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Posts Tagged ‘review’

Podcast – Series 3 Episode 12 – Grand Final Edition

September 29, 2011 Leave a comment

(Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

 

This week we present our grand final show for 2011! The Phantom joins us for the entire show, while David Shipton makes his podcast debut. That’s right – a five person panel!

There’s a big preview of the NRL and AFL grand finals, as well as the upcoming round of EPL action. The RWC is closely examined, with everyone revealing who they think will win the tournament.

In addition to this, Tomo’s Think Tank returns for a second consecutive week, covering some pretty diverse topics. He also reveals how he won $1000 in Dunedin.

This is the last podcast until the summer – not one you want to miss!

Click here to listen

Click here to listen in iTunes

David does RWC – Days 12, 13 and 14

September 26, 2011 Leave a comment

The 2011 Rugby World Cup is well under way in New Zealand, and we’ve sent our Chief Rugby Analyst David Shipton along to cover the entire tournament for us (well… not really. He lives there.)

RWC Days 12, 13 and 14

As per the last article I want to start this one with a bit of a rant. I was watching Argentina and Scotland play in really bad conditions, and couldn’t happen to notice that there was quite a high injury toll during the match. Now, if the injury to the player is serious enough, the ref will stop play and award a scrum. This is generally also done to stop the injured player and the medics getting in the way of the game.

However, on Sunday night I watched as Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe got what seemed to be a serious enough injury, yet nothing was done about it. A couple of seconds later the play was round him, and he couldn’t get out of the way (he had done something to his knee and therefore could not walk off). There were several Argentinean rucks only meters away from where he lay with a medic guarding him, and on several of them he influenced the play. Now this is just unacceptable. You cannot have an injured player influencing the game like Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe did (no fault of his). He should have been allowed to go straight off instead of having the possibility of a ruck potentially forming near or even on him, and having an influence on play.  The IRB have dropped the ball on this one for me. Read more…

David does RWC – Days 9, 10 and 11

September 23, 2011 Leave a comment

The 2011 Rugby World Cup is well under way in New Zealand, and we’ve sent our Chief Rugby Analyst David Shipton along to cover the entire tournament for us (well… not really. He lives there.)

RWC Days 9, 10 and 11

The RWC has marched on through the week, only taking a break on Monday. The minnow nations that are taking part are beginning to tire a bit and I don’t really blame them. This is one area that I think the IRB needs to take a look at. The minnow’s (basically everyone bar those in the Six Nations and Tri Nations plus Argentina) have had such quick turnarounds that they are getting fatigued in the last 20 minutes of the game and letting the bigger sides romp all over them. How is it fair that they regularly have to play 2 games in a week (including at least one against the top dogs) yet none of the top teams have to play more than once a week? It would help even the playing field so much if they did this. Teams like Fiji and Samoa have enough talent to be competitive and win games against the top 10 but will stand no chance if they have had to back up a couple of days later and play a strong and well rested side? Anyway that’s my rant over, now onto the games. Read more…

David does RWC – Days 7 and 8

September 19, 2011 Leave a comment

RWC Days 7 and 8

The Rugby World Cup (RWC) has motored through its second round of action over the weekend with the first real upset of the competition occurring on Saturday evening. The atmosphere has been great at the games, and it helps that most games have featured a reasonable degree of competitiveness. I mentioned that I was going to the fan zone on day three, and I did and it was a good experience. They set it up like a rugby field (with an actual mini sized pitch in the middle) with stands and massive screens to watch the games on.  There was a good crowd in, especially considering it rained for the first wee while. Read more…

David does RWC – Days 4 + 5 + 6

September 17, 2011 1 comment

The 2011 Rugby World Cup is well under way in New Zealand, and we’ve sent our Chief Rugby Analyst David Shipton along to cover the entire tournament for us (well… not really. He lives there.)

RWC Days 4 + 5 + 6

We have had a fair bit to be excited about over here in NZ. The rugby action has been good for the most part, with games being well attended and played in good spirits. There have been a couple of good ones to boot and plenty of well worked tries as well. We move more into the second round, with some of the bigger teams playing over the weekend.  Firstly though, here is a look at what has happened with days 4, 5 and 6. Read more…

David does RWC – Day 3

September 12, 2011 2 comments

The 2011 Rugby World Cup is under way in New Zealand, and we’ve sent our Chief Rugby Analyst David Shipton along to cover the entire tournament for us (well… not really. He lives there.)

RWC Day 3

The Rugby World Cup (RWC) powered through its third day of matches, with many more fascinating games on offer. The thing that I am really enjoying about the RWC is the fact that the minnows are putting up a good performance at most of the games. They are generally playing really well for at least 60 minutes of the games, before eventually succumbing to more experienced and better sides.  It has been good to see them put up a fight though, and not get thrashed. It would be nice though to see a side put together an 80 minute performance.   Read more…

David does RWC – Days 1 + 2

September 11, 2011 2 comments

The 2011 Rugby World Cup is under way in New Zealand, and we’ve sent our Chief Rugby Analyst David Shipton along to cover the entire tournament for us (well… not really. He lives there.)

Wow what a start to the Rugby World Cup. I can tell you that the whole of New Zealand (I know it’s not a lot really) are fully behind this tournament. The excitement levels have been hitting fever pitch, and expectations will be high for all the teams in the tournament. Let’s start right at the beginning. Read more…

The Drawing Board – Rugby World Cup Pool Preview (1/9/11)

September 1, 2011 Leave a comment

Welcome to the Drawing Board, Who’s Playing Who?’s one stop rugby shop. Not long now until the rugby World Cup starts and already the first couple of teams have started to arrive. Fiji were the first to enter these shores, but their rugby chief will not be allowed into New Zealand due to political reasons. The English have also arrived and were greeted by a crowd of over 100 people. All teams that arrive are greeted with a traditional Maori welcome. Here is some news to get us started. Read more…

The Drawing Board (24/8/11)

August 24, 2011 Leave a comment

Welcome to the Drawing Board, Who’s Playing Who?’s one stop rugby shop. By the time you are reading this, all the World Cup squads would have been announced and we will be digesting just who has been picked and dropped, who is lucky and who is not and who should or shouldn’t be there.  There are certainly some interesting selections, some have shocked most pundits and others that you could have bet your bottom dollar on. Let’s kick things off with some news. Read more…

The Drawing Board (17/8/11)

August 17, 2011 Leave a comment

Welcome to the Drawing Board, Who’s Playing Who?’s one stop rugby shop. Only 23 more days left until the beginning of the Rugby World Cup and everything is in full go. Whilst most down here in the southern hemisphere have been concentrating on the Tri Nations, the northern hemisphere teams have been playing a series of warm up tests against one another. I don’t think they will be too concerned with the results, but more with the way they are playing in the build up to the most important event of all. Firstly though, here is some news. Read more…