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| It's a case of having too not wanting to but it is not yet for certain. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The ONLY reason they are considering Weepu is because McAlister is carrying a back injury and has not been able to train. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Agree with you here Gale. I like Sprou's call of Smith, Palu and Brown starting but I suspect Dingo will keep the big guy on the bench. Don't be surpised if he starts with two open sides in this one. There's more than a few K1 forwards short on match fitness and running them off their feet early seems to me to be a pretty valid strategy. I hope, as one of the previous posters suggested, that they start with Weepu at 10. Between Gits, Barnes and Burgess, the little toad wont know which way to run and even if he did, he couldn't catch em. That said, I think Henry will still opt for McCallister at 10. Despite what everyone on here has been saying, he is still the best inside back in NZ by a country mile. I was very please to spot Noriega with the Wallas last week. It's reassuring to know that there is still a big focus on getting the front row to the best it can be. I dont recall Noriega ever being marched backward, bored or popped in a scrum by anyone. If he can impart a bit of his knowledge and a lot of his starch to Alison and co then they'll be much better for it. This game IMO will go one of two ways. Australia will play a smart strategic game and just over the line. Or they will play what's in front of them, back their abilities and the prep work they've done and win by a motza. If they don't win this test against a side with little or no preparation, lack of match fitness and rusty combinations, they will struggle to ever beat NZ at home. |
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| Frog & Killer, AB backrow have no match fitness and this time Aus will be ready for McCaw ( I reckon they underrated his ability to play attue level he did for his first game back last year). Wallas Palu has no match fitness, but they have several others who are, so Palu only needs to smash em for half a game. I reckon AB front row is suspect. Also believe Conrad Smith has never performed against Mortlock. The form advantage sits squarely with Aus and it is more than just Gits that make the difference at this point. |
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| I think it is both the 10 and the back row. If the AB's, with McCaw, Kaino & Soi'ola can dominate the breakdown, & thus posession, the AB's will win. This is a real test for the Walla's back row without Elsom. My preference would be to start Palu at 8 & Brown at 7, with both Mumm & Waugh on the bench, with Mumm able to cover both lock & 7. I know many will prefer Poc@*k, but against these guys, and with no Elsom, I would like the option of bringing the very combative Phil Waugh. If the Aus back row can secure close to 50% posession, it will come down to 10. Whoever the AB's chose will have to play above themselves to match a very in form Gitaeu and guide his side around the paddock. Should the Walla's back row hold their own, I think Aus will get up. Froggy |
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| Killer,I agree with all u say except for the 10. In RU the 10 is the key. Without him getting field position it makes things hard for everyone else.As was proven against even a weaker team like Italy where the Black(because of no field position and kicking game) were trying to run it from everywhere and getting caught out. I think Weepu is a better option than Macalister as he can kick.Nonu doesn't kick and it give u no options. If Mac plays at 10 i thnk Oz will win. |
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| You and Dingo sharing a room Ado? There's only one position of concern for the Allblacks and that happens to be the most important position in the back line. The rest will take care of itself, a very different team from the Iveco series with top players back but more importantly the experience and confidence of beating Australia on a regular basis. The loss to France will galv *** e the team and it was a good experience for the younger players because now they no how bad it can feel. They are talking about starting Weepu if McAlister does not come right, this is the best option available so we have to just get on with it. Weepu can have a great game at 10 in S14 then a shocker, test level is a different animal so no doubt Australia's loosies will be giving him a rough ride and hoping to rattle him which could be achieved easily. On the other hand Gits has had an armchair ride so far and will be pressured by McCaw and his side kick Rodney. He will also be put under a lot more pressure but he will be able to deal with it better due to more experience. Rodney is not a big ball carrying 8 but he is one of the best defensive 8's in the world with an extremely high work rate so it will not be an easy ride for Gits or Burgess. Apart from 10 it's fair to say that it's pretty even accross the board, Australia are full of confidence from there test series aginst Italy and France and the Allblacks are looking much stronger than they were during the Iveco series. IMO the break between the Iveco series and now is more of an advantage to New Zealand than Australia, three weeks is a life time in Rugby and it will benifit the Allblacks more because they needed the break to allow the core team members to return to the field. play club and train as a group. Hore, McCaw, So'oalo, Smith and Sivivatu are all first pick players that were not available, they are all experienced and ready to go. I think the All Blacks will have enough to win even with a make shift 10. |
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| Ado,Do you see the Oz backrow being Palu 8,Brown 6,Smith 7, or would you use Mumm at 6. My preference is Brown at 6 as a foil for Kaino what do u reckon ? |
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| I've been staying at the Manly Paciifc the last few days, as have the wallabies. They look pretty dammed good I must say. Seem to be very united and focussed on their business. Interesting to see they've Pato Noriega on board obviously for scrums. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Poll on www.rugby.com.au has Wallabies edging Bokkies to win 3N title, with AB a distant 3rd. Been a few years since I've seen a poll result like that - even here in Aus! |
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| Prediction: If Brown plays against Rodders @ 8, he's gonna show him up as the Lote Tuquiri of AB forwards. LOL!!! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Richie's return is a BIG plus for AB. Lote's sacking a negative for Wallas (disruption more than anything). |
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| Deep, Panther, deep! lol Froggy |
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| because I can..hahahha | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How'd you come up with that Panther? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| i think australia wil lose by 13 then win all three after that. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I think it comes down to two things, how the Wallabies compete at the breakdown, and the performance of whoever plays 10 for the AB's. G Smith has been in great form, and it will be interesting to see how Deans makes up his back row & bench with Palu back. Whoever he goes with will face a great test with Rod & Richie back. Also, no matter how good Nonu, Smith, Sivi & Mills are it won't matter if 10 isn't working. The gap between DC and the likes of Donald or McAllister is massive. I'm going for an Aus win, but I think that's mostly heart, this is shaping as a beauty. Froggy |
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| TSP, I was thinking maybe...jusy maybe, they might include a certain D. Carter. Mind you, I doubt whether he will be 100% and I think Gits is better, anyway. But, a semi-fit DC will get them moving forward more so than the other 2 options they have. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Under, I reckon the 10 for the black has to be Donald. His performances have been below par,esp against France but the only other option is Macalister and he has been even worse. I do think the Wallabies have the edge atm,both in forwards,backs and tactical kicking. To have Gits and Barnes pluggin' the corners and as u said some quality finisher's on the wing,the Walla's edge out an out of sorts Ab side even in the tight 5,were NZ are having trouble in the Front row and loose forwards area. Sure they have Rodney and MCcaw returning but will they be match fit they havent played for weeks. This is the chance for the Wallabies (Eden Park) to get the advantage first up. I was impressed with how the Waratah's won over there this year and also their superb SA leg of the S14,Also the Force players did well OS this year as well so winning away from home shouldn't be a problem this year. Fingers crossed. As long as we win the Bledisloe I'll be a happy man. |
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| If it's wet, my money is on the ABs. We rarely beat them on a heavy ground. We don't know, nor have never known, how to play good wet weather rugby. That's what let the ABs back in the Bledisloe (TriNs) last year, after we won the first match. It gave them the confidence. If it's dry, my money's on the Wallabies. I like the sharpness of the backline and the direction from both Giteau and Barnes. Players to watch. For the ABs Sivivatu will be an asset, as they have lacked a bit of finish out wide recently. I won't comment on the ABs 5/8 area yet, until I know who they pick, but he won't be as influential as Gits, I feel. For the Wallabies, believe it or not, I think we may have the edge in the tight five. If our loosies can control the breakdown, we're right in this match. We have good finishers out wide, too. A bit too early yet to make predictions. I gotta see the teams first. But I am confident for the Wallabies, despite it being Eden Park. |
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| At the mo, I'm liking the look of our boys. But if the K1 lads on here are right and the AB's are close to full strength it will be interesting. One thing is for sure, the AB's, if they pick their names, will be short of a gallop and that will be what swings things our way. |
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| Im liking the look of Horwill for the Wallas. Class KOB |
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| Only 2 weeks until game 1 gets underway at Eden Park. Out of respect to the home team, let's look at AB first:- AB Seems AB are replenishing their heavily diluted Forwards stocks with 2 of their best in McCaw & Rodders. Imminent return of Andrew Hore strengthens front 3 ranks significantly. Sivi's return to the back 3 will greatly boost back 3 attacking prowess. AB still miss a key playmaker in the absence of DC. This would appear to be their Achilles heel in the immediate future, with a hot & cold backline finding it difficult to get any consistency. WALLABIES Wallabies seem to be tracking well so far this season, but they haven't been really tested as have their 3N counterparts NZ & SA. Wallas have regained Palu but are still missing Elsom although they have good depth in these positions. Still a bit thin on top-flight locks. Wallas backline is coming togehter better than anytime in the past 5 years. Burgess, Gits, Barnes, Mortlock & back 3 all look good, with impressive bench. Inside backs weren't as impressive under pressure early against France, but recovered well. Team's defence looks solid. At this point, Aus may be slightly ahead in the lead up - but the record in Auckland is not good. |
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