Meet the All Blacks

Dan Carter

Roll up, roll up.  Who would like to meet the All Blacks?

Well, to be more precise Dan Carter, Keven Mealamu, Ma’a Nonu, Sam Whitelock, Conrad Smith and Sonny Bill Williams.  Rugby fans and All Black supporters can meet them at the RFU Store at Twickenham Stadium between 11.30am and 12.30pm this Friday,


I know it's bonfire night, but if you go please, please resist the urge to fire rockets at them ahead of Saturday's game against England.  Or just use small bangers.

As ever, Dan the man hopes plenty of All Black fans will turn out in force.  Probably to protect him from being chucked on a bonfire.
He said “As a team we always look forward to the opportunity to get out and meet our fans and thank them for their ongoing support. Hopefully this Friday will be no different and they’ll be plenty of black jerseys out there ahead of Saturday’s match!”

Yeah whatever Dan.

Unfortunately I won't be able to make it down to London as I'm revising for exams.  However, I will be keeping an eye on the new Twitter page where NZ players will be interviewed during the tour.  You can follow them at: www.twitter.com/adidasrugby_UK

And the IRB Try of the Year is...

...going to be decided by a public vote.

After the IRB Player of the Year debacle (where good old BOD was robbed) it's nice that the IRB are gifting the great unwashed of the rugby world the chance to have their say on this relatively meaningless award.  Whether this will descend into a purely partisan vote-fest with everyone voting for the player(s) from their own country I don't know, but as there are no Englishmen shortlisted at least some of us will be able to remain objective.  Like me for example.

The runners and riders

As an admirer of Rob Kearney (and as an admirer of his skills with a rugby ball) I was so very tempted to vote for the brilliant try he scored for the Lions this summer.  However when I saw Cedric Heyman's scintillating try against the All Blacks, the rugby lover in me looked beyond the wonder that is Rob Kearney and I realised that in my opinion there could only be one winner.

If you can't be bothered to click through to the IRB site then you can view Heyman's brilliant try here:

Winner winner chicken dinner

So do you agree that Heymans scored the try of the year?  Not that it's really that important.

The closing date for entries is the 31st December and you can click here to visit the IRB site to view the tries and find out how to vote.