RWC Semi Final: New Zealand - Australia (16-10-2011, 21:00)

[lucky number 7]

It's no secret that SH players stand out in the NH comps, and thats as far as Im going to go with this.


The semi's are here and now we just count down the hours.... I can't wait for this game. The nerves are killing me

The good ones do.. In the same manner they would anywhere..

 

[Magricos]

No Beale.

 

[ACT1NUP]

I've been worried about him ever since he started playing for Wellington lol but at least he forced Conrad Smith into becoming one of the best defensive players in the world Yep he starts to overplay when there's alot of responsiblity placed on him and than his discipline goes out the door too. Hope he plays well thou and doesn't try too hard and keeps to the basics

Keeping to the basics is key for Nonu. Think if he just sticks to the gameplan and plays within the team structures for the majority of the game he should be fine. My real worry for Nonu is if we get behind on the scoreboard and players like him go into panic mode and then try too much and it all unravels from there. No Carter to keep him in check either, still the likes of Weepu and Smith though so Nonu should be fine. I do hope he plays a blinder, if Nonu plays well for anyone it's the ABs but pressure does funny things sometimes.

No Beale.

Bit of a blow for the Aussies. Apparently they have pretty much trained to deal with him out though so it won't effect their preparation at all. Just means their missing a player who is damn potent on attack, feel a little better from an AB perspective . Pretty gutting for him though.

 

[Gay-Guy]

No Beale.

They have made the mistake of having AAC at fullback.....but AAC is like Matt Burke in his twilight years. They should of had O'Connor at fullback as he is just as exciting as Beale (though he has different skills). They also have Pat McCabe at 2nd...another shocking call....it should have been Barnes.

The only way this might work is if Deans is playing defensively in the first half and then later on shifting to an attacking lineup.

 

[Gay-Guy]

Keeping to the basics is key for Nonu. Think if he just sticks to the gameplan and plays within the team structures for the majority of the game he should be fine. My real worry for Nonu is if we get behind on the scoreboard and players like him go into panic mode and then try too much and it all unravels from there. No Carter to keep him in check either, still the likes of Weepu and Smith though so Nonu should be fine. I do hope he plays a blinder, if Nonu plays well for anyone it's the ABs but pressure does funny things sometimes.

Nonu will be fine....he has unfinished business at RWC level. Overlooked for the semi in 2003 and not even thought about in 2007.

 

[dan the man nz]

wow huge blow for australia, dont see mccabe and faingaa penetrating the line anytime soon, but still defencively sound.. put it this way, i prefer the brains and brawn combo of smith and nonu better

 

[donmcdazzle]

I hope that Weepu and Nonu just let Cruden play his game and don't try to take too much of his directing duties away from him. He dominated for the Turbos (I know it's a far lower level) by being the main man in the backline, early in the season in the 'canes it seemed like he was deferring too much to Nonu and the rest of the backs, and didn't look that great as a result. He needs to be in the game early and often to get his confidence and some belief. If he has that, he'll be fine. I hope like hell he gets an early half break or offload or something to calm the nerves.

 

[Gay-Guy]

I hope that Weepu and Nonu just let Cruden play his game and don't try to take too much of his directing duties away from him. He dominated for the Turbos (I know it's a far lower level) by being the main man in the backline, early in the season in the 'canes it seemed like he was deferring too much to Nonu and the rest of the backs, and didn't look that great as a result. He needs to be in the game early and often to get his confidence and some belief. If he has that, he'll be fine. I hope like hell he gets an early half break or offload or something to calm the nerves.

I think McCaw/Kaino/Reid will be playing the game of their lives to follow Cruden and clean up whenever he gets caught with no support.....either that....or Pocock is gonna have a field day.

I reckon the Wallabies will be rushing up from the outsides to force Cruden to play it back in. I would bet they WANT Cruden to take the line on....get tackled...and then suffer the turnover from Pocock and Elsom. However we are lucky we play Nonu as a second man reciever and much deeper than the first line of support....so it will be very hard to rush up and get Nonu. Wallabies will be in two mind on who to take....the first recievers or Nonu as second reciever. If Cruden has a huge missout pass then it makes marking the ABs even more difficult. Let us keep in mind that Weepu and Donald the Duck have longer passes than Carter...so there is a chance that Cruden may also be in the same boat...which means the ABs actually have MORE passing options than they normally would with Carter on.....even if they do miss out on Carters running game. I don't remember Faiagaa or McCabe being reknown intercept specialists...nor Ioane if he comes in for Cooper....so the ABs do have a chance to move the ball a lot.

They key for the Wallabies....is for Berrick Barnes come in at 12. Put him on there...and the whole team will click...even Cooper!

 

[donmcdazzle]

It isn't Carters running game we will miss, it's his direction and option taking. Especially the latter, seldom does he do the wrong thing. I want Cruden to get involved as much as possible cause he can rip teams apart when he is on song.

 

[erwanseb]

I think that when each team has the same time of preparation, SH teams are not scoring 60 points to NH team. And I think overall that the fact good NH players who play Top14, Heineken cup and NH national teams matches are not as fresh as SH players because of the whole number of matches over several seasons.

I'm not trying to put down SH rugby, I'm just trying to say that there are objective reasons for this different rugby and presumable success of SH players in NH championship when they start to play in NH. And as well, it is why SH teams are in general more competitive for test matches in summer and automn.

I think I will quote Byron Kelleher there "Marathon and 100m dash are basically the same sport, you just have to run and finish first"
but I doubt Bolt would win a marathon.
This is where we are, the NH play rugby marathon while SH play rugby 100m.
An international top 14 player may play up to 50 games a year (top 14 30 hames, HC 9 games, VIN 5 games , test at least 5/y), he won't play them all of course but I remeber some having played 46/47 games a season.

 

[Dizzy]

The good ones do.. In the same manner they would anywhere..

Now I say this with extreme caution because I haven't seen these two guys play in the NH comps BUT, they were good enough to warrant selection for the English national side whilst playing in the NH comp and weren't even remotely close to making the NZ side in the SH comp purely because they didn't stand out in the SH. Riki Flutey and Thomas Waldrom

 

[ACT1NUP]

I think I will quote Byron Kelleher there "Marathon and 100m dash are basically the same sport, you just have to run and finish first"
but I doubt Bolt would win a marathon.
This is where we are, the NH play rugby marathon while SH play rugby 100m.
An international top 14 player may play up to 50 games a year (top 14 30 hames, HC 9 games, VIN 5 games , test at least 5/y), he won't play them all of course but I remeber some having played 46/47 games a season.

and the two NH teams that play more 'like' their SH counterparts with their attacking '100m' rugby are the ones who are in the semis 'marathon' rugby is dead

Anyway back to the NZ vs Aussie game this aint no NH vs SH thread. We're about to witness the greatest WC game EVER, theres heaps to talk about. Like NZ dropping the chokers tag for example...

 

[Dizzy]

Yes and now with Beale gone I bet a bit more pressure has fallen on the Wallaby fans

 

[ret]

Yes and now with Beale gone I bet a bit more pressure has fallen on the Wallaby fans

Too true. Unlike other Rugby powers Australia has a relatively small player base. This is something that Robbie has focussed on, and certainly the depth is greater at the elite level now. However, as demonstrated in the loss to Ireland, there is still a long way to go.

 

[Dizzy]

Not only that, but Beale is a player of such high calibre, and a player you would absolutely need in crucial matches such as this.

 

[lance2010]

With Beale out the AB's should have the edge back now...If AAC plays fullback he won't counter attack like Beale can.
Cruden doesnt have to do nothing special just stay on the damn field So Donald doesn't get on and we should be right...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It's no secret that SH players stand out in the NH comps, and thats as far as Im going to go with this.

Eh? Not really - SOME stand out, a lot fade away into obscurity/are average at best
The ones that shine are the ones who are simply world class players, Nick Evans, Carl Hayman (before moving to France), Bruce Reihana, Doug Howlett, Isa Nacewa etc. - not your random SuperXV/ITM/Currie Cup squad players

 

[Ostrayian]

Cruden doesnt have to do nothing special just stay on the damn field So Donald doesn't get on and we should be right...

Cruden just needs to be a link man and let Weepu run the show.

 

[187]

Eh? Not really - SOME stand out, a lot fade away into obscurity/are average at best
The ones that shine are the ones who are simply world class players, Nick Evans, Carl Hayman (before moving to France), Bruce Reihana, Doug Howlett, Isa Nacewa etc. - not your random SuperXV/ITM/Currie Cup squad players

Ricky Flutey is one of those random guys and he was crap here in the SH.

 

[Bryan Selwood]

This is the real final of the tournament now. The victors should smash France