Monday, 10 September 2007

What a weekend

What a huge weekend of top sport! World Cup and NPC rugby, US Open tennis, a new world record for the 100m, the first week of AFL finals, and even rumours and controversy about Stephen Fleming's captaincy. (And I believe the five-tackles-and-a-kick game had some finals as well.)

So many highlights, so little time. Best for me was Justin Henin's clinical US Open victory -- achieved without dropping a set -- and of course Geelong's record thrashing of North Melbourne. On to the preliminary final!

And wasn't it great to see the All Blacks start strongly and win without (further) injury, and England struggle against the US. With Wales, Ireland and France also struggling (the first two against against poor opposition), it's going to be a long month for northern hemisphere teams.

A long month ahead too for TV3 viewers with Hamish McKay's braindead rugby commentary inflicted upon us -- an insightful expert comments team is left chained to a grinning moron.

UPDATE 1: I understand that some fans and coaches of the five-tackles-and-a-kick game are suggesting they use the AFL finals system for their own sport. Conveniently, the AFL have a succinct summary here of their present system and the reasons for adopting it.

UPDATE 2: Real Footy's assessment of the Geelong-Kangaroos game is enough to warm the cockles of a Geelong fan's heart: Cats' Demolition Job Widens Gap to Rest to a Gulf.
GEELONG was too good. More ominously for its remaining finals competitors, it is too good. At this stage, it appears that nothing less than an injury disaster or an epidemic of some description will stop the Cats from claiming their first flag in 44 years.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Agree re that grinning meerkat Hamish MacKay. Too painful. So's One's (& ZB's) Andrew Saville. Once a wanker, always a wanker.

In fact there are no union callers in NZ to whom I enjoy listening. Tony Johnson's the best of a bad bunch, not that that's any endorsement. Old Murray's still full of himself after all these years and every time "Drakie" says 'Soufafrica', he comes one step closer to my smacking him!

I'm old enough to remember the delightful Bill McLaren. The longer I have to tolerate these self-important pains in the ass, the more I respect the professionalism of the late Bill.

Anonymous said...

All Blacks start strongly and win without (further) injury

Yes, the Aucklanders (Woodcock, Williams, Howlett, McAlister, Mealamu) in the ABs who played superbly at the weekend. If Henry puts more Aucklanders in the starting lineup for the knockout stage, the ABs is sure to bring the cup back.

Peter Cresswell said...

Which Aucklanders are those?

Woodcock (Harbour)
McAlister (Harbour)
Williams (Canterbury)
Howlett (Permanent Pregnancy Leave and Munster)
Mealamu (Otahuhu, which always should have been Counties)

So much for your Aucklanders. ;-)

Peter Cresswell said...

Which Aucklanders are those?

Woodcock (Harbour)
McAlister (Harbour)
Williams (Canterbury)
Howlett (Permanent Pregnancy Leave and Munster)
Mealamu (Otahuhu, which always should have been Counties)

So much for your Aucklanders. ;-)

Oh, there's always Toeave -- when he learns to catch the ball. :-)

Anonymous said...

Geelong was always too good for 'em all.

Banker