Carlos Spencer highlights from the Blues' 2003 winning season

Carlos Spencer highlights from the Blues' 2003 winning season:

Super Rugby kicks into gear again soon as the focus shifts down south, with rugby fans spoilt for choice over the next few months. Here's a look at one of Super Rugby's greatest ever players, in one of his best ever years. 

This video was posted earlier today on the official Blues website and while it's got some questionable music and no original commentary unfortunately, it's still worth having a look at as it shows some of Spencer's most memorable moments in that famous blue jumper.

In 2003 the Auckland Blues won the Super 12 title, and their team was littered with talent, particularly in the backs. Joe Rokocoko had one of his best ever years, and as if that wasn't enough to deal with for opposition defenders, they also had a guy named Rupeni Caucau to contend with.

Doug Howlett, Rico Gear, and Mils Muliaina were also floating about, not to mention Spencer, who controlled the ship beautifully from ten and thanks to his formiddable forward pack, had a platform from which to launch their lethal back division.

Spencer ran circles around the opposition and had one of his best ever seasons, producing moments of magic that will never be forgotten by those who were privileged enough to watch him at play. Those who have followed his career will fondly remember him as one of the greatest entertainers the game has seen.

Nowadays King Carlos is giving back, and doing a great job, as backline coach at the Lions in Johannesburg. Enjoy the video, and check out the related posts for more Spencer magic.

Courtesy of theblues.co.nz

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10 ways to improve rugby

10 ways to improve rugby:

Rattue argues that we should embrace the drop-goal © Getty Images

The New Zealand Herald's Chris Rattue provides 10 ways to improve the game ahead of the new season of Southern Hemisphere rugby.

"The national obsession starts up again this week. Here's a few improvement ideas for rugby.

1. Encourage the TV commentators to be a little kinder on the referees.

Players contest the breakdown, and commentators contest breakdown decisions. Constantly. Continually analysing this highly subjective area of the game is pointless, unfair on referees and affects the legitimacy of the sport. A few of our commentators appear to believe they know the rules better than the whistlers, which I bet they don't. The main point here is that breakdowns can indeed be things of beauty if there is greater acceptance that interpretations of them are largely in the eye of the beholder. Rugby by nature is something of a lottery folks - and the game appears all the better when you accept that. As for coaches who keep demanding greater consistency at the breakdown, they are usually excuse-makers who should put more energy into doing their own jobs better."

Best Tries of the Top 14 - Round 22

Best Tries of the Top 14 - Round 22:

A quick catch up on the best ten tries in the Top 14 for Round 22. Look out for James Hook, Sireli Bobo, Remi Grosso, and Francois Trinh-Duc. We've got more from the Top 14 coming up soon, but for now here's the latest top ten, and you can view previous rounds in the Related Posts below.

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Gavin Henson expulsado de Cardiff Blues

UPDATE: Gavin Henson sacked by Cardiff Blues: The former Lion's career could be over following his second alcohol-related suspension within a year.

Cardiff Blues da puerta a Gavin Henson

Cardiff Blues sack Henson: The Cardiff Blues have sacked centre Gavin Henson after his latest off-field incident

All Blacks y Doping

All Blacks fuming at book's steroids claim: Former All Blacks are fuming over allegations of steroid taking in the 1990s. The New Zealand Herald reports.

"Jack Ralston, who was New Zealand Rugby Union's head of sales and marketing between 1997 and 1999, made the allegation in his yet-to-be-released biography, The Sports Insider.

"People might be stunned by this but I know at least two All Blacks in the 1990s who responded to demands that they bulk up by taking steroids," he wrote.

"Ralston would not name the two players, who he said had told him in confidence, telling Fairfax Media they were "smaller guys who needed to put on muscle and bulk who were under pressure".

"He said the players may now feel they can speak publicly about taking the performance enhancing substances."

Highlights Hong Kong Seven 2012

España estará en las Series Mundiales. Balón Oval

España estará en las Series Mundiales:

Ole, ole y ole. E N H O R A B U E N A  a los Leones del seven. El año que viene estarán en las Sereis Mundiales de la IRB. Bravo! En la Final hemos caído con Canada, pero el objetivo ta estaba cumplido. Bravo!

Tras vencer a Tonga, España se enfrentó a Japón y como mandan los cánones, o sea, con la épica tras prórroga, España logró la victoria que les da la plaza para disputar las Series en 2013.

Los Leones del Sevn están por derecho en la élite mundial.

 El encuentro comenzó de cara para los intereses españoles con un ensayo del capitán Pablo Feijoo (5-0, descanso). En la reanudación, Igancio Martín amplió diferencias con otra marca transformada por César Sempere (12-0) pero Japón logró empatar el encuentro con el tiempo cumplido. En la prórroga, disputada a muerte súbita, el ensayo logrado Pedro Martín cerró la clasificación para la final del Torneo y el consiguiente billete a las World Sevens Series 2013.

Fichas de los partidos del domingo

España vs Tonga

Marcador:

5-0 Ensayo de César Sempere

—-

12-0 Ensayo de Pablo Feijoo transformado por Sempere

12-7 Ensayo de Latu convertido por él.

19-7 Ensayo de Carlos Blanco transformado por Sempere

España: I. Martín, Blanco, Canosa, Feijoo, Sempere, Heredia, P. Martín.

También jugaron: LeRoux, Cano, Tudela
España vs Japón

Marcador:

5-0 Ensayo de Pablo Feijoo

12-0 Ensayo de Ignacio Martín transformado por César Sempere

—

12-5 Ensayo de Hikosaka

12-12 Ensayo de Tipuilai convertido por Sakai

—

17-12 Ensayo de Pedro Martín

Alineación: I. Martín, Blanco, Canosa, Feijoo, Sempere, Heredia, Poggi

También jugaron: Cano, LeRoux, P. Martín
España vs Canada

Marcador:

5-0 Ensayo de Sean Duke

10-0 Ensayo de Sean Duke

17-0 Ensayo de Sean White convertido por Hirayama

17-5 Ensayo de Matías Tudela

22-5 Ensayo de Sean Duke

——-

10-0 Ensayo de Canadá

10-7 Ensayo y transformación de César Sempere

La vuelta del hijo pródigo, Brian O'Driscoll

The return of the prodigious son: David Kelly reports the hype surrounding the return of Irish rugby's favourite son, Brian O'Driscoll, in the Irish Independent.

"The 'sold out' signs are set to be erected around the RDS tonight for the keenly anticipated comeback of Irish captain Brian O'Driscoll.

Nearly 17,500 tickets have been sold as O'Driscoll prepares to make his first appearance of the season in Leinster colours against the Ospreys after a speedier than expected recovery from his post- World Cup shoulder surgery."