Tri-Nations: Aus v NZ (Sat 28th - 11.05am)

zAbbo

The big one (I guess)

Aus lose and thats the end of this tri-nations (unless SA beat NZ at home twice)

Australia: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Mark Gerrard, 13 Stirling Mortlock (vice-captain), 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 George Gregan (captain), 8 Scott Fava, 7 George Smith, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Dan Vickerman (vice-captain), 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Rodney Blake, 2 Jeremy Paul, 1 Greg Holmes.
Replacements (from): 16 Tai McIsaac, 17 Al Baxter, 18 Guy Shepherdson, 19 Mark Chisholm, 20 Phil Waugh, 21 Wycliff Palu, 22 Sam Cordingley, 23 Mat Rogers, 24 Clyde Rathbone.

Only change for Aus is Rodney 'Rodzilla' Blanke at tighthead in for Shepherdson(I think)

New Zealand: 15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Rico Gear, 13 Mils Muliaina, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Byron Kelleher, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Greg Somerville, 18 Jason Eaton, 19 Chris Masoe, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Luke McAlister, 22 Isaia Toeava.

Thats deemed to be their strongest XV right now, although I'm not convinced at Muliana as an outside centre. Man for Man, 11-15, I think Australia are better, 9 and 10, NZ are 'better' but Gregan and Larkham are hardly amatuers.

Anyways, I'm Anybody but NZ, so I'm going for a Wallaby win (if only to keep some interest in this)

toomevara

Christ, I hope the wallabies can pull this one out of the bag, an AB win will turn the remainder of the competition into a pointless meander...an awful prospect. Not overly optimistic though.....

bugler

I'd like Australia to win, but I don't think it will happen. NZ are -5 with the bookies, I'm quite tempted by that.

Should be another tough day for the Aus scrum. Paul's throwing can be suspect, and they don't have a first class, natural place-kicker. I hope I'm wrong but this all points to a NZ win for me.

But it might be a try-fest with Aus snatching it

crybaby

australia will start strongly but gradually fade away, new zealand will win this one

RuggieBear

i think it depends on what rolland allows the nz forwards do at the breakdown....and what he allows the australian backs to do at set peices

toomevara

If I never see Alain Rolland again it will be too soon. Apparently the guy is the IRB's wet dream pin-up re: refereeing, just incredible. Had a pop at the SH refs last week re: set piece refing, this week step up Rolland. What, in the name of God, was he doing at the breakdown? The amount of ball killing both sides enaged in was positively heroic, and zero sanction.Totally inept. How many knock-ons did he, and the two mannequins runnning the line miss?

Luckily it was equal opportunity ineptitude....What is to be done with these guys?....Re: the game well done the AB's superb defensive display, but in a strange sense I reckkon the wallabies left it after 'em. That Aussie scrum though, my God it's like watching England V Uruguay, astonishingly bad for an elite nation.