NZ vs. Australia, match preview & thread, Sat 24 Aug, 0835 Irish time

Swiwi.

NEW ZEALAND: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Tom Taylor, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (capt), 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Jeremy Thrush, 20 Sam Cane, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Colin Slade, 23 Charles Piutau.

NEW HOLLAND (likely): 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Israel Folau, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Christian Leali'ifano, 11 James O'Connor, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Will Genia, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 James Horwill (captain), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 TBC, 20 Liam Gill, 21 Nic White, 22 Quade Cooper, 23 Tevita Kuridrani.

Date: Saturday, August 24
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

When I was a kid the Amiga was a cool computer, and Lemmings was a fun game to play. Cutting & pasting from Wikipedia (cos I'm too lazy to trawl my memory) "in order to save the required number of lemmings to win, you had to determine how to assign a limited number of eight different skills to specific lemmings that allow the selected lemming to alter the landscape, to affect the behavior of other lemmings, or to clear obstacles in order to create a safe passage for the rest of the lemmings". This week Steve Hansen has to manipulate his All Black lemmings around the park...with his 4th choice fly-half.

In scenes eerily reminiscent of RWC 2011, DC, AC and BB are all ruled out through injury, and with Stephen Donald trout fishing in Japan these days, Tom Taylor has been given the nod. One of my enduring memories from that final was Stephen Donald, grinning like a Cheshire cat after ultimately kicking the winning penalty, struggling to get his shirt 2 sizes too tight back over his off-season flab. He might have been a journeyman par excellence, but I guess SD will always and forever hold a wee place in a Kiwi's heart.

Now, who the heck is Tom Taylor most of you will ask? So far his biggest claim to fame is to be the son of 1987 RWC-winning centre Warwick Taylor. However, he has played very solidly for Canterbury & the Crusaders over the last couple of seasons, and most importantly of all he is probably NZ's best goalkicker, although Gareth Anscombe might have a word or two to say about that. So I guess the coach has opted for a steady pair of hands, rather than the somewhat more erratic (certainly when it comes to goalkicking) Colin Slade (he of 2 previous broken jaws among many other injuries).

Otherwise it's pretty much steady as she goes, with a bit of tinkering here and there, and I look forward to seeing Steven Luatua in action again, who started slow enough last week, but grew into the game as it progressed.

The Australians appear to have only replaced the injured Hugh McMeniman in the starting line-up - unlucky for Hugh, but handy for the Australians IMO. I'm surprised Toomua & Mogg have been retained, the Australians need to go out to win the game, not just put up a good show. I would have thought Quade would be worth a punt, excuse the pun.

NZ will look to reduce the error count from last week, and tighten up on the ruck penalties, but otherwise I expect much of a muchness.

Australia will need to be more adventurous on attack, and much tighter on defence. And they have to get more ball in space to Folau, who needs to up his workrate big-time. Look for Michael Hooper to have another stellar display.

Prediction: McKenzie has missed a beat by essentially sticking with the same lineup that came up short last week. NZ to win this at a canter, but probably not by so much. Given the kick-off time, I expect to be posting to myself on boards, but if you're doing a Podge_irl and pitching up to the TV straight after a hard night on the turps, feel free to join me! Cheers LVR

pickarooney

Probably give this a miss and head to training instead. I can't see past an easy NZ win.

Swiwi.

pickarooney wrote: »

Probably give this a miss and head to training instead. I can't see past an easy NZ win.

You'd probably learn more by watching the ABs play. Or I am just being a stereotypically arrogant Kiwi

awec

0835!

.ak

Don't suppose there's anywhere in Belfast that'll be showing this?

Swiwi.

awec wrote: »

0835!

If you've nothing better to do, you can always watch SA v Arg at 8.20pm. The game's in Argentina, so maybe, fingers crossed, it will be more than just a glorified training run for the Boks. The odds on SA driving a maul and scoring a try are paying €0.01 for every €100 wagered though.

Swiwi.

.ak wrote: »

Don't suppose there's anywhere in Belfast that'll be showing this?

There has to be an Irish pub somewhere in Belfast :pac:

.ak

Le vieux renard wrote: »

You'd probably learn more by watching the ABs play. Or I am just being a stereotypically arrogant Kiwi

I've been watching the ABs play my entire life.... And I'm still shîte!

I want my money back!

.ak

Le vieux renard wrote: »

There has to be an Irish pub somewhere in Belfast :pac:

Maybe, just maybe....

Swiwi.

.ak wrote: »

I've been watching the ABs play my entire life.... And I'm still shîte!

I want my money back!

AIG will give you a discount on content insurance. Just put "notcontent" into the voucher box on the payment page.

I've been watching the ABs most of life too, and in my head I'm a fantastic player. The reality was always a bit different - sadly.

8:35 could not suit my schedule better.

Now to convince the missus to make the breakfast!

Klunk_NZ

Honestly if Tom Taylor and Slade got injured aswell it wouldnt matter, we would still put up a better first five then Aussie, whether it be Baden Kerr, Anscome or any ITM cup first five really.

.ak

Wait, is Barrett injured as well?

Klunk_NZ

.ak wrote: »

Wait, is Barrett injured as well?

Yea onto 10D & 10E

.ak

Taylor and Slade are decent, solid 10s so I wouldn't be worried from a NZ perspective.

Regarding Anscombe, I selfishly hope he doesn't get capped and ends up coming over here to join up with his dad and get an Irish cap.

Swiwi.

Deleted User wrote: »

8:35 could not suit my schedule better.

Now to convince the missus to make the breakfast!

The crucial Q, though, NZ or Aussie commentary? Grunt Nuzbit or Feel Kearns?

.ak

Le vieux renard wrote: »

The crucial Q, though, NZ or Aussie commentary? Grunt Nuzbit or Feel Kearns?

ARC if available!

Swiwi.

Le vieux renard wrote: »

Given the kick-off time, I expect to be posting to myself on boards, but if you're doing a Podge_irl and pitching up to the TV straight after a hard night on the turps, feel free to join me! Cheers LVR

Deleted User wrote: »

8:35 could not suit my schedule better.

It's a date :P

matthew8

Australia New Zealand should never be missed under any circumstances. I'm annoyed Cooper isn't playing, Australia are essentially 14 men with Toomua playing like he did last week. He may as well have been JOC.

Teferi

Deleted User wrote: »

Now to convince the missus to make the breakfast!

Emmet's just trying to let everyone know he finally lost his virginity btw.

Say congrats!

GiftofGab

watched this match last week in a pub in melbourne.....not going to make the same mistake by getting the 10 mins before ko - they place was absolutely jammed packed with kiwis - couldnt stand anywhere

Swiwi.

GiftofGab wrote: »

watched this match last week in a pub in melbourne.....not going to make the same mistake by getting the 10 mins before ko - they place was absolutely jammed packed with kiwis - couldnt stand anywhere

Absolute parasites, those Kiwis. You build a pub showing rugby and they'll come. Anywhere in the world just about.

Swiwi.

A touch of trivia for today's game - Tony Woodcock's 100th cap, and Tom Taylor joins his dad Warwick as the 18th father/son combo to have played for the ABs.

From memory Keith Earls and his dad have both played for Ireland? Anyone else in the current set-up?

Swiwi.

.ak wrote: »

Regarding Anscombe, I selfishly hope he doesn't get capped and ends up coming over here to join up with his dad and get an Irish cap.

It's not an unrealistic hope - he plays 10 & 15, which are both well covered in NZ at present. It depends if he will wait until post 2015, where there might well be openings (and aim to face the Lions in 2017), or if he gets frustrated and decides to head to Ireland. I assume he'd have to go thru the 3 year rule thing, so he might prefer to wait in NZ.

Buer

Le vieux renard wrote: »

From memory Keith Earls and his dad have both played for Ireland? Anyone else in the current set-up?

Alas, Ger Earls was never capped.

Luke Fitzgerald's father was a prop for Ireland and highly rated. BOD's uncle played for Ireland at full back.

Swiwi.

OK, I'm going legal today. Using livesport.tv in Switzerland, costing me €7.99 for the 2 games today. Quality is good. Doubt it's available in the usual rugby-loving countries, though.

Swiwi.

McCaw leading the Haka?! A bit of Maori in everyone I guess.

matthew8

This is a surprise.

Buer

Really should have gone upstairs on that. Moore has the right to place the ball. If he was adjudged to have just placed that and made the line on the first placement, that was a try.

matthew8

Should have been an Aussie yellow there. No defense.

Swiwi.

Buer wrote: »

Really should have gone upstairs on that. Moore has the right to place the ball. If he was adjudged to have just placed that and made the line on the first placement, that was a try.

I would want the same if it was at the other end. Probably a try, although maybe double movement. CL still on 100% as a goalkicker.

matthew8

Horrible kick. Conditions must be tough if even Taylor can't handle them.

Buer

Le vieux renard wrote: »

CL still on 100% as a goalkicker.

I didn't realise it until the commentator said it. That's unbelievable. 5th cap, is it? And hasn't missed a kick yet.

matthew8

Buer wrote: »

I didn't realise it until the commentator said it. That's unbelievable. 5th cap, is it? And hasn't missed a kick yet.

Well it's his 4th cap really considering how long the first one was. Hasn't really had a go from range too.

Grimebox

Buer wrote: »

I didn't realise it until the commentator said it. That's unbelievable. 5th cap, is it? And hasn't missed a kick yet.

His technique seems to lend to a lot of variance too

Swiwi.

matthew8 wrote: »

Well it's his 4th cap really considering how long the first one was. Hasn't really had a go from range too.

Parsimonious with your praise there matthew8. He kicked the clutch kick to square the Lions series. I think Mogg does the distance kicks anyway.

Swiwi.

Another brainfart from Nonu. Some chance ABs will need a new 12 for the next match.

sydthebeat

Cl's first miss

Buer

Well, that is the end of that.

Buer

100% yellow.

sydthebeat

Should be a yellow against the abs there

Grimebox

That looked offside

RuggieBear

hilarious that rugby/scummaging had changed so much that now commentators are actually praising hookers actually being able to hook

.ak

I have a man crush in Ben Smith. He can run fast for a skinny white boy.

sydthebeat

The abs are the most clinical team in existence. Any kind of slow blitz and they punish you... Great try.

Buer

Am I being overly cynical when I say that NZ seem to have a tactic on their up and unders where the chasers overrun the ball, blocking the opposition, leaving the follow up chasers a clean catch?

Swiwi.

Yeah, lucky not to get a YC, I concur. Ben Smith - that man just scores in virtually every game he plans in. Watch out Doug Howlett.

Buer

Buer wrote: »

Am I being overly cynical when I say that NZ seem to have a tactic on their up and unders where the chasers overrun the ball, blocking the opposition, leaving the follow up chasers a clean catch?

Nonu just did it there again. Went past the ball straight in the line of the Aussie player.

Swiwi.

Buer wrote: »

Am I being overly cynical when I say that NZ seem to have a tactic on their up and unders where the chasers overrun the ball, blocking the opposition, leaving the follow up chasers a clean catch?

Not sure. Taylor has started well enough, but he isn't a patch on Carter with his pinpoint restarts.

Buer

Le vieux renard wrote: »

Yeah, lucky not to get a YC, I concur. Ben Smith - that man just scores in virtually every game he plans in. Watch out Doug Howlett.

Only problem is age isn't on his side. To get near the record he'd need about 7 years in the team. Can't see him still being there at 34!

matthew8

Absolute nothing call.