Sport: Blues

2011年7月1日星期五

Blues swoop for Canes discard Nonu

在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中，找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件，或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
在 ServiceModel 客户端配置部分中，找不到引用协定“TranslatorService.LanguageService”的默认终结点元素。这可能是因为未找到应用程序的配置文件，或者是因为客户端元素中找不到与此协定匹配的终结点元素。
Posted July 1, 2011 11:24:00

All Black centre Ma'a Nonu has signed a two-year deal with Super Rugby semi-finalists the Blues after being sensationally dumped by the Hurricanes last month.

The 29-year-old has also signed a two-year deal with the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) which locks him into the All Blacks set-up until the end of 2013 while giving him a "sabbatical" to play in Japan.

"I'm happy that I'm continuing my career in New Zealand and would like to thank the Blues for giving me the opportunity to join them," the 56-Test All Black said.

"I was flattered and grateful to receive offers to play for other teams as well but the Blues was the best option for me and my family and I'm really looking forward to joining them next year."

Nonu, along with Hurricanes skipper Andrew Hore, was given his marching orders by coach Mark Hammett despite playing more than 100 games for the Wellington-based side and being considered a certainty for All Blacks coach Graham Henry's World Cup squad.

Having flagged pursuing a lucrative deal overseas after being stung by the dismissal, Nonu will join the Black Rams in Japan's Top League before returning to New Zealand for next year's Super season.

The deal elevates the explosive inside centre into a select group of New Zealand players, including All Black fly half Dan Carter and captain Richie McCaw, who have been given the flexibility to play overseas while honouring their national contracts.

"Ma'a is an outstanding, world-class player who has been committed to New Zealand Rugby for the best part of a decade, and for him to commit further is fantastic news," NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said.

"We have said that we will look to be flexible when it comes to re-contracting our leading players and we think giving him the chance to play in Japan is another example of that flexibility."

The Hurricanes notched only five wins in a dismal season to miss the play-offs and finish ninth in the 15-team standings.

The Blues clash with the Reds on Saturday for a place in the title decider.

-Reuters

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, new-zealand

View the original article here

Blues assume underdogs status

Updated July 1, 2011 18:38:00

Blues coach Pat Lam says he is happy for his squad to be the underdogs for Saturday night's Super Rugby semi-final against Queensland at Lang Park.

The Blues meet a Reds outfit heavily favoured to progress to next weekend's season decider, the home side having won the minor premiership and enjoyed the week off in the first stage of the finals.

They will also be playing in front of a predicted sell-out crowd at Lang Park of around 52,000, which will be a Super Rugby record.

While the Reds are favourites with the bookmakers, the All Blacks-laden Blues are not without their chances.

They led the competition during a nine-match unbeaten run and had their opportunities to beat the Reds when they met at Lang Park back in round 13 before going down 37-31 to the hosts.

Nevertheless, Lam is quite content to push the line that the Reds are in the box seat, although he is mindful they faltered when they last won a Super Rugby minor premiership.

The Reds led the overall standings following the regular season in 1999 and hosted the fourth-placed Crusaders in their semi-final at Ballymore, only to fall 28-22 to the eventual champions.

"It's been 12 long years between four beating one and everything is pointing to a Reds' victory," Lam told Grandstand.

"They've had the week off, they're on momentum, sold-out crowd, but that is what is so good about rugby.

"It's on the day, it's the contest. For us we're just so happy to be here and we're going to give it everything we can and we're really looking forward to the challenge."

The fact the two sides have already met this season has given the Blues more than some idea of what to expect from the Reds and they took several lessons away from the defeat.

Improving their start have been given priority, as they let the Reds run out to a 24-0 lead during the first half before playing themselves back into the contest to trail 27-14 at the break.

Lam says his troops will be keeping this firmly in mind on Saturday night.

"You learn more from your losses and obviously the biggest one for us is getting off to a better start than we did," he said.

Big match experience

Saturday night will be the Reds' first play-offs appearance since 2001 and only three of their matchday squad - Radike Samo (Brumbies, 2004), Beau Robinson (Waratahs, 2008) and Guy Shepherdson (Brumbies, 2004) - have previously played in the finals with other provinces.

Lam feels the Blues will not be able to exploit their opponents' lack of finals experience, highlighting that they have played in a series of blockbuster matches during the season such as their thrilling 17-16 win over the Crusaders in May.

"It doesn't matter because at the end of the day finals rugby is about big games and they've played a lot of big games," he said.

"Super Rugby, even when you go the Africa ... there's some massive games there, so they're the experiences you draw from and ultimately when you get to the finals rugby it's about the best teams.

"The four teams left have shown quality right through the season, as far as teamwork goes ,and that's what it is going to come down to."

Meanwhile, Lam has opted to start Lachie Munro ahead of Rene Ranger on the wing.

Ranger, who has recovered from a hamstring injury, had been bracketed with Munro but will not be a fresh reserve, while James King and Sherwin Stowers have also been confirmed to take their place on the bench.

The Blues will be without All Blacks lock Anthony Boric because of a foot injury and his place in the second row has been taken by Chris Lowrey.

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, brisbane-4000, new-zealand

First posted July 1, 2011 18:21:00

View the original article here