Ask Kamo: Brawn key against South Africans
It is great having these selection debates and in this situation with the way both players have been performing I would go with George Whitelock in the No 6 jersey.
This brings a better balance to the Crusaders' loose forward mix as George is taller and heavier, and to win this year's title I feel our New Zealand teams will need to front physically against the South African sides hence my desire for the bigger man.
Whitelock's work rate around the tackle area, his defending and ability to slow down the ruck ball allowing the Crusaders to realign defensively, also suggests he should start in favour of another ball fetcher. What I wouldn't like to see is the world's best open -side flanker Richie McCaw playing in that No 6 jersey.
Kamo, there is a theory that for New Zealand rugby to be strong Auckland rugby needs to be strong.
Do you agree?
Dominic
I wish that statement was correct because with a little over 21,000 players in Auckland alone (38,000-plus if you include the Super City), this region should be a bigger contributor to our national game.
It is not however, and with our regional super team spreading the talent, we now not only have a stronger provincial product, more teams capable of winning the NPC, but a stronger national side who have been able to increase their winning percentage since that time so clearly that theory no longer holds true.
Hi Kamo,
1) Can you please explain why scrum put-ins can be right under the hooker's feet at nearly 45 degrees without penalty, whereas lineout throw-ins have to be straight.
2) Penalty kicks at goal make up a high percentage of points and take up much time.
A couple of years back the Super 14 competition experimented with "bent arm" penalties where no kick at goal Brian Urlacher Jerseys
was allowed in many instances.
This sped up the game; fewer goal kicks; more time for ball in play; more running with the ball; more tries.
Why was this abandoned? Any chance it might be re-introduced?
Peter Worrall (Ex-Counties fullback)">Regards, Peter Worrall (Ex-Counties fullback)
1) Peter I understand your concerns but of all the things that can go, and do go wrong in our scrums, a crooked feed (apart from the most blatant of offences) is the least of our problems.
Most will agree and I know the New Zealand Super coaches think the same way, we would rather see the referees concentrate on other areas of the engage, keeping the thing up than stopping for every crooked feed.
The lineout is another matter as it is still a purely contestable part of our game and a unique feature of it, so the ball thrown down the middle gives both parties an equal opportunity of winning it.
2) Penalty kicks make up 39 per cent of this year's points scored with 409 attempted at a little over 8 a game.
That is a maximum of 8 minutes lost time per game which isn't a lot when you think about the importance of penalties in rugby.
The penalty is there to punish teams who are impeding the flow of the game and this pleasingly has dropped in recent times.
I don't see the bent arm penalties, which where used in the 2008-2009 season under the ELVs coming back as most teams quickly found out it was better to give away your bent arm penalty rather than points and infringing actually increased.
Swinging 60s get Auckland rockin '
The best of rock'n 'roll is in Auckland for the next few weeks, as musical Jersey Boys is expected to have audiences tapping their feet.
The show follows the story of legendary singer Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, who were popular in the 1960s.
Audiences will be Brian Urlacher Jerseys able to sing along to hit songs including Rag Doll, Oh What a Night, Sherry and Big Girls Don't Cry. The show has been widely praised since it opened in Melbourne in 2009. Jersey Boys will be on at Auckland's Civic Theatre until May 17.
Tickets are available from The Edge.
The best of rock'n 'roll is in Auckland for the next few weeks, as musical Jersey Boys is expected to have audiences tapping their feet.
The show follows the story of legendary singer Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, who were popular in the 1960s.
Audiences will be Brian Urlacher Jerseys able to sing along to hit songs including Rag Doll, Oh What a Night, Sherry and Big Girls Don't Cry. The show has been widely praised since it opened in Melbourne in 2009. Jersey Boys will be on at Auckland's Civic Theatre until May 17.
Tickets are available from The Edge.
Leaving Las Vegas ... next stop Macau
In the go-go 1990s, Las Vegas was hyped as America's fastest growing city, a magnet for those who wished to share spiralling profits from construction and hospitality.
The gambling mecca was on a roll and the sky was the limit, an optimism made explicit by the $ 1 million in cash behind acrylic glass that greeted punters who ventured into Binion's, home to the World Series of Poker.
No longer. Rocked by the nation's worst housing foreclosure rate, high unemployment and plummeting custom, Las Vegas is reeling from the deepest economic downturn - ironically provoked by unregulated financial gambling and a housing bubble - since the 1940s, when casinos came to the desert.
"Ordinarily, Las Vegas was the last to go into a recession and the first to come out," Mayor Oscar Goodman told the New York Times in 2010.
"This one is different."
The uber-bullish Goodman was confident things would improve, and by last year gaming revenues had made a modest recovery, but seismic change is shifting the focus from glitzy Las Vegas.
In the past decade or so, gambling has gone global. Internet gambling has changed the equation, even as casinos proliferate on American Indian reservations and emerge around the world, from South Africa to New Zealand.
The biggest high roller is China, with Macau, a former Portuguese colony, rapidly emerging as the world's gambling hotspot. And while Nevadans like to say that whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, gaming entrepreneurs Steve Wynn, MGM Resorts International and especially Sheldon Adelson , have supersized the Las Vegas model - glitzy casino resorts - to exploit China's gambling mania.
The Americans hope to tap into a motherlode of Asian cash - Adelson has casinos in Macau and Singapore and is eyeing Japan, Korea and Vietnam - a win-win strategy with a major downside: avoiding entanglement with organised crime groups, such as Macau's triads, that can bring unwelcome scrutiny from US officials.
Macau's rise has been meteoric. The Centre for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada Las Vegas says Macau is "the undisputed leader in gaming revenue". Last year, China said revenue was US $ 33.5 billion ($ 41 billion), a 42 per cent increase from 2010, or 5.5 times that of the Las Vegas Strip.
Investment Group CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets forecast that by 2015 Macau will dominate world gambling, with US $ 65 billion in revenue. This is expected to reach US $ 108 billion by 2020. American gaming moguls began to move in about a decade ago.
Spectacular growth followed. Macau is Vegas on steroids.
It also echoes mafia-era Las Vegas, when mobsters laundered money through casinos.
State regulators and Wall Street investment revamped Las Vegas as a resort destination in the 1990s.
Today, 40 per cent of revenue is from gaming, compared with 94 per cent in Macau, the rest from tourism and conventions. For decades, Macau was dominated by casino boss Stanley Ho, and the industry was triad infested. Can Americans remake Macau as a resort destination?
The man to watch is Adelson, 78, an outspoken figure who sometimes seems a throwback to old-school Las Vegas. He hit media radar in January after donating US $ 16.5 million to a Super PAC that backed presidential candidate Newt Gingrich. This seems a bagatelle for a man Forbes lists as the world's 14th richest figure.
Adelson's Macau plans include a gargantuan replica of the Las Vegas Strip on the Cotai Strip, a landfill his company constructed using three million cubic metres of sand, that joins Coloane and Taipa islands.
Besides the Sands Macao and the Venetian Macao (Macau's alternative spelling), Adelson plans the US $ 5 billion Sands Cotai Central with multiple casinos and 5800 hotel rooms.
"They aren't simply knockoffs of the originals on the Strip but, by many measures, have surpassed the genuine article in terms of size, amenities and luxury," reported Vegas Inc. "The Venetian Macao is the biggest casino in the world, "says CGR head David Scwhartz." They have about 800 tables. That's as much as 10 casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, minus the slots. These people like to gamble. "In 2010, US $ 600 billion was wagered, quintuple the Las Vegas total.
American authorities suspect the real figure is far higher.
Last year the Congressional-Executive Commission on China said "gambling is tied to widespread corruption, organised crime, money laundering and movement of cash from mainland Chinese governments and state-owned companies into Macau".
It sounds like Vegas in Brian Urlacher Jerseys its mobbed-up heyday. Triads have infiltrated the "junket" system that issues credit to mainland Chinese gamblers, legally limited to about US $ 3000 a trip, and collects debts.
Known as the "Macau Laundry Service", junkets are perfect for hiding money. The Washington Post says 57 per cent of high rollers are officials or state-owned business managers whose average loss is US $ 3.3 million, often public money.
The US believes such scams fund crime. This spells trouble for US-listed companies such as Adelson's Las Vegas Sands. Nevada law specifically forbids casino operators from mixing with criminals.
But how do you recover debts and milk Macau - 51 per cent of Adelson's sales - without triad entanglement?
US investigators want to know if the Sands Macao bribed local officials, alleged by Adelson's former man in Macau, and violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
"When the smoke clears, I am absolutely - not 100 per cent but 1000 per cent - positive that there won't be any fire below it," Adelson said, refuting corruption allegations.
Sometimes it's easier to dump US interests and head to Macau. In 2010, MGM Resorts quit Atlantic City, the second-biggest US gambling market, after state regulators demanded the US company sever ties with its Macau partner, Pansy Ho.
According to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, Ho is under the influence of, and dependent on, her father Stanley Ho. He denies US claims triads "operate and thrive" inside his 16 (out of 33 in Macau) casinos.
As Macau plans the sort of audacious construction projects, albeit on a vaster scale, pioneered in Vegas big spenders such as Sheldon may have gotten in deeper than they thought, in a high octane economy where corruption remains China's Achilles heel.
In the go-go 1990s, Las Vegas was hyped as America's fastest growing city, a magnet for those who wished to share spiralling profits from construction and hospitality.
The gambling mecca was on a roll and the sky was the limit, an optimism made explicit by the $ 1 million in cash behind acrylic glass that greeted punters who ventured into Binion's, home to the World Series of Poker.
No longer. Rocked by the nation's worst housing foreclosure rate, high unemployment and plummeting custom, Las Vegas is reeling from the deepest economic downturn - ironically provoked by unregulated financial gambling and a housing bubble - since the 1940s, when casinos came to the desert.
"Ordinarily, Las Vegas was the last to go into a recession and the first to come out," Mayor Oscar Goodman told the New York Times in 2010.
"This one is different."
The uber-bullish Goodman was confident things would improve, and by last year gaming revenues had made a modest recovery, but seismic change is shifting the focus from glitzy Las Vegas.
In the past decade or so, gambling has gone global. Internet gambling has changed the equation, even as casinos proliferate on American Indian reservations and emerge around the world, from South Africa to New Zealand.
The biggest high roller is China, with Macau, a former Portuguese colony, rapidly emerging as the world's gambling hotspot. And while Nevadans like to say that whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, gaming entrepreneurs Steve Wynn, MGM Resorts International and especially Sheldon Adelson , have supersized the Las Vegas model - glitzy casino resorts - to exploit China's gambling mania.
The Americans hope to tap into a motherlode of Asian cash - Adelson has casinos in Macau and Singapore and is eyeing Japan, Korea and Vietnam - a win-win strategy with a major downside: avoiding entanglement with organised crime groups, such as Macau's triads, that can bring unwelcome scrutiny from US officials.
Macau's rise has been meteoric. The Centre for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada Las Vegas says Macau is "the undisputed leader in gaming revenue". Last year, China said revenue was US $ 33.5 billion ($ 41 billion), a 42 per cent increase from 2010, or 5.5 times that of the Las Vegas Strip.
Investment Group CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets forecast that by 2015 Macau will dominate world gambling, with US $ 65 billion in revenue. This is expected to reach US $ 108 billion by 2020. American gaming moguls began to move in about a decade ago.
Spectacular growth followed. Macau is Vegas on steroids.
It also echoes mafia-era Las Vegas, when mobsters laundered money through casinos.
State regulators and Wall Street investment revamped Las Vegas as a resort destination in the 1990s.
Today, 40 per cent of revenue is from gaming, compared with 94 per cent in Macau, the rest from tourism and conventions. For decades, Macau was dominated by casino boss Stanley Ho, and the industry was triad infested. Can Americans remake Macau as a resort destination?
The man to watch is Adelson, 78, an outspoken figure who sometimes seems a throwback to old-school Las Vegas. He hit media radar in January after donating US $ 16.5 million to a Super PAC that backed presidential candidate Newt Gingrich. This seems a bagatelle for a man Forbes lists as the world's 14th richest figure.
Adelson's Macau plans include a gargantuan replica of the Las Vegas Strip on the Cotai Strip, a landfill his company constructed using three million cubic metres of sand, that joins Coloane and Taipa islands.
Besides the Sands Macao and the Venetian Macao (Macau's alternative spelling), Adelson plans the US $ 5 billion Sands Cotai Central with multiple casinos and 5800 hotel rooms.
"They aren't simply knockoffs of the originals on the Strip but, by many measures, have surpassed the genuine article in terms of size, amenities and luxury," reported Vegas Inc. "The Venetian Macao is the biggest casino in the world, "says CGR head David Scwhartz." They have about 800 tables. That's as much as 10 casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, minus the slots. These people like to gamble. "In 2010, US $ 600 billion was wagered, quintuple the Las Vegas total.
American authorities suspect the real figure is far higher.
Last year the Congressional-Executive Commission on China said "gambling is tied to widespread corruption, organised crime, money laundering and movement of cash from mainland Chinese governments and state-owned companies into Macau".
It sounds like Vegas in Brian Urlacher Jerseys its mobbed-up heyday. Triads have infiltrated the "junket" system that issues credit to mainland Chinese gamblers, legally limited to about US $ 3000 a trip, and collects debts.
Known as the "Macau Laundry Service", junkets are perfect for hiding money. The Washington Post says 57 per cent of high rollers are officials or state-owned business managers whose average loss is US $ 3.3 million, often public money.
The US believes such scams fund crime. This spells trouble for US-listed companies such as Adelson's Las Vegas Sands. Nevada law specifically forbids casino operators from mixing with criminals.
But how do you recover debts and milk Macau - 51 per cent of Adelson's sales - without triad entanglement?
US investigators want to know if the Sands Macao bribed local officials, alleged by Adelson's former man in Macau, and violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
"When the smoke clears, I am absolutely - not 100 per cent but 1000 per cent - positive that there won't be any fire below it," Adelson said, refuting corruption allegations.
Sometimes it's easier to dump US interests and head to Macau. In 2010, MGM Resorts quit Atlantic City, the second-biggest US gambling market, after state regulators demanded the US company sever ties with its Macau partner, Pansy Ho.
According to the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement, Ho is under the influence of, and dependent on, her father Stanley Ho. He denies US claims triads "operate and thrive" inside his 16 (out of 33 in Macau) casinos.
As Macau plans the sort of audacious construction projects, albeit on a vaster scale, pioneered in Vegas big spenders such as Sheldon may have gotten in deeper than they thought, in a high octane economy where corruption remains China's Achilles heel.
League: Kiwi Tamou set to appear for Kangaroos
Ricky Stuart's plans for who will pilot NSW in their bid to end Queensland's six-year State of Origin dominance will become clearer on Sunday, when teams are announced for the City-Country match, while James Tamou is tipped to make his Test debut for Australia .
Todd Carney appears set to make his Origin debut for NSW in his preferred position of five-eighth, which is why he will be picked there for Country when the teams are named on Sunday despite starting the season at halfback for Cronulla.
As a result, the remaining Country Origin halves - all of whom are also five-eighths - are fighting for the vacant No.7 jersey where they will look to outdo City's Mitchell Pearce, the incumbent Blues halfback.
This has left St George Illawarra five-eighth Jamie Soward, the Blues No.6 last year, on the outer as his game is not suited to first receiver, opening the door for Newcastle's Jarrod Mullen and Warriors' playmaker James Maloney.
Mullen picked up a cork to his left thigh in the Knights' loss to the Dragons on Friday night, but is expected to recover in time for the contest in Mudgee on Sunday week.
Canberra's Terry Campese's fading chances of gaining Country selection were scuppered on Friday night when he picked up a medial ligament injury in his left knee.
five-eighth stocks are at an all-time low, with the untimely groin injury to in-form Brisbane half Peter Wallace robbing him of a chance to push for an Origin spot and leaving Brad Fittler's men particularly thin.">City's Brian Urlacher Jerseys five-eighth stocks are at an all-time low, with the untimely groin injury to in-form Brisbane half Peter Wallace robbing him of a chance to push for an Origin spot and leaving Brad Fittler's men particularly thin.
City selectors have toyed with the idea of moving Parramatta fullback Jarryd Hayne to partner Pearce, although South Sydney's John Sutton or Warrior Feleti Mateo seem the more likely option.
Soward is not expected to even feature on the Country bench, with Melbourne's Ryan Hinchcliffe the preferred utility player while Michael Ennis' spot in the team is reliant on whether selectors are comfortable letting former Blues skipper Danny Buderus sit the match out.
Despite that, Soward believes his chances of playing Origin One in Melbourne are not finished.
"I'd be disappointed if I miss out (for Country) but that's not the end of my chances," Soward said on Friday night.
"Ricky knows what I can do."
New Zealand-born prop Tamou is in line to face the Kiwis on Friday, leaving City to go with a prop rotation including Keith Galloway, Tim Mannah and Jason King with Penrith's Tim Grant still sidelined with a calf injury.
Country's front-row will come from Kade Snowden, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Tariq Sims and Dragons trio Trent Merrin, Michael Weyman and Dan Hunt - who all outperformed Snowden on Friday night.
Merrin said he would be disappointed if the Dragons props didn't land at least two spots in the Country pack.
"I'd hope that would happen," Merrin told AAP.
"We'll see what the selectors want, but you set those goals that you try to achieve each year and it would be great to get back in the loop."
Country could also struggle to find a fullback - with Manly's Brett Stewart and Canberra's Josh Dugan injured, and Brett Morris likely to be drafted into the Australian team to partner Akuila Uate on the wings after outplaying Darius Boyd on Friday night.
Ricky Stuart's plans for who will pilot NSW in their bid to end Queensland's six-year State of Origin dominance will become clearer on Sunday, when teams are announced for the City-Country match, while James Tamou is tipped to make his Test debut for Australia .
Todd Carney appears set to make his Origin debut for NSW in his preferred position of five-eighth, which is why he will be picked there for Country when the teams are named on Sunday despite starting the season at halfback for Cronulla.
As a result, the remaining Country Origin halves - all of whom are also five-eighths - are fighting for the vacant No.7 jersey where they will look to outdo City's Mitchell Pearce, the incumbent Blues halfback.
This has left St George Illawarra five-eighth Jamie Soward, the Blues No.6 last year, on the outer as his game is not suited to first receiver, opening the door for Newcastle's Jarrod Mullen and Warriors' playmaker James Maloney.
Mullen picked up a cork to his left thigh in the Knights' loss to the Dragons on Friday night, but is expected to recover in time for the contest in Mudgee on Sunday week.
Canberra's Terry Campese's fading chances of gaining Country selection were scuppered on Friday night when he picked up a medial ligament injury in his left knee.
five-eighth stocks are at an all-time low, with the untimely groin injury to in-form Brisbane half Peter Wallace robbing him of a chance to push for an Origin spot and leaving Brad Fittler's men particularly thin.">City's Brian Urlacher Jerseys five-eighth stocks are at an all-time low, with the untimely groin injury to in-form Brisbane half Peter Wallace robbing him of a chance to push for an Origin spot and leaving Brad Fittler's men particularly thin.
City selectors have toyed with the idea of moving Parramatta fullback Jarryd Hayne to partner Pearce, although South Sydney's John Sutton or Warrior Feleti Mateo seem the more likely option.
Soward is not expected to even feature on the Country bench, with Melbourne's Ryan Hinchcliffe the preferred utility player while Michael Ennis' spot in the team is reliant on whether selectors are comfortable letting former Blues skipper Danny Buderus sit the match out.
Despite that, Soward believes his chances of playing Origin One in Melbourne are not finished.
"I'd be disappointed if I miss out (for Country) but that's not the end of my chances," Soward said on Friday night.
"Ricky knows what I can do."
New Zealand-born prop Tamou is in line to face the Kiwis on Friday, leaving City to go with a prop rotation including Keith Galloway, Tim Mannah and Jason King with Penrith's Tim Grant still sidelined with a calf injury.
Country's front-row will come from Kade Snowden, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Tariq Sims and Dragons trio Trent Merrin, Michael Weyman and Dan Hunt - who all outperformed Snowden on Friday night.
Merrin said he would be disappointed if the Dragons props didn't land at least two spots in the Country pack.
"I'd hope that would happen," Merrin told AAP.
"We'll see what the selectors want, but you set those goals that you try to achieve each year and it would be great to get back in the loop."
Country could also struggle to find a fullback - with Manly's Brett Stewart and Canberra's Josh Dugan injured, and Brett Morris likely to be drafted into the Australian team to partner Akuila Uate on the wings after outplaying Darius Boyd on Friday night.
Hugh McGahan: No place for Manu in my Kiwis team
Expand Manu Vatuvei has been out of form. Photo / Getty ImagesI hope someone has reminded the Australian administrators, media and fans that there is a test match being played this Friday and their country is involved.
It is certainly low key for them but it's to be expected as they are focused on State of Origin - which has been the topic from the start of the season. The form of players, eligibility rules and injury has been discussed to the core and this week's test has been lost in the debate.
Unfortunately this test is a hiccup to their more fancied rep fixture - NSW vs QLD - and they wonder why international football is not important.
As we all know, the Australians can select a couple of teams comfortably and compete against all opposition, but they do not immerse themselves in it in the same way as their inter-state rivalry.
to play the Kiwi team in the annual Anzac clash. Having said all that Brian Urlacher Jerseys , here is my prospective Kiwi team - selected on form but which will certainly open debate:">Fans from both states will barely blink twice when their country announces their side to play the Kiwi team in the annual Anzac clash. Having said all that, here is my prospective Kiwi team - selected on form but which will certainly open debate:
1 Josh Hoffman
2. Jason Nightingale
3. Gerard Beale
4. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
5. Matt Duffie
6. Kieran Foran
7. Benji Marshall
8. Ben Matulino
9. Isaac Luke
10. Kevin Proctor
11. Simon Mannering
12. Alex Glenn
13 Jeremy Smith
Bench: Fuifui Moimoi,
Sam Rapira, Jared Waerea-
Hargreaves, Nathan Fien,
18th man Jason Taumalolo
I wish I could find a place for Sam Kasiano and James Tamou as they are probably the form Kiwi front rowers in the NRL (along with Matulino) but, given their decision to play State of Origin, were not considered.
Obviously people are going to say, "where's Manu Vatuvei?"
need him there for his destructive running and try-scoring ability.">We need him there for his destructive running and try-scoring ability.
But please remember I said this side was chosen on form and Manu is not even close.
Steve Matai is another who may feel unlucky but we can no longer live on the reckless nature of his defence and hope that he does not sustain an injury to himself or an opponent; the latter is normally due to a misdemeanour.
We can no longer place second rowers in this position either and expect to win tests.
There was also a desire to place Shaun Johnson on the bench to keep others honest, but the nature of the bench requires a little more versatility and Fien covers that better.
Goalkicking is a major concern as well and we have Benji in this role but, to be honest, as he is the major playmaker and captain as well, it's a little too much to ask. The last few times he has stepped onto the field in the Kiwi jersey he has not lived up to the expectation and can't say he did his best in all three roles.
Unfortunately there is no obvious contender to take over as goalkicker, though Issac Luke can be handy from close range.
Many will differ re the selection of the team and of taking the kicking off Marshall but, until he relieves himself of one of those duties, he cannot expect to be dominant in any. I did say I'd open debate ...
Expand Manu Vatuvei has been out of form. Photo / Getty ImagesI hope someone has reminded the Australian administrators, media and fans that there is a test match being played this Friday and their country is involved.
It is certainly low key for them but it's to be expected as they are focused on State of Origin - which has been the topic from the start of the season. The form of players, eligibility rules and injury has been discussed to the core and this week's test has been lost in the debate.
Unfortunately this test is a hiccup to their more fancied rep fixture - NSW vs QLD - and they wonder why international football is not important.
As we all know, the Australians can select a couple of teams comfortably and compete against all opposition, but they do not immerse themselves in it in the same way as their inter-state rivalry.
to play the Kiwi team in the annual Anzac clash. Having said all that Brian Urlacher Jerseys , here is my prospective Kiwi team - selected on form but which will certainly open debate:">Fans from both states will barely blink twice when their country announces their side to play the Kiwi team in the annual Anzac clash. Having said all that, here is my prospective Kiwi team - selected on form but which will certainly open debate:
1 Josh Hoffman
2. Jason Nightingale
3. Gerard Beale
4. Shaun Kenny-Dowall
5. Matt Duffie
6. Kieran Foran
7. Benji Marshall
8. Ben Matulino
9. Isaac Luke
10. Kevin Proctor
11. Simon Mannering
12. Alex Glenn
13 Jeremy Smith
Bench: Fuifui Moimoi,
Sam Rapira, Jared Waerea-
Hargreaves, Nathan Fien,
18th man Jason Taumalolo
I wish I could find a place for Sam Kasiano and James Tamou as they are probably the form Kiwi front rowers in the NRL (along with Matulino) but, given their decision to play State of Origin, were not considered.
Obviously people are going to say, "where's Manu Vatuvei?"
need him there for his destructive running and try-scoring ability.">We need him there for his destructive running and try-scoring ability.
But please remember I said this side was chosen on form and Manu is not even close.
Steve Matai is another who may feel unlucky but we can no longer live on the reckless nature of his defence and hope that he does not sustain an injury to himself or an opponent; the latter is normally due to a misdemeanour.
We can no longer place second rowers in this position either and expect to win tests.
There was also a desire to place Shaun Johnson on the bench to keep others honest, but the nature of the bench requires a little more versatility and Fien covers that better.
Goalkicking is a major concern as well and we have Benji in this role but, to be honest, as he is the major playmaker and captain as well, it's a little too much to ask. The last few times he has stepped onto the field in the Kiwi jersey he has not lived up to the expectation and can't say he did his best in all three roles.
Unfortunately there is no obvious contender to take over as goalkicker, though Issac Luke can be handy from close range.
Many will differ re the selection of the team and of taking the kicking off Marshall but, until he relieves himself of one of those duties, he cannot expect to be dominant in any. I did say I'd open debate ...
NRL: Knights fall again to Dragons
For the second time in six weeks, St George Illawarra got the better of their former coach Wayne Bennett with a hard-fought 12-4 NRL win over Newcastle at Kogarah.
Also for the second time, Dragons five-eighth Jamie Soward outpointed Knights opposite Jarrod Mullen - only this time a Country Origin jersey was potentially up for grabs.
Soward kicked long and had the Knights, who lost 15-14 to the Dragons in golden point in round one, on the back foot all match while also setting up winger Jason Nightingale's wonderful first-half try.
The Knights fired the first shot of the night when former Dragon Darius Boyd sent a beautiful cut-out pass for winger Akuila Uate to cross in the 12th minute, but the Novocastrians appeared to run out of ammunition after that.
Mullen struggled to make his mark on the game, in large part due to an energised Dragons defensive line which rushed up on him at every opportunity.
The Dragons finished eight-point victors much to the delight of the 15,291-strong crowd, with tries to Nightingale and Beau Scott and a stoic defensive effort in a scoreless second-half proving enough to overcome an improved Newcastle outfit.
Nightingale's four-pointer was particularly memorable, with Soward's quick hands finding a speeding Brett Morris on the inside to split the Newcastle defence, with the fullback running 20 metres before drawing Boyd and sending Nightingale over for a classy team try.
But it could have been so much more.
The home side dominated field Brian Urlacher Jerseys position in the first half, but had two tries controversially disallowed and Ben Creagh butchered at least two more.
The second-rower dropped the ball over the line on two occasions before the break, but was perhaps unlucky not to be the first man on the scoresheet when denied in the seventh minute.
Creagh was ruled to have lost possession when attempting to ground a cross-field kick from Soward despite appearing to have control.
Perhaps even more unluckily, winger Daniel Vidot was denied when Soward was ruled to have interfered with Uate after a towering bomb was not defused.
Knights backrower Zeb Taia was denied a try in the 56th minute when it was ruled Newcastle prop Kade Snowden had obstructed Scott.
Dragons prop Dan Hunt put his hand up for a Country jersey with some inspired runs as he racked up 38 tackles and 125 metres for the match
For the second time in six weeks, St George Illawarra got the better of their former coach Wayne Bennett with a hard-fought 12-4 NRL win over Newcastle at Kogarah.
Also for the second time, Dragons five-eighth Jamie Soward outpointed Knights opposite Jarrod Mullen - only this time a Country Origin jersey was potentially up for grabs.
Soward kicked long and had the Knights, who lost 15-14 to the Dragons in golden point in round one, on the back foot all match while also setting up winger Jason Nightingale's wonderful first-half try.
The Knights fired the first shot of the night when former Dragon Darius Boyd sent a beautiful cut-out pass for winger Akuila Uate to cross in the 12th minute, but the Novocastrians appeared to run out of ammunition after that.
Mullen struggled to make his mark on the game, in large part due to an energised Dragons defensive line which rushed up on him at every opportunity.
The Dragons finished eight-point victors much to the delight of the 15,291-strong crowd, with tries to Nightingale and Beau Scott and a stoic defensive effort in a scoreless second-half proving enough to overcome an improved Newcastle outfit.
Nightingale's four-pointer was particularly memorable, with Soward's quick hands finding a speeding Brett Morris on the inside to split the Newcastle defence, with the fullback running 20 metres before drawing Boyd and sending Nightingale over for a classy team try.
But it could have been so much more.
The home side dominated field Brian Urlacher Jerseys position in the first half, but had two tries controversially disallowed and Ben Creagh butchered at least two more.
The second-rower dropped the ball over the line on two occasions before the break, but was perhaps unlucky not to be the first man on the scoresheet when denied in the seventh minute.
Creagh was ruled to have lost possession when attempting to ground a cross-field kick from Soward despite appearing to have control.
Perhaps even more unluckily, winger Daniel Vidot was denied when Soward was ruled to have interfered with Uate after a towering bomb was not defused.
Knights backrower Zeb Taia was denied a try in the 56th minute when it was ruled Newcastle prop Kade Snowden had obstructed Scott.
Dragons prop Dan Hunt put his hand up for a Country jersey with some inspired runs as he racked up 38 tackles and 125 metres for the match
Batch titulaire contre les Falcons ?
Byron Leftwich, blessé au genou gauche, sera absent entre deux et quatre semaines. Du coup, le poste de quarterbackQuarterback
c'est le stratège de l'équipe. Il décide des tactiques avec ses coachs. Il est chargé de transmettre la balle à ses coureurs et de distiller les passes à ses receveurs. intérimaire chez les Steelers Brian Urlacher Jerseys est à nouveau libre. Et alors qu’on attendait Dennis Dixon, c’est finalement Charlie Batch qui pourrait se retrouver au poste de titulaire contre les Falcons d’Atlanta. Batch est un remplaçant chez les Steelers depuis 2002 et connaît donc bien le système offensif de Pittsburgh. Il n’a cependant lancé que deux passes lors de deux dernières saisons.
Byron Leftwich, blessé au genou gauche, sera absent entre deux et quatre semaines. Du coup, le poste de quarterbackQuarterback
c'est le stratège de l'équipe. Il décide des tactiques avec ses coachs. Il est chargé de transmettre la balle à ses coureurs et de distiller les passes à ses receveurs. intérimaire chez les Steelers Brian Urlacher Jerseys est à nouveau libre. Et alors qu’on attendait Dennis Dixon, c’est finalement Charlie Batch qui pourrait se retrouver au poste de titulaire contre les Falcons d’Atlanta. Batch est un remplaçant chez les Steelers depuis 2002 et connaît donc bien le système offensif de Pittsburgh. Il n’a cependant lancé que deux passes lors de deux dernières saisons.
Un Allen peut en cacher un autre
Les Dolphins de Miami ont placé Will Allen sur injury reserve, mettant un terme à sa saison. Les Dauphins n’ont pas précisé les raisons précises de cette décision mais on peut remarquer que le cornerback s’est fait opérer du genou au mois d’août. Dans le même temps, Tony Sparano Brian Urlacher Jerseys a annoncé que Jason Allen avait mérité une place de titulaire au poste de cornerback à la place de Sean Smith. L’entraîneur des Dolphins a été impressionné par les progrès de l’ancien premier tour de draft pendant cette pré saison.
Les Dolphins de Miami ont placé Will Allen sur injury reserve, mettant un terme à sa saison. Les Dauphins n’ont pas précisé les raisons précises de cette décision mais on peut remarquer que le cornerback s’est fait opérer du genou au mois d’août. Dans le même temps, Tony Sparano Brian Urlacher Jerseys a annoncé que Jason Allen avait mérité une place de titulaire au poste de cornerback à la place de Sean Smith. L’entraîneur des Dolphins a été impressionné par les progrès de l’ancien premier tour de draft pendant cette pré saison.
Rogers de retour à l'entraînement
Les Browns de Cleveland ont vu leur tackle défensif, Shaun Rogers, revenir à l’entraînement lundi. Il pourrait être prêt pour le premier match contre Tampa Bay dimanche. Le joueur s’était cassé une jambe la saison dernière lors d’un match à Cincinnati. Il avait dû Brian Urlacher Jerseys ce faire opérer et commencer une longue rééducation. La semaine dernière, Rogers a échappé à une suspension de la NFL suite à son arrestation dans un aéroport avec une arme dans son sac. Il n’a eu qu’une amende.
Les Browns de Cleveland ont vu leur tackle défensif, Shaun Rogers, revenir à l’entraînement lundi. Il pourrait être prêt pour le premier match contre Tampa Bay dimanche. Le joueur s’était cassé une jambe la saison dernière lors d’un match à Cincinnati. Il avait dû Brian Urlacher Jerseys ce faire opérer et commencer une longue rééducation. La semaine dernière, Rogers a échappé à une suspension de la NFL suite à son arrestation dans un aéroport avec une arme dans son sac. Il n’a eu qu’une amende.
McNabb devrait être prêt
Blessé à une cheville depuis le 21 août, Donovan McNabb a repris l’entraînement. Le quarterbackQuarterback
c'est le stratège de l'équipe. Il décide des tactiques avec ses coachs. Il est chargé de transmettre la balle à Brian Urlacher Jerseys ses coureurs et de distiller les passes à ses receveurs. semble être en mesure de pouvoir tenir sa place dimanche pour la rencontre contre les Cowboys de Dallas.
Blessé à une cheville depuis le 21 août, Donovan McNabb a repris l’entraînement. Le quarterbackQuarterback
c'est le stratège de l'équipe. Il décide des tactiques avec ses coachs. Il est chargé de transmettre la balle à Brian Urlacher Jerseys ses coureurs et de distiller les passes à ses receveurs. semble être en mesure de pouvoir tenir sa place dimanche pour la rencontre contre les Cowboys de Dallas.