The Roar » Mark Geenty

Sleepy All Blacks inspired by All Whites

Mark Geenty — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 15:53:45 +0000

One of their coaches might have dozed off, but the All Blacks were glued to their compatriots’ stunning soccer World Cup opening.

Led by their chief All Whites “cheerleader”, centre Conrad Smith, the All Blacks crowded around the screen at their Dunedin hotel as New Zealand drew 1-1 with Slovakia for their historic first World Cup point in Rustenburg, South Africa.

Even if one of their coaches admitted he didn’t quite stay awake to witness defender Winston Reid’s equaliser for the All Whites in stoppage time, around 1.20am.

“I would say everyone in the team watched it,” assistant coach Wayne Smith said.

“I might have dozed off at the wrong time. I was struggling at one point and I missed New Zealand’s goal. I woke up and saw the result and slept a bit better for it.”

The All Blacks showed their support yesterday when they donned an all white training strip at Carisbrook, each jersey individually named, which will now be auctioned for charity.

Wayne Smith said the All Blacks would be inspired by the result as they resume training tomorrow for Saturday’s Test against Wales.

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Article link: Sleepy All Blacks inspired by All Whites. Written by Mark Geenty, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

All Blacks get deep and meaningful

Mark Geenty — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 17:24:48 +0000

Far from any hand-wringing about a lack of depth, the All Blacks rugby selectors are welcoming their selection headaches caused by the new caps as they nut out a team to face Wales here on Saturday. There were few training ground hints today as they got into World Cup soccer fever with an indoor kick-around [...]

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Smith hopeful Williams is New Zealand bound

Mark Geenty — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:43:38 +0000

All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith hopes the reports are right about Sonny Bill Williams and says the national selectors will pick him for the end-of-year tour if he impresses in provincial rugby. Smith said he hadn’t heard official word that Williams had turned down a three-year, $6 million-plus contract offer from French club Toulon [...]

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Smith welcomes prospect of Sonny Bill

Mark Geenty — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 21:42:34 +0000

All Blacks rugby centre Conrad Smith is excited about the prospect of combining with Sonny Bill Williams after the former Kiwis league international was reported to be a step closer to a black jersey. A report in Sydney’s Sun-Herald newspaper, by a journalist close to the Williams camp, said the Toulon midfielder had decided to [...]

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Show us your wares Sonny Bill, says Henry

Mark Geenty — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:38:16 +0000

All Blacks rugby coach Graham Henry has advised Sonny Bill Williams to return to New Zealand this year to stake his claim for a World Cup spot. Henry said he’d spoken at length to the gifted former Kiwis’ league international earlier this year as he mulls over his options while playing for French club Toulon. [...]

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Bond talking the talk as Aussies loom

Mark Geenty — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:57:16 +0000

New Zealand pace star Shane Bond has delivered the first verbal bouncer, declaring Australia have received an easy run all summer and his team are “a huge chance” of regaining the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy. For a fast bowler with 35 one-day wickets against Australia at 14.45, Bond is ably qualified to comment and he insisted New [...]

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All Blacks with points to prove in tour finale

Mark Geenty — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:20:09 +0000

All the focus might be on the Barbarians stars and Richie McCaw, but a fair few All Blacks will be quelling Test match-like nerves as they run onto Twickenham for Saturday’s tour finale. At least half the All Blacks side have points to prove at the end of what the coaches dubbed a six-week “selection [...]

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Coaches demand weary All Blacks keep focus

Mark Geenty — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:18:03 +0000

The All Blacks have been told not to drop their standards in a difficult final tour week as the second-stringers get one more chance in the spotlight against a powerful Barbarians side. As frontliners Mils Muliaina and Cory Jane admitted their thoughts were increasingly on home, the squad were warned by the coaches to stay [...]

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All Blacks file complaint over alleged eye-gouge

Mark Geenty — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:40:11 +0000

The All Blacks have filed an official complaint over what they believe was an eye-gouge on prop Tony Woodcock but are irked it may detract from their best Test rugby performance of the year. As they flew to London for next weekend’s tour finale against the Barbarians, after a big night of celebrations following their [...]

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Lomu rumbles on in different languages

Mark Geenty — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:04:39 +0000

Getting through his first French club rugby match was the easy part. Now the big challenge looms for Jonah Lomu: a crash course in five different languages as the Jonah phenomenon continues to rumble through Europe and Asia like a steam train. The French and Spanish classes are under way, and soon he’ll be starting [...]

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Henry rebuffs French respect jibe

Mark Geenty — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 14:39:42 +0000

Respect. The All Blacks didn’t show it in Dunedin, claim the French, as an irked Graham Henry almost fell over himself trying to redress the balance. Having named a full-strength side to face France in their season-ending rugby Test at Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Saturday, there was no way All Blacks coach Henry was [...]

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De Malmanche called up to cover Flynn

Mark Geenty — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:14:49 +0000

Hooker Aled de Malmanche has been plucked from a Bali holiday for a potential bench spot against England at Twickenham after All Black Corey Flynn suffered a hamstring strain. De Malmanche was on Tuesday summoned to London as cover after Flynn suffered the strain at the end of All Blacks training which consisted of soccer [...]

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Knives out for England as All Blacks arrive

Mark Geenty — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:04:25 +0000

For once, the All Blacks arrived in London with all the focus on the England rugby side who were booed off Twickenham and have been written off against the tourists next weekend. The media knives were out for England coach Martin Johnson after his side staggered to a 16-9 win over a hastily-assembled Argentina on [...]

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Dickinson ‘guessed’ on scrum rulings, reckons Hansen

Mark Geenty — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:52:29 +0000

All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen accused Australian referee Stuart Dickinson of “guesswork” against Italy and called on the International Rugby Board (IRB) to reconsider the scrum laws. The All Blacks remained annoyed at the volley of scrum penalties handed Italy’s way by Dickinson in their 20-6 win at San Siro, when it appeared Italy [...]

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All Blacks unconvincing in Milan

Mark Geenty — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 15:46:07 +0000

Luke McAlister’s boot eased the All Blacks to an unconvincing 20-6 Test rugby win over Italy after a brutal forward battle at a packed San Siro on Saturday. McAlister’s five penalties and Corey Flynn’s first-half try was enough for the second-string All Blacks, who were given plenty to think about by the hosts who were [...]

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Sold-out San Siro ready for All Blacks

Mark Geenty — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:56:35 +0000

San Siro. Or, Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, if you prefer. As it looms into view along Via Patroclo, it makes famed rugby grounds like Ellis Park or the Millennium Stadium look more like the local town domain. Eleven concrete towers, all 50m high, loom above the third tier of seating to prop up the distinctive roof [...]

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Hansen chides Gatland for unhelpful Carter call

Mark Geenty — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:25:28 +0000

Steve Hansen took aim at Wales rugby coach Warren Gatland as the All Blacks prepare to fight to clear star pivot Dan Carter of a dangerous high tackle charge in London Tuesday. The All Blacks assistant coach was unimpressed with Gatland’s comments after the All Blacks’ 19-12 win in Cardiff when he said Carter should [...]

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All Blacks make six changes to side to face Wales

Mark Geenty — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:05:45 +0000

Young winger Zac Guildford will make his debut while lock Jason Eaton will play his first run-on Test in 27 months amid six changes to the All Blacks starting 15 to face Wales on Sunday (AEDT). Guildford, the 20-year-old from Hawke’s Bay, will wear the No.11 jersey vacated by Sitiveni Sivivatu who sits out a [...]

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Wales seeking end to 56 years of hurt

Mark Geenty — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:29:18 +0000

As Warren Gatland named his Wales rugby side to face the All Blacks, the local paper was putting on its bravest face. A large official team photo formed the centrefold of Cardiff’s Western Mail, below the headline: “Are these the men to end 56 years of hurt?” Having won three of their first four Tests [...]

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Carter cleared to play as Gatland baiting gets a rise

Mark Geenty — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:25:58 +0000

Assistant All Blacks rugby coach Wayne Smith effectively gave Daniel Carter the all-clear to face Wales this weekend then warned Warren Gatland’s baiting could backfire on the hosts. The All Blacks had a training free day in rainy Cardiff to recover from the rigours of their Bledisloe Cup victory in Tokyo, with the hematoma in [...]

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Youngsters get All Blacks chance after Woodcock and Sivivatu bans

Mark Geenty — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:38:46 +0000

Young All Blacks Zac Guildford and Wyatt Crockett are set to be the beneficiaries in Cardiff of a tumultuous Bledisloe Cup rugby aftermath, with two suspensions and an injury cloud over matchwinner Daniel Carter. Winger Sitiveni Sivivatu and prop Tony Woodcock, with 99 Tests between them, were each handed one-match bans by Sanzar judicial officer [...]

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Hansen hits back at Deans’ breakdown claims

Mark Geenty — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 20:38:13 +0000

All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen fired back at his old sparring partner Robbie Deans on Sunday after the frustrated Wallabies coach accused their opponents of cynical play not befitting the occasion. The All Blacks’ 32-19 win at Tokyo’s National Stadium on saturday night made it seven in a row against Deans’ Wallabies, equalling the [...]

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Inu counts his grand final blessings

Mark Geenty — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:56:19 +0000

In Krisnan Inu’s mind, Sunday will be just like any other day for the brilliant Parramatta and New Zealand Test centre. He will stroll into church, pray, wander on to the Eels’ team bus and take the short trip to ANZ Stadium for the league game of his life. Just another game, he’ll keep saying. [...]

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We’re thirsty for early Bledisloe, says Muliaina

Mark Geenty — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:49:37 +0000

The All Blacks have drunk from the Bledisloe Cup enough times in recent years that they know its exact capacity. And, with fullback Mils Muliaina on Monday labelling it more prestigious than the Tri Nations trophy, the All Blacks are intent on sipping its contents for a seventh consecutive year on Saturday night. Coach Graham [...]

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O’Connor back in Auckland for Bledisloe challenge

Mark Geenty — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:10:47 +0000

His schoolboy heroes were Christian Cullen, Carlos Spencer and Stacey Jones, he grew up in Auckland league heartland in Te Atatu and dreamed of being an All Black. It hardly sounds like prime Wallabies rugby stock, but the brilliant James O’Connor’s rise to Australia’s national side at just 19 has been anything but conventional. It [...]

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Crusaders quietly confident entering Bull-pen

Mark Geenty — Fri, 22 May 2009 18:20:54 +0000

They might have been largely written off at the most imposing Super 14 rugby venue, but that hasn’t dimmed the noticeable confidence emanating from the Crusaders’ camp. The defending champions tackle the Bulls in semi-final two at a sold out Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday night (11pm AEST) as clear underdogs in their bid [...]

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Kiwis holding out hope for Stacey Jones return

Mark Geenty — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 15:17:07 +0000

Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney says he won’t believe champion halfback Stacey Jones is retired from Test rugby league until he hears it from the man himself. Kearney said 32-year-old comeback player Jones remained in the Test equation for world champion New Zealand to face Australia in Brisbane on May 8 and he would call him [...]

Article link: Kiwis holding out hope for Stacey Jones return. Written by Mark Geenty, on The Roar - Your Sports Opinion

Black Caps can worry Australia

Mark Geenty — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:51:27 +0000

Victorious South African cricket coach Mickey Arthur says New Zealand’s “bunch of scrappers” can give Australia more headaches after their summer reached another low ebb here last night. South Africa snatched the world No.1 ranking in one-day international cricket away from Australia to ice an unforgettable tour with a 39-run victory at the WACA, sealing [...]

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Vettori shocked by “scary” Mumbai attacks

Mark Geenty — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:38:57 +0000

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori says sadness and concern were his first emotions after the Mumbai terrorist attacks and he is unsure what impact they will have on the cricketing world. Vettori, who played for Delhi in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL), was stunned to hear of Thursday’s events. He is not scheduled to [...]

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Kiwis wary of Krejza as they ponder twin spin attack

Mark Geenty — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:21:32 +0000

It’s the one area where New Zealand feels they have the edge on Australia as they await their first look at spinner Jason Krejza in the second Test in Adelaide. The Tasmanian tweaker was a surprise omission from a pace-bowler dominated first Test in Brisbane and captain Ricky Ponting has tipped him as a likely [...]

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