Buck Shelford

Back home on a high!

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:48:34 -0800

I'm back on home ground after my extended tour of Europe and what a way to end the All Blacks' test programme for the season.

The resounding victory over France and the style of play was enough to warm the heart after some of the rugby we've witnessed this year.

The people on my tour got off the plane in New Zealand and they were still talking about how fantastic it was to end a tour with such a great game of rugby. ...

The season is on the line

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:57:51 -0800

Kia ora from Marseille!

And so the All Blacks tour comes to a head against the French tomorrow with the success of this season on the line.

But first up just a little thought. It would have been good if we could have played a couple of midweek games on the tour like the South Africans and the Australians have. ...

Time to see some attacking rugby

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:37:16 -0800
So it's another week, another test match and another 80,000 supporters to watch the All Blacks play.

Unfortunately the rugby that's been served up on the northern hemisphere tour hasn't exactly set the heather on fire.

In fact the tour group I've been with have been almost more interested in the spectacle of the occasions and the stadiums rather than the game themselves.

Let's hope that will change at Twickenham. ...

The scrums were disgraceful

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:58:56 -0800
So we beat Italy with a largely second-string team but it was hardly the spectacle the 80,000 who turned up to the San Siro Stadium in Milan would have hoped for.

The positive thing is it shows we've still got the depth to be able to beat some of the better teams in the world without putting out a first choice XV.

Graham Henry first showed that a few years ago when he played four different teams against the nations over here and won the Grand Slam. ...

Into the lion's den...

Sat, 14 Nov 2009 01:32:09 -0800
Hello from Italy!

With over 75,000 tickets sold and a capacity crowd in Milan tonight the All Blacks are certainly heading in to the lion's den.

I've never played in front of that kind of crowd and atmosphere but I think a few of the senior All Blacks have.

The San Siro is a big stadium, much bigger than rugby grounds used to be, so it'll be interesting to see how the younger guys deal with it. ...

Let's take a leaf from league's book

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:12:58 -0800
I gather there's been a bit of focus on the Dan Carter tackle over the last few days, and I'll have my say in a minute.

But regardless of Dan's suspension, I'm glad Mike Delany is getting his chance at first-five eighth against Italy on Saturday. I can't wait to see the Bay of Plenty pivot in action. He's deserved his spot with his performances this year.

Back to that tackle, though, and I think it was worthy of a week off. ...

Bring on the Welsh

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:31:47 -0800
Joined up with tour party last Sunday all pretty relaxed in regards to the AB's win in Tokyo. We arrived in Cardiff on Wednesday to fair weather but it has turned a little foul of late.

We all went to the All Blacks training yesterday, it wasn't to bad considering the weather. It was quite interesting to watch two days out from the game. Not a lot of intensity but they did look pretty slick at times, hopefully that continues through til Sunday morning NZT. ...

A quick tour preview

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 21:52:38 -0800

The new caps in the All Blacks deserve their positions although I think there probably could have been three or four more.

Young winger/fullback Ben Smith from Otago was the real bolter for me. I didn't see too much of him through the season so his pick was something of a surprise.

But it was definitely a good call to pick first five-eighths Mike Delany from the Bay of Plenty. ...

A great season - and it's not over yet!

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:08:12 -0800

Well what a weekend of rugby that was!

Southland's victory over Canterbury for the Ranfurly Shield was a huge buzz for me as it shows that the smaller regions outside of the big five can still get up and turn the tables on the big guns.

This is great for the smaller provinces as they will always know it is possible to win the Log o' Wood. ...

A lot rides on final three weeks

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:43:57 -0800

As the Air New Zealand Cup heads into the final three weeks it's a good time to look ahead at the playoff picture and what teams have a true chance of taking home the Cup in November.

The leading contenders for the finals at this particular time have to be Canterbury and Hawke's Bay, they should both win two of the next three games. The top of the table clash between the Cantabs and the Magpies in Napier on October 15 could well decide their final placings. ...