Tri-Nations All Blacks vs Wallabies Sat 31st July Sky Sports 2 10.30am (11am KO)

Judgement Day

Australia: Adam Ashley Cooper, James O'Connor, Rob Horne, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Will Genia, Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore, Salesi Maafu, Dean Mumm, Nathan Sharpe, Rocky Elsom (capt), David Pocock, Richard Brown.

Replacements: Saia Faingaa, James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Matt Hodgson, Luke Burgess, Anthony Faingaa, Kurtley Beale.

New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Owen Franks, Brad Thorn, Tom Donnelly, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (captain), Kieran Read.

Replacements: Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Sam Whitelock, Victor Vito, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg.

On the Aussie side Berrick Barnes is in for the hapless Quade Cooper who is suspended following being cited for a spear tackle in last weekends match against the Boks. Not that I ever believed the Aussies could win this game but I think that Quade Cooper's absence has sealed their fate.

Joe Rokococo is back in for the injured Ranger and for some reason Jimmy Cowan starts ahead of Piri Weepu who is relegated to the bench. According to scum.com the All Blacks starting 15 have an incredible 700 (!) tests caps between them.

Teams and full previews at www.scrum.com

The only thing that save the Aussies from a whipping is the state of the pitch at the Melbourne Stadium which, according to scrum.com, could see the game postponed. http://www.scrum.com/trinations2010/rugby/story/120312.html



THE BOYS ARE BLACK IN TOWN!

JustinDee

Judgement Day wrote: »

The only thing that save the Aussies from a whipping is the state of the pitch at the Melbourne Stadium

:rolleyes:

You are Murray Deaker and I claim my $10

Judgement Day

Your **** out of luck on that! I may be as opinionated but I have far more hair.

redroar1942

Henry seems to have a blind spot for Weepu, no matter what the guy does he can't nail down a test spot. How many time's has he been dropped for the like of Ellis/Leonard/Cowan? I know he has consistancy problems but he add's more then those 3. Taking him off the last day was an insult considering how well he was playing.

Anyway can't see past an All Blacks win in this one.

redroar1942

redroar1942 wrote: »

Henry seems to have a blind spot for Weepu, no matter what the guy does he can't nail down a test spot. How many time's has he been dropped for the like of Ellis/Leonard/Cowan? I know he has consistancy problems but he add's more then those 3. Taking him off the last day was an insult considering how well he was playing.

Anyway can't see past an All Blacks win in this one.

Weepu's wife just gave birth so he's probably been distracted with that for the last few days.

redroar1942

Deleted User wrote: »

Weepu's wife just gave birth so he's probably been distracted with that for the last few days.

So why is he on the bench ? If he is capable of making the squad then surely he can play in the run on team.

Dougalicious

Judgement Day wrote: »

Australia: Adam Ashley Cooper, James O'Connor, Rob Horne, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Will Genia, Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore, Salesi Maafu, Dean Mumm, Nathan Sharpe, Rocky Elsom (capt), David Pocock, Richard Brown.

Replacements: Saia Faingaa, James Slipper, Rob Simmons, Matt Hodgson, Luke Burgess, Anthony Faingaa, Kurtley Beale.

New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Owen Franks, Brad Thorn, Tom Donnelly, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (captain), Kieran Read.

Replacements: Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Sam Whitelock, Victor Vito, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Israel Dagg.

On the Aussie side Berrick Barnes is in for the hapless Quade Cooper who is suspended following being cited for a spear tackle in last weekends match against the Boks. Not that I ever believed the Aussies could win this game but I think that Quade Cooper's absence has sealed their fate.

Joe Rokococo is back in for the injured Ranger and for some reason Jimmy Cowan starts ahead of Piri Weepu who is relegated to the bench. According to scum.com the All Blacks starting 15 have an incredible 700 (!) tests caps between them.

Teams and full previews at www.scrum.com

The only thing that save the Aussies from a whipping is the state of the pitch at the Melbourne Stadium which, according to scrum.com, could see the game postponed. http://www.scrum.com/trinations2010/rugby/story/120312.html



THE BOYS ARE BLACK IN TOWN!
can't wait to see ye choke at the next world cup!!

Judgement Day

Dougalicious - nearly missed your comment underneath the reproduction of my entire post - there really was no need but thanks anyway.

I hardly think that losing the 2007 RWC quarter final to France by a conversion represents choking and I suspect that things will be very different next time out. The knock-out stages of any tournament can be very cruel but I think NZ's record against France speaks for itself - As of November 29, 2009, the All Blacks and France have played 49 Tests. The All Blacks have won 36, France 12, and one was drawn. - as does their record against any other country that you care to name.

JustinDee

Is this thread just going to be a Kiwi 'wully-weg'?

NZ could very well whallop the other two teams in this year's Tri-Nations. They're building very well and there is some nice form showing.

The real test is how they will cope with the pressure and expectancy of next year's RWC on home turf.
This is not a begrudging or one-eyed tribal view of this current squad's prospects, by the way. Its an absolutely honest assessment.

PhatPiggins

JustinDee wrote: »

Is this thread just going to be a Kiwi 'wully-weg'?

NZ could very well whallop the other two teams in this year's Tri-Nations. They're building very well and there is some nice form showing.

The real test is how they will cope with the pressure and expectancy of next year's RWC on home turf.
This is not a begrudging or one-eyed tribal view of this current squad's prospects, by the way. Its an absolutely honest assessment.

Too true but their greatest fear must be that they were building very well and showing nice form in the 18 months prior to the last 2 WC's as well. Their age profile is better this time round though and if they can't win it at home there'll be a week of national mourning in Kiwi.

Judgement Day

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Too true but their greatest fear must be that they were building very well and showing nice form in the 18 months prior to the last 2 WC's as well. Their age profile is better this time round though and if they can't win it at home there'll be a week of national mourning in Kiwi.

Only a week?

subfreq

i have kind of become a glass is half empty Aussie supporter since the Autumn series. Up to that point I really knew where Deans was going or at least thought I did and it has kind of imploded since then.

This game (as it always is) is all about forwards supremacy. I think both packs kind of balance each out on paper with pro's and cons but NZ have possibly a nose in front in the back three where Reed is a good bit ahead of the level Brown can achieve.

Looking back at the two opening games SAF deservedly lost but yellow cards and lack of pace out wide ultimately cost them in what should have been much tighter games.

The Aussies may have beaten a team that was damaged goods by the time it got to Brisbane but were brutal in the first half in how they attacked the confrontational areas of the game. If they repeat that this weekend I have feeling they could pull off a major result.

NZ will really get at O'Connor which I am dying to see. It's an old demon that he hasn't really put to bed fully so it's a chance to see if he has progressed.

It's set to be a classic if the pitch holds up but I am going to cop out for the second week in a row and say too close to call. It's one where the heart says Gold but the head says Black.

P_1

I believe there's an Aussie Rules match on in the same stadium the night before.

I just hope this match doesn't become a repeat of the Barbarians v Australia match in Wembley a few years ago.

redroar1942

redroar1942 wrote: »

So why is he on the bench ? If he is capable of making the squad then surely he can play in the run on team.

The obvious reason is that he is fatigued and wouldnt last the whole match.

I reckon the Blacks are gona give them a hiding.

PhatPiggins

Silas Swift Grindstone wrote: »

The obvious reason is that he is fatigued and wouldnt last the whole match.

I reckon the Blacks are gona give them a hiding.

Was he pregnant? I thought he was just fat

GiftofGab

redroar1942 wrote: »

So why is he on the bench ? If he is capable of making the squad then surely he can play in the run on team.

henry metioned this in an interview. Cowan is on the team because he has been training with the team all week. They were perfecting their defensive tactics while Weepu was in hospital accompanying his wife. Weepu will be back on the team for the next match

Risteard

I was hoping to see Cooper playing against the ABs, pity he got suspended but at least it's consistent. Should still be a cracker but with the way NZ are playing atm, you can't look past them for a win IMO.

Judgement Day

Well, just 65 minutes away from this clash of the titans and I'm beside myself with excitement - if the All Blacks can put this one away a clean sweep of the Tri-Nations may be possible. Kids away, pub organised, Haka watched several times to pump me up even more and I'm off!

THE BOYS ARE BLACK IN TOWN!

GiftofGab

AB by 5 IMO

thomond2006

NZ by 3.

If Cooper was playing, I would have backed the Wallabies.

handsomecake

aus commentators on fox all went for an aus win.all 6 of them.

nz win for me.kieran read to run amok.dagg to score off the bench

Risteard

Good break by Giteau. McCaw of all people making the mistake in defence.

pappyodaniel

Go on Wallabies!!!

GiftofGab

Who needs cooper. Great start by the aussi's

amacachi

He never even looked up, bit of over-"confidence" there I think.

Risteard

Carter gets his revenge!

amacachi

Silly stuff. What were AUS at there, did it hit two players? :S

Heh two charge down tries inside a minute

handsomecake

that man can walk on water

amacachi

Should there have been an accidental offside there?

Risteard

What a ****ing try. Great skill by Cory Jane.

cruiserweight

Three tries in less than 15 minutes, boring stuff so far

copacetic

amacachi wrote: »

Should there have been an accidental offside there?

possibly, it hit carter then nonu's knee and carter was in front of him and ran on to it. So he was offside. hard to see how ref could have seen it though.

Great try there though..

amacachi

copacetic wrote: »

possibly, it hit carter then nonu's knee and carter was in front of him and ran on to it. So he was offside. hard to see how ref could have seen it though.

Great try there though..

Well I saw straightaway it hit two players, so I thought a look for the TMO would've been a good idea. Really do have to wonder about the wisdom of kicking if there were two players able to charge it down.


Nice try, similar to one in the SL last night, did great to get the kick in.

copacetic

amacachi wrote: »

Well I saw straightaway it hit two players, so I thought a look for the TMO would've been a good idea. Really do have to wonder about the wisdom of kicking if there were two players able to charge it down.

Don't believe the TMO can look for that, or anything leading up to the try?

Giteau has the yips

amacachi

copacetic wrote: »

Don't believe the TMO can look for that, or anything leading up to the try?

Huh? I wasn't sure what he can or can't look for tbh, but I'm sure there's some things he can look for. :pac:

The Aussie

How many Kiwis are there im Melbourne, yellow card as well

copacetic

amacachi wrote: »

Huh? I wasn't sure what he can or can't look for tbh, but I'm sure there's some things he can look for. :pac:

Nothing that isn't related to act of scoring of a try or kick

(b) A match organiser may appoint an official who uses technological devices. If the referee is unsure when making a decision in in-goal involving a try being scored or a touch down, that official may be consulted.
(c) The official may be consulted if the referee is unsure when making a decision in in-goal with regard to the scoring of a try or a touchdown when foul play in in-goal may have been involved.
(d) The official may be consulted in relation to the success or otherwise of kicks at goal.
(e) The official may be consulted if the referee or touch judge is unsure if a player was or was not in touch when attempting to ground the ball to score a try.
(f) The official may be consulted if the referee or touch judges are unsure when making a decision relating to touch-in-goal and the ball being made dead if a score may have occurred.
(g) A match organiser may appoint a timekeeper who will signify the end of each half.
(h) The referee must not consult with any other persons.

amacachi

ROFL. What a silly game.

amacachi

copacetic wrote: »

Nothing that isn't related to act of scoring of a try or kick

Oh right, I thought they could go a bit further back than just the grounding of the try.

amacachi

Can see a slapping here if NZ fancy it.

Mccaw in for the 3rd :eek: Aussies very inaccurate. Turnovers, not making touch, loose passes.

handsomecake

never a yellow.reminds me of palu on kearney,tackler smashes him so hard it looks like a shoulder. mccaw cracker

amacachi

Why no replay? Director struggling to work out wtf that yellow was for? :pac:

amacachi

Glad to see the referee not putting up with time-wasting and blocking.

Risteard

Bonus Point.

chimchimney

lots of players slipping, at this level you'd think they could find a decent pitch

amacachi

NZ 32-14. Looking nice and easy.

dromdrom

Glorified rugby league, 32-14 at half time is ridiculous.

amacachi

dromdrom wrote: »

Glorified rugby league, 32-14 at half time is ridiculous.

:rolleyes: