi Wulf, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald.

Advantage New Zealand

July 3rd, 2008 | www.keo.co.za | by keo

South Africa’s team selections favour a young All Blacks team under pressure at home for the first time in four years.

The All Blacks play the Springboks on Saturday without the following players: Joe Rokocoko, Aaren Mauger, Luke McAlister, Byron Kelleher, Richie McCaw, Jerry Collins, Chris Jack and Carl Hayman.

Rokocoko and McCaw are injured and the others are all playing overseas and with the exception of Collins have all indicated that they want to play in the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

The missing All Blacks total nearly 400 international caps and on average five years of Test experience. That’s what the All Blacks won’t have on Saturday and that’s why there is never going to be a better opportunity for the Springboks to win in New Zealand.

But is the South African mindset right to win?

I wonder, especially when Springbok coach Peter de Villiers calls the All Blacks the best team in the world and says that the Springboks can’t call themselves world champions until they beat the All Blacks.

Wrong Peter.

Why are their young and unproven players given the right to be on a pedestal looking down on your experienced and proven world champions?

More accurate is that the All Blacks can’t call themselves the best team in the world until they win the World Cup. The All Blacks are the equivalent of a sprinter who breaks every record and runs the fastest times every year but at every Olympics chokes and never makes the final.

The Boks are the world champions until 2011 regardless of whether they don’t win another Test until then.

This crap that there is no such thing as a vulnerable All Blacks team or a weak All Blacks team also needs to be knocked on the head. The All Blacks team that took 40 points at Ellis Park in 2004 was poor. Of the starting XV that day 10 never played again for the All Blacks.

The All Blacks of 1949 that took a four-nil beating in South Africa were also not good.

There are other examples. For all the great teams produced in New Zealand they’ve also had their fair share of plodders wearing the black jersey.

South Africa’s rugby isolation made the All Blacks larger than life in this country and too many of our players and supporters still believe more in the myth of the All Blacks than the reality of players who, when put under pressure, are mortal.

I am not dismissing the magnitude of winning a Test in New Zealand. It is not easily done and some ordinary All Blacks teams have won against better opposition at home because of the home ground advantage. The same applies to Springbok teams who have got the better of superior New Zealand sides in South Africa.

Saturday’s Test has nothing to do with the World Cup. It is being played in Wellington and not Paris. It is being played in cold and wet conditions in July in New Zealand and not on a cool evening in October in France. It is being played under new laws and not the old ones that favoured South Africa’s no-risk approach at the World Cup.

Saturday’s Test is a present tense occasion and all that is relevant is the form and quality of the respective match 22s. History means nothing and neither does South Africa’s win or New Zealand’s blow out at the World Cup.

What counts is how good either team is now and in terms of pedigree the Springboks, probably for the first time since 1992, have the better team.

This is no guarantee of victory and the physical attributes have to be complemented with a strong mental presence.

The reality is this: If a Bok team missing only Jacque Fourie and Fourie du Preez can’t beat an All Blacks team without Rokocoko, Mauger, McAlister, Kelleher, McCaw, Collins, Jack and Hayman then they won’t win in New Zealand for another decade.

It is not arrogance to install the Boks as favourites and it is not raising unrealistic expectation. It is an acknowledgement of the player strength in the Bok squad and the vulnerability of the All Blacks, but the question is: do the Boks believe they can win in New Zealand or do they know that they can beat the All Blacks?

I am not sure they know it and that is why the Test is a 50-50 call when the advantage should be South Africa’s.

And after the announcement of the Boks starting XV, with a back three that has favoured the relative Test inexperience of Conrad Jantjes and Odwa Ndungane and the midfield defensive risk of Adi Jacobs, the advantage has gone back to the All Blacks.

Only eight of the World Cup final starting XV make the team and to leave such strong kicking options like Frans Steyn and Percy Montgomery on the bench speaks volumes for the perceived ability of Jacobs and Jantjes or it exposes naivety among the coach.

The argument why I would have gone with Montgomery, JP Pietersen and Steyn is that all three have played in the biggest game of their life (the World Cup final) and triumphed. Saturday therefore will not be the biggest game of their life, but for Jantjes, Jacobs and Ndungane it has never got bigger than this. All three will be better for the experience, but I sense the advantage has been given back to a young All Blacks side who would have been more weary of a trio who won in the World Cup final than a trio with more question marks than answers next to their respective names.

Among the pack Gurthro Steenkamp adds greater value in a free-flowing environment and usually has made more of an impact when introduced off the bench, so he will be tested up front as a starting loosehead and Joe van Niekerk’s experience rightly has won him the vote over Pierre Spies and Ryan Kankowski at No 8, with Kankowski wisely not risked after that sickening knock out blow against Italy.

De Villiers has opted for experience in the pack, which is right, but why did he not go the same route among his back three and midfield?

As Jake White will tell you a two point defeat in New Zealand is as good as 20 points. The right combinations were good enough to get the Boks a one point credit at the end. The ones picked I fear will come close but as White found out when his team lost 23-21 close counts for nothing in the history books.

Prepare for a blackout

Posted in Springboks, Tri Nations | www.keo.co.za by Simon Borchardt

The only way the Springboks will beat the All Blacks in New Zealand this year is if the home side wears grey jerseys.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry has been talking the Boks up all week, but that’s because he knows he’ll be sacked if his side loses one of their next two matches against the world champions. Henry privately acknowledges the All Blacks will start as favourites in Wellington, as they will in Dunedin a week later – not surprising considering the Boks haven’t won in New Zealand since 1998.

The tag ‘world champions’ has been thrown around a lot in New Zealand this week, but it won’t take long for the All Blacks to realise that this Springbok team does not have the aura of the one that won the World Cup final against England. Fourie du Preez – the world’s best scrumhalf in 2007 – is not in New Zealand and neither is Jaque Fourie, so crucial at No 13. Percy Montgomery, the safety net of Jake White’s Bok backline, is expected to warm the bench.

The Boks, despite claims to the contrary, also don’t believe – really believe – that they can beat the All Blacks in New Zealand.

On paper, this Bok squad should comfortably beat the All Blacks by 10 points on Saturday. But they won’t. When the Boks are in New Zealand, and they see the steam rising from those black jerseys, the self-doubt creeps back. Maybe the Boks should introduce a very, very dark green jersey, so that the All Blacks have to play in grey at home – the same strip they wore at the World Cup (and which surely played a part in France’s quarter-final win). The Boks definitely wouldn’t lose to a team in grey.

Unfortunately though, the All Blacks will be in black. The Boks will lose the first Test by seven points or less, and will suffer an even bigger defeat a week later at the House of Pain (where South Africa have never won).

Peter de Villiers’s side will, however, beat the All Blacks at Newlands on 16 August. At home, and with the support of 50,000 fans, the Boks truly believe they can beat anyone. On the road though, it’s a different story.

Deriding Chelsea`s Dire Deco Decision...

Posted 01/07/08 10:46 | www.football365.com | The Mailbox

Chelsea - Cocking It Up Again
So Chelsea have signed the Portuguese party boy Deco.

Once again Chelsea choose to sign a fading former superstar on ridiculous wages. Why not go for the double and sign Deco's fat-bodied wingman Ronaldinho aswell? Deco certainly needs someone to go clubbing with (that will probably be Cashley's job).

When will the Chelsea board stopping worrying about the club's inadequate global profile/reputation and learn to invest in youth and build a squad that can sustain domination? Why can't they sign emerging talent like Manchester United and Arsenal do? Hell, even Spurs are now investing in talented up and comers like Dos Santos and Bale.

Instead clowns like Abramovich and Kenyon are still desperate to sign 'reputation' players. Let's see how that's worked out shall we?

Juan Sebastian Veron - At least Man Utd couldn't have known of the Argentinian's inability to adapt to the English game. Chelsea had no such excuse. How many games did he play for Chelsea again?

Adrian Mutu -What a car crash of a signing. Did no one at Chelsea think to analyse his character before buying him? At least he still owes Chelsea money.

Hernan Crespo - Remind me, how many seasons has he been on loan at Inter?

Didier Drogba - One great season, but a chronic malcontent and a destroyer of team morale that most Chelsea fans will be glad to see the back of.

Michael Ballack - Should have 'the nearly man' tattooed on his forehead - rubbish first season, better second, but at 32 how many seasons has he got left before he's ready for the glue factory?

Andrei Shevchenko - Chelsea FC have actually ruined this player. I hope you Chelsea fans are proud. This guy was a predator, a striker even great defenders truly feared. This guy could have retired in Milan a legend of the game, but look what Chelsea have reduced him to. Shevchenko will now only be remembered as the punchline to a joke involving a priest, a rabbi and the worst way to spend 30 million pounds.

Nicholas Anelka - 15 million pounds. I'll say that again, 15 MILLION POUNDS. For what? For a guy whose goal-to-game ratio was never great, not to mention the most detestable attitude to be possessed by a footballer this side of Ashley Cole. The excuse for initially refusing to take a penalty against United in the CL final was beyond pathetic. Not being warmed up! Excuse me but when does taking three steps and striking a football 12 yards require ANYONE, let alone a professional footballer, to be warmed up? This guy is simply a loser, a footballing charlatan, and Chelsea paid the price.

The only upside I can see for Chelsea in signing Deco is that they have at least now made that gormless goon Lampard surplus to requirements.
Robert Vard

.First of all I am a Man Utd fan and am pleased to see the Deco deal go through. You may be wondering why I like to see an accomplished player join a rival club, well here is your answer...

I dont doubt that Deco has been a recognised star by the world of football for many years and rightly so, and here's the big 'but'...Man Utd and Arsenal have the perfect formula - mix experience with the will, desire and energy of the youth players. Since Mr Abramovich has taken control of Chelsea all he has done is make mistake after mistake using his authority as the 'Big man' in town. Selecting purchase after purchase based on his belief that experience and previous ability is the key to success.

To put it basically, buying ageing stars at extortionate prices is exactly what I like to see Chelsea do...time and time again we see them as failures in the Premiership because our game is too physical, fast and demanding for them to adapt to. Deco will be more proof to the point that 30-odds will fail in the English game we see today.

More of this please, Roman, I look forward to seeing you falter again in the 08-09 season.
Lee Durrant, Derby


It's Not A Good Time For Spurs
Yippee dee we stand to lose two players who between them have scored over 80 goals in all competitions in last two seasons. If Keane goes to Liverpool and Berbatov to United we may as well all pack up and go home. The dull monopoly of the Big Four will continue as the likes of Villa and Spurs have their best players nicked. Frankly Berbatov has stopped playing since the League Cup final and he can go to Europe but Keane going to Liverpool as Crouch's replacement he'll have a few splinters in his arse by season's end. Still there we've always got Jermaine Jenas...
Dave, Hong Kong


English Players: Not That Good
Steady on Tim Collins - is Ashley Cole really an 'excellent full-back'?? I've been watching Euro 2008 closely and comparing our national team with certain players to see where it all went wrong.

1) Can Cole swing in one superb cross after another like Fabio Grosso? No.

2) Can Cole use his right foot for anything other than standing on, like the Romanian, Polish and probably every other left back? No.

3) Can Cole hit 35-yard shots either on target or just past the post like we saw from Rat, Zhirkova among others? No (on this point, wouldnt it be nice if we had a player who could strike a ball like Golodin....)

4) Can Cole regularly skin the opposing full-back giving himself a clear run down the line to supply the strikers? No.

5) Could Cole carve out a 90th-minute chance and finish with his wrong foot inside the near post like wee Lahm did? No chance.

Yes, he can defend sometimes, but at international level it's clear you need a little more than that. Not wishing to pick on Cole, but Bridge can't offer what we are missing either, and between them they pick up 165k a week! If Cole had two feet, would Chelsea pay him double?

Having watched Luka Modric against Turkey raised a few more points in comparison to our midfield golden boys. Modric never stopped moving, he spent 95% of the time behind the ball - yet was the most creative player on the pitch. He was all over the place, making good tackles, getting in the way, breaking play up. He was always looking to fill in somewhere for his team when needed - up front, at the back on the flanks. He didnt try and hit hollywood balls into row z, he just kept it simple, making passes that count. The only time he stood still was in the 118th minute (knackered by that point I guess), yet in the 119th minute he set up what should have been the winner. He never strutted back into his own half like the preening turkeys we have in midfield, be busted his balls to get back behind the ball. All in all, he was bloody superb in that game and it just made me wish England had a player who puts so much into playing for their national team.

I could go through the rest of the England team but frankly I think you get my point. Until we all wake up and realise we are so unbelievably technically deficient to the rest of Europe, we are going nowhere people!
Lec, Camberley


It's Not Your Triumph
You see, yesterday's emails are the exact reason why I didn't want Spain to win the European Championships. I just knew you'd have all the Liverpool and Arsenal fans banging on about how their players won the thing for Spain, arguing over whether Fabregas or Torres were the bestest people on the pitch etc etc.

B*ll*cks. It's only because neither Liverpool or Arsenal got anywhere near a trophy last season that they have to delude themselves into thinking they've somehow achieved something. Well they haven't, alright, Man Utd, Portsmouth and Spurs did, Liverpool and Arsenal DID NOT!!

And then you've got the even more deluded Fabregas coming out and saying this is for the Arsenal fans. We won nothing for them last year, now at least they have one player who's won something. Then he says it makes up for Paris! He actually thinks the Arsenal fans will feel like they've won something. Well they haven't, Spain have, and once again Arsenal, DID NOT!

Nothing like that can make up for your club team winning a major trophy, just ask the United fans after Moscow, or Spurs fans after Wembley.
David Glen, Manchester


Arse Bandits
So when Cesc has a quiet game he's taking people away from the game or contributing in other areas. But when Ronaldo or Gerrard doe's it, they're invisible or big-game bottlers. But don't let your homoerotic thoughts of Cesc change that.
Greg See, Australia


Aragones: Genius Not A Fool
Re: James, perplexed exiled Manc in North London. The reason Aragones deserves all the praise he gets is because he decided on a SYSTEM and picked the players that fitted that SYSTEM, unlike Eriksson and McClown who were too scared to leave out the big names (square pegs, round holes???). He had the balls to leave Raul at home. He took Torres off most game to keep him fresh for the next game (his work rate was phenonmenal, which was a crucial part of his SYSTEM - Guiza proved a more than adequate replacement) and he played Fabregas only when Villa got injured (so he also had a Plan B). The fact that Xavi, Iniesta and Silva played so well justified not picking Fabregas from the start of the tournament. Spain have the longest unbeaten run in international football, played great football and are European Champions and you call the manager lucky!!?? FOOL.
Adam, Birmingham


...The mailbox on Monday afternoon was one of contrasts. On the one hand you have Tim Collins saying it's not all about (supposedly) world-class players, it's about the best team and tactics (largely correct IMO). Then you've got the popular view in this country, as expressed by James, perplexed exiled Manc in North London, saying it all about the players, and Aragones was lucky (as was Scolari in 2002???). Aragones was lucky apparently because he dared substitute Torres and not start with Cesc. Stop believing the Premiership hype machine for f***s sake! Torres was excellent at times but poor and very tired (long debut season in a physically demanding league) at others. Safe to say Aragones got the best out of him, no? Cesc is one of the best midfielders in the world, but Aragones wanted to start with an experienced central midfield (not exactly lacking in quality), that he thought would be best FOR THE TEAM, and used Cesc to great effect from the bench. Basically Aragones got lucky because he didn't make the star players from the bestest league in the whole world the focal point of his team? Jesus wept.

I don't understand how people in this country continue to refuse to accept it's about picking the best team not the best players.
Richard Strzelecki


Loving That Boy Senna
I am sure there will be plenty of answers to Rob's mail on the overhyped holding midfielder. Just a couple of questions then - where was Arshavin in the semi final and Ballack in the final? Could it be their threat was reduced by some excellent play by Senna who in my opinion was the best player from Spain. This does not make me more intellectual on all matters of football but I can appreciate a good footballer and good football when I see it
Danny Koor


...I was really angry with Rob's letter.

He slates people (like me) that dare suggest that Senna was the player of the tournament. Well this why we think it:

It has nothing to do with bigging up the little man and certainly not to do with us trying to make out we're intelligent football watchers. It's because Marcos Senna was the most important player for the winners of the tournament. That's enough said for me. For all of their wealth of attacking talent, anyone of them could have been replaced with someone else but not Senna. Rob likens them to Carrick and Barry, what nonsense! In Carrick and Barry you will get good simple passers of the ball but not much else. In Senna you get a player that is physically strong, athletic, incredible stamina, great passing ability but he's not just some lump in front of the back four, he reads the game brilliantly.

As for the other players short-listed, the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Ballack, Fabregas, Arshavin, Villa etc you can find one or two games where they were disappointing. In Ballack's case every game except Portugal (how people thought he had a better tournament that Frings I don't know but that's a whole other rant) but Senna played at least 8 out of 10 every match. He was the fulcrum and the most important part of a championship-winning team. So in my book that's why he is the player of the tournament.
Bradley Kirrage (Dartford)


Good Riddance To Gareth Barry...
Gareth Barry you are a disgrace.

Going to a rag of a newspaper to insult the manager who made you the player you are shows you up to be a despicable human being. Randy Lerner and Martin O'Neill, along with all of the backroom staff, have done their utmost to reverse the fortunes of the club.

We have a new training ground, the area around the ground has been refurbished, we are branding our jerseys with a new crest and promoting a children's hospice as our 'sponsor'. Most inmportantly, however, the dealings of the club are now handled professionally. No running to newspapers a-la-Benitez/Harry Redknapp, no public bids for players, no sordid pursuits. We are a club with dignity, and you are starting to prove that you don't fit into that mould.

To all Liverpool fans, you are welcome to the overrated, overhyped and overpriced midfielder. Ask yourselves these questions:

1. Would you have wanted Barry to join your midfield 12 months ago? Not a chance.
2. Are there much better players available for less money? Definitely.
3. Will Barry greatly improve your chances of challenging for a title? No f****n way.
4. Would he be worth anywhere near the 18m we value him at if he wasn't English? Michael Carrick anyone?

If we get anywhere near to the 18mill we are looking for, I would be ecstatic. Alonso for 14m, or Barry for 18? I know who I'd choose any day of the week.

If the fat Spanish waiter stumps up the cash, I'll be delighted to see the back of you.
John (an angry rant warrants more than three paragraphs) C, AVFC, Dublin


And To Bad Boy Barton...
I sincerely hope that Newcastle now do everything in their power to rid themselves of Joey Barton. He's an awful person and has proven himself to be nothing more than a liability, whilst giving little back in return on the football pitch. I for one have had enough of players who come to the club, and consistently drag it's name through the mud. I had hoped that we'd seen the last of this when the old regime departed (them themselves were proven to be a disgrace), but it would appear not.

The club now has to get this one right, because keeping Barton on the books could be extremely damaging in the long term - in terms of PR and also attracting players to the club. After all, who would want to sign for a club that has such a man behaving the way he has and ultimately gives him license to do so?

Some people are s***e and will always be - no matter how many chances they are given.
John Burn, Newcastle

The Voice From the Stands

Monday 30th June 2008 | www.planetrugby.com

I know there is only one game left under the old laws, but if ever there was an advert for ELVs then it was Saturday's Test between Argentina and Italy.

The game was the worst I have seen for as long as I can remember, maybe even of all time. Over thirty penalties, ten free-kicks, twenty-plus scrums and a set of match officials with as much commonsense and understanding as a bucket of frog spawn.

We all know it is down to the two teams' will to play enterprising rugby, but even then you can't account for the whistle-happy Matt Goddard who clearly thought he was at a rave and not charged with officiating a Test match.

Having watched an entire season of Super 14 under the ELVs I never thought I would end up supporting the changes of law, but having witnessed Italy's dour win in Cordoba I have been swayed - more out of the fear of having to watch a game that boring again.

This is not to say the old laws are detrimental to running rugby, as all you have to do is take a look at the Top 14 Final between Toulouse and Clermont. Both sides, aided by competent officials, played an attacking brand of rugby that flowed from start to finish.

You can't help but feel for Clermont though, who were appearing in their ninth Top 14 Final and are still without a single victory to their names. Clearly Clermont and Vern Cotter have taken a leaf out of Gloucester's book of how not to finish a season!

Speaking of the new laws, this weekend marks the start of the 2008 Tri-Nations, although I struggle to see anything but an All Black win - not just this weekend but overall as well. Even without Richie McCaw I can't see the Springboks or Australia mounting serious challenges.

Without going too far into the Springboks squad I just don't think they have the right blend, or enough back-up in key positions to mount a sustainable bid for the title. I have no doubt they will turn a few heads with one big win, but they will not be able to cope with the injuries and fatigue that goes with this tournament.

Australia, who struggled past France at the weekend, have shown glimpses of what they can do under Robbie Deans but as of yet have failed to convince me of their ability to play rugby for eighty minutes. Within twelve months Australia will be the best team in the world, but for now the Tri-Nations has come a might early for them.

There are worries about how New Zealand will fare without Richie McCaw, who is a big loss, but he does not make the team. I personally think New Zealand will have too much depth to be troubled by the other two, not forgetting the return to form of Dan Carter.

As mentioned last week we are starting a new section to 'The Voice From the Stands', where you the reader have a chance to ask a question or request an opinion on a certain topic, and we in return answer or debate the point at hand. So without further ado here is the first point of debate...