Would have much rather have been able to write World Champs win, with the result being the same, but we won't go there...

Anyway, the first real test of the season for the All Blacks, and a pass with flying colours.  They were tested physically for 80 minutes by the Steroid Brutes of Boerland, but the young side came through the baptism of fire on the right side of the ledger by 11 points, 19-8.

At the time of writing, the Black Caps have one more ODI against Scotland left before they fly home. Why they are playing this tri-series with Scotland & Ireland is anyone’s guess, and a huge waste of time, so I’ll focus on the England part of the tour.

In terms of the three forms of the game, this tour has highlighted what everyone already knew: Twenty20 is just a massive novelty which has nothing on real cricket (did anybody even watch the T20 game?), our boys can perform very well in ODI cricket, and that even though we may threaten to do well in test cricket, at the moment we are just not up to it.

Well, it has rolled around again, another season of Tri Series, another three matches against the Boers and the Shackle Draggers.  It would not be so bad if the three tests were part of a series that included the words 'tour' and 'midweek games', but it doesn't, unfortunately.  No, it is the play the same opponents 400 times a year Tri series.

The game though, All Blacks versus South Africa, has plenty of spice (don't they always), the Boers arriving on these shores as the current RWC holders.  They have not beaten the All Blacks in New Zealand since 1998, that year of the four losses on the trot.  A 13-3 win over the Taine Randell led men in black.  This must be their best chance since then to win a match though, with, what is it, 12 RWC All Blacks gone, the rugby nation divided with the reappointment of the Cartel coaching, and most importantly, the All Blacks with no McCaw.

Seven hundred caps.  SEVEN HUNDRED CAPS.  Yes, 700 caps running out onto the field for the steroid brutes from the Republic this weekend.  Have I said that there are 700 caps trotting onto the field this weekend for the Boers yet...?

Anyway, holy shit aside, South Africa have a pack that is ooooozing experience this weekend, and that is where the test will be won and lost - if our boys in the pack can handle the men in the Boer pack, then the backlines, where experience slightly favours the All Blacks.

Anyway, let the figures tell the story.

I've just seen the team sheet for the All Blacks vs Springboks game. I'm more excited than at any time during last season - because this time, it's about the rugby.

The weather reports are not good, and it will affect the handling, and the pace of the game of course. It will affect the outcome. But some things are above temperatures and wind-speed. The fire of pride will still be burning bright in the hearts of 30 young athletes attempting to maim each other on the park, and maybe the cold will only serve to numb the inevitable bruising nature of these Tests.

Thomond78, the member born to remind us that the All Blacks have lost to an Irish team in their history, just not to the international side.  Thomo blends Irish whimsy with Boer talk and comes out with his won unique stule of posting - usually worth reading his posts, just for the education!  Joined the Fern tribe in July 2004.

Forum member number 959

Less than one year ago, the All Blacks were world rugby's number one ranked team and tipped by all and sundry to have the World Cup in their rather nifty black bag.

But, as we now know (although many of us are doing our ample best to forget), the ABs crashed out in the quarter final against a dogged French side and a dog of a referee. This left the way clear for Jake White's gritty Springboks to claim both the title and top IRB ranking.