In this week's newsletter, Scotty discusses the All Blacks' squad naming, New Zealand at the Paris Olympics, and what the NRL table really looks like.
OLD DOGS AND NEW TRICKS IN SQUAD NAMING
Sam Cane is back and with that the All Blacks management have signalled their intention to be far more ruthless and efficient at the break down. The 36-man squad for the Rugby Championship was announced with little fanfare yesterday, but Cane's inclusion is a notable talking point. The All Blacks want to play the game at pace and England were able to consistently stifle that ambition in the two-test series earlier this month.
The inclusion of such an experienced openside flanker, who will now have the chance to add to his 98 tests, is prima facie a case of pragmatism, but it is also an indication that Dalton Papali'I, Ethan Blackadder and Luke Jacobson needed to show more in the chances afforded them this international season.
Sam Cane may have a complicated relationship with the New Zealand rugby public but at his best he is a dominant tackler with an innate ability to rack up big numbers on the BIG (Back In Game) stat line. Cane’s key strength is his hunger to make consecutive plays on defence and attack, and that is something the aforementioned trio seemed shy of in the games so far.
If Cane's inclusion is worthy of discussion, two big omissions have caused a bigger stir. Blues halfback Finlay Christie has been jettisoned in favour of Noah Hotham, who appears to be destined for a long career in black. Emoni Narawa has also been left out having collected just 20 minutes off the bench against Fiji. That has freed up space for the return of Will Jordan, who will likely not be ready until the second test against Argentina, and David Havili, who provides utility value.
The one new name to the squad is Ruben Love who, according to head coach Scott Robertson, has "worked hard in the background and will be ready when his opportunity comes".
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OH CANADA!
If you got Canada in the Olympics scandal sweepstakes before the games began, you could have been forgiven for feeling slightly deflated. Instead, the most apologetic nation on earth has raced to the front faster than Ben Johnson, with FIFA handing down 1-year bans for head coach Bev Priestman, along with assistant Jasmine Mander and analyst Joseph Lombardi who had already been shipped home prior to this ruling.
As well as handing out sanctions for staff, FIFA has also deigned to strip Canada of six points in the Olympic tournament and to fine Canadian Football's governing body, CSA, to the tune of $380,000 NZ dollars.
Of course, none of this helps the Football Ferns, who lost their opening match of the tournament to Canada, the defending Olympic champions. New Zealand Football remains unsatisfied with the outcome, though it is unclear what redress they may have expected from the world body.
In a statement, New Zealand Football said, "The issue still remains that they [Canada] likely had an unfair sporting advantage gained by filming our key tactical sessions, when they played New Zealand and won by a single goal."
One can infer from the above that New Zealand Football would have been happier had New Zealand been given the points for the opening fixture. If that is the case, then they will be lobbying fiercely behind closed doors. At time of writing the CSA had not sought to appeal the decision through the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which can expedite hearings during the Olympic Games.
One thing is clear, CSA is going to be embroiled in controversy for many months to come.
The Football Ferns took on Colombia in their second match this morning, and you can read more on 1News.co.nz.
FAIRWEATHER FOURTH REFLECTS OLYMPIC REALITY
Erika Fairweather missed out on the medals in her favoured 400m freestyle event, and her fourth place, albeit in a time just 0.26 seconds behind American Katie Ledecky, does illustrate the harsh realities of Olympic swimming, and why World Championship form can be misleading.
When Fairweather claimed the world title in Doha, it was in a field without the three swimmers who would eventually claim the spots on the Olympic dais. Ariane Titmus, the Australian who became the first swimmer to defend the women’s Olympic title over this distance, Summer McIntosh of Canada, and the legendary Ledecky were all absent from that meet, and that is a crucial detail.
This is not to take away from Fairweather's achievement in Doha, and her winning time that day would have been enough for bronze at these games. However, it is in the Olympic pool, and most certainly over a distance as taxing and tactical as the 400 metres free, where the genuine legends shine.
Titmus owned the event from start to finish, setting a pace that only McIntosh could live with. Fairweather's race was against Ledecky who was in the lane adjacent and, in the fullness of time, she may regret allowing the American to take too much distance from her in the opening half of the race. The way Fairweather powered home perhaps showed there may have been more juice in the tank earlier.
All of this is to say the 20-year-old will have another shot at taking a title in Olympic competition but it feels at this stage at least, that she will have to find a strategy that allows her to put her more experienced and stories rivals under pressure, as opposed to playing catch up. If Fairweather can find a way to impose herself earlier in the race, she will be a force to be reckoned with in seasons to come.
OPENING CEREMONY DELETED FROM OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS
I guess it wasn't everyone's cup of tea, was it?
Still, you'd think the Olympic movement would have a bit more courage than that. Or maybe not. Facing a predominately conservative Christian backlash to certain elements within the show, the IOC appears to have forgotten its own prognostications about inclusivity and diversity and decided that the best way to handle the whole matter is to say, "What Opening Ceremony?"
Well, if it ain't on Youtube, it never happened.
ALL EYES ON THE BYES
It was not what you would call vintage rugby league on Friday night at Go Media Stadium, but the Warriors are not trying to win style points with five games remaining this season. Their 28-16 victory over the hapless Tigers was not exactly convincing, but at this point it hardly matters. Getting the job done and getting the win is everything right now as the run home begins in earnest.
Crucially for the Warriors, they have their third bye of the season in the last round, which means the current points table is not quite reflective of reality. The Warriors will get the automatic two points for the bye so you can add that on right now to have a clearer indication of where they are at.
As it stands the table, down to the Warriors reads like so, with the points in brackets accounting for the remaining byes.
Storm 36
Panthers 30
Roosters 28 (30)
Sharks 28
Bulldogs 26
Cowboys 26 (28)
Sea Eagles 25 (27)
________________________________________________________
Dolphins 24
Dragons 24
Raiders 22
Knights 22
Warriors 21 (23)
Whether you are a fan of the points-for-byes system or not, it is worth noting that only three teams above the Warriors (Roosters, Cowboys, and Sea Eagles) have remaining byes and the attendant free points this season. That could come into play over the final weeks of the competition’s regular season.
One bright spot for the Warriors on Friday night was the work of Addin Fonua-Blake. The big front rower has had his critics this season and was sensationally stood down following the side's gutsy win over the Panthers in week 11. Against the Tigers he was immense, racking up 222 running metres, including 86 metres post-contact.
If Fonua-Blake can hold that kind of form for the remaining five matches, the Warriors may still stand a chance. Unfortunately, four of those games will be against top-eight sides: the Dolphins, Sea Eagles, Bulldogs and Sharks.
OLYMPICS ACTION TODAY
There have been a number of New Zealanders in performances overnight, but here are your Kiwis to watch as Sidelines lands in your inbox:
7.30am: Black Ferns Sevens pool play v Canada
7.37am: Kane Follows, 100m backstroke semifinal
8.00am: Erika Fairweather, 200m freestyle final
9.48am: Billy Stairmand, Surfing 2nd round
7.00pm: Owen Robinson, Trap Shooting Qualifier
9.00pm: Jonelle Price/Tim Price/Clarke Johnstone, Three-day eventing showjumping
10.00pm Erin Routliffe/Lulu Sun doubles 2nd round (if qualified)
10.15pm Jo Aleh/Molly Meech, 49er FX races 4-6
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