British press not impressed by All Blacks

Just checked No 23, if so insignificant and a waste of time, what does it say about hime taking the time to read all this and comment, if he doesnt like it take a hike .. Who is it that needs to get a life ..

Who cares what Stephen Jones thinks? When are Fairfax going to get some decent sports journos that don't spend so much time naval gazing and worrying about what people in the Uk and Ireland think of us? Let the boys do the talking on the field. I know where I'm putting my money -and as usual - it sure won't be on the home nations.

I think everyone needs to calm down. All they said was that the All Blacks started poorly, they are not invincible, and that they could be beaten. Not that unreasonable really.

Maybe you should watch some Northern Hemispher rugby before you comment on it!

You do know that Ireland is not in the UK don't you?

Also some of you appear to think that all Northern Hemisphere National sides are full of New Zealanders! I don't think thats true, maybe you should check it before you comment.

Surely to be a grand slam tour you would have to beat France too! The "Grand Slam Tour" you all talk about is easier than winning the 6 nations, it shouldn't be too hard for you superior beings!!

Should it?

@63

Scotland have NEVER beaten the ABs. I guess they always just play their 2nd stringers the powerhouse they are.

Stephen Jones consistently rubbishes the ABs and apart from the odd WC game they consistently win. The record books do NOT favour Jones, in fact they make a complete mockery of him.

ABs record

Opponent Played Won Lost Drawn % Won France 46 34 11 1 73.9% Lions 34 26 6 2 76.5% England 31 24 6 1 77.4% Scotland 26 24 0 2 92.3% Wales 23 20 3 0 87% Ireland 21 20 0 1 95.2%

Says it all I think

I am a Kiwi living in Europe and follow the English Premiership and the European competitions. Kiwi players of old such as Filo Tia Tia, who must be pushing 40, still shine in these competitions (he was recently man of the match in a Hieneken cup game) and players like Justin Marshall and Byron Kelleher are consistent standouts. This speaks volumes for the standard of rugby in the Northern Hemisphere and also explains their opposition to the ELVs which considerably speeds up the game, something their huge losse forwards in particular just can't cope with. To suggest that any of the current AB wouldn't make an English premiership team is palpably ridiculous - they all would on the standards I have observed over the past 3 seasons. I will be in Ireland on 15 November and Twickenham on the 29th to see Jones and co, once more, eat their words.

As usual, NZ supporters think that only they understand rugby and nobody else is allowed to comment on their team. To say that only Paul Ackford was a player of any note, does an injustice to Eddie Butler, late of Wales back row. In the Northern Hemisphere, we have nothing but admiration for NZ rugby, the fact that our own national sides are weaker at the moment, should not stop us from commenting on those of other unions. Triumphalism is not an attractive quality, especially when accompanied by Graham Henry`s smug face!

commenting on the opinion that most of our squad would not make a premiership roster is rubbish. Our 1st 22 would all make it and those that would miss out would be Macintosh and the likes who have had solid Super 14's and stellar NPC season's which most outside NZ have not seen. I mean Ricky Flutey -a hurricanes first five who was replaced with Jimmy Goperth haha- is set to be the next English second five! The countless ex All Blacks and even fringe players, like Tito, who have had massive impacts even in near retirement in some cases shows their lack of depth and development.

I read Jones's comments on the weekend, and I've seen quite a few Premiership games living in the UK....Weepu and Cowan would easily laugh their way into the England squad let alone most Premiership teams if they could. Does Jones realise there's actually a guy who couldn't make the All Blacks been chosen for the England team after a few seasons here - Flutey. Jones probably feels Weepu and Cowan wouldn't make it because of their style of play, i.e. not in keeping with the boring tradition of English rugby. He went on and on about the ELVs and how most players are against them and how speeding up the game is not a good idea. He talks about the All Blacks being below par and very beatable, and for any Home Nation to have a successful Autumn they must beat the All Blacks, but then at the end of his article says that the All Blacks should win every game..

Let em whinge. Its what the poms are good at. Cant see that a good tight game like the one we saw from HK wasnt the try spree rugby but a real arm wrestle with two of the best teams in the world I dunno what they expect. Talk it up in your tabloids, NZ will meet you on the field, and the scoreboard will tell the story.

and in reply to #69, Maybe we should have sent Hawkes Bay! :)

Nothing against Filo Tiatia as he was a personal favourite when he was in his prime (about ten years ago), but I noticed that he was playing for the Ospreys a 1st division team at the age of 37. I doubt Filo Tiatia would be able to achieve this if he was still playing in New Zealand. For Jones to make the comments he did is outrageous and hypocriticial. Point taken the likes of Hayman, Mauger and Jack if were still in the country they would be in contention, if not in the All Blacks. But to say that Weepu or Cowan wouldn't make a playing roster is rediculous when a month or twi ago Jamie Nutbrown, probably ranked outside the country's top 5 halfbacks got a contract.