New Zealand preperation for WC

Chucky the tree

They have bottled it before, but it seems they are putting in a serious amount of work to get it right this time.

http://www.planetrugby.com/Story/0,18259,3562_1944434,00.html

Jason Eaton has packed on eight kilograms. Mils Muliaina is five kilograms heavier than he was in December

5 kilos heavier? :eek:

It will be interesting to see how they do in the Tri-nations.

daveirl

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Chucky the tree

I think the numbers are to high to be true using legal means, but it still wouldnt suprise me. I think the SA's have a good chance of winning it.

Funkstard

It looks as if they're trying to create a culture of fear for any opposition - making us think of the all blacks as brutish giants with props outrunning wingers. I don't know, looks great and impressive, but also looks like they're trying to make teams scared too much

damnyanks

Remember the death camp south africa did 4 years ago for the world cup. Didn't do them any good.

zAbbo

Jason Eaton has packed on eight kilograms. Mils Muliaina is five kilograms heavier than he was in December

Heh, maybe they should be training and not stuffing their faces

5KG is possible in the off-season, Didn't Neil Best do something similar.

With a good mixture of protein and supplements, 5kg is very doable, wonder does it affect his speed etc. ?

daveirl

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daveirl

daveirl wrote:

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They wont bottle it. Not a chance

daveirl

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davyjose

It's game-time that counts, more than bulk, and the fact that they've pulled their best players out of the Super 14 is, IMO, a big mistake.

RuggieBear

daveirl wrote:

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QFT

Sangre

daveirl wrote:

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I have a bet on with him they they will bottle it. Only time will tell!

This all seems like scare mongering and propaganda.

If NZ lose, Ill buy everyone on this thread up to this point a pint.
Ruggie, ear mark this thread

RuggieBear

done. I have copied thread and made it a sticky

damnyanks

Oooh yeah free beer

Chucky the tree

the "up to this point" went over you head didnt it yank?

zAbbo

<- Pint of Lucazade with a pink umbrella

il gatto

The rest of the world should look at that aspect of New Zealand rugby and use it as an incentive to play them 100% fired up. Even average Kiwi teams have kicked people's ar$es because of the fear factor of playing them at all. They thrive on being feared. That's what the haka is about. They don't compute what it would be like to be the underdog. Even though they've choked every world cup since '87, they still believe they're going to win right up till the final whistle. It's not the sort of belief other teams have, as in, if we play to our potential and give 100% we'll win. The New Zealand belief is that they'll win, regardless of form, performance or opposition.
They do look freakishly good this year, though. Lets just hope someone in our group bursts their bubble this Autumn.

RuggieBear

Thing is tho that that they look freakishly good every season before the world cup yet keep getting beaten when it counts.

rubberduckey

Hmm, just in case you guys are interested here is a bet that should satisfy the NZ fans and the NZ doubters.


Wednesday 27 December, 2006
New Zealand vs The Field ? New Zealand vs The Field 12:46AM GMT +11:00 Selection Win
New Zealand 0.53/1
Any Other Team 1.5/1

Its with iasbet.com, I personally believe that the value lies with opposing NZ.

There will be an awful amount of pressure on them if they are in a tight knock out game and history tells us that at odds-on to win the World Cup they aren't value.

Anyway its all about opinions so if people want to back their opinion up with their 'hard-earned', heres where to go.

http://www.iasbet.com/Sport/BetTypeContainer.aspx?SportId=21&CompetitionID=24562&EventID=256891&FutureFlag=True


Good luck!!

GreenHell

Don't you think they look absolutely class this season, they have always looked really good but now they seem to have that ruthlessness that england had before the last world cup.

RuggieBear

I thought they looked better before the 1995 world cup.

damnyanks

Chucky the tree wrote:

the "up to this point" went over you head didnt it yank?

Nope - I posted up at the top of the thread

Free beer

shmaido

RuggieBear wrote:

I thought they looked better before the 1995 world cup.

wasn't that the cullen, lomu, wilson, zinzane brooke era (plus countless others), team full of superstars, i thought that was their problem though, they eventually got found out as a group of super rugby players rather than a great "team" of rugby players, ithink thats the major difference between that AB team and this AB, a different attitude and work ethic. Don't get me wrong tho, want to see them beaten just as much as anyone but agree with jabba cant see it happenin....go on ireland prove me wrong!

daveirl

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nacho libre

daveirl wrote:

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I think you are clutching at straws. New Zealand are stronger now than they ever been and more importantly their mindset is different than in the past. They are ruthless and play as a cohesive team rather than a bunch of talented individuals playing together.

Chucky the tree

damnyanks wrote:

Nope - I posted up at the top of the thread

Free beer

woops.:o

RuggieBear

damnyanks can have chucky's beer:D

davyjose

a year is a very long time in Rugby. We gave them a scare in their own Back-yard last summer, and we have improved. Have they? They have withdrawn many of their players from Super 14 (and i think NPC) a big mistake in my book.
I'm not saying they won't win; I think they will. But it seems a lot of people have started counting their (:D ) kiwi's before they've hatched

daveirl

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zAbbo

They do have problems in the centres.

Nonu is huge, but kinda isn't upto scratch, and they were experimenting with Mulliana there as well, and Mauger/McAllister at Inside.

daveirl

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nacho libre

Yes, other sides have better centres, nonetheless i think New Zealand are still a formidable side, and if they maintain their current form it's really hard to see who can beat them in the World Cup.

Ireland...?;)

zAbbo

Their current form was 4 months ago, and with their test 22 wrapped in cotton wool, we won't know how good they are for a wee while longer

Heisenberg.

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zAbbo

2007 Tri-Nations draw:
16 June: Springboks v Wallabies, TBC, 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
23 June: Springboks v All Blacks, TBC, 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
30 June: Wallabies v All Blacks, MCG, Melbourne, TBC
7 July: Wallabies v Springboks, Telstra Stadium, Sydney, TBC
14 July: All Blacks v Springboks, Jade Stadium, Christchurch, 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
21 July: All Blacks v Wallabies, Eden Park, Auckland, 19.35 (07.35 GMT)

davyjose

RuggieBear wrote:

I thought they looked better before the 1995 world cup.

Agreed. They had taken Rugby to a new level, with Guys like Cullen & Lomu redefining the positions they played.

I think we can beat them - in a final or semi. Would not like to meet them in a 1/4 - before they start feeling the pressure.

Edit: My mistake - Cullen hadn't emerged by then you know what I mean. Hey what's that over there <runs away>

shmaido

davyjose wrote:

Edit: My mistake - Cullen hadn't emerged by then you know what I mean. Hey what's that over there <runs away>

woops, your dead right. I'll just grab me coat.

LostinBlanch

Hmmm I hope that they do bottle it. But I think you're also forgetting the fact that the officials are more likely to bottle it cf the ones that seriously bottled it in the BOD spearing incident.

Lets just hope if they do, that it's in our favour!!!

harry4potter

Come on the AB's are so far ahead of any team out there even in there weakest positions scrum half and centres who has better then Weepu, Calagher, McAllister and yes Tama Umunga . Henry will bring him back for the World Cup.:eek:

Chucky the tree

South Africa could be a good shout for the WC. They have england in their group and if they win they avoid NZ(thats if they get there) until the final. They will get France/Ireland in the semi's, which going on there 6N form will be beatable.

harry4potter

Chunky you have had to much chocolate and it effects your jugement.
South Africa on the IRB ratings are closer to Italy then they are to the
All Black team.
Mr Henry's All Black team for the World Cup final will be the best TEAM ever
assembled, everything todate including playing second string team's against Ireland and England is all part of the build up.
Do you really:eek: know better than IRB ratings and bookies odd's.

Chucky the tree

No i suppose i dont.


Oh one quick question. Can you tell me the IRB rating and what team was favourite in 95, 99 and 2003?

harry4potter

Sorry but think the IRB only started there rankings after the 2003 WRC
and England was 1 with the AB's no 2.