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Drunken yob Cruden has been given the @rse by Steve Hansen for a late night out on the sauce.

Senior All Blacks 'disappointed' in Aaron Cruden

Liam Napier
Published: September 23, 2014 - 11:29AM

In a version of the catch cry "we are not angry but disappointed", two senior members of the All Blacks leadership group have expressed their sense of being let down by Aaron Cruden.

Collectively, Conrad Smith (80) and Keven Mealamu (117) have appeared in almost 200 Tests. They've been around long enough to drive internal standards and, as key figures in the leadership group, pass on what is required to new faces.

While both players and assistant coach Ian Foster attempted to move on from Cruden's boozy night out, which saw him miss the flight to Argentina on Sunday, Smith and Mealamu made it clear they did not endorse his behaviour.

"It's obviously pretty disappointing, but it's something that's happened," Smith said.

"Coming over it was a bit strange as it happened just before we were getting on the plane.

"We've had time to digest it now and we'll train this afternoon and start looking forward."

Veteran hooker Mealamu, regarded as the team's discipline enforcer, echoed Smith's sentiments.

"We were all pretty disappointed," he said.

"It was probably a bit out of character, especially for Cruden.

"We're into Test week now so it's been dealt with. We had to put it aside so we can concentrate and do a good job this week."

The boozy night out in Auckland on Saturday that led to Cruden missing the team airport check-in on Sunday morning started at a bar called The Zookeeper's Son.

The All Blacks' flight to South America had been delayed due to mechanical issues and several team members, including Cruden, went to the bar.

Bar owner Dave Catchpole told the New Zealand Herald that the group arrived about 8pm and had a relaxed night out.

"They sat in front of the fire for about four hours, ordered fish and chips, burgers and the big Canterbury roast."

The players had only a couple of beers each and the bill was about $80 each, he said

Others at the bar included Aaron Smith, Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane, Kieran Read and Sam Whitelock.

After the players left, Cruden was spotted later without his teammates at the Little Easy bar and was also reportedly seen at the Long Room.

Stuff.co.nz

This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/u...ppointed-in-aaron-cruden-20140923-10kpzy.html
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Horrible news for the Ozzies, gives Barrett a chance to cement himself in the starting line up.
 
What a fade out at Newlands! Heroic effort for 70 min then gave it away in the last 10. Aus just don't have the depth to compete with the AB and the Jaaps. I wish the likes of Hayne Inglis et all all played rugby instead of league we need some game breakers


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Need to kick out the Aussies and go back to the tri-nations.
 
Another RC in the bag, this time with a game to spare.

Better luck next year [MENTION=132982]soso_killer[/MENTION] [MENTION=190]OZGOD[/MENTION] :P
 
I'm starting to feel that we won't beat the AB anywhere or the Bokke away with McKenzie at the helm. We wasted two good opportunities in the first two matches when he picked Beale to play a position he hadn't played in months. He should have stuck with Foley and Phipps who were the half combination in form.

I've been watching rugby since the late 80s and other than in 1992 I can't remember us having a forward pack that dominated the opposition physically. Even our WC win in 1999 was more because our lineout was superb, with Eales and Giffin winning a lot of balls in the air, as well as an awesome backline with Larkham, Gregan, Horan, Roff, Tune and Burke. Larkham was a bloody magician and Gregan was at his best around that time. At that point rugby was really popular and making inroads into NRL territory. Since then as the Wobblies' fortunes have wavered so has the popularity of the sport. I reckon if they keep going the way they are going even the A-League will be more popular :facepalm:

We will always struggle against the AB and the Bokke because we've never had a forward pack that had some serious mongrel and dominated the opposition physically. There have been a lot of theories, none of which can be proven, mainly to do with the fact that rugby is mainly a private school sport played by kids who grow up to become bankers and financiers, while league is for the mungos, the blokes with some serious mongrel.

It's amazing that a team like Argentina, while they have some ordinary backs, can come up with players who are fantastic scrummagers and maulers. I think it's OZ it's a bit of that league mentality, mainly because of the harder grounds, where they want the ball to spend as little time in the tight five as possible - they want to run the ball wide at every opportunity. There just isn't a culture of forward play in Australian rugby which has always been known for running rugby. The team has always ended up with the backs living on scraps where our backrow and opensides help us at the breakdown because our tight five struggle to win set piece ball.
 
[MENTION=190]OZGOD[/MENTION] are you going to watch the ABs v Boks game?
 
Aman said:
[MENTION=190]OZGOD[/MENTION] are you going to watch the ABs v Boks game?
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F@#$ yea. If I can find a channel here in the US that shows it :(

SANZAR are so **** about TV rights. I can watch NRL, no worries. AFL, no worries. But rugby? Only European club rugby. How will they ever spread the gospel if people overseas can't see the games?
 
OZGOD said:
F@#$ yea. If I can find a channel here in the US that shows it :(

SANZAR are so **** about TV rights. I can watch NRL, no worries. AFL, no worries. But rugby? Only European club rugby. How will they ever spread the gospel if people overseas can't see the games?
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Why not just stream it from a sports site?
 
Tempted to go to sleep, with RC is already in the bag its just a dead rubber.

Plus, it can't possibly be good as last years SA game.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Ladies and gents - it's HAKA time soon...</p>— Kevin Pietersen (@KP24) <a href="https://twitter.com/KP24/status/518402319734829057">October 4, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Forward pass, it's Barnes though, he tends to miss those :afaq
 
What's the score? I can't get that VIP thing to work.
 
OZGOD said:
F@#$ yea. If I can find a channel here in the US that shows it :(

SANZAR are so **** about TV rights. I can watch NRL, no worries. AFL, no worries. But rugby? Only European club rugby. How will they ever spread the gospel if people overseas can't see the games?
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I find the Guinness PRO 12 to be quite decent actually. Wanted to see Connaught last night but my friend couldnt go. Missed a cracker :(
 
[MENTION=190]OZGOD[/MENTION] 13-24 with 15 to go.

SA have played really well, we've been off.
 
Congrats to Burger for falling into Messams arm and winning the Test...
 
[MENTION=132954]Aman[/MENTION] ek ge win het, Suid Afrika is de beste :).

What was your winning strak again, only one team was going to break that
 
Congrats [MENTION=132982]soso_killer[/MENTION] we were only missing the greatest player to ever play the game, Nonu, Retalliak and Cruden :P
 
But well done to SA, you guys played really well.

Pollard is a real find for SA.

The penalty at the end left a bitter taste in the end.

On the bright side for us, it's better to drop a game now then in the WC.
 
Don't want to take credit away from SA, but I think we were off for about 65 minutes :afaq
 
Aman said:
Congrats [MENTION=132982]soso_killer[/MENTION] we were only missing the greatest player to ever play the game, Nonu, Retalliak and Cruden :P
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I hope we're not starting with the excuses, especially after all the referring decisions against us of which you've been silent.
But let's not spoil it, you guys are a tough nut to crack, well done on the championship
 
soso_killer said:
I hope we're not starting with the excuses, especially after all the referring decisions against us of which you've been silent.
But let's not spoil it, you guys are a tough nut to crack, well done on the championship
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You outplayed us for 50 or so minutes, you deserved it in the end.

You'll go well if you stick to playing open rugby, you had the AB's rattled early on with it.

Pollard is a real find, much better than usual kick friendly tripe you've had lately.
 
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So use to winning all the time :(

I assume it's the opposite for you [MENTION=190]OZGOD[/MENTION]
 
So the AB copped a bit of bliksem eh?
 
Aman said:
Missed a cracker of a Test, came back to lead 25-24 till a long range Lambie penalty in the dying minutes won SA the game.

A beaut of a game.
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Yea well I tried that site but it kept disconnecting :(
 
Embarrassing loss after a shambolic preparation. Get rid of McKenzie!


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The Autumn Internationals are coming up arent they??

Who all do you have scheduled?

Pretty sure we've got Argentina.

Just checked, looks like [MENTION=190]OZGOD[/MENTION] and [MENTION=132982]soso_killer[/MENTION] are coming to town :D

Ticket prices for rugby here are an absolute disgrace though. Friends of mine are thinking of going to the world cup, I might yet, checked ticket prices and over hundred pounds excluding accommodation. Ridiculous. Games vs Aus and SA in November here cost over 50 euro. Pathetic
 
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Donal Cozzie said:
The Autumn Internationals are coming up arent they??

Who all do you have scheduled?

Pretty sure we've got Argentina.

Just checked, looks like [MENTION=190]OZGOD[/MENTION] and [MENTION=132982]soso_killer[/MENTION] are coming to town :D

Ticket prices for rugby here are an absolute disgrace though. Friends of mine are thinking of going to the world cup, I might yet, checked ticket prices and over hundred pounds excluding accommodation. Ridiculous. Games vs Aus and SA in November here cost over 50 euro. Pathetic
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Don't worry mate we may be one of the worst teams in the RC right now but we will have more than enough for you Paddies :D

I have a sneaking feeling that Link (like all OZ coaches) is experimenting before the WC. Hopefully he's realised that Beale is not a Test flyhalf and that half our forward pack need to be replaced.
 
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The mail from my rugby friends in OZ is that McKenzie has been sleeping with the business manager Di Patston who was the one who had an argument with Kurtley Beale which led to Beale getting stood down for the Argies Test. Then it's been revealed (by someone) that Beale had sent some pretty offensive text messages regarding Patston alluding to her intimate relationship with Link. Latest word is that Link has lost the Wallaby dressing room and half the players because of it. Apparently this Di Patston has started to take on a more powerful role in the team even though she wouldn't know rugby from league and is there strictly for the business end of things. You couldn't make this shyte up.
 
OZGOD said:
The mail from my rugby friends in OZ is that McKenzie has been sleeping with the business manager Di Patston who was the one who had an argument with Kurtley Beale which led to Beale getting stood down for the Argies Test. Then it's been revealed (by someone) that Beale had sent some pretty offensive text messages regarding Patston alluding to her intimate relationship with Link. Latest word is that Link has lost the Wallaby dressing room and half the players because of it. Apparently this Di Patston has started to take on a more powerful role in the team even though she wouldn't know rugby from league and is there strictly for the business end of things. You couldn't make this shyte up.
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So it's true, what an - McKenzie is.

He's already come out to the public and denied it, he will look like a real tool if he's found to be lying.

Should surely lose his job over it.

What do you think [MENTION=190]OZGOD[/MENTION], should he have just admitted it? He could have saved his job, by denying it he's sealed his fate.
 
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Aman said:
So it's true, what an - McKenzie is.

He's already come out to the public and denied it, he will look like a real tool if he's found to be lying.

Should surely lose his job over it.

What do you think [MENTION=190]OZGOD[/MENTION], should he have just admitted it? He could have saved his job, by denying it he's sealed his fate.
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Well Di Patston has resigned to take the heat off her lover I reckon. It will save him having to admit he was lying, which IMO clearly he is. Where there's smoke there's usually fire. The circumstantial evidence against him is damning. I actually hope the Wobblies get mullered by the AB to ratchet up the pressure. I don't think he is up for it. He used to coach the Tahs back when I was still in Sydney and even with a super team back then he couldn't take us to a Super 12 final. All Link teams play very loose, you get away with it at provincial level but at Test level good teams will find you out.
 
So [MENTION=132954]Aman[/MENTION] Beale looks to be gooooonnneeee from all my contacts. He's most likely headed for rugby league. Which club will end up with him you reckon???
 
Kurtley's texts regarding Di Patston have been revealed. Seems to be a bit of a mungo lol. Unfortunately this type of misogynistic behaviour is commonplace amongst most footy players IMO (probably most males, unfortunately too) except he was stupid and forwarded it to the person he was targetting :facepalm:

And after she had forgiven him a couple months ago he exacerbated the situation again on the way to Argentina :facepalm:

Clearly he deserves to go. Not the sharpest crayon in the box. His track record isn't exactly clean. This stuff would be unacceptable in any workplace - you do something like this about a colleague and you're caught, it's cya later.

I wonder if an NRL club would touch him after this. Probably - the mungos have worse in their ranks I'm sure.

The Telegraph reported that it was understood the delay between the texting incident and their being revealed publicly is because Patston agreed to keep it a secret in order to give Beale a second chance, but attached a condition to her pledge.

According to the Telegraph's report, Beale sent photographs of nude, overweight women accompanied by the words "Would you hit it?" and "Di", and "Di who wants a go f---ing this?".

Patston then replied: I am sitting here in the team room doing my job and I can't stop crying. What did I do to you? You have barely known me a day. I can't stop crying I am so humiliated by this. Don't you think my job is hard enough without this? This is how the only female staff member is treated? I am so embarrassed by this I am leaving for my room I can't stop crying thanks a lot.

Beale wrote: I was layin on my bed I didn't send it to anyone I sent it to myself. Youve done nothing wrong youve been so good to me & your such a lovely lady. We all see how hard you work for us. I just do stupid things for no reason. I was laying here getting ready for lunch & training mucking around. I hate I have done this to you & I am so sorry di.

Patston: Leave me alone please. I've come to my room. The team room is full of players I know you've sent it on to them but I'll never know to who. Just leave me alone this is not ok. Do you realise the situation you've put me in? I have earned this job and I am proud of being a female at this level. If I complain then I make it hard for women in Rugby and it puts the reputation of the entire squad at stake. Do you realise the situation I am? Just leave me alone please. I don't want to hear from you until my distress has settled.

Beale: Ok I feel so bad.

Patston: You may feel bad but if you did not accidentally send them to me how many more would there be? Are you sorry you did it or just sorry you got caught? Think about that.

Beale: I just don't know what to do. I'm so sorry.

Patston: Glad we got the chance to catch up and talk it through. I wanted you to look me in the eyes and realise I am a person — a mum, wife and daughter (all those things we discussed) and how they would feel seeing what you sent me. I'll never know who you sent them to or why; but everyone deserves a chance. You were clearly upset and showed remorse which I am for. I hope you can move on from this with a greater respect for treating people the right way. As I said, I won't be telling Ewen, or the ARU as you are entitled to one mistake and be a better person for it. I hope this is your moment and you gain a greater respect for the people here doing a job for you and the rest of the team. Let's move on from this and start anew. No need to talk about it any further. Di.

Beale: I can't believe your not going to tell Ewen or the ARU this means so much to me & I have learned my lesson I promise you. You have been very kind to me di and I'll never do anything like this again. Seeing you so upset hurt me I couldn't deal with it. You have my respect & deserve better you do so much for us & work so hard. Wish I could take it back. Thankyou di.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/a...s-to-di-patston-revealed-20141013-1154c0.html
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Won't be a loss for Australian Rugby, I can't see where he fits in into the 22 tbh.

KB going to league will probably be the best thing for both parties.
 
Aman said:
Won't be a loss for Australian Rugby, I can't see where he fits in into the 22 tbh.

KB going to league will probably be the best thing for both parties.
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I wonder if an NRL club will take him. Then again they've taken the likes of Todd Carney in so I wouldn't be surprised. He could probably go to French rugby - the Frogs wouldn't care if you are a wifebeater as long as you could run the ball well.
 
OZGOD said:
I wonder if an NRL club will take him. Then again they've taken the likes of Todd Carney in so I wouldn't be surprised. He could probably go to French rugby - the Frogs wouldn't care if you are a wifebeater as long as you could run the ball well.
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Pretty sure the Dogs and Raiders will chase him, both teams need a player an impact player like Beale.

Raiders have lost Milford and they need a big signing, Ricky's been going on about it and there's not too many established stars playing today who are willing to move to Canberra. KB may sign with them if there's little interest shown by the other clubs.

Would you want him there at the Raiders?
 
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Aman said:
Pretty sure the Dogs and Raiders will chase him, both teams need a player an impact player like Beale.

Raiders have lost Milford and they need a big signing, Ricky's been going on about it and there's not too many established stars playing today who are willing to move to Canberra. KB may sign with them if there's little interest shown by the other clubs.

Would you want him there at the Raiders?
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Forgetting about his text message shyte, purely as a player, I wouldn't mind seeing him at the Raiders. I don't think we'd be able to afford him though. Plus he's not exactly the type of bloke whose attitude is up to par with what Canberra want. They've flicked blokes like him in the past.
 
OZGOD said:
Forgetting about his text message shyte, purely as a player, I wouldn't mind seeing him at the Raiders. I don't think we'd be able to afford him though. Plus he's not exactly the type of bloke whose attitude is up to par with what Canberra want. They've flicked blokes like him in the past.
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True about him being bad for culture, but I don't think he'll demand much - he doesn't have the experience, has a poor track record and there isn't really a demand for FB's atm with most teams already having a FB. He either takes a big pay cut or he'll have to go to Europe.

Eels could make a play for him, maybe play him at five eighth.
 
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Aman said:
True about him being bad for culture, but I don't think he'll demand much - he doesn't have the experience, has a poor track record and there isn't really a demand for FB's atm with most teams already having a FB. He either takes a big pay cut or he'll have to go to Europe.

Eels could make a play for him, maybe play him at five eighth.
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I think the closer to the action you bring him he will struggle because the defensive patterns are different. It's what has led to the downfall of many halves that have tried to switch. Probably the best half position to switch over would be league hooker - rugby scrum half because the role and defensive duties are very similar. He's probably best off at fullback or wing where the defensive patterns are similar to what he plays.


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[MENTION=132954]Aman[/MENTION] Out with Hayne in with Beale??


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How many do you think we'll win by? [MENTION=190]OZGOD[/MENTION]
 
Aman said:
How many do you think we'll win by? [MENTION=190]OZGOD[/MENTION]
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Probably by 30 or so. Wobblies have had a week from hell, coach under pressure, senior players supposedly too powerful and not supporting the coach, coming off a bad loss to a quasi minnow. I'd be surprised if it was less than 30
 
NZ come back again from the dead.

Honestly its reminding me of FIFA, when with 10 minutes left you'd just switch the difficulty level to amateur to win the game :))
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Are you kidding me..... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Again?src=hash">#Again</a></p>— Trent Johnston (@Green23) <a href="https://twitter.com/Green23/status/523426343464083456">October 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
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hater__s_gonna_hate__panda_meme__by_pandamunchr-d5eznbh.jpg
 
As usual I didn't see the match but it looked like a close run thing at least. They've just forgotten how to close out tight games. Best news of the night is Link resigned. Now if we can get Michael Cheika in there and get rid of some of the Cane Toads we'll have a decent team!

Re the game, I didn't see it but these tight wins remind me of the Wallabies vs the ABs back in the early 2000s...the ABs would be leading and the Wobblies would steal it with a try or a drop goal or penalty in the last minute. I think cracks are starting to show in the hobbit team. Going to be a tough World Cup to defend in Blighty I reckon.
 
Hahahaha

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Standfirst in Chicago Sun Times calls the All Blacks a "legendary Aussie team". Epic fail. <a href="http://t.co/blvH4pSTVC">pic.twitter.com/blvH4pSTVC</a></p>— Olivia Carville (@livcarville) <a href="https://twitter.com/livcarville/status/529024342135279616">November 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


You're team's so anonymous in the US they get mistaken for us! :))
 
OZGOD said:
Hahahaha

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Standfirst in Chicago Sun Times calls the All Blacks a "legendary Aussie team". Epic fail. <a href="http://t.co/blvH4pSTVC">pic.twitter.com/blvH4pSTVC</a></p>— Olivia Carville (@livcarville) <a href="https://twitter.com/livcarville/status/529024342135279616">November 2, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


You're team's so anonymous in the US they get mistaken for us! :))
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The AB jersey > Baggy green.
 
[MENTION=190]OZGOD[/MENTION] it clearly says NZ in the article below.
 
We're up against the Saffers this week.

As always we get struck with injuries so we probably wont be fielding a full side, gives the youngsters a chance to perform though I guess.
 
Donal Cozzie said:
We're up against the Saffers this week.

As always we get struck with injuries so we probably wont be fielding a full side, gives the youngsters a chance to perform though I guess.
Click to expand...

Going to be hard against the Saffers. But they're not like Enzed, they can get beat away from home. I think Scotland did it a couple of years ago.
 
SA only bring their A game for us, they're otherwise pretty ordinary tbh.
 
Oh congrats on just holding on against the Babas [MENTION=190]OZGOD[/MENTION]
 
Like my sig [MENTION=190]OZGOD[/MENTION], it's a tribute to your teams wonderful performance in the UAE :D
 
[MENTION=132982]soso_killer[/MENTION] :afridi

Italy beat Samoa
Australia continue to haunt Wales
NZ get revenge on England
France beat Fiji
Scotland beat Argentina
And an injury hit Ireland team beat SA

Good weekend of rugby
 
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