KEY POINTS:
As we head for the Super 14 finals, there is a lot to talk about.
The New Zealand Rugby Union is refusing to comment on Tana Umaga's scathing attack on the standard of New Zealand and Australian referees.
But fans have been vocal.
Then there is Ali's red card.
Here is the latest selection of your views including some thoughts on the Super 14 semis:
Murray
I cant believe there are people out there willing to defend Ali. As a professional sportsman, in the public eye (and constantly reminded of the fact) and earning a damn sight more than I am it is inexcusable for him to think he can act like a spoiled brat for not getting all the game time he wants and not be punished. Professionals have a code of conduct and he obviously hasnt lived up to his end of the bargain.
Saini
I feel that the coaching staff for the Blues have a much larger part to play than is being made public.I really feel for these guys who are just wanting to get on and play rugby, but when they're being mucked around by their coaches, unfortunately that'll sometimes affect their behaviour and it appears to me that Ali and others within the team have lost respect for their managers (Nucifora and co).
Blues Stalwart
Between Troy and Nucifora you have two individuals with chequered pasts - sure Ali is no saint, but to date has really only been guilty of being a likeable rogue. It will be interesting to see whether there is any substance behind these "behavioural issues" or it's just a personality conflict with a rather prickly Blues coach and captain. The NZRU are learning the real implications of having an Australian (who couldn't get on with Australians either) coach a major NZ rugby team in a world cup year.
Nate
For every potential, AB the WC is the pinnacle of their life so far. For some of them, they have been working towards the next few months for last 4 years if not there whole life time. Like everyone, all players and in particular these reconditioned ABs, have been repeatedly told that you have too perform on the park too be choosen. Now for Ali to be playing for the ABs for years and training his ass off for last few months, then too not getting a fair chance to get on the park too push for his position in the Abs squad, must be hugely stress for the young man. He must be thinking every night what if I miss out? The amount of stress and pressure that is placed on these players, would be unbearable for most. I reckon give this guy a break! Some people deal with stress in different ways. We all know Ali's potential, fair enough he hasn't been getting game time with the Blues, but it might be left to Henry and Co to give him a life line. As they put him in this predicament, they are very responsible for what has happened to Ali.
Cynbin (Christchurch)
It has been well known that Ali Williams has got an arrogant streak through him but he's not the only one. When some of these guys make the All Blacks they are so excited, then the longer they stay the more their attitude seems to change towards the public. Most of them seem to develop an arrogance for the simple fact that they know that they are indispensable to the team and that they are treated as God by the adoring public. I love my Rugby but I don't appreciate the fact that these people seem to lose their humbleness and how they deal with people that they once treated as friends and yes, even how they treat women. If the hierarchy jumped down on them and kept them in line maybe these little troubles won't happen again.
Robert Hughes (Rotorua)
Ali knows what he has done , let him have some peace and rebuild , for he has a big job ahead of him in France. He is talented and like some who have the gift , they are also mischievous , thats life. Let him get on with his. As for re-conditioning the ABs , if the coaches were mechanics and fixing cars , I would ask for my money back.
Adam
The managers of the Blues and the all blacks have allowed one of the stars of rugby in NZ to go off the rails. Now that he has been sacked by his mates, ( and I can't remember this ever happening before ) I would be very reluctant to see him go to the All Blacks especially when we don't know what happened. He must now to be looked at as a disruptive influence and do we really need that going into a world cup? The way forward for Ali is to fess up to what happened, apologise and concentrate on working hard at his rugby and his image. If this isn't done I wouldn't want him in the All Blacks, no matter how good he is.
Alastair
It seems to me that Ali Williams needs to take a long look at himself. He has a responsibility has an All Black to be a role model and exercise control and restraint regarding his frustrations. There are other All Blacks who have missed selection and have not 'acted out', so why should he be any different.
Blues Fan
What a load of rubbish to lay the blame squarely at the Blues/All Black managements' door, I'm pretty sure the code of conduct for both organisations is to not go out and be a twat and get drunk! Ali has shown some of the traits of some overpaid American sports stars when things don't go their way they start to throw the toys out of the cot and really believe they're bigger than the team and the game! He needs to pull his head out and support the team, god forbid if he was ever left out of the All Blacks starting line up in the middle of the World Cup and goes on a drunken rampage to take out his frustration, will it still be the fault of the All Black management Wynne?? Just because you can't write a headlining grabbing story Wynne that doesn't mean you should speculate and lay the blame elsewhere when quite clearly the one to blame turned up at Auckland Airport yesterday!! Looked like a spoilt brat! Good riddance.
Laurens (Auckland)
Ali: This was an issue of the conditioned All-Blacks vs the Blues's coach lack of respect for them. Frustration boiled over, Ali went into defiance mood. Everybody reacts differently to situations and Ali became confrontational.Having said that these are professional sportmen and should adhere to discipline and the code of conduct of the team. The sport is bigger than the player and Ali Williams's challenge of those barriers are out of bounce and allthough there is understanding for his frustrations, his lack of respect for team protocol deserves a red card.He, however is punished now and pending a supporting program, he should still be eligible to represent the AB's at the World Cup 2007.
Andrew
I am a Football Referee. (Soccer, Not Rugby) I would like to add these thoughts. A) As a ref, I set my standards that a player cant tell me I've had a bad game unless I have made half, thats right half, the mistakes they will make. The thing people dont realise are our mistakes are easier to pick out. Go through a rugby game. Pick out one forward and one back. and count the referee's "genuine" (Not the ones that you dont agree with i.e. that harsh or whatever - but those where he is wrong on point of law (or rules in rugby)) And see how he compares to the players knock ons, forward pases, penalties conceded ect ect. And see whom is worse off. B)Rugby Rules are horrible! So many to remember, Different interpretations, Different tolerances, and these sorts of things. Maybe, we should attack the lawmakers and not the enforcers.My thoughts anyway, Enjoy.
TW
Tana is absolutely right about the standard of refereeing. We have seen it in so many Super 14 games - the inconsistency of the calls made. It's a crucial part of the game when the team on attack is penalised because the ref got it wrong. Why should the guy be penalised if he is speaking the truth. Lets take the negatives and turn it into the positives for a better game of running footy!
Ali ge
I believe that the final will be in Pretoria - Blues verses Bulls. They will crush the Cantabs. Also the Blues will come through in the final minutes to go to the final. But sad to say this but the Bulls take out the super 14 to be the first SA team to do so.
F J from Sydney
How on earth can Goddard be allowed to control a semi-final game? Along with most of the Australian Referees this year he and they; have had a year where either or both teams would be entitled to shudder on learning of their appointment to officiate. Not that Fortuin and Joubert are worthy of consideration either their performances have also been consistently poor. If quality was important Kaplan would have been a better choice even though he missed the change of ball in the Mealamu try this weekend. New Zealand Referees had their moments too; but surely what can the players do... they have to play and obviously criticism is either not heard and even worse not acted on by the Appointees. But Goddard! Not under any circumstances should this guy be considered for a decisive game!Tana would have a great deal of support for his views. Although I can't see how he could have the idea that Northern Hemisphere Referees are better - they usually "Dominate the game'to the enjoyment of themselves and detriment of the spectators.
Philip
I am a very staunch Crusaders & All Black fan living in SA. I think the Crusaders stand a chance to upset the Bulls here at the fortrest of Loftus Stadium. If once looks at the recent Crusaders and All Black games at Loftus these have been won by the NZ teams. The Crusader must play the same type of game that has won them the matches here. A word of warning is that the Bulls will not play their normal forward driving game. They will play the same running game that they finished off with last week. I will expect the Saders to drive them back with long accurate touch finders or force the Bulls to play from deep. The Bull weakness is on the right wing and the centres. The Saders loose forwards must also make Fourie Du Preez make a lot of tackles. He is not 100 per cent. If the other scrumie plays the battle is half won as he is not a great kicking scrum half.As for the Blues they have an up hill battle. With Luke out they are just too one dimensional with Tuitupo on inside centre. They need another creative centre to give Toeava the space. If it is dry the game will be even. I think the Shark had a few vital calls that went in their favour. The Blues must be very discipline then they can win. The Sharks are spoilers at the breakdown and this they need to bring to the Refs attention before the game. Good luck boys!
Tony
When you have a player as experienced as Tana Umaga speaking out in this manner we should be paying very close attention. He doesn't do this sort of thing habitually & he is a man who speaks plainly & with a lot of common sense. He has been at the sharp end of his professional rugby career for a long time & every Rugby supporter in this country will be nodding their head in agreement. I don't think that the rugby hierarchy will touch him on this one. Fancy fining a player for speaking publicly & telling us what we have all suspected for some time now. The game is suffering from a lack of accountability from refs & it should be addressed sooner rather than later!
Fili (Sydney)
Obviously this would be a biased assessment in predicting the Super XIV finalists, but my hometown Auckland Blues and the Canterbury Crusaders have been there and done that. Remember, these were the only two teams to complete a Super season undefeated [Blues in '97 / Crusaders in '02] and have won more titles than any other teams let alone the fact they both have also lost a Super final themselves. The Sharks and the Bulls deserve to be there, but the class, skills and experience of our NZ teams should see them fly back home for the ultimate clash.The hard luck story though is definitely the Chiefs. Go the Blues!
Charlie Aucks
All I can say is Tana you're a legend; if someone with Tana's stature in the rugby world can speak out like this and gladly accept the consequences of his words then I only hope more will do the same. Why aren't the referees accountable for their actions on the field? If you are a player in a do-or-die game for your province, or country and there's blatant bad calls going against you who can blame them for speaking out post-match. Put the refs in the media firing line post match, alongside coaches and captains; then maybe they'll be a lot more careful in their next appearance to make sure they get their calls right!
Leggs
The issue of "quality, consistency, and impartial" refereeing has got progressively worse each year since 1995 of which this current year is by far the most noticeable. It is my opinion that the rule makers, legislative councils, and enablers of this once fine game have missed one very crucial point - the public. As a die hard rugby supporter and once player of many years I admit to hanging my head in disgust at the current spectre of rugby refereeing. I believe the number of rules and the ambiguity of such has caused referees to interpret the laws according to their own experience - and hence the lack of consistency.
Another cause for alarm is the meddling of the aforementioned councils, enablers, etc (eg the IRB and co-horts) in the game's rules. The new scrum (C,P,T,E or "Come please touch each (other)") law is not working - to invoke this revision under the cloak of reducing injuries is nonsense and perhaps the new lawmakers should be made to undertake an introduction to Physics to understand this. I can go on however words limited here. All I can say is Rugby worldwide is facing an issue and this is acknowledged in more than NZ media and public.
Steve (Sydney-expat)
The refs have been woeful all season and Matt Goddard of Aussie was the worst.
MytakesAreMine
The Blues have finally made it to the semis, but had to go back to SA to play the sharks. I wonder what Nucifora is going to choose this time. Would he choose his 3 locks - Williams, Flavell and Rawlinson as starters, with Flavell playing as a loose forward. McAlister is out also. It will be a difficult ask for the Blues to step up. But I think Who the coach choose to play for what position would have a huge bearing on the outcome. The Sader has to travel as well, but hopefully with Carter back, they should be able to step up. In a twisted sort of way, I am glad that SA has provided such tough oppositions for us. I say that with for the sake of winning WC this year. For so long, all of us feel that the All Blacks were always the favourite and the Web Ellis Trophy is for us to lose and we project this expectation on to our players. Consequently, our players had the mindset that the trophy is for them to lose, and in all previous world cup, they played like that, especially when they were behind. On Friday's match between the Saders and the Chiefs, the body language of the saders gave me the feeling of Deja Vu. The players were afraid of losing. I'm so glad that Richie scored at fulltime. His leadership would be extremely important at the WC.The Saffas have thrown down the gaunlet. the WC is by no mean ours, we have to win it and we can't win it if we are afraid to lose it.
Neville Ramsden
Tana is right ,most of the players have been saying this for years. The rules have gone too far. When the ref pulls up the game all the players stand around waiting to see how the ref sees the ruling. The way the rules are now its up to the ref on the day as to how the rules are played.
Lou (Texas,Te Teko)
I endorse every thing that Tana Umaga says about N Z and Aussie referees and I think they are spoiling the game of rugby . Can you please relay this message to Tana.
