Force v Hurricanes: Outmanned & Outgunned

Feb 18

Posted by Lance Free
13 Comments

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Sam Harris - challenging assignment

This says it all: unavailable for selection are Andre Pretorius (hamstring, season), David Pocock (finger, 6 weeks), Richard Brown (shoulder, 6 weeks), Cameron Shepherd (thigh, 6 weeks), Nick Cummins (foot, 3-4 weeks), Mark Bartholomeusz (neck, 1-2 weeks), Ryan Cross (shoulder).

That’s taken so much experience and talent out of this side that the Force will be huge underdogs at the Cake Tin. It’ll be like the gunfight at the O.K. Corral with the Force the Clantons and the Hurricanes Wyatt Earp.

In fact, the side named today for Saturday’s match is one of the most inexperienced you’d ever see at this level, packed full of near schoolboys like Luke Jones and Stefano Hunt. Read more »

Nov 8

All Blacks win but Wales didn’t Dai wondering

Posted by Lance Free
12 Comments

Whats new, Pussycat?

New Zealand 19 Wales 12

Wales will pose a significant threat to the Wallabies in three weeks time after bravely going down to the All Blacks at Millennium Stadium this morning.

If you think losing seven consecutive matches to the All Blacks has become a psychological issue for the Wallabies, spare a thought for the Welsh boyos who haven’t won against them since 1953.

You know, the year that Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing climbed Mt Everest and the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place. Read more »

Sep 19

Wobblies woefull in Wellington

Posted by Gagger
70 Comments

Too easy

So far this season the Wallabies have let themselves down in just one, sometimes two facets of the game. Tonight, they fucked every single one. The scrum, lineout, breakdown, kicking, discipline, running, passing; all sucked. It was only an average defensive performance that kept them anywhere near the match.

The heroics in Brisbane were catalysed by some towering leadership performances, where men went out to make the difference – like Polota-Nau with his tackling. This week they sat back and seemed to hope “the pattern” would do it all for them. It’s a simple lesson, when will they learn it? Read more »

Sep 10

All Blacks v Springboks: the final countdown

Posted by Lance Free
10 Comments

'Stephen you're my bitch'

The big question on everyone’s lips in the crunch Tri-Nation’s test in Hamilton on Saturday is whether South Africa will revert to type by employing their successful aerial game last seen in Capetown a couple of tests ago.

This successful strategy which contributed mightily to them winning their three home tests is likely to be adopted in a game that will probably be played in wet and greasy conditions. The recall of Frans Steyn at fullback who was a major contributor to those wins suggests that this may be the case. Read more »

Jul 30

All Blacks v Springboks in Durbs: the teams

Posted by Lance Free
15 Comments

Nigel: 'But Owen, I'm the only gay in the village'

Ladies and Gentlemen, let’s get ready to RRRUUUMMMBBBLLLE.

This is a 10 round heavyweight contest featuring, in the black corner and weighing in with serious intent, former World No 1 and World Cup Chokers Champions, the All Blacks. In the green corner, with the weight of a rainbow nation on it’s shoulders, the current World No 1 and reigning Champion of the World, the Springboks.

And it is a heavyweight contest between the two top-rated teams in the world. This match could determine the Tri-Nations outcome. A win away by any team is such a valuable commodity in this competition it is the determinant (to a lesser extent bonus points). Not that too many people are predicting an All Black win on Saturday. Read more »

Jul 24

Springboks v All Blacks in Bloem: the teams

Posted by Lance Free
6 Comments

Who's Kevin Skinner?

This game is the first in a heavyweight encounter between South Africa and New Zealand in Bloemfontein. For the All Blacks to retain their Tri-Nations title a win here would be a huge step in the right direction.

In addition to being a Tri-Nations match, this game will determine who tops the IRB rankings. South Africa are coming into the match after a series win against the British & Irish Lions. The Lions provided very stern opposition against the Bokke and should have them firing. The All Blacks win last weekend against the Wallabies was scratchy and they’ll be looking for an improved performance. Read more »

Jul 16

Seducing Miss Eden Park: 1st Test Preview

Posted by Gagger
21 Comments

Key - Gits and Barnes

For a Wallaby supporter this is a vicious tease of a match. Standing defiantly is the wily 23 year old Eden Park minx, and laid out like a string of Bacardi Breezers before her is the key to melting this ice maidens defences.

It’s only fitting that the French and Italians – ‘masters of seduction’ – gave facets of the gameplan a trial run.

What the Ities demonstrated is just how uncomfortable the ABs look chasing the ball in their own half, especially the back 3. Acknowledging it, the New Zealanders have drafted in another fullback – Corey Jane to shore things up. With the All Blacks infamous (at least around my armchair) for giving away penalties rather than continuity, should the Wallabies attain such field position, a steady flow of points with the odd yellow card will follow. Australia also has a try scoring strike capability that the Italians sorely missed. Read more »

Jul 16

Tri-Nations: Wallabies vs All Blacks key match-ups

Posted by Juan Cote
25 Comments

A welcome sight

Much has been made of the fact the Wallabies haven’t won at Eden Park for 23 years however not as much has been made of the fact for the first time in a long time, the Wallabies finally look to have a team capable of correcting this travesty.

That is not to say the Wallabies will start as favourites in this weekend’s test, but there seems to more than a hint of foreboding emanating from Nu Zulund which suggests even the home team thinks the Wallabies have a decent chance of winning.

So what are the match-ups that will be critical in determining the outcome of the game? For me it comes down to Moore vs Hore, Smith vs Richie, Gits vs Donald and Barnes vs Nonu. Read more »

Jul 9

Tri-Nation’s All Blacks looking shaky

Posted by Lance Free
13 Comments

Eaton. Less hair=selection

The Aotearoans are asking themselves just where is the depth after the 2009 All Black Tri-Nations squad was announced by Graham Henry earlier this week. There are plenty of names in it that just don’t run off the tongue like de Malmanche, Crockett, Franks, Evans and Ross.

It’d be true to say that Kiwi rugby fans and the media are speculating that this 30 man squad is one of the weakest in recent years with a significant lack of experience in key positions. The domestic lead-up matches against Les Bleus and the Azzurri were unconvincing with a series loss against the former, although the actual result was one test all, and a poor showing against the Eyeties. Read more »

Jun 20

All Blacks: Normal transmission resumed!

Posted by Lance Free
14 Comments

Kaino - better backrow balance

New Zealand 14 France 10

Now that’s what I call an old style All Black performance amongst the mud, the blood and the beer. What a terrific, intense and wholehearted game with the ABs muscling up against Le Frogs in the abysmal Wellington weather.

I remember reading about former All Black fullback Allan Hewson suffering from hypothermia in a game in Wellington once. It looked a bit like that tonight, except Les Bleus fullback Maxime Metard had plenty of work to do and wouldn’t have been standing in one place for long enough. Read more »

Jun 13

All black and ‘bleu’

Posted by Lance Free
26 Comments

France 27 – New Zealand 22

"ah laff at yur flimzy defence neuw zealanderr - ha ha!!"

"ah laff at yur flimzy defence neau zealanderr - HA HA!!"

O.K. Lets put all the crap to bed first. The excuse the Nuw Zulenders will use for their 22 – 27 defeat to Les Bleus will be that they were without McCaw, Carter, So’olialo, Ali Williams, Conrad Smith, Sivivatu, Wulf, Kahui, etc etc yawn!

However, let’s not forget that our continental friends, colloquially known as Le Coq Gaulois, were not without their own difficulties. Think Rougerie, Parra, Nallet, Harinodoquay, Bonnaire Read more »

Feb 12

‘Tahs vs ‘Canes preview

Posted by Juan Cote
11 Comments

But can he tackle a TimTam?

Is it too early to call a side’s hopes for the season ‘on the line’ in round one? Probably, but this game will tell a fair bit about how the rest of the season will pan out for both of them.

Each team has had major overhauls during the off-season and would approach this game with a fair degree of nervousness considering the burden of expectation that both will carry this year.

Key to the ‘Tahs chances in this game will be the ability to get the ball quickly to the outside backs and let them work the under-strength ‘Canes over. Wellington have named Hosea Gear and Piri Weepu out of position at no’s 12 and 10 respectively, this to me speaks volumes about a potential lack of cohesion in the back-line. Read more »

Feb 9

Super 14 2009 predictions

Posted by Gagger
13 Comments

who's gonna bloody win it?

You can over analyse these things so I’m gonna shoot from the hip. Rather than try and rank everyone (who gives a shit if your 11th or 12th?) I’m gonna chuck em all into a few categories to guide where you bet your rent.

Cheetahs – fodder

Lions – fodder

Highlanders – kiwi fodder (so not bottom of table, but close)

Bulls – strugglers. While there’s more than a few big names in there like Matfield, Du Preez, Habana, Spies. I’d back em more if they realised we’re playing under the ELVs and they weren’t tearing each other apart in the sheds. Read more »

Oct 28

Teams – Australia vs New Zealand Hong Kong Bledisloe

Posted by Gagger
5 Comments

We haven’t got the full Wallabies team yet – it’s announced on Thursday – but the leaks are starting to trickle out and the All Blacks have laid down their misere, with an interesting twist.

First off we can all breathe a sigh of relief that Luke Burgess is set to regain his spot at 9 from Vanilla Gregan – papa Deans told him before Tuesday’s training as Luke had been asking every 15 minutes since wheels up at Kingsford Smith.

Assuming Burgess is match fit (are any of them following the weeks they’ve had off?) this gives me some reason for hope of quick ball and defense around the ruck.

The other starting name we’ve been given is Mark Chisholm at lock. While it’s a bit of a case of last man standing, Antipodeans seems to believe the toe up Chis’ arse might have done the trick:

“So this is his chance, he’s obviously pretty excited about it and he’s got an awareness of how important it is because he’s got that sense of having these chances previously and not taking advantage of them.

“So if he brings that urgency, I’m picking you’ll see a pretty good performance out of him.”

Worringly, Ryan Cross has been training as Mortlock’s centre pairing. Both are great outside centres, niether is an inside centre. I can only assume Berrick Barnes needs more time to rest his shoulder.

Tuqiri’s out for two games at least and I quite like a few of the quotes from Dingo on this one:

“He won’t be playing this week and he won’t be playing next week to be honest, to be fair,” Deans revealed.

He might think otherwise … but he needs to get some work under his belt.

If he, through the work he does, has a setback, and it gets to the point where there’s no advantage with him being with us, then we’ll send him home.”

No special favours, which is good to see.

Tim Tam has delivered another surprise to Australian rugby. As well as needing a brand new hammy a few weeks after arriving at the Tahs, it now turns out that he can’t fly outside of Australia without buggering his back.

Tahu was experiencing back tightness – a discomfort stemming as much from a nine-hour flight from Sydney as his chronic hamstring injury – and was unable to take part in the Wallabies’ first team run in Hong Kong

9 hours? He’ll need a fucken wheelchair out of Heathrow by the sound of things.

Despite training in Honkers, McMenimen is still out till Italy as is Kimlin. Palu is unlikely to play the pasta eaters.

As for the Kiwis, it’s a pretty good looking team I’ve gotta say and the switch of Carter to 12 outside of Donald could re-create the headaches it did towards the end in Brisbane.

All Blacks
Mils Muliaina, Hosea Gear, Conrad Smith, Dan Carter, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Stephen Donald, Jimmy Cowan, Rodney So’oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Neemia Tialata, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Greg Somerville, Anthony Boric, Adam Thompson, Piri Weepu, Ma’a Nonu, Isaia Toeava.

Sep 8

Wallabies vs All Blacks Final Tri-Nations teams for Brisbane

Posted by Gagger
4 Comments

With the Australian and New Zealand teams being announced, the Aussie Robbie Deans selection policy seems pretty straight forward so far: stuff up and you go, no risks come big game time. So as per this ethos he’s made 5 changes for the Brisbane Tri-Nations decider this Saturday.

Everyone’s favourite scapegoat and mungo without a defensive clue, Timana Tahu, along with the incredible hooker who can’t throw, Polota-Nau, have both found themselves back in Sydney this weekend. Instead, Cross gets a starting run (presumably going to 13, Mortlock to 12), Moore runs on at rake and the older hand Frier rides the pine.

Dunning bends the bench and this week Nathan Sharpe promised he’d learned his lesson in the press and adds his experience back into the second row alongside Horwill. Waugh swaps with Smith and interestingly, Mumm loses out to McMenimen for the bench and Richard Brown lines up for his potential first cap.

Vickerman, Barnes and Burgess were “not considered for selection”. It sounds like Barnes’ shoulder just wasn’t going to make it and one less unknown made things easier.

These selections, along with the 5-2 bench gives an indication of where AntipoDeans thinks this game is going to be won or lost: the breakdown. With Sheehan and Mitchell being the only back cover, we need to pray Giteau doesn’t tackle with his head on Saturday.

For the All Blacks it’s an unchanged team since their last 2 tournament matches and unfortunately for the Wallabies Carter, McCaw, and Sivivatu are all fit and healthy. The ABs have gone for a 4-3 split on thier bench.

Wallabies
Adam Ashley-Cooper; Peter Hynes, Ryan Cross, Stirling Mortlock (c), Lote Tuqiri; Matt Giteau, Sam Cordingley; Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Rocky Elsom; Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill; Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Adam Freier, Matt Dunning, Hugh McMeniman, Phil Waugh, Richard Brown, Brett Sheehan, Drew Mitchell.

All Blecks
Mils Muliaina; Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan; Rodney So’oialo, Richie McCaw (c), Jerome Kaino; Ali Williams, Brad Thorn; Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Keven Mealamu, John Afoa/Neemia Tialata, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson, Piri Weepu, Stephen Donald, Isaia Toeava.

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