I need some saucers !!

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

I need some saucers !!

macka17 · Guru

We got to let you win something mate.
Occasionally.
You don't do too well with cricket or other footy

Cupie · Guru

macka17 wrote:
We got to let you win something mate.
Occasionally.
You don't do too well with cricket or other footy

Oops .. I think that they are No1 in RL too at the moment. Despite the touch uo we gave them in Perth recently ... I must have watched that game 4 or 5 times along with all the others from previous years where flogged them consistently.

Can't wait for the 4 Nations with Big Mal at the helm.

This was published at end of 2015 ......

The new World Rankings, issued by the Rugby League International Federation, have set up the 2016 international season perfectly.

The Four Nations tournament, to be played in the UK next autumn, will offer England, Australia and New Zealand the opportunity of going in to the 2017 World Cup as the number one ranked nation, a position currently held by the Kiwis.

Among the big movers are two nations who will compete in the 2016 World Cup Qualifiers Europe; Spain who go up five places to 21 and the winners of European Championship B in 2015, Serbia, who now sit just outside the top ten.

"Serbia's end of the year ranking tells a story of the seasons behind us," said SRL vice-president Neboja Sretenovi. "Our squads in 2015 have been almost exclusively drawn from our domestic competition and I congratulate our players and the coaching staff for their results against countries that played in the last World Cup.

"The ranking gives us much motivation going into next year which will be our most important to date."

Wales move up one place after winning the 2015 European Championship, as do Ireland, while Scandinavian nations Sweden and Denmark both move up two places.

Jamaica also go up two places to 27th after excellent performances in the recent World Cup Qualifiers Americas, when they narrowly lost to the USA and drew with Canada, who are much higher ranked. The USA stay in 10th place after their recent qualification for RLWC2017.

"We are happy with our performances against the world number 10 and 13 ranked teams in the qualifiers," said JRL director of rugby Romeo Monteith. "We need an America's cup to move the sport forward in our region and all the nations, along with the RLIF, are working hard to provide a clear international calendar here."

The other big movers in the rankings are Malta, who also move up five places.

Full Rankings below and to keep up to date with the 2017 world cup visit www.rlwc2017.com

1 (1) New Zealand
2 (2) Australia
3 (3) England
4 (4) Samoa
5 (5) France
6 (7) Ireland
7 (6) Fiji
8 (9) Wales
9 (8) Scotland
10 (10) USA
11 (14) Serbia
12 (12) Italy
13 (13) Canada
14 (11) PNG
15 (16) Russia
16 (15) Tonga
17 (18) Belgium
18 (23) Malta
19 (19) Germany
20 (20) Lebanon
21 (26) Spain
22 (17) Cook Islands
23 (22) Ukraine
24 (24) Greece
25 (27) Denmark
26 (21) Norway
27 (29) Jamaica
28 (25) Netherlands
29 (31) Sweden
30 (30) Czech Republic
31 (28) South Africa
32 (32) Niue
33 (33) Hungary
34 (34) Latvia
35 (35) Morocco

-- Edited by Cupie on Tuesday 25th of October 2016 12:18:38 AM

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

NZ NRL team come good under World Cup as they don't normally play together. The state of origin etc is a great foundation for teams. Plus the Aust side tend to tire at the finals ?? Which has happened in recent world cups .. The better teams play with such intensity after 2 or 3 games it gets to them . Fitness is king .. Looks like the touring V8's is going NZ way too ? Lol.

Cupie · Guru

A little wager perhaps?

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Lol just banter is enough .

Cupie · Guru

Unfortunately I can't find the newspaper article that described a Haka that actually told the story of a Maori Chief who was trying to get away from his pursuers by hiding in a 'pit toilet' and his Queen squatted on it to put them off the scent, so to speak.

This couldn't be true could it?

Probably is true in that it was written by an ex Wallaby Sports Journalist.

The 'hominity' Haka?

or perhaps the real story behind the All Blacks' Haka (There'll be no escape from Big Mal's Kangaroos at the Four Nations this year)

Ka Mate Haka ...

New Zealand's international rugby team the All Blacks have made this Haka famous by performing it at their games. This Haka was created by a Maori chief and war leader named Te Rauparaha. It is a ceremonial Haka he created to celebrate his escape from enemy warriors who were chasing him. The Haka starts with a chant beginning with "Will I die, Will I die, Will I live, Will I live".

-- Edited by Cupie on Tuesday 25th of October 2016 08:41:47 PM

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

There's also the challenge . Often used when officials visit NZ .. The one where they have to pick something up off the ground . It's a meaning of peace . If you don't pick it up ? The worrier has a spear and supposedly is to use it .lol

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

http://youtu.be/QYwHN0hRTRE

Cupie · Guru

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
http://youtu.be/QYwHN0hRTRE

Gee thanks for that. My memory is not playing tricks after all.

You've got to give it to the Maoris. I recall reading a book about the Maori ...oops NZ Wars & their surprising (to me)use of systems of timber forts and the like. Of course in the end they were no match for the power of the Brits. The undisputed world Super Power of the day with an army skilled in putting down indigenous nations around the colonies.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_Wars

Have a look at the Strategy & Tactics section. Lots of fantastic reading in this reference.

I'll never forget a bus ride we had in Auckland with a Maori driver in about 1997. The way he & the passengers greeted and interacted with each other was fantastic. It was like a picnic trip with all of your family & best friends. A bit sad when our trip came to an end & we had to get off.

-- Edited by Cupie on Tuesday 25th of October 2016 09:10:21 PM

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

I am pakeha ( British ) the Maori culture is one thing we can learn from . If your ever offered food etc. Don't turn it down . It's an insult to them !! I used to play rugby in Waikato . We often played the down south in timber towns . Tokoroa area . We would play against each other like savages .. Their woman off field are worse !! Come end of game win or lose !! Come and have some feed ? Some watercress !! I tell you the infield battery to after social is TWO totally different things .. Thank goodness I never ad to drive home also !! Watercress is just that with pork, chicken and dough boys ( dumplings) with Kumara ( sweet potato) pumpkins , potato, . Boiled in water . Nice with tomato sauce . Maoris would say . They used to use pakeha blood as sauce in old days .. Lol

macka17 · Guru

First game 4.30 am Sat.

Think I'll be recording it hey.

Cupie · Guru

macka17 wrote:
First game 4.30 am Sat.

Think I'll be recording it hey.

Me too. Then as usual, delete any that Australia don't win.

I've got a great R/L collection of Aus/Qld wins going back a decade or more. Plus a few Bronco's Grand Finals.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

All good fun banter guys. Had an Aussie work mate. We gave each other banter on texts etc. Poor bloke died of brain cancer a few years ago ...Life can be way too short .