Aus Vs ABs - the battle for the spoon
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waratahjesus
Greg Davis (50)
once again stupid team, the back row will be found out sooner or later. Smith is the best seven we have, pick him at seven. pococks one good game out of ten odd in gold shouldnt be rewarded by keeping geroge out of position.
no balance, if the blacks are anywhere near up for this will be an embarrasing night to be australian once again. but hey, we beat a springbok side that looked like they couldnt give a f@#k so we must be awesome right?
no balance, if the blacks are anywhere near up for this will be an embarrasing night to be australian once again. but hey, we beat a springbok side that looked like they couldnt give a f@#k so we must be awesome right?
PaarlBok
Rod McCall (65)
Hahaha funny Skorsie.
OK my two c honest opinion as a neutral in this one. At least here I can talk the way I want and not the way the audiense want me to.
The All Blacks always my second favourate team and that wont change. I just hope the Cartell wake up from their winter sleep, changes is zero tho but the basic is to pick players in their positions and not out of position. So I'd have Mills, Rok, Toeava, Nunu, Jane, Carter, Leonard in the backline. Thomson must be there and look like a lineout specialist at least. How the hell they stick with Kaino is just beyond me, maybe he because he is a Blues player and Henry love those. I dunno their provincial stock that well but its obvious the right way to go forward is to have two playing to the ball like Schalk , Brussouw or the Wallabies duo of PoCock & Smith. The biggest problem for the All Blacks is that they wasnt in this position for a long time, the Bokke know whats it like playing for pride only but they still have the socalled hold over the Convicts. I dont doubt for one minute they'll be motivate as hell to flatten the Wallabies. If they dont they have problem. They still have the lineout worry but the Wallabies is not that strong in this department like the Bokke. So they need to work something out to at least get as much own ball as possible. If they get par on pill they will beat the Wallabies.
The Wallabies only have to do what they did to the Bokke. Personally I think Elsom have a huge role in this test. He have to play a huge role in the lineouts and have to play like a Schalk last week. I am pretty convinse if this Wallaby team play with the same passion and energy on saturday they showed against the Bokke there is no reason they can beat the All Blacks.
My heart say All Blacks and the head say Wallabies but I think the All Blacks will find you wanted between the ears like in the previous two tests.
All Blacks by 12 , my geuss.
OK my two c honest opinion as a neutral in this one. At least here I can talk the way I want and not the way the audiense want me to.
The All Blacks always my second favourate team and that wont change. I just hope the Cartell wake up from their winter sleep, changes is zero tho but the basic is to pick players in their positions and not out of position. So I'd have Mills, Rok, Toeava, Nunu, Jane, Carter, Leonard in the backline. Thomson must be there and look like a lineout specialist at least. How the hell they stick with Kaino is just beyond me, maybe he because he is a Blues player and Henry love those. I dunno their provincial stock that well but its obvious the right way to go forward is to have two playing to the ball like Schalk , Brussouw or the Wallabies duo of PoCock & Smith. The biggest problem for the All Blacks is that they wasnt in this position for a long time, the Bokke know whats it like playing for pride only but they still have the socalled hold over the Convicts. I dont doubt for one minute they'll be motivate as hell to flatten the Wallabies. If they dont they have problem. They still have the lineout worry but the Wallabies is not that strong in this department like the Bokke. So they need to work something out to at least get as much own ball as possible. If they get par on pill they will beat the Wallabies.
The Wallabies only have to do what they did to the Bokke. Personally I think Elsom have a huge role in this test. He have to play a huge role in the lineouts and have to play like a Schalk last week. I am pretty convinse if this Wallaby team play with the same passion and energy on saturday they showed against the Bokke there is no reason they can beat the All Blacks.
My heart say All Blacks and the head say Wallabies but I think the All Blacks will find you wanted between the ears like in the previous two tests.
All Blacks by 12 , my geuss.
JJJ
Vay Wilson (31)
Sadly I'm going to tip the ABs by 5. They just seem to have the wood on us at the moment, and unless we get a huge lead in the first half they'll always chase us down in the 2nd at this stage. The advantage I think we'll have over the first test at Eden Park is that the ref might be less inclined to hastily penalize us at scrumtime, but I'm still not really sure if Ben Alexander has what it takes at TH to mix it with a fresh Woodcock. Also in our favour is the fact that I think our boys will have more confidence in their own fitness.
But I think if we try to bring the same gameplan we used in Brisbane we'll probably lose. That match was won at the breakdown, and I think the ABs are better there than we are plus will have home-advantage and the benefits that brings with the reffing. I remember last year we won at Sydney and then went to EP and got whistled off the park every time Smith got anywhere near the breakdown. Total momentum-killer, and kept us on the back foot. The same thing happened at Hong Kong actually. So, though we might have an edge with our backs, if we can't protect our possession that won't count for much. The ABs are just so good at counter-rucking, which is where they probably beat us in the first test even without Carter and with a rusty McCaw.
Goes without saying that I hope I'm wrong.
But I think if we try to bring the same gameplan we used in Brisbane we'll probably lose. That match was won at the breakdown, and I think the ABs are better there than we are plus will have home-advantage and the benefits that brings with the reffing. I remember last year we won at Sydney and then went to EP and got whistled off the park every time Smith got anywhere near the breakdown. Total momentum-killer, and kept us on the back foot. The same thing happened at Hong Kong actually. So, though we might have an edge with our backs, if we can't protect our possession that won't count for much. The ABs are just so good at counter-rucking, which is where they probably beat us in the first test even without Carter and with a rusty McCaw.
Goes without saying that I hope I'm wrong.
waratahjesus
Greg Davis (50)
fatprop said:
Pocock will be our seven for years when smith retires. you dont pick your best players in there best positions and you end up with failure.
we won in brisbane because the boks wernt there. as much as we pat ourselves on the back for the improved enthusiasm (which was great to see) we played a tired and underperforming opposition. The blacks have given us more problems up front all year than the boks. if that doesnt change on saturday, smith will have little impact off the back and when was the last time pocock made an impact twice in a row?
i still stand in the start with Palu camp (and i know im a waratah fan but its my opinion to!) start him, let him take the big hits, let him do the tough stuff then move the more agile smith there when it calms down after half time or so. for mine if the going gets tough the best thing about pocock is his saffa whinging ability, not his gameplay!
R
rugbywhisperer
Guest
Scorz said:Shouldn't it be "Battle to Avoid the Spoon"?
Hmmm - no I am pretty sure we can win it
S
Spook
Guest
fatprop said:
I though it was outstanding against the Boks. Why break it up? Add TPN into the mix and you have more power at the breakdown.
disco
Chilla Wilson (44)
Don't change a winning team I say, don't understand taking Beale but hopefully no injuries happen between now & the final whistle.
I think the backrow worked well in Brisbane so I'm happy to see Pocock in the 7 jersey & Smith in 8, As long as Brown isn't there & Palu gets at least 30 minutes of gametime.
I thought we should have won in Auckland but we fucked up, should have won in Sydney but Giteau doesn't take pressure field goals & we were well on top before Berrick Barnes went off.
Positives for us since Sydney: No Richard Brown, Burgess on the bench, if Barnes breaks down we have a genuine flyhalf replacement (sure he can't tackle but neither could Mehrtens), we've beaten the Boks this year and no Al Baxter.
Negatives for them since Sydney: No Sivivatu, Rockococo badly out of form, still choping & changing the centres, Andrew Hore has a worse throw than TPN & scrum went to shit when Franks went off.
I'm sure they have some positives but I can't think of any ATM.
disco
A good last post - like your work.
Geez - I thought that incident when Barnes stuffed up a try in Auckland would be significant and there was all the what ifs when the Wallabies lost the lead at the end in Sydney.
The Boks deserved to beat us in the first 2 tests against them because they are a top team, but it was galling to see Oz go down twice to the All Blacks because they looked an ordinary side by their standards and we should have been good enough to win, but weren't.
I know I am not giving credit to NZ for winning 2 games they should have lost but I am still in a bad mood.
I haven't seen the AB team but the positives for them should be: Corey Jane and Toeava to start and the unlikelihood that Nonu will drop so many balls again.
A good last post - like your work.
Geez - I thought that incident when Barnes stuffed up a try in Auckland would be significant and there was all the what ifs when the Wallabies lost the lead at the end in Sydney.
The Boks deserved to beat us in the first 2 tests against them because they are a top team, but it was galling to see Oz go down twice to the All Blacks because they looked an ordinary side by their standards and we should have been good enough to win, but weren't.
I know I am not giving credit to NZ for winning 2 games they should have lost but I am still in a bad mood.
I haven't seen the AB team but the positives for them should be: Corey Jane and Toeava to start and the unlikelihood that Nonu will drop so many balls again.
waratahjesus
Greg Davis (50)
PaarlBok said:
sorry dont speak saffa, is paalbok translated pearlbok, as in what you do after you finish giving a springbok one?
Scotty
David Codey (61)
We were well on top in both games vs the Abs before Barnes went off. To me this just is a telling sign of how bad Giteau has played this year, with his inability to control a game when Barnes isn't there.
The decision to take Beale as 23rd man is interesting to say the least. I assume he will become fullback and wing cover. Fullback is probably fair enough, but wing is slightly ridiculous. Calculated risk from Deans methinks.
As for Palu, even naza would admit he is out of form. End of arguement.
There are five changes and two positional changes to the All Blacks starting XV which played against South Africa in Hamilton last weekend.
Otago lock Tom Donnelly, who has impressed in this year's Air New Zealand Cup, Junior All Blacks campaign and in training with the All Blacks squad, is to make his test debut, replacing Isaac Ross who has started every test this year.
Donnelly's Otago team mate, Adam Thomson, who made a strong showing off the bench in last weekend's test, has been picked at blindside flanker, replacing Jerome Kaino.
In the front row, tighthead prop Neemia Tialata returns to the starting line-up for the first time since the test against South Africa in Bloemfontein in July, replacing Owen Franks, who has started in the last five tests.
In the backline, Ma'a Nonu has moved to second-five eighths and Isaia Toeava is at centre, while Josevata Rokocoko has moved to the left wing, with Cory Jane getting his fourth start in his eighth test on the right wing, with winger Sitiveni Sivivatu injured.
Otago lock Tom Donnelly, who has impressed in this year's Air New Zealand Cup, Junior All Blacks campaign and in training with the All Blacks squad, is to make his test debut, replacing Isaac Ross who has started every test this year.
Donnelly's Otago team mate, Adam Thomson, who made a strong showing off the bench in last weekend's test, has been picked at blindside flanker, replacing Jerome Kaino.
In the front row, tighthead prop Neemia Tialata returns to the starting line-up for the first time since the test against South Africa in Bloemfontein in July, replacing Owen Franks, who has started in the last five tests.
In the backline, Ma'a Nonu has moved to second-five eighths and Isaia Toeava is at centre, while Josevata Rokocoko has moved to the left wing, with Cory Jane getting his fourth start in his eighth test on the right wing, with winger Sitiveni Sivivatu injured.
Newb
Trevor Allan (34)
fatprop said:
i think this might be an obvious statement, but the most in form should start! thus TPN and genia getting the nod lately. same goes for the backrow. if elsom, pocock and smith are performing the best, play them, end of story. just rotate them to fill the most natural position for each. could smith be 6 and rocky 8? sure, but who cares.
and i don't like the argument of put someone in for the first 50 to bash and then a lighter foot player to take advantage of the "settled play". this comes up with burgo/genia, barnes/cooper, etc. seems to me that the full length of 3N's games are intense and physical. play the best for as long as they can, then sub with the understanding that the subs go in at full intensity and expecting as much from the opposition.
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