Focus Off the Field

The PR machines have begun in earnest now that the mutual compliments are all done and dusted.  First cab off the rank is the Aussie coaching staff, and in particular assistant coach Scott Johnson is deserving of full marks in trying to divert attention from on field performance, to off field comments.

Reacting to All Black claims of spying, and in particular to comments about where he is seated during games, the comedian added to his All Black baiting antics by revealing a camouflage outfit, complete with t-shirt emblazoned with the words “Can I sit here?” on the front, and after donning a camo hat, also revealed on the rear of the shirt were the words “Paranoia is curable”.

Johnson is certainly doing well to turn the normal dour affair of press conference of coaching staff into something a bit more entertaining.  To read more of his antics, click here and here.  It seems Connolly may not be requiring the attendance of Mr Johnson at future press conference, stating the press should ask all questions now.  However, I don’t believe the coach would have been unaware of the intentions of the assistant coach, and it is imply a ploy to try and distract the All Blacks from their on the field performance.  It remains to be seen if it works, but I would doubt that it will in this era of professionalism.  It will be up to the Wallabies to now come up with a strategy that will allow them to bully the All Blacks as Johnson has stated they will.

In yet further attempts to divert attention from the actual playing of the game, the Wallaby coach criticised the new All Black Haka featuring the controversial throat thrashing gesture at the conclusion of the dance.  Connolly has stated that the haka in this version, sends a murderous message to the younger people watching the game, and that isn’t a great message to send.  The haka has long been a tradition of the All Blacks, and recently the new version has had a few detractors from both sides of the Tasman.  The fact is, either version is a challenge made by a culture that was very war like.  Neither dance sends a great message, it isn’t meant to.  It is a challenge given by men to other men.  It is meant to inspire fear by displaying what fearsome warriors you are.  I don’t think this is a bad message, rugby is a physical game and provided it is played within the rules, is fine.  For more on that click here and here.

But back to the game!  Rodney Blake is certainly the man in the spotlight.  Apparently 130kgs is what the Wallaby coaching staff believe is the answer to their scrummaging issues.  It remains to be seen if Rodzilla, about whom the word ‘light’ could only be used when referring to the number of matches he has played at test level recently, can live up to this billing.  He has been cut down a bit by the coach announcing that one man does not a scrum make, nor did Rodzilla do too well against England early on in the season.  130 kgs is a lot of weight to haul around the field for 80 minutes, so we can expect a sub at some point, early on if the scrums don’t stablise I would think.  For more on Blake, click here.

Finally, for today’s posts, Graham Henry has allegedly been saying that he would like to lose!  Rest assured, the All Black coach hasn’t taken complete leave of his sense, and is merely referring to the endless analysis that comes from an All Black loss.  He is hoping that the Wallabies will reveal weaknesses in the All Black game plan this far out from Rugby World Cup 2007 so that there is some time to do something about it.  This is part of the rotation policy, and the forward looking approach to the game that the All Blacks have adopted this season.  All eyes are on the prize of the World Cup next year and every All Black fan will be hoping that the team can deliver World Cup Glory in France next year, instead of stumbling at the last hurdle as the All Blacks have in recent tournaments.  For more on that story click here.

I cannot wait for kickoff on Saturday.  It happens to be my birthday and I am hoping these teams deliver a cracker that I can remember for years to come!