Sour grapes from Australia, how strange.  Fat Bastard centre Morgan 'where's the pies' Turuni giving the Maori All Blacks grief.  Saying that they can't be Maori, because there are Gingas in there, like Paul Tito, and blokes that look whiter than white, like Callum Bruce, hell, even their captain Jono Gibbes is not the pug nosed darkie that the Pie Man expects to be fronting up against for the Waratahs.  But why does the fat bugger even open his mouth (other than to shovel one more Big Mac into it)?  Seems pointless, and just a waste of time.  So Turuni, from Ngati Convict thinks that the Maori team isn't Maori, who cares.  Perhaps he should be looking at Jenny Craig and Weight watchers brochures instead of extolling his theories on racial purity in New Zealand...  What's that old saying about better to keep quiet and let people think you're a fool, rather than opening your mouth and proving that you indeed are a fool??

Staying with a theme, more sour grapes.  Well, not really, but the blokes that sodded off from New Zealand because they were being dropped for class players like Tavesa Laveatory (hang on, that's not sour grapes, that would have been down right insulting), are turning out in force for the World XV when they play the Bokke at Ellis park on Sunday.  Bruce Reihana, Carlos Spencer, Justin Marshall, Xavier Rush and Dave Hewett are starting in the XV colours, while Sam Harding and Mark Robinson are gathering splinters on the bench.

More sour grapes, but not really.  Reuben Thorne pulling out of the Juniors side that he had been named captain of.  Lots of shite flying around about this one, Henry should have contacted him earlier, and other bollocks.  Mr Suitcase even getting in on the act - but that probably a build up of ten years of frustration on big Reub's being called invisible by plonker websites and the like - and calling up Radio sport to have a moan.  All that 'drama' aside, fair enough on pulling out.  The Cartel know exactly how he plays, they know what he offers, and no matter how well he plays for the juniors, he is not going to be influencing them.  Thorne could score ten tries a match, convert them all, make eight try saving tackles, and then be subbed at halftime, but it won't change a thing.  He is at the arse end of his career, the world knows what he offers, and if there are a few injuries, to say Collins and Flavell, then he might get a look again.  Otherwise, thanks for coming.  Also good to step aside so youngsters can have a crack - Anthony Boric an up and comer, so good call Reuben.  Ironic though, Thorne has been playing the best rugby of his career in the last two seasons, and has not added to hi test tally.  Shit (and the rebirth of Jerry Collins) happens eh?

Corey Flynn has been named as captain of the Junior All Blacks, after the late withdrawal of Reuben Thorne from the side.  Caleb the carthorse Ralph has been handed the VC to go with the appointment of Flynn.  Vice captain that is.  That might go some way to soothing the poor buggers feelings after he didn't amke the field for the Crusaders in the final, thus breaking a 102 game sequence.   Something that will probably never be beaten anyway, especially in the day and age of players being rested every five minutes in case they play too many games.

Good news from the Argies.  They will have their full strength squad available for the Jerry Collins led All Black test in a few weeks time.  Always better to thump a decent side, as opposed to a 4th string team...

The Paddies arrive shortly too, looking forward to that, with Jesus O'Driscoll back with the touring party.  Hopefully the gifted centre will get a bit more game time this trip.  He'll be pleased that his personal bogey man, Tana Umaga has retired.  There'll be no handbags at 20 paces between these two now.  I'm picking the two will meet up at some stage on this tour, and a candid photo or three will find their way into the medias hands, showing no hard feelings etc.  And JOD will be back in the good books of all the Kiwi fans who currently think he is a spineless whinger (spineless because he let Woodwank and Campbell make him look like a fool, along with himself of course).

Poofball world cup starts soon, and for once, I am looking forward to it.  Rugby'd out perhaps?  probably not, I think it is just that I saw the Poms beat Hungry or someone, and saw three goals in about ten minutes and got all excited.  I think 4 goals were scored in the whole 80 minutes, but the ten I saw were action packed!
Who to support, well, not the Aussies, as they have a snowballs chance in hell.  Guess it'll be a toss up over which team grabs my attention first.  I am sure they are waiting with baited breath...  Brazil, Germany, England, they all favourites for no reason.  Would like to see a Germany v England final, that would rock, just like 66...