Let's face it. The flat backline idea is a stupid one and is quite obviously not working. So to make Carlos the scapegoat and drop him from the AB's is pure madness. Dawnikins can see it, you can see it, his legions of fans can see it, so why not Henry?
New fans are joining the ranks of supporting the only true backline igniter in world rugby by the day. We all know that the only way to get the AB's back on track after the last two losses is to go back to having a backline that is deep and gives the talented individuals some room to show their flair - and that includes Carlos.
A big warm welcome to Wayne and Byron - two of the newest members of the most intelligent group of rugby supporters in the country. A third member, known as Munchkin, also wished to acknowledge her support of King Carlos but unfortunately wasn't able to make the photo.
Good luck from all your fans Carlos, we know it's only a matter of time before we'll be cheering for you when you're wearing the black jersey!
Not only did King Carlos set up one of the three tries scored by Rokococo in the second test against the English on Saturday with a pin-point bomb over their try line, he went on to add to his own personal tally of test tries as well.
Despite the thuggery and spoiling tactics employed by the English that the AB's have now become accustomed to, Spencer showed again that silky skills and tactical acumen will see through the skills of a lesser team on any given day.
The two test series has again shown why Wilkinson was so wise in staying at home rather than be humiliated by King Carlos. Maybe next year with the Lions tour the world will see who the true premier first-five of world rugby is.
The first try of the All Black Vs England match at Dunedin on Saturday night went to King Carlos himself. In a move that could be emulated by few other players in the world, Spencer provided a speedy and accurate ball to the flying winger Douggie Howlett before looping around the outside of him to gather Howletts pass and score in the corner.
That was just the start of an All Black romp, led by a fresh and resurgent forward pack and finished by the superb skills of Carlos and the 'Blues brothers' of Rokocoko and Howlett. Even Marshalls ball clearance was at a much higher stander while young Dan Carter was kicking penalities and conversions from everywhere.
Ironic really that leading up to he test two former All Black coaches were spouting on about how they wouldn't have Carlos in their team and yet his control of the back play that resulted in the 36-3 romp over the world champs was one of the primary contributors to the extend of the defeat of England.
Spencers control of the game and general running and kicking skills have again been lauded by the worlds press after Saturday's game. I guess this is why both Mitchell and Mains are "ex" All Black coaches.
Graham Henry has already shown remarkable foresight and leadership (unlike a certain person called Mitchell) by re-appointing Carlos to the All Black squad following a solid hit out during the trial match on Tuesday night.
Henry has selected a diverse squad containing a combination of solid performers and skill and elusiveness (in the case of Carlos) so the AB's can mix it up during their up coming game against England.
Unfortunately Dawnikins wasn't able to secure any test tickets to see her hero in the flesh, however we all can't wait to see Carlos cut the opposition back line to shreds with his blinding skills. The only dissapointment is that Wilkinson has opted out of the English touring squad under the pretence of an injury so as not to have to face the brilliance of Carlos.
You cant blame him though, can you?
Something many NZr's had long suspected has finally been revealled: John Mitchell may have suffered one too many knocks to the head. His comments today that he wouldn't have King Carlos in his AB's have placed into severe doubt his sanity in Dawnikins mind and the minds of thousands of other King Carlos fans.
No wonder the AB's lost the RWC with a person of unsound mind at the helm!
Unfortunately it was too little too late for the Blues with a decent thrashing handed out to the Highlanders on Saturday night.
Although they were pipped at the post for the final spot in the top four of the Super 12, at least the crowd (and Dawnikins) got to enjoy the talents of the most gifted first-five in world rugby. The display of running, kicking and passing skills to set up several of the Blues tries was something to behold and one can only wonder where the Blues might have finished had he not been out injured for part of the season.
In an ironic twist, the Chiefs made it through to the final even though it was foul play on their part that put Carlos out with a broken jaw for several games. Dawnikins can only wonder what might have been otherwise.
Thanks for another thrilling season of Super 12 Carlos. Dawnikins cant wait to see you back in the AB's later this year.
Back in the Blues after missing last weeks match, Carlos re-asserted his usual domination of play to set up some thrilling tries for the Blues during their defeat of the Sharks in SA.
Some deft chip kicks in behind the Sharks back line and his usual snappy passing and vision resulted in a four try victory to the Blues that have kept their hopes for a Super 12 playoff alive.
Carlos' full range of talents were again on display with all bar one of his conversions and penalty attempts going over. Most of these were from out wide and under extreme pressure during the tit-for-tat battle as both teams tried to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Dawnikin's is sure to be a the final and potentially the biggest crunch match against the Highlander's this weekend. Make sure you're there as well to join the legion of Carlos fans cheering Carlos into the semi-finals!
Dawnikins is shocked and upset by the foul tactics being used by opposition teams to try to shut down the majical first-five, Carlos Spencer.
The Blues recent loss to the Stormers demonstrated that some teams will resort to high shots and late tackles in a vain attempt to stop the worlds premier fly-half from slicing through their backline as he has been doing for most of the season.
It's time that the referees stamped out the foul play that has seen more and more teams employ against a person they know they cannot stop by legitimate means.
As Carlos again demonstrates what a top guy he is by making the ultimte sacrifice not to be with his team what his partner gives birth to their first child, the opposition will have to ask themselves "can he be stopped within the rules of the game?". Of course the answer is "no", but that's not Spencers' problem. Dawnikins says to the refs and linesman who are supposed to be controlling the game "the next high or late shot on Carlos gets a red card - if not two of them!"
By Chris Rattue - NZ Herald 10.04.2004
It was as ridiculous as it was sublime. Carlos Spencer that is, the way he carved up the Bulls like a knife through soft blubber.
The heavyweight South Africans got a better look at Spencer's dazzling array of passes than the man himself, because Spencer was looking one way and throwing them the other at North Harbour Stadium last night. You're unlikely to see a player put on a one-man show of wizardry at this level to such effect. Every time Spencer stuck his tattooed arm in the hat, out came a great big rabbit.
The Bulls bought the rabbits, the hat, the cape, the magic wand ... the works. The runners had a field day against slow forwards as they raced on to his passes. The Bulls had no answer to a man who can be a maestro. It started with an outrageous overhead volleyball sort of pass which Spencer produced from a quick Xavier Rush lineout throw. It could have brought disaster. Instead, it set up an 75m try which broke open the game.
The next four tries all had the magic hands of Spencer involved. The one after that came from one of his crossfield kicks. The Blues finally got on the boil, and it was Spencer providing all the heat.
The core of their flash-harry game still doesn't always look flash, although the Bulls never held the ball long enough to expose them in the tight. But as Spencer and Rush state, they will keep playing the only way then know how. It was Rush and Spencer who started it all off with that crazy lineout move out of a madcap playbook that should also contain the rule: Carlos Spencer's good health should be protected at all times.
Without doubt, he is the key to a ticking time bomb of a title defence that continues to tick over.
An announcement that all Carlos fans have been waiting for since that ill-fated tackle that resulted in a broken jaw. King Carlos is set to return when the Blues take on the highly-rated Warratah's at Eden Park on Sunday 4th April.
The only thing that could stop Carlos from returning is the suffering of another injury during training. In recent interviews with various newspapers in NZ and overseas, the Blues coach (Peter Sloane) said that the return of Spencer will be a "massive shot in the arm" for the Blues team who have struggled somewhat during his absence.
The flair and unpredictability that Carlos brings to the game is something that has been missed by the Super 12 competition during his time off. Dawnikins for one cant wait for her man to return to the field and the Super 12 to again become the exciting spectacle it once was.
The magic is back. In a move that could only have been pulled off by the most brillient fly-half in world rugby, an impossible cut out pass in front of the Blues goal posts to the Blues flying winger resulted eventually in Carlos audaciously walking the ball over to the far side Crusaders tryline to score.
The try will go down in history as one of the greatest tries ever in Super 12 rugby.
The one-eyed Cantab crowd had once again shown what poor sports they were and how big the green eyed monster of jealousy can have an effect on their judgement as they piled abuse on King Carlos throughout the match.
The sound of silence was deafening as not only did Spencer put the game out of reach with the final try to seal the match, and not only did he deny the juvenile fans the joy of a solitary bonus point by slotting the conversion perfectly, King Carlos raised his fist to the crowd as a gesture to indicate that regardless of the abuse directed his way, there can be only one crowned king of the first-five's.
There is only one, and his name is Carlos Spencer.
If the pressure was on Carlos to retain his title of most exciting player in the Super 12 competition (and the world in Dawnikins opinion), it wasn't showing in the game against the Brumbies on Saturday night.
Carlos displayed the sort of dare and form that was used to potent effect during the 2003 season which resulted in a great individual try against an on-fire Brumbies team. Some great bursts and bullet like passing also ensured the Blues were well into the game up until 20 mins to go when a resurgent team from ACT managed to sneak in a couple of tries to win the game.
But don't despair Carlos fans. The signs are there that King Carlos is continuing where he left off last year and we are all in for another year of exciting, running rugby that we've come to know and love from the rugby genius that is Carlos Spencer.