The All Blacks and the Wallabies cross swords at the AMI Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand on Saturday at 09:35 SA Time for their 2nd Tri-Nations match between one another for 2010.
This return match, after the 1st encounter last week should be just as good as the first one, where we saw everything a rugby lover wanted to see… hard running, structure, defence, and a very good contest at breakdown situations.
The All Blacks are currently riding a wave of wins in the Tri-Nations, their overall play is clever, they play the referees to perfection, they stifle opposition ball by all means (even some illegal according to some pundits), they run with clear purpose and they defend like trojans.
The have all the confidence in the world and this balanced team is once again making the world sit up and notice… and moan like ninnies, of course.
There’s not much their backline can improve on, with Mils Muliaina, right down to Piri Weepu in fantastic form.
The forwards boast a dominating scrum, much improved lineout play and probably their biggest asset, wonderful breakdown skills. This of course is amplified by playing close to the edge of the Laws and adapting to referee interpretations like they know the exact script!
In addition, this match is back at home in New Zealand, amongs the vervent All Black support base.
The Wallabies have had mixed success, firstly beating the Springboks well with a solid performance, then losing heavily against the All Blacks last week.
They will be desperate to improve on their performance last week where they were killed in the 1st half and were playing catch-up for the rest of the game.
Personally I am concerned about their backline, who must be the smallest bunch of backline plaers ever assembled in Wallabie jerseys. From Kurtley Beale at No 15 to Will Genia at No 9 there is not much size, but there is rather a host of fleetfooted possible game breakers.
It will be interesting to see how Anthony Faingaa copes at inside centre against the might of Ma’a Nonu and the wily Conrad Smith as well as the tactical mastery of Dan Carter.
In the forwards, the other Faingaa twin, Saia, starts at hooker… another small man against the might of an All Black front row firing on all cylinders. The locks are capable and the backrow compete well at the breakdown in addition to carrying the ball strongly.
Interesting contest indeed… but I predict that the All Blacks will be even tougher than last week…. All Blacks by 25 PLUS.
Recent results:
2010: New Zealand won 49-28, Melbourne
2009: New Zealand won 32-19, Tokyo
2009: New Zealand won 33-6, Wellington
2009: New Zealand won 19-18, Sydney
2009: New Zealand won 22-16, Auckland
2008: New Zealand won 19-14, Hong Kong
2008: New Zealand won 28-24, Brisbane
2008: New Zealand won 39-10, Auckland
2008: Australia won 34-19, Sydney
Teams:
New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Sam Whitelock, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Alby Mathewson, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Benson Stanley.
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O’Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Anthony Faingaa, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Will Genia, 8 Richard Brown, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom (captain), 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Salesi Ma’afu, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Benin Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 James Slipper, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Matt Hodgson, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Berrick Barnes, 22 Cameron Shepherd.
Date: Saturday, August 7
Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-off: 19.35 (09.35 SA Time)
Expected weather conditions: There is a 40 percent chance of rain, increasing to 70 percent. with a high of 13°C, dropping to 1°C, and a southerly of 10 km/h, freshening to 21 km/h.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Keith Brown (New Zealand)
TMO: Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
Agreed, New Zealand will hammer them…
I suppose every successive loss brings the Wallabies closer to their next win.
May yet still be a while though.
An accurate analysis of the two teams, GBS. ABs are dynamic, strong and talented and play with a purpose that will be unmatched by any other side this calendar year, IMO.
Wallabies, while they have the intent, just don’t have the on-field muscle this year. Too many injuries to first choice players means we don’t realistically stand much of a chance. However, the very fact that so many young players comprise this group augers well for the RWC next year. It’s the off-field criticisms that are hard for Robbie Deans and assistants to live with, but you can’t turn a sow’s ear into a silk purse just because you want to!
So, the wallas will go through the process tonight and show guts and determination and come out the other end with a hurtful result that may steel them to greater deeds next year. One must salute the ABs as the champion rugby nation that they are, but, as the cycles go, rest assured the wallas won’t give in tonight until the final whistle and Aus fans will stick with them through thick and thin. Better days are around the corner – and they can’t come soon enough for all concerned!!
Go the Wallabies!!!!
In reference to the size, or lack of, inherent in the wallas’ backline, this little analogy comes to mind when thinking of the likes of Nonu, Muliaina and Rokocoko: ‘a good BIG man will ALWAYS beat a good small man’.
The Wallabies backs had better pack their tackling shoulder-pads into their kit bags for tonight – I think they are going to need them!!!!
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