the crunch

First topic message reminder :

This Saturday could be the biggest since the RWC a Tournament I despise,SA at home would normally expect 2 Home wins.
Such is the nature of the 3/4Ns,the AllBlacks this year have suffered the injuries to key players Romano,Messam,Carter,
Crudon,McCaw,CoryJane plus backups that cursed Sa/Oz last season.BUT have found replacements more or less.This
year the Boks have looked the coming team especially forward.Australia on recent known form have little chance BUT
Rugby is a funny game.The Boks to take the 4Ns need a bonus point win,then deny the AllBlacks any points in the last
game.Argentina are fielding arguably the strongest side this year,at home and are very abrasive a bonus point win
there is unlikely but impossible.A large points win by the ABs without a bonus point adds pressure on Boks in the
last Game.Given even parity of possession such is the AB`s fire power behind they can burn any team any where.
A losing bonus point would be enough for a second 4N`s title if they go in on equal bonus points in the last match
there defence hasn't yet conceded 4 tries this year.BUT a Bok bonus point win in the last match would probably
mean a win,4Ns title on points difference and possibly IRB top spot for the first time since 2009.

Where have the Bok supporters rubbished the All Blacks set piece?

In fact where has any bok supporter spoken negatively about anything regarding the All Blacks?

The only rubbishing I have read over the past two weeks is about the Boks.

Our discipline, our back line, our skills, our game plan, etc. etc.

Since 2000, pretty damning statistics...


South Africa – 79 yellow cards – 4 red cards – 2.1 matches per yellow card
Argentina – 58 yellow cards – 0 red cards – 2.2 matches per yellow card
Wales – 55 yellow cards – 1 red card – 3 matches per yellow card
Australia – 52 yellow cards – 1 red card – 3.2 matches per yellow card
England – 46 yellow cards – 2 red cards – 3.4 matches per yellow card
New Zealand – 48 yellow cards – 0 red cards – 3.5 matches per yellow card
Scotland – 40 yellow cards – 2 red cards – 3.6 matches per yellow card
Ireland – 34 yellow cards – 1 red cards – 4.5 matches per yellow card
France – 27 yellow cards – 0 red cards – 6 matches per yellow card

Yeah,referees hate us.

Why did that post appear here? I posted it on another thread...

Biltong there have been comments from Bok supporters implying the AllBlacks have a poor
Scrum and lineout.On the basis of matches played in the 4Ns,other ABsupporters have
overstated the ABs game.I try to be objective and totally on the second Argentina match
I have just watched in my opinion Owen Franks reinjured himself in the First Scrum and
that it was incidental.In the Problems the AB`s had in the first half,and that Argentina`s Scrum was under pressure in the second.Barnes commented on the first but not the second
the Boks have a good setpiece.So do the All Blacks most of the time comments have been made that the Boks.Only need to kick for position then use the driving Maul to score the
4 required tries.I would point out that since 2009 and theBulls style Rolling Maul the
All Blacks have countered the move with some success.As I have all ready written fully
expect a Bok win but I don`t think they can win the 4Ns given the mountain they have to
climb.

Alan, I have not seen any bok supporter discrediting the AB scrum, you must have read that elswhere.

The funny thing is we have scored very few tries from muals this year, our backs have scored three tries to one in comparison to our forwards.

Once again a perception that we play limited rugby, by the same token that we kick too much, the All Blacks have scored 12 of their nineteen tries via up and unders and turnover counter attacks.

They have kicked the most in the RC, and have contrary to perception not played much rugby in their half this tournament.

The majority of their penalties have een in their 22.

I have already said Eden Park result won the RC for the AB's

All I care about now is that we win this coming weekend.

seems the home away concept seems to be eroding in that amongst the usual top 3 away matches seem easier than home ones. SA did better in dunedin last year than at home, so did oz vs both nz and SA and SA vs oz this year.

Hi,Gents the comments have been written here I assure you,as previously stated never
underestimate the Boks.Or any team for that matter, a side with nothing to lose is a very dangerous animal indeed.I wrote earlier in the year that the Boks especially in Super Rugby
were playing more thru the backs.I was told why change route one works for us,also wrote
a long discourse on Bok Rugby History.Commenting that when they strayed from forward
orientated Rugby to a looser style historically that's when they started losing[amateur era mostly].It has seemed when the opposing sides were written off by the media coincided
with the ABs worst performances.Second Test versus Ireland,home Bok Game,Aus drawn game,England games 2012.I t doesn't help media bleating "The AllBlacks are so far ahead
etc."We heard that in 2006 look what happened 2007.One game at a time keep the expectations to a minimum a hope for a win.Australia are really going thru it but whats
the betting next year McKenzie will have them turned around and competing again.

Biltong wrote:Alan, I have not seen any bok supporter discrediting the AB scrum, you must have read that elswhere.

The funny thing is we have scored very few tries from muals this year, our backs have scored three tries to one in comparison to our forwards.

Once again a perception that we play limited rugby, by the same token that we kick too much, the All Blacks have scored 12 of their nineteen tries via up and unders and turnover counter attacks.

They have kicked the most in the RC, and have contrary to perception not played much rugby in their half this tournament.

The majority of their penalties have een in their 22.

I have already said Eden Park result won the RC for the AB's

All I care about now is that we win this coming weekend.

might be perception or it might be the spread of the statistics. Take the last two or three matches of either side and what do you get? Or, just remove the first SA arg stats from the equation. Im guessing that match carries the bulk of offstting the perception, though I havnt done the stats.

corey jane on the bench tonight for wellington in the itm cup match vs Auckland. been a while between drinks thats for sure and how he gets back into the current AB back 3 will be interesting. Ben smith to centre probably with C Smiths sabbatical on the NH tour...good to see him back/