ALL BLACKS one change

Same team fielded by All Blacks as last week except Wyatt Crockett for Woodcock
Props-Owen Franks,Wyatt Crockett[Ben Franks]
Hooker-Mealamyu [Hore]
Lock-Whitelock,Romano[Retalick]
Loose forwards-McCaw[Capt.],Read,Messam [Vito]
Scrum half-A.Smith[Weepu]
First 5/8-Carter[Crudon]
Second 5/8- Sonny Bill Williams
Centre-Nonu
Wings-Gear,Cory Jane [B.Smith]
Full back-Dagg
As expected hopefully the rust has worn off,there not complacent and will settle the Bledsisloe.
Expect a spirited response from the Wallabies

emack2 wrote:Expect a spirited response from the Wallabies

In all honesty Alan, I don't.

I'm expecting a rout this weekend. Too many factors point to that.

Obviously I could be wrong but the energy in this Oz side looks sapped. Pocock out now Kepu, and even the Ozzies are talking up the last 1986 win at Eden Park seems a distant memory.
The AB's need to work on the lineout accuracy and sort Nonu and SBW out and we should be fine.
Crockett in for Woodcock with an improving Ben Franks means we're ok up front.

Its a sellout and the AB's are going to go for th jugular this weekend. Best hope for Oz is complacency in the AB's and thats already happened once this year.

Would be surprised if its less than 20.

Good to see Crockett get some game time. Don't know what to expect from the game though

Just seen the Wallaby side,very strong much more so than last week Alexander and Robinson propping.Best in Oz,Hooper for Pocock,Gill riding the pine.Mitchell and Ioane on wings,AAC to full back.Genia ,Cooper,Barnes ,Horne in mid field.
Don`t expect a AB walkover that is the best balanced back division bar O `Connor they could put out,Solid and flair combined.Best Front row they can field expect AB injuries on Saturday.IF the AB`s play as badly as last week Eden Park COULD be a surprise loss.Complancey will kill you not that RM or Hansen will allow it.

Alan:

Aaron Cruden's surname is spelt with an "e".

I notice that for the last couple of months youve been spelling it with an "o".

I think the wallabies have problems, I am not a big fan of Crockett though.

The Wallaby backline looks distinctly average at the moment, the only guy that look dangerous at all was Ioane.

You could expect a magic moment from Quade Cooper, whether there won't be a momentarilly brain fart from him I won't bet against, if OZ wants to challnege the All Blacks they will have to dominate the breakdown, now talk in the Ozzie media is that they must not be Mr Niceguy at the rucks, but who is going to stand up for them and lead the challenge.

You surely can't expect Sharpe to do it, who else is there?

Higginbottom is a glory hunter, he stands out wide most of the time, and doesn't do much grunt work.

Without Horwill and Pocock there isn't a hell of a lot there.

The All Blacks should get a bonus point win this weekend, I read some All Black fans weren't impressed with Messam on the weekend, surprising then that Vito doesn't get the nod.

All in all I can't see anyone challenging the all Blacks this Rugby championship, if OZ or SA wants to challenge them they need their best 22, we sure as hell don't have it, and the Ozzies don't either.

I think it was 2005 when the Wallabies came to Eden Park with such a raw team they could have been mistaken for the U 20's....Lloyd Johanson was one player that night ("who?" you might say) to put their lineup into context

NZ were expected to dismantle Australia but only won 34-24 in the end, so I guess the moral is to not take things for granted and just make sure you do the things well which are under your control.

NZ won't be thinking they are going to take them apart, this group has been burnt before with that mindset (France 2007)

Shag was thanking sarcastically pundits like Ted and Ella-cadabra who picked an AB victory.

I disagree about that balance Alan. AAC is a talented player but the Aussie balance works with him best at 13. That centre partership is still pants. At least Mitchell and Ioane are on the wings and I think Beale can't have been 100 per cent fit because you don't dump a player like that even if he does have a shocker. Cooper no doubt will still be hounded by the crowd. If he stuffs up early, it could be a long night. Part of me wishes he has a good game much like Beale when he comes back. You want to pit yourselves against the best and those players can add sparkle to games. Something that was definitely missing from the Wallabies backline on Saturday.

But the real problem is in the forwards. I expect the ABs to be even more ruthless in that area in Auckland. If the AB attitude is right, I expect though the AB backline to fully click.

It's weird-they drop one gamebreaker in Beale for one shocker and bring in another one who has had multiple shockers in Cooper.

Ioane is class-he's my 11 in a World XV. He and Genia need to be contained-as does Cooper as if we give him space he'll no doubt take it and get his confidence back. But Pocock is such a huge loss.

We should win well but the Aussies are masters at hitting us at inopportune times. Would like SBW to lift the BC in his last game. Crockett makes the scrum a lottery. Either we'll annihilate the Wallaby scrum or get pinged off the park.

The AB focus is getting quality ball to Aaron Smith this week. Carter would have been hurried more if not for his bullet. Smith did very well with the rubbish ball the AB forwards provided despite having ascendancy.

We have three guys-Gear, SBW and Nonu who will run hard at Cooper's channel all day and without impunity of getting isolated. Pocock is the best over the ball but the others will get blown out and this will lead to great second phase pill for Carter to attack with.

This could be a very nasty call for the ABs, or the death knell for Deans' tenure as Wallaby coach.

Disney
Cooper will defend at fullback.

Really? From what Deans et al were intimating in the press I've read he'll be in the front line.

This has probably been listed elsewhere already but the Wallabies XV (not the bench) is now up:

15. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. Drew Mitchell
13. Rob Horne
12. Berrick Barnes
11. Digby Ioane
10. Quade Cooper
9. Will Genia (captain)
8. Scott Higginbotham
7. Michael Hooper
6. Dave Dennis
5. Nathan Sharpe
4. Sitaleki Timani
3. Ben Alexander
2. Tatafu Polota Nau
1. Benn Robinson

Looks much better - Hooper is probably the correct call on form although I would probably have Samo earlier on to get the tempo up and them bring on Dennis with half an hour remaining.

the two Benns propped really well bout 4 seasons ago, but then got injured and bot really been at their pre injured power it seems.

I agree, would have kept the ABs interested if starting with Samo. Other than missing Beale, and Pocock, not too shappy. got to give Timani another few goes, roll on Saturday. It's an early start so I may be able to get to watch the game before going to the Challernge cup final

Dennis certainly wasn't a menace. He was more like the nickname of Reuben Thorne: Captain Invisible. Higganbotham doesn't get involved in the tight often enough. He is a more robust Taine Randell in that regard. So Hooper is going to have his work cut out. Expect the ABs to do to him what they did to Pocock: isolate him.

Will Barnes stand flat alongside Cooper or will he sit deep in the pocket if the ABs rush defence rattles the Wallabies? If it's the latter then class players like Genia, Mitchell and Ioane will struggle to shine. Wallabies must be not so defensive minded this week and look to take the game to the ABs. If they try to limit their scoring and get points, it's ill advised because they don't have th firepower in the forwards to suffocate the ABs up front to cut off the supply to the backs.

aucklandlaurie wrote:
Disney
Cooper will defend at fullback.

You missed the ironic quotes around "defend".

Interest will be if he tries any more off-the-ball stuff on McCaw.

Polota-Nau just informed the team he's got a dicey glute so he withdrew from the team-may be on the bench though. Moore to start. Very mature decision regarding the injury so kudos to him.

Cooper and Barnes is a midfield asking to be ran at. Barnes makes his tackles but our guys will make the advantage line for sure. I don't rate Horne. Will be interesting to see if NZ continue the rush defence-we usually employ the drift.

NZ noted that they weren't as sore as usual after a test. A surprising lack of intensity. That will change this week but means the pack is ok rest wise and good to go again. Messam deserves another shot he didn't do too badly. BUT the forwards need to protect the pill and present it better. Beither team will cough up the pill like Saturday's shocker.

Australia are filthy and they should be. They know they had the All Blacks below par and thus a golden chance to beat them-but they weren't good enough to do so. Now they know that NZ will be up for it to improve-and are at Eden Park.

Cooper's media statement IMO implies he's still thinking about it. Will be interesting watching him on Saturday.

Hansen wasn't impressed with the ball the forwards gave Smith. In the lineouts in particular but also the rucks. The ABs won their lineout ball but that's only half the battle. You've got to provide clean ball as well.

I expect the pace, continuity and intensity will step up from both sides. That may spell trouble for the ref Owens. I remember late in the game the last time he reffed the ABs and the game was almost up, the ABs made a line break and you could clearly pick up on his mike 'Oh God' as he knew he had to run down to the opposition 22 from the AB 22. Maybe the Wallabies won't be the only ones looking to slow down AB ball.

Yes, we can rely on Owens to keep the game slow, blow regularly, play poor advantage, and miss a lot in the early stages of the ruck. He likes resetting scrums and calling short arm lineout penalties to allow him to catch his breath. Expect another frustrating stop-start affair.

Polota-Nau just informed the team he's got a dicey glute so he withdrew from the team-may be on the bench though. Moore to start. Very mature decision regarding the injury so kudos to him.

Cooper and Barnes is a midfield asking to be ran at. Barnes makes his tackles but our guys will make the advantage line for sure. I don't rate Horne. Will be interesting to see if NZ continue the rush defence-we usually employ the drift.

NZ noted that they weren't as sore as usual after a test. A surprising lack of intensity. That will change this week but means the pack is ok rest wise and good to go again. Messam deserves another shot he didn't do too badly. BUT the forwards need to protect the pill and present it better. Beither team will cough up the pill like Saturday's shocker.

Australia are filthy and they should be. They know they had the All Blacks below par and thus a golden chance to beat them-but they weren't good enough to do so. Now they know that NZ will be up for it to improve-and are at Eden Park.

Cooper's media statement IMO implies he's still thinking about it. Will be interesting watching him on Saturday.

A dicey glute. I hope your not implying A. Hore gave his butt a pounding.

oooooh innuendo!!

In YOUR endo Mintie.

Mintie I remember was a game the Dooleys played at St Pats Stream too...(not from experience I was Hutt High lol)

St Bedes were the Dooleys. Chrst's were Syrups. Boys High were Soggies. And people say single sex schools are healthy!

I always say I went to correspondece school when the inevitable Chch local asks me which school I went to. I don't miss that side of things to be honest living in a city with a bigger population than NZ's total population. I do miss being able to ride away on my road bike and be on my own in a few minutes up on the Port Hills or a Long Bay ride. Or being at a surf beach with nobody around.

This heatwave in Madrid is obviously getting to me. I'm heading up north in 2 weeks and it can't come soon enough. Swimming pools just don't compare to wave beaches!

Yeah I imagine schools had similar nicknames to those in the other cities Kia. I'm from Wellington remember so Stream were our Dooleys. You saw them wearing their rugby jerseys with their collars up and a pair of Barkers trackpants.

I went to 40 degrees in Cyprus back to 18 in Dublin and now I'm sick. Feck it.

Sick of the rain! What I would give for a summer downpour!

Barkers trackies. Rodd and Gunn shirts. Some of those private school casual clothes were worn like a uniform!

disneychilly wrote:In YOUR endo Mintie.

Oh, behave baby, behave.

disneychilly wrote:It's weird-they drop one gamebreaker in Beale for one shocker and bring in another one who has had multiple shockers in Cooper.

But it was more than just one shocker. The performance was bad. But I think more than that he make the team look bad with that haircut.

Let the haircut go AWOP. Who cares about hair! Maybe some of the players do with the amount of product some of the wear but he could've had a Wallaby shaved into his head and had it replaced with real wallaby fur for all I care. It's how he performs is that matters. Not how he looks. Otherwise you give new meaning to how the Wallabies rated (had a shocker of a haircut but looked like he moisturised well and his scent was pleasing in the aftermatch interview) and I don't want to be a part of that.

Remember Nonu wearing mascara? Shudder.

Too right though-AWOP let go of the hair. What do you want Fonzie for the Wallaby 15 shirt? He had a hell of a punt on him but his tackling was always a bit suss.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:St Bedes were the Dooleys. Chrst's were Syrups. Boys High were Soggies. And people say single sex schools are healthy!

I always say I went to correspondece school when the inevitable Chch local asks me which school I went to. I don't miss that side of things to be honest living in a city with a bigger population than NZ's total population. I do miss being able to ride away on my road bike and be on my own in a few minutes up on the Port Hills or a Long Bay ride. Or being at a surf beach with nobody around.

This heatwave in Madrid is obviously getting to me. I'm heading up north in 2 weeks and it can't come soon enough. Swimming pools just don't compare to wave beaches!

The best thing about being from out-of-town and living in Chch was that you got judged on merit -
"Where'd you go to school?"
"Marlborough Boys, up in Blenheim"
"Oh, right ..." (brief pause as they abandon pigeon-holing attempt)

After the brief pause though:

But where do you live then? (you can't escape my pigeon holing)

kiakahaaotearoa wrote: After the brief pause though:

But where do you live then? (you can't escape my pigeon holing)

At various points it was Ilam (off Ilam Rd, 5 mins from the university), Avonhead, Upper Riccarton, St Albans (just north of Bealy Ave) and <cough> Mairehau (well, just off Cranford St was St Albans if you're a real estate agent)

Pete C (Kiwireddevil) wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote: After the brief pause though:

But where do you live then? (you can't escape my pigeon holing)

At various points it was Ilam (off Ilam Rd, 5 mins from the university), Avonhead, Upper Riccarton, St Albans (just north of Bealy Ave) and <cough> Mairehau (well, just off Cranford St was St Albans if you're a real estate agent)

And I generally didn't mention the St Bedes scholarship that my Dad turned down on my behalf (he hated boarding school (Rangiora High) and there was a school bus service into Blenheim in the 80s/90s that didn't exist in the late '50s)

Ilam Road. Close to The Bush. Where any male student aspired to be! Shame it was such a meat market. I remember wearing a dress there on a Wednesday night because ladies drank for free. Got plenty of crap but the free drinks took the sting out of the criticism. (criticism for wearing a dress rather than how I looked in a dress. They all knew I looked smokin' in that red number. )