2012 Rugby Championship Game 1 Australia vs New Zealand - 18 August

[fatprop]

I have a feeling that we will be pulverised this weekend. A centre pairing of Nonu (12) and SBW (13) is really unfair.

I prefer it to having Smith out there

 

[Joe Mac]

I'll be surprised if SBW isn't at 12 and Nonu at 13. SBW has been one of the best in the comp, Nonu on the otherhand.

Not for me.

Nonu has the pass and SBW the offload. It makes sense to have a passing 12 and an offloading freak with a bit more space at 13.

 

[qwerty51]

you guys aren't seriously worried about SBW are you?

 

[Brisbok]

you guys aren't seriously worried about SBW are you?

You haven't been impressed by his form this year?

 

[scaraby]

From the Oz:

Is there any research/rumour behind this because if true it looks seriously defensive and if the tacticians(don't laugh) think that we can hold the ABs at bay then win on penalties ........??? Why are we not Genia ,Cooper then Barnes?.Remember the Welsh WC game?..Fainga'a and Horne outside Barnes...arrrrrrrgggggh

 

[matty_k]

It's on the 20th of October.

Oops. The Argies are in September.

 

[Scotty]

I like this business about 'Will Genia backs Barnes' (reported in a similar way to below by channel 9 this morning).

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/t...ver-quade-cooper/story-e6frf4qc-1226449575624

"From a player's point of view, it would be obviously great having him (Cooper) there, but Barnesy did a great job against Wales and in all fairness, I guess, probably deserves first crack at that No.10 jersey."

What Will really appears to be saying is - 'I think Cooper should be selected ahead of Barnes, but I know he isn't going to be and I've been told to tow the line'.

 

[Braveheart81]

Word on the street is that Mitchell is going to get the last bench spot.

Dennis will play 6 as expected and Fainga'a will play 12.

 

[Richo]

Is Deans trying to win or not lose? I get backing the incumbents, but he could have done that by moving Barnes one out and bringing in Quade. Too conservative, IMO.

The weirder part of Grumbles this morning is that O'Connor is apparently in line for 5/8 when he gets back. Hmmm.

 

[Lee Enfield]

We will soon see whether Cooper not being seleceted is about match fitness or a Deans grudge. Mitchell hasn't got a lot of match fitness, yet, will be in the 22. I have no doubt that despite being out for over a month, probably closer to two, McCabe will walk straight back into the starting 15 and when O'connor comes back, he will walk into the 22 with having no match fitness. Deans had no problems picking Beale for the third test against Wales, despite Beale being under done.

I hope I am wrong, but if the team picked is basically the same team from the Welsh series, we can expect the same mediocre perfromance, but against the All Blacks there will be no last minute wins, we will get pumped.

 

[Braveheart81]

You'd think that Cooper has played enough football now that he isn't still being eased back into the fold.

It appears to me that he is out of favour with Deans.

I can't understand O'Connor at 10. I'd prefer him at 12, 14 or 15. I'd probably even prefer to see him developed at 13.

 

[Troy]

Based on Brett McKay's interview with RD, you'd have to asume the QC (Quade Cooper) isn't going to be picked..

 

[No4918]

Given Cooper reportedly got quite a good ARU top-up it's bizarre that he no longer appears to be in Deans plans in the near term with Barnes and now the rumours JOC (James O'Connor) is also ahead of him. Dropping him from the 22 altogether will just blow me away.

Can't get my head around Deans decision making regarding this. Cooper and Beale are both better 10's than the previously mentioned. JOC (James O'Connor) i would pick anywhere but 10.

This trainwreck is just getting underway. If we lose the first two tests the TRC is over and Deans has to go.

 

[Scotty]

Goodness me, Robbie, at least have him on the bench to give yourself some options.

 

[Bullrush]

While in NZ......

All Blacks: Rookies given the Bledisloe message

By Patrick McKendry

5:30 AM Tuesday Aug 14, 2012

Senior All Blacks have held a meeting with the squad's newcomers to ensure they recognise the importance of the looming challenge against Australia.
Coaches were invited but the gathering on Sunday was organised and led by the old hands, including captain Richie McCaw and veteran hooker Keven Mealamu, who spelled out exactly what was expected of the squad ahead of Saturday's Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies in Sydney.
The match is a groundbreaking one, given it is the first of the inaugural championship, with Argentina joining the old firm of New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, but retaining the Bledisloe Cup was number one on the agenda.
"We set the scene last night," said utility back Tamati Ellison, who with two test caps - against Italy and Ireland - qualifies as a newcomer.
"It was awesome, I think everyone got some good words from the older boys, the leaders, and I think everyone is really keen to get out there and do what we can.

"It's respect more than anything," Ellison said of the theme of the evening. "Respect for the jersey, the Australians, the Bledisloe Cup.
"We know the history but I guess until you get out on the field, that's when you really taste it. I haven't yet, but it would be an honour to get out there."
Ellison, likely to be on the reserves bench at ANZ Stadium as Sonny Bill Williams is now officially in the fold, wasn't the only one to appreciate the briefing.
It is the first Bledisloe Cup test for assistant coaches Ian Foster and Aussie McLean too, with Foster expecting an increase in intensity this week compared with his first assignment against Ireland in June.
Asked about the importance of the Bledisloe Cup, which the All Blacks have held since 2003, Foster said: "Certainly when you're on the outside and watching you do [recognise it]. And when you're on the inside sitting next to and hearing guys that have been there and done that and know how tough these games are, it's a really good indicator for all of us of the challenge ahead."
In keeping with the heightened expectations, the Chiefs players within the squad quickly made their presence felt in training yesterday after sitting out contact work over the previous two days because of their heavy schedule this season.
With Williams finally in camp following his clearance from new club Panasonic, the Chiefs took a defence session at Trusts Stadium in west Auckland which went down well with the others, according to Ellison.
"Everyone had a lot of respect for Liam [Messam] and the boys who were running that ... it's awesome to have them back, they're really confident and ready to contribute," he said.
For Foster the message remains a simple one: "It's exactly the same challenge as what we had in June, which is to make sure we don't go in too complex," he said. "We don't try to overtrain, don't try to put too much information in, we go over there with a very simple game. Clearly when you're playing Aussie you need a few more options up your sleeve [but] it's about getting balance, not putting too much in the players' heads."

 

[scaraby]

Genia,Cooper,Barnes,Ashley-Cooper/McCabe,O'Connor,Digby,Beale..when all fit....reserve backs tough. You can use Barnes at res.10,15..McCabe 12,13 ..AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) 13,14,15...Beale 10,15...JOC (James O'Connor) 10,12,13,14,15(SCARY)...do you then have a couple of Big defensive units??....seems to me the only thing once again holding Aust. Rugby back yet again is selections and politics...sigh..

 

[fatprop]

Goodness me, Robbie, at least have him on the bench to give yourself some options.

nah, you start Cooper (I would) and build a structure that suits his strengths (and weaknesses) around him.

If that means adding mobility to the pigs, then you do it.

If that means you have a better chance of winning, but may also increase the chances of being routed, you live with it

Instead, we have the safe option, they will keep close (until the bench is used - Samo ) but are highly unlikely to get over the line.

On Samo, for all the whinging about the backs, how did this slip through to the keeper?

 

[Scotty]

nah, you start Cooper (I would) and build a structure that suits his strengths (and weaknesses) around him.

If that means adding mobility to the pigs, then you do it.

If that means you have a better chance of winning, but may also increase the chances of being routed, you live with it

Instead, we have the safe option, they will keep close (until the bench is used - Samo ) but are highly unlikely to get over the line.

On Samo, for all the whinging about the backs, how did this slip through to the keeper?

Agree wholeheartedly about Cooper, but if he isn't starting surely at least have him on the bench?

 

[No4918]

The Wallabies plan to expose the All Blacks' 214kg monster midfield by running through Sonny Bill Williams and Ma'a Nonu in the Bledisloe Cup opener this Saturday.

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The Kiwis are set to unleash one of their biggest ever centre pairings upon the Wallabies with Williams and Nonu to confront relative lightweights Anthony Fainga'a and Rob Horne, but Australia believe they have the ideal game plan.
The 36kg weight difference between the centres is a size mismatch for the ages, but the Wallabies are boldly planning to catch Williams and Nonu napping in defence.
Winger Digby Ioane, who will come off his flank to provide the Wallabies with a robust ball-running option in the middle, hinted that coach Robbie Deans had devised a clever plan to exploit any potential defensive weakness in the new Kiwi centre combination at ANZ Stadium.

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"For us, it's just making sure we're punching through the midfield, just going through them, instead of going wide," Ioane said. "We've learned from the experience last year. It's a new season and everyone is just looking forward to this one.
"They're world-class centres, Sonny Bill has played heaps, Ma'a is another X-factor, that's why we've got our coach to give us our game plan. We've got to deliver on game-day, it should work."
The evasive skills of Kurtley Beale, who is expected to fill in at first receiver often despite playing fullback, will be crucial to the plan.

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Both Fainga'a and Horne are excellent tacklers but will have their hands full containing Williams and Nonu, who rank as the most dangerous attacking centres in the world.
The All Blacks have rarely used two giants in the centres - and never this size - preferring to have a secondary playmaker and ball-runner paired together. Lighter players Joe Stanley, Walter Little, Aaron Mauger and Conrad Smith were and are mainstays of the backline because they worked so well alongside bigger men.

The Williams-Nonu duo is the biggest centre pairing the world has seen since Frenchmen Mathieu Bastareaud (112kg) and Yannick Jauzion (108kg) lined up together in 2010, though neither possess the attacking capabilities of the All Blacks stars.

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The expected pairing comes after Williams finally received permission from Japanese club Panasonic to play in the opening two Bledisloe Tests.​

Williams replaces regular centre Conrad Smith, who will miss the opening two games with an eye injury.
Assistant coach Ian Foster said securing Williams for the Tests was a huge advantage, explaining: "It gives us a bit of continuity from where we got to in June and that is a real positive for us."

 

[Jiggles]

Samo's selection is a joke, although I'm not sure it's of the funny variety.

Link sent a pretty clear message to the big fella, that he wasn't up to Super Rugby, thus he got dropped to club land.

By Robbie picking him, it just shows once again he does not pay any attention to what is actually happening on the pitch in Australian rugby.