It's All On!

Well, it is all on in Aussie Rugby Union at the moment. The current and former coaches of the Wallabies are at each other's throats over the injury sustained by Chris Latham in training for the Queensland Reds. It is alleged that he was meant to be part of a non-contact trainign squad of Wallabies earmarked for the next World Cup when he injured his knee to the extent that he is said to have undergone a knee reconstruction last weekend.

In my opinion this isn't that big of a loss. He plays well, but he is a player that runs hot and cold. Probably the worst damage his injury will cause is further disharmony among the Wallabies World Cup Squad already reeling from a woeful Northern Hemisphere end of year tour, revelations that Lote Tuqiri wasn't fit enough to train with the squad and was sent packing, and the further talk of defection to the NRL which Lote tells everyone is his first and only love. Not the best preparation.

Across the ditch all has gone silent. Aside from the occaisional quip at the arrogance of New Zealand devaluing the Super 14 by withholding players, there isn't much news at all. With any luck this means that the All Blacks are getting through getting the job done - at least this is what every New Zealand fan will be hoping right now. The lads will be into their training phase now and the New Zealand public will be expecting them to be bigger, stronger, and faster half way through the Super 14. It remains to be seen if this will be delivered or not - there are a lot of sceptics out there who suggest that the All Blacks have peaked already and we will once again be seeing them fall at the last hurdle. This view is most commonly heard in New Zealand - outside of that green everyone else is supremely confident that the All Blacks will triumph...

I myself am looking forward to kick off at the beginning of February. While I did have rugby fatigue at the end of last season, right now I can't wait for it to come back. I love it, and thank goodness there isn't long to go now. Bring it on!