The News Review:
- Editorial: Rugby’s crisis self-inflicted
- Gold on rugby and just rugby
- Rugby: Highlanders aim to make their own luck
- Rugby: Latimer’s always worked hard
- Rugby: Hurricanes cruise past Chiefs
- BBC SPRT / RUGBY LEAGUE
Editorial: Rugby’s crisis self-inflicted
stuff.co.nz – Feb 29, 2008
5 million and $428000 Bay of Plenty $759000 in the red and Counties Auckland Taranaki Manawatu and Hawke's Bay barely scraping by; and crowds dwindling at the stadiums and in front of their tellies. And it's on the streets blaring out from talkback radio and banging angrily against the walls of pubs around the country. Clearly in New Zealand at least professional rugby is not working. And the reason? Well it's what our mothers always told us loudly and frequently so many years ago. No not the one about stopping or you'll go blind – it's that too much of a good thing can be bad for you. And we all know it. Despite the fact we love the game and would give a limb to hold aloft the Webb Ellis trophy we're all tapped out on rugby… They've dreamt up meaningless competitions like the Tri-Nations and when it has become obvious that the punters have started tuning out and are no longer interested they've simply given us more of it. Which brings us bone- jarringly to our next point: Arrogance. That's the kind of arrogance that makes rugby executives believe we want more of the same games against the same opponents at the same time of the year. It's the kind of arrogance that allows Wellington to host every home game of the Super 14 season even though the city's supporters are walking away in droves; even though a significant number of Hurricanes come from outside the capital. And it's the kind of arrogance that allows other unions including Taranaki to let Wellington get away with it just so they can grab a few extra dollars that fall off the bench. It's the kind of arrogance that completely ignores the punters. The rugby unions are supposedly holding a crisis meeting next month but will they talk to the frustrated long-suffering supporters?Don't count on it.
Gold on rugby and just rugby
Independent nline – Feb 29, 2008
A coach who likes to listen; not only talk. A coach who says thank you after the interview and doesn’t ask what the reason is for the interview. A coach lacking in paranoia!Discussions with Western Province coach Stormers assistant coach and probable Springbok forwards coach Gary Gold are always good value. There is no pretence. There is no lecture to the mere mortals who write about the game and there is no illusion that his opinion is scripture.
Rugby: Highlanders aim to make their own luck
New Zealand Herald – Feb 29, 2008
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Rugby: Latimer’s always worked hard
New Zealand Herald – Feb 29, 2008
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Rugby: Hurricanes cruise past Chiefs
New Zealand Herald – Feb 29, 2008
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BBC SPRT / RUGBY LEAGUE
BBC News – Feb 29, 2008
The Super League champions overcame wild and windy conditions with Kevin Sinfield’s kicking proving vital. A Ryan Hoffman try put the Storm ahead before Scott Donald crossed to restore Leeds’ advantage just before half-timeAnd as conditions deteriorated Sinfield’s second penalty and drop goal were the only scores after the break. The Rhinos’ victory – their second in the fixture after beating Canterbury in 2005 – was marred by injuries to Danny McGuire Clinton Toopi and Keith Senior. But for the moment they will celebrate a monumental triumph albeit over a Storm side which has been largely inactive since winning their Grand Final against Manly in September.