Sir John Kirwan and Sir Graham Henry team up for the Blues

Finally some sense has come to the city of sails...2 knights at the round table

Kirwan, Henry team up in another bizarre scenario which puts the 2 resigning World cup winning coaches as assistants back where it all started for them.

Couldnt be happier with this given the demise of Auckland rugby- a world powerhouse in the 80's and 90's- over the last 10 years.

Their main task is really to get Auckland youngsters interested in rugby again instead of taking the easy cash league route and burning out early.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/super-rugby/7525119/Kirwan-adds-ABs-nous-to-Blues-coaching-staff

JK and the coaching staff are starting to look a bit frightening, soon the players will be too scared to go to training.

Grant Doorey????

aucklandlaurie wrote:
soon the players will be too scared to go to training.

Tough Laurie, they havnt been to training for over 10 years anyway...

Great to see. Two people who care passionately about the region and plenty of mana to attract upcoming talent.

Poor old Ted. Retirement just doesn't seem to work for some people! He obviously misses it and I don't buy his line that Pat Lam's offer to take the same role was too soon after the RWC. He's a wily one Ted and was just biding his time me thinks.

Two great NZ coaches setting a good example to NZ rugby. Good to see Henry back at Auckland.

Thought at first you meant Cardiff Blues, and wondered how they afforded them, and Why would they go to Cardiff?

Yes makes next years sxv interesting with hopefully five strong syndicates and very strong coaching setups.

Hansen must be over the moon with this arrangement for the next couple of years. The quality of well coached stock that he'll have on tap. Rugby heaven has a new meaning for Hansen at least.

kamo said on rugby centre tonight that theyve already started talking to Ex Aucklanders playing in Europe and Japan to see if they want to come back, Apparently approached players in some of the other New Zealand franchises as well.

How do you reckon Dan Carter would go in a blue jersey?

aucklandlaurie wrote:
How do you reckon Dan Carter would go in a blue jersey?

Don't see that quite happening but agree these guys will leave no stone unturned doing what they can to get Auckland rugby back to its former self.

Its still the best single catchment area in world rugby for youth and that's the ultimate goal. Retain the talent and stem the flow to league and outside the region...at least initially.

aucklandlaurie wrote:
kamo said on rugby centre tonight that theyve already started talking to Ex Aucklanders playing in Europe and Japan to see if they want to come back, Apparently approached players in some of the other New Zealand franchises as well.

How do you reckon Dan Carter would go in a blue jersey?

DC was on the verge of signing for the Blues a couple of years back, until he realised he wouldn't be able to look his Dad in the face if he did. He spends a fair amount of time in Auckland as most of his wife's work is based there.

I think Auckland would be a good challenge for DC, he seems to have gone a bit stale at the Crusaders.

Dunno...some things just aint right.

DC or McCaw after being a Canterbury born and bred playing for an Auckland side knowing the history between the two just has an odd taste.

I know things have changed since the Hart Wyllie days and professionalism but that would have been unheard of then and theyd get so much stick from Christchurch.

Its one of those situations that would be seen as awkward, evidenced by the DC's Dads comment, who was obviously influenced by the 80's heydays, especially with two of the 80's and 90's juggernauts Henry and Kirwan at the helm.

Interseting to see what Kia thinks- DC at the Blues Kia?

Rather the Blues than a French or Japanese club. But I can't say I'd be over the moon about it. Mealamu for the Crusaders wouldn't feel right either.

At the end of the day though it's the player's decision. So long as they keep wearing black I don't mind. If the Crusaders win but the Chiefs do then I'm ok with it. Maybe the provincialism is disappearing with not so much emphasis on the ITM now. I don't even know who won last year.

Frankly it won`t happen both will stay on as Crusaders and All Blacks until some one better comes along.Both are eyeing RWC2015 with modern sports medicine no reason they should`nt.Both are back off injury and playing well develop your own players don`t poach them.Crudon is supposed to be as good as DC,well last year Quade Cooper was supposed to be number one now its Crudon.Lets see how he goes without SBW next season hopefully Richard Kahui
will stay injury free.Hopefully THE BLUES will be back to something like there best. 5 franchises all competetive will be Great for continued AllBlack Rugby with the Canterbury ITM side leading the way!!!

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Rather the Blues than a French or Japanese club. But I can't say I'd be over the moon about it. Mealamu for the Crusaders wouldn't feel right either.

At the end of the day though it's the player's decision. So long as they keep wearing black I don't mind. If the Crusaders win but the Chiefs do then I'm ok with it. Maybe the provincialism is disappearing with not so much emphasis on the ITM now. I don't even know who won last year.

Was just thinking that myself Kia. On Ian Jones Rugby chat they were prelimming the ITM (Auck play Waikato tonight) and I thought I'd start watching again as I know Henry and JK will be all over the Auckland matches from here in but for the life of me couldnt recall who won it...without looking...Naki? They have the Shield at the mo.

Alan the other thing about Cruden is he's surrounded by good 9's. At the Chiefs he's got Kerr Barlow and at Manawatu ITM (under Rennie) he has Aaron Smith (and if he'd stayed at Wellington would have had Perenara!).

He came leaps and bounds at Manawatu in the ITM- thats where his progress went up on a sharp curve.

I'm happy with either...for once we dont need to worry (at all) about 9's and 10's.

Half time in the first ITM cup game 26 - 9 to Auckland.

The new rules havent done anything of great note so far:
On the first Crouch.....Touch....Set scrum, Ben Tamiefuna still got penalised for going early.

Anscombe easily kicked his conversions within the mandatory 90 seconds.

The 5 second "use it" was only called once or twice.

I didnt see anyone breaching the new rules governing the sprigs.

And although I was looking quite hard, the new rule requiring all women rugby players to wear tights doesnt seem to be an issue either.

Final Score:

Auckland 36 Hawkes Bay 29.

Close call then a one score game away team picking up a bonus point.Not bad for a just promoted side .Perenara is out for the rest of the season isn`the?

You're kidding! That's rotten luck. Would've loved the kid to have gone on the AI tour. Might be TK now instead of TJ.

TJ is still on the same injury I thought...back next year. Thats always been the case.

KB is already mentioned by Hansen as the AI 3rd 9 behind Smith and Weepu.

Perenara I believe will end up at AB 9 long term. The guy is fantastic around the breakdown and brings the best of KB and Smith (except not quite as sweet a pass- Smith's must be up there with the best of all time from what I've seen) in one.

excellant news Alby Mathewson, off to Western Reds, Why he was ever given a contract with the Blues is beyond me.

I'd like to see Sir JK say to all the half backs in North Auckland, North harbour and Auckland, ok boys who ever puts up the best performance in the ITM gets themselves a Super xv contract, Then just sit back and watch them go for it.