Tri-Nations over

The Dirty Filthy Cheating South Africans hold the Tri-Nations and the World Cup and are the undisputed best team in the world - There I said it…

The Mighty Mighty All Blacks put in a valiant effort on Saturday night at Dairy Farmers Stadium but couldn’t overcome the lethal combination of a first rate ‘Bukkks team, Wayne Barnes as assistant referee, a lineout that was in disarray and Stephen Donald being on the field (and playing for us).

It took four or five lineouts before we actually won one and when we did it led to a try for the ‘Bukkks.  The M.M.A.B’s were saved from further embarrassment after a masterful coaching call from Lord Sir Graham Henry not to win any more lineouts for fear of the same outcome.  No doubt the return of Ali Williams and the Otahuhu Nugget next season will solve this problem.

One of the real long-term benefits of the match is that Wayne Smith will have finally realised that Stephen Donald is a true allrounder – equally crap in all positions - and he will be dropped by the M.M.A.Bs, joining the ranks of Caleb Ralph, Reuben Thorne, Leon McDonald and Andrew Mehrtens as the luckiest players ever to wear the black jersey.  Donald needs to have a good, long look at himself in the mirror – if for no other reason than to realise that there is naff all chance of someone his size running through a piece of tissue paper let alone two ‘Bukkks loosies and a centre.  Unfortunately for the M.M.A.Bs once he finally figured this out he reverted to his only other play, the defensive bomb.

Donald’s substitution for Ice not only lifted M.M.A.B morale but led to a superb try that should have got the M.M.A.Bs back in the game.  Alas, more poor leadership from Richie McCaw saw us turn down a penalty from in front of the posts that would have taken advantage of the swing in momentum and given the lads some belief.  This is not the first time the M.M.A.Bs have suffered from poor leadership (remember Weepu’s kick for touch in the second French test?) and whilst he is one of the greatest flankers in the world right now he shouldn’t even be allowed to be the captain of his own one-man rowboat let alone a top New Zealand religious leader.

In better news, Mighty Mighty Auckland destroyed the Palmy Army at The Garden of Eden with a superbly crafted 79^th minute try to take them to fifth on the table, Holden’s Garth Tander and Will Davison took out Bathurst Lite at Phillip Island and The Phoenix managed a well fought draw against Melbourne.  I have booked myself a 4^th class ticket on the Phoenix Bandwagon (it’s by the exit where it’s easier to jump off if necessary).

There were no other notable sports events last weekend.