[2014 TRC] New Zealand v Australia in Auckland (23/08/2014)

[Icemn]

Crockett is quite tall... i mean, Sam Whitelock towers out over all of them when they singing the anthem... and crockett is prob 3rd tallest after Brodie... so teams struggle to scrum against Crockett, hansen needs to address his discipline with him as he is a real asset when it comes to scrumming... cant we only bring him onto the field if we have a scrum the dallas cowboys did this with naas botha when they wanted to kick for posts

oh ja... i just want to take this opportunity again to say...

Michael Hooper is one handsome guy...

1 Wyatt Crockett
2 Dane Coles
3 Owen Franks
4 Brodie Retallick
5 Sam Whitelock
6 Liam Messam
7 Richie McCaw (c)
8 Kieran Read
9 Aaron Smith
10 Aaron Cruden
11 Julian Savea
12 Ryan Crotty
13 Conrad Smith
14 Cory Jane
15 Ben Smith

Reserves:

16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Steven Luatua, 20 Sam Cane, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Malakai Fekitoa

​

TKB on the bench...

A reaction I expected from most Kiwis, judging by the comments below his article. Anyway, I think Darwin did a good dissection of his piece.

Anyway, just spotted the AB team has now been announced:

ALL BLACKS: Ben Smith, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ryan Crotty, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett.

Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Steven Luatua, Sam Cane, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Malakai Fekitoa

TJ on the bench

 

[nickdnz]

Crockett's a good player. He has a good work rate both in making tackles and clearing bodies from the rucks. As a scrummager he can be a bit hit and miss depending on the referee (personally I rate him as the second best scrummaging LH behind Woodcock). The problem referees often have is that he appears to bore in at the scrum, which more often then not to me looks like the TH props folds in. As a LH really you want to be pushing forward, and if the opposition folds in you're generally happy to keep pushing them that way providing they're going backwards because it disrupts their ball. What a lot of referee's seem to rule is that he is intentionally pushes at and angle (or when the TH turns so much they go to ground, that Crockett is the one who collapsed). I think as a props he's generally hard done by in the scrums - he wasn't bad in his scrummaging against Australia (although you'd hope for better).

The big criticism with Crockett is his penalty count - which I predominantly in scrums. In general play he is usually fine (which I thought was the case on Saturday). Ben Franks is a decent scrummager at LH (not great at TH), but he's more likely to give away silly penalties in open play IMHO.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

TKB on the bench...



TJ on the bench

Definitely TJ on the bench
http://www.allblacks.com/News/25742/all-blacks-side-named-for-eden-park-bledisloe-cup-test

Unless TJ's injured.

 

[first5eight]

So much rubbish in the media. Its almost like there is a propaganda campaign against the ABs at the moment. Its ridiculous.

 

[RoosTah]

So much rubbish in the media. Its almost like there is a propaganda campaign against the ABs at the moment. Its ridiculous.

What are you on about? Nothing but pessimism in the Sydney media... All stuff about how the Wallabies only had one chance.

 

[first5eight]

What are you on about? Nothing but pessimism in the Sydney media... All stuff about how the Wallabies only had one chance.

I live in Balmain.

Pessimism? That's not what I've heard about Australian rugby for the last few weeks. The amount of self proclaimed chest-beating bull**** I have heard from the aussie media, aussie players and aussie fans has been off the scale, even by cocky aussie standards.

Apparently Australia is good at Rugby again? Um, yeah nah. Wont win in NZ, wont win in South Africa. Still a strong 3rd.

 

[big ginger 8]

Apparently Australia is good at Rugby again? Um, yeah nah. Wont win in NZ, wont win in South Africa. Still a strong 3rd.

Which means not being good at rugby?

 

[first5eight]

Which means not being good at rugby?

Yes. Beating South Africa in South Africa means your good. Or NZ in NZ.

Which means not being good at rugby?

Australia are still good but beating the Northern Hemisphere teams doesn't really count........... Beating South Africa in South Africa means your good. Or NZ in NZ.

 

[big ginger 8]

Glad to have that sorted then.

 

[RoosTah]

I live in Balmain.

Pessimism? That's not what I've heard about Australian rugby for the last few weeks. The amount of self proclaimed chest-beating bull**** I have heard from the aussie media, aussie players and aussie fans has been off the scale, even by cocky aussie standards.

Apparently Australia is good at Rugby again? Um, yeah nah. Wont win in NZ, wont win in South Africa. Still a strong 3rd.

Maybe you read the Murdoch pro-NRL smash rugby trash, I'm not sure... but Paul Cully in the Herald today had an entire article talking about how McKenzie may have blown his best chance.

As for Australia being good at rugby. Well, the Waratahs just won the Super Rugby title and the Wallabies won 7 tests in a row and just drew with the mighty All Blacks, so yeah, I'd say we're "good". That doesn't mean we're the best, but it certainly warrants saying we're good. Just like NZ winning beating England in last year's Rugby League world cup qualified them as "good" at Rugby League even if the Kangaroos ended up proving they weren't quite the best.

Australia are still good but beating the Northern Hemisphere teams doesn't really count........... Beating South Africa in South Africa means your good. Or NZ in NZ.

Wow... what a d*ckish thing to say. The Springboks, I hate to say it, have not been consistent enough over the last decade to warrant that sort of praise. They've been destroyed by England, lost 5 straight to the Wallabies during the Deans era, been thrashed numerous times by the All Blacks and almost just lost to Argentina, who destroyed their pack.

In reality it's not so much North South any more, it's the All Blacks and the rest.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

I live in Balmain.

Pessimism? That's not what I've heard about Australian rugby for the last few weeks. The amount of self proclaimed chest-beating bull**** I have heard from the aussie media, aussie players and aussie fans has been off the scale, even by cocky aussie standards.

Apparently Australia is good at Rugby again? Um, yeah nah. Wont win in NZ, wont win in South Africa. Still a strong 3rd.

Mate I simply cannot get my head around the fact that Kiwis insist that Aussies are arrogant.
Both teams talk themselves up before a game, it's part of the build up. The only difference is that for the last 10 years we have been on the receiving end so it does make ourselves look a little stupid, whereas the All Blacks and their fans talk themselves up and win, then brag about their trophy cabinet.

To us, that reeks of arrogance. But what do you expect? both teams to come out during the week and say they don't deserve to win?

 

[RoosTah]

Mate I simply cannot get my head around the fact that Kiwis insist that Aussies are arrogant.
Both teams talk themselves up before a game, it's part of the build up. The only difference is that for the last 10 years we have been on the receiving end so it does make ourselves look a little stupid, whereas the All Blacks and their fans talk themselves up and win, then brag about their trophy cabinet.

To us, that reeks of arrogance. But what do you expect? both teams to come out during the week and say they don't deserve to win?

Hear, hear.

Kiwis go on and on about Aussie arrogance, but I didn't hear Ewen Mckenzie saying the All Blacks had no improving left in them... it was Steve Hansen saying it about the Wallabies. A lot of kiwi fans (not all) are insanely arrogant when it comes to rugby - we had guys over at the roar telling everyone that the Waratahs were about to be done by 30+ against the Crusaders, and that they Waratahs didn't deserve to be on the same pitch as the 'saders.

It's frankly funny that kiwis would complain about Aussie arrogance in rugby... it's almost like they can't see themselves.

 

[Big Ewis]

reading this article:
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9432639,00.html

I didn't realize it was this unbelievable, but:
"Then again, they've only lost one of their last 39 matches."

 

[first5eight]

Hear, hear.

Kiwis go on and on about Aussie arrogance, but I didn't hear Ewen Mckenzie saying the All Blacks had no improving left in them... it was Steve Hansen saying it about the Wallabies. A lot of kiwi fans (not all) are insanely arrogant when it comes to rugby - we had guys over at the roar telling everyone that the Waratahs were about to be done by 30+ against the Crusaders, and that they Waratahs didn't deserve to be on the same pitch as the 'saders.

It's frankly funny that kiwis would complain about Aussie arrogance in rugby... it's almost like they can't see themselves.

Mate, not being funny here but we've lost like once in nearly 40 games.

I respect the Australian self belief but its built on nothing but your own hype. Something something Waratahs?

 

[RoosTah]

Mate, not being funny here but we've lost like once in nearly 40 games.

I respect the Australian self belief but its built on nothing but your own hype. Something something Waratahs?

What hype are you talking about exactly? You sound like Mel Gibson talking about the Jews lol.

I honestly don't know what you're on about. There's been three articles in the Herald in the last day or two about the match - one about how the Wallabies will be under more pressure from the ref this week, another about how Folau is warning the team how tough the All Blacks will be at home, and a piece by Paul Cully talking about McKenzie ruing a lost chance in the face of playing at Eden Park.

If you think that's "hype" then I'd suggest you're wearing a tin-foil hat and are more than a little insecure.

As for the Waratahs - suck it up big boy . No one in NZ gave them a chance, so it was all the more satisfying when we won.

 

[Darwin]

Anyways.... rugby. Played at Eden Park tomorrow. Both teams will be disappointed with last weeks result. The weather forecast looks promising. Should be a cracker of a match!

 

[Big Ewis]

Mate, not being funny here but we've lost like once in nearly 40 games.

I respect the Australian self belief but its built on nothing but your own hype. Something something Waratahs?

nah you're obviously wrong and very biased, but in the end you're right (ooh, he contradicted himself there). The Wallabies most probably won't come into NZ and pick up a win. That 39 game stat is ridiculous, but the AB came really close in a few of those, and recent ones more alarmingly. A streak stat is what it is, but then there are the realities on the pitch, test match after test match, what actually goes on during those 80minutes, whether a team wins, draws or loses. It's an obvious comment to make, but I think this is a classic case where ppl might be overwhelmed by results alone and not look into the actual content of those results in detail.

The AB are obviously on the verge of losing, they can't just go on for another run of 40. They'll add maybe a few more. If anything, they're closer to a loss than ever if you think about the inevitability of it. They'll win this one in Auckland, but I reiterate: a few teams have caught up. Facts are: South Africa and Australia are back to being dominant again. England is really good again, and Ireland are probably the best they've ever been. And those crazy French in all their unprecedented monumental crisis still made really competitive games out of 3/4 tests against NZ in 2013. You said "beating S.A. in S.A. is good", well Wales were 1 point shy of being good by those standards.

It's all well NZ are on an astronomical figure of a win-streak, and they could add yet another clean sweep at TRC which would be insane, but there's that RWC next year. And if you think 6N sides aren't really threats then you're overly confident and misinformed, coz England could very well feel Twickenham 2012 again at home, or other European sides could answer present to get that AB scalp. It's happened before...

But let's see what NZ can manage this weekend first, then the whole tournament, and we'll have a clearer idea.

 

[RoosTah]

Anyways.... rugby. Played at Eden Park tomorrow. Both teams will be disappointed with last weeks result. The weather forecast looks promising. Should be a cracker of a match!

The All Blacks will be a lot better organised with Conrad Smith back, and will make better use of the ball in general than they did last week. I'm also expecting them to be a lot more combative at the breakdown and to kick less.

It's definitely going to be a tough assignment, but the Wallabies were also pretty poor around the park last week, and they've definitely got some improvements in them too. White was awful, Toomua was absent, McCabe useless, Folau didn't get the ball enough, Beale needed to run straighter, and the bench under used.

Link is no fool, so it will be interesting to see what he does this time around.

 

[first5eight]

Mate I simply cannot get my head around the fact that Kiwis insist that Aussies are arrogant.
Both teams talk themselves up before a game, it's part of the build up. The only difference is that for the last 10 years we have been on the receiving end so it does make ourselves look a little stupid, whereas the All Blacks and their fans talk themselves up and win, then brag about their trophy cabinet.

To us, that reeks of arrogance. But what do you expect? both teams to come out during the week and say they don't deserve to win?

What hype are you talking about exactly? You sound like Mel Gibson talking about the Jews lol.

I honestly don't know what you're on about. There's been three articles in the Herald in the last day or two about the match - one about how the Wallabies will be under more pressure from the ref this week, another about how Folau is warning the team how tough the All Blacks will be at home, and a piece by Paul Cully talking about McKenzie ruing a lost chance in the face of playing at Eden Park.

If you think that's "hype" then I'd suggest you're wearing a tin-foil hat and are more than a little insecure.

As for the Waratahs - suck it up big boy . No one in NZ gave them a chance, so it was all the more satisfying when we won.

Im talking about the fact that Australia talks an absolutely massive game every single year. Its an unfounded confidence that is border line arrogance.

 

[RoosTah]

Im talking about the fact that Australia talks an absolutely massive game every single year. Its an unfounded confidence that is border line arrogance.

Australia talks a massive game do they? You mean the team? What exactly has the team said that justifies your claim? Give me some quotes from McKenzie or the players, because you're just talking out of your a** right now mate.

What you originally said was:

So much rubbish in the media. Its almost like there is a propaganda campaign against the ABs at the moment. Its ridiculous.

You've come up with nothing to support that and are just carrying on like a paranoid d---bag that resents anything positive being said about the Wallabies frankly.