Wallabies vs All Blacks @ Sydney

[kaftka]

Nonu will come on in the last 15-20. The game should be fairly open by then. Bringing Nonu on then will be great because he is so different. It would force the Aussies to adjust to him...

Re: Hosea Gear and Ellison... I would agree with you danger, but I certainly wouldn't bring them in now. Gear should have been playing prior to the Tri-Nations. Perhaps at the start of the Tri-Nations, get some confidence and experience. Unfortunately it's a bit too late now... It's very confusing. Henry seems to have some subconscious Auckland bias. Henry seems so obsessed about having his backline the biggest and the strongest (one of the reasons I feel Rokocoko has lost his X-factor and speed), but when someone like Gear comes along he barely even glances at him.. I'm not saying Gears perfect, but he must be one of our top 2-3 wingers atm.

 

[Jethro]

Aussie media has already started the whinging, Fox News on about McCaw cheating at the breakdown as per usual. Clearly the Aussies are trying to get the Ref looking closely. Cool excuse already worked out, loss due to Aussies influencing the Ref and once again bringing the game into dispute. Did I also mention the underarm incident and the Wallabies cut down old growth forests?

 

[InsaneAsylum]

i'm tipping the wallabies to win this one by nailing penalities after mccaw gets repeatedly pinged for cheating and ends up with a yellow card

 

[Woldog]

Burgess must go away.

 

[Nickdnz]

Now that Mortlock has gotten injuried, Carter is back, I am guessing a AB win by 10+ points. I am prepeared to eat my words, but there just seems like a good change in stored for the AB's. I do think that Hosea at least deserves to be on the bench, and so does Jane. Nothing would make me happier then seeing Joe turn into old Joe, so I like him getting 1 or 2 more chances, however that is what it is realistically speaking, a last chance. Which should comfort Jane, because if Rokocoko is not longer an option, who do you think will take the starting jearsey? Jane.

I like the idea of McAlister starting with Carter, though I think people are picking on Nonu too much. Nonu imho is a better player then McAlister, but I can see him making a positive impact after McAlister and Carter set up a steady game. I think Rocky will make a difference to Australia's chances, however I think Australia wont win the break down area. I think NZ will be penalised a crap load of times, now that Australia have realeased footage of McCaw "cheating" (because George Smith and Phil Waugh are f**king angels...) which will influence Kaplan's decisions at the break down, as he will be looking for any mistake McCaw makes.

Another good thing about McAlister starting is that Nonu is a Hurricanes player, which gives reason to penalise in Kaplan's eyes.

 

[shazbooger]

Still nothing about Rocky .............. you lot are weird.

 

[TheBokke]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Logorrhea @ Aug 20 2009, 10:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Still nothing about Rocky .............. you lot are weird.[/b]

While being world class they breed them a dime a dozen down south

 

[Jethro]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Logorrhea @ Aug 20 2009, 07:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Still nothing about Rocky .............. you lot are weird.[/b]

We still can't stop laughing over Dingo thinking this is the key decision to turn around Wobbly fortunes.

Preview of the Match

Strangely I’m not all that excited by Saturday’s up coming test match considering it involves the All Blacks and it’s a Bledisloe fiction against the Aussies. Out of the normal crew I’m pretty much down to the hard core for tomorrow night’s festival of the boot, with a number of people deciding they probably will watch the game but are not making a night of it.

The major problem people seem to be having is that the game is viewed as being a kick-a-thon in the making, which might excite English supporters brought up on rear gunner Wilco but leaves the Down Under faithful somewhat despondant. We want tries, attacking rugby, and big hits by big blokes who don’t take a backward step. Add in that this is just one of the ninety five times the kiwis will play the aussies this year and a certain amount of gloss has gone from the game. Killing the golden goose comes to mind to be honest.

To the game itself. The Kiwis have brought in Dan “The Man†Carter who should team up with Lucky Luke and pepper the Aussie backline with up and unders. As opposed to the gung-ho approach taken against the South Africans, New Zealand seems to have finally worked out to play the percentages against the Aussies and take the game down town to Wallaby central.

The key to a Kiwi win Saturday is doing the basics right every time, contesting a fragile looking Wallably lineout, and hitting things hard in the forwards. King Carter will slot over the penalities as they start to accumulate and a tired looking Wallaby outfit should leak tries in the final quarter. That’s the theory anyway.

After losing both away matches, and it has to be said turning in one of their worse ever performances in the Republic, Dingo has seen the writing on the wall and gone with Rocky Elsom in one of those wtf decisions that defy logic. Missing from the line-up is the injuried and inspirational Sterling Mortlock, replaced by “landing pad†O’Connor. With the line-up Deans has who knows what sort of game plan he has in mind, I would tend to run it a bit to be honest.

Key fo the Wooblies is sorting their line-out, having forwards prepared to do the grunt work, and keeping Gits on a short leash after last game’s brain explosion.

Figure a close win to the good guys on the night.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Woldog @ Aug 20 2009, 02:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Burgess must go away.[/b]

I changed my avatar for you

 

[Flux]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Logorrhea @ Aug 20 2009, 09:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Still nothing about Rocky .............. you lot are weird.[/b]

Because Dan Carter or Stirling Mortlock were more likely to turn the game on its head than Rocky.

 

[QLD]

Rocky Elsom will make a huge difference, but I cant see New Zealand losing this game.

 

[Nickdnz]

I must admit, the game turning into a kick-a-thon, really dosn't appeal to me. It ruins the excitment that it used to have. Which is why players like Rokocoko probebly arn't going to last in the modern game. I would like the rules changed back to the rules of the mid 90's.

 

[QLD]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nickdnz @ Aug 21 2009, 04:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

I must admit, the game turning into a kick-a-thon, really dosn't appeal to me. It ruins the excitment that it used to have. Which is why players like Rokocoko probebly arn't going to last in the modern game. I would like the rules changed back to the rules of the mid 90's.[/b]

But the Northerners love it that way so thats all that matters, kicking less than 10 penalty goals is a boring match for them.

 

[durbutter]

Absoloute cack.

 

[shazbooger]

Not worthy of a response that, especially given the contrast between the Lions (Northerners) and the Boks playing styles.

Deans and Henry have their opinion (Source: BBC)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

All Blacks coach tired of kicking

Henry believes a balance needs to be found between running and kicking
New Zealand coach Graham Henry has hit out at the increased reliance on kicking in international rugby.

Both Henry and his Australian counterpart Robbie Deans believe too much emphasis is being placed on that side of the game.

Henry said: "The product needs some attention. I guess the product's not too great and that's disappointing.

"We need to think about how we can change the game so it's more enjoyable to play and better to watch."

Deans added: "Particularly when you've got a side like South Africa who are so able to play the game that way.

"They essentially won the World Cup in 2007 without playing."

South Africa have won all three of their Tri-Nations matches so far, relying mostly on the boot of fly-half Morne Steyn and scoring only four tries, to head the table.

Steyn scored a Tri-Nations-record 31 points in his team's second win over the All Blacks, including eight penalties, and added 24 against Australia, including seven penalties and a drop-goal.

Henry said he wants the sport's lawmakers to investigate ways of changing the laws to ensure both running and kicking rugby can be effective.

"I think you can do both", he added.

"We've done both in the past and I can't see why we can't do both in the future.

"I know there's been a bit of an emphasis on kicking and sides not catching particularly well and people are trying to exploit that.

"Maybe if you had a mark every time the ball was kicked in the air, no matter where it was on the pitch, and you could have a scrum back or a free-kick from that mark it may make the game a bit more entertaining.

"We need to think outside the square about how we can change the game so it's more enjoyable to play and better to watch."

Australia, who are bottom of the Tri-Nations table with two defeats from two games, play New Zealand on Saturday, and All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said he expected it to be an open, running game.

"Usually the Australia-All Blacks fixtures are pretty entertaining," he said.

"(Both teams will be) keen to make sure it's a game where there's plenty of quick ball and there's no excuses for not having an entertaining spectacle."[/b]

 

[wertas]

Absolute crap changing that rule. A lot of kicking is because of very good defence. Now it is very hard to beat defender 1 vs 1, so teams such as South Africa kick a lot and wait catchers mistakes or keep them under pressure.

 

[Jethro]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dale @ Aug 21 2009, 03:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

Rocky Elsom will make a huge difference, but I cant see New Zealand losing this game.[/b]

Less confident today with the news that NZ may adopt a ball in hand approach. If they do that the Wallabies are going to keep it simple, with maybe a few deep line running options taken, and win the match at a canter.

Carter kick for the corners, play it down in Australia's half, it's a very simple game out there.

Starting to think the Cartel are getting passed their used by date to be honest.

Good luck to both teams, lets put on a show (as opposed to the AFL stuff games up North ) and give the punters what they are paying to see.

The other big game of the day sees the Lions defending the RS against the "A" team, go you good things (that would be Wellington).

 

[Nickdnz]

I may suggest that if a law was made that made the rucks more contestable, and requiring more players in order for ball retention, then the massive amount of forwards on defence would be forced to join rucks and it would open the game up for more running. The problem with that is that it means rucks would have a horrible time monitoring, but I think it woulkd be better for the game. I think teams that have good kickers should be rewarded, but as Graham Henry said, I think it should be a balence, and I think the abuility to run well with the ball should be the key to scoring points.

 

[William18]

If we change the laws now in a few years they will be changed again. We always change the laws.

 

[shtove]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dale @ Aug 21 2009, 11:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nickdnz @ Aug 21 2009, 04:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I must admit, the game turning into a kick-a-thon, really dosn't appeal to me. It ruins the excitment that it used to have. Which is why players like Rokocoko probebly arn't going to last in the modern game. I would like the rules changed back to the rules of the mid 90's.[/b]

But the Northerners love it that way so thats all that matters, kicking less than 10 penalty goals is a boring match for them.

[/b][/quote]
So you didn't catch even the teensiest bit of the Lions tour?

When you say Northeners I guess you mean Saffers. Only a 90 degree error in your compass.