Mike Kilpatrick

Something's got to give

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:25:28 -0800

The seemingly interminable saga of the format for next year's Air New Zealand Cup has hogged the headlines this week and I, for one, am getting sick of it.

First up, the decision by Sky to ditch Murray Mexted for sharing his desire for a 14-team top division next season is quite appalling.

Yes, old Muzza has been known to wander off topic, and I've written before of my lamentations at the passing of the supremely knowledgable John Drake. ...

Show me how clever you are!

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 03:10:48 -0800

It's that time of the week again!

I know you all look forward to the Caption of the Week competition because it gives you a chance to show how much cleverer you all are than the Yahoo!Xtra Sports Editors.

And there should be plenty of laughs with today's special pictures.

But first to last week's competition. ...

So many decisions to make. . .

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:49:27 -0800

After another impressive performance last night - this time against the big guns of Canterbury - I'm pretty sure every man and his dog expects to hear Zac Guildford's name read out by Graham Henry on Sunday morning.

But I've been in this job long enough (ie more than five minutes) to know what's expected of the All Blacks coaches and what's delivered can often be completely detached. ...

Bolters for the All Blacks tour

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 23:34:23 -0800
With the almost instantly forgettable Tri-nations now behind us, thoughts turn to the end of season tour.

Over the next few weeks we'll be taking a look at those players who have impressed in the Air New Zealand Cup this season and who the triumvirate of Graham Henry, Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen should be considering for a possible call-up. ...

Rokocoko pick is insulting our intelligence

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:46:25 -0800

I've never had the problems with Graham Henry and the All Blacks' brains trust that some in the media (and to be fair some ordinary fans around New Zealand) have had.

Don't get me wrong - I'm not someone who's been blindly banging the drum for Ted but I've never been one to criticise him for the sake of criticism. ...

Time to lay off the Springboks?

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:50:02 -0800

I'm not a man who believes in luck, fate or any of those other invisible forces people proclaim have an influence over their lives.

But even I had a little chuckle when I almost bumped into South African coach Peter de Villiers at the Springboks' hotel in Hamilton yesterday. I swear he knew I'd criticised him when he looked into my eyes. ...

Bring back the short-arm penalty

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:36:40 -0800
Modern-day revolutionaries? Seriously?

I've written in the past about some of Peter de Villiers' outrageous statements but if he really thinks the tactics South Africa showed so effectively against the All Blacks in the republic are revolutionary then he really has gone off the deep-end. ...

The Debate: Will the All Blacks win?

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:54:57 -0800
The All Blacks' season faces an acid-test tomorrow night when they face the Wallabies in Sydney with the Tri-Nations title a gonner if they fail to win.

In the Yahoo!Xtra office we, like all rugby fans out there, like to debate the merits of the team selection and try to work out whether the All Blacks will emerge victorious. ...

Pick your All Blacks squad

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 02:03:38 -0800
The All Blacks squad for the second Bledisloe Cup Test against the Wallabies on August 22 is named on Sunday morning and, Dan Carter aside, there will be plenty of interest as fans wait to see if any major changes are made.

But I expect coach Graham Henry will stick with the core of the players who have played well for him in the past, especially as he's been criticised relentlessly for the two Test losses in South Africa and desperately needs a win. ...

No rationality in All Blacks debate

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 03:04:23 -0800

I thought long and hard before writing this blog, because I'm in danger of falling into the trap that I'm about to accuse the majority of New Zealand rugby fans of falling into.
And that's becoming too emotional - and less rational - about the fate of the All Blacks.

I'm at an advantage here because I'm an outsider. I know of the great All Blacks stories but I never lived through the originals - my knowledge comes second hand. ...