Fiji NGO wants applied Biketawa Declaration to ease tensions with Tonga - Radio New Zealand International

Posted at 07: 38 on May 23, 2011 UTC

Fiji citizens Constitutional Forum is asking for the Pacific Islands Forum to consider the possibility of starting the Biketawa Declaration to deal with the current diplomatic impasse of Fiji and Tonga.

Fiji waiting for a response from Tonga after sending his Prime Minister a request for the extradition of Lieutenant Colonel Tevita Mara, who is wanted on charges of sedition.

The Biketawa Declaration was agreed by countries of the Forum of the Pacific Islands in the year 2000 and outlines guiding principles for good governance and courses of action for a regional response to the crisis.

The citizens Constitutional Forum, the Reverend Akuila Yabaki, executive director said that there should be consensus between the two countries in any resolution.

"This is to stop what could be a likely deterioration of the historical relationship." He is people of status mainly, in this country, could involve the vanua, the military, and I think that we get to the issues of diplomatic relations, and it could be of quite peacefully.

Executive Director of the citizens, the Reverend Akuila Yabaki Constitutional Forum.

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Young warriors in Tonga - Taimi Media Network

Agnatius Paasi

Next time you turn on the television to watch the Junior warriors play in the Australian rugby league competition NYC for children under 20 years, wait the names Konrad Hurrell, Agnatius Paasi and Visesio Setefano.

In a team with talent observed probably already the names of Tongans which indicates the strong lines Tongans in the champions of the Toyota Cup (competition of degree of age junior to the NRL). Names like Lousi, Palavi, Fotofili, Taukeiaho, Houma, and Likliki are immediately recognizable to fellow Tongan.

What is less recognizable however is Konrad Hurrell, Agnatius Paasi and Visesio Setefano are also Tonga and specifically the three are born Tongan.  Although their names are not your typical monikers of Tongans, are certainly stories about how they got to be in New Zealand and play rugby league.

In interviews Konrad (from Ngele'ia) and Agnatius (of Lapaha), while his travels may be familiar to many of us, is also curious how similar yet contrasting each of them is each other.  Both are a family of seven children, but while Konrad, a center of blockbusting, is the youngest of children of 4 and 3, Agnatius, which is a powerful built forward, is the oldest of a family of 5 boys and 2 girls.

Konrad moved to New Zealand 3 years with a rugby scholarship; Agnatius moved to the 3 years of age with the rest of his family.

Both boys played Rugby at secondary schools in the central city: Konrad in the powerful Auckland Grammar rugby union; Agnatius in rugby league fortress St Pauls. Both changed to the League of rugby to the recognition and the highest honors in the National Rugby Union team were not so close as the Warriors club Scout.

And while in the form typically Tonga both players come from religious families, Agnatius reflects his Catholic land to be named after a Saint while Konrad may be the first Warrior Junior from a background of Baha ' I.

However when it comes to the business of rugby league, both players are entirely in agreement to pursue a career in sports requiring commitment, sacrifice and discipline.

Warriors Junior Team Manager and former warriors duro-hombre, Jerry Seuseu, speaks highly of their charges born Tongan and is particularly pleased with the attitude and the ethics of Konrad, Agnatius and Visesio work to his training and his performances.

Konrad Hurrell

Seuseu, as players, however admits that there are no guarantees in professional sports and that there is enormous competition for places in the squad of game and ultimately for fulltime professional contracts in the Senior ranks.

Konrad and Agnatius are in their final year of eligibility for the Junior warriors and, with a number of members of his team-mate, he has established his eyes pick up a contract of full-time next year, if not with the Warriorsthen hopefully with one of the other NRL clubs.

Konrad has been in outstanding form this season winning criticism for his strong performances while Agnatius has played in every game this season, a feat that given the high level of competition among the forwards.

When asked what that so many in the Warriors Tongans Junior, both players laughed and said that it was "impressive". However they were quick to add that Warriors Junior all configuration was as a family atmosphere, which helped "all the guys treated each other as brothers".

And one final thing that both players agreed - I'd love to represent Tonga a day and play for Mate Ma' Tonga.  It is hoped that someone in the Tonga Rugby League is looking at the Junior warriors game and noting.

-By Essendon Tu'itupou

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Cowboys lose season Winterstein - ABC Online

Crisis of updated Center on June 15, 2011 11: 40: 00 North Queensland has worsened with unfortunate Cowboys recruit to Antonio Winterstein ruled out for the rest of the NRL season.

Analyses on Wednesday confirmed that the international Kiwi requires surgery after badly breaks his pectoral muscle in 24-4 on Saturday night loss to Manly.

The former wheel of the Broncos joins a list of injuries of long backline to the Cowboys with others that centres Brent Tate, extreme and Willie Tonga test full backup Shannon Gallant and Michael Bani also margin.

It was announced as an area of strength for the club, coach Neil Henry has had to be creative in their backline due to problems.

Rower back Gavin Cooper play at their third meeting this season in the centres against the Warriors on Saturday night while the usefulness of former roosters Ben Jones has been called feeder Club Mackay cutters.

Henry not hasten recovery of Tate of the reconstruction of his knee, but round 18 - his and Tonga likely return - could not come soon as the depth of its center was a huge success.

"It has eroded safe," he said.

"We have had to be a bit creative-Ben Jones, slotting what there is and (man 18th) will be of Tupou out there also."

"I thought cooperatives, Gavin, has made a good fist of exit on the left edge, as well."

"(But) we do not need to happen." "We will have to turn people around and try and get results to Tonga and Tate to return."

Winterstein injury, suffered in the second half as he failed to stop Steve Matai scoring at Brookvale Oval, continues his season's debut of horror in Townsville.

Their problems began in the offseason, breaking his jaw against Brisbane in Alice Springs, which forced him to miss the first five rounds.

The warriors have called Inu former Parramatta star Krisnan centres for the first time after moving to Lewis Brown on the bench.

The Cowboys also will be without second rower Glenn Hall (suspension), while Cory Paterson is still a fortnight away after undergoing knee surgery following his transfer from the middle of the season for the Knights.

Henry has also given opportunity of passes and overcome his wounds of war by resting him in training on Monday and Tuesday blocking workaholic Dallas Johnson.

- AAP

Tags: sport, rugby league, nrl, australia, Queensland, townsville-4810 recorded the first 11: 27: 00 on June 15, 2011

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Fiji and Tonga downplay Minerva Reef spat - Radio Australia

Updated on June 15, 2011 17: 08:29Relations between Fiji and Tonga are in sight this week.

Tensions between the two countries have apparently erupted on reefs Minerva contested claim that both countries, and the alleged involvement of Tonga with the defection of high-profile military former Fiji, Ratu Tevita Mara.

Ratu Tevita is currently in Australia trying to promote his new role as an activist for democracy, and the Government of Fiji is requesting his extradition from Australia.

But a reef in the Pacific Ocean also has people talking.

Presenter: Janak Rogers
Speakers: Ahongalu Fusumalohi, Special Adviser for the first Tongan Minister; Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum; Interim Prosecutor of Fiji; Dr. Clive Schofield is the Director of research at the Australian National Centre for ocean resources and security; It Rod Alley, Member of the Center for strategic studies of New Zealand

ROGERS: The Minerva reefs is an isolated reef claimed by Fiji and Tonga. Its been the source of tensions in the past, as the Tongan Government has repeatedly accused Fiji destroy navigation beacons set up. In recent days, a ship of the armed Tongan had allegedly persecuted outside an armed ship Fiji at the Minerva reefs. But Ahongalu Fusumalohi, a Special Adviser for Tongan Prime Minister, is willing to play by reports of a naval incident between Fiji and Tonga.

FUSUMALOHI: as I am concerned about there was nothing. However, they may have met and waved one to the other, but rather I don't want to speculate, and deduce that a confrontation or something more than was simply probably meeting at sea.

ROGERS: It is also alleged that Fiji and Tonga enjoy good relations.

FUSUMALOHI: And I think that there are no tensions between Fiji and Tonga. Our relationship has been warm and cordial throughout many years and until today, I think that it is continuing and I can only hope that our counterparts in Fiji that you want to discuss with us the issues of Minerva.

ROGERS: The Acting Attorney General of Fiji, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, also said reports of tensions between the two countries are exaggerated.

SAYED-KHAIYUM: and I think that it seems not much HAA hoo by the means of communication Australians and New Zealanders, about called fallout, there are consequences. There are various issues that must be met. We have taken the legal line, the legal process on several other issues that have been raised in the Minerva reefs and the Government, a statement from last week. We are going to follow the legal process under the provision of the Convention of the United Nations Convention on the law of the sea and which is under way.

ROGERS: But both countries have also released statements written in the last few days each intentionally stating its property on the reef. In a written statement published Friday, the Government of Fiji accused Australia and New Zealand of Tonga by manipulating the Minerva reef. Rod Alley is a Member Senior of the Center for strategic studies in New Zealand. He said while tensions on the reef had broken out again this year, but it seemed that there was no hope of a more amicable solution.

Alley: I am absolutely convinced that the bet rose sharply after Colonel Mara defected to Tonga and aired on YouTube, the world of Tonga on its deep dissatisfaction with the regime of Bainimarama.

ROGERS: Rod Alley also said that a number of countries appeared to want to gain political mileage from the Minerva reef tensions.

Dead end: There is no doubt in the entire system of Fiji is I think using the dispute to raise their concerns about the involvement of Australia and New Zealand and have said some very unparliamentary things about Mr Smith, Mr Rudd and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. McCully in New Zealand claiming that he is trying to handle the situation or manipulate Tonga as a way to return to Fiji. It is getting all rather messy.

ROGERS: Dr. Clive Schofield is the Director of research at the Australian National Centre for ocean resources and security. He says the time reef can be politically controversial, legally reefs could not form the basis of a territorial claim.

SCHOFIELD: Somewhat suggest that this is much ado about nothing in legal terms, but when we break down and see really what kind of roles that we are looking to the North and South Minerva reefs, are as their name suggests: reefs. These are features that are in fact submerged during much of the cycle of the tides. Now turn it has international legal implications for their ability to generate claims to maritime jurisdiction.

ROGERS: Clive Schofield says also that the prospect of mining rights and potentially lucrative fishing maintains much of the Minerva reef competition.

SCHOFIELD: There has been a realization that very small islets can suddenly be able to generate large maritime claims and the marine resources in those areas that are traditional resources that we think in terms of fishing and oil and gas, but also of deep-sea mineral resources. They are a major driving force in disputes over such small coming to the fore.

ROGERS: Rod Alley, Center of strategic studies said that the Pacific region countries are eager to see that not worsen tensions between Fiji and Tonga.

Alley: The conflict itself, Australia and New Zealand have said practically they do not have a dog in this particular fight, but that they want to see settled, because they recognize that if tensions between Fiji and Tonga much worse, could affect relations in the wider Pacific. And they have a meeting very important to come here in New Zealand later in the year and do not want talks that is putting much effort here derailed by a bilateral dispute between Fiji and Tonga.

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IRB Junior World Championship Rugby match view prior: France vs Tonga - Boxscore news

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First batch of left of seasonal workers of PNG for Australia - Radio Australia

Updated on May 23, 2011 16: 45:21After nearly three years, Australia seasonal workers pilot scheme finally accepted its first batch of workers in Papua New Guinea.

A group of nine workers left Port Moresby today towards Robinvale in Victoria to almond crop.

According to the plan, up to 2,500 visas were made available to workers from Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea to work in Australia up to seven months in any 12 month period.

But since its introduction in August 2008, he has taken part only a couple of hundreds of workers of the Pacific - most of Tonga.

Chairman of seasonal workers from the PNG, Alexis Maino task force said that nine men PNG will work in Australia up to 4 months.

It is said, they had to go through a rigorous process to select the first batch of PNG seasonal workers.

Presenter: Firmin Nanol
Speaker: Alexis Maino, President of the force for the season worker of the PNG task

MAINO: Will go to Melbourne and Melbourne, the employer will be organized buses to take them to Robinvale in Victoria, which is where they will be based for the next four months.

NANOL: how the Papua New Guinea nine or ten selected and where they come from across the country?

MAINO: We are following the provisions of the memorandum of understanding we signed with the Australians last year and we have established what they call a ready labour pool and we work about 250 more or less of the reserve. Your request is usually highly dependent on the application by farmers in Australia. So that particular farmer based in Victoria, wanted to hire 10. Thus of the reservation took place about 20 of them recommended that the employer. To try to balance it out, we had 15 men and five women.

Later the businessman returned to say that only it would be necessary to male employees, the work will mainly be pruning of almond. We allow only 15 men and 15 men, the employer...Rental of work they were able to select ten and ten, nine are now. We have a very strict criteria to follow, knowledge of English, but focus primarily rural. So we have people of interest in rural areas and we have done that at this moment we have some of the Highlands of the East, some of East New Britain, and have some Central Province and morobe to Iran now.

NANOL: these nine men, it really have to do in Victoria?

MAINO: You will be working on the farm of almond and season of preparation is now complete, but it will be necessary to do the pruning and that, which is why you using small chainsaws to do all the work of pruning for the next four months until Septemberend of September should be going.

NANOL: how much are going to be paid in Australian dollars?

MAINO: Seeking $ 18, $19 an hour, so the rate is similar to any Australian worker. So that even within that period of four months, they may be a little fair of money and the idea is not for them and unnecessarily use revenues to win. We have another task force has been configured, because to configure by connecting them with the financial institution to help them start small businesses primarily out of rural areas.

Do NANOL: once these nine people finished after four months of seasonal work and back, there will be another batch down or it will depend on the needs of farmers and the farm in Australia or victory?

MAINO: Yes, some farmers have expressed interest, and I just returned from a forum of countries of sending work - with seasonal work in Tonga and while he was there I met with the Australians and New Zealanders staff members as representatives of the growers association. From Australia, there are one or two groups or farmers concerned to Papua New Guinea, which is why we are going to examine. The other, of course, which is New Zealand have only a New Guinea whose contracted in accordance with the New Zealand what they call recognised seasonal employer scheme. So I spoke to the Association of growers in the first place and he's going to do the work there, but they are usually willing to accept more Papua New Guinea there, for it is another area that we are going to start looking. But we have the approval of Cabinet for both our participation in the pilot scheme, as well as the New Zealand schema.

Do NANOL: collectively after four months, how much you think that they are likely to recover in Australian dollars?

MAINO: Being up about $20,000, and if you change in kina, which is a little right of money for an individual, a quantity that may help to start some small businesses.

NANOL: and Australia, which will take care of them, such as farm or another contractor of the work or hire the company?

MAINO: We have an agreement with the memorandum of understanding that the employer will provide housing, Medicare, pastoral care and all that. What is the part of the agreement which has been accepted by both Governments, Government of PNG and Australia.

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Italy to overcome Tonga take Final of plate - ESPNscrum.com

Italy A Tonga 27-18, Churchill Cup Italy to overcome Tonga take 18 of StaffJune of FinalESPNscrum of plate, 2011 celebrate a Italy with the silverware of Churchill Cup plate © Getty Images to Italy claimed the title of plaque for Churchill Cup with a victory 27-18 on Tonga at Sixways on Saturday. Mosca-Mitad Riccardo Bocchino opened the scoring after a dominant scrum of Italians in opposition ' 22 and Tito converted Tebaldi. A penalty of Etimoni Paea reduced the margin after 16 minutes, but it was quickly followed by three points of the Azzurri after indiscipline in the breakdown of the Tongans. Bocchino astillas away on the scoreboard with a second penalty success, while the Tongans continued dents with their normally fierce tackles, but has not been able to do an impression on the scoreboard before the break. A quick start for the second half saw Italy progress with Tebaldi slotting again his third successful penalty to take his hand 13-3. With the momentum on their side, the Italians found an injection of style when it becomes fictional of Joshua Furno wing on the second attempt of the Italians Andrea Pratichetti. Having struggled to ward off an attempt during 50 minutes of play, the Tongans were in style Viliami Iongi struck from inside the 22, woven through a handful of defenders and scored in the corner. The conversion was lost by leaving Tonga 12 points. A period of trade between the two parties ended when Etimoni Paea slotted three others for the Tongans, reduce the margin of nine points. Venditti Giovanbattista scored a try to equal the Iongi panash, will go to the length of the pitch to score the third attempt on his side. An attempt on the record of Mateo Malupo closure and conversion of Kurt Morath was but consolation of Tonga. Italy captain Marco Bortolami, whose side had sputtering throughout the tournament, was delighted to see his side come in handy. "We have improved a lot now and put in a good performance," Bortolami said. "We have some young players and they have experience." "It was terrible against Canada, better against Tonga but today was a real improvement".

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IRB Junior World Championship Rugby match view previous: Fiji and Tonga - Boxscore news

Headlines:
Fiji ? have given 569 points in 17 games, the highest total of any team.
? Fiji had more red cards and yellow combined than any other team, with yellow and red and 17.
Only victory of Tonga?s ? in 11 matches of group came to beat Canada 36-20 in 2009.
Tonga ? been awarded 73 tries in his 17 games played, which is the highest of any team.
Fiji ? will have an advantage of 115 kg of weight in the scrum.

Summary of Group B:
? This match will decide who ends up third and fourth in Group B, once both sides lost to Australia and France in their two opening games. Fiji are in third place in points.

Team news:
? Fiji has made seven changes to his line of output from the lost side 50-25 to Australia and five players will be started in every game of group; underpin TOMASI KOLO, block AMINIUM NASILIMOSI, flanker SIMIONE SAWENE, Center of SOLOMONI RASOLEA and wing JOSATEKI LALAGAVESI.
? Tonga has made four changes to their line of departure from the side that lost 27-14-France, with TALIA?ULI SAMIU return at prop, NEHUMI VANISI in the blockade, MONA PARAKI earned its first exit the fly half and OTULEA KATOA in workplaces.

IRB Junior World Championships facts and figures

Fiji (time tournament record all):
? Terminó 14 in 2008, 12 in 2009 and eighth in 2010.
? Only won two of the 11 matches played in the pool stages, defeating Italy in 2009 and Samoa in 2010.
? Concedió 569 points in 17 games, the highest total of any team.
? Concedió 70 attempts, second highest sets after Tonga.
? Awarded 120 points to penalties, the second highest after Ireland in 132.
? have only won three games in general and only allowed half time twice, the worst records of the 12 teams competing.
? Have been a red sample and 17 yellow cards in the 17 games that have played, it is the highest of all teams.

Tonga (time tournament record all):
Terminó 13 ? in 2008, in 2009 10 and 11 in 2010, when he defeated Samoa 23-3 to secure his place in the Championship of year?s.
? Only victory in 11 matches of group came to beat Canada 36-20 in 2009.
? Concedió 550 points, the second highest of any team after Fiji.
? Concedió 73 attempts, the highest of any team.
? Has the worst rate of conversion of all the teams that will compete with only 48.5 per cent (16 successful kicks out of 33 tries scored).
? At the receiving end of 14 yellow cards, the second highest of the competing teams behind Fiji.
? Not kicked a drop goal in 17 games played.

It allows to obtain physical
? Fiji are six months by a man of Tonga and have a great physical advantage in the starting line and scrum, with an average eight centimeters per man differential height and 14 kg by weight of man superiority.

Children of high
? Fiji?s AMINIUM NASILIMOSI is the tallest man on the Court to 200 cm (6 ft 6ins), which is three cm over the highest player's Tonga?s, SAMIU TALIA?ULI prop.

The heavy weight Division
? The combined weight of the package of Fiji is 875 kg, which gives them a lead of 115 kg against Tonga in the scrum.
? Fiji prop TOMASI KOLO is the heaviest man on the Court in 120 kg (1.82 13 lb), which is three more than his counterpart kg, Tonga?s ELISI PULU.

History
? will be the second time that Fiji and Tonga are gathered at the IRB Junior World Championships. Tonga defeated Fiji 28-20 in the work of 13th place in 2008.

Experience
? Fiji has four players in their line of departure until she appeared in the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship; underpin SANDAY KIRWAN, block the advance of MAIKELI, of yoghourt, who scored a try in the defeat to Australia on Tuesday, flanker NALASEKATA KOLI and SOLOMONI RASALE of the Centre.
Tonga ? have three players who took part in the last Championship year?s; Hooker SEFO SAKALIA, flanker OFA FINAU and Centre OTULEA KATOA, who scored a try against Samoa in 2010.

The man in the Middle
? JP DOYLE of England takes care of this game, his fifth in the IRB World Junior competition. In the final tournament of year?s he published four yellow cards in the three games officiated, three of them to Fijian players in his defeat of 44-11-New Zealand and the victory of 15-12 on Samoa, in which NALASEKATA KOLI was one of the players ordered to the sin bin.
? Doyle was in control of game against Australia Tonga?s in the first round of matches this year, they lost 54-7.

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Government of Tonga warns about the scam of "Kingdom of Hawaii" visa - Radio New Zealand International

Posted at 23: 37 on May 22, 2011 UTC

The Tongan Government has issued a warning to travelers to United States that visas issued by a group known as the "Kingdom of Hawaii" are not valid and it cannot be used for the entrance to the United States.

Quotes online of Taime Tonga, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the money collected by the Kingdom of Hawaii to the issuance of these visas can be part of a fraudulent scheme.

Tonga Assistant, Commander of the police, 'unga Fa' aoa, says police have passports with stamps of these visas from the "Kingdom of Hawaii".

He said that they had received complaints from people who are enfadadas for this visa fraud.

The Embassy of the United States in Suva, Fiji has confirmed that visas issued under the Kingdom of Hawaii are not valid.

It also said warned that anyone who tries to use these false visas to enter United States on Board of a plane of Tonga or any other country will not be permitted.

Reports of Tonga say that an officer from the Division of immigration was victim of the scam and who filed a formal complaint with the police.

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Cabinet of Tonga meet in Vava'u ' or for the first time - Radio New Zealand International

Posted at 07: 35 on May 23, 2011 UTC

Cabinet of Tonga is celebrating a refuge on the island of Vava'u ' u, the first time that he met in the capital.

The meeting is to review progress since he took power last year and make strategic plans for the future.

The Ministers are looking for in the new budget, the strategic framework for development of Tonga and what the Government has to change to allow this application.

They are also thinking in its priorities for the period of four years.

The first Minister Lord Tu'ivakano said that the Government wants to establish strong and complete basis for the next few years.

He says, as a result of the withdrawal, when the legislature will open early next month, that the Ministers will have a clear vision of Tonga economic and development situation.

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Willie Lose: the black baby are defeat - IRB

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  Luke Whitelock scores one of New Zealand's 14 tries against WalesThe question could anyone stop New Zealand’s dominance of the IRB Junior World Championship had already been posed in many circles, even before they took Wales apart to win 92-0 on Tuesday.

We sat down with TV commentators Nigel Starmer-Smith and Willie Lose to get their thoughts on the rout and to put them on the spot with the big question ... will anyone beat New Zealand in Italy?

Let's just say, they couldn't quite agree on that one.

IRB.COM: What impressed you about the Baby Blacks against Wales?

Willie Lose: “I just think the New Zealand team got on a roll, they found mismatches, they broke tackles and then it became a bit like a Sevens festival where forwards were running like backs and backs were going in and cleaning out.

“Disappointing for the Welsh team obviously, but I think part of it was it they were targeting their last game against Italy and were possibly saving a bit in reserve, which is disappointing because I thought they should have given New Zealand a real crack.”

Nigel Starmer-Smith: “I didn’t see this match, but I saw them against Italy and the thing I find terrifically enjoyable about their performance is the fact they don’t grind teams down, they are actually beating them for skills.

"Their back division is small by comparison with many of the other teams and yet they have this individual ability, like Charles Piutau and the midfield players and Gareth Anscombe. A confidence, an ability to just vary the game and keep the ball in the hands which other teams seem to be a little bit negative about, yet they seem a class above everyone else by a mile at the moment.”

VIDEO: John Kirwan reflects on New Zealand's performances at JWC 2011

IRB.COM: So, the big question, how do you stop the Baby Blacks?

Nigel Starmer-Smith: Well I think they have tried that for three years at the Junior World Championship and no-one has really got very near to them! I mean England did a couple of years ago but first impressions are that there is one team and the rest. I don’t see anyone at the moment who is actually going to give them a fight.

“You keep thinking well maybe the other teams are sort of getting their act together, but put it this way, the northern hemisphere teams have all had five matches in preparation to get their team together, New Zealand just come in after a warm up against Tonga and suddenly they are in the groove and at the moment they look, it is rather like men and boys.

“Having said that, I think there is a lot of potential with England and South Africa.”

Willie Lose: “For me, I think the way you beat New Zealand is you take them on at your own strength. I think you have got to psychologically get inside their heads by matching them at set pieces, at scrum and lineout, and then attacking them with ball in hand. I think if you are going to kick them you are basically saying we don’t know what to do with the ball, here you go, you run it back to us and we will try and defend you.

“I think there are teams – like England, South Africa, Australia – who are really going to push them and even Argentina, who are proud at the set pieces will test them there. Sadly for Argentina they kick a lot of ball away, which plays into New Zealand’s hands.

“For me, having watched New Zealand, I don’t think this is as skilful a side as the one that we saw last year, or as fit I should say because I thought the team last year was the fittest I have seen a New Zealand side.

“This team is not as fit and I don’t think they are as skilful as last year, I think there are some weaknesses and Italy exposed it. You saw how the Italians defended so magnificently in that opening game and then they scored a try to their full back, [Michele Visentin].

“Why, because they ran straight, their full back came off an angle, went straight at the backs, bumped off Sopoaga, then the offload and they scored, so if you are prepared to actually chance your arm against these guys, put doubt in their mind, that is how I think you beat New Zealand.

“They are great at attacking and I just think it is still a psychological game for me and I think that New Zealand are a confident side and they build momentum because of that, if England can muscle up against them, South Africa certainly won’t have a problem, nor will Australia, and you have got to fight fire with fire, you can’t try and break them down and try and find an individual weakness because in the team environment they all cover those, so you have got to attack them as a team.

Nigel Starmer-Smith: You say that, but having seen two of the real challengers, England and South Africa, they had a mighty problem to suppress Ireland and Scotland. All credit to those two sides. England had slaughtered Scotland in the Six Nations back at home early on, but against Ireland and then Scotland they really had a battle.

“I can’t see any weaknesses in this New Zealand side and not having seen them play against Wales I still do think they look the same calibre of last year when they were again head and shoulders above the rest.

 “I have absolutely no doubt already that there’s only one winner yet again and it looks like four in a row for the Baby Blacks.”

VIDEO: New Zealand run riot in Italy

Willie Lose: “New Zealand have scored 122 over the years in this competition, they’ve only conceded 13. That tells me that this is a side and a country that loves to attack but they’re also proud on defence. That is what other teams have got to get over is being able to score against the side.

“The biggest danger for New Zealand in my view is how do they keep their feet on the ground. I spoke with [captain] Luke Whitelock’s father after the game and he said to me the danger he feels at the moment is that, after 92 points, what do you say to the guys at the next training session for them not to start thinking that they’re actually better than they are. It’s a matter now of keeping their feet on the ground and making sure they don’t start thinking they’ve won the game even though the final is two weeks away."
Nigel Starmer-Smith: “By contrast, England and South Africa have had hard games. Some would say, coaches would say, in a way that’s a better preparation. If you’ve won a game within 15 minutes of the game starting, how do you suddenly jump from an easy, comfortable win to a real contest. The others will be battle prepared. They [New Zealand] won’t be battled hardened because they haven’t had a battle.”
IRB.COM: Haven’t we said that every year though, that they haven’t been tested in the pool stages and they’ve still won the title?

Willie Lose: “I think this year’s different. I don’t think this side is as good as ones in the past, with respect, and so it’s going to be interesting who actually has a crack at them, who’s prepared to roll their sleeves up and say we’ll take you on at your own game.”
Nigel Starmer-Smith: “I find that hard to understand. I mean, you win by 92-0 against Wales, you beat Italy 64-7. To me they looked every bit as good as last time, but then we’ll only know the truth when it comes to the crunch games.”
Willie Lose: “The fear I have about sides not taking on New Zealand at their own game is that these guys look good because they are comfortable. They’ve got a great platform, they’re going forward, you could put any of the first fives from other teams in that position and they also would look good.

“So it all comes down to pressure. We’ve seen when guys are put under pressure whether they cope or not and that’s what you need to do, you need to put the class players like the Gareth Anscombes and the Lima Sopoagas under pressure and just see whether they can control it.”

Only time will tell if Lose or Starmer-Smith are proven right.

Listen to the full interview to find out what Lose and Starmer-Smith have made of Australia, England, South Africa and France, the other contenders for a semi final spot.

View the original article here