Richard Kahui has been named to start on the wing, with Leon MacDonald pulling out due to his ongoing concussion problems.

This means that Mils Muliaina will shift back to fullback.

Kahui is a versatile back, and will not be out of place on the wing - and he can actually cover fullback as well, if needed.

Anthony Tuitavake will move to the bench.

The coaches are yet to settle on the halfback and hooker spots, but as soon as we know - you'll know.

The 2008 Air New Zealand Cup kicks off tonight, and although the current format has had it's fair share of criticism, there's no question that New Zealand rugby needs the competition if our depth is to remain.

The Air New Zealand Cup is a great launching pad for young stars trying to make a career out of rugby, and up for grabs is a Super 14 contract for all those who standout above the rest.

So, we thought we'd take a look at how the teams are shaping up.

Auckland
Last year: CHAMPIONS
Our Prediction: Beaten Finalist
Players to watch: Daniel Braid and David Smith

Bay of Plenty
Last year: 13th
Our Prediction: 10th
Players to watch: Tanerau Latimer and Zar Lawrence

Canterbury
Last year: Beaten Semifinalist
Our Prediction: Third
Players to watch: Stephen Brett and Paul Williams

Counties-Manukau
Last year: Last place
Our Prediction: 13th
Players to watch: Lelia Masaga and DJ Forbes

Hawkes Bay
Last year: Beaten Semifinalist
Our Prediction: 7th
Players to watch: Hika Elliot and Zac Guilford

Manawatu
Last year: 12th
Our Prediction: Last place
Players to watch: Johnny Leota and Hayden Triggs

North Harbour
Last year: 9th
Our Prediction: 8th
Players to watch: Jimmy Gopperth and George Pisi

Northland
Last year: 10th
Our Prediction: 11th
Players to watch: David Holwell and Fetu'u Vainkolu

Otago
Last year: 7th
Our Prediction: 6th
Players to watch: Tom Donnelly and Steven Setaphano

Southland
Last year: 6th
Our Prediction: 5th
Players to watch: Hoani MacDonald and Jaime MacKintosh

Taranaki
Last year: 8th
Our Prediction: 9th
Players to watch: Jason Eaton and Willie Ripia

Tasman
Last year: 11th
Our Prediction: 12th
Players to watch: Ben Franks and Kade Poki

Waikato
Last year: 5th
Our Prediction: 4th
Players to watch: Liam Messam and Callum Bruce

Wellington
Last year: Beaten Finalist
Our Prediction: CHAMPIONS
Platers to watch: Tamati Ellison and Victor Vito

In our first post on this subject, we explained why we won't be taking a side in this debate.

We told you we don't know enough about American Football, but that we know (too much, probably...) about rugby.

And that means, we can at least tell you American Football supporters our side of the story.

We want to show you that, contrary to popular belief (outside the main rugby playing nations, anyway), rugby hits are not 'softer' than American Football hits, rugby players are not slow or unskilled compared to American Football players, and that - yes - tackles very much do go above the shoulders in rugby.

In part one, we showed you a clip of rugby tackles. Here's round two - more hard hits, blood, head-highs and dirt than you can shake a stick at.

Enjoy, sports fans!

After last weeks disappointing loss to the Wallabies, the All Blacks finally have some good news to report - and it's the news we've all been waiting for.

Richie's back in the starting lineup for this Saturday's Test in Auckland, and his return couldn't come soon enough.

Daniel Braid by no means let the side down, but when it comes down to him and Richie - there is an obvious difference in their skill factor.

The All Blacks coaching team has named eighteen players in the starting lineup, with Cowan, Ellis and Weepu all bracketed at halfback, while Hore and Mealamu are both bracketed at hooker.

Cowan is likely to start in the number nine jersey, and is expected to be fully fit by Saturday night. We certainly hope he plays, because we've been calling for him to start for some time now.

Weepu is in the squad, and will start if both Cowan and Ellis can't play due to injury - but at this point, it's most likely that Weepu will play off the bench. It's a good opportunity for Weepu to prove he deserves to be in the team...

Richie's return means Braid moves to the bench, although at this point he is bracketed with Adam Thomson, which means Sione Luaki drops out of the twenty-two (surprise surprise...).

So'oialo will move back to number eight in a direct swap with Kaino, who moves to the blindside this week.

Having Richie back certainly gives our side a lot more stability - especially around the ruck, which we'll need against George Smith and Phil Waugh, both of whom are starting.

In the backs, Conrad comes back into center, with Kahui dropped to the bench.

With Leon MacDonald now ruled out with ongoing concussion problems, Muliaina drops back into the fullback role, after a sniff at a shot on the wing. We'll find out who slots in where tomorrow.

Smith will have the task of containing Stirling Mortlock, who returns from injury - but we have a lot of faith in Smiths defence, and he should do the job.

This side has a solid look about it - but after last week it's going to take a much improved performance to beat the Wallabies, who look like they have settled into the ELVs more comfortably. It certainly helps that Deans had a full Super 14 campaign to get used to coaching with the new laws - not that we think that excuses the All Black's performance...

Yesterday, Wayne Smith admitted that the All Blacks coaches were out-coached by Deans in Sydney, and that they are still learning their way around the new laws. But at the end of the day, every player in the All Black team played in the Super 14, and should be used to the ELVs by now.

If they can sort out their handling issues, and get more forwards to the breakdown (rather than standing in the backline as they were in Sydney), we expect to see a much tighter performance.

The weather in Auckland at the moment is atrocious, and all signs are pointing towards a wet game on Saturday - which will no doubt mean a tough forward battle. Thank goodness Richie's back, is all we can say.

All Blacks: Mils Muliaina, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Sitivini Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Cowan/Ellis/Weepu, Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw (c), Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Hore/Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: John Afoa, Hore/Mealamu, Anthony Boric, Braid/Thomson, Cowan/Ellis/Weepu, Stephen Donald, Richard Kahui.

Australia: Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Stirling Mortlock (c), Berrick Barnes, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Phil Waugh, James Horwill, Nathan Sharpe, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.

Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Dunning, Dan Vickerman, Hugh McMeniman, Sam Cordingly, Ryan Cross, Drew Mitchell.

If you had the choice to select the greatest All Blacks side ever, who would make the cut?

Tough call, isn't it?

Well, we thought we'd pick who we think are the greatest All Blacks of our generation - the players we've grown up watching.

So - don't be surprised if you don't see names like Colin Meads, Brian Lochore or Sid Going. We know they were great players, but other than old footage - well, we've never seen them play.

So here's our 'Our Generation XV':

1. Olo Brown: This guy was like a rock, and from 1992-98 Brown set the benchmark for future All Black props - there was none tougher than this guy.

2. Sean Fitzpatrick: One of the greatest captains to ever play the game, he certainly made life difficult for referees. He added mobility around the field, and loved hanging out on the wings waiting to score in the corner. He played a record 92 Tests for the All Blacks - a record that still stands.

3. Craig Dowd: The third member in the front row trio. Together with Brown and Fitzpatrick, Dowd helped form one of the most formidable front rows in All Black history. Dowd played for the All Blacks from 1993-2000, before continuing his career in Europe.

4. Chris Jack: From 2001-07, Jack was among the first selected for the All Blacks - and it wasn't hard to see why. He was a great option in the lineout, and had amazing running skills for such a lanky guy. It was a real shame when he left at the end of last year...

5. Robin Brooke: An automatic choice at lock. Like Olo Brown, he set the benchmark throughout the 1990's. While not the flashiest player ever, he always, ALWAYS got the job done.

6. Jerry Collins: The human brick wall, Collins never took a backwards step, and became renowned as one of the hardest players ever to play the game. His defence was frightening, and it's no wonder opposition sides didn't want to run at him.

7. Richie McCaw: His work rate around the field is outstanding, as are his skills at the break down. Richie is always first to the ball, just like a good openside should be.

8. Zinzan Brooke: Definitely one of the most skillful forwards to ever play. There aren't too many forwards who can say they can dropkick as well as Zinny could...

9. Justin Marshall: While he didn't have the quickest pass in the world, you couldn't argue with his work rate or attacking abilities. From 1995-2005, Marshall stood alone as the number one halfback in the country. He played a record 81 Tests at halfback.

10. Andrew Mehrtens: A staggering 967 Test points, from one of the best first-fives in the game. Mehrtens read the game like no one else, and while his defence sometimes left something to be desired, his ability to direct his team mates makes him our first choice in the number ten jersey.

11. Jonah Lomu: Rugby's biggest superstar. There are none who come close to the passion Lomu had for playing in the black jersey - it meant the world to him. One of the All Blacks greatest attacking weapons, just ask Mike Catt how hard Lomu was to tackle.

12. Tana Umaga: Tana was one of those guys who inspired those around him, whether with his attacking abilities or his defence - which, incidentally, was like a rock.

13. Frank Bunce: Yet another tough guy who didn't take a backwards step. Bunce was an instrumental part of the All Blacks success in the mid 90's, and along with Walter Little formed one of the most lethal midfield combinations in rugby.

14. Jeff Wilson: One of our most gifted players ever. By the age of 19, he had already represented NZ in both rugby and cricket. He was lethal on attack, and could cover at fullback as well. Just don't mention 'that' tackle.

15. Christian Cullen: In our opinion, the greatest attacking player of all time. Cullen was a real joy to watch, carving up the opposition with what always seemed like ease. Cullen scored seven tries in his first two Tests, and his tally of 46 tries was a record until Doug Howlett surpassed it last year.

Reserves: Carl Hayman, Norm Maxwell, Anton Oliver, Michael Jones, Jimmy Cowan, Dan Carter, John Kirwan.

Not a bad side, really, is it?

New Zealand rugby has always boasted about the depth of their players. Whenever someone leaves, there's always been someone ready to step into the black jersey. It's one of the reasons the All Blacks have been so dominant for so long.

But at the end of last year, we lost a lot of very experienced players to European clubs - which meant 2008 was always going to be about developing the next lot of All Blacks.

The year hasn't gone as smoothly as we'd all have liked, and we think you'd all agree that one of the biggest problems facing the All Blacks is that our depth is really being tested - and might not be as deep as we'd once thought.

How could it be when you lose players like Collins, Jack, Oliver, Hayman, Mauger, Howlett, McAllister..... the list goes on.

So, we thought we'd have a look at the players the All Black selectors have to choose from if and when injuries strike - as they have with McCaw, Williams, Ellis, Cowan and Hore so far this year.

So:

Props: John Schwalger and Jaime McIntosh are capable of playing Test rugby, while Wyatt Crockett, Jacob Ellison and Ben Castle need a bit more experience.

Hookers: Hika Elliot, while relatively inexperienced, is tough - and a great scrummager. The other option is Cory Flynn, who is injured at the moment - he probably would have been called in if available.

Locks: Jason Eaton, Kevin O'Neill, and Ross Filipo all have Test experience, while Tom Donnolly has plenty of Super 14 experience.

Loose Forwards: Liam Messam, Tanerau Latimer, Keiran Reid and Hoani MacDonald are all great players, but have no experience at the highest level. Mose Tui'alii has played for the All Blacks, but has never cemented a spot with the team.

While there are plenty of options in the forwards, the fact is that most of them are new - and possibly not ready for Test rugby, just yet.

The problem with depth becomes extremely obvious when we look at the backs.

Halfback: Piri Weepu is the obvious choice, and should consider himself unlucky not to have been selected earlier in the year. Taniela Moa was impressive in the Super 14, but is not ready for the pressures of Test rugby - he needs more game time with Auckland. Jaime Nutbrown is the other option, but, quite honestly, we don't think he has the goods to be an All Black.

First-five: This is our biggest worry, with Carter and Donald the only two players capable of wearing the number ten jersey. If either gets injured Jimmy Goppeth would be the only choice, unless they try Stephen Brett at first-five. Callum Bruce would be a very long shot...

Inside Center: Brett is a good attacking option, but can be exposed on defence. Benson Stanley is a good young player, but needs another year of Super 14 rugby before he should step up. Tamati Ellison is another option.

Center: Casey Laulala is injured and therefore unavailable, while Ben Atiga and Isaia Toeava have both been linked to overseas clubs. Tamati Ellison can also play center.

Wings: Lelia Masaga had an impressive Super 14, but showed signs of inexperience. He is capable, though, and offers a lot on attack. Hosea Gear is also an attacking machine, and could possibly follow in his brother Rico's steps.

Fullback: Paul Williams is the clear favourite if Muliaina or MacDonald are unavailable. Other options are Sosene Anesi, who has played for the All Blacks, and Shannon Paku, who has has plenty of experience with Wellington and the New Zealand Maori.

There are a lot of players to pick from, but that's not the issue. The issue is this - so many of these players are inexperienced, and may well be exposed if introduced to the highest level.

Let's just pray the All Blacks don't suffer anymore injuries...

What the hell happened on Saturday night?

It's hard to believe that we were watching the All Blacks - we haven't seen them play that poorly in a long time.

Our effort in the second half was below average, and the Wallabies took full advantage of our poor ball handling, and made us pay.

It's hard to think that we went toe-to-toe with South Africa in two fantastic Test matches, only to pull out one of our worst efforts ever.

Now, don't get us wrong - we can handle losing if we put in a solid effort, like in Dunedin. But to lose in the fashion that we did on Saturday...

It's tough to take.

There was no cohesion amongst the players, which made it very hard to get any forward momentum going. And any time we did get going, our handling let us down.

It's hard not to think that, once again, the ref has cost us big time. How the hell the ref, and the two assistant refs, missed that penalty try...we'll never know. And let's be honest - that was the point in the game when the momentum swung.

Sivivatu would have scored, and Peter Hynes should have been sent to the bin. We're not saying we would have won from that point, but it would have given us a 26-17 lead, and put the pressure squarely on the Wallabies.

But we didn't score, and things went down hill from there - and there's no excuse for our performance in the last thirty minutes.

So, where to from here for the All Blacks?

We don't think it's a case of making a heap of changes - the players that were out there have the skills to beat any side in the world. We think it's just a case of going back and working on the basics at training - learning how to hold onto the ball would be a good start...

The one thing they do need to start doing is kicking deep, rather than the midfield kicks they seem to do all the time. All that does is give the opposition the ball in prime field position. They also need to start putting faith in their lineout abilities, and kick the ball out a bit more - especially down in the opposition's territory. Other teams do it to us, and it puts us under a lot of pressure.

Unfortunately, we think it's time for Sione Luaki to be dropped. He lost us possession on numerous occasions, and while he wasn't the only one, there was only one time when he didn't cough it up (out of about 8-9 carries) - not good enough. On his day he can be a brutal runner, but those games are far too rear - and at Test match level you need to be on song every time.

Now that Chris Masoe is heading offshore, Liam Messam would seem to be the best candidate. At least, we think so...

Injuries to Ellis (ribs) and Cowan (knee and broken nose), has meant Piri Weepu has been rushed into the All Blacks camp, and will be in contention if either one pulls out. The way Ellis was hobbling on the field, it's hard to see him playing on Saturday, but we do give him credit for going back out there with his rib injury - it shows the guy's got heart.

Auckland's Taniela Moa will also train with the squad this week.

Hore suffered a hip injury, and while it's not considered serious at this point, Hikawera Elliot has been brought in as cover.

New Zealand's depth is really being tested now...

Full credit to the Wallabies on their performance on Saturday (how cliche is that?) - they outplayed the All Blacks and thoroughly deserve their win. Boy, that's tough to say. But they really did - they took full advantage of our errors, and punished us.

Suddenly, we feel a little nervous about playing them again...

Hurry back, Richie.

Can the Warriors continue their march to the finals?

You better believe they can, and yesterday's hard fought win over the Storm (the reigning premiers, no less) shows they're still in with a good chance of a finals spot.

The Warriors have won four games in a row, and their recent form has been well timed as the race for the Top 8 heats up.

The Storm are never easy, and today was certainly no different - the 8-6 scoreline shows just how close this one was. Really, the fourty meter penalty from Lance Hohia was the only thing separating the two sides.

The Warriors defence has improved remarkably over the past five-six weeks, and if they can make the Top 8 they're a real chance of matching it with the top four sides in the comp.

Next up on the Warriors hunting list - the Bunnies.

In other NRL news, Bulldogs star Sonny Bill Williams has walked away from his current five year contract, after serving only one year of it. He has apparently signed a two year deal with Toulon, a French rugby side (Tana Umaga's team), for around 3.4 million dollars.

The Bulldogs bosses are looking at taking legal action, and news of the courts becoming involved has surfaced today.

NRL boss David Gallop has stated that he fully supports the Bulldogs in whatever they decide to do - and at this stage, the future isn't looking too good for Williams.

Gallop has talked about a lifetime ban from the NRL, and if they hold Williams to his contract, he won't be playing in either code.

It's just at that point with Williams, isn't it? He thinks he's bigger than the game, and unfortunately he's about to learn the hard way that once you sign a contract - you see it out.

It's a real shame to lose a star like Sonny Bill (especially for the Kiwis!), but at the end of the day, you can't let players do whatever they like, when they like. He's an employee - are other employees you know that reckless? We think not.

Time to get your priorities straight, Sonny (ha) - it's not all about the money, baby.

.


One of the hot topics in the Attic lately has been the American Football vs. Rugby debate.

It was our original intention to enter the debate, but we've talked about it (and researched it, too) at length - and we're not sure we're in a position to do that.

See, we've never played American Football. So can we comment on how 'tough' or 'rough' it is? Or isn't?

We don't think so.

We've read so much on this debate, and there are many, many passionate arguments out there. But, to be honest, most of them seem to be born from ignorance. Rugby players who think their sport is the 'toughest' because the players don't wear pads. American Football supporters who think their sport is 'tougher' because they make tackles without arms.

We think it's all a bit naive...one of these sports probably is 'tougher', 'rougher', or whatever you want to call it - but which one that is, we don't know.

What we do know is that too many people know too little about the opposing sport before starting these debates. So, we feel the best thing for us to do is to educate, rather than join the debate.

We can't tell you a thing about American Football. We watch the Super Bowl, sure, but we don't know enough about it. What we know is rugby - inside out, and upside down. So, for all you American Football supporters out there, we're going to feature (over the next week or so) a series of videos.

These videos are intended to educate. They're to show people who don't know the sport that there are tackles without arms, there are broken bones, there are tackles above the shoulders, and there is a lot (a lot) of blood.

It's damn fast, and it's damn rough.

Enjoy the series, sports fans. We hope you learn something!

In this week's Top 5, we're looking at the Greatest American sportsmen - which virtually picks itself when you look at the legends that hail from the good old US of A.

Seeing as we're from New Zealand, we don't get to see a lot of American sports (we're limited by what they show on ESPN...), so forgive us if we've left someone out.

But then, you won't argue with our picks anyway, will you?

What can we say about Tiger? The guy truly is one of the greatest golfers of all time, and has certainly been the most dominant in recent history - not to mention the highest money earner in golf. During his career so far, Tiger has amassed 65 PGA Tour wins and 14 Major Championships, and is second only to Jack Nicklaus on 18. Once he's back from his knee injury, we're sure he'll surpass Nicklaus's record. The golfing world better make the most of his absence, because once he's back, we're sure he'll continue where he left off.

Winning.

Jesse Owens is a true legend. Not only in the athletic world, but amongst all sportsmen. He dominated the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, winning four Gold medals on the track - 100m, 200m, long jump and 4x100m relay. "So what?", we hear you say, "A lot of people have won more than that!". But what makes Owens great was the fact that he did this in front of Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany, where they were claiming Aryan superiority and black inferiority. Owens became one of the game's great heroes, and was well received in Germany despite the colour of his skin. His record of four golds at one Olympics was held until 1984, when Carl Lewis broke it.





'Babe' Ruth is considered the greatest Baseball player of all time - and he didn't need the assistance of steroids, either. From 1914-1935 Babe revolutionised the game, helping to raise the games popularity during the 1920s. During his twenty-one year career, Babe became a master of hitting, and his record speaks for themselves - .342 average, .690 slugging percentage and 1.164 on-base plus slugging. In 1936, Babe was one of the first five players inducted into the Hall of Fame for his services to the game, and in 1969 (the year of baseball's 100th Anniversary) was named the greatest baseballer of all time. He will probably be best remembered for his famous point to the outfield before hitting a home run, but as far as American legends go - he's definitely amongst the best.





Jordan is without doubt the greatest Basketball player of all time, and his impact on the Chicago Bulls during the 1990s tells the story. Six NBA championships (1991, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98), five MVPs, two Olympic golds (1984, 92), fourteen All-Star appearances - and the list goes on. Jordan has done it all, including a brief stint at Baseball and a Hollywood movie (Space Jam). Everyone wanted to 'Be like Mike', and it's no wonder. The guy was a freak on the basketball court, and the things he could do left other teams in awe of him. We think this quote from Magic Johnson says it all - "There's Michael Jordan, and then there's the rest of us".

Enough said.




He could 'float like a butterfly and sting like a bee', and would mentally breakdown an opponent before he even stepped into the ring. With a record of 61/56/5, with 37 wins by way of knockout, you can hardly argue with him being at number one. He was one of the greatest performers outside of the ring, and the greatest fighter in it. On October 30, 1974, Ali fought George Forman in Zaire. It was the famous 'Rumble in the Jungle', and was the first time we saw the rope-a-dope. He took everything Forman had, waiting patiently for Forman to tire himself out - and by the eighth round, Ali was ready to unleash. Which he did. He lost only five fights in his entire career (to Berbick, Holmes, Spinks, Norton and Frazier), and in 1999 was named the 'Greatest Sportsman of the Century'.



How can we argue with THAT?


Honorable mentions - these guys were close (oh, so close...) but didn't quite make it:

Lance Armstrong, Carl Lewis and Joe Montana - almost, guys.

Remember, sports fans - we'd love to here your Top 5 if you think you can do better!

The countdown is on for the first Bledisloe Cup clash this Saturday, and Graham Henry has rung the changes from the side that lost to the Springboks two weeks ago.

The biggest news is that Richie McCaw has ruled himself out of the match - he's not quite 100%, and feels the All Blacks need to be at full strength to take on the Wallabies. This means that Daniel Braid will make his return to the All Blacks after an almost five year absence - his last Test was at the 2003 World Cup against Tonga.

Brad Thorn is also a welcomed return after serving his one game suspension, and will once again team up with Ali Williams, who has recovered from his injuries.

The other change in the forwards is Greg Somerville. He replaces John Afoa, who moves to the bench, with Neemia Tialata dropping out of the twenty-two.

It's a strong looking forward pack, which should have to strength to out muscle the Wallabies pack, who are still relatively inexperienced in the tight five (with the exception of Nathan Sharpe...).

Henry has made two changes in the backline, which will see Richard Kahui and Anthony Tuitavake get another shot for the All Blacks.

Kahui, who had an impressive debut against the English, replaces Conrad Smith at center - who moves to the bench. The good news for Kahui is that Stirling Mortlock has been ruled out after sustaining a head injury against South Africa. Ryan Cross will start at center for the Wallabies, though, and life won't be any easier for Kahui - Cross has been in good form so far this year.

Tuitavake comes back onto the wing in place of Rudi Wulf, which is possibly a sign that Henry expects the Wallabies to attack out wide - and that will suit Tuitavake's excellent defensive skills.

Once again (boy, we say this a lot) we think Jimmy Cowan is unlucky not to get the start, and Andy Ellis gets the nod again. Wallabies halfback Luke Burgess has made mistakes under pressure, and we think Cowan would be better at putting that pressure on him.

C'mon Graham, give him a shot!

The All Blacks will be desperate to pick up the win in Australia, but don't expect the Wallabies to go down without a fight. Bledisloe Cup matches are traditionally among the toughest in world rugby, and we can see this one being no different.

Here's the full lineup:

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Andrew Hore
3. Greg Somerville
4. Brad Thorn
5. Ali Williams
6. Rodney So'oialo
7. Daniel Braid
8. Jerome Kaino
9. Andy Ellis
10. Dan Carter
11. Anthony Tuitavake
12. Ma'a Nonu
13. Richard Kahui
14. Sitivini Sivivatu
15. Mils Muliaina

Reserves: John Afoa, Kevin Mealamu, Anthony Boric, Sione Luaki, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Conrad Smith.

The Wallabies have made only one change, with Cross in for Mortlock (injured). That means league convert Timana Tahu will come onto the bench for his first taste of Tri Nations rugby - good luck, son.

Oh - and we don't want to hear any mention of Deans supporters coming out of this country...

It looks as though Nathan Fien's time with the Warriors is coming to an end, with the club giving him permission to start looking for a new club.

The club bosses have stated that Fien is not considered in their plans after the 2009 season (when his current contract expires) and so have given him a chance to leave early if he can get a new contract - which he'll have no problem in getting.

It's a real shame that they're letting him go, as he has been a fantastic servant for the Warriors over the past four years - and this year, he's shown us he's one of our best attacking options.

Fien has made 86 appearances for the Warriors since joining in 2005 (coming from the North Queensland Cowboys), and it would be great to see him sign with another NRL club rather than move to the Super League.

However, with the Super League expanding it's competition with another two teams, the chances are very high that Fien will end up moving to Britain for the next few years.

We wish him all the best with wherever he goes.

In other Warriors news, Wade McKinnon may be back playing within a couple of weeks - fantastic news, especially as we try to make the playoffs. They certainly won't rush him back before he's ready, but he is apparently recovering ahead of schedule, so a return isn't out of the question.

Come on back, Wade...

It's the clash everyone has been waiting for - the All Blacks versus the Wallabies. But, most importantly...

It's Henry versus Deans.

Henry's reappointment as the All Black coach left a lot of New Zealander's bitter, especially in the Canterbury region, where Deans is portrayed as a cult figure. It's also left many Kiwis claiming that they'll support Australia in this year's Tri Nations, which we think is absolute insanity.

Simply put - any Kiwi who supports Australia should be ashamed of themselves. To think there are New Zealander's out there supporting the Wallabies...we just can't get our heads around it. It's simply unbelievable.

Anyway...

With the Wallabies getting the surprise victory over the Springboks in Perth, the All Blacks won't be able to take this game lightly. Not that we think they will - Bledisloe Cup matches are always tough.

Just when you think the Wallabies have no chance, they step up and beat you...but the All Blacks will by no means be easy to down.

The return of Richie McCaw to training has bolstered our chances, and he's a real chance of playing this weekend. Against the likes of George Smith, he'll be crucial to our chances.

There are a few changes expected to the All Blacks side - Jimmy Cowan looks like he's going to get his first start of the year (it's about time if you ask us), and Richard Kahui is rumoured to be starting at center.

The time has come, folks. Henry vs Deans - bring it on!

Jonno Gibbes has announced that he has retired from all rugby, due to an ongoing knee injury that has limited his game-time over the past few seasons. It's a huge loss for the Waikato region, as Gibbes has become one of their hometown favourites.

It's the second early retirement for a Waikato lock, with Keith Robinson retiring at the end of last year due to ongoing problems with his back.

Gibbes has played 68 games for his beloved Waikato Chiefs, and has captained them for the past six seasons. He has also played for the All Blacks on eight occasions - after making his debut against England in 2004 - but his lack of height (for a lock) meant his Test career never really got going.

His greatest achievement came while captaining the New Zealand Maori side to a 19-13 victory over the British Lions in 2005.

We don't think we've seen the last of Gibbes, though, as it looks like he'll take up a coaching role in the Northern Hemisphere (most likely in Ireland) which we think is a great move for him, as he is a fantastic leader who commands a lot of respect from those around him.

Good luck with the next phase of your career, Jonno - hope to see you back coaching the Chiefs one day!

A word of warning to anyone who dares count out the Wallabies - they will stun you when you least expect it.

Here in the Attic, we honestly gave the Aussies no chance of beating the Springboks, who were fresh off their win over the All Blacks. But, much to our surprise, the Wallabies came away with a 16-9 win over the World Champs.

It was by no means a convincing display by either team, but, as the old cliche goes, a win's a win - and the Wallabies have proven that they can still match up against the best in the world.

The first half was scrappy, as both sides looked to open up and play attacking rugby. The problem was, both sides had trouble sticking their passes, which made the game look kind of sloppy.

Francois Steyn opened up the scoring with a penalty early on, but a try to Lote Tuqiri in the 35th minute gave the Wallabies a 5-3 lead going into the break.

Just after half time, Stirling Mortlock scored again for the Wallabies, taking the lead to 10-3. Matt Giteau was unsuccessful with both conversion attempts.

The rest of the half played out much like the first, with both sides looking to attack, but struggling to get any momentum going.

The Springboks were once again tough on defence, and punished the Wallabies across the paddock. But they also resorted to some cheap shots, one which saw Mortlock leave the field injured.

Bakkes Botha has to be rated one of the dirtiest players in the game today - his shot on Mortlock was disgusting, and he should receive a ban for a few weeks.

The game failed to live up to the hype of the first two Tri Nations clashes between New Zealand and South Africa, but it has shown us that the Wallabies aren't there to make up the numbers - they are there to win.

This weekend's Bledisloe Cup clash just got interesting...

The Warriors continue to make a charge for the top eight, with a convincing 40-22 win over the woeful Bulldogs on Saturday night. While they did fall asleep for thirty minutes of the second half (allowing the Bulldogs to creep back to 30-22 with ten minutes to go - *shudder*) the Warrior's first half display was near perfect.

They came out fired up, and completely blew the Doggies away, scoring six trys within the opening forty minutes. It was a case of everything that could go right, did go right - which was the complete opposite for the Bulldogs, who struggled to make their tackles and complete their sets.

The Dogs did manage to fight back in the second half, but were always going to struggle to haul in the massive deficit that the Warriors had set up. Hazem el Masri managed to score a double, which brought him within striking distance of Andrew Johns' record for points scoring. Hazem will be looking to overtake Joey by the end of the season - IF the Dogs can manage to score some points.

The Warriors looked like the Warriors of 2002 (when they made the Grand Final) and if they continue to play this way, there's a good chance that they can make the eight. Although, as we've mentioned before, they have one of the toughest runs home - starting with the Storm this weekend.

Rookie Malo Solamona crossed the line for a hat-trick, while Hohia, Price, Sonny Fai, Kirk and Rapira all scored in the impressive display.

Brent Tate continued his good form as he made easy work of the Bulldogs defence, which was below average. It really didn't help them that Sonny Bill didn't play.

They'll need to be on top of their game if they're to stand any chance of knocking off the Storm, but being back at home will help them.

From this point on, it's one game at a time - and realistically, they can't afford to lose due to the closeness of the NRL this year. With the Raiders and Tigers picking up wins over the weekend, the race for the top eight is shaping up to be one of the closest battles in recent years.

The Rabbitoh's season looks to be over after being mauled by the Tigers, who ended a four game losing streak. It's been an incredible turn around by the Bunnies, but the loss all but ends their chance of a top eight finish. It will take some kind of miracle for them to play in this years playoffs, but stranger things have happened...this IS the NRL.

Whatever happens, it's going to make for some great viewing over the next few weeks.

The Attic team have recently signed up to PayPerPost and, so far, we very much like what we see!

One of the main reasons for the creation of the Sports Fan Attic was to get our thoughts and opinions 'out there', and the discovery of the PayPerPost community has given this idea a real boost. And, it's a two-way thing. If we find someone's post that we'd like to review - well, we can, and we can make a few bucks doing it!

On the other side of the coin, being part of the PayPerPost programme means that anyone reading our posts can sign-up and review them - meaning you can make a few bucks, too.

It's win, win, really. The money, to us, is a fairly inconsequential bonus. We just love the idea that we can get our opinions and thoughts out there even more now, and that other bloggers can do the same through us.

So if you like the sound of all of this, click on the 'Review My Post' button at the end of the post that interests you. You'll get yourself heard by a community of like-minded bloggers and readers, and you'll get paid for doing it.

Can't go wrong, really - good stuff, PayPerPost!

Here in the Attic, we love nothing more than debating all things sport.

Completely subjective things - like, the greatest sportsman ever, the greatest comeback of all time - that sort of thing.

So we thought we'd start a weekly Top 5 - there have been literally hundreds of debates in the Attic, and it's only fair to share the results of those debates with you! As we said, these arguments are purely subjective. We're not claiming to be 'right', and the Top 5's we come up with are based on our view of the topic.

If you think we're wrong - tell us!

We start with the greatest Tri Nations clashes, seeing as this year's Tri Nations has kicked off with such a bang.

Here's our Top 5:

Ok, so it may have only been played last Saturday, but this game was one of the real greats. It was one of the toughest games we've seen in a long time, and right up to the final whistle, either side could have walked away with the win.
With less than ten minutes to go, the Springboks were down to 14 men when Matfield was sent to the bin for a high tackle. It looked as though the All Blacks had the game sewn up, until a piece of pure magic from Janurie gave the Springbok's an incredible 30-28 victory.

This Test came just three weeks after the All Blacks had beaten the Aussies in that 39-35 thriller in Sydney, and was just as entertaining (other than the fact the All Blacks lost, of course). The Wallabies took a 12-nil lead early on, and looked to be in control of the game - until Christian Cullen sparked, and scored a double to put the All Blacks right back in the game. The All Blacks led 23-21 in the final minutes, but with the Wallabies hot on attack Craig Dowd gave away a penalty, which gave the Wallabies a chance to pick up the win. Step up the unlikely hero, John Eales (not known for his goal kicking abilities) - but, cool as you like, he slotted it down the middle. An unbelievable end to an amazing Test.

This was the first ever Tri Nations match, and really could not have got off to a better start - for the All Blacks, at least. The weather was appalling, with heavy rain and a very cold southerly. Despite the weather, the All Blacks opened up the Australian defence, crossing the line six times. They played a near-perfect game, and kept the Wallabies to just two penalty goals. This game marked the beginning of the greatest competition in international rugby, and it has never looked back.

This Test was another try scoring bonanza for the All Blacks. The backs carved up the Wallablies, and finished the day with seven trys to the Wallabies three. Joe Rokocoko dotted down for a hatrick, while Howlett, Umaga, Carter and Mauger all chimed in. What makes this performance even more impressive was the fact that the week before, they had thrashed the Springboks 52-16 in South Africa. One hundred points in two Tests, against their two biggest rivals. The Wallabies would get their revenge at the World Cup, but at that moment the All Blacks were untouchable.

This choice was easy, and it's no surprise given that this is considered one of the greatest Tests of ALL time. In front of a record 110,000 screaming Aussies, the All Blacks opened up with an early 24-nil lead in only eight minutes. The Wallabies hadn't even touched the ball. It looked over before it had even started, but the Wallabies began an incredible fightback, and at halftime the scores were even 24-24. The second half was just as entertaining, and when Jeremy Paul crossed the line towards the end of time, it looked as if the Wallabies had pulled off the greatest comeback of all time. Cue Taine Randell, setting up Jonah Lomu, who beat a George Gregan tackle to score the winning try. Final score - 39-35 to the mighty All Blacks.

This really was the 'Greatest Test match EVER', and rightly sits as number one on this week's Top 5.

The New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive, Justin Vaughan, has announced that NZC are on the hunt for a new coach, who will replace John Bracewell when his contract expires next season.

Bracewell has already lined up a new job as coach for the English county club Gloucestershire, which will be his second stint with the club.

Bracewell's term in charge hasn't been overly successful, with the Black Caps still struggling to find form in the longer version of the game. And while we are still rated third in one dayers, we haven't progressed to where we can put up a challenge against Australia or South Africa on a regular basis.

We here in the Attic are - quite frankly, sorry John - pleased to see him leave, and we're looking forward to seeing who leads them into the future.

Justin Vaughan has put the call out to coaches worldwide, and will be looking for someone with the experience to coach the Black Caps, and ultimately improve their current standings - most notably in Tests.

Please.

Some of the candidates from New Zealand are Dipak Patel (who has coached the Under 19's) and Auckland Aces coach, Mark O'Donnell.

Steve Rixon and John Wright are also rumoured to be in the running, and we think either one of them would make a good choice.

Whoever the NZC go with, it honestly has to be better than Bracewell.

He's done nothing for the development of cricket in New Zealand - and, ultimately, isn't that what a coach is supposed to do?

Robbie Deans has named his side to take on the Springboks, in the Wallabie's Tri Nations opener at Subiaco Oval, in Perth on Saturday night.

They have received a welcomed boost in the return of Lote Tuqiri, Nathan Sharpe and Wycliff Palu - all of whom missed the 40-10 win over France two weeks ago.

Sharpe will make up for Australia's current shortage on locks, with Dan Vickerman still unavailable due to an ankle injury, and James Horwill only recently passing fit after taking a knock to his sternum at training this week.

Drew Mitchell makes his way back to the squad after his good performances for the Australian A side, and will take his spot on the bench.

This will be the Wallabie's toughest Test this year - they've played a third-rate French side and a one-off Test against the Irish, and they will head into the game as heavy underdogs - especially after the Bok's recent performance against the All Blacks.

Here's their lineup:

1. Benn Robinson
2. Stephen Moore
3. Al Baxter
4. James Horwill
5. Nathan Sharpe
6. Rocky Elsom
7. George Smith
8. Wycliff Palu
9. Luke Burgess
10. Matt Giteau
11. Lote Tuqiri
12. Berrick Barnes
13. Stirling Mortlock (c)
14. Peter Hynes
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper

Reserves: Matt Dunning, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Hugh McMeniman, Phil Waugh, Sam Cordingley, Ryan Cross and Drew Mitchell.

If the Super 14 and the opening Tri Nations games are anything to go by, then you would have to say that the Experimental Law Variations, or ELVs, have been a great success.

The games are being played at a good pace, with a lot less stoppage time. And, as the Super 14 showed, there are a lot of trys being scored.

And for those who appreciate a tight game, the opening two Tests of the Tri Nations have shown us that even with the ELVs, we can still get traditional, tough Tests.

Ultimately, it's created a style of game that fans love to watch. And that, at the end of the day, is what counts.

The Northern Hemisphere nations, though, aren't sold on the new laws, and are not prepared to trial them in any form.

Surprise, surprise, really - the Northern Hemisphere sides (namely England, Wales and Ireland) just don't want to play expansive rugby.

Australian rugby Chief Executive, John O'Neill, is warning that if the Northern nations don't come to the party, we could see a split in world rugby - two games, played under different rules.

"We are simply saying to England, Wales and Ireland, 'give it a fair go because until you have had a universal trial of all the ELVs, you cannot make an informed judgment." - John O'Neill

The IRB gave everyone a clear deadline for trialling the new laws, and so far only the Southern Hemisphere sides have met them.

It's therefore up to the IRB to force England, Wales and Ireland to trial the ELVs in some capacity - the consequences are too high if they don't.

"Nothing I say, nor South Africa or New Zealand, can force the Northern Hemisphere countries to trial these laws in full. The body with the only real clout is the IRB. If they bottle that decision I am not sure what we do because we can't go back to the old laws."

"The players and spectators have made it perfectly clear which set of laws they prefer. In the last two weekends, we have seen two wonderful test matches between New Zealand and South Africa under the new laws. We have also seen test matches Southern and Northern Hemisphere countries played under the old laws, and you don't have to be Einstein to figure out which game is a far more impressive spectacle." - John O'Neill

O'Neill is completely right, too. The fans want to see the new laws, and thus better viewing, and the IRB need to act now before there is split in the game.

The Northern Hemisphere countries don't rule the game, and the fact that they play boring (oh, so boring...) rugby proves it.

Rugby needs to evolve if it is to keep fans interested - and, as far as we're concerned, the ELV's are the answer.

It's official.

St. George center Mark Gasnier is leaving the NRL, and will take up a two year contract with Stade Francais - a French rugby union club.

Gasnier is set to earn about 1 million dollars a year in France, and with the problems he's been having with his current contract, you can hardly blame him for making the switch.

Gasnier has stated that his reason for leaving is based on his current contract not being fully honoured. He is owed money from third-party sponsors, and has not received the full payments.

With the current NRL salary caps, high profile players like Gasnier are looking to third-parties to increase their wages - but when these parties don't fulfill their obligations, there are massive consequences for the game.

The NRL's salary cap means they are struggling to match the money on offer from rugby union and the Super League, and it seems there is no immediate solution to the problem.

By raising the salary cap, you put a lot of clubs under financial pressure - and that could see the end of some of the current NRL clubs, which definitely isn't in the best interest of the game.

The only real solution is for the NRL to allow players to receive sponsorship from outside sources, which they are currently unable to do. This has been a major issue with Sonny Bill Williams, who has been unable to make [a lot] more money doing sponsorship deals.

The NRL board need to wake up and allow these sort of deals to take place, especially if they want to keep the top players in the game.

It's a real shame to see Gasnier leave the NRL. He's one of the true greats of the modern era, and we just hope his exit doesn't start a trend...

The All Black's loss to the Springboks on Saturday night has led us to thinking about the state of rugby around the world. And, most importantly, the need to grow the game at a higher level.

Although the loss was hard to bare, we love the fact that it was a tight Test that could have gone either way, right down to the last minute - and we think it's healthy for the game that we love so much.

Rugby is played by a huge number of countries across the globe, but for the majority it's still very amateur. Generally, rugby plays second fiddle to soccer, which dominates most people's interest - especially in South America, Africa and Asia.

At present, there are only about eight sides that can compete at the highest level in rugby - New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, France, England, Ireland, Argentina and Wales.

Below these sides, there's Scotland, Italy, Samoa, Fiji, Canada, Tonga, and Japan, but they struggle to keep pace with the top eight. And the reason is simple - they aren't getting regular Tests against the best (with the exception of Scotland and Italy in the Six Nations).

Sides like the All Blacks, South Africa and Australia should be helping to grow the sport in the Pacific, Japan and North America by touring there at the beginning of their Test season, rather than having second (or even third...) string English and French sides tour down-under - which is, quite frankly, a complete waste of time.

You only have to look at the continued development of Argentina to see that regular Tests against the best is the way to strengthen rugby around the world.

A few years ago, Argentina were at the same level the Pacific sides are at now. Now, they're becoming a lot stronger, and have beaten the likes of South Africa, France, Ireland, and Wales - not to mention placing third at last years rugby World Cup.

It's fantastic for world rugby, and needs to start happening to the next level of sides.

We know that most of these countries don't have the numbers to become world champs over night, but with regular Tests against the best in the world, they can start to compete - and maybe even surprise a few sides at the top.

We think it's great that the All Blacks and the Wallabies are playing a one off Test in Hong Kong later this year, as it takes rugby somewhere different - a place where new fans can see the best in the business do their thing.

Rugby will never match the popularity of soccer, but it's about time the International Rugby Board began to spread the game to the corners of the world.

And who knows? In ten years, we might not be talking about a Springbok victory over the All Blacks.

It might be Canada instead.

The Springboks have bounced back from their defeat last week, beating the All Blacks in a 30-28 thriller in Dunedin.

Both sides were fairly even throughout the game, until a piece a magic from Ricky Janurie in the dying stages of the game gave the Bok's the lead - which they held on to until full time.

Losing is never fun, but the Springboks are a tough side - and they thoroughly deserve their win.

The first half was plagued by Matt Goddard's whistle, which meant both sides struggled to get any momentum going. Goddard was awarding penalties left right and center, and by half time the Bok's led 17-15, with JP Peterson scoring the only try after a woeful All Blacks lineout gave South Africa a five meter scrum.

Dan Carter kept the All Blacks in the hunt, though, with five penalties.

Losing Ali Williams in the 29th minute hurt the All Blacks badly - Anthony Boric and Kevin O'Neill played well, but we really missed the experience Williams brings to the table.

The All Blacks stepped up in the second half, but just couldn't hold on in the last ten minutes, even with Victor Matfield in the bin for a high shot - which, to be fair, was a terrible call, and just one of the many rubbish calls from Goddard.

Sione Luaki scored the All Black's only try of the night, and had a strong game when he replaced (the very quiet) Jerome Kaino.

The Springboks really muscled up, and even managed to make a go of it in the scrums this week - a far cry better than their display last week.

They now head to Perth, where they will face the Wallabies on Saturday night. If they can pick up the win there, they'll head back to South Africa well pleased with their efforts down under.

It's not panic stations for the All Blacks - they just need to tighten up their defence around the ruck, and work on getting good quick ball to the backs (we're talking to you Ellis), and they'll bounce back.

We would also like to see Carter look to kick down field a lot more, too, rather than these high midfield bombs we keep seeing - they're really just giving the opposition the ball in prime territory. Carter is capable of kicking deep, and really should look to do so.

A big positive for the All Blacks was - once again - the center combo of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith, who continue to grow each week. They're creating some real havoc for the opposition defence - keep up the good work, fellas.

While the loss isn't exactly great (from our narrow-minded, biased perspective), it does makes for an interesting Tri Nations, and will keep the All Blacks grounded.

They still have a lot of work to do, but at least their heading in the right direction.

Well done, South Africa - you deserved this one.

The Springboks have made three changes to their starting fifteen for this Saturdays Test - two in the backs, and one in the forwards.

In what we think is a strange move, veteran Springbok Percy Montgomery swaps places with Conrad Jantjes at fullback. We thought Jantjes was good last week, and can only imagine they've brought Montgomery in for his goal kicking - Montgomery will be a lot more reliable than Butch James, especially from out wide.

The other replacement in the backs is JP Petersen in for Odwa Ndungane on the wing. Petersen is a classy winger, with a a ton of pace, but really isn't that different from Ndungane - so should be no hassle for the All Blacks defence.

Let's hope that statement doesn't come back to haunt us.

Bismark du Plessis starts at hooker with John Smit injured, which is a huge loss for the Springboks, and won't help their already woeful scrum. Hear that, Peter?

Woeful.

Victor Matfield will captain the team in Smit's absence - he has experience as captain, and should have no problems with the role.

Ruan Pienaar also comes into the side on the bench in place of Bolla Conradie, who didn't get much game time in the first Test in Wellington.

All in all, it's a very similar side to the one that played in Wellington - and while Montgomery provides some more experience, they'll need more than that to beat the All Blacks in Dunedin.

Oh, and by the way - the All Blacks have gone back to the top of the IRB rankings with their 19-8 win over the Springboks, knocking the World Champs off the top spot.

Well done, boys - back where you belong.

The All Black selectors have made two changes to their side for this Saturdays second Test against the Springboks, in Dunedin.

The most obvious change sees Anthony Boric get his first run-on start, due to the one week suspension of Brad Thorn for slamming John Smit on his back.

Boric has had very little game time so far - the only decent time he's had was fifty or so minutes against England when Ali Williams went off injured, but he will definitely be a valuable asset in the lineouts.

The All Blacks will miss Thorn's presence around the field and at scrum time, but Boric is no slouch, and will add mobility around the field - not to mention the usefulness of his height of 2m in the lineout. With Thorn unavailable, Waikato Chiefs lock Kevin O'Neill gets his chance on the bench.

The other change sees John Afoa replace Greg Sommerville in the front row. Afoa sustained a knee injury against the Irish, and has been unavailable for the last three Tests, and so now gets his chance to impress the coaches against the Boks.

Afoa is a very strong scrummager, and has an excellent work rate around the field. While he is relatively new at Test level, his Super 14 experience will stand him in good stead against the Bok's scrum.

And, while we're talking about the scrum - how pathetic are Peter de Villiers' claims that the All Blacks are cheating at the scrum?! The All Blacks have long been the benchmark of scrummaging, and so it was no surprise that we dominated their pack on Saturday.

Face it Pete - your boys got a lesson from the best in the business.

The Springbok pack is bigger than the All Blacks, and yet we still push theirs backwards. Maybe if they focused on developing their own scrum, rather than complaining about ours, they could make the scrums a real contest...

If the second Test is anything like the first, then we expect plenty of fireworks from both sides - which may just heat things up a bit, as Dunedin is sure to provide some chilly temperatures.

It should be another fantastic Test between these two great rivals - Go the All Blacks!

With State of Origin done and dusted for another year, we can now focus on the last nine weeks of the 2008 NRL regular season. There's still a lot of league to be played, and still plenty of teams that can make the top eight.

But for us, the most important thing is that Warriors are still in the hunt. Only just, though, and their run to the finals is not going to be easy - five of their last nine are against top eight sides.

They will need to win six or seven of their nine if they are to stand any real chance of playing in this years final series, and the way they've been playing lately it's hard to see it happening.

What they do have in their favour is five home games, which they'll need to win - although the Storm, Broncos and Sharks make up three of them, and they will be tough to beat, even at home.

Their other opponents are the Cowboys (h), Bulldogs (a), Rabbitohs (a), Dragons (a), Panthers (h) and the Eels (a).

Really, it's this weekend that will show us if we can make the top eight, with the Cowboys coming to town. The Cowboys have been by far the worst team this year, and currently sit dead last on the ladder. If the Warriors can't manage to pick up a win against them, then we can forget about making the eight this year.

It really is do or die from here on out...

It will be great to have Steve Price and Brent Tate back from Origin duty, and hopefully they can bring some of the success they had with Queensland back to the Warriors.

The top eight isn't out of the question. In fact, we're only sitting three points behind the Panthers, who are in eighth place. But the boys will have to start playing consistent footy if they want to be there come September.

The other team to watch in the buildup to the finals is the resurgent Rabbitohs (yes, we said 'watch the bunnies'), who last night beat the Bulldogs 34-30 in extra time. After struggling all year, they are finally playing to their potential - and it's been since beating the Warriors (sigh...) in round thirteen. They have now put together four wins in a row and, just like the Warriors, the top eight isn't out of the question - although they'll need a bit of luck to go their way.

So sit back and prepare yourselves for the run home, sports fans - it certainly promises to be an entertaining finish to what has already been a great year of league.

The Test season may be in it's early stages, but the All Blacks seem to be progressing along nicely. And, after four wins in a row, they're heading back towards the top of the International ladder.

This year's approach seems different from what we've come to expect in recent times, with Graham Henry and the selectors sticking with more or less the same lineup for the first four Tests - it's been a breath of fresh air for all those calling for an end to the rotation system that Henry and co. have used in the past.

The changes they have made have been small, but ultimately successful, with guys like Richard Kahui, Rudi Wulf and Adam Thomson stepping up to the mark when given the opportunity.

There is a good balance in this year's squad, with the senior players providing a solid environment for the young guys to slot into. And it's working, too - the performances so far have been impressive.

Even the loss of Richie McCaw hasn't disrupted their game, with Rodney So'oialo stepping up to cover the injured McCaw. He certainly didn't disappoint us, leading from the front against the might of the Springbok forward pack.

Ma'a Nonu has been a revelation this year, as he continues to mature into a great inside center. He has developed his skills, and is proving that he is not one dimensional in his attack. He has been criticised in the past for trying to do everything himself, rather than passing the ball to his outside backs, but he is now using his brain and passing the ball a lot more - and that's putting the opposition in two minds as to what he's going to do.

His combination with Conrad Smith has been an outstanding feature so far this year, as the two Wellington boys have created havoc for their opposing backs - none more so than the English.

It looks as though we have found our best center pairing for some time, and with Kahui showing he's quite capable of handling the pressure of International rugby, the depth looks very secure for now.

The only real concern for us right now is the lack of depth in the lock and halfback positions. Ali Williams and Brad Thorn have been doing a fantastic job at lock, but with Thorn suspended for this weeks game against the Boks, our depth will really be tested.

Anthony Boric has had limited game time so far, and while he didn't look out of his depth against England, the Springboks will really test his capabilities at Test level.

We imagine Kevin O'Neill will come onto the bench this week, but he is yet to experience anything close to Test rugby. We still think Jason Eaton should be brought in to cover Thorn, but it's hard to see Henry selecting him after bringing in O'Neill to cover Williams last week. Even Ross Filipo or Hoani MacDonald would be better candidates for the locking position...

Andy Ellis has been given the halfback spot in all four Tests so far this year, but we have been less than impressed with his performances, and think Jimmy Cowan needs to start this weekend. Ellis's pass is slow, and he doesn't seem to have the strength to make decent runs from the back of the ruck - whereas Cowan is a strong runner, and can deliver the ball to Carter with some pace.

With Brendon Leonard out injured for the remainder of the season, Ellis needs to step up his game and prove he can perform at the Test level. If he can't, Piri Weepu must be brought back, whether Henry likes it or not.

We're very happy with how the All Blacks are going, and while we know it's still early days, we think they're showing that they're still the best side in the world.

The real test for the All Blacks will come when they play in Australia (who have shown good signs so far) and in South Africa, who are aways tough to beat at home.

We certainly don't expect the year to go without the odd glitch along the way, but if they continue to build on their performances so far...

Watch out, World.

The All Blacks have taken first blood in this years Tri Nations, grinding out a hard fought 19-8 win over the Springboks in Wellington.

Once again Wellington turned on the wet conditions, which meant a greasy surface and plenty of handling errors by both sides.

Despite the slippery ball, both sides tried to play an open game, with a lot of tactical kicking.

Even Ali Williams joined in on it.

Dan Carter put the All Blacks ahead with three penalties, before Bryan Habana scored in the corner, narrowing the margin to 9-8 going into half time. The Springboks were giving the All Blacks a run for their money...

John Smit was an early casualty for the Springboks, leaving the field in the first half with a groin strain, after being dumped by Brad Thorn in an off-the-ball incident. Thorn has been given a one week ban for the tackle, and will miss the Carisbrook Test next Saturday.

Jerome Kaino scored the All Blacks first (and only) try to give them a handy eight point lead, and when Carter slotted a penalty later in the half the All Blacks took a 19-8 lead, which they kept to the final whistle.

Kaino was very unlucky not to be given a second try after chasing a Carter kick, but Stu Dickenson deemed him off side, which was a completely rubbish call. Why the video ref couldn't have had a look we don't know, but it should have been referred.

Kaino had a fantastic game, and looks to be maturing as an All Black, as does Ma'a Nonu.

Other standouts for the All Blacks were Ali Williams, who had a great game in his fiftieth Test, and Conrad Smith, who continues to silence his critics with great attacking and defending abilities.

The lineouts were very successful (until late in the second half), as was the scrum, where we dominated the Springboks throughout the game.

Our only real concern at the moment is Andy Ellis at halfback. We know he's young and relatively new to the All Blacks, but we need a halfback who can pass the ball quickly. Ellis seems to be permanently stuck in slow motion.

We'd like to see Cowan get a start this weekend, just to let Ellis know he has some competition for the number nine jersey. Maybe that way he'll up his game a bit more...

All in all it was a very tough and physical Test, which is exactly what the All Blacks needed. The Springboks showed us that they are a real threat, and could give us more of a run for our money in the upcoming Tests.

We can't wait for round two this Saturday in Dunedin - we just hope the snow has melted by then.

Queensland's dominance in Origin has continued for the third straight year, after they downed the NSW boys 16-10 in Sydney - and boy, did the game started with a bang.

It took only one minute before a fight broke out after Ben Cross was hit by a high shot - both sides were fully fired-up for the decider.

NSW took the early lead with a penalty, before Queensland scored the opening try in the fifth minute. Scott Prince put up a bomb, which Israel Falou took easily thanks to some poor handling from Anthony Quinn.

A try by Matt Cooper gave NSW back the lead before Falou scored a fantastic try, out-jumping Quinn to score his second of the night.

Another penalty before the break gave NSW a 10-8 lead at halftime...

The second half was a tough battle, as both sides struggled to break the others defence.

Nate Myles was put on report for a grade three dangerous tackle on Cross, which led to another all-in brawl (It's great to see a bit of biff in Origin...) - Myles looks set to miss up to eight weeks for the tackle.

It was the 67th minute when Thurston threw a dummy and broke the NSW line, setting up Billy Slater for what would prove to be the match winner - NSW never looked like scoring from that point on.

Final score - 16-10 to the mighty Maroons.

Being NSW supporters, it's hard to say this, but...

Queensland are one classy outfit.

What makes the Queensland effort even more impressive is the fact they won without playmaker Scott Prince (who broke his arm in the 15th minute), which saw Karmichael Hunt move the five eight.

Once again, Steve Price and Petro Civoniceva were outstanding up front for Queensland, while Dallas Johnson was fantastic on defence, as was Brent Tate (again...).

NSW had their moments, but were ultimately let down by some poor discipline at crucial times. Paul Gallen (who we think is completely overrated, by the way) gave away some costly penalties, which gave Queensland some easy meters down the field.

Another player who looked out of his depth was Anthony Quinn. After surprising us in Game One, his form has been less-than-impressive in the last two games, and his defence last night was poor. Just like Steve Turner (in Game Two) we can't help but wonder if he would have been selected if Craig Bellamy wasn't the coach.

If NSW are to compete next year, they need to bring back guys like Brent Kite, Nathan Hindmarsh and Andrew Ryan. These are the types of player who will give you eighty minutes of solid footy, rather than guys like Gallen who give away stupid (yes, stupid) penalties on a regular basis.

In the end, Queensland have been the better side in the series. NSW have only managed one try in the last two games, which is never going to be enough at Origin level.

It's been a fantastic series, though (well, maybe not so much for NSW supporters...) again showing that Origin is the pinnacle of rugby league.

This Saturday's Test between the All Blacks and the current World Champs, South Africa, is one you don't want to miss.

The Springboks are in great form (have been since the World Cup, actually) and are bolstered by the return of John Smit, who has been playing in Europe.

Normally, the All Blacks would be heavy favourites, especially in New Zealand - the Springboks don't usually travel well - but it's hard to see them dominating this match against the highly improved South African side.

We're definitely not saying we won't win - we just see it being a lot closer than years gone by...

South Africa are experiencing a revival in form, and are developing some great talent - think, Ryan Kankowski, who was destructive in this years Super 14.

They also have a lot of experience in John Smit and Victor Matfield, and they will not be beaten easily.

This, though, will be their toughest Test of the year - Wales only put up a fight in the second Test, and - well - no one expected much out of Italy.

The All Blacks have yet to be tested either, but they have shown some good form against England - especially in the backs. The forwards will have to step up against the Bok's forward pack, especially without McCaw, but they have shown they are capable of winning without him.

The biggest thing in the All Blacks favour is the return of the new rules (ELV's), which means a faster game with less stoppage time. The Springboks will really be tested in the later stages of the Test, where the All Blacks fitness will give them an advantage.

We don't expect a walk-over, but we're confident the All Blacks can come away with the win - we are tough to beat at home.

This promises to be a great Tri Nations competition - possibly the closest to date - but we just wouldn't be New Zealanders if we didn't think the All Blacks could win it.

Which, of course, they will.

For the second time in as many months, All Black Jimmy Cowan has made the headlines for all the wrong reasons - this time for disorderly behaviour outside a bar in Invercargill. On May 10th, Cowan was arrested and charged for a similar offence in Dunedin following the Highlanders game against the Blues.

Clearly he has a problem when he goes out drinking, and unless he sorts it out quickly he may struggle to keep his place in the All Blacks squad. Sure, he's been 'let off' this time (other than a fairly small $3000 fine...) - but will that happen again?

It would be a real shame if it comes to that, because he's such a talented halfback - he just needs to realise the seriousness of his actions. The All Blacks have been working hard to win back the respect and support of the public, and it's shocking that problems like these keep surfacing.

And it's not only Cowan - Jerome Kaino was charged with driving-under-the-influence last week, and we needn't even mention Jesse Ryder or Lucky Mulipola...

Being a sporting personality means that you, and your actions, will always be under a microscope - and so you must conduct yourself properly when out in public! It's the same for any professional sportsperson...

If these guys can't control themselves while out, then they need to think seriously about going out at all.

Being a sportsperson doesn't mean you can do what you want, when you want to - the laws are the same for everyone, and if they can't obey them, then they need to face the same consequences that you or I would face. As much as we like Jimmy Cowan, we think the NZRU should have come down hard on him, and suspended him for a while...

But, if the All Black jersey means anything to him, he'll make sure he works hard on how he conducts himself off-field in the future.

And, moving forward, it should be the same rule for everybody - two strikes, and you're out.