We love our rugby. We also love our food. And tonight, there's a veritable feast of test match rugby coming up. Unfortunately, we also have a dinner to go to, so MySky is already set, and we'll watch on a full stomach!
First-up, the All Blacks are looking for a series clean sweep against the French. Daniel Carter is back in the #10 jersey, and as well as Aaron Cruden played last week, Carter is still the incumbent. He has been hampered by injury somewhat this season, but he is still a tried and true world class player. With Piri Weepu inside Carter, and New Zealand's most experienced midfield combination of Nonu and Smith outside him, there is a really seasoned look about the All Black backline tonight.
But the big match tonight follows the All Black match. The British and Irish Lions take on Australia at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane in what should be an absolute cracker of a match.And there's a strong Kiwi connection to the match; not only are both sides coached by New Zealanders, but New Zealand referee Chris Pollock is officiating. The Herald profiles Pollock before his biggest test yet:
About four years ago, referee Chris Pollock got it. Something clicked. He knew his rulebook and had all the assurance to cope with the job.
However, he needed a few subtle tweaks to take his confidence to the next level. He did, and tonight's reward of controlling the opening clash between the Wallabies and the Lions in Brisbane is huge.
"I turned it around and am rapt," New Zealand's top ref said.
This is only Pollock's 12th test and at 41, he's taken his time to rise to the top. He explains that officials need games to become more proficient.
Others, like former five-eighths Glen Jackson, had a strong feeling for the sport because he had clocked up more than 10,000 playing hours.
Pollock was a phys ed teacher before he took up the whistle, and tonight will be part of an all-Kiwi headline cast as Robbie Deans' side squares off against Warren Gatland's tourists, with Vinny Munro in the TMO office.
Pollock altered his routine to fly to Brisbane early to meet his assistants Craig Joubert and Roman Poite, soak up the rugby fervour in the city and liaise with the opposing coaches.
"We will operate off the simple philosophy that if my assistants see something, then that's good enough for me," said Pollock. "We work on a simple process at scrums where we call a team colour that has infringed, then you penalise them and the assistant will tell you afterwards the reason so you get the flow right.
"Both teams want to play and that gives me the ability, if they set the platform, to just let them get on with it inside the rules I have given them."
The scrum will concentrate Pollock's attention and he has given his thoughts already to the coaches and will repeat them to the front rows before kickoff.
He watched the Lions game against the Waratahs, studied the computer packages referees use and was content with the Lions scrum and the way they had been ruled.
"The scrum is the most difficult area of the game to referee because it's so dynamic," said Pollock.
"There is so much going on there that you try and create some simple pictures you're looking for and if you can tick off decisions relating to those, you'll go with those decisions.
"If you can't, then you will err on the side of resetting. Both teams will put pressure on at the tackle ball because they will want that. It's easy if two teams want to play the same way and I hope to give them that access in return," said Pollock.
He spent six months out of the game last year because of trouble with his left hip. He had some bone shaved off his femur and holes drilled in it to try to stimulate cartilage growth and slow the beginnings of arthritis.
He hopes to still be going strong at the 2015 World Cup.
Pollock has risen to the top of the New Zealand refereeing ranks, but tonight will be yet another step up. Given that he will never referee an All Black test match, this is about as plum an appointment as he could get. We wish him every success.It should be a top night of test match rugby tonight. We're tipping a comfortable win for New Zealand, and a less comfortable win for Warren Gatland's Lions side over Robbie Deans' Wallabies. Have we got it right?
The rugby rivalry between New Zealand and France dates back to 1 January 1906, when Dave Gallaher's Originals beat France 38-8 in Paris. It was the first test match played by France.
After last night's match in Christchurch, the teams have met 53 times. But last night was the first time that the All Blacks have ever managed to keep the French scoreless.
New Zealand was infinitely better that at Auckland. And the win was founded on a magnificent defensive effort. That was never better exemplified by the opening minutes of the second half. France attacked, winning phase after phase; upwards of 30. But the All Black defence held, play broke down behind the advantage line and the French had to resort to an attempted field goal. Sam Cane raced in to charge the kick down, and seconds later Ben Smith scored under the posts at the other end after a break-out and bust by Julian Savea. It was the defining moment of the match.
Marc Hinton from Stuff adds his thoughts:
It was the French coach who called for the clinical rugby this week, but the All Blacks who delivered it in making their first decisive move of Steve Hansen's ambitious plan to regenerate his world champions.
After a rusty and stop-start effort in Auckland last week, this was more like it from the new-generation All Blacks, shutting out France 30-0.
Even though it had been French coach Philippe Saint-Andre who had challenged his team to deliver a more clinical performance in the second hitout of this three-test series, it was the New Zealanders who made the serious step up in execution and class.
The All Blacks won the kicking battle by a handsome margin with a display that was on the mark right from the first swing of their boot, and from there they backed it up with a chase game to match, and a vastly improved effort at the set piece.
Led brilliantly by Kieran Read in his 50th test, the home players won all the big battles and made all the big statements on a heartening night for the future of the world's No 1 team.
A number of All Blacks faced scrutiny last night after a shaky first test of the season. We doubt that there will be much criticism this morning. Israel Dagg was a rock on defence, and always dangerous on the counter. Julian Savea went looking for work, and was rewarded with a try and an assist. Aaron Cruden looked far more assured at first-five. Sam Cane and Liam Messam were tireless in defence, showing a huge workrate, and Dane Coles was energetic, whilst his lineout throws were spot on.It was a comprehensive win from the All Blacks; clearly the result of a lot of hard work mid-week. Their kicking game was excellent, especially in the first half. And the defence was relentless.So that's the series done and dusted, and the Dave Gallaher Trophy retained. Both sides will face challenges this week; the All Blacks in maintaining their level of commitment, and France in getting up again for another tilt at the world champions. But with places in the Rugby Championship squad up for grabs, we reckon that the All Blacks will have less difficulty fronting up again. If they can replicate last night's intensity, they should win again and win well.
Winter test match rugby is the go for Christchurch tonight. We were close to heading down south tonight to watch the second test between New Zealand and France, but we figured that a weekend at home might be more productive after several weekends away recently.
But there's one thing for sure tonight; it's not going to be a balmy evening, and just a few minutes ago we heard that the rain has arrived in the Garden City. Whilst the good old days of the match being reduced to a slog between the respective forward packs are hopefully long gone due to superior turf management, we doubt that tonight's match will be a try-fest.
Both sides should have improved from last week in Auckland. And on a damp track, with a wet ball, that will be crucial. France dominated the breakdown last Saturday night, although their tactics in doing so were somewhat dubious. French players were allowed to go off their feet at the breakdown with some regularity, and when the ball was on the All Blacks' side, the French managed to slow it or disrupt. If tonight's referee Alain Rolland (the Irishman with the French name!) polices the breakdown better than Wayne Barnes did last week, it will be a better contest.
The All Black lineout will be better for the return from injury of Sam Whitelock, provided that he can establish a combination with Dane Coles. Whitelock will give the All Black pack some added mobility as well.
Expect Aaron Cruden to look for new ways of exploiting the French defensive line. We've heard talk of kicks going in just behind the defence, but Cruden is also skilled at attacking the line with ball in hand. Sam Cane will need to back up strongly tonight though.
It should be a great occasion in Christchurch, regardless of the conditions. AMI Stadium is small, but the crowd is very close to the action. Here's hoping that the All Blacks bring the home crowd into the action early and dent the French resolve.
Tonight is the 500th test match played by New Zealand. Their first test was played against Australia at Sydney in 1903. That Richie McCaw has played in 116 of those test matches (23.2%) is evidence of just how much rugby is played these days. The second 500 will take considerably less than 100 years!
We're picking the All Blacks to win by around 12 points and secure the Dave Gallaher Trophy tonight. We just wish that we could be there to see it in person.
