Bledisloe IV 2010 Hong Kong

[farva]

We can see how tall Hodgo is. We just need to look at him.
I would like a 6/8 with a bit of height. Hence Elsom and McCalman work well.
Hodgo is 184cm I think.

And believe me, I am a Force fan, it pains me to say that.

 

[whatty]

As a neutral living in the enemy camp please for the sake of all humanity please win AUS, I don't think I can last much longer reading the circle jerk of praise dished out to this "Greatest ever AB side" and the bukkake media party that is bound to follow in the NZ media and forums from Sunday if they win again.

 

[farva]

As a neutral living in the enemy camp please for the sake of all humanity please win AUS, I don't think I can last much longer reading the circle jerk of praise dished out to this "Greatest ever AB side" and the bukkake media party that is bound to follow in the NZ media and forums from Sunday if they win again.

Its almost worth having the Wallabies lose just so that when the kiwis are bundled out of the RWC next year the fall is even more epic!

 

[Scotty]

Yup, Brown offers more cover than Hodgson.
Brown has a huge workrate. Its just he cant exert himself physically. Thrown in with 30 to go, he is very useful.

Hodgson is the backup 7. He palys 6 at Super level, but he is not tall enough to do it at international level.

I suspect that with 30 to go Hodgson could do the same or better job as Brown at 6, a better job at 7 and not be too far off at 8. We don't need to keep trying guys that have been proven to be not up to test level. We need to try guys that have been outstanding in the super 14 to see what they have to give in the test arena.

 

[disco]

Actually I would say that pack looks pretty good in general.

Other than Chiz that's almost as good as it gets, some will argue that TPN would start over Moore but for me they are on par. A fully fit Palu over McCalman no doubt but I have no problems with McCalman starting he was probably our best forward in Sydney.

 

[MajorlyRagerly]

As a neutral living in the enemy camp please for the sake of all humanity please win AUS, I don't think I can last much longer reading the circle jerk of praise dished out to this "Greatest ever AB side" and the bukkake media party that is bound to follow in the NZ media and forums from Sunday if they win again.

where ya from whatty? I love the way people seem to expect the journalistic standards in NZ to be open minded to both sides given that the 5 different countries I have ever lived in all have one sided media towards their home nation.

Anyway - great line up OZ, should be a good crunch up front.

 

[TOCC]

Lol @ bukkake media party...

 

[#1 Tah]

Will the awesome power of the Wallaby scrum circa 2009 be unveiled again.... I sure hope so....

 

[whatty]

Having lived in all tri nations inc the UK for 5+ years and now NZ for even longer I just find the NZ media have a certain "Innocent and somewhat misguided smugness" that you just don't experience anywhere else.

Born in C.T SA though.

 

[Bowside]

I smiled a bit when I read the team list. I've got a feeling its all coming together, the pack looks fucking decent, I like chiz over mumm, and I'm glad they went with slipper over Ma'afu. Glad to see deans actually picking a proper outside back on the bench as well.

Add TPN, Horwill, Palu, Diggers, and maybe horne or chambers on the the bench and I think come next year we will have a team every bit as good as the all blacks.

 

[MajorlyRagerly]

Having lived in all tri nations inc the UK for 5+ years and now NZ for even longer I just find the NZ media have a certain "Innocent and somewhat misguided smugness" that you just don't experience anywhere else.

Born in C.T SA though.

We'll have to agre to disagree. I'm not saying NZ media is good, it's utter shit. But it's no worse than anywhere else. The rugby media is just hyper. Praise when winning, then destroy when losing. Very simliar to UK football media in someways, although without all the tabloid style fodder in the background.

Am sure you must have been there last year when the Boks dicked us - quite the opposite then I suspect!

Bowside - agree completely. I really don't want to face you guys in the RWC at any stage.

 

[Gnostic]

Well that's pretty much what I expected.

For me the Positives:-

From row is better, though I worry if Alexander is up to the job straight back from injury at least if he isn't Slipper can do it better than Ma'afu, if Deans will use the bench.
Backrow is good and probably about the best we could pick with the possible except of Higginbum for Elsom, but there is the question of proven test performance. 50:50 on that call as I like Higgs game.


Negatives - Chisholm is still there, again how many times has he played average/well in a couple of games to fail the next half dozen. Brown on the bench, Hodgeson covers the whole backrow better than Brown and has more effect. Brown does have a huge work rate but is like a HDD kid buzzing all over the place being a pain in the ass without any effect.

Giteau - end of does it need to be explained? What does it take to get dropped. Roll on next year when the most over rated player in Oz history will bugger off and leave us better for it.

JOC (James O'Connor) - I just want a specialist winger of Wing/fullback. JOC (James O'Connor) is neither. Hynes or Turner please. Come back next year JOC (James O'Connor).

Edit:- ABs by 15.

 

[whatty]

We'll have to agre to disagree. I'm not saying NZ media is good, it's utter shit. But it's no worse than anywhere else. The rugby media is just hyper. Praise when winning, then destroy when losing. Very simliar to UK football media in someways, although without all the tabloid style fodder in the background.

Am sure you must have been there last year when the Boks dicked us - quite the opposite then I suspect!

Yea to a certain extent I agree but what attempt is made to side with humility when a loss occurs is normally clouded over by some bad play or decision made by the AB's or even more so by some incompetent official or wrong rules been used rather than admitting to been beaten by a better side on the day.


Anyway may the best side win come Saturday.

 

[Scarfman]

Big Ben comes in for Snaafu and everyone's patting Robbie on the back.

I would change several of these selections - Chiz, Slipper, Brown, Giteau, JOC (James O'Connor) for a start.

In fact - does anyone want to support ANY of the above selections or is Robbie again seeing things from his unique POV.

 

[Crow]

Big Ben comes in for Snaafu and everyone's patting Robbie on the back.

It's like praising a toddler for not pissing all over the toilet. Small steps and before you know it, he's replacing Giteau.
I'm going to give him a marshmellow and a pat on the head.

 

[Scorz]

You can always leave and live in Aus if you don't like it. The NZ media's job is to sell papers/ad space, so they sensationalize just as much as any other country's media. Just because some clown like Rattue or Dylan Cleaver writes it in their opinion piece doesn't mean Wynne Grey or Richard Loe aren't often bang on the money when it comes to reasoned articles.

Anyway, 11 in a row, is it a done deal or just a very good chance? Or is the ambush the AB fans have been suspecting for the last how ever many games? Looking forward to it. Not worried, but a bit apprehensive. AB's by 7.

 

[Gnostic]

Big Ben comes in for Snaafu and everyone's patting Robbie on the back.

I would change several of these selections - Chiz, Slipper, Brown, Giteau, JOC (James O'Connor) for a start.

In fact - does anyone want to support ANY of the above selections or is Robbie again seeing things from his unique POV.

Slipper. Who else from the squad would you replace him with? Ma'afu? Surely not. If Kepu was in the squad perhaps but he is under-done and Slipper has performed well this year at S14 and generally at test level. As for the others I have been saying it all year and last year.

 

[Muttonbird]

Its almost worth having the Wallabies lose just so that when the kiwis are bundled out of the RWC next year the fall is even more epic!

Only desperate people would think like this.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

The New Zealand Rugby team to face Australia (test caps):

From: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10683657

SBW misses out.

1. Tony Woodcock (69)
2. Keven Mealamu (80)
3. Owen Franks (17)
4. Brad Thorn (46)
5. Tom Donnelly (13)
6. Jerome Kaino (33)
7. Richie McCaw - captain (89)
8. Kieran Read (25)
9. Jimmy Cowan (41)
10. Daniel Carter (74)
11. Josevata Rokocoko (66)
12. Ma'a Nonu (52)
13. Conrad Smith (41)
14. Cory Jane (21)
15. Mils Muliaina (89)

Reserves:
16. Hikawera Elliot (uncapped)
17. John Afoa (25)
18. Samuel Whitelock (8 )
19. Daniel Braid (4)
20. Alby Mathewson (1)
21. Stephen Donald (19)
22. Isaia Toeava (26)

Sonny Bill Williams has been left out of the All Blacks' squad to face the Wallabies in Hong Kong on Saturday night.

All Blacks coach Graham Henry has stuck with the tried and true combination of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith at second five-eighth and centre for this weekend's Bledisloe Cup clash.

26-test veteran Isaia Toeava has been named on the bench meaning there is no room for league convert Williams.

First five-eighth Dan Carter returns to the starting lineup after missing the All Blacks' last match against Australia due to ankle surgery.

Halfback Jimmy Cowan returns to a starting position after coming off the bench in the September 11 victory over the Wallabies in Sydney.

Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane and Josevata Rokocoko make up the back three.

There is one change in the forwards with Jerome Kaino returning at blindside flanker.

Captain Richie McCaw and Muliaina will both play their 90th tests for the All Blacks.

 

[Groucho]

Only desperate people would think like this.

He's fishing for Mutton.