Woodward criticises Lancaster/Media relationship. Blogger laughs very hard indeed.

 

This from the man who employed Alistair Campbell to 'manage' media relations during the Lions series to NZ  in 2005, also announcing at a press conference he believed the Lions had the edge over the Kiwis because 'winning teams play in red'. The 2003 World Cup win has never felt so long ago.

http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/story/179118.html

Rugby Simulator 2013

Reality TV usually means fake boobs, limited intelligence and 'real life' situations. We are meant to be jealous of these people. I personally just don't care. Admittedly I do have a cheeky watch of  Made in Chelsea though. Binky, big fan.

The above I could definitely watch for a hour every Tuesday, with adverts. No fake tan, no 'created reality', just sheer trench-view. Whilst the speed and power is impressive, being this close to the action lets us see that speed aside, the technical skills are the same throughout the sport. Hats off to FOX for getting us that bit closer to action and making a perpetual cripple feel like part of the match!

Thanks to my good pal Chris Aukett for making me aware of this. His hair is glorious.

Super Rugby, how you've been missed

Super Rugby is well and truly back with last year's whipping boys the Auckland Blues playing some incredible rugby and new boys Southern Kings giving the bookies a headache through some very impressive opening performances, not looking like the walkover everyone assumed them to be.

The tie of the matches so far was the one below. Chiefs vs Highlanders in round two. What a game. Check out the wheels on number 13, Tim Nanai Williams. He appears to accelerate whilst breaking stride, either an optical illusion or just bloody amazing. People were concerned about the Sonny Bill Williams shaped hole in the centre at the beginning of the season.
Suffice to say, not anymore.

Then four come along at once...

Below is the fruit of my shameless approach to having pictures with as many current and historically significant players as humanly possible. This was at the St Columba's College annual Sportsman's Dinner, always a good bash and an excellent fundraiser put together by Jimmy Lewis, our Old Boys 'Organiser-in-Chief'.  Rick O'Shea PA'd the event really well and I will be skimming down the Sky channels to catch him on Scrum V and RaboDirect commentary much more than I already do. He was a very funny man. 

First up, my rugby hero, Schalk Brits. Players like him and Keith Wood give a two fingers up to those effeminate backs and cynical pundits who believe a front row's role is to bend over and push, occasionally scrape back a ball in a scrum and throw the odd lineout. He is the rugby equivalent of Gareth Bale, and that is no exaggeration. 

Former Scotland international and British Lion Scott Hastings, what a bloke. Spoke to him about the local rugby scene as well as his role as an analyst for RTE. Gave a good account of his depth of rugby knowledge when being cross examined by the somewhat inebriated Old Boy crowd.

Former England Prop Victor Ubogu next. Hilarious man, especially when he dropped a clanger about some professional rugby coaches being 'too teacher like' not realising there were about 30 teachers in the room at the time.

Finally former Scotland international, Grand Slam winner and British Lion, Craig Chalmers. I love his articles in Rugby World, and he liked it when I referred to his pieces as containing 'brutal honesty'. He does some punditry for Sky Sports 7s coverage and he has just taken over as Head Coach at Chinnor RFC in Oxfordshire, who currently reside in National 2 South. Could not have been friendlier.

Credit to the game this lot. They didn't sit in the corner looking like they wanted to be anywhere else other than the Hilton on the A41 near Bushey, getting involved and working the crowd well into the late hours. In the future if you see me out and making a beeline for a professional player, iPhone at the ready, please intercept me. I am very wary of gaining a reputation as being the rugby equivalent of a screaming teenage girl at a One Direction concert.

Depression...big boys do cry

This is without doubt one of the most powerful things I have ever seen on youtube (apart from the one with that cat sticking its hands in the air).

John Kirwan was a feared rugby player to say the least and has turned himself into a very capable coach too. How humbling to see his warts and all insight into his struggle with depression, something that affects signifcantly more people than those diagnosed. As with Gareth Thomas coming out, it takes men who don't fit a stereotype to make people realise that stereotypes are in fact a load of s**t.

Its thirteen minutes long but please take the time to watch it. You won't regret it.

BUNDLE!

This video has gone viral amongst the rugby community in the last few days. Here is the original video and a 'fans eye' view of the unfolding pugilism. Apparently Georgian and Top 14 superstar Gorgodze is in there somewhere but you try telling him apart from the other units gracing the field. Love the fact that if this went down in Watford town centre arrests and charges would probably have been dished out but as this is an organised sporting event its ok!

Jebus this boy is quick

I know this has been around for a while now but its worth a second look. This is kid is rapid. Watch, observe and be in awe. Further proof that rugby can be picked up and played at any age. Of course it helps if you have pace that closely resembles faeces departing from a digging device.

Apologies for lack of blogs recently, start of the new term has been mental to say the least. Knee update coming soon I 'swear down' as the kids say.