Bledisloe IV 2010 Hong Kong

[Scotty]

Come on Scotty at least wait for the game before trotting out the excuses.



I don't accept this and nor should anybody else.

A serious question - what is a pass mark for Robbie Deans 1)from this tour 2) for the year ?

It isn't an excuse. It is a reason. I don't accept it as an excuse.

 

[DPK]

Like a solid set piece.
Discipline.
Forward go forward and impact at the ruck and maul.
Assertive back play, running straight, with purpose and some sort of plan.
Quade tackling.
Gits dropped.

Lineout has been poor without Sharpe, but the lineout has been worse than this year.

Shouldn't Quade's tackling be more part of Quade's check list? Sure, Deans is an influence, but Quade's gotta take responsibility for his own shortcomings.

 

[disco]

Like a solid set piece.
Discipline.
Forward go forward and impact at the ruck and maul.
Assertive back play, running straight, with purpose and some sort of plan.
Quade tackling.
Gits dropped.

Use the bench

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Here's my head to head. Rugby is a team game so the head to head doesn't mean too much.

1. Alexander v Woodcock
2. Moore v Mealamu
3. Robinson V O. Franks
4. Chisholm v Thorne
5. Sharpe v Donnelly
6. Elsom v Kaino
7. Pocock v Sir Ritchie
8. McCalman v Read
9. Genia v Cowan
10. Cooper v Donald (in for injured Carter)
11. Mitchell v Jane
12. Barnes v Nonu
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) v Smith
14. Turner v Rokocoko
15. Beale v Muliaina

Bench
16. Finger v Elliot
17. Slipper v Afoa
18. Simmons v Messam
19. Giteau v Slade
20. Burgess v Ellis
21. JOC (James O'Connor) v SBW
22. Hogdson v Whitelock

My heart says something different, but I think the Darkness will be too strong in the set pieces and loose. I have Carter rested which makes them slightly more vulnerable than usual. Our halves will be better but overall the Darkness should win quite comfortably by 18 points.

I have Henry and the other Darkness Lords taking a punt on SBW with 10 minutes from the bench.

Robbie to empty the bench and on timely basis as well. Positive sign.

 

[DPK]

Pretty good HJ, but I'd take Mils and The Headshot. They've both been quite incredible this year.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Didn't want to talk the Darkness up too much. In the back of my mind without Carter, they are really vulnerable specially if things just happen to click with the Golden Ones. We reserve the right to perform as passionate underdogs with more to gain.

Dingo MUST use the bench sagaciously if we are to have any real chance.

 

[TOCC]

Higginbotham is a maybe for mid week matches at best. Wallaby starter - no way. On the bench - unlikely, but two injuries would make him a maybe.

The guy has potential, but realistically, he has not had that much game time of late, and when he was playing he was quite hit and miss. Give him a chance during the tour but please not against the ABs.

Plus he is coming off a injury and hasn't been training 100% until recently, I don't think he would even be fit for selection for the Honkers match

 

[Jnor]

Dont understand how you reckon theyll put 18 over us. Obviously it's possible but I reckon this is our best chance this year. Last time we lost by a point after coming across from two games in SA on the trot.

This should be a piece of piss in comparison, or as much of a piece of piss as playing the darkness ever is

 

[Tordah]

11. Mitchell v Jane
14. Turner v Rokocoko
15. Beale v Muliaina

Bench
17. Slipper v Afoa

Seriously, what's that about

 

[Nusadan]

Gags...back in the land of the haggis now...

Just checked the Sky rugby programme...no mention of the Honkers game...but some other test matches are...any idea of who's telecasting that match here in the UK then?

 

[Groucho]

Dont understand how you reckon theyll put 18 over us. Obviously it's possible but I reckon this is our best chance this year. Last time we lost by a point after coming across from two games in SA on the trot.

This should be a piece of piss in comparison, or as much of a piece of piss as playing the darkness ever is

I just wish people wouldn't call them the darkness. It is the sound of one Kiwi hand wanking.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

I just wish people wouldn't call them the darkness. It is the sound of one Kiwi hand wanking.

and your preferred name for them is:
a. All Blacks (AB's)
b. Men in Black (MIB)
c. Sheep Shaggers
d. Bloody Kiwis
e. NZ Rugby Team
f. The Blackness
g. Van Humphries favourite name

 

[Joe Mac]

Seriously, what's that about

Even as a Wallabies supporter. I totally agree with above.
I would say the opposite for the ones picked above- each AB is better in position than WB. The only other disagreement with the original post is that I would have Elsom over Kaino. Moore over Mealamu.

 

[Langthorne]

Elsom could be better than Kanio, but I'd take Mealamu over Moore.

 

[Boomer]

I just wish people wouldn't call them the darkness. It is the sound of one Kiwi hand wanking.

Agreed. This is self-defeating behaviour at its worst from a group of people who support the national team.

If we're dinkum about supporting the Wallabies, we're not doing the boys or ourselves any favours by talking up the ABs into being mythical beasts. Last time I checked, they appeared to have almost evolved into human forms. I mean, they bleed and they belch, right?

Blackness/darkness/Lords of Darkness - are all beat ups from a pretty inferior podcast from En Zed. Forget about it.

 

[Jnor]

Or it's just a bit of a laugh?

 

[Viking]

Here's my head to head. Rugby is a team game so the head to head doesn't mean too much.

1. Alexander v Woodcock
2. Moore v Mealamu
3. Robinson V O. Franks
4. Chisholm v Thorne
5. Sharpe v Donnelly
6. Elsom v Kaino
7. Pocock v Sir Ritchie
8. McCalman v Read
9. Genia v Cowan
10. Cooper v Donald (in for injured Carter)
11. Mitchell v Jane ----> Jane is way more consistent, great defender and great under the high ball. Mitchell prob just gets him in attack but Jane offers more as a package
12. Barnes v Nonu
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) v Smith
14. Turner v Rokocoko -----> I actually agree on current form that Turner is better, Roko hasnt done much lately.
15. Beale v Muliaina ---> Muliaina is far better all round player then Beale. Beale is rubbish under the high ball, He has played 1 and half great games (in attack). Muliaina is just as good as a counter attacker as Beale. IMHO if it were world cup time Id prefer AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) at fullback. (for the main reason I cant forget how badly Beale played in the second half against the Boks in Blom - apart from that magnificent kick).

Beale and Mitchell definitly not better then Jane and Muliana. I agree with the rest.

 

[DPK]

[video=youtube;NXz-km7G-fc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXz-km7G-fc&feature=player_embedded[/video]

 

[Mainlander]

Here's my head to head. Rugby is a team game so the head to head doesn't mean too much.

1. Alexander v Woodcock
2. Moore v Mealamu
3. Robinson V O. Franks
4. Chisholm v Thorne
5. Sharpe v Donnelly Provided Sharpe brings his A game and doesn't try to play wing.
6. Elsom v Kaino
7. Pocock v Sir Ritchie
8. McCalman v Read
9. Genia v Cowan
10. Cooper v Donald (in for injured Carter) Looks like Carters going to play so Cooper v Carter
11. Mitchell v Jane
12. Barnes v Nonu
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) v Smith
14. Turner v Rokocoko
15. Beale v Muliaina Fixed

Bench
16. Finger v Elliot You have got to be kidding/Dreaming here... Have you actually ever seen Elliot play, I'd prefer Afoa as hooker.
17. Slipper v Afoa Disagree
18. Simmons v Messam
19. Giteau v Slade It'll be Donald with Carter playing... Doesn't change the pick thou.
20. Burgess v Ellis
21. JOC (James O'Connor) v SBW As I posted it'll be Ice and will still be pick to NZ.
22. Hogdson v Whitelock

My heart says something different, but I think the Darkness will be too strong in the set pieces and loose. I have Carter rested which makes them slightly more vulnerable than usual. Our halves will be better but overall the Darkness should win quite comfortably by 18 points.

I have Henry and the other Darkness Lords taking a punt on SBW with 10 minutes from the bench.

Robbie to empty the bench and on timely basis as well. Positive sign.

Seriously in all the disagreements on who is the better no one querryed the Elliot/Finger pick. Comon Elliot couldn't even take away the chiefs Hooker starting spot from Couldn't hit a barndwall Mealmouth. Personally I'd have picked the Southland Dwarf Rutasguts over him for the third hooker role dispite his size.

 

[Groucho]

and your preferred name for them is:
a. All Blacks (AB's)
b. Men in Black (MIB)
c. Sheep Shaggers
d. Bloody Kiwis
e. NZ Rugby Team
f. The Blackness
g. Van Humphries favourite name

Hugh, we should have a poll. I have always liked option e. Kiwi fans go the full Gollum when you refer to their team as "New Zealand".