An American twitter user has unwittingly been placed at the centre of an online cricket gag.
Cricket fans across the world have turned to the social networking site Twitter to share their thoughts on the test series between Australia and England, and one tweeter @theashes has found life tough in the spotlight.
The woman, from Westfield, Massacheuttsus, is being inundated with questions for score updates, player criticisms, questions about when England will declare, and who her favourite team is.
At first, she did not enjoy the attention.
‘I AM NOT A FREAKING CRICKET MATCH,’ she tweeted.
While becoming an instant Ashes Cricket Celebrity, she normally tweets about her toddler and knitting.
She is now embracing her twitter star status, tweeting ‘I'm not sure who I support, England or Australia. However, I've been to England. I've never been to Australia.’
Starting out at a couple of hundred followers before the first Ashes test, she is now just shy of the 5,000 mark.
Tweeters from across the globe are now calling for other users to get @theashes fans up to over 10,000.
A trending topic has already been set up trying to win @theashes a VIP trip to Australia to watch the ashes, follow it at #gettheashestotheashes.
While she has started following @ShaneWarne, she evidently still has a few rules to learn about cricket, as she questioned ‘what the hell is a wicket?’
The All Blacks completed their fourth Grand Slam tour, with their previous being 1978, 2005, 2008.
The Players
The tour has been used as a virtual World Cup simulation by the Three Wise Men, with only 29 players being used.
This was first seen replicated when Sivivatu was injured. Replicating World Cup conditions, no other player was flown in as cover.
In saying that, Tialata was brought in for an injured Ben Franks, though did not play any games. He was basically used an expensive tackling bag/scrum machine.
So to Donald. After his shocker in Hong Kong, the training paddock was all that he could expect.
Braid was nearly in the same category, though his cameo against Wales underlines his value. He will no doubt be playing for his place in the World Cup Squad in the Super 15.
Enough with the bad. The SBW experiment has gone well and smoothly. Although his hotel pass is as good as signed, sealed and delivered for the World Cup, he needs to have a stellar Super 15 season to challenge Nonu.
Gear looks like a seasoned pro at this level, underlined by two very classy tries against Wales. Rokocoko’s time is numbered in the jersey, it’ll be interesting if he ever pulls it back on.
Attack
The important thing about this All Black side is they attack from everywhere. Eighteen tries in four games is testament to that.
The forwards play as backs, and the backs play as forwards – it is a seamless transition. SBW’s trademark offloads were prominent, while Muliaina underlined his class, and status, as the premier fullback with a stellar end of season tour. Toeava made leaps and bounds, capped off with a good performance against Wales, while Jane can feel unlucky not to be picked in the form XV.
Image: AP
Smith has underlined his place, along with Muliaina and Carter as the three indispensable players in the All Black backline.
Read was immense, as to McCaw, and Kaino. There is not a more feared back three in world rugby – with the ball they are certainly something to be reckoned with.
Whitelock is a definite prospect for the future, while Boric has also turned a corner with his performance against Ireland.
Defence
The All Blacks defence is about the rule of fours. Four tries conceded, four games played and four players who were eye catching on defence.
Four tries in four games is a particularly good achievement. It is four tries worse than the past two years, although the laws of the game have changed so dramatically to favour attacking play. There were some amazing try saving tackles by Toeava, a joint effort by Muliaina and Carter, and if you really needed to guess who the last was, a Read eye-catcher against Ireland.
Four players really stood up here, Franks, Thorn, Kaino, and McCaw. Never have I seen more big hits in four consecutive games of international rugby by one team. These players were colossal in the contact area. They aren’t just show ponies either, they are the toughest men in world rugby, and get through mountains of work. Jerry Collins, eat your heart out.
The mark of a great team is not in their attack, but in their defence. Mike Ford, the English Assistant Coach said the Tri Nations was ‘not test rugby’ because of the try scoring dominated play. The All Blacks have most definitely shown this theory up with their total domination at defence time.
Verdict
With New Zealand records, and World records being broken left right and centre on this end of year tour, watch out rest-of-the-world, you are in trouble.
Without a drastic loss in players through injury, the All Blacks are going to be very tough, nigh on impossible to dethrone at home in September/October next year.
With a 13 – 1 international season record, the 2010 class of the All Blacks were among the greatest ever.
It must be very tough to be an All Blacks fan right now.
Report Card: A+
PS: Dear SBW, we're waiting for the trademark big hits.
Yes, this is about the player drain. No, this isn't the regular New Zealand players are getting poached.
This is about league, and the St Helens Chairman Eamonn McManus calling on rugby league chiefs to halt the player drain to Australia.
Isn't this a twist of fate. And also a bit rich if you ask me.
Mr McManus, with all due respect two players is not a player drain.
Be it that it may, they were England's two best players on the park this Four Nations. Sam Burgess, and Gareth Ellis.
There should be a case for more England players to come to Australia. It will strengthen the English, because let's face it - the Super League is rubbish.
It's where Kiwis and Aussies go to finish up their careers. It is like the retirement home of rugby league.
And yes, the English commentators of the game must be hard of hearing too - as they think that it is close to the NRL in style.
In many ways, the league teams over in England are just like the Rugby Union teams. Taking talent which is declining in other countries, rather than promoting homegrown talent from lower ranks.
As an arm-chair commentator on both games, this is madness. I don't understand why you would bring players in, if it wasn't going to strengthen your country, or the country's competition.
I'll take it back to Sam Burgess. This kid is a superstar. He lifted the performance of the Souths, led the way, and much of the whole team lifted as well - a positive influence on Australian (well mostly Kiwi, thanks Russ for infiltrating the Souths) league.
The point is that English players coming down here to strengthen their game, and then take that reconditioning and knowledge back to the Super League is a godsend for the English.
With the strong Aussie dollar at the moment, the whole English national team should be sent down to live with the convicts for a year, such was their disappointing showing in the Four Nations.
So Mr McManus. The evidence is right here for you to see. James Graham should definitely have his boarding pass. As too Sam Tomkins - minus the girly pink boots.
To get the English shield have at least a little bit of pride, these warnings must be heeded. NRL, not Super League is the way forward.
Without the pace and intensity provided by it, and with the game being played on dry surfaces, England, and the rest of the world, will no doubt fall away even further.
Abolish the English national anthem. Do away with the red rose on their jerseys. Instead, as the game starts, have them listen to Martin Johnson’s rendition of ‘Under Pressure.’
After a disappointing six nations, finishing third behind Ireland and France, These November Internationals present the greatest challenge of Martin Johnson’s coaching career.
If Martin Johnson was part of Queen, he could happily replace Freddie Mercury; such is his increasing talent in this department.
The likeness is unparalleled.
Sure they are not winning, sure the sharks are circling, but Johnson remains as calm as if his summer holiday is still continuing.
We downunder have heard the usual taunts. The jibes at the Haka, and the oh they don’t play real rugby. Don’t be surprised after this first test if you hear the ‘McCaw is a cheat’ call as well. The old mills just keep on turning.
England Forward Coach Mike Ford even went as far to say that the Tri-Nations was “not test rugby.”
When you have the third best forward pack in the Northern Hemisphere, against the best forward pack in the World, then one should learn to keep their trap shut.
This provides the ammo for the All Blacks to go out and stuff them.
The ‘Donald miscalculation,’ is set to be righted, the only way it can be, with a Dan Carter 80 minuter this weekend.
Whichever way you look at it, the All Blacks have the edge in every position.
Owen Franks is set to continue all good New Zealand prop’s favourite past time; finding out Andy Sheridan at scrum time, while Sonny ‘the star attraction’ Williams will be a menace every time he touches the ball. He should make light work of both Tindall, and Hape.
And with Richie McCaw going to be playing the part of …. Well… Richie McCaw, tomorrow morning’s viewing should make for some excellent rugby.
The weather looks average, let’s hope it stays black, and here’s hoping to a 30 point drubbing.
After a crushing defeat, Johnson may be that much closer to singing "Death on Two Legs" to his troops.
If Waikato were up to standard, the final result could have been a whole lot different.
Two possible Canterbury tries were ruled out in the first half, both which without a TMO would have most probably have been awarded. Sure there are merits to having the TMO, but when blatant calls go begging, is it benefiting of our game? Here are three compelling cases.
FOR THE TELEVISION MATCH OFFICIAL
The Air New Zealand Cup of 2009 will be remembered for a couple of things, one Canterbury were winners, and two, the call in the Hawkes Bay vs Canterbury game which denied Faka'anaua Taumalolo a try in extra time.
If the try above had been allowed, Hawkes Bay would have avoided a rematch with Canterbury in the semi-finals a week later, and would have finished top qualifiers, maybe resulting in an historic home final.
There was much criticism of the New Zealand Rugby Union for not using the technology available to them because of cost factors. It was said that in the ‘supposed’ greatest provincial rugby competition in the world, that not to use the best possible equipment was farcical.
For mine, Hawkes Bay would have won that semi against Southland, and would then have hosted Canterbury in the final. That final would have resulted in a capacity crowd of 22,000, a tale for the locals for many generations to come, and the all round strengthening of support in the ITM Cup for this year.
Instead, it was the predictable Canterbury vs Wellington Final, with the predictable average crowd, and the predictable result.
So there is certainly a case for the TMO.
AGAINST THE TELEVISION MATCH OFFICIAL
The calls in this year’s ITM Cup Final were howlers. Isaac Ross’s disallowed try was obvious when combining two camera angles, the first clearly showing the ball on the ground, and the other aerial shot showing the ball over the line.
Ryan Crotty’s try was also disallowed under dubious circumstances. Tu Umaga Marshall was ruled to have taken out Henry Speight without the ball, as he was in the process of cleaning up a botched penalty kick. Speight was unable to do that, and Crotty dived through on the ball for the try.
In any rugby game, anywhere, that would’ve been a try. When a player has fumbled the ball backwards, and seeming as though they have gone to pick it up, a players first instinct is to tackle them.
For mine Canterbury were robbed of two tries, which would have been given in a game without TMO's, and which also could have been definitive were Waikato up to the plate.
TWO OFFICIALS, OR TOO MANY OFFICIALS?
This brings about the question. Does there need to be Television Match Officials? Or are there Too Many Officials?
Two officials would surely bring about greater accuracy, though that would support the NZRU’s theory that TMO’s would then cost too much. Which would be worse, putting a little bit more of a dent in the NZRU war chest, or alienating fans with shocking decisions?
Another case can be made that there are Too Many Officials, with people pointing to soccer as an example. Soccer is simple, it is ‘kick ball into net.’ It is not technical, and is a very simple game to ref and follow. Rugby on the other hand is complex, although what did the ref’s do before TMO’s? They went with their gut feeling.
Maybe that’s the way to do it now.
In my opinion though, two TMO’s could be an idea, or even allowing the TMO to listen to the commentary team to get another insight – this aspect just for provincial games, where there is no bias.
Tonight's ITM Cup final at AMI Stadium between Canterbury and Waikato drew 10,200 people.
AMI stadium has a capacity of 36,000, and that crowd figure means less than a third was full.
The last 3 years finals’ numbers are not much better. 2009, there were 12,000 people at AMI Stadium. 2008, there were 21,327 at Westpac Stadium. 2007, there were 16,000 at Eden Park.
The semi-finals have not been much better. The Auckland versus Waikato match would have garnered about 10 – 15,000 people, the majority of those being Waikato supporters, and the Canterbury versus Wellington match would have had around the 10,000 mark as well.
Hell, even a free-ticket earthquake match in Christchurch could only get 20,000 people out of a possible 36,000.
Compare these figures to Rugby Leagues greatest showpiece, which garnered 82,334 people. This is once again dwarfed by AFL’s Grand Final, with 100,016 for the first final, and then a week later, after the first was a draw, 93,858 people.
The ITM Cup numbers make for pretty average reading. The NRL Grand Final had 8x the attendance of the ITM Cup Final while the AFL Grand Final’s had 10x and 9x the people respectively.
Yes Australia has approximately 5x our population, but the question is do they have 5x our passion? On those numbers you would certainly think so.
New Zealand’s big centres also too would suggest this. With the exception of Waikato; Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington, and Otago have been abysmal.
It's being left up to the smaller provinces, at this point to show the way. The problem with this, all of them are in the ‘bottom 7’ for next year, the second tier competition. One has to hope these provincial numbers won’t wane.
The provincial players are heroes in their provinces, an integral part of their towns. Not like the big centres that have got their players into the mould of being latte-sipping ‘superstars.’
Without the provinces, there would be no point having an ITM Cup. Here’s thinking the ‘bottom 7’ will have better crowd numbers than the ‘top 7.’
The New Zealand Rugby Union has a big job on their hands to get people interested back in provincial rugby. For at the moment, it is attendance levels are in a sorry state of affairs.
Does anyone sense that the financially unstable call will be rolled out again? Next time the NZRU should give the provinces with the poorest attendance per population the chop. Then you'd get the proper ITM Cup.
