Who are you blaming for RWC final defeat?
Sport Review #259
Wayne Barnes - not this time. Hamstrung by the rules, and the man upstairs. Arguably could have removed his ear piece and got on with it but this seems unlikely. This is an old favourite for New Zealanders, but moaning about Wayne Barnes is like wedges and sour cream and sweet chilli sauce, its time has passed.
Blame-o-meter reading: One star, and probably log off the internet
Auckland Marathon organisers - What are you guys doing scheduling the thing when the rugby’s on? Those hardworking every day kiwis being forced to do something unpleasant like running instead of eating sausage rolls and supporting the boys in black in front of the TV could have made all the difference. Do better.
Blame-o-meter reading: Five stars
Ian Foster - Nah. He left it very late, but Fossie probably got the most out of this group of players in the end. Sure, we were a kick or two away from winning it, but living with the South Africans, the masters in dragging you into a bore-fest and grinding out results like a four hour game of Monopoly is very, very difficult. We’d have taken a defeat in the final at the start of the tournament, and despite your expectations ratcheting up, that’s what you get.
Blame-o-meter reading: One star
TMO - This is more like it. The git in the little box was more involved in the game than the ball. Eagle-eyed to the point of ridiculousness, he sucked the life out and caused more New Zealand moaning than the Marmite shortage. Again, he was following World Rugby directives, but have a day off mate for Sam’s sake.
Blame-o-meter reading: Four stars
Your South African office mate - Yes, he’s going to wear his jersey for the next six months and go on about Rassie. That’s the reality now. You accepted the Biltong though, didn’t you?
Blame-o-meter reading: Two stars, but seek.co.nz may offer solutions
Israel Dagg - Hard to get blame when you’re sitting in a TV studio on the opposite side of the globe, but he’s in the conversation thanks to the absolutely wild and realest three minutes of rugby analysis ever, ever broadcast on SKY Sport. Someone obviously had a word because Izzy was a spent, hollow shell in the post-match, but at least we shared a few golden moments together.
Blame-o-meter reading: The blame-o-meter began smoking and blew up
The National-led government - Live by the breezy selfies in your 2023 All Blacks jersey with the price tag still on, die by the missed photo opportunity on the steps of parliament. You broke it you bought it unfortunately champ.
Blame-o-meter reading: Four stars
Your own lack of physical fitness - This is more of a nagging feeling than a hard blame target, as you smashing a 9am hazy was unlikely to ultimately influence the result, but watching professional athletes always makes you feel like you should go for a run or something.
Blame-o-meter reading: Three stars, but definitely going to be better once we get through the Christmas madness! Har! Har.
Thanks for reading - Richard
This week's best NZ sport content
The idea that these real-time collisions need to be slowed down and exhaustively analysed to ensure they’re flawless is the fundamental problem of modern rugby. As I have written before, the idea that it is making the game safer is hopelessly flawed.
Dylan Cleaver says we shouldn’t be surprised the RWC final was dominated by the officials, while Scott MacLean looks at the final through a referee’s eyes [The Spinoff, Sportsfreak]
Ian Foster was the very tail end of the All Black coaching lineage that started way back with Graham Henry and meant coaches like Robbie Deans and Warren Gatland never got a look in. Jamie Wall and Liam Napier run the rule over Fossie’s time in charge [RNZ, NZ Herald]
Sitting down with Tim and Trent and writing down everything they say is evergreen and fantastic content [Cricket Monthly]
No-one can agree what kind of stadiums we want / need / deserve in Aotearoa New Zealand, while Sky Stadium supremo Shane Harmon quietly went about making his one indispensable. Here’s his exit interview [Stuff]
Video nasty
Cool song, cool video.
Long read
Extremely crazy tale of a couple of international jet setter grifters, and the journalists trying to tell the story. You’ll need to subscribe to read this [Airmail]
Recommendation
Just confirming the Beckham documentary, made by Succession’s Hugo, is fantastic. All your 90’s football favourite moments are there, and the Beckhams seem like folks you’d like to hang out and clean up kitchens with. It’s on Netflix.