Preview: Wallabies vs All Blacks
JON CARDINELLI foresees another Blackout this weekend as the Wallabies won’t be able to live with the All Blacks’ physicality.
Last Saturday, the Wallabies landed a blow that sent the Springboks down to the Tri-Nations canvas. They were rougher, tougher and ultimately smarter, and at the end of the Australasian tour from hell, the Boks had no reply.
The Wallabies’ dream start, however, will be short lived. They have home advantage, but they’re playing a team that’s grown stronger with every game this season.
After a scrappy start against Ireland and Wales, the All Blacks hit their straps against the Boks to score two bonus-point wins. They also managed to limit their opponents to two tries in two matches and 29 points overall.
The Aussies enjoyed similar success on the defensive front, but relied heavily on the boot of Matt Giteau to see them home. Their superior physical display was complemented by their ability to retain possession for long periods, and halfbacks Will Genia and Quade Cooper were instrumental in penetrating the Bok defence.
The All Blacks won’t be so generous. They smashed the Boks at the tackle at Eden Park and at the Cake Tin. In Richie McCaw, they have a player capable of slowing or stealing possession, and this will be key considering the All Blacks need to disrupt the Wallabies’ rhythm.
Cooper’s suspension is a setback for the hosts, even though Giteau is a more than competent 10. Whether he can offer Australia the same attacking edge is doubtful.
Neither Giteau nor Berrick Barnes are known for their abilities to take on the defence, and this, along with Australia’s likely loss at the collisions, is bound to limit the hosts’ overall potency. The All Blacks, having dominated the tackle point, had an easy time marshalling South Africa’s wide forays, and we should see more of the same in Melbourne.
The set-pieces will be interesting with Stephen Moore bolstering the Wallabies scrum and Nathan Sharpe sure to test an All Blacks lineout that enjoyed plenty of success against the Boks. But it will come down to the breakdowns and collisions, and the Aussies will play more territorially.
The Wallabies hardly kicked last week because they didn’t need to. The momentum was provided through their breakdown superiority, and as long as they retained possession, they usually prospered. This week, they’ll be outmatched in this area. They will strive for good field position and then try to build an attack from deep within All Blacks’ territory.
The Blacks will continue to employ their surge and destroy brand, although the Wallabies’ defence will be tougher to breach than that of the Boks. Dan Carter will vary his play in the early stages, and only once a comfortable lead’s been established will the visitors cut loose.
It may not be another bonus-point victory, but the win should bring the All Blacks one step closer to reclaiming the Tri-Nations title.
Prediction: All Blacks by 10
Wallabies – 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 James O’Connor, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Will Genia, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (c), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Subs: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 James Slipper, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Matt Hodgson, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Anthony Faingaa, 22 Kurtley Beale.
All Blacks – 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan; 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Sam Whitelock, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Israel Dagg.
July 31st, 2010 at 5:38 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack)-250: Bah humbug! McCaw sizes up ALL the refs from all over the world and he quickly reads where there limits are and what each one will let him get away with, and he adjusts his game accordingly. He doesn’t only have one ref whom he can exploit to maximum advantage.
That’s precisely why he’s the best rugby player on earth. Lesser players ought to watch and learn from this master of his craft.
July 31st, 2010 at 5:39 am
their, not there… pardon. (line 2 post 251)
July 31st, 2010 at 5:39 am
How easily the Kiwis get riled up. So much for First World education, that one can’t see a stitch up telegraphing itself from five miles away..
Should see even refereeing decisions today as the bullying Boers aren’t playing so the game should be even keeled, safe and predictably boring, as is the norm with ALL Australasian rivalries.
Prepare to break out the ‘Stay awake’ tablets.
July 31st, 2010 at 5:42 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-253: Everyone saw the leg-pull, pilgrim. Well, almost everyone.
July 31st, 2010 at 5:58 am
That clip certainly shows the AB’s getting away with some illegal play. Would be interesting to see the same ‘analysis’ (not sure if I should dignify it with that name) done on the Boks for the entire match as well? Even one of those ‘anti-AB’ clips shows a Bok player driving over the top of a ruck, going off his feet and then using his hands to slow the AB ball. Would other clips show similar?
I am not sure how the ‘commentator’ of that clip was applying the rules, but below are the actual rules. Apply these to some (I agree not all)of the ‘illegal’ play by RM etc and suddenly it doesn’t look so illegal. Take the penalty given against RM near the AB try line. He tackled Roussow around the legs, released him, got to his feet, and reached for the ball. When he was pushed off his feet he released the ball. What is illegal about that? It just looks bad because he is so quick the Bok forwards arrived so slowly. In fact it was interesting watching those clips to see how often there were twice as many black shirts as green shirts!
As for some of the clip ‘commentators’ other comments, he either didn’t watch his own clip or just chose to misrepresent some of the actions.
15.4 THE TACKLER
(a) When a player tackles an opponent and they both go to ground, the tackler must immediately release the tackled player.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(b) The tackler must immediately get up or move away from the tackled player and from the ball at once.
Sanction: Penalty kick
(c) The tackler must get up before playing the ball and then may play the ball from any direction.
Sanction: Penalty kick
July 31st, 2010 at 6:21 am
It’s an Aussie video preparing for today’s game! Same tactics 2?games in a row
The Aussies employed exactly the same game plan using the no3 as the guardian/obsrtucter
I think PDiddy might be smarter than we think cos now as SANZOO has charged him he can use video in his defence
This kinda play is as disgraceful as eye gouging and destroys the integrity of the game
July 31st, 2010 at 6:25 am
Watch the video how Mcaw cheats and watch the refs duplicity
http: //www.youtube com/watch?v=pdr-W775hk4&feature= player_embedded
July 31st, 2010 at 7:04 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack)-256: “This kinda play is as disgraceful as eye gouging”
and people accuse me of whinging, you havent stopped since Kevin..
eye gouging CAN maim for life.. guess thats alright though in the bully boys handbook to thuggery?
what a joke…
July 31st, 2010 at 7:21 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-253: stay awake tablets prespawn??
bwahahaha only when watching a team incorporate the kick chase game plan year after year…as exciting as watching grown men wearing armbands to blindly lead their sheepish supporters..
“justice 4″ the bokke because everyone picks on them, its a conspiracy..
July 31st, 2010 at 9:06 am
The sad thing Poppa is this is SARU’s job to highlight these isses! here we have the ausssies who are very smart highlighting the isssues before the game!
ARU might not have the worlds best players but they know how to play smart rugby on and off the field
Something we can learn from both SANZAR partners
July 31st, 2010 at 9:33 am
@aliboy(aliboy)-255: It’s not illegal unless and until the ref rules it so. The ref is the sole judge of fact. Says so in the law-book.
That’s a fact.
July 31st, 2010 at 9:44 am
.
PAH ! what would those ex-players know anyway……
“Does this man get away with murder?
New Zealand captain Richie McCaw.
PHIL WAUGH and Rod Kafer have weighed into the debate surrounding Richie McCaw’s activities at the breakdown, but far from branding the All Blacks skipper a repeat transgressor have urged the Wallabies to follow his ‘’smart” style of play.
As Robbie Deans’s men prepare to face the seemingly unstoppable All Blacks at Etihad Stadium next Saturday, Waugh said the Wallabies shouldn’t read much into comments by Springboks coach Pieter de Villiers that referees are turning a blind eye to McCaw’s foul play.
”It’s about responding to how the referees interpret the breakdown during the game – and obviously all referees are different,” Waugh said. ”And the quicker you get the interpretations right for the game the better you’re going to perform in the game.
”Richie’s a very astute and smart rugby player who picks that up very early in the game, which allows him to push the limits. And that’s what he’s out there to do.
”He’s obviously been a real leader in the game ever since he came on to the scene in 2001 and he’s very good at it. He’s probably had times and moments during the past few years where he hasn’t got away with it as much as he would have liked. But in any circumstance, people in our position push the limits and he’s obviously one of the best at getting on the right side of that fine line.
”It’s about being influential in the game and he’s getting back to where he was three or four years ago of being a real influence on the game and good luck to him. You’ve got to push the game to the limit.”
Expert commentator Kafer agreed with Waugh and said the Wallabies could do worse than try to imitate aspects of the All Blacks’ game. ”It’s pretty obvious the Springboks are playing last year’s rugby and the All Blacks are playing next year’s rugby – I think Australia’s stuck somewhere in between,” he said. ”That’s probably the difference for the All Blacks.”
Kafer urged Australia to play an expansive game next Saturday or risk the same fate as the Springboks, who suffered consecutive losses to New Zealand in the first two matches of the 2010 Tri Nations series.
”Richie has changed his game quite significantly. The way he plays he’s become much more of a link player,” he said. ”But for a variety of reasons against the Springboks it suited him to go back to the old-school Richie McCaw of being a real factor at the breakdown. The Springboks played it very tight and that played into Richie’s hands.
”If you play it tight then he’s always somewhere in and around the breakdown. If you play anything close you’re going to run into him. And that’s dangerous.”
While Kafer has no issue with McCaw’s tactics at the breakdown he did suggest his stature in the game has some effect on how McCaw is treated by referees.
”Every player tries to make the most of the breakdown and Richie McCaw’s got the slight advantage of being captain – he commands a little bit more respect from the referees from time to time, I think,” he said. ”But I’m happy for him to do the same thing against Australia. I don’t think it’s illegal whatsoever.”.
What was that again, Rod ?
“I don’t think it’s illegal whatsoever.”.
July 31st, 2010 at 9:53 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-245:
um, “thanks, Pilgrim”, you can let a real Kiwi take over from here.
David Kirk started his AB career in 1983 and by 1985 had toured UK and Aus with the ABs and played 4 Tests in 1985. By that time he was the no1 no9.
And here’s a little something extracted from the History books, pilgrim:-
“David Kirk’s smile and boyish features were often described as New Zealand rugby’s best public relations tools, especially in the turbulent and momentous years of 1986 and 1987. In the first year there was the turmoil caused by the Cavaliers’ unauthorised tour of South Africa, and in the second, the World Cup triumph. Kirk had a central role in both.
But in view of the favourable image that he left, as a university-educated medical doctor and academic it was surprising that, if not always of his own making, his career was embroiled in so much controversy.
Kirk’s late withdrawal from the Cavaliers’ tour irked many of that side’s senior players and organisers and that resentment was increased later in 1986 when he was made captain of the so-called Baby Blacks that played tests against France and Australia.”.
As for your assessment of JK, well you clearly didnt live in NZ by then. He was the biggest name in the ABs, bar none.
July 31st, 2010 at 9:58 am
looking forward to the abs choking under the aussie ambush tonight as usual. the ref has probably got his eye on mccheat this time and im also looking forward watching him get man handled by pocock
July 31st, 2010 at 10:02 am
the new zealand pretenders are nothing but a bad stain on the underpants of society.
July 31st, 2010 at 10:56 am
@Wayne Barnes No.1 Ref(sipher)-265: Touch of class there Wayne
July 31st, 2010 at 11:18 am
@Wayne Barnes No.1 Ref(sipher)-265: The “NZ Pretenders” put eight tries and sixty points past the “world champions” in 160 minutes. Pretty convincing pretending, to be 2-0 up with only one more to play! Just as well they didn’t stop pretending and started taking it seriously then?
July 31st, 2010 at 11:18 am
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-144: Interesting perspective… Maybe more than some truth there
July 31st, 2010 at 11:21 am
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-263: 4 tests is the mark of a greenhorn and a back-up. JK is a winger and wingers are never crucial kingpins in any rugby team — not even Lomu.
July 31st, 2010 at 11:31 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack)-256:
Pathetic
Cheating is as bad as eye gouging?? Is that what you said.
You name one player in rugby that hasnt been penalised?
If you are penalised,you have cheated somewhere along the line,isnt that right?
July 31st, 2010 at 11:34 am
The Cavaliers were a full-strength AB team. Kirk and JK really wouldn’t have made a blind bit of difference and to give that out as the main excuse why the Cavaliers lost the series is pretty lame, really. Certainly, none of those players used it.
July 31st, 2010 at 11:34 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-269:
.
Nice version of “I was wrong” there, Tickler.
Captain Kirk started all of his 4 Tests in 1985 including the crucial Test vs Aus where he commanded Eden Park.
Goldie grew up wanting to be JK. Do you remember Goldie, Tickler ?
or perhaps you can remember an injured, old age pensioner, also by the name of Kirwan who – 6 years later in 1992 – scored the winning try vs the Boks in Sth Africa in 1992 ?
man up, Pilgrim.
July 31st, 2010 at 11:34 am
@Wayne Barnes No.1 Ref(sipher)-264:
Cool name. But even the South Africans think your a cr@p ref,goodnight
July 31st, 2010 at 11:37 am
@KevinRack(KevinRack)-260: I agree Kevin, you guys need another Doc Craven at the helm…
July 31st, 2010 at 11:44 am
laugh at the Polls.
Ozzie by 15+,but hey it could happen.
But i think it just shows how hated the ABs are in SA by a few people.
July 31st, 2010 at 11:46 am
Goldie, the over-rated over-emotional Otago winger who was so memorably utterly undone over the try-line by Gregan? Hard to forget him, if only for that. Goldie would surely have had a soulmate in the emotionally-unstable JK who ran the length of the field to score one of a bagful of tries against the 1987 rugby super-power of Italy.
Wingers are just the flash-harry glory-hound finishers, pilgrim. They score tries and hog the limelight, but the REAL difference-makers wear the single-digit jerseys in any test team. Lots of small boys are dazzled by flashy twinkletoed wingers and want to be like them. What little boy wants to be a Carl Hayman or a Brad Thorn or any of those big grubby cauliflower-eared grunts toiling deep in the engine room? Not a lot.
But they’re the real match-winners.
July 31st, 2010 at 11:47 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-275: I agree totally mate… so funny, wonder how many are repeat votes..
July 31st, 2010 at 11:50 am
The Cavaliers lost because they got smashed by the Green Machine. The Boks were super motivated for the Kiwis and the public demanded a win at all costs.
Some of those Cavaliers players still wake up screaming at the intensity and brutality of the tests. Going back to play Australia was like taking a slumber in comparison.
July 31st, 2010 at 11:57 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-278:
Yeah,few came back with bite marks and sore eyes etc.
Wasnt it reffed by South African refs?
Anyway at that time Ozzie were the NZs hardest team to play against.Looks like not much has changed.
I think only 5-6 players from the Cavaliers were amongst the 22 odd players that made the RWC in 1987
July 31st, 2010 at 12:03 pm
Lets see the game bru.
July 31st, 2010 at 10:24 pm
here comes another train wreck next week!!!!!!!
July 31st, 2010 at 10:50 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-276:
Th reference was to the value of wingers in SA, as if Jonah was not the only one to be kept tryless vs SA.
The ABs of 1996 achieved immortality at Loftus Versfeld when they recorded that magnificent Series victory over the RWChampions on their own turf. This victory owed much to the Golden boy of Southland, who raced in for not 1 but 2 magnificent solo efforts down the sideline. Given the late comeback from the Boks that threatened to steal victory from the jaws of defeat, it would be agreed that it was the wingers brace that proved to be the difference.
July 31st, 2010 at 10:52 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther)-272:
[hide]
v • d • e
New Zealand Cavaliers 1986 squad
Forwards
Anderson · Ashworth · Dalton (c) · Earl · Haden · Hobbs · Knight · McDowell · Mexted · Mills · Pierce · Reid · Shaw · Shelford, F · Shelford, W · Whetton, A · Whetton, G
Backs
Clamp · Crowley · Deans · Donald · Fraser · Fox · Green · Loveridge · Osborne · Pokere · Robins · Smith · Simpson · Taylor
Coach
Meads
1987 final team
John Gallagher; John Kirwan, Warwick Taylor, Joe Stanley, Craig Green; Grant Fox, David Kirk; John Drake, Sean Fitzpatrick, Steven McDowell; Murray Pierce, Gary Whetton; Michael Jones, Alan Whetton, Buck Shelford
Seem if you compare notes they still picked many Cavaliers
Talk about a lucky packet RWC trophy
Playing Scotland in the quarters and Wales in the semi and France in the final
July 31st, 2010 at 10:56 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-276: got to agree there tackler, the rest of the team is obviously important but winning is all about numbers 1-5 dominating the collisions and providing front foot ball.
Bakkies and Thorn would be my lock combo, Tom Croft at blindside to handle the lineout.
August 1st, 2010 at 12:31 am
@JL1(JL1)-283:
Only 4 of those Cavaliers were regular starters in the 4 Invitation International matches in SA, that then ended up in the RWC Final team. The team were, partic in the pack, geriatrics before the tour was delayed by 18mths, they had no chance of making the RWC.
Scotland were lead by Big Gav and were the strongest British team. They were full of Lions starting players. In 1986 they were 2nd in the 5 Nations having beaten France, the eventual winners. France turned up in NZ as Grand Slam winners’87.
That was the QuarterFinal. A bit tougher than Fiji then.
August 1st, 2010 at 5:32 am
@Big Hit(Big Hit)-284: The tight five are important, but really it comes down to the front row. If they are kuk you can’t win…see Eddie Andrews and Jon Smit as props. The next most important thing is the breakdowns; without a classy scavenger you can’t retain or win possession after the scrum.
And the loss of Fourie at number 9 has just exposed SA’s lack of depth..or selection problems!