Scotland v All Blacks @ Murrayfield

[waiopehu oldboy]

As everyone is probably aware, Scotland have never beaten the All Blacks (but have drawn twice, in 1964 & 1983) and realistically that's not going to change this weekend. They'll likely come out firing, buoyed by the win over Argentina, but ultimately this is gonna be more Culloden than Bannockburn.

 

[Forcefield]

Or if Scotland do win it will be like the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior?

 

[Highlander35]

Nah, thir-tieth time lucky

There'll be a couple of changes from the team that beat the Pumas. Weir will likely come in for Russell. Denton or Beattie will replace Ashe. Grant and Swinson will probably replace Reid and Hamilton. Cusiter in for the concussed Pyrgos if fit, otherwise Hidalgo-Clyne will be on the bench.

A result within 10 points would be ideal, especially if "the B Team" gets a run.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Or if Scotland do win it will be like the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior?

More like the Titanic, I'd have thought.

Bottom line is that no one wants to be part of the answer to the trivia question "name the first All Blacks to lose to Scotland". Same goes for Ireland & Argentina & silly as it sounds I reckon that's been the difference on more than one occasion against each of them.

 

[Bairdy]

Hoping for another cracker of a match like the 2012 fixture.

Now that was a game!

Scotland were in it for 50 odd minutes uncharacteristically, and the All Blacks put on an absolute masterclass in exploiting overlaps.

 

[Ulrich]

waiopehu oldboy,

I am an outside observer and I share your sentiment that the history books is what has helped keep the All Blacks above teams like Scotland and Ireland. It is the same reason the All Blacks beat Wales even though they have lost on one occasion and it's also why the Springboks have ousted Wales in times of adversity although they have lost one game as well.

Once that becomes two losses things start to change. We've now lost a few games against both Scotland and Ireland and yet Wales have been a better side for a lot of the time. Teams like Scotland and Ireland know they can beat us on their day whereas Wales are still struggling to break that psychological barrier and perhaps they are focusing too much on it.

Anyway,

I think NZ will take the game by about 15-20 points.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

Looking for Carter to reassume the mantle.

Drop Dagg, B.Smith to 15, Savea and Piutau on the wings

Fekitoa and Crot in the centres

And the Paekakariki Express to make a surprise appearance off the bench:

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

^^^^^^^^^ one of the all-time great tries, that. Another of my all-time favs is the one BeeGee got at Eden Park in '75, from about the 1:20 mark in this rather disjointed compilation:

So fucking awesome they show it again from around 5:50!

Joe Karam kicked 4/4 that day, astonishing given the conditions, then nek minit fucked off to League. I was 11 at the time & obviously removed his Rugby News poster from my wall in protest: can't recall if I binned it, burned it or let the cat sleep on it but I was pretty pissed off.

As for Cullen, his parents ran the Paekak pub & had a heap of framed jerseys on the walls, including his Central Vikings & Horowhenua-Kapiti ones. All lost in the flood that destroyed the joint in 2003, possibly Mother Nature's way of showing her displeasure at Cullen's shameful treatment by Mitchell & Deans.

 

[Dismal Pillock]

As for Cullen, his parents ran the Paekak pub & had a heap of framed jerseys on the walls, including his Central Vikings & Horowhenua-Kapiti ones. All lost in the flood that destroyed the joint in 2003, possibly Mother Nature's way of showing her displeasure at Cullen's shameful treatment by Mitchell & Deans.

God can be such a COLOSSAL dick at times. Whatft was he thinking there. Disappointing work, God. Lift your game.

How great was that vid, BeeGee was really the business. Very vaguely remember that 75 Eden Park test on the telly, (may have been my first) and being enthralled with the flooding but jeez who wasnt.

And that Bruce Robertson passing style, who among you did not try to mimic that in the backyard, WHO?

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Anyone know the outcome of the Murrayfield ground staff v worms battle? Last I heard the humans were using chemical weapons (garlic IIRC) but the results weren't that great & SRU were talking about ripping the whole turf up & replacing it with some kinda grass/artificial fibre blend but I haven't been able to find anything about whether they've actually done it yet.

Nah, thir-tieth time lucky

There'll be a couple of changes from the team that beat the Pumas. Weir will likely come in for Russell. Denton or Beattie will replace Ashe. Grant and Swinson will probably replace Reid and Hamilton. Cusiter in for the concussed Pyrgos if fit, otherwise Hidalgo-Clyne will be on the bench.

A result within 10 points would be ideal, especially if "the B Team" gets a run.

Yours or ours lol? I'm thinking 8-12 if the turf is still shite, 14-22 if it's the flash new hybrid surface AND not freezing and/or pissing down and/or foggy.

Not sure if this belongs here or on the "How to respond to the Haka" thread, but enjoy anyways:

 

[Highlander35]

The new turf went in over the Summer, is holding up really well.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

That's great news, 14-22 it is then, weather permitting.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Sean Maitland catches up with a coupla former teammates:

https://nz.sports.yahoo.com/news/ar...0089060-485c117b-9064-49d2-bf66-9eab29f86fc3/

His relies will obviously be wanting him to have a good game, maybe score a try etc but backing Scotland? I doubt that.

AB named at 5pm NZDT (2pm Brisbane), looks like a Fekitoa & Crotty midfield, Carter 10 & Romano in the mix somewhere.

 

[Antony]

I just don't get how he never got a run in the ABs. Remember that season where he just broke tackles for fun? 2011 I think? Guildford popping up everywhere with his crazy work-rate, Maitland bumping off defenders like they were nothing, Dagg casually pumping 50 metre clearances... that was a hell of a back-three and a hell of a team. Bloody Queensland.

 

[qwerty51]

How will Scotland react to this team?

15. Ben Smith (36)
14. Colin Slade (15)
13. Malakai Fekitoa (7)
12. Ryan Crotty (11)
11. Charles Piutau (12)
10. Dan Carter (101)
9. TJ Perenara (9)
8. Victor Vito (25)
7. Sam Cane (21)
6. Richie McCaw (c) (135)
5. Dominic Bird (1)
4. Jeremy Thrush (10)
3. Charlie Faumuina (25)
2. James Parsons (0)
1. Joe Moody (6)
Reserves
16. Dane Coles (25)
17. Wyatt Crockett (34)
18. Ben Franks (40)
19. Luke Romano (16)
20. Liam Messam (38)
21. Augustine Pulu (1)
22. Sonny Bill Williams (21)
23. Julian Savea (31)

 

[Antony]

How will Scotland react to this team?

Parsons at hooker, Thrush in the row, no Kaino or Read, Slade on the wing.

We wouldn't field this side against Argentina, and the Scots rolled them last week.

 

[Highlander35]

It's not an easy side by any means. But it's significantly more exploitable than any side I've seen from the All Blacks in the last couple of years.

Potentially the best opportunity for a win in a long time.

 

[qwerty51]

It's the worst NZ side for as long as I can remember. I challenge anyone to find a worse side.

 

[Antony]

I think there was a game where we picked Anthony Tuitavake and Rudi Wulf. That was pretty bad.

Edit: Scott Hamilton may have been in the same side. All good players, but you know.

 

[Antony]

June 2009, lost to France 22-27 in Dunedin. Remember that some of these players weren't the players then that they are now (e.g. Read, Nonu).

Woodcock
Hore
Tialata
Thorn
Ross (!)
Read
Thompson
Messam
Cowan
Donald (!)
Masaga (!)
Nonu
Toeava
Rokocoko
Muliaina

I feel like a bit of a dick putting this team up. Goes without saying that all these players are at least a little bit better than me.