Bledisloe #1 - AUS v NZL, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, August 8th

[ACT Crusader]

The politics forum unfortunately descended into endless cycles of the same arguments. Think Quade or Kurtley threads and substitute for Abbott, Gillard and Rudd.....

 

[Sully]

And now it's time to get back to rugby!

 

[Pfitzy]

MATCH THREAD BIATCHEZ!!!

 

[Groucho]

Fortunately or unfortunately sport, politics and culture are inextricably and inevitably bound. As far as possible sport should assist building an inclusive and tolerant society.
I think rugby supporters should vocally reject the racial vilification of Adam Goodes. We should support positive cultural expressions of our pride in our country's Indigenous heritage like performing an Aboriginal war dance before test matches.
Read this article, it really is an eye opener.

http://theconversation.com/we-all-know-and-admire-the-haka-so-why-not-one-of-our-own-45432

If we're going to have a uniquely Australian cultural statement, it should be something other than a localized copy of New Zealand's cultural statement. Australia is a pluralist society. It consists of more than indigenous people. Represent us all, including the indigenous people.

Sorry. Bledisloe eh? New Zealand team looking far from impregnable so far. Time to impregnate them. Wallabies!

 

[southsider]

Fortunately or unfortunately sport, politics and culture are inextricably and inevitably bound. As far as possible sport should assist building an inclusive and tolerant society.
I think rugby supporters should vocally reject the racial vilification of Adam Goodes. We should support positive cultural expressions of our pride in our country's Indigenous heritage like performing an Aboriginal war dance before test matches.
Read this article, it really is an eye opener.

http://theconversation.com/we-all-know-and-admire-the-haka-so-why-not-one-of-our-own-45432

Urgh, just stop. Tell us who you think is gonna win next week and why

 

[Langthorne]

Although we've only had 2 Tests in the TWC it's still useful to run a stats comparison between Pocock and Hooper.

-snip-


Pocock has shown the better tackling game with more tackles and zero tackles missed. Hooper made a couple of 'dominant' tackles

-snip-

Both players have had the same number of ruck involvements.
Pocock has slightly earlier arrival and more impact.
Hooper has been strong in supporting the Wallaby ball carriers.
Pocock has been strong in putting pressure on the opposition ball.

Pocock has had a Turn Over Won rate of 1 TOW per 3 Defensive Rucks.
Hooper has had a TOW rate of 1 TOW per 6 Defensive Rucks.

Due to his extra involvement in Defensive Rucks, Pocock (1.4) gets penalised at 2 x Hooper's (0.7) penalty rate.

Hopper has scored a Try and 1 Try Assist.

Remember, the Wallabies were up against very different opposition.

-snip-

Love those stats ForceFan.

Often a single word in single inverted commas, as in 'dominant', would suggest 'some people would describe it as dominant, but I'm not so sure'. A "couple" of 'dominant' tackles could be read something like: "He made about 2 (but who cares as it is not important) of tackles that some people might describe as dominant". Combined with the previous sentence, one might assume that a "better tackling game" is all about numbers made and number of misses (was it zero vs one?), but not dominance in the tackle - slightly different in approach than ruck involvements.

Anyway, as you say, it is only two games against different opposition. I hope they can maintain those levels against the Kiwis (suspensions aside).

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Ma'a Nonu's injury has been found to be just bruising but looking like he'll be rested this week & either SBW or Fekitoa will play. Also being hinted that Milner-Skudder will play in either Sydney or Auckland. Cory Jane probably won't play this side of the RWC squad being confirmed & if he does it'll be for Wellington in ITM Round 2. Likewise Charlie Faumuina unlikely to get any game-time in August.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/...-damage-but-may-miss-first-bledisloe-cup-test

 

[Beer Baron]

Wow.. we think have selection choices at IC, with To'omua, LLF, Gits and whoever else.... SBW, Fekitoa or Nonu - Not fair.

 

[No4918]

What's going on with the SANZAR appeal?

 

[teach]

New Zealand team looking far from impregnable so far. Time to impregnate them. Wallabies!

I think there will be tussle if a Wallaby tried to impregnate Read, or indeed any AB. The game will be exciting enough without any of those sort of shenanigans.

Looks like a weak All Blacks backline for Bled 1. We will be reduced to fielding SBW or Fekitoa for Nonu. Too early to claim underdog status?

 

[Strewthcobber]

What's going on with the SANZAR appeal?

On tonight

 

[Pfitzy]

What's going on with the SANZAR appeal?

I imagine its something like this:

 

[FrankLind]

A lot of selections dilemma for Hansen this weekend.

- Crockett or Woody to start
- Mealamu or Taylor as back-up hooker
- Laulala or Franks as back-up tighthead.
- Romano, or is Broadhurst given another chance.
- Cane on the bench and Richie going to 6 or 8 at some point?
- Vito on the bench?
- Sopoaga or Barrett (assuming they start with Carter)
- Fekitoa or SBW at 12
- NMS or Piutau or Ben Smith to be at 14
- Does Ben Smith finally start at FB?

 

[drop kick]

And now it's time to get back to rugby!

I have been suggesting there should be an acknowledgment and celebration of Australia's Indigenous history and culture before next weeks match (the topic of this thread). How is this not discussing Bledisloe 1?

 

[Forcefield]

I think there will be tussle if a Wallaby tried to impregnate Read, or indeed any AB. The game will be exciting enough without any of those sort of shenanigans.

If that happened on the field, it would leave John Hopoate for dust.

 

[drop kick]

If we're going to have a uniquely Australian cultural statement, it should be something other than a localized copy of New Zealand's cultural statement. Australia is a pluralist society. It consists of more than indigenous people. Represent us all, including the indigenous people.

Sorry. Bledisloe eh? New Zealand team looking far from impregnable so far. Time to impregnate them. Wallabies!

New Zealand is also a pluralist society yet they are able to acknowledge and celebrate the survival and strength of their indigenous people. Why can't Australia do the same, symbolic gestures like this are an important part of the reconciliation process. Think about South Africa's anthem and flag and new Zealand's haka - what does Australiara have?

 

[Strewthcobber]

Think about South Africa's anthem and flag and new Zealand's haka - what does Australiara have?

Literally, a continent's worth of diverse peoples, cultures and languages, with 40,000 years worth of different histories that can't be reduced to a unified symbolic gesture?

 

[jollyswagman]

New Zealand is also a pluralist society yet they are able to acknowledge and celebrate the survival and strength of their indigenous people. Why can't Australia do the same, symbolic gestures like this are an important part of the reconciliation process. Think about South Africa's anthem and flag and new Zealand's haka - what does Australiara have?

We have KB (Kurtley Beale) on the bench don't we mate?

What? Not good enough?.......Madness!

 

[jollyswagman]

[quote="drop kick, post: 770715, member: 320]Think about South Africa's anthem and flag and new Zealand's haka - what does Australiara have?

Literally, a continent's worth of diverse peoples, cultures and languages, with 40,000 years worth of different histories that can't be reduced to a unified symbolic gesture?

A handshake or hug, or thereabouts, would go pretty darn close to a universal gesture......no?

What about anthems, then whistle, then go? If the anthem needs changing then that is a whole other issue for the nation to come to terms with.

 

[drop kick]

[quote="drop kick, post: 770715, member: 320]Thttp://theconversation.com/we-all-know-and-admire-the-haka-so-why-not-one-of-our-own-http://theconversation.com/we-all-know-and-admire-the-haka-so-why-not-one-of-our-own-4543245432hink about South Africa's anthem and flag and new Zealand's haka - what does Australiara have?

Literally, a continent's worth of diverse peoples, cultures and languages, with 40,000 years worth of different histories that can't be reduced to a unified symbolic gesture?

Yes it's too hard isn't it? Let's forget about it for another 200 years.