Yes, we do have some other, not so important rugby on today…Nothing to play for? Maybe but it is the beginning of the usual November stint up North for both team and you just know the two teams will want to start on a winning note. Sure, the Bledisloe Cup has already been cleaned after the All Blacks used it as a champagne receptacle for a while but the Wallabies always seems to pick up a notch when the play their neighbours and the neighbours, well they just don’t like losing, plain and simple.
The Wallabies had a poor season so far but not withstanding the coach still seems to be firmly set in his seat. As much as I like him you have to wonder how long before the knives come out, a poor showing this tour and we may find out how close we are.
The All Blacks coach used some smoke and mirrors, played a little bit of musical chairs and came out saying the moves set them up perfectly for World Cup 2011. His contract was renewed not so long ago but if you listen to the people at ground level the support for him is split. Some still see him as the man but other voice strong opinions about why he should never have been around after the dismal performance of 2007. The North has little to rattle the All Blacks and another clean sweep is on the cards. As for 2011, we will have to wait and see.
Back to tonight, like I said before there is nothing but a little pride and good start to play for but coach Deans had a lot to say about playing for the jumper, playing for the Country, pride and a few other words to wind up his charges. I would think a few players are also on notice, last chances and stuff like that. Expect them to come out firing. The All Blacks will play to win the game, as I said, they hate losing.
So what to look out for, again, the usual stuff. Has the Wallabie scrum improved even further in the little off season they had, can they build on a solid Tri Nations performance? Did the All Black coaches do enough to fix the line-out problems or will we see more of the same. With McCaw there the breakdown is always good to watch.
Players to watch: There are a few… already mentioned McCaw who has not shown his best this year in the black jumper. Mils Muliaina must be close to the last change saloon and a good performance is needed to pay back the trust the coaches have put in him. Rodney So’oialo would like to proof a point, why drop me? Digby Ioane is back after a long break, will he be anything like he was before his injury? Both flyhalves are usually worth the ticket price… Pocock managed to push George Smith to the pavilion, he will have to make sure to proof it was no mistake.
Results this century
2009: New Zealand won 33-6 at Westpac Trust, Wellington
2009: New Zealand won 19-18 at ANZ Stadium, Sydney
2009: New Zealand won 22-16 at Eden Park, Auckland
2008: New Zealand won 19-14 at Hong Kong Stadium
2008: New Zealand won 28-24 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
2008: New Zealand won 39-10 at Eden Park, Auckland
2008: Australia won 34-19 at Stadium Australia, Sydney
2007: New Zealand won 26-12 at Eden Park, Auckland
2007: Australia won 20-15 at Cricket Ground, Melbourne
2006: New Zealand won 34-27 at Eden Park, Auckland
2006: New Zealand won 13-9 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
2006: New Zealand won 32-12 at Jade Stadium, Christchurch
2005: New Zealand won 34-24 at Eden Park, Auckland
2005: New Zealand won 30-13 at Stadium Australia, Sydney
2004: Australia won 23-19 at Stadium Australia, Sydney
2004: New Zealand won 16-7 at Westpac Trust, Wellington
2003: Australia won 22-10 at Stadium Australia, Sydney
2003: New Zealand won 21-17 at Eden Park, Auckland
2003: New Zealand won 50-21 at Stadium Australia, Sydney
2002: Australia won 16-14 at Stadium Australia, Sydney
2002: New Zealand won 12-6 at Jade Stadium, Christchurch
2001: Australia won 26-29 at Stadium Australia, Sydney
2001: New Zealand won 23-15 at Carisbrook, Dunedin
As for a prediction, it is a very hard one as it always is with these two teams. I go for the All Black by 8 for no specific reason…well; maybe Rugby Princess and her very sharp stilettos may play a role in my prediction!
Teams:
Australia: 15 James O’Connor, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Will Genia, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (captain), 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 James Horwill, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 George Smith, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Drew Mitchell, 22 Quade Cooper.
New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Rodney So’oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 John Afoa, 18 Jason Eaton, 19 Kieran Read, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Zac Guildford.
Date: Saturday, 31 October 2009
Kick-off: 17.35 (08.35 GMT)
Venue: Olympic Stadium, Tokyo, Japan
Expected weather conditions: Clear with scattered clouds later and with a high of 22°C, dropping to 20°C and a light westerly wind
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert, Taizo Hirabayashi (Japan)
Television match official: Akihisa Aso (Japan)
Assessor: Bob Francis (New Zealand)
90@ Modder_Totter – Ja, ja…. verstaan maar wat jy wil… ons weet almal hoeveel Bulle was Bokke die jaar… niks gaan dit verander nie.
Dis net daai Brussowtjie wat my worry…. en Jacques-Louis Potgieter… en Ashley Johnson… en Lionel Mapoe….. en die hele Cheetah-voorry….. eishhhhhhhh
90 – Bos_Otter
Very true. Have to wait until the final whistle today to see who wins.
Bulls just seem so powerful with all their Boks then so did Sharks and we got our butts kicked by that last drop goal.
Anything can happen. Just that it is at Loftus. Very hard to beat the Bulls there. Sharks have but it is tough mate.
ABs lead, 23-16 after a Carter penalty.
Not a bad crowd; black and gold everywhere, and quite a few Japanese, as well as Eddie Jones and George Gregan in the crowd. John Kirwan also.
91@gbs
rofl…ek is maar lekker senuwee agtig om eerlik te wees….vandag se game gaan huge wees. Voel soos n klein seuntjie voor Kersfees.
93 – Old Griquas.
Good to know a big crowd there especially that it is played on neutral ground in another country.
Looks like ABs are pulling away at the moment.
90: otterbos, ons doen ons praatwerk op die veld …
Nee wat, hierdie aussies het meer as vir deans nodig om hul te red. Klomp softies.
74 – GBS, It works on WRS login but not on mine!! Anyway, too technical for me………
I should be able to watch something later anyway, thats a relief!
92@Puma
Totally agree mate. Loftus will not be easy.
Cheetahs u/19 8 / Lions u/19 3… after 7 minutes
Carter’s penalty takes score to 26-16 to ABs. ABs well on top.
Sien julle sakkies later…het werk om te doen.
101@ Old Griquas 14 in Sydney – How much time left?
Cheetahs u/19 8 / Lions u/19 6
At the 70th minute mark it’s the ABs in front 26-16, with Matt Giteau attempting a penalty kick. Giteau hasn’t seen much of the ball tonight. He kicks it, score 26-19.
I picked the All Blacks by 13 on SuperBru…. only 3 points needed from them to make the score spot-on
Fark, now 6 points needed by NZ
Score 29-19, about 6 mins to go. Daniel Carter becomes the highest scoring New Zealander against Aust in 100 years.
Ahhhhh, back to the 10-point margin…. come on we need 1 more penalty for Black… for my SuperBru
107 – Old Griquas
Think ABs going to take this one. 10 points difference and only 6 min left.
In the 78th minute, Carter lines up another penalty kick. It was 1962 since Aus lost so many tests in a row; score 32-19. This has been a comprehensive win by NZ.
Heeeeeeeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
13 points margin !!
Yep, all over: A deserved win to the ABs. Problems compound for the Wallas. Final score 32-19.
ABs dominated most aspects of the game and deserve the win.
112@ Old Griquas 14 – Thanks for the running commentary
KS in Sydney @110
G’day there old mate, good to see you again!
Boys were talking about you recently, at the reunion at the Horse Shoe Inn in Kimberley before the Bulls game this year.
Buddy Swartz, Kierietjies, Mannetjies, Peet, Tos, Denys, James Combrinck, Manie Steyn, Koos Waldeck, Joggie, Gert….they were all there, still in good health most of them.
How you doing, I believe you also havesuffered some set-back recently, you up and about again?
Hope so.
Talk again soon, here on RT.
Cheers.
The Wallabies just aren’t progressing as they should be under coach Robbie Deans. That’s not an indictment on the coach, as he puts in his all. Moreover, it shows a dearth of the right cattle for the job.
Genia stood out in this game; as did Robinson in the front row and Ashley Cooper at the back. Giteau et al, should have gone straight to London and met the boys at Heathrow!!
Looking forward to reading progress of the huge RSA game later today.
113 – GBS Have a wonderful time this afternoon….I want to hear all about it, say Hi to your brother hope he is still on the road to recovery after his accident.
GO BULLS
Keep you phone switched on!! 😉
115 – Old Griquas
Maybe both teams are a bit rusty none have played for awhile now. Oz will be better on their NH tour.
Boks boing to be rusty too and Bulls playing in the CC final later with about 10 Boks so hoping no injuries there either.
Good to catch up and have a chat with you again mate. Pietman was asking about you the other day. He should be back in SA now. Was flying here on Wed the last time I spoke to him.
Meant Boks going now boing……..hehehe. Too many typos from me.
114 – Pietman
Just as I was telling OG that you were on your way home. I see a post from you up there.
How you my friend. Are you back in the good old RSA now?
Cheetahs U/ 19 13 / Lions u/19 6
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