Lots of questions for ABs, not many answers

From the Hip

What is it with these All Blacks, they're going backwards both on and off the field?

Saturday night's effort against Italy was a shocker. The All Blacks would lose 20 metres trying to run out of trouble, turn the ball over and lose another 20 metres when the Italians kicked. And it kept on happening, for 80 minutes. Whatever happened to changing the game plan?

Luke McAlister, talented as he is, isn't the answer at first five-eighth. He just hasn't had enough rugby since returning home. And Isaia Toeava isn't the answer as a midfield partner for Ma'a Nonu.

Two players who did impress were lock Isaac Ross and replacement flanker George Whitelock. Ross was everywhere, while Whitelock may have done enough to earn a start ahead of Tanerau Latimer.

But judging on what we've seen in the tests against France and Italy, this All Blacks side without Dan Carter and Richie McCaw will have to improve streets to have any show of winning the Tri-Nations.

RECKLESS, fair enough.

But the penalty? A bit like the old Claytons ad - you know the one: "The drink you have when you're not having a drink".

Well Italian captain Sergio Parisse certainly has been given a "suspension when you're not having a suspension".

Parisse deserved to cop a penalty for eye gouging in Saturday night's rugby test against the All Blacks.

And eight weeks was fair enough, if it actually meant he was missing any "meaningful" rugby.

The Italians have finished their international season and there's no play until the club season starts on August 2.

So effectively, Parisse will sit out eight weeks of club play - something he probably would have been doing anyway.

Make the penalty count. A ban from international play (even for four weeks) would have been harsher.

FINALLY something for the Central Pulse netballers and their fans to smile about.

It has taken two seasons to get a win in the trans-Tasman league, but it was worth the wait with a one-goal victory over last year's champions the NSW Swifts.

Few had expected the win against the Swifts even though the Aussies had only won two games this year. For once, the Pulse didn't fade in the final quarter, instead upping the tempo to go out to a four-goal lead and then hold on to win 53-52.

And, while on netball, good to see the Kiwis finally break through for a win in Aussie with the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic beating the West Coast Fever in Perth.

SOUND familiar? New Zealand Rugby Union boss Steve Tew telling Canterbury fans to turn up or future tests will be taken elsewhere.

Seem to recall veiled threats like that from Hurricanes bosses to Taranaki fans. Front up to watch the toothless Cats or some other lowly ranked team take on the Hurricanes in Super 14 or else.

Threats like that don't endear the powers-that-be to their fan base.

Perhaps future early season tests should be allocated to provincial bases, with the big name tests played in the main centres.

- © Fairfax NZ News