After some Argy-bargy, All Blacks survive a Puma surprise

In my own defence though Tman, that day in 2007 was joyous on a unique level. The feeling in 2003, for me at least, was more one of relief that a dominant team that was going to break up regardless of the result got their reward. 2007, though was pure joy. The arrogance and rubbish poured onto the English team by the Aussies in the run-up to the QF made their cricket team look humble. The Kiwis weren't far behind in their sneering. When most of the coverage is related to how the WBs and ABs were going to approach the SF, it was difficult not to giggle. It was also only 2 years since many of us had our eyes opened about the nature of the NZ 'rugby community' on the Lions tour.

Did you not read my post, Jacko?It's directly above the one you wrote. Nothing could ever be better than that day in Marseilles when the arrogance of the likes of O'Neill, the WB players and the Aussie press corps got their comeuppance. When someone as mild mannered and humble as the England coach, Ashton, deliberately seeks out the ARU CEO and thanks him for providing the motivation to win, you know something extraordinary has happened. However, that AB side were no slouches in the hubris department, and watching them crash and burn plus the likes of Howlett reacting by vandalizing a load of cars in the hotel car park was the icing on the cake.

His team is England though jacko so the shoe fits...

Oh yes that's right Zhenry

You two are a funny combo, much in the same way Laurel (T-man) and Hardy (Jacko) are funny. At least people thought they were funny 70-80 years ago. About size obsession, maybe have look among the forwards and not the backs? Any bells ringing?

Yes thats right, especially when you have a major focus on speed and use of space. Far easier to move 85k through a gap than 100.

Ben Smith, McKenzie, NMS, Crotty, ALB Cruden........Im not seeing the ABs managements obsession with size at all.....These guys are NOT big by international standards....They just do the job asked of them

Isnt the June test window being pushed back to allow the SR finals to finish uninterupted?

That favourite day of yours funbus is also the day that Aus was knocked out of the 2007 WC quarterfinals as well. Funny how you hate the ABs more than you want your own team to be successful

It seems to be eating away at your soul and sanity tho Funbus

Dear zhenry It's not easy to help someone who is hypersensitive (probably with underlying emotional problems) through The Roar commentary field. Maybe try to go to a psychologist? As for your vision problems, a visit to an optician should be in order. Best regards TNVFS

It's up to you to change it.

Wallabies rule when it comes to taking out people way beyond the ruck! Argies were warned by ref for doing so. How many times exactly did the ABs do it?..I suggest very seldom do they do it...certainly not at the level of the Wallabies!!

TM we kiwi's are harsh judges. We are a rebuilding team, and a year longer than I thought we are feeling the effect of losing so many caps on game day. Yet we are still winning the true show of a good team is when they are not playing their best but do what they have to do to win. It would seem as AB fans we have come to accustomed to winning with style, we see winning with substance as a loss. The AB's are a very good side, and have bloodied a lot of good young players giving them plenty of game time in meaningful matches. I see the positives in what they are doing, I like the constant challenges they are facing maybe I'm one of the only people who sees these challenges as a great thing for the AB's and fans alike.

We all try and fail timber. Happens to me all the time, but not so much while talking rugby with Kiwis (that is a tongue in cheek joke). I got no problems with some spicy counter-arguments, but I prefer if those arguments are on point and not some lazy personal digs built on preconceptions with little connection to reality. If you read what I have written in this thread it should be pretty clear that I am not signing up on any conspiracy theories regarding the AB's. I actually counter FunBus argument about the AB's alleged cynical play at the rucks by saying: I don’t think it is pre-planned cynical play from the AB’s. In SR I see it all the time. The difference is – especially in Kiwi derbies – that both teams are doing it, so in a way, it is sorting itself out. And if you continue to read you will see that I actually think that it is nothing to cry about for the opponents (and that was one thing that the BIL's did well). In International rugby… well if the opponents see and feel and that ref is not policing it, they should fight fire with fire. I would say one of the key things the Lions did very successfully was that they were up for it all the way when it came to the dark arts. Some Kiwis might even argue that the Lions took it further than the AB’s did. One thing that made the Lions-series so enjoyable for me as an outsider was that both teams were pretty even in all departments. From flair to the dark arts. And to make myself really clear, I think the dark arts is a vital part of the game and both respect and admire players and teams who master it. Just like I admire players and teams that master the "flairy" side of rugby.

You are being very very sensitive and one-eyed here zhenry. But what else is new mate?

I would sooner have less Super and more international, but with decent breaks. It's getting to be necessary to have two teams of nearly equal ability, to compete in rugby union.

Its lead up RWC time, expect Funbus and that special neutral country Sweden on Sydney's Northshore to go through their 'soften up the officials, the ABs are dirty' corp media propaganda routine. No we're straight 'every one does it but the ABs more so' fair and straight down the line are we. I agree with Campesie; 'compared to other teams the ABs play hard but fair'. I do see them doing what other teams do but less so, but then I don't command a media circulation. They even "presented" the 'bug' senario as the ABs fault, the elite have such delicate egos, the timing and farcicle summing up at the so called court trial was pathetic, and typical of the obsessions on hear re ABs.

Good points as usual Peter. The game-plan we're trying to perfect is just too fast to be executed at the gain line with a rush defense and not just the Lions have worked that out. To be fair there are still moments of brilliance across the paddock but that's where the game tends to disintegrate to personal, rather than group, performance. Hansen made a salient comment about Fifita in that some of the core role, positional defense, is a work on and at the moment that rationale could be applied to the group. Fundamental roles executed well will provide space and opportunity; we need to graft more and be more patient. We have been heavily reliant on our brilliant pack, both in set-piece and off the ball and you have to wonder how much Moody and Franks out for the season is going to affect the team.

He was a 10 who was given time as a utility.