Good Rugby Reads
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Article from telegraph via Stuff.
On Twickenham revenue v Fiji match payments v Engkand match payments.
Nothing particularly new. But interesting in the context (unlike Tews revenue sharing battle) that a country like Fiji don't have reciprocal hosting (England last there in 1991). But if Fiji did host they might probably lose money (if Samoa is an example)?
"The current All Blacks are the most dominant rugby side ever. Why?"
http://www.economist.com/blogs/gametheory/2016/11/kiwi-kings"... just a handful of the twenty or so variables that appear in standard reports proved to be statistically significant predictors of how many points a team will score (see chart). “Clean breaks”... turned out to be the most important factor. ... What mattered was penetrative running, as measured by clean breaks and metres run with the ball. In both of these aspects, the Kiwis are untouchable. Other sides usually “carry” for between 300 and 400 metres in a game. The All Blacks do so for 500 (see chart). On average, the New Zealanders make an impressive nine clean breaks per match ..."
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- Mostly about the Olympics, but also the elephant in the room of the African boycott and the All Blacks 1976 tour to South Africa.
http://keithquinnrugby.com/olympic-memories/montreal-1976/
(I've also just read his 1972 Munich Article on same site, which was a great read)
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Not a read, but an interesting edition from Sky Sports UK podcast the "Offload" with World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper making a guest appearance to answer questions.
1st topic - RWC 2019 draw
6:11 - RWC 2023 bid
18:02 - Samoan financial issues, incl French academies in Fiji & S Africa, young Tongan players going ('lured'?) to Japan
33:00 - Club rugby v international rugby (club teams v national teams), incl global calendar
36:10 - More about the global calendar & player welfare
38:14 - The next phase of the growth of women's rugby after the 2017 WRWC (focus on Ireland), incl 7s v XVs
45:27 - briefly more about 7s v XVs in the men's game
46:22 - Baabaas -
Just read Beavers Book. I enjoyed it.
Gave me an appreciation of what a player can go through when chips are down.
One thing that I was a little surprised about was teh Siti used to play dumb on camera in the hope he wouldn't be asked for interview but was quite bright. If ever he came up with a play in training, everyone would just jump on it because it was always the right thing. Had a massive rugby brain and vision.
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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=11944442&ref=twitter
The Big Read: Teammate Lee Byrne reveals the last years of former All Black Jerry Collins
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I loved this article by Dylan Cleaver.
About the 1992 NZ Schoolboys team that included 10 guys who played test rugby for NZ including Carlos Spencer et all & 2 of the best ever in Lomu & Jeff Wilson. Plus 2 guys who played test rugby for Samoa.
The article is about the guys 'who didn't make it", fascinating. The amateur and semi-pro paths some of them took, the bad luck, the options etc
Interesting how many of them rated Todd Miller so highly. I'd first seen/heard of Todd Miller when he played for NZ schoolboys as a 15 year old 2 years earlier and scored a great solo try in a rare televised game. Then he disappeared for a few years doing mormon stuff, before re-appearing at NPC level for Waikato.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/indepth/sport/the-greatest-rugby-team-you-never-saw-the-nearly-men/
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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?objectid=11944442&ref=twitter
The Big Read: Teammate Lee Byrne reveals the last years of former All Black Jerry Collins
@taniwharugby That was choice, cheers!
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This isn't a rugby read, is a Vietnam War read.
Rugby connection is former Counties Manukau and Fiji (and Blues assistant) coach Mac MacCallion was part of this 6 man SAS patrol, just a teenager at the time with the cliched "lied about his true age ..." thing.
I met Bill Taare, fine man, glad for him to get recognition.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/99283095/forgotten-sas-vietnam-war-hero-denied-medal
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The walrus column today - I think it's worth a read as he raises many a point about the state if the game
@majorrage said in Good Rugby Reads:
The walrus column today - I think it's worth a read as he raises many a point about the state if the game
While you’re at it please post your username and password for the times site. We’d be much obliged. Cheers
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This isn't a rugby read, is a Vietnam War read.
Rugby connection is former Counties Manukau and Fiji (and Blues assistant) coach Mac MacCallion was part of this 6 man SAS patrol, just a teenager at the time with the cliched "lied about his true age ..." thing.
I met Bill Taare, fine man, glad for him to get recognition.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/99283095/forgotten-sas-vietnam-war-hero-denied-medal
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This isn't a rugby read, is a Vietnam War read.
Rugby connection is former Counties Manukau and Fiji (and Blues assistant) coach Mac MacCallion was part of this 6 man SAS patrol, just a teenager at the time with the cliched "lied about his true age ..." thing.
I met Bill Taare, fine man, glad for him to get recognition.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/99283095/forgotten-sas-vietnam-war-hero-denied-medal
@rapido said in Good Rugby Reads:
This isn't a rugby read, is a Vietnam War read.
Rugby connection is former Counties Manukau and Fiji (and Blues assistant) coach Mac MacCallion was part of this 6 man SAS patrol, just a teenager at the time with the cliched "lied about his true age ..." thing.
I met Bill Taare, fine man, glad for him to get recognition.
https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/99283095/forgotten-sas-vietnam-war-hero-denied-medal
Peter Fatialofa had one of the better Rugby books I've read and he said he was terrified when he had to play against Mac McCallion ( although he was quoted as well and said he was scared of Fats too )
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Mac was a fine player in his day as well. Good Manurewa club man, hard arse flanker, NZ Maori rep (captain as well).
Here's another story related to the one above.
@crucial said in Good Rugby Reads:
Mac was a fine player in his day as well. Good Manurewa club man, hard arse flanker, NZ Maori rep (captain as well).
Here's another story related to the one above.
EDIT: changed my post re: Mac's age..
On Wiki Mac was born 1950, so he joined army in 1964 as a ;17 year old' but was actually 14. Was aged 17 when he joined SAS soldier, and aged 19 at the tie of this incident.A 2 hour fighting withdrawal while carrying their comrade.
