Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Midweek Madness - The All Blacks show their skills in new advert

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Midweek Madness - The All Blacks show their skills in new advert

Sky NZ’s Rugby Channel have come up with a new advert that is sure to get plenty of attention. It features All Blacks Cory Jane, Piri Weepu, and Rene Ranger at training pulling off incredible passes, kicks, and no look catches. But how original is it?

Following on from the recent success of the viral Roger Federer trickshot campaign, where R-Fed knocks a can off an assistants head twice with two pinpoint serves, the Sky NZ channel have come up with their own version as the talented backs show off their skills.

The Federer video was largely a success, with Gillette benefiting from over 7 million views on Youtube alone. That ad in itself wasn’t an entirely new concept, and this latest viral attempt has very close ties to a NFL Fantasy Football campaign from 2008, where players performed tricks very similar to what we see the All Black boys doing.

Original or not, it does make for great viewing and you yourself can decide whether you think the things they do are genuine.

"The guys are three of the real characters in the team and had a lot of fun shooting the promo and we hope fans get a bit of a laugh out of it as well," an All Blacks spokesman said.

While many believe that what they do in this clip is, or even could be real, Sky TV declined to comment, but Cory Jane did slip up on Twitter yesterday.

When asked about the authenticity of the ad the All Black wing tweeted "My bit is real haha nah I did it bout 10 times and didn't even get near the bins."

So good. Nicely done boys

By Laz, at September 22, 2010 10:16 am
as long as they are having fun and it's great to watch, why not?

By Jeroz, at September 22, 2010 10:20 am
^ Why not? Because two or three more viral ads like this, and no one will ever believe it when someone truly pulls off some mad skills. If everyone is in on the secret that everything is fixed in post-production, then the whole idea of outrageous skill goes out the window. When Tiger did the clip where he bounced the ball on his wedge, behind his back, between his legs before knocking it away – that was REAL and done in one take. And he demonstrated it again to a journalist, first take. Now we have ad agencies scripting more and more unbelievable scenarios, and editors cheating the results more and more realistically. But what does that do for Weepu and Ranger and Jane’s credibility? Or Federer’s? I’d rather see guys attempting stuff for real and failing than this.

By katman, at September 22, 2010 10:44 am
Fair point, Katman. Good thing Francois Steyn did that massive drop goal in a match. If it were done in training and someone filmed it, nobody would believe it!

Still, it gets people talking, which is obviously the aim of a viral video.

By Laz, at September 22, 2010 10:57 am
Its just a Bit of fun for the fans The All Blacks seem to do more with there fans wish England could such a shame. Have you seen the video of Richie Mccaw surprising kids at primary school in New Zealand? should have seen there faces priceless. Was so nice of him seems like a top bloke and a good roll model

By Anonymous, at September 22, 2010 11:10 am
looks good - but it's fake and unoriginal

By Anonymous, at September 22, 2010 11:59 am
interesting discussion, first of all it is a bit of a reminder to us that not everything u see is the way it seems

By Anonymous, at September 22, 2010 1:05 pm
Something familiar from a couple of years ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQsDZ0FXqSI&feature=related

By gar, at September 22, 2010 1:06 pm
awesome ad, everyone who are kill joys... ummm how about this.... shut up lol

By Anonymous, at September 22, 2010 1:12 pm
Gar, that (except better quality) is linked to in the article.

Major copy, but whatever. Good fun and nice publicity

By Rob, at September 22, 2010 1:24 pm
Aah, this takes me back to the good old days where the average post on YouTube videos was as follows:

FAKE!

On a side note, isn't it amazing how YouTube videos on virtually any topic have threads that degenerate into racist name calling etc?!

By Phil, at September 22, 2010 1:28 pm
fun to watch, but sad to say the american footballers beat them to it. they have a whole string of adds like this...I think they are by Adidas as well

By rp, at September 22, 2010 1:44 pm
katman, i think you're overreacting a bit mate. why would no one believe it when quade cooper (or anyone else) pulls off something outrageous in a match? i think ads like this just make those crazy skills even bigger when they are done live and in an uncontrolled setting. makes me respect someone more when they try something 'unbelievable' in a match where it's high risk, high reward.

By Anonymous, at September 22, 2010 2:13 pm
Haha that was great

By WelshOsprey, at September 22, 2010 3:10 pm
^ I'm not talking about great skills in a live match environment. Of course that's not fake and everyone knows that. I'm talking about exhibition "trick shot" displays. We'd all like to believe that the pool player who shows us that he can bend the white around a line of balls and sink balls in two different pockets, has really done just that. But the more "con" ads we see, where we're deceived into thinking it's their real skills on display, the less we'll ever trust the guys who really pull it off. And something about that just doesn't feel right. Just my humble opinion.

By katman, at September 22, 2010 3:13 pm
katman is a pussy ;)
but on a serious note he is correct. True skill is much more appealing and should not be diluted by trickery or editing skill with software.

By Stubby, at September 22, 2010 3:24 pm
real.

By Anonymous, at September 22, 2010 3:56 pm
Good vid!

Get a hobby or something if it being fake is upsetting you.

By olwakachangchang, at September 22, 2010 3:58 pm
They could have done that all with one guy.
Fourie du Preez.

lol

By Anonymous, at September 22, 2010 4:05 pm
Ah it's a bit pointless if it's not something extremely OTT like some of the american versions of ths ad.

I'd much rather watch a football one where you at least know that the players, (Henry, Davids, Rooney, Ronaldhino etc.) are doing the skills themselves.

And yes i do know Ronaldhino has done a similar ad...

By Third Centre, at September 22, 2010 4:07 pm
What a bunch of crybabys.. Its just supposed to be fun. Who cares if its real or not. Get a life!!!

By Hugh Janus, at September 22, 2010 4:22 pm
Is anyone else laughing at this? Rene Ranger? Handling? If anyone watched the Blues during the Super 14 they would know how laughable it is for Rene Ranger to catch a ball, in the fact that he can't.

By Les Bleus, at September 22, 2010 4:24 pm
THIS ADVERT HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE FOR A FANTASY AMERICAN FOOTBALL AD. STILL FUNNY THO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieAT3Bx0doc

By Unknown, at September 22, 2010 4:28 pm
I guess that's what you do if you're not actually playing games. Weepu excluded.

By Anonymous, at September 22, 2010 4:29 pm
@Olly1080 no shit captain obvious, it's mentioned in the article and a couple of times here

By Commentary Police, at September 22, 2010 4:32 pm
this just a blatant copy of the American football adverts for the fantasy team, but ameans its rugby, it is forgiven

By Anonymous, at September 22, 2010 5:02 pm
Looks like NFL pick me on YouTube but 4 rugby instead!!

By Anonymous, at September 22, 2010 5:23 pm
@third centre

you're actually wrong there.ther is a vid on youtube of ronaldinho hitting the crossbar 5 times in a row that is fake

By Leeners93, at September 22, 2010 5:39 pm
@ Anon,

If Richie McCaw showed up at a school in anywhere but NZ, the visit might go more like this:

Teacher:
"Children, If Richie steals money from your wallet, but the police don't see him doing it, is he still stealing?"

Class: "YES!"

" Anonymous said...
Its just a Bit of fun for the fans The All Blacks seem to do more with there fans wish England could such a shame. Have you seen the video of Richie Mccaw surprising kids at primary school in New Zealand? should have seen there faces priceless. Was so nice of him seems like a top bloke and a good roll model"

By cheyanqui, at September 22, 2010 6:02 pm
and yes -- fake is fake.

Show me the Daniel Motlop (Aussie Rules) videos.

To quote "Seinfeld", "They're real and they're spectacular!"

By cheyanqui, at September 22, 2010 6:04 pm
cheers leeners.....if only i'd mentioned that in my comment.... oh wait

By Third Centre, at September 22, 2010 7:08 pm
I'd much rather see them doing less impressive but real tricks rather than some retarded unoriginal video editing.

By Anonymous, at September 22, 2010 7:43 pm
A much better ad, in my opinion, was the DC/Zidane video where they're kicking goals...

I mean, why not just have Weepu fart on the ball and then have it fly 60m over the posts if you're going to get ridiculous with it.

It's just an ad, though. Nothing to get worked up over, eh. The real issue is the rattail epidemic in New Zealand. Someone needs to send those islands a proper barber.

By Marshall Faulk, at September 22, 2010 7:47 pm
this is a rip-off of the NFL fantasy football league advert.

By Chris Boy, at September 22, 2010 8:27 pm
....and i just realised that's already highlighted in the video description so don't hate :)

By Chris Boy, at September 22, 2010 8:29 pm
Fun to watch, but why are the forwards always left out of the fun skill stuff? Who wouldn't want to see one of the props doing some amazing... ummm.... shoving? Or maybe a 7 elegantly bending the laws regarding hands in the ruck and binding at scrum time. If only the AB's had such a forward...
And one can only imagine someone like Henry Tuilagi demoing some of his astounding skill... plowing straight through cinderblock walls, perhaps.

By Slightly Sarcastic N, at September 22, 2010 8:50 pm
good stuff boys-- still, won't win you a world cup ;)

By Ryan, at September 22, 2010 9:00 pm
Still going to choke at the world cup again.

By thedannyclayton, at September 22, 2010 9:05 pm
Some serious bitterness on display here in these comments. What gives?

By FrankyH, at September 22, 2010 9:13 pm
Meh.

These tricks are actually not that hard for any decent Scrum Half and kicker to do, given a bit of practice.

That said, why is it beyond the realm of reason that a capped player, let alone an ALL BLACK cannot do them?

(We also do not know how many takes it took).

By EARugbyFan, at September 22, 2010 10:11 pm
"That said, why is it beyond the realm of reason that a capped player, let alone an ALL BLACK cannot do them?

(We also do not know how many takes it took)."

Because Corey Jane said its faked.

I'll take his word over yours. Thanks.

By Anonymous, at September 22, 2010 10:47 pm
"That said, why is it beyond the realm of reason that a capped player, let alone an ALL BLACK cannot do them?

(We also do not know how many takes it took)."

Because Corey Jane said its faked.

I'll take his word over yours. Thanks.

By Anonymous, at September 22, 2010 10:47 pm
wow alot of you people are really bitter. its a ad and a bit of fun, you lot just need too get over yourselves. you probably get upset whilst watching movies or wwe because thats fake aswell.

By Anonymous, at September 22, 2010 11:35 pm
The real issue is the rattail epidemic in New Zealand. Someone needs to send those islands a proper barber.

.....

Exactly right. Damn these people who ignore conformity and don't give a shit how society tells them to look.

They must be given short back and sides like the rest of the sheep.

While we're at it we can laser off all their tattoos so they look like respectable middle aged Europeans.

By Anonymous, at September 23, 2010 12:58 am
I reckon Piri Weepu could pass that accurately.... Remember when he ran clear and set up Mills against the bokke... That was an incredible pass!

And I reckon ranger (or any other professional rugby players) could pull off the blind catches with some practice on the timing side.

Also, i'd love to see Wilkinson doing the Cory Jane part... If anyone could pull off kicks like that, it would be Wilko... Or maybe Morne Steyn.

By JJamie, at September 23, 2010 1:14 am
Actually isn't there a video of All Blacks doing basic but more believable tricks for an ad from a few years ago ? Chris Jack et al doing keepy uppies and the like

By Third Centre, at September 23, 2010 1:21 am
^^Wow, anonymous. Way to not take a joke. Nonconformity? Really? Lighten up, guy.

By jeez, at September 23, 2010 1:23 am
Trust nz to copy the NFL adverts....

By Anonymous, at September 23, 2010 2:54 am
^^at Anon with the issues on rat-tails and tattoo's.... Why don't you go and seek out the 100kg Rene Ranger and let him know your views in person?

I'm sure he'd love to hear them ;-)

By Anon's play it safe, at September 23, 2010 3:39 am
looks cool. but definitely fake

By Anonymous, at September 23, 2010 3:57 am
Rattys are legit and they give us spartan power.

By Anonymous, at September 23, 2010 4:09 am
Maybe they should fake a series of clips in which the England team succesfully pass the ball from one player to another without knocking it on?

Now I'd watch that.

By Anonymous, at September 23, 2010 9:24 am
cheyanqui said..
show me video's of aussie rules mate's
you must be a abo fark a roo mate!!

By Anonymous, at September 23, 2010 11:55 am
hey peeps try this... hahaha... it could save your life! good viral, i bet in this years super 15 they are gonna try this stuff during play, could be interesting viewing!!

By Anonymous, at September 23, 2010 2:24 pm
NFL did this two years ago

By Anonymous, at September 23, 2010 3:40 pm
@katman.
But what does that do for Weepu and Ranger and Jane’s credibility?

It does their credibility fine as guys who like having a bit of a laugh. Do you really think anyone with brains would be (shock horror) fooled?. Wow something similar has been done before, we know, we're all on the net. It's supposed to be a bit of fun, lighten up.

By MG, at September 23, 2010 3:48 pm
Three of the nicest guys in the AB squad and a cool, fun vid.

The point is that the All Blacks are the world's best rugby team, so making an ad like this is simply a bit of tongue-in-cheek marketing to associate the brand with the team.

Who cares if the special effects been done before? The people who shout FAKE are the same ones who sit through Transformers with the mouths hanging open in disbelief.

By mfezi, at September 23, 2010 5:15 pm
I think Prir Weepu part was doable,
would take real effort from Cory Jane to get his part right.
Rene Ranger's part was doable too, just that it will require some bravery for him to sign up for that ;)

By vinniechan, at September 23, 2010 5:25 pm
Slightly Sarcastic N said...

In the USA about 25 years ago, we had a pro hockey player try and plow through a cinderblock wall.

His name was Pelle Lindbergh

By cheyanqui, at September 23, 2010 8:01 pm
I must admit, the fake stuff is a bit annoying, it's fake drama over substance.

It's the T-Pain -ing of sport.

That might be fine for soccer with their fake fouls, or American Football, but Rugby was supposed to be real -- "What You See is What You Get"

By cheyanqui, at September 23, 2010 8:02 pm
Huge dork ^^^

By Anonymous, at September 23, 2010 9:22 pm
Anonymous said:

"Because Corey Jane said its faked.
I'll take his word over yours. Thanks. "

Fair enough. I still maintain that these tricks could still be done with some practice and an inordinate amount of takes.

By EARugbyFan, at September 23, 2010 9:44 pm
If Weepu's that good than all Ranger had to do was make the call, time, and hold up his hands at the designated spot.

By Anonymous, at September 24, 2010 1:00 am
I guarantee that the great game of rugby can survive this incident of a group of guys having fun with some footies and a bit of technology. Get off your high horses some of you.

By secondfive, at September 24, 2010 1:49 am
This video is doing more for the publicity of Rugby around the world then anything else this year so everyone can just chill out.

By Anonymous, at September 24, 2010 6:07 am
Weepu's and rangers tricks dont look that difficult if you had been playing for many many years, but cory janes is pretty much impossible
they all look good but theyre all fake...

By Anonymous, at September 24, 2010 6:27 am
Think the English version would be more like this:

Jason Leonard - Downing 50 pints in under a minute

Jason White - Waiting till no one is looking and then punching them

Jonny Wilkinson - Tackling 10 tacklebags all lined up but then going off injured

Any other suggestions? By the way I'm English and very proud of my country and lie this video see it only as a bit of fun. Well done AB's hope your fans carry this sense of humour into the world cup and treat other fans with the respect they show you!

By Jimbo, at September 25, 2010 10:41 pm
Now i have a question. Do you believe everything you see in an ad, on the internet, or that someone tells you they saw???????? No i didn't think so it's an ad for f*&k sake watch it and enjoy it or not jeez.
Katman you need to lighten up buddy.

By Anonymous, at October 18, 2010 8:04 am
"While we're at it we can laser off all their tattoos so they look like respectable middle aged Europeans."

You cant lazer off tattoos, you can fade them enough so that a coverup tattoo can be done over the top.

P.S. except for in the minds of a ignorant minority (probably middle aged, middle class, white and not very intelligent) tattoos are perfectly repectable.

Im a scientist and I have alot of tattoos, my friend is a doctor and he is covered in them.

Be careful when you post.. sometimes you might expose you're stupidity to the world.

By Dr, at October 20, 2010 2:59 pm
*your

By Dr, at October 20, 2010 3:00 pm
why are all you fags making such a big deal of this? they know the nfl did their own vids a few years back thats where the idea for this came from. Coy Jane actually said they didnt get it first go. Its just an ad for the rugby channel in NZ calm it down. Shot boys mad skills cant wait to watch you walk all over those useless UK teams

By Anonymous, at November 04, 2010 12:34 am
On the All Blacks website, Hosea Gear's try was given to Rico Gear. This is misleading and I wish it to be fixed.

By Anonymous, at November 07, 2010 5:41 am
^ so why don't you tell them then?? This website has nothing to do with it.

Weirdo.

By Strange, at November 07, 2010 12:59 pm
Once again the boys down under do things a year later its old and been done just like the mullets the team is wearing. but then again its not your fault that is how long things take to reach you.

By Cam the Man, at November 10, 2010 9:44 am
what do you call 15 people sitting around a TV watching the world cup final............. The All Blacks

By Anonymous, at November 10, 2010 9:47 am
what do you call the person who made the anon comment above?

A: A pussy

By Noms, at November 23, 2010 6:15 am