They are stretching themselves pretty damn thin. Its already effectively a 3-4 horse race.Brumbies is not a success in term of economics but they consistenly produce good players to feed Super Rugby and test level.
Storm doesnt produce local players but is that a real problem for them? The pool of League players in Australia is HUGE. The largest in worldwide, they can feed many teams in non-traditional states
It has been an issue for a long timeI was surprised to see it become such a big deal. All Blacks have been doing the throat slit gesture during the haka for years and no one's given a shit.
Like come on, we're watching a sport where blokes regularly destroy their bodies for our entertainment, but this is the line in the sand?
The throat-slitting gesture at the end of the All Blacks' new haka might not be seen again after a flood of negative reaction in Britain.
All Blacks rugby captain Tana Umaga today staunchly defended the haka but conceded the gesture at the end of Kapa o Pango -- performed last weekend against England -- might be reviewed.
"I suppose so, and that's maybe something we'll have to look at," Umaga said today.
"We didn't really think it would cause as much reaction. We've stated what it means and if people don't understand it, then what can we do?"
The act of running a thumb across the throat, performed to menacing effect by Maori halfback Piri Weepu, has been viewed as signifying the slaughter of opponents.
I have always disliked the Haka before games, but if it means a return to proper rucking then I think I will support itAgree. They should allow jumping on people’s heads in the game because the guardians of the game jump at the end of the Haka.
Hardwick & Ioane aren’t eligibleAfter plenty of dire warnings, I am pretty impressed with Foote and the whole Rebels team around him.
Fabulous game by the Rebels. I've put markers against these names as possible TOTW contenders:
Fa'amausili
Wilkin
Harwick
Kemeny
Carter Gordon
Hodge
Pincus
Is Ioane eligible?
Anyone but the hopeless biased Kiwi James Doleman could see that it should have been a red
I am genuinely surprised that Ardie said or intended to say he was going to kill Lauren's, I used to use same gesture if in a crowd to get son to shut up-stop drinking etc. Not in anyway defending Ardie , who says it was wrong, just saying if the Rebel's 9 thought he was going to be killed I would be surprised. I had been quite pleased with players saying none of them heard anything etc, so didn't try and add fuel to the fire that Nick McCardle was stoking on Stan at match end.The throat slit gesture in the haka is a coordinated dance move that is a very different thing to picking out an individual and using the throat slit to say I am going to kill you. You cannot compare the two. He was lucky he didn't receive a second yellow for it.
On the other hand, the gesture was shown in close up to the audience at home. Ardie knows it was the wrong thing to do, the only question is whether he should be penalised in some way. Maybe he should be fined the equivalent of a week's wages. To the untrained eye it does look like an invitation to some sort of physical punishment.I am genuinely surprised that Ardie said or intended to say he was going to kill Lauren's, I used to use same gesture if in a crowd to get son to shut up-stop drinking etc. Not in anyway defending Ardie , who says it was wrong, just saying if the Rebel's 9 thought he was going to be killed I would be surprised. I had been quite pleased with players saying none of them heard anything etc, so didn't try and add fuel to the fire that Nick McCardle was stoking on Stan at match end.
Not arguing it was wrong etc, was saying I didn't think he was threatening to kill him is all. As I said I used similar with son etc, and he never thought it was a threat to kill. But if any of you did was when you were threatening to kill someone, that is up to you. I really hoping there not a full hearing with lawyers etc, I would be disappointed if we have to have published what was said, just doesn't help the game.On the other hand, the gesture was shown in close up to the audience at home. Ardie knows it was the wrong thing to do, the only question is whether he should be penalised in some way. Maybe he should be fined the equivalent of a week's wages. To the untrained eye it does look like an invitation to some sort of physical punishment.
I don't think anybody was suggesting that Ardie was actually going to try to kill Louwrens. However, regardless what he meant the gesture to mean what matters is what the gesture actually means.I am genuinely surprised that Ardie said or intended to say he was going to kill Lauren's, I used to use same gesture if in a crowd to get son to shut up-stop drinking etc. Not in anyway defending Ardie , who says it was wrong, just saying if the Rebel's 9 thought he was going to be killed I would be surprised. I had been quite pleased with players saying none of them heard anything etc, so didn't try and add fuel to the fire that Nick McCardle was stoking on Stan at match end.