Well, test one done and dusted, lets see what the hacks on the SH papers are saying.  As expected, many missing the points by as much as the captain of the titanic when someone mentioned 'beware icebergs', but other on the money and just good reads - something missing far too often these days when vitriol and sensation seems to be the order of the day.

Journo's of the week - Duncan Johnstone and marc Hinton, rocket scientist awards to Gregor Paul and Greg Ford.  There is no truth in the rumour that the second two are about to star in the third 'Dumb and Dumber' movie.

First up, lets look at what Gregor Paul said in the Herald, I think the following paragraph sums up perfectly that he was obviously watching the test through the bottom of a very empty yard glass:

"The All Blacks were adequate without ever being scary at scrum time. Their lineout was solid without ever being dominant and while they didn't budge an inch at the collision nor did they do much in the way of intimidation."

Did he not see the All Blacks scrum, with rookie props Schwalger (butting heads with 85 test veteran John Hayed) and Tialata making life a misery for their Paddy counterparts?  Or the lineout stealing four, or was it five Irish throws, while losing two of their own - I think a major win on that ledger there too. 

He does make some good point thought , the kick off receptions were sub standard, aqnd there was some communication breakdown, but then, first test of the season, and six days to put the team together, not a bad bloody effort...

But really, who cares if:

"12 years ago in the same city, the All Blacks went through 80 minutes of torrential rain making only three errors."

That was a team that went on to win the first ever series for the All Blacks in South Africa.  A team in their prime.  A long way from a team rebuilding like this one is...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10515054

Paul goes on to make some more sense though talking about this test perhaps being the coming of age for Ma'a Nonu, although his grasp of modern day rugby does seem to be lacking again:

"He was caught out of position on defence - another of his weaknesses in the past - when his opposite, Ireland's Paddy Wallace, scored his try as the All Blacks tried unsuccessfully to plug the gaps."

Hell's bells, it was phase what, from a kick off, not set play.  Have a look at rugby Mr Speed.  how often these days do opposites tackle each other at any rate?  First phase defence only, and even then Wallace would be Carter's man if the All Blacks are running a one out defence.  But other than that Gregor Speed on the money.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10515051

Greg Ford of the Sunday Star times again comes out showing that to write for the national papers having a brain and doing any sort of research is not a prerequisite:

"Last night there was another graphic illustration of its waning popularity with thousands of empty seats at Westpac Stadium which was a gripping sort of contest even though it never rose to any great heights."

Did he not notice the conditions there?  I believe from a little research on the fern - why the empty seats - that there were a thousand unsold seats for the game, and most people who had seats down at the front of the stadium, soon were up in the concourses drinking beer and watching the game on the screens, thanks to the sub zero temperatures.  Or is it just that he wants to be another S Jones or C Rattue?  just another shoveler of shit??

Minf you, he must be in the know, as:

"But if life wasn't complicated enough they looked hellbent on adding to their burden by in the first half ignoring their game plan. In its place they ushered in a carefree expansive style of play."

First half expansive?  Ignoring the game plan?  They picked and drove until the cows came home, into the teeth of a gale.  Not being privy to the All Black game plans like Mr Speed mark 2, I think that would have been pretty close to a game plan to stick with when playing into the arctic conditions that were prevailing...!

Are there any journos out there with an ounce of grey matter above the neck that is not sprouting from their ears or nostrils??

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4576650a10295.html

Duncan Johnstone writing for the same rag comes out with a match report that seems pretty accurate and does not slate the Cartel for any reason.  How strange...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4576353a10295.html

Marc Hinton, Duncan Johnstone and the Rugby Heaven crew come across with some balanced pieces too, well worth the reads...

About McCaw answering the leadership, or lack of brigade...   http://www.rugbyheaven.co.nz/4576796a22363.html

About Henry being under pressure in test week "was I under pressure was I"...  http://www.rugbyheaven.co.nz/4576406a22363.html

And about everybodies favorutie mad strangler, Neemia Tialata, which had an interesting point, which I never knew, "Starting at his preferred loosehead position"...  WE knew he was trying to get manufactured into a tighthead, but I had never heard which side he preferred.  He is certainly a better player at loosehead, big enough to play tighthead true, but the mindset, and now we know, the preference for loosehead...    http://www.rugbyheaven.co.nz/4576407a22363.html

Conrad Smith happy with the game, if not the conditions, "I'd have to say that was the coldest game I've ever played in,"...  http://www.rugbyheaven.co.nz/4576405a22363.html