The Man In The Stand

Pick the score and win - All Blacks v Wales

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:56:53 -0800

If you're experiencing a strong sense of deja vu in the lead-up to the upcoming test against Wales, you're not alone.

To me, it's been a blueprint of pre-match routine from last year.

This similar scenario sees the Welsh, from coach Warren Gatland to their media, talking up their chances and the All Blacks camp reacting with their oh-so familiar refusal to take the bait but choose to put the emphasis on showing the "Red Dragons" total respect. ...

Wallabies are going backwards

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:23:14 -0800

Another Bledisloe Cup chapter finishes. The 2009 saga is now complete.

And after the zillions of words spoken and written in total, by the millions of critics and fans regarding the four Bledisloe encounters this year, it all comes down to whatever of these two short sentences you prefer.

"The All Blacks are too good for the Wallabies," or "the Wallabies simply aren't good enough. ...

Pick the score - All Blacks v Wallabies

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:07:10 -0800

Here's another chance to win a fabulous $300 voucher from the Lone Star Cafe and Bar.

Alongside the Caption of the Week competition, Yahoo!Xtra certainly knows how to keep you creative and knowledgeable sports fans busy.

Again, it's simple. ...

Moles shouldn't be the only casualty...

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:45:23 -0800

There was no alternative. The split was a mile wide.

From the minute the gulf between senior Black Caps and coach Andy Moles was revealed in totality for all to see, it was inevitable that the trap-door would have to be released as rapidly as possible.

And any thoughts that somehow, Moles could stay coach for the five-match tour of Abu Dhabi and Dubai were absurd and would have required each party taking on Oscar-winning acting roles. ...

Bizarre All Blacks selections continue

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:47:59 -0800

The three appointed wise men speaketh and the inevitable raft of reactions follows.

Acute disappointment for some players, joy for others and a million plus judgements from the million plus number of amateur selectors like myself.

Here are my thoughts and I welcome yours to follow.

CERTAINTIES THAT MOST OF US WON'T QUIBBLE WITH. ...

To dream the impossible dream

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 19:50:19 -0800
If it's just me, I apologise. But I have to admit that I feel somewhat ambushed by the extraordinary prospect of the All Whites being so mesmerisingly close to taking part in the next "Greatest Show on Turf", namely the 2010 Football World Cup in South Africa. ...

Great weekend for sports fans

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 22:03:45 -0800

What a great sporting weekend with three impressive events taking place in the space of 24 hours.

First off congratulations cliveeb@xtra.co.nz. You are the winner of the 300 dollar Lone Star voucher. A highly commendable effort given you picked the correct Grand Final scoreline so early on.

The obvious trend amongst the dozens of entries was that the Storm were seen as the heavyweights but the Eels were definitely the sentimental favourites. ...

Get your scores in and win

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:28:31 -0800
Here's your chance to win a whopping 300 dollar voucher from the Lone Star Cafe and Bar.

This time, it couldn't be more straightforward.

I simply want your scoreline prediction along with the winner and loser of the NRL Final this Sunday between the Storm and the Eels.

The 300 dollar voucher will only be won by an entry picking the exact scoreline and the winner and loser. ...

Fast starts critical for Black Caps

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 00:50:49 -0800

If there's a bigger tease on our collective sporting radar than the Black Caps, please let me know.

Just when we were ready to tell the hangman to tighten the noose and open the trap-door after an awful tour of Sri Lanka except for two Twenty20 victories, this teasing outfit has pulled off two wonderful, consecutive wins over Sri Lanka and England.

One extraordinary fact surrounds both these wins. ...

Man in the Stand Quiz

Fri, 25 Sep 2009 01:54:01 -0800
It’s time for another Man in the Stand Quiz.

Because no fully correct entries were received last time, the prize has now jackpotted to a 200 dollar voucher from Lone Star Bar and Cafe www.lonestar.co.nz

In the event of more than one winning entry, a draw will decide the winner. Cloning another contestant’s answers word for word is not acceptable. ...