Muslim mates a slap in the faith for SBW
more global. Duco should call next year’s tournament in Brisbane the London-New York-Paris 10s.
For those wanting the steer on where New Zealand Rugby stands on the Brisbane 10s, this is my reading of events. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has said no way, his star players can’t play in the 10-a-side tournament. And under the NZR central contract system, they are his players rather than the franchises’.
While Hansen has yet to reveal his thinking, we all know the season is too long, that the players even need protecting from themselves.
But Hansen, who deals with a lot of pressure every year, is on holiday and he’s not interrupting that to get embroiled in a debate. Fair enough. But he is the man driving this decision, make no mistake.
NZR boss Steve Tew has been quiet because this is Hansen’s call. After a torrid 2016 thanks to Aaron “Airport” Smith, the Childish Chiefs et. al, Tew is avoiding this firestorm.
However, some of us would like to know if the NZR okayed the use of the players’ images (Israel Dagg, Jerome Kaino, Damian McKenzie).
Bottom line: There was always major doubt about whether the All Blacks could take part — Nichol makes that fairly clear, and I have been given the same impression, indirectly, by a leading player manager.
Eddie Jones — headline machine
Hardly a day goes by without another story involving Eddie Jones. The media is obsessed with the England rugby coach, and the England coach is obsessed, full stop.
Yet another England rugby news flash: The England players will limit cellphone use to increase their spatial awareness, now that Dr Sherylle Calder has joined the England staff.
Come on troops, how much spatial awareness does an England team really need? Cellphone checking in a crowd is perfect training for a team which specialises in scrums and mauls. The great news for England’s opponents is that Jones and his team are swamping themselves with over-thinking.
True to form, the cellphone bizzo is already old news. We’ve moved on to fresh revelations, that England’s defence coach has been working with a mixed martial arts expert. Next week: Eddie Jones hires a taxi driver to help his players find the fastest way to training.