Rugby League Park - Christchurch

[Rich102]

Sigh...ALL World Cups are won by being the best team on the day in question. No matter how you put it- The ABs are supposed to be the best in the World, there or thereabouts. Yet- they only scraped in by a single point, in their own home cup, vs a crap team.
The Kiwis beat the undoubted best in the World, in an away WC- the Worlds Best own home WC. And did it convincingly in the end.
Which is the biggest achievement?;-)

Easy. The Kiwis.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Yawn. Absolute, stretched out, mouth wide open yawn.

Glad I'm able to see the merits of both sports and enjoy them as such, rather than believing it is like being a Blood or Crip.

 

[Micistm]

Yawn. Absolute, stretched out, mouth wide open yawn.

Glad I'm able to see the merits of both sports and enjoy them as such, rather than believing it is like being a Blood or Crip.

:lol: Fair point, very fair point.

For the record- I'm stoked for the ABs, and am thrilled this year, they will not be crucified by their media and 'fans.' It is unfair Henry's coaching time probably would've been defined as success or failure solely on a single game, when the reality is, as has been pointed out- they have been outstanding for the majority of his era.

My only beef is with the Media...the same media now creaming themselves over the win as said a few weeks ago, "DC's out, we're ****ed, may as well give up now", the same media the said "The French are useless, we have this final in the bag by a big margin."
-And the older Rah Rah fans that think Rugger is the only game in town. And sadly, many of those are Halberg judges;-)

 

[Iafeta]

Sigh...ALL World Cups are won by being the best team on the day in question. No matter how you put it- The ABs are supposed to be the best in the World, there or thereabouts. Yet- they only scraped in by a single point, in their own home cup, vs a crap team.
The Kiwis beat the undoubted best in the World, in an away WC- the Worlds Best own home WC. And did it convincingly in the end.
Which is the biggest achievement?;-)

There's that old sing where you'd take a one point win if thats whats needed. I think you're perhaps undervaluing France's performances in that World Cup Final and the All Blacks' performances over the last 2-3 years building into the World Cup and their general performance throughout the tournament given that perhaps the world's best first five over the past 20 years (and several of his understudies) went down injured. The difference to me with this All Blacks' side compared to others in the past is mental toughness. Previous teams IMO had far more natural talent. But rugby union can be a little English Premier League like, you can get a result by playing long ball and parking the team bus in front of goal. I have previously thought the All Blacks' lacked street smarts in being able to stay calm under pressure. In that final for the last 20 minutes they were able to defend the advantage line well and stay away from the mortal enemy - conceding a gift penalty.

Thats not meant to devalue anything the Kiwis have done, far from it, I enjoy any strong New Zealand sporting performance.

 

[Micistm]

There's that old sing where you'd take a one point win if thats whats needed. I think you're perhaps undervaluing France's performances in that World Cup Final and the All Blacks' performances over the last 2-3 years building into the World Cup and their general performance throughout the tournament given that perhaps the world's best first five over the past 20 years (and several of his understudies) went down injured. The difference to me with this All Blacks' side compared to others in the past is mental toughness. Previous teams IMO had far more natural talent. But rugby union can be a little English Premier League like, you can get a result by playing long ball and parking the team bus in front of goal. I have previously thought the All Blacks' lacked street smarts in being able to stay calm under pressure. In that final for the last 20 minutes they were able to defend the advantage line well and stay away from the mortal enemy - conceding a gift penalty.

Thats not meant to devalue anything the Kiwis have done, far from it, I enjoy any strong New Zealand sporting performance.

Agreed, I'm playing Devils Advocate here. I spent the week before the WC final laughing at the Media who were bagging the French side- The French side have given us the biggest headache over the WC history, are the most unpredictable...and I was stunned the media, as usual, have learnt nothing from past mistakes.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

:lol: Fair point, very fair point.

For the record- I'm stoked for the ABs, and am thrilled this year, they will not be crucified by their media and 'fans.' It is unfair Henry's coaching time probably would've been defined as success or failure solely on a single game, when the reality is, as has been pointed out- they have been outstanding for the majority of his era.

My only beef is with the Media...the same media now creaming themselves over the win as said a few weeks ago, "DC's out, we're ****ed, may as well give up now", the same media the said "The French are useless, we have this final in the bag by a big margin."
-And the older Rah Rah fans that think Rugger is the only game in town. And sadly, many of those are Halberg judges;-)

Agree with all this. However, it's not just the media...I think it's unfair not to mention the majority of the public were making exactly the same noises.

We just never learn as a nation, rugby wise. Lose to France at two big tournaments in a row after underestimating them? Nah, no chance this time..I was embarrassed hearing people say after France beat Wales that whoever won the other semi basically won the World Cup, we'd win by 20 etc. And thought it was hilarious that whilst people think we are far and away the best side in the world, hence those 20+ predictions - we were royally farked because one guy got injured. Didn't say much for what we thought of the other guys.

I am genuinely nervous about tomorrow morning, incidentally. Tense night's sleep to follow.

 

[Micistm]

Agree with all this. However, it's not just the media...I think it's unfair not to mention the majority of the public were making exactly the same noises.

We just never learn as a nation, rugby wise. Lose to France at two big tournaments in a row after underestimating them? Nah, no chance this time..I was embarrassed hearing people say after France beat Wales that whoever won the other semi basically won the World Cup, we'd win by 20 etc. And thought it was hilarious that whilst people think we are far and away the best side in the world, hence those 20+ predictions - we were royally farked because one guy got injured. Didn't say much for what we thought of the other guys.

I am genuinely nervous about tomorrow morning, incidentally. Tense night's sleep to follow.

Fair points there, I knew many that were writing off France- but IMO it was following what the media were instructing them in sheep like fashion. It's astounding how many believe what media says as complete gospel.
Yeah, I call the French side 'crap' with tongue firmly in cheek as a media pisstake. I'm too old and seen them spoilt our parties too many times to write them off- ever.:lol: The main france victory I remember are not our WC knockouts due to them, but the time, many years ago, they beat us at home in a series. They were freakish...and put on this astounding try to beat us and take the series. Never lost respect for the french team since then.

 

[Micistm]

By the way Penrose...your nervousness this morning was well founded!
But big ups to England...they taught us a lesson Aussie aren't the only boys you have to play to beat.

Shit. What was this topic about again?! ;-)

 

[Penrose Warrior]

It was about rugby..we won that trophy..

 

[Micistm]

...And the park! ;-)

 

[ozenzud]

See the Crusaders played their first game. It was a big publicity event on TV1 news. New home for the Crusaders. New park. No mention of it actually being RL Park. I tell you, its gone. RL will never get a look in again. It will be the home of Rugby in Christchurch.

Sorry, I'm just suspicious/cynical after Wellington.......

 

[Micistm]

I must admit it has been peeving me, hearing all the hype about the 'New home', 'new stadium' etc etc...and I am a little worried League may only ever be 'generously' loaned the park for the odd test or Warriors (away) game.
I agree with you, it makes me nervous it is now Unions for good...

 

[mean]

Let the union hater have some words ....Eden Park, Cake Tin, Dunedin whatever and every other main centre's ratepayer funded rugby parks. Pisses me off that the NZRU is still riding the gravy train.

Otago RU about to go into liquidation and the ratepayers have to bail them out. Where's their effin parental company the NZRU to bail them out? No wonder other sports and clubs around this country are folding and struggling.

When was the last time a purpose built league stadium was constructed? Can't remember, we only get hand me downs or they get deconstructed.

North Harbour want to put a roof on theirs. What for? To keep the paltry 200+ North Harbour supporters warm when the stadium is empty?

I'm glad someone reignited this thread, it's been pissing me off to hear the new AMI stadium was constructed in a matter of a few weeks and yet the Canterbury league waited years.

These homos too snobby to keep calling it rugby league park?

 

[JoeD]

both identify themselves as Kiwis.

Funny u should say Kiwis not NZers when Thorne never played for the Kiwis when he had a chance. He must have been confused about his identity at the time.

 

[IanG]

So what was the AMI Stadium they were playing at on Saturday Night?

 

[Sam_the_man]

See the Crusaders played their first game. It was a big publicity event on TV1 news. New home for the Crusaders. New park. No mention of it actually being RL Park. I tell you, its gone. RL will never get a look in again. It will be the home of Rugby in Christchurch.

Sorry, I'm just suspicious/cynical after Wellington.......

Yip has a similar ring to it. Rugby league were out manuvered by a sympathetic Wellington council to take Wellingtons RL park away from them.
The one saving grace is that the Canterbury RL brought rugby league park in Christchurch lock stock and barrell in the 90's. So while rugby league may get chiseled out of the stadium i suspect that money wont be issue for the CRL in future.

 

[IanG]

Funny u should say Kiwis not NZers when Thorne never played for the Kiwis when he had a chance. He must have been confused about his identity at the time.

He's an Auswi