ABs have top spot in sight
25 Jul 2008
Victory over the Wallabies will see New Zealand regaining the No 1 ranking in world rugby.
The All Blacks come into Saturday’s fixture on the back of a loss to the Springboks, but a winning start to the Bledisloe Cup will see them surpassing the world champions.
New Zealand are currently 0.78 points behind South Africa and a win will knock the Boks off the No 1 perch regardless of the winning margin. The All Blacks recently eclipsed the Boks by beating them in Wellington, only to drop down to second by losing the subsequent Test in Dunedin.
The Aussies (86.17) are still some way off the Boks (90.01) and New Zealand (89.23) and would need to win their next two games to close the big gap.
1 SOUTH AFRICA 90.01
2 NEW ZEALAND 89.23
3 AUSTRALIA 86.17
4 ARGENTINA 83.42
5 ENGLAND 83.16
6 WALES 80.12
7 FRANCE 78.99
8 IRELAND 77.18
9 SCOTLAND 76.92
10 ITALY 75.57
62 Comments
25 Jul 2008, 09:36 am
1st!
25 Jul 2008, 09:37 am
Ha! I have the top spot!
25 Jul 2008, 09:44 am
Gotta tell you all, I’m already at the ground for tomorrow’s big match. Checked in to hotel next to the ground and can see the ABs going thru their last minute stuff. The pub’s already full and the feelings amazing. Looking forward to a great match-up. Go the Wallas!!!
25 Jul 2008, 09:47 am
#3 Old Griquas 14 in Sydney: A quick weather report from the ground: light drizzle for the last hour; forecast dry for the kick-off tomorrow night. Has anyone stayed in NZ for the weekend, or are they all over here ? Place is full of black jumpers with silver ferns!!
25 Jul 2008, 10:22 am
Of course they are eyeing the top spot- its where they belong. At least we wee able to grab it back for a week, imagine being like England and having your head up the Argies date for as long as they have!!
25 Jul 2008, 10:25 am
go boytjies go beat the bokke for top spot
25 Jul 2008, 10:30 am
# Old Griquas – you’re a lucky fella. The atmosphere there must be electric. We might ger another thriller like the match between these two (I think it was in 99 or 2000 when Jonah pulled the ABs out the fire in the very last minute)
I’m a Bok supporter myself and I can’t say who I would like to see win. But I honestly belive that rugby will be the true winner tomorrow night. And on those occasions one needs to be there to witness it. Good on you!
25 Jul 2008, 10:31 am
#6 aussie cricket supporter: You are a w@nker
25 Jul 2008, 10:37 am
#6 aussie cricket supporter: You are not a wanker. Go All Blacks! Go!!!!
25 Jul 2008, 11:26 am
The IRB points ranking are a farce.
In the last 12 months the AB’s have lost 2 Games.
SA have lost 2 in the last 3 weeks…………..and 5 in the last year.
Simply outragous.
25 Jul 2008, 11:28 am
ragous = rageous.;)
25 Jul 2008, 12:05 pm
#11 cane: Home and away buddy, you need to be able to win away from home too!
25 Jul 2008, 12:10 pm
#5 captain fantail: Imagine being like NZ and getting ktfo at the quarter-final stage
25 Jul 2008, 12:11 pm
#10 cane: They’ve lost 3 games actually Cane and its ‘outrageous’ not your poorly spelt effort
25 Jul 2008, 12:13 pm
#10 cane: SA have also played more games (as RWC warm ups) and they got past the QFs so they had two more there too, all wins.
25 Jul 2008, 12:21 pm
#11 cane: Tiger Woods won’t play golf for the rest of the year yet he will still be ranked no 1 on his return. You think that will be unfair? You are what we call “suurgat”.
25 Jul 2008, 12:25 pm
#13 Big Hit: #14 Big Hit: #15 Big Hit: Well at least they won more than two in four years, at least they can back themsleves on the field not the black board and at least they dont have to talk up other teams achievements because its too embarrassing to talk of their own. LOL AS USUAL!!
25 Jul 2008, 12:33 pm
Evenign Fantail …
Do you listen to the Alternative Rugby Commentary at all ? Here is the intro to this weeks commentary :
“The annual prison cell inspection of Cell Block S, is planned for this Saturday night, 10:00pm NZT. Please direct all ears to the narration of the events, live on ARCRUGBY.CO.NZ
As you all know there is a new Criminal Mind in Australia by the name of Robber Deans, he is a threat to all things black – having been black once himself, it’s incredible that the Crooks can even tolerate him.
While they don’t have their Evil Wizard Mortlock and we are without the King, it will be a battle royal up front, where it all begins – with a mighty big bang.
Tune in. Fill up. Black out!
Damn Jed Thian is funny
Hello to you too Biggles
25 Jul 2008, 12:38 pm
#17 captain fantail: Your lot haven’t won one in 21 years so wotchu talkin ’bout
hi RP
25 Jul 2008, 12:46 pm
#18 Rugby_Princess: Aaahh Princess, a more desirable element has arrived. Its tedious talking to supporters of the lower rankings – three and below.
No I havent heard the commentary but it sounds very entertaining.
Good will always triumph ultimately, and the loyal subjects of King Richies Domain will not entertain a defeat in his absence.
25 Jul 2008, 12:47 pm
#19 Big Hit: Talking about games, not cups of which we have won exactly the same amount, which may surprise you to be equal with us in one thing!!
25 Jul 2008, 12:57 pm
#10 cane:
I believe it should be harder to stay at number 1 than to get to number 1.
25 Jul 2008, 13:02 pm
#19 Big Hit:
How was your week ?
#20 captain fantail:
Will have your red wine coming out of your nose – don’t say you weren’t warned !
25 Jul 2008, 13:04 pm
#14 Big Hit:
No Big Hit 2 loses. I checked first. The Other loss was 12 months and two weeks ago
25 Jul 2008, 13:10 pm
#24 cane:
Have you ever been called Anal Retentive ?
25 Jul 2008, 13:13 pm
#16 Ballas:
“suurgat”, why Ballsas. Just pointing out the shortcomings of the IRB ranking system.
Surely you are not that insecure. The mathmatical chicaney of the IRB is no reason to resort to name calling. Whatever a suurgat is !
25 Jul 2008, 13:17 pm
#25 Rugby_Princess:
I’ve been called everything Princess.
At least I understood when Zeit called me a “twat”.
25 Jul 2008, 13:22 pm
#27 cane:
Well, that is not technically possible is it ?
25 Jul 2008, 14:12 pm
#26 cane:
Suur = sour
gat = hole
I’m sure you can work it out from that – not that I agree with Ballas’ sentiment, although today you have been unusually arsey.
BTW Ballas = balls, colloquial reference to testicals e.g. “he’s got no balls” etc etc
25 Jul 2008, 14:13 pm
#29 filthy Luca: s/be testicles
25 Jul 2008, 14:25 pm
#29 filthy Luca:
Thanks Filthy …..(I think). My guess would have been Sour gut.
25 Jul 2008, 14:26 pm
Interesting facts on the South Africa vs. New Zealand tests pre-isolation.
1921 tour in New Zealand
NZ – 1
SA – 1
Draw – 1
Series was drawn
1928 tour in South Africa
SA - 2
NZ - 2
Series was drawn.
1937 tour to New Zealand
NZ - 1
SA - 4
South Africa wins series.
1949 tour to South Africa
SA - 4
NZ - 0
South Africa wins series.
1956 tour to New Zealand
NZ - 3
SA - 1
New Zealand wins series.
1960 tour in South Africa
SA – 2
NZ – 1
Draw – 1
South Africa wins series.
1965 tour to New Zealand
NZ - 3
SA - 1
New Zealand wins series
1970 tour to South Africa
SA - 3
NZ - 1
South Africa wins series.
1976 tour to South Africa
SA - 3
NZ - 1
South Africa wins series.
1981 tour to New Zealand
NZ - 2
SA - 1
New Zealand wins series
I’m not including the 1986 tour in SA against the NZ Cavaliers (3-1 to SA), as many NZ’ders felt it was not their best team that was here.
So what’s the outcome of the above?
Number of series played – 10
SA won – 5 (4 home & 1 away)
NZ won – 3 (3 home)
Drawn – 2 (1 home & 1 Away)
Number of games played – 39
SA won – 22
NZ won – 15
Drawn – 2
Conclusion: The reason I show these stats and not the post isolation stats is as follow:
New Zealand supporters think their team was the best team ever to play the game, and conveniently forget that SA was the best team in the world by quite a margin over a long period of time.
However, post isolation (1994), South Africa has been outplayed by New Zealand in a dramatic fashion, which truly is hurtful to any Springbok supporter that knows and remembers those glory days of old. The fact that we have achieved 2 World Cups and New Zealand 0 since this time is truly remarkable.
Unfortunately due to SA Rugby being hijacked by non rugby people who use the game to promote their own agendas, SA Rugby has been struggling to keep up with New Zealand. Now every New Zealand supporter may want to believe that they have an “aura”, but the truth is that you have been kicking the dog while he is asleep.
25 Jul 2008, 14:50 pm
32 Snoek
Imagine the post isolation teams not having had any outside influences thrust upon then( Play this player not that, have so many players of colour, idiots in SARU and SARFU).
If the coaches could just get on with their jobs and not have to worry if they will even have a job.
SA could have beaten any teams haome or away.
25 Jul 2008, 14:51 pm
#32 Snoek: Well Said Snoek!!
25 Jul 2008, 14:57 pm
#33 WPjoulekkerding: Political interference was necessary though in order to make the Springboks the people’s team. For many years it has been a sign of oppression and heartache to many hence the loyal following of All Black supporters in South Africa that started as protest against the Boks. While it did send our rugby into a downward curve for a while (as with any change) it was necessary.
South Africa needed to bring the people’s game to the people,
25 Jul 2008, 15:14 pm
#32 Snoek: – Good perspective there Snoek. Thanks. Even more reason we don’t have to ‘fear’ them. Especially the team running on to the field on the day.
Bokke to take the 3N this year!
25 Jul 2008, 16:54 pm
We have 3 home games left. we won away, and got a bonus point at least. thats going to be the difference at da end.
25 Jul 2008, 23:10 pm
#32 Snoek: well, lets not forget the quality of reffing in the pre isolation era yeah…. referees that only spoke Afrikaans a prime example……..or the thuggery that was prevalent throughout that period in rugby history………….. sounds like you wish to return to last century…..
#37 Insomniac: Really, we havent had a problem winning in your country, we do it with regular monotony……
26 Jul 2008, 00:59 am
Well Guys the day is dawning here in Melbourne and we have the ‘Mother of all games” on our doorstep ( for NZ and Oz). Alot of the hype has been pertaining to Robbie Deans ‘insider’ knowledge of his Crusader boys and the AB’s.
What has really surprised me or has been kept under the radar is the ‘insider’ knowledge that McCaw and Co have of Robbie Deans. There have been alot more people looking back at his training methods and style than one Robbie Deans looking at them. I think we actually hold the upper hand here. Considering that he has been with the Wobblies for such a short period, he isnt going to be able to pull any magic training methods out of his pocket that the AB’s connected to him havent already seen. I believe that Robbie will continue to coach in the ‘ Crusader” style of play because that is what has worked for him, whether it will be enough in the test arena for any prolonged time we shall see!!
26 Jul 2008, 01:16 am
#39 captain fantail: The mother of all games?
7th/8th place play-off more like
26 Jul 2008, 01:40 am
#40 Big Hit: We’ll talk when you get above the top four, untill then know thou place!
26 Jul 2008, 04:20 am
#41 captain fantail: we’re top 2 mate, rankings mean diddly
26 Jul 2008, 05:07 am
#42 Big Hit: back down the ladder.
26 Jul 2008, 05:27 am
#42 Big Hit: top two hahahahaha where did you get that rubbish…… surely if you were top two, you would have won the 6N’s ???? oh, wasnt your strongest team, my mistake…….. you WISH they were top 2, but they never will be ………
settle in, watch the Bledisloe and revel in the wonder of real rugby, you knowm, the stuff they play in the 3N’s ………
26 Jul 2008, 05:29 am
#42 Big Hit: top two what?
26 Jul 2008, 05:32 am
#45 Stavros – The Greek Tokkelosh: hes still clinging to the fact that they came 2nd in the WC LAST year……. but 2nd is first loser, something he hasnt quite grasped yet…guess the AI’s will show him exactly where his team sits in the pecking order (that is, left right out)…
26 Jul 2008, 05:35 am
#46 poppa69: Ah I see. Big Hit is a fairly decent fellow. But a typical pom. So this is to be expected. You know how it is.
26 Jul 2008, 05:57 am
#44 poppa69: We came 2nd in the 6N with around 8 injuries and sent a team down under with 14 injuries, your team won’t have as good a result across the RWC and 3N as ours did across the RWC and 6N. We played a Bledisloe team in the QFs of the RWC, we all seen how that turned out. The men in gold made to look like a bunch of soft amateurs, beasted
I look forward to the the Autumn internationals so the men can be sorted from the boys for the second year running.
26 Jul 2008, 06:48 am
#48 Big Hit: You know why your a fringe dweller? Cause you have a f’n excuse for everything and every loss.We know the men from the boys, the boys are still trying to get past five in the rankings.
26 Jul 2008, 07:03 am
#48 Big Hit: second in the 6N’s ans suffered at the hands of Scotland ?? a team that has NEVER beaten our BOYS ….. your real men stood up then didnt they ??
gees, we as AB supporters could claim the “not our best team” line, but we dont need to resort to that rubbish…. seriously, you play in a comp where half the participants have never ever beaten us (just for clarification, Italy, Ireland and Scotland)….. but your right, we should all live for four years of a result that was last years news……..
26 Jul 2008, 07:11 am
#48 Big Hit: gees, seeing as you like looking at yesteryear, how many times have your MEN beaten our boys in 100 odd years of rugby …. 6 times, thats right , 6 times out of approx 30……gees, you guys must only get real MEN every 20 years or so then aye ??
26 Jul 2008, 07:15 am
#48 Big Hit: you better poach some more kiwis for your team too, that may just help….
26 Jul 2008, 07:17 am
#51 poppa69: Because 9 months ago is the same as 100 years ago? Besides rugby isn’t our first sport, how many times have you beaten us at football? exactly, and remember who created both games. Enough out of you young poppa (what is your screenname based on? )
26 Jul 2008, 07:25 am
#53 Big Hit: I only brought up the 100 years to counter your last years analogy ….. really, you are only as good as your last game, we lost and so did you guys…..
Not sure if our countries have even played football against each other, but going on your form in the Euro 2008, I think we can do it ….oh thats right , you guys werent there
…
its a combination of surname and year of birth…
26 Jul 2008, 07:38 am
Our last competitive game was against Ireland – we won 33-10, the SH tour is officially a friendly match and since it was depleted it should really be ignored.
Here are the football results:
Opponent Competition Date Result Score
New Zealand Friendly 08 June 1991 W 2-0
New Zealand Friendly 03 June 1991 W 1-0
As you can see we have 100% record against NZ at football
ok Big Poppa, I g2g, enjoy the game, it’ll be a tight contest between two backs teams, should be interesting.
26 Jul 2008, 07:43 am
#55 Big Hit: cant wait for the game, work cant finish quick enough……should be a monumental tussle, Im running a book on which forward Bad Brad picks on tonight ….any takers ??
26 Jul 2008, 07:48 am
#56 poppa69: Palu
26 Jul 2008, 08:05 am
#54 poppa69: you should take a good read of post #32 for the 100 year myth.
26 Jul 2008, 08:33 am
An update from ANZ Stadium, Sydney: only a few hours before kick-off; pubs full of boozy kiwis and aussies. Weather is fine, with a little cloud coming over; temp is very cold and will drop to around 7deg at kick-off. Should be around 80,000 in stadium, with another 20,000 expected in the Olympic Park precinct; big screens set up outside the pubs. The competition between the two countries is palpable. At breakfast one couple: him in Wallas jumper, she in ABs jumper – bet they had an interesting night sorting that out! There’s nothing in the world like a rugby crowd. C’mon kick-off! Good luck to both sides.
26 Jul 2008, 09:05 am
#58 Stavros – The Greek Tokkelosh: yeah but I was talking the 100 years between Eng and NZ, we all know that refs in the republic during the pre isolation era were as comparable as the Aussie/NZ reffing conspiracy that is apparently rife today……
Refs speaking to SA players in Africaans during the game, that sounds like a fair go……….. plus the fact for the first 70 odd years we had to bring sides minus any moari or PI players, seriously depleting our teams…. I think from memeory, B.G. Williams was the first NZ player of dark skin granted access into the republic, and that was the early seventies, but then only as an “honorary white”…… now that there is a level and consistant playing field, the true stats are beginning to emerge……
26 Jul 2008, 09:17 am
#53 Big Hit: whinge, whine, wail.
27 Jul 2008, 00:56 am
#61 captain fantail: jokes are on you buddy
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