Today's Silverfern Spotlight on one of our more balanced posters, not likely to fly off the handle as some might, and well, frankly, one of the few 'voices of reason' on the Fern Forum!!  Read on as His Bobness answers his 20 questions, live from the Sydney Opera House...

Forum member number 132.

Describe yourself in 25 words or less:  A 49-year-old Kiwi ex-pat; born in Wellington, grew up in Auckland, resident in Sydney since 1988; spent 26 years in journalism (radio, TV, newspapers, online) before selling out to a better-paid gig in corporate communications; married with two kids

What international rugby team do you support and why?  I confess I’m an All Black tragic. Have been since my late father dragged me out of bed at 2am to listen to radio broadcasts of the great Ian Kirkpatrick-led teams laying to waste the rugby world. The All Blacks are called a ‘brand’ these days, but growing up they seemed to define for me what a New Zealander was. 

What Super 14 team do you support and why?  The Hurricanes because they match my mood swings; blowing hot and cold; favourite Hurricane was Christian Cullen. What a sight he was at full stretch

What's the biggest challenge facing rugby?  Where to start? The brain drain to the rich UK and French clubs, the looming schism over law changes, diminishing TV audiences, the resulting tension between the need to make the game more watchable and the need to preserve what made it great in the first place.

Who was the game's greatest ever player?  Being on the short side, I’ve always followed half backs. I remember at school we used to have long debates over who was the best – Laidlaw or Going. My money was always with Super Sid, who seemed to decide so many games for the ABs with his sniping runs. Best game I ever saw was the 14-14 draw with the Lions in Auckland in 1971, which gave the Lions the series. I’d grown up thinking the All Blacks never lost, such had been their dominance in the years before that. Never forgot the feeling of being absolutely gutted – and have been reminded of it in 1995, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2007.

How about non-NZ players? Who were/are the greatest?  For the reasons cited above, JPR Williams and Barry John of the great British and Irish Lions side of 1971 had a big impact on me. JPR with his flying mane and mutton chops; Barry John with his skinny chicken legs. In more recent times, I’d say Tim Horan of Australia was something special

What do you like about the Silverfern?  The best thing is the informed, generally civil and interesting chat – unlike the juvenile forums of Planet Rugby and other sites. There really are some great characters on the Fern and a number of writers who probably missed their calling and could give the likes of Stephen Jones, Spiro Zavos and Phil Gifford a run for their money.

How could the site be improved?  Some of the contributors are probably well connected enough to get some big names to pen an editorial or two. I’d encourage more photo-journalism, cartooning and photoshopping and podcast audio debates (Phooey vs Kirwan for instance). Regular features like this one are a good idea; as are World Cup Twenty11 features. I’ll put my hand up now to be the Silverfern’s editor.

Who's your favourite poster?  I think Red Beard always has something interesting to say; Watu is another astute observer of the game; Booboo shows talent as a decent reporter; and of course Phooey is the in-house Stephen Jones. You may not like what he says, but you feel compelled to read it. That’s what makes good journalism.

Who's the worst poster?  There’s no-one I actually dislike. The worst posts are the ones that have nothing to say. Fortunately, those types don’t last long on the Fern before being found out.

How could the game of rugby be improved?  The ELVS are a step in the right direction. Rucking could be brought back, although I think that’s unlikely in these safety-conscious days. The drop kick definitely should be devalued to 1 point, as in League. I’m also in favour of being able to pull down rolling mauls, although I appreciate that this is a mere back’s opinion and plenty of you get lots of pleasure watching these things. To me, they are impossible to defend against legally. And if you can’t have a fair contest for possession, they breach the spirit of the game.

What rugby player would you turn gay for?  Any member of the Black Ferns. Some of them make the likes of Conrad Smith appear half decent.

Non-rugby questions now:

Favourite music?  Who do you think? Bob, of course. ‘Blood on the Tracks’, ‘Blonde on Blonde’ and ‘Modern Times’ would be with me on a desert island, along with some Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, Marvin Gaye and Wilco.

Favourite book?  ‘Sons and Lovers’ by DH Lawrence; ‘The Waves’ by Virginia Woolf; ‘Atonement’ by Ian McEwan;

Favourite Film?  ‘The Last Waltz’, Martin Scorsese’s film of The Band’s farewell gig.

Biggest lifetime regret?  Not going to see The Rolling Stones play Western Springs in Auckland in 1973; failing to learn another language

Greatest hope?  What else? Seeing the All Blacks lift the William Webb Ellis trophy in Twenty11. (Better book my therapy in now!)