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Complacent Kiwis write off ‘Woeful Wallabies’

Roscoe Tims October 17, 2012 106

No GravatarLatest News: All Black team named — Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Hosea Gear, Daniel Carter, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Charlie Faumuina, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock reserves: Andrew Hore, Owen Franks, Luke Romano, Victor Vito, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Ben Smith.

If you were reading New Zealand’s leading rag today you’d have seen the warning bells already ringing for the All Blacks in this week’s Bledisloe Cup encounter — yes, the All Blacks.

The Suncorp Stadium clash this weekend is of course a foregone conclusion to the esteemed rugby writers of the NZ Herald. If you’re interested, here’s a few quotes about how they see the match going:

Not much hope for the Woeful Wallabies. Australian rugby is in a horrible mess. They’d have a hard time beating Canterbury [ITM Cup side].

This is not a Wallaby side that has the firepower out wide or collective clout in the forwards to even get close to the All Blacks.

The Wallabies have a dud bench. A super dud bench in fact.

It’s impossible to hold much hope for the Wallabies. They’ll get their beans — one giant serving of.

This game is alive but it’s uncertain whether Australian rugby will be by the end of it.

It seems the All Blacks just have to turn up on Saturday and Bob’s (or Shag’s) your uncle, wiping the floor with these pesky no-names.

Apparently the ABs are only in town for a double celebration; their 17th consecutive world record equalling test victory and Keven Mealamu’s 100th match.

I hope they plaster some of these insightful comments on the Wallabies dressing room wall in large font…

A few words of mine come to mind — arrogant, complacent and showing no respect for your opponent.

Apparently the mighty All Blacks are so far ahead of the world’s 2nd ranked side that maybe the Wallabies shouldn’t even bother assembling in BrisVegas.

Why don’t we just have another Bledisloe Cup presentation ceremony at Suncorp? Surely they could rustle up a few of their sunshine seeking compatriots bludging living in Godzone…

Unfortunately, amongst all this arrogance there’ll be genuine sadness surrounding the demise of AB coach Steve Hansen’s father this week.

I’d imagine amongst the All Black camp a ‘do it for Shag’ sentiment will also play its part, and that’s a genuine feeling to be respected.

On this side of the Tasman, we have a healthy regard for the quality of this All Black side.

There’s a certain je ne sais quoi about them. A playing style that combines a brutal forward effort with the joie de vie of their backline — a seeming allowance to take risks, push the envelope and play with the confidence that comes with being on top of your game.

The fact that they have the skill levels and killer instinct to pull it off is obviously a bonus…

The danger for the All Blacks this weekend is to read and take cognisance of what clowns like Gregor Paul and his cohorts are writing.

I don’t think this test will be regarded as a ‘dead rubber’ by the Wallaby team. I think they’ll be trying to draw a line in the sand and build from that backs-to-the-wall win in Rosario.

Sure, the All Blacks are a cut above everyone else at the moment but any dropping of standards due to complacency or conceit needs to be severely punished.

From the first Bledisloe test against the All Blacks this year, there are six forwards in the starting lineup but only one back (AAC).

Most have succumbed to injury (Genia, Cooper, Barnes, Horne and Ioane). Now that’s probably what you’d call a crisis?

Injuries have robbed us of a significant group of senior players but sometimes, just sometimes, the callowness of youth provides an energy that’s infectious for all.

There are obvious question marks about the fitness of a few returning Wallaby players.

Cliffy Palu’s direct running game is one we’ve missed but he isn’t match fit and it remains to be seen how long he lasts, and how effective he’ll be.

It was a good idea to leave Ben Tapuwe’e (or whatever he’s called this week) at outside centre. I see him as our next long term answer in that position, so maintaining the combination with McCabe is important.

Ioane is a loss but the experience of AAC provides a balance and makes sense with the dearth of fit wingers, including the underdone Drew Mitchell.

Higgers is rewarded with an excellent performance in Argentina and Robinson’s superior scrummaging game got him over the line.

The All Black side has yet to be named but I’d imagine they’ll include all their big guns for this world record equalling tilt. It is still a Bledisloe Cup clash at the least.

We’re going to need more than character and heart to defeat a team of this ilk. I don’t think we’ll be able to match their skill level but I’d be satisfied with a fired up Wallabies giving the All Blacks no quarter.

A win would be an upset. Let’s hope the ABs believe their own press?

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POSTED IN » All Blacks, Wallabies
About the author: Roscoe Tims View all posts by
Roscoe Tims (aka Lance Free): A nasty, opinionated little man whose views are indeed narrow with a capital 'N'. Favourite Sport: mungo bashing. Does he ever have anything positive to say?

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Discussion »

  • bill

    I was going to pass a motion on Gregor’s comment on the team announcement page but ultimately couldn’t be bothered giving the troll any oxygen. The guy’s a serial self abuser.

    Pure Alan Jones style self aggrandising crap from him.

    • The Other Dave

      I think it’s fair to say that Mr Paul has already passed a motion on a page – the result being the abovementioned article

  • Jon

    while I agree with the sentiment of your article, the first part, especially the ” showing no respect for your opponent.” makes it appear as if the dribble came out of the ABs camp instead of some pothead journo’s arse

    • Roscoe Tims

      I’m not sure if it was you ‘Jon’ who made a comment earlier but I had to delete the whole post due to tech difficulties and redo it – sorry, may have lost that first comment.

      Anyhow, I know what you’re saying but it’s clear I’m referring to the article and if this is an example of the ‘thinking’ over there it may not just be isolated to Paul?

      • Goldie

        As long as the All Blacks continue to be the team to beat, there will be people writing the sort of trash referred to in the article. It’s the same as people who have to be rude to supporters of teams your team has just beaten. It happens. Most reasonable people would expect the AB’s to win, but not be surprised if the Wallabies do win. I just doubt the confident (arrogant) attitude is shared by the All Blacks, but you just never know. Sad thing is, people with such myopic views get to put their words out there and it stirs up strong feelings in people believing it. Move on I say, it will be a hard game, probably only 7 points or so in the result and there is no way the Wallabies will be disgraced.

      • skyeblue

        please roscoe explain to me why you posted this drivell, because that’s all it is.you’ve got us all upset over nothing now.this is the same media crap our journo’s do, talking up the wallabie’s after a not to shabby win.the waning abs etc.don’t give them headline chasing journo’s a chance to shine, because that’s all your doing.

      • Blair

        I stopped reading too much into the NZ Herald Rugby journo’s columns a long time ago. This is probably more a comment about the trend of journalism today, than about what the All Blacks, and the entire New Zealand public think. There is an important distinction…don’t you think?

        • http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com Roscoe Tims

          You’re probably right Blair. I don’t think the ABs would be thinking like this, unless of course they’re read this sort of crap…

  • bill

    I think about as many kiwis would feel comfortable being in the same lifeboat as Gregor as aussies would sharing one with Alan Jones or Alan Bond.

    • bill

      just give me a knife a hook and a line and I’m sure I could translate alan into a tuna.

  • Kgyptian

    There is a contradiction in the articale above how come the ABs show no respect and in the same time they will lineup all the “big guns”. I am sure that this press only represents the opnion of an arrgont fool. Secondly I don’t think AB’s will be going easy they will want to prove a point that they are miles ahead of everyone. The history books will never mention how many players were injured, it will only mention the result.

    • S Paddy

      At last – a blogger with a brain. Touche! The media may have written us off but I doubt the AB’s will be short of motivation. A hiding is on the cards unfortunately.

  • The Rant

    The wallabies have so many reasons to get fired up and take it to the blecks. They’re under pressure, the media is on their backs, the public is growing restless. They opponents smacked them last time. McCaw’s book ridicules them about their fear in the WC semi. It’s suncorp. Many of them are fighting to prove they belong. blah blah blah…

    But…The sad fact is…

    I don’t expect us to be the ones getting aggro on the pitch and taking it right up to their faces. I expect this NZ team to turn the blasters up to 11 for this and they won’t take their feet off our throat unless we man up and give them a real fight at every single contest.

  • the ardent b’stard

    There is not a blackness disciple anywhere that would line up with this journo drivel – selling papers and a deadline that seems to coincide with closing time!!

  • Coodabeenawesome

    If ABs are off their game it will only be a 20 point belting as opposed to a 50 point belting if they ‘do it for Kiv’. We r not a chance. Would be nice to score though. All the best ‘Notso’! amazing effort to play that many games. Obviously a good bloke into the bargain

  • Coodabeenawesome

    If ABs are off their game it will only be a 20 point belting as opposed to a 50 point belting if they ‘do it for Kiv’. We r not a chance. Would be nice to score though. All the best to Sharpie a great effort and obviously a good bloke as well.

  • gerard flanagan

    Well its all settled then, all the ABs need to do is turn up and its game over. PIGSARSE!

    Our bits and pieces XV might just pull out a blinder.

    Would be great to see against the Arrogant Blacks.

  • Jimbo81

    They’re still AUSTRALIANS!

  • Rick Reds

    ENOUGH OF THIS “The wallabies cant use injuries as an excuse!”!!!!!! TAKE OUT ALL OF THE PLAYERS AFFECTED BY INJURY IN THE WALLABIES, AND DO THE SAME TO THE AB’S!!!!

    TAKE OUT THE FOLLOWING PLAYERS: Brodie Retallick, Richie Mccaw, Kieran Reid, Luke Romano, Tony woodcock, Kevin mealamu, Andrew whore, Aaron smith, Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Cory Jane, Dann carter, Aaron cruden, Israel dagg, Julian Savea and Hosea Gear.

    NOW CONSTRUCT AN AB’S TEAM WHICH CAN BEAT THE WALLABIES AND WIN THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP!

    EXACTLY!

    • bill

      OK MOTHERF*KER! LIKE, GANGNAM STYLE!

    • bludge

      whip yourselves into a frenzy over a silly article. as if the ABs wrote it! like you dont have enough aussie journo twits spouting shite as well.

      to the moron asking to remove the whole AB team… you realise the resultant AB team would still have a very good chance of winning right? lets be serious, NZ maori would start even or favourites against the wallabies at the moment.

      • Funk

        “whip yourselves into a frenzy over a silly article. as if the ABs wrote it! like you dont have enough aussie journo twits spouting shite as well.”
        Hahaha Pot-Kettle my friend.
        If I had a dollar for every nzer’s comment about ‘aussie arrogance’ when an article about how the ‘Wallabies are going well’ (written by aussie journo twits….not a wallaby) is published, I would be living be living on my own tropical island with a bevvy of women at my beck and call drinking Johhny blue like it was water!

    • sarco

      worth a crack
      ben smith
      masanga
      ranger
      fruean
      kahui
      barrett
      wipu
      thompson
      messam
      cane
      whitelock
      williams
      franks
      elliott
      franks

      bench is a tough call so will just flag up some options – half back choose from, perenara, ker barlow, ellis, leonard, I’d even have cowan back
      10′s/other backs, slade, bleyandall, taylor, maitland, guildford, robinson
      Props, taumalolo, Afeaki, crockett, Macintosh
      Locks, Clarke, donnelly, eaton
      Loosies -todd, latimer, lam, savea, hardie
      Other than that – stuffed
      ps…that took 5 mins

      • KingofDubai

        Sarco – read Spiro’s article the other week. WB are far from a full strength side, and I dare say this is a 2nd XV bordering on 3rd XV that came 2nd in the RC.

        You’ve listed an AB team that will never make the light of day rattling off players and combinations like a big swinging dick.

        The truth is, you guys will become complacent through arrogance. You guys simply cant get any better, whilst the WB are scraping the bottom of the barrel dealing with a crisis both on and off the field.

        I’m predicting a close match.

    • Sledgey

      Charlie Faumeifuna
      Hika Elliot
      Owen Franks
      Brad Thorn
      Sam Whitelock
      Sam Cane
      Liam Messam
      Victor Vito
      Piri Weepu
      Beauden Barret
      Richard Kahui
      Zach Guilford
      Sonny Bill Williams
      Robbie Fruen
      Tamati Ellison
      Not saying they would win the championship!
      Just pointing out the depth of the players you left out of your list, and what a depth it is!!!

  • KingofDubai

    A WB win would be remarkable. I don’t think stranger things have happened.

  • Mick Coogan

    Its a shame GP had to go so far. He’s actually done some pretty okay articles in the past. Nonetheless bar his calls about a dodgy Wallaby bench he’s been a little bit too cocky for my liking.

    While on paper one would expect a thumping from the AB’s, the beauty of sport is that the script can change dramatically. Never write any team off let alone a wounded Wallabies team sheesh. I’d have thought us Kiwi’s would have learned the hard way by now.

    That’s the one thing that annoys me about some of my fellow Kiwi’s, we don’t listen to the players. This AB team is good in that they are confident, but they also have the mental attitude of one game at a time.

    Thus, they’ll be thinking this game will be tighter than most. At least for the first half. You have Sharpes final WB game on Aussie soil. Suncorp/Lang park is an awesome arena. Its sold out and there will be a lot of parochial Aussies there.

    I also have to say that the Wallabies defense against the AB’s has been good for the most part. The AB’s will be aware of the heart and commitment shown recently.

    But this may well be a problem. The defense will be under a lot of pressure this time around. In particularly if predicted the AB’s dominate the set piece and rucks.

    The AB’s and blokes like Reid, Smith, Smith and Nonu will probably target the midfield. Tapuai appears a useful footballer but in all honesty, I feel that putting Ashley Cooper out on the wing. he’s wasted there against the AB’s. Recently AAC has been a real rock in the center of the field and really led by example there against us.

    McCabe’s a decent bloke and a better player than people give him credit for. But he’s struggled with Nonu and Smith and he’s only played the Argentina game with Tapuai.

    If the Wallabies can hold off the All Blacks in the first half or only trail by a few points, hell even lead they could go the distance. It’ll be balls of steel that will win it for the Aussies. Sadly, I don’t think it will be Dingo’s tactical genius.

    Best of luck to you all anyhow.

    • bill

      You’re not the only one who thinks taps shouldn’t be at oc. I dunno, he’s developing and there were aspects of his play against the argies that suggested a wide game with him as a drifted in centre would suit us, but…let’s see. It’s their game plan to have McCabe in at 12, it’s also a bit of a minor make or break moment, if it doesn’t work out against the best team in the world, no biggie, but still, bit of a bummer to say the least.

      Personally i don’t know, There’s good reasons to start him at oc, I highly doubt McCabe is a good one though, Pat’s a very good player, but he’s like AAC, pretty much a sum of the parts player, he might bleed green and gold, but I’d prefer us to play well enough to smash these pricks.

      • Mick Coogan

        Bill I agree with you with regard to Taps. However, I think you may underestimate AAC. With a good ball running second five inside him he’d be a lot more dynamic. I think he’s got a lot on his plate in the middle of the field.

        As for McCabe, yeah I see your point there. He actually showed a lot of potential when he first came on the scene. Shame is I really do think both McCabe and AAC have become plodders due to some pretty unimaginative tactics.

        Was a time with AAC when he used to run at the line in a manner similar to Matt Burke. Under Deans we haven’t really seen AAC with many of those opportunities.

        • bill

          Coaches fall in love with guys like McCabe, and it’s easy to see why, hard worker, does everything you ask, you want to see him do well. I like him a lot, but the reality is you have to have a balanced team that is effective and having Pat at in centre?….for me you only can afford one McCabe or AAC in your backline, they’re great but they just aren’t creators of anything except havoc. Not a bad thing.

          If it was league you could have one playing left centre and the other right centre, but it’s not.

  • TerryB

    I think this article establishes that Gregor Paul’s memory chip expires after 11 months. The same rubbish was written about the French in 2007 and again last year. (In his book Richie McCaw’s expresses frustration at the occasional lack of respect shown by Kiwi fans and journalists).

    Articles like this really give me the shits, why tempt fate? Yup the Wallaby bench looks weak, their set piece wobbly and their midfield unimaginative. But…they’ve only conceded two tries to the ABs this year and they have plenty of spirit. It may not have been pretty but that was a gutsy win in Rosario. I expect a dog fight and less than ten points in it.

  • NTA

    I hardly think any AB performance is centred around what their press think, but yes there is a fair bit of complacency and expectation in the fan base (a group in which I include the media) for this game, and rightly so, you would say. Not all of them mind.

    For a country that likes to build itself a pedestal on a weekly basis and decry its status as a true “rugby” nation, sometimes these people forget the values of rugby – respecting your opposition and grace in spite of results.

    • bludge

      For a country that likes to build itself a pedestal on a weekly basis and decry its status as a true “rugby” nation, sometimes these people forget the values of rugby – respecting your opposition and grace in spite of results.

      ….youre talking about australia right?

      • Jimmy

        Ok you will need to enlighten me as to when Australia has declared itself a “Rugby Nation”. 90% of the people here don’t even know the game is played there.

        You have 2 other football codes that command over $1 Billion in TV rights every few years where a joint partnership of 3 “Rugby” nations (of which Australia is the smallest) can’t manage to get a third of that figure. Yet you are proclaiming Australia calls itself a “Rugby Nation”.

        Mate you need to wake up.

        • Sledgey

          Pure exaggeration.
          But, I’ll bet 90% of Australia know who the ABs and Springboks are bud?

  • Garry

    Gregor is a regular contributor, so it seems that a vast number of the NZ public are reading this poisonous dribble, and on some level, having it seep into their subconscious.

    It’s not a big jump to see how the NZ rugby public got sucked into the QC-McCheat handbags affair. Hook, line, stinker.

  • MyRugby Mate

    It’s a fair observation to say that the press on both sides of the Tasman are dickheads.

    More importantly I’m looking forward to a bunch of new guys playing their guts out for the green and gold.
    Also a small amount of biffo would be greatly appreciated just to show that there’s a bit of pride out there.
    Players like Messam and Romano could be easy targets to do some selective baiting on the biffo front.

    But that’s just me…

    • MattyP

      A bit of Michael Brial-style play would be appreciated.

      • richard

        Perhaps you refer to the incident with Frank Bunce – don’t kid yourself, bunce didn’t retaliate because the team was under instructions not to react to any provocation – Bunce would have been quite capable of taking care of brial.

        Actually, when one thinks about it, brial would fit right in with your current lot.

  • Disco

    Finally a new saying for kiwis “cook the man some eggs” has been replaced with “they’ll get their beans”.

    McCaw said it in his autobiography which was backed up by some foxsports poster as being Kiwi as and now this goose has thrown it in.

    • jrsONE

      Yeah, I noticed that too – but I don’t exactly understand the meaning. When Richie said it about QC it seemed to mean “he will get his just desserts for being a dickhead”.

      When Gregor uses it it seems to mean “they’ll get smashed”. Unless he intends it to mean that the Wallabies somehow deserve to get smashed because of something they have done? Maybe we deserve to get smashed for QC’s knee, or maybe it’s just for daring to show up at all. Not clear.

      If any of our NZ couzins could explain at all, I’d appreciate.

      Also – maybe explain Jandals again?

      • bill

        we have flano shirts and ug boots, the kiwis being a cerebral bunch have ….beans?

        makes me think of blazing saddles for some reason. I can kind of imagine Richie holding a gun to his head and saying ‘anyone moves and the all black gets it’.

        • Moz

          NIce! I don’t think Mr Taggert would want any beans!

      • Sledgey

        Getting your “beans” means getting a hiding or getting beat up, that term was around when I was a kid in the 70″s, so it as old as the hills….

        While the Wallabies might just get their beans I’m hoping for a hard, fast and clever game from the Wallabies….please and I wish them luck!
        From an ABs supporter .
        Cheers

  • KingofDubai

    AB’s will expect Beale to keep it in close due to outside back stocks (lack of). I’d like to see crash balls by McCabe, with an offload to either Higgers at #6 and/ or AAC coming through the middle as a roving wing/ fullback. THis will create holes out wide on occassions where AAC will be able to make a few line breaks too. We need some Beale magic and I expect Sheehan to have good game time at #9 as Phibbs will be picked on. The WB will need to have through kicking radar on as this will be vital.

    Timani, Higgers and Palu need strong running games to commit defenders like Reid and McCaw. Direct Midfield running, with support either side for quick ball. The only way to intimidate the AB’s will be through these guys.

    I’m dissappointed Radike isnt on the bench. he would have been a great impact player this weekend.

  • aeneas

    Its safe to say that not all kiwis are thinking like this. Anyone that actually has been following rugby has seen the wabs get better and playing at suncorp. Im expecting a very close match.

  • GtG

    You do realise that the All Blacks didn’t write that mate?

  • Jeff

    Gregor Paul would rate at about the same level as Phil Kearns as an accurate commentator on rugby.

    • Jimmy

      You know what I like about Phil Kearns?? He fucking hates losing….none of this “they are better than us, we should just accept that” shit we hear from idiots like Deans and Cooper etc. His commentary is a result of the hatred and frustrations bubbling over that result from us losing.

      If there is a better team out there than us I have a few pieces of advice for our team.
      1. Get better, because no one should be better than you – it’s you job to be the best so you aren’t doing your job.
      2. Don’t admit they are better – that’s just giving up and giving the other team massive confidence – it’s a losers attitude and pisses your fans off beyond belief.
      3. The only reason they are the best is because of point number 1 – you aren’t doing your job -don’t compliment them, punish yourself.

    • bill

      Phil’s better than Gregor. If you want to compared Gregor to anyone, Taine Randell seems to have the same capacity to get high on his own supply….of methane.

    • Blair

      I would rate Gregor Paul up there with Rowan Atkinson, in terms of astute Rugby nous…

  • Nutta

    Ok. Soap-Box Jingo-ism Warning…

    Back in the mid ’80′s – a glorious time of proper lineouts, ridiculous haircuts and crap music – I was a young snapper just starting to play senior rugby in country NSW. I had a coach who was a cliched sheep farmer with an amazing knowledge of the game and a broad drawl that I could tell hundreds of anecdotes about. Well we had a game come up against the zone champions – they were massive, fast, skilled, undefeated, blah blah blah… we had no form to think we could win, but sure as shite we weren’t going to be “beaten” by these posers and this old coach told us to do 3 things (ya listening now Dingo? Ah that’s right, you don’t like advice much. Forgot that.):

    1. Go at them hard & make it a scrap. Don’t wait. Don’t sit back. Do short kickoffs, “nudge” drop-outs, pressure the middle of the lineout & make them throw front, hold up every ball-runner and force the maul… Make it a dogfight and see who is standing at the end.

    2. Ruck everything on the ground. No stupid stabbing or dancing, that only gets penalised. Get past the ball and churn the feet. Make sure everyone understands that if you slow it up you will shed blood (mind you in those days we still wore proper boots – not these girlie fkn blades things).

    3. Very first opportunity you get, punch your opponent fair in the mouth. Fkn belt him. No biting or eye-gouging or Jarpie cheap crap like that – but punch him square & hard enough so he tastes/feels/sees his own blood. I don’t care if he punches your head down your neck after it – especially as no-one ever sees the first punch but they see the retaliation and losing a tooth to see one of them cop a red card is a win in my book. Just make sure you belt him first & hard. It will spoil their composure.

    And that Thursday night at the pub (remember the good old days when you actually WENT to the sponsors pub after training? And had a feed? And the young fellas wanted to hear the stories, be involved and not dabble on a fkn i-phone?) we played a VCR of the Welsh & All Black tests of “step forward” fame.

    We drew. 6 points and 2 dozen stitches all (all done on the sidelines). It worked. I’ve never forgotten it. As I got older I talked with men who played on both sides that day. And none of them have ever forgotten it. I get goose-bumps remembering it & feeling the scar over my eyebrow…

    I know it’s a cliche. I know professional sport sees itself as above such common brutality. And I know I’ll cop stick from the La La Police. But seriously, this is a contact sport and if ever we were to pull out and remember the “Step Forward” approach – it’s now.

    Time to remember the likes of Wild Bill Cerutti, Poido, Tony Shaw, Jim Roxburgh, Stan Pileki, Sam Scott Young, even Peter Fitz when his blood was up…

    Sometimes in life, a game is not a game. Sometimes what seems like just another event is actually much more. My pride, my honour, my country is not the vehicle for anyone elses self-aggrandisement and hubris be it the fkn All Blacks or Quade “Look at Me” Cooper.

    17 tests in a row eh? Fk ‘em. Belt ‘em.

    • Funk

      Unfortunately Nutta, I can only ‘pay that’ once!
      FKN LOVED IT!!!

    • Jimmy

      Mate you aren’t looking for a temporary coaching position are you??

      Seriously though I reckon the thing to do is run out the biggest, hardest bunch of criminals you can for the first game against the ABs every year, get them all sent and suspended but critically injure half the other team in the process, then run out your real team for subsequent games and enjoy the flow of victories as a result of the other teams lack of fit personnel and the fear they now possess that they will end up like their team mates.

      • S Paddy

        He should be Jimmy. You should be Nutta!

    • Roscoe Tims

      I don’t know what you’re on Nutta….but I want some of it!!!!

    • BloodRed

      I think I just got a stiffy.

    • skyeblue

      trouble is nutta. there’s no hard wallabies in this team man enough to hit a ruck hard,let alone have a biffo.can’t get over how soft and feminen our players are compared to the kiwi’s.the only one’s handing out biff this weekend will be the blecks.

    • peterlala

      Nutta, that’s the best piece on rugby that I have read for years. Fantastic.

  • http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com Roscoe Tims

    All Blacks

    Israel Dagg
    Cory Jane
    Conrad Smith
    Ma’a Nonu
    Hosea Gear
    Daniel Carter
    Aaron Smith
    Kieran Read
    Richie McCaw (c)
    Liam Messam
    Sam Whitelock
    Brodie Retallick
    Charlie Faumuina
    Keven Mealamu
    Tony Woodcock

    All Blacks: Andrew Hore, Owen Franks, Luke Romano, Victor Vito, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Ben Smith.

  • Roscoe Tims

    + Ben Alexander out injured. replaced by Slipper and Kepu (bench)

    • bludge

      “All Blacks: Hansen picks top team for dangerous Wallabies”

      is the headline for the current GP article. but dont worry, already jumped the gun here.

      when the know you’re too shite to win, just punch the other guys. fantastic sentiment. should this be considered typical of aussie sport?

      • Jimmy

        Ahh another Kiwi statement that falls perfectly into the “Hypocrisy” box.

        Yes yes, Aussies have always been the “dirty” neighbor. Aussies are always the ones that “cheat” the saintly people of the small island next door. Aussies always manipulate the referees and administration so that they get preferential treatment. Aussie crowds are always the worst behaved, throwing beer cans and picking out individuals to harass during major tournaments in order to try to put them off their game. Aussies are invading New Zealand and filling their prisons with criminals that are costing the poor kiwis millions every year. This is all probably due to the horrendous increases in domestic violence in Australia when the Wallabies don’t win.

        It such a shame you are forced to live next to this bunch of neanderthals. The good people of NZ like Richard Loe who play the game in the spirit that god intended have every right to be offended by the horrible people across the ditch.

        • richard

          Funnily enough, the richard loe incident you refer to happened on the ’92 ab tour of oz. I can remember another incident on that same tour – the loud – mouthed thug sam scott- young jumping on the leg of kevin schuler, thus removing him from the tour , and prematurely ending a promising test career. Curiously, you ozzies seem to have selective amnesia when it comes to your own acts of thuggery.

        • S Paddy

          Sir Robert Muldoon was right – When Kiwis move to Oz it increases the IQ of both countries.

        • Jimmy

          There was not “a” Richard Loe incident – go back and look at his playing history. He was a serial offender.

  • Robson

    Gregor Paul needs a dose of gregor mortis around his mouth. But it’s probably best to ignore him because he only made those comments to be provocative. Sadly though there are a few kiwis who have a similar mind set who I have spoken to around the local rugby club in the last couple of days.

    Fortunately their numbers have been well and truly offset by a bigger group whose opinion has been far more respectful and tinged with some genuine concern that this young group of Wallabies playing at a friendly venue will find the inspiration and intensity to play well and truly above themselves.

    They have nothing to lose by leaving it all out there and I’m pretty certain that’s what we will see. In fact I’m reasonably confident of a Wallaby win. Not totally confident, but I believe an upset is well and truly on the cards.

    So I think a fantastic game is about to be served up to us mere mortal spectators and I can’t wait for the opening whistle.

    And btw, it will be good to see Slipper playing at TH again.

  • MattyP

    “Australian Rugby is an a horrible mess.”

    It’s hard to pay any attention to an author, or the publishing newspaper, that prints a typo in the first line of an article. Did they even read this fucking thing themselves? Or is that just “fush end chups” speak and I missed it?

  • cole

    that’s the idea nutta punch the shit out of them and you get a reward by sitting in the sin bin..nice intelligent method of beating nz..and he wants them all to do it..awesome..more in the bin the better…geeze..please do..pleeeease..huhhhh…

  • Queenslander

    my brother asked, wonder what the rate of training injuries is under Deans, seems to be massive compared to other years. I think he is onto something they drop like nine pins

    • bill

      Unless they’re being negligent I’d rather we were training seriously enough to get injuries. It;s not something I want to see but better that than piss poor preparation.

      One of the things about Deans that I’ve liked ,and I guess hated all at once has been his prediliction for asking guys to put in a full 80 minutes. Props aside I guess. But it is refreshing to see the backrowers getting asked to push through and generally not giving easy caps to guys.

      • Queenslander

        agree I have mixed feelings about subs. the fresh legs argument versus the view that if you can’t get through 80 minutes really should you be there

  • Matt

    I wonder if a few of the ABs will have nightmares about playing at Suncorp. McCaw and Carter were in three losing sides at Suncorp last year alone.

    If the Wallabies play with the intensity they showed in the Tri-Nations decider last year anything is possible. Particularly if Beale can get some decent quick ball to use.

  • Robbo

    Anyone else read McCaw’s book and think… What an arrogant bugger. Dont get me wrong. Full credit to him. He is a hard bugger. Smart and as tough as it gets. But in a lot of parts he comes across as arrogant and immature. Blatantly slags off all other nations (with the exception of some strange man love for Dusautoir and some minor credit to Bokkie for beating them) as not being worthy. When a loss happened it was never once we got beat. It was always some excuse. Ref, travel, injured, ref. After reading it made me lose respect for him. If Wallabies need motivation how to beat them then this book is it as it is full of cheap shots and sneaky offsiders. And old mate journo shite comments follow this arrogance. Perhaps McCaw’s book wouldn’t have sold so many copies if the ref didn’t “freeze with fear” (McCaw’s summation of why they lost the 2007 quarter to Frogs) in the final in 2011 and penalise him for infringing illegally the whole game…But that wasn’t in the book hey Ritchie? Lets hope Wabs pull one out of the hat and slam them…

  • wowjiffylube

    Just as an aside, this press arrogance from the kiwis is similar to that of the Aussie media leading up to the clash with Ireland in the RWC. Remember how that turned out.

  • http://greenandgold daza

    ROBBO
    The ref freezing with fear was not Mcaws summation of their 2007 WC loss. If you have read the book it may pay to read that section again for the full story.

  • KingofDubai

    Skyeblue- I’d say Cliffy Palu would be keen to hurt a few AB’s and my guess is Higgenbotham is up for it too.

    I still don’t know why Radike isn’t on the bench for this test. He’s a man mountain that would intimidate the AB’s.

  • Robbo

    Daza – fair enough mate.

    On reflection maybe I was being harsh. McCaw is a legend of the game and after reading his book is revealed as a deep thinker and one of the toughest buggers around. That is without doubt. The latest “look at me” (to steal nutter’s thunder) generation and the rest of the número uno wannabes need look no further in terms of a manual on what is required in terms of discipline and mental strength.

    However McCaw’s book left me with a bad taste. I cannot summarise it exactly what was awkward about it and arrogance is the wrong word.

    Perhaps it is that he comes across as disrespectful towards his opponents. He spends a great deal of time discussing sub-conscious values instilled in him as a young chap but I wonder if respect to your opponents and the ref was one them. I find as the Skipper this should be a given.

    Take 2007 for example, I accept blaming the ref it is not the only reason he puts forth for the 2007 loss. But it is one of the most compelling. Note it also pops up several times later in the book and is a bit of a recurring theme. Ditto each time (in the book) another country beats the ABs its the same theme. In his mind it seems that the ABs are the deserved winners of all their encounters. Regardless of who actually won. It is a myopic viewpoint.

    Personally I would have expected a Skipper to show a bit more command in this regards and acknowledge that other teams were better on the day and the rub of the green goes both ways. I accept that the “ref froze” in 2007 and missed the infamous forward pass. But (as a Frog fan) the same comment could be made about the ref in 2011 who missed numerous infringements (many made by McCaw).

    Regardless of my own insignificant views the same disrespect with regards opponents can be said of Schumacher, Steve Waugh etc. Perhaps it is the mark of a winner. Feeds into the psyche of a win at all costs fanatic mentality.

    There is something great and magnetic about watching fanatics get fair and square beaten.

    Lets hope the ref freezes this weekend.

    • richard

      Yes, you can say that about McCaw in relation to the QF in Cardiff, but if my memory serves me well,I can remember a certain game between the wb’s and Ireland, and the reaction of oz supporters.

      And you had the good fortune of it only being a round – robin game, so it didn’t knock you out of the tournament.

      Pot, kettle, black methinks.

  • PD

    I still respect the wallabies but I can’t wait until this year is over and they return with MacKenzie as coach next year? and a full lineup so I dont have to read in every article the whole injury list listed over and over again. It is useless saying that other teams would be hard pressed etc etc. Then we can get back to just playing rugby.

  • PD

    On another front to those who say the AB’s haven’t had to make changes:
    The exit of Sonny Bill Williams to Japan barely registered
    Th retirement of the full-back Mils Muliaina has gone unoticed
    The introduction of introduced Brodie Retallick and Luke Romano seamlessly in the second row: a position that might have been a worry after the departure overseas of the mighty Brad Thorn
    Most crucially, perhaps, Aaron Smith’s faster, snappier service at scrum-half has made Piri Weepu a peripheral figure and suited the All Blacks’ peerless pace away from the breakdown.
    And Jerome Kaino has also gone.

  • peterlala

    Roscoe Tims, top class article. I don’t think it’s arrogance to say the All Blacks are the favourite, though.

    PS: just re-read the quotes…they are arrogant. Why would anyone fantasise about the demise of Australian rugby?

  • richard

    This is a media beat – up, which in true ocker fashion is being blown out of all proportion.Just because one journo (a pom) sees it this way,doesn’t mean that is the way the public see it. And if you’re relying on the ab’s thinking that way, then you ozzies are in for a shock, they are too professional for that.

    The reality is nz are a better team, and if they play to their ability, they will simply be too good for you.If thats arrogance, then nz is guilty as charged, but at least, unlike the wb’s, our players do their talking on the field, not off it!

    • S Paddy

      Couldn’t have said it better. Ozzie players are overstated, underwhelming, over hyped, and over paid. Interesting to see more people turn up for the All Black public session than the Wallaby one. Meanwhile the AB’s continue to be total professionals – humble, reserved, and dignified. This will reflect on the field inevitably in a good old thrashing of the poor old Warblies. Big ups for Nathan Sharpe this weekend who has battled his backside off for a number of years. A shame that more don’t have the values needed to beat the champs. Tip for Saturday – watch poor old Mikey at the back be deeply exposed.

      • muffy

        That is only an indication of how many unemployed Kiwis there are in Brisbane and the Gold Coast..

        The rest of us were working… and paying tax…

        I am sure your ABs will win wich will enable to get on the train in a loud obnoxious group and chest beat and intimidate families all the way home…

        PS Its spelled Aussie… if you are going to live here, please be professional – humble, reserved, and dignified and spell it correctly (Ozzie is the washed up vocalist from seventies metal band Black Sabbath)

        Thank you

      • richard

        Couldn’t agree more with you,S Paddy; we kiwis need to stick together – I’ve never met a more delusional bunch than aussie rugby supporters. As soon as they lose, they trot out the same old, tired excuses – the main one being how they have a small player pool( oz has 297,000 to nz’s 146,000 registered players, but this is conveniently overlooked by their supporters).

        As an aside, muffy,spare us the old myth of the kiwi dole bludger, its horseshit,and you know it.Kiwis flock to oz to get into the mining industry,or even the most basic of jobs,as your wages are considerably higher than ours, not to sit on your dole.

        • muffy

          sorry Richard …didn’t realise there were so many mines on the gold coast..

        • Red Raw

          Well the Keewee gene pool is certainly smaller. What are you buggers on? This is an Australian rugby website – GAGR is so named. If we wanted to hear your ignorant rants we would read your own columns of Black humour. I think we should be importing labour from more needy and grateful nations. Enough of the Hobbits I say.

        • Jimmy

          On a side note…I actually looked over the prison figures the other day (I have a friend with access to these numbers)/. It’s actually incredible the % of total prisoners that Kiwis make up.So Richard may be half right, they might not ALL be on the dole after all.

          In any case the message to you all is the same – if you hate us and our country so much – feel free to piss off home. I know we will be the better for it.

        • S Paddy

          Laughable eh. All this crap about anything but the rugby is typical aussie BS. Am currently at a BBQ in NZ with people who work hard, have tons of money, and live life to the full. No bludgers or losers. Just objective footy fans (who appreciate the Wallabies are trying their hearts out) waiting for a great game. Unfortunately for you guys the negative, barbed, insincere blogs make us laugh harder. Its a real shame because the rugby writers on this site have a lot to offer.

  • Drongo

    According to IRB’s website Aussie has 85K registered rugby players compared to NZ 140k.

    • Jimmy

      I’ve linked a couple more sites – they aren’t interested in facts mate – only poorly thought out drivel.

      • richard

        Jimmy, is that right , asshole ,my figures are correct, as for poorly thought out drivel, that would be you and most of your compatriots, who for years now have made excuses for your defeats, instead of just conceding that maybe the opposition is better.

        But of course, everyone knows that no-one is ever better than oz, in anything.Those are the FACTS, you goose.

        • Jimmy

          I see you are upset as you have been found to be wrong – time to grow up I think and stop the name calling when you are incorrect.

          The links get deleted but according to Wiki ,Rugbydump and the official player figures for each country at the 2011 WC Drongo is correct and you are wrong.

          The number are approx as follows
          England – 716505
          South Africa – 464477
          France – 212059
          New Zealand – 141726
          Japan – 126124
          Ireland – 100974
          Australia – 66395
          USA – 63254
          Italy – 45376
          Fiji – 45300
          Wales – 42000
          Scotland – 24905

          Now obviously as a Keewee on an aussie forum you are just a person who comes here to troll so why don’t you get a life and go talk rubbish somewhere else.

  • http://greenandgold daza

    RED RAW , Quite difficult when you put those more needy and grateful imports in prison on Xmas Island.

  • Drongo

    So – I would like to see a blog on this great website outlining a plan to beat the ABs…

    Could Roscoe and the other boys start us off?

    Some good insight in Ritchie McCaw’s autobio when he talks about Le Frog bringing two games Biarritz vs Toulouse and which style works best against them. Seems like a spoiling areal ping pong game plan with bringing attrition trench warfare and choking each other is not Ritchie’s favourite.

    My team to do this:

    Homes, TPN, Kepu, Sharpe, Timani, Higgers, Hoops, Samo, Sheehan, KB, LT, Harris, AAC, Schmoo, McCabe.

    My justification is we need parity in the scrums ( kicking game will yield knock ons). Homes had some form in Super, Keps is our best TH. Timani/sharpe are in form and should generate just enough to at least win our own.

    Need supremacy in line outs. Sharpe, Higgers Samo should do this.

    Need a smart scrapper halfie. Sheehan is way better at Phipps at being a hard bastard. Plus Sheehans been playing at Force and should be used to a inferior pack going backwards and clearing it to first and second receivers.

    Need solid kicking first and second fives and a genuine goal kicker. Penalties will be forthcoming in an air attack. KB is our form 5/8 given the current players. Harris at 12 for defence and goal kicking/air kicking.

    AAC to give mid field strength/direction.

    Need fullback (Corey Jane) Wingers Schmoo and Lt have played lots of footie at fullback, have pace to burn, good under highballs and can assist KB/Harris game plan.

    Need a solid fullback… McCabe does this for me. No frills. Good tackler. Good highball. Played all of his jnr footie there…

    Spoil all night. Kick over heads of AB pigs. Schmoo and LT to chase like men possessed. Make ABs forwards run backwards all night. Pressure them at lineouts. Spoil, infringe, slow down all their ball. Unleash Higgers and instruct him to Ruck McCaws Head Off. Samo to put late hits on Cater. Unsettle them. piss them off. Sheehan to bark at ref all night that Abs are cheating and get under Reads skin. Infringe, spoil, unsettle…. Repeat again.

    Maybe I’ve had too much coffee…

  • richard

    to Jimmy, no, I’m not upset,and you might find this interesting, have a look at this site;

    http://www.rugby.com.au

    this site has most of your playing figures; it even talks about your playing numbers now topping 250,000 players.Does not say the registered numbers, but I did read somewhere that oz has more adult players than nz.

    btw I don’t live in oz, and I actually work for a living, nor have any kind of criminal record.You should follow your own advice, and quit the vitriol.

  • JJIgotcha

    Kiwis moving to Oz for the dole? thats incredibly ignorant as kiwis are not eligible for the dole. They come here as they are in demand to fill mostly skilled roles that there are not enough Australian citizens for. Australia does incredibly well out of NZ. Australia was also founded on immigration so unless you are aboriginal, or Tores Straight either you or your family immigrated here as well. Really poor form. Anyway my prediction, comfortable win to the AB’s but the Wallabies should do themselves proud.

  • Drongo

    Richard – don’t want to lower into a silly debate cause i carn b fkd but 250K is not a true figure. Also couldn’t see that figure on the website you posted (could have missed it however – please clarify the reference).. Google ” registered rugby players country” and you will find the stats. 250K would be awesome if we could get that figure. But unfortunately Rugby is the 4th biggest football code in Oz and is a minor sport.

  • richard

    Fair enough,I see where you’re coming from; if by some chance you are interested, google “number of rugby players in oz’ and you will find on p1 an article titled ” rugby player numbers increase for fourth consecutive year’.

    It is an oz website and will give you the participation numbers in oz rugby. They are not small potatoes, and I am well aware they are different from registered playing numbers.

    All I am saying is aus’ situation in union is not as precarious as some would have us believe.I’ll leave it at that.

  • Drongo

    Yeah mate, that’s cool.

    After yet another low scoring event, with the outcome decided by a ref… Everyone at the pub waxing lyrical about the AFL grand final and how much better AFL is to watch and play than union. I am not so sure. But hope ur right as the air ping pong is cool but not my cuppa.

    Personally that game was cool and an old school arm wrestle. Intensity was good to see.

    Was crap to see ref calling technical non- consequential calls, and each side making unforced errors.

    long term the current rules won’t bring in the biscuits. NZ rugby is awesome. but its legacy, longevity and success will be so much better with a nice, strong healthy rivalry with OZ and other countries. So it is a mutual interest in improving the game. It will benefit all etc. rugby Leauge internationals are a prime example. When one country is so dominant it’s not fun. And nice to see the dominators get beat every now wind then.

    My tips:

    -Bring back the ELV short arm penalty and allow ref to call long arms only when it is a deliberate infringement.
    -Allow rucking the ball (no heads). Keep the cheats at bay and speed up the rucks.
    -Allow each team two video ref calls to challenge refs call per game (like tennis). This last point is controversial; but it will take some of the agony out of scenarios where refs call is 50/50 and the replay shows him as wrong. Also keep refs on their toes.
    -Analysis of the laws with a view to remove inconsequential/technical laws out… E.g numbers in line out, accidental offside, tackler not rolling away when there are five blokes on top of him.
    -Scrums should be crouch, engage.
    -Scrums should be closer together so props can get a bind and to take away the emphasis on getting a big hit.

    Welcome any other thoughts/comments on how to improve the game.

    Peace.

  • richard

    Can’t really disagree with anything you’ve said – easpecially the call to bring back rucking – personally felt a draw was about right, didn’t think either team deserved to win. On the wb,s, they will be a major force, in the years to come and a major threat along with sa in the next wc.

    Peace.

    • rae1

      Agree,however my only concern would be that most players would have to learn how to ruck.A generation has passed since the days of rucking so the new generation of player would have to be taught at schoolboy level I suppose.

  • http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com Roscoe Tims
  • rae1

    Its bullshit comments like that coming from the NZ media that have labelled us kiwis as all arrogant and full of ourselves. Not for one moment did i believe that the bled cup was a sure thing,and the many people i talked to were of the same opinion. Gregor was also part of the “French are easy beats” campaign before the WC final.Biased reporting starts emitting a stench after a while regardless of whether its barbs are aimed at the opposition or not.You suck NZ Herald!

  • Roscoe Tims

    Testing 1, 2, 3

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