Martin Snedden predicts RWC sellouts
By DUNCAN JOHNSTONE - Stuff.co.nz
Last updated 16:25 18/12/2009
JOHN SELKIRK
SELLOUT PREDICTION: Scattering teams across the country should ensure packed houses at matches, says Rugby World Cup New Zealand boss Martin Snedden
Rugby World Cup team hosting announcement
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JOHN SELKIRK Zoom
Rugby World Cup's New Zealand boss Martin Snedden is predicting plenty of sellouts after the tournament's tentacles stretched even further through the country on Friday.
With hosting cities being added to the match venues to total 23 centres across the two islands, Snedden believed New Zealanders were set to embrace the teams and the tournament.
He said he had no fears that the smaller cities and towns would take up the "once in a lifetime opportunity" to get involved and that included filling seats at their stadiums.
"I reckon just about every match outside of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch will be sellouts or close to," Snedden, RNZ 2011 chief executive, said.
"The local communities will just climb into it and they are not big stadiums. I'm not worried about those ones at all. And I'm not worried about the big finals. It's just big pool matches in big stadia that don't involve All Blacks ... the ones we need to get New Zealand to buy into."
He said marketing would step up from March to increase public consciousness.
For now there was plenty to enthuse as the tournament operated from the Bay of Islands to Invercargill.
There were more winners than losers with Timaru and Whakatane the two cities to miss out because of accommodation problems.
Hamilton gets to see the All Blacks as well as Wales, Fiji, Samoa and probably Japan.
New Plymouth hosts Ireland, the United States, Wales, Namibia and another European side.
Wanganui and Masterton are part of the action as well as Kerikeri and Ashburton.
All have come through a stringent process and won approval after first-hand visits by management from the bulk of the 20 teams.
The All Blacks will hit the road from Auckland to Hamilton and on to Wellington.
"They said to us we just want to keep moving from community to community and that sounds fine to us. As long as it goes according to plan they'll be in Christchurch a bit later on," Snedden said.
But they won't match the Irish who will spread their popularity wide. They will start in Queenstown and then go to New Plymouth, Auckland, Taupo, Rotorua and Dunedin.
Even non-rugby venues were included in the training areas to be used - cricket grounds in Dunedin and Nelson and the famous Cooks Gardens in Wanganui.
Ticket revenue is Snedden's only income so he needs the feelgood factor to turn into cash, hoping to offset the government's $39.3m grants. But he classes that as "an investment not a loss".
Gerry Brownlee, Associate Minister World Cup minister noted that when he said: "The underwrite is of some concern but the spinoff benefits could be enormous."
As the World Cup machine starts to gather momentum the next phase will be travel packages released in January followed by corporate hospitality in February. Ticket sales will open in March and April.
The host cities with the number of nights teams will stay in them - and the training venues - are:
BAY OF ISLANDS
Asia1 (like to be Japan) 4, Canada 6, Tonga 4
WHANGAREI
Asia1 2, Canada 3, Tonga 10
RODNEY
Asia1 11 Namibia 3, Samoa 5
NORTH SHORE
France 5 + 10, South Africa 2 + 2
AUCKLAND
Australia 4, England 7, Fiji 8, Ireland 6, New Zealand 7 + 8, Samoa 7, Scotland 5, Tonga 5
HAMILTON
Asia1 3, Fiji 2, New Zealand 7, Samoa 2, Wales 7 + 6
TAUPO
Ireland 4, South Africa 3 + 6, Wales 5
ROTORUA
Europe2 2, Fiji 2, Ireland 4, Namibia 7, Samoa 6
TAURANGA / Mt MAUNGANUI
Europe2 3, Fiji 4+ 5, Samoa 4
GISBORNE
Namibia 7 + 5
NAPIER
Asia1 6, Canada 15, France 3
NEW PLYMOUTH
Europe2 3, Ireland 4, Namibia 4, USA 10, Wales 3
WANGANUI
USA 6
PALMERSTON NORTH
Argentina 7, Europe1 7, Playoff winner 3
MASTERTON
Europe1 7
WELLINGTON
Australia 6, Canada 3, Fiji 7, France 3, New Zealand 8, South Africa 17, Tonga 6, USA 5, Wales 9
BLENHEIM
Europe2 10
NELSON
Europe2 2, Italy 7 + 14, USA 4
CHRISTCHURCH
Argentina 15 + 8, Australia 8 + 8, England 19, Europe1 3, Europe2 6, Italy 7, Scotland 11
ASHBURTON
Playoff winner 6
DUNEDIN
England 3, Europe1 11, Ireland 7, Italy 3, Playoff winner 8, Scotland 5
QUEENSTOWN
England 3, Ireland 6, Playoff winner 4
INVERCARGILL
Argentina 3, Playoff winner 4 + 3, Scotland 4
Friday, December 18, 2009
All Blacks seeking ring-ins for Carter, McCaw
By TOBY ROBSON - The Press
Last updated 05:00 08/12/2009
Sunday Star-Times
WILY VETERAN: The return of experienced prop Carl Hayman would be a welcome addition to the All Blacks front row as the World Cup approaches in 2011.
Headaches for Graham Henry
Dear Santa, please send us a first five and openside flanker capable of filling the boots of Dan Carter and Richie McCaw.
Oh, and can you also throw in Carl Hayman.
The All Blacks coaches' Christmas wishlist isn't as long as it could be as the tricky pre-World Cup year approaches.
There is acceptable depth in most positions, the aforementioned areas aside. At lock, the midfield and the outside backs in particular things are rosy.
Make no mistake, 2009 was no oil painting. Five losses, whether tests or otherwise, isn't flash by All Blacks standards.
But it was tough, too. Injuries created a vacuum at the start of the season and young men were thrust forward beyond their means.
Isaac Ross was suddenly a test lock. Liam Messam was the starting No8, Adam Thomson the openside and Mils Muliaina the captain.
And Stephen Donald was shoved on to the stage as the starting first-five and told to try on a pair of boots about 20 sizes too big.
It made for a delicate situation and as the new men struggled, their coaches grappled with the game's laws and a South African side at the top of their game.
It's no guarantee of World Cup success to be team of the year two years out.
Henry knows looking back won't help New Zealand end their World Cup drought.
Adversity often builds character.
It cruelly claims its victims, but it also sorts the wheat from the chaff.
Think Kieran Read and Cory Jane for the former. Throw Thomson and Tom Donnelly into the mix too and hand Owen Franks a voucher.
A pat on the back to the three wise men for adapting to the new laws and forging ahead, their efforts rewarded in Marseille.
The most glaring failure of 2009 is the failure to develop creditable backups to Carter and McCaw.
It is like watching a train wreck approach. World Cup knockout match, one or both injured, tournament over.
In 2005, Henry toured the north with two teams worth of players that were the envy of world rugby.
Five years later he did not have that luxury. The reality is that if Henry doesn't test his next tier they will fall further behind their peers and further down towards their international rivals.
The challenge now for the All Blacks is twofold.
They must maintain the standards set in Marseille and they must find some insurance policies for Carter and McCaw.
Fullback A
Mils Muliaina is back to his best. Cory Jane's a more than worthy backup. Ben Smith has come on albeit on the wing. Israel Dagg is nipping at their heels.
Wings B +
Sitiveni Sivivatu was brilliant, Jane not far behind. Zac Guildford has potential and Smith had his moments. Hosea Gear was unlucky, Sean Maitland looks the goods.
Midfield B +
Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith continue to improve. Luke McAlister is heading in the right direction and Tamati Ellison made strides in Europe. Richard Kahui and Isaia Toeava await their chance.
Five eighths C
Still no backup to Dan Carter. Stephen Donald's on thin ice. Mike Delany's yet to convince. Aaron Cruden is on everyone's lips. Does Stephen Brett have what it takes?
Halfbacks B-
Jimmy Cowan is entrenched, but not complete. Andy Ellis is a competitor. Brendon Leonard almost disappeared but finished with a bang. Piri Weepu and Alby Mathewson stayed home.
No 8 B
Kieran Read has come on in leaps and bounds.
The position is his to lose. Rodney So'oialo remains a good bad backup and Richie McCaw provides legitimate cover too.
Could Sione Lauaki rise again?
Blindside B
Liam Messam is still too light for test rugby. Adam Thomson and Jerome Kaino provide a nice balance of styles. Read can play six too.
Openside C+
Richie McCaw, then daylight. Tanerau Latimer holds his own, but only just at test level. Karl Lowe still appeals.
Lock A
What a turnaround. Tom Donnelly has established himself at test level, Anthony Boric looks promising, Ali Williams will be back and Brad Thorn is keen to go through till the World Cup. Isaac Ross only just gets a mention and there's a guy called Bryn Evans too.
Props B-
Wyatt Crockett's a mixed bag. John Afoa's there or thereabouts. Neemia Tialata's back. Tony Woodcock was quiet. Owen Franks is a comer. Carl Hayman would fit in nicely.
Hooker B
Andrew Hore is streets ahead. Corey Flynn's solid, but still injury prone. Aled de Malmanche must learn to throw to the lineout. Hika Elliott's lurking and Keven Mealamu is sure to return.
Last updated 05:00 08/12/2009
Sunday Star-Times
WILY VETERAN: The return of experienced prop Carl Hayman would be a welcome addition to the All Blacks front row as the World Cup approaches in 2011.
Headaches for Graham Henry
Dear Santa, please send us a first five and openside flanker capable of filling the boots of Dan Carter and Richie McCaw.
Oh, and can you also throw in Carl Hayman.
The All Blacks coaches' Christmas wishlist isn't as long as it could be as the tricky pre-World Cup year approaches.
There is acceptable depth in most positions, the aforementioned areas aside. At lock, the midfield and the outside backs in particular things are rosy.
Make no mistake, 2009 was no oil painting. Five losses, whether tests or otherwise, isn't flash by All Blacks standards.
But it was tough, too. Injuries created a vacuum at the start of the season and young men were thrust forward beyond their means.
Isaac Ross was suddenly a test lock. Liam Messam was the starting No8, Adam Thomson the openside and Mils Muliaina the captain.
And Stephen Donald was shoved on to the stage as the starting first-five and told to try on a pair of boots about 20 sizes too big.
It made for a delicate situation and as the new men struggled, their coaches grappled with the game's laws and a South African side at the top of their game.
It's no guarantee of World Cup success to be team of the year two years out.
Henry knows looking back won't help New Zealand end their World Cup drought.
Adversity often builds character.
It cruelly claims its victims, but it also sorts the wheat from the chaff.
Think Kieran Read and Cory Jane for the former. Throw Thomson and Tom Donnelly into the mix too and hand Owen Franks a voucher.
A pat on the back to the three wise men for adapting to the new laws and forging ahead, their efforts rewarded in Marseille.
The most glaring failure of 2009 is the failure to develop creditable backups to Carter and McCaw.
It is like watching a train wreck approach. World Cup knockout match, one or both injured, tournament over.
In 2005, Henry toured the north with two teams worth of players that were the envy of world rugby.
Five years later he did not have that luxury. The reality is that if Henry doesn't test his next tier they will fall further behind their peers and further down towards their international rivals.
The challenge now for the All Blacks is twofold.
They must maintain the standards set in Marseille and they must find some insurance policies for Carter and McCaw.
Fullback A
Mils Muliaina is back to his best. Cory Jane's a more than worthy backup. Ben Smith has come on albeit on the wing. Israel Dagg is nipping at their heels.
Wings B +
Sitiveni Sivivatu was brilliant, Jane not far behind. Zac Guildford has potential and Smith had his moments. Hosea Gear was unlucky, Sean Maitland looks the goods.
Midfield B +
Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith continue to improve. Luke McAlister is heading in the right direction and Tamati Ellison made strides in Europe. Richard Kahui and Isaia Toeava await their chance.
Five eighths C
Still no backup to Dan Carter. Stephen Donald's on thin ice. Mike Delany's yet to convince. Aaron Cruden is on everyone's lips. Does Stephen Brett have what it takes?
Halfbacks B-
Jimmy Cowan is entrenched, but not complete. Andy Ellis is a competitor. Brendon Leonard almost disappeared but finished with a bang. Piri Weepu and Alby Mathewson stayed home.
No 8 B
Kieran Read has come on in leaps and bounds.
The position is his to lose. Rodney So'oialo remains a good bad backup and Richie McCaw provides legitimate cover too.
Could Sione Lauaki rise again?
Blindside B
Liam Messam is still too light for test rugby. Adam Thomson and Jerome Kaino provide a nice balance of styles. Read can play six too.
Openside C+
Richie McCaw, then daylight. Tanerau Latimer holds his own, but only just at test level. Karl Lowe still appeals.
Lock A
What a turnaround. Tom Donnelly has established himself at test level, Anthony Boric looks promising, Ali Williams will be back and Brad Thorn is keen to go through till the World Cup. Isaac Ross only just gets a mention and there's a guy called Bryn Evans too.
Props B-
Wyatt Crockett's a mixed bag. John Afoa's there or thereabouts. Neemia Tialata's back. Tony Woodcock was quiet. Owen Franks is a comer. Carl Hayman would fit in nicely.
Hooker B
Andrew Hore is streets ahead. Corey Flynn's solid, but still injury prone. Aled de Malmanche must learn to throw to the lineout. Hika Elliott's lurking and Keven Mealamu is sure to return.
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