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

[teach]

Kiwi orgasmic fantasy.

And not a totally unrealistic proposition.

 

[Sully]

Australian running rugby is truly dead.

 

[FrankLind]

SBW has been cleared to play in the first two Bledisloes.

The All Blacks will probably play Nonu at centre, which he hasn't played for a long time. That midfield won't lack for physicality, but both have a tendency to sometimes slip off tackles in their desire to hit hard.

Vito or Messam at 6 ? - probably Messam because he looks in very good form.
Romano or Retallick to partner Whitelock. I think we have a slight edge here.
Gear or Savea on the left wing to partner Corey Jane.

Other than that, I don't expect any major surprises.
This first game, with home advantage, makes the contest pretty even.
That said, if the ABs play to their potential, I think they will be a little too strong.

 

[Richo]

Australian running rugby is truly dead.

The question is, who killed it?

 

[Braveheart81]

When you look at world rugby currently, there are very few centres who are both excellent attackers and defenders. It really seems that most centres are being picked on the back of excellent defence and that is being seen as crucial in modern rugby, particularly as the offload becomes more and more prevalent.

Outside of NZ, there aren't a lot of centres who really provide great ballplaying ability as well as being excellent defenders.

Many of us agree that Australia needs a better 12 and to convert McCabe into a 13. Hopefully JOC (James O'Connor) plays at 12 for the Rebels next season but this year he has obviously been injured. McCabe being injured currently doesn't help the situation either.

It's a shame we're not seeing Cooper at 10 and Barnes at 12 for the upcoming tests.

 

[Duncher]

It's the first time for ages I've felt we have no chance. Probably since the E Jones era.

HEY! There's no need for that sort of language here on this forum

 

[RugbyReg]

The question is, who killed it?

McQueen

 

[Scotty]

McQueen

At least he had Larkham at 10.

This team is way more conservative than his (although he certainly had better backs to choose from).

 

[flat_eric]

Sorry if this has been answered already but is there going to be a third Bledisloe Cup match this year?

 

[matty_k]

Brisbane in September

 

[Braveheart81]

It's on the 20th of October.

 

[Bullrush]

Geez....it's gonna be good to see SBW and Nonu pair up. I wonder if they'll consider pushing SBW to 13 and keeping Nonu at 12.

Nonu has developed a great long-pass over the last few years and SBW off-load ability could be very dangerous with fantastic wings like Jane and Gear outside him.

The question mark would obviously be over SBW's defensive ability at 13....

 

[SaderCheif]

Perhaps he'll revert to mungoball defence.
Nek Minnit.....

 

[Quade Cheapshot]

Sorry if this has been answered already but is there going to be a third Bledisloe Cup match this year?

20th of October, as Braveheart says, in Brisbane.

All going well the motivation for this match will be attaining a world first: a century of Test victories over an opposition.

 

[What2040]

When is the team announced ???

 

[Joe Mac]

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

 

[Troy]

When is the team announced ???

Tomorrow - not sure what time though..

 

[thierry dusautoir]

Need a fit tapuai in the centres watched him on the weekend oozes class in attack and defence

 

[No4918]

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

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.

 

[Roundawhile]

Must say I'm not feeling confident