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Former All Black would rather pick up dog s*** than watch England play
By Ian Cameron
A former All Black has said he’d rather have picked up dog excrement at his local park than have watched England’s Rugby World Cup semi-final against South Africa.
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The Springboks edged past Steve Borthwick’s men in sodden conditions in the French capital, a game which was dominated by aerial brinkmanship, a high-stakes kick chase game and plenty of forward grunt.
Yet while it was low low-scoring affair, the consensus on the ground was that it was a tense, edge-of-your-seat thriller which was hard to take your eyes off, right up until the final whistle was blown.
However, not everyone was happy.
Former New Zealand scrumhalf Steve Devine, speaking on SENZ radio in New Zealand, said he felt sorry for fans who paid ‘good money’ to watch England’s 1-point loss to the defending world champs.
“I hate England. Their whole game,” said the ten cap All Black. “I honestly would have rather gone down to my local dog park and picked up s***.
“That’s how exciting I found that. If that wasn’t the World Cup semi-final, that would have been the worst game of rugby ever played,” continued Devine.
Devine was asked how much interest there would have been in the semi-final in Paris if it hadn’t been a World Cup match and he said: “There wouldn’t have been any. I feel horribly disappointed that people paid good money for those seats.”
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Devine’s hatred of England seems very real and a quick check of his Test career might point to an underlying cause.
In his ten Test career, Devine had just two losses, and they both came against – you guessed it – England.
He made his debut as part of an All Blacks end-of-year tour back in 2002 against England in Twickenham and lost to Clive Woodward’s side 31-28.
He got his chance for revenge when England toured New Zealand and Australia a year later in June 2003. Unfortunately for Devine, he lost that one too, with the All Blacks going down 15-13 in Wellington. England went on to win the Rugby World Cup, a tournament which also saw the end of his own journey as an All Black.
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It leaves the former Blues player as maybe the only New Zealand test player ever to have played more than one test against England and still have a 100 per cent losing record against them.
It’s certainly an opinion. Not that anyone here feels that is worth the ‘paper’ it was written on.
England is boring. He pointed out the obvious.
Sorry. All that stories, Rugbypass offers are such a rotten cheddar cheese. I really dont know, what some authors aim. Poorest level. I am loking forward for a huge final and I was surprised about England. They did what they can do in the semifinal very well. I spported SAF for that match in the stadium, but it was 80 minutes crimetime with a lucky winner, but not undeserved. Wheather wasn't easy. England managed it better. A lot of Newzealander was in the stadium too. They were very fair. Good sport spirit. Really a lot of french and England supporters was awkward. Thats what I saw and heard in the stadium. I saw all knockout games in Paris 1/4 and 1/2 finals. All that rugbypass-stories, you can forget. P.S I am european..
Is he related to Matt Williams or Ben Smith?
Another trash comment from an All Black. New Zealand geographically is isolated, and apart from Australia,has very little in common with it’s neighboring countries. They pine for mother England, as is evidenced by their adherence to King Charles and the British commonwealth. Insulting England is just a cry for attention, and New Zealand and Australia cling stubbornly to their “Britishness” ! In fact, South Africa rejoined the commonwealth in 1994, and embraces rugby, cricket and colonialism! All this current online tirade against the “northern hemisphere “ is a cry for attention!
Maaaaan clickbait is annoying… we all know it’s tripe but we all keep clicking.
As a side, it is amazing how the NZ and SA rhetoric has changed since France and Ireland were knocked out… tails are up and the trash talking begins… Yawn…
If I was a dog in New Zealand and thought there was a chance an All Black would pick up my shit I’d be really excited. But if I then found out it would be a total nonentity like Steve Devine I’d be very sad. Come on England, hurry up and play something more to little Steve’s liking please….
Actually sounds like a classless and crass individual, listening back to it. Give me Eggchasers and Two Cents any day of the week!!!
The guys a nobody, this is just stirring up nonsense.
I love how rugby has so many different formulae for victory. Whilst I prefer the running rugby of NZ, Ireland or France the set piece dominated style brings a different flavour to the game
Amazingly, in his very brief All Black career, little Steve Devine managed to play England twice. Those two losses have obviously festered ever since. He did, however, manage to play in an AB team that beat Canada. So presumably they’re ok. But really the only thing that’s dogshit here is little Stevie’s international record (Played2, Lost2) vs. England…