[2013 TRC] New Zealand vs. Australia in Wellington (24/08/2013)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Westpac Stadium, Wellington (24/08/2013, 06:35 GMT)

Referee: Jaco Peyper

Assistants: Craig Joubert

& Lourens van der Merwe

Television match official: Shaun Veldsman

New Zealand
TBD

Australia
TBD

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

NZ coaches pleased with squad depth

The All Blacks managed to win the 2011 World Cup even with three of their fly-halves succumbing to injury. Success in the tournament, even in the face of adversity, has left the coaching staff confident that their squad has enough depth to produce the goods.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3821_8878523,00.html


Wallabies pointing fingers at McCaw

Australian captain James Horwill pleaded that referee Craig Joubert take sterner action and use his cards for repeat offences, but the South African didn't oblige.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3821_8878722,00.html

 

[Larksea]

going to be very interesting. at this stage we may be in a scenario where carter, Cruden and Barrett are injured.

that would leave Slade and Tom Taylor to share the duties.

Slade has 10 test caps, seemed to be coming into good for towards the end of the super season and does have world class skills as a playmaker when hes in form, genuine silky skills.

Tom Taylor is uncapped, has a very solid all round game. and under rated running game, rock solid defense and he's a genuine 80-90% goal kicker. Doesn't have the same x-factor on attack as Slade though.

you would expect slade to start given his experience. But his goal kicking can be up and down where Taylor is quite simply the most accurate and consistent goal kicker in NZ for the last couple of years. Taylor could work quite well with Nonu, he'd definately make up for the lack of commitment and accuracy Nonu has on defense at times and Nonu can help bring the heat with his running game.

Where's beaver when you need him?

Slade could go either way, good or bad that's just how his carrier has turned out. I think Taylor would be a smart choice, you know hes going to nail the goals and tackles and all the basics that will allow the rest of the team to help make up for missing carter/cruden/barrett, that wouldn't make the guys happy that want to see slade do what he can do at times but IMO taylor would be better to make sure that you score at least 1 more point than the opposition. Bring Dagg and Ben Smith in to First receiver more often to help the attack.

maybe just play Ben Smith at 10, I mean he is the one player that has the skills to play anywhere 10-15

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Weepu is not an option?

 

[Feicarsinn]

Poor old Australia

 

[ABs2011]

Weepu is not an option?

Weepu is certainly an option. Obviously just a short term fix though. I'd agree that at a pinch Dagg could play 10 and Smith as well although he would be a lesser option than Dagg.

If both Cruden and Barrett are out Slade will start at 10 and Taylor will be on the bench.

Cruden has been labelled 50-50 and I doubt he will play out of precaution more than anything. My guess is that Barrett will be OK to start and Slade will be on the bench. I think the ABs will prefer the experience of Slade over Taylor, particularly at such short notice.

Should be a high scoring game, especially if Cooper starts for the Ozzies. Will be massive holes through both 10 channels as both Barrett and Cooper are suspect defenders...

 

[Jaguares]

Weepu is not an option?

It should not be, his time is over. It's time for new player in that position, I was very happy last year when Aaron Smith took his position, there is now very good young players in that position like: TJ Perenara and Kerr-Barlow, besides Aaron Smith.

Goodbye Piri Weepu!

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Weepu as cover for fly-half, with Carter, Cruden and Barrett possibly injured and not available...

 

[admartian]

I like Slade's better all around game than Taylor's. But I'm comfortable as them being emergency options.

Hopefully Barrett is ok though.

Also +1 to the Ben Smith at 10 - I mean, what can't he do?

 

[ABs2011]

I like Slade's better all around game than Taylor's. But I'm comfortable as them being emergency options.

Hopefully Barrett is ok though.

Also +1 to the Ben Smith at 10 - I mean, what can't he do?

The trouble with Taylor is that he is an unknown at international level. The ABs rarely bring such a player into the mix outside of end of year tours and warm up matches, particularly in key positions. I can't see them going with Taylor as a result although he would be a good bench option as 10 and 12 cover if needed.

 

[Larksea]

weepu would not seriously be considered, there are better options. Heck I'd pick Parker or Horrell or Robbie Robinson maybe even Nokes or tyler bleyendaal over weepu but when you get down to 5th & 6th choice options that is when Israel Dagg or Ben Smith also become serious options not just jokes. Fact is Ben Smith could do it in his sleep, just need to find a goal kicker. Dagg is a superb goal kicker but he may not be keeping up with practice because he has not been required to since leaving the highlanders.

 

[ABs2011]

weepu would not seriously be considered, there are better options. Heck I'd pick Parker or Horrell or Robbie Robinson maybe even Nokes or tyler bleyendaal over weepu but when you get down to 5th & 6th choice options that is when Israel Dagg or Ben Smith also become serious options not just jokes. Fact is Ben Smith could do it in his sleep, just need to find a goal kicker. Dagg is a superb goal kicker but he may not be keeping up with practice because he has not been required to since leaving the highlanders.

We will probably have to agree to disagree but IMO of course Weepu is a serious option, it's a bit silly to suggest otherwise to be frank.

If it came down to a choice between Weepu and the likes of Parker, Horrell, Robinson, Sopoaga or who ever, then I think right now the ABs would opt for the experience of Weepu and the familiarity he has with the AB environment and structure vs bringing a complete rookie into arguably the toughest level of international rugby. You might be right and some of the others you suggest may be in many ways considered better options (certainly long term) but the ABs are traditionally quite conservative with selections, particulalry at pivot - think Donald in the RWC. Let's hope it doesnt come to that though. Hopefuly Cruden and/or Barrett will be fixed. Maybe Benji might be rushed over?? No-one has suggested that yet...

 

[admartian]

We will probably have to agree to disagree but IMO of course Weepu is a serious option, it's a bit silly to suggest otherwise to be frank.

If it came down to a choice between Weepu and the likes of Parker, Horrell, Robinson, Sopoaga or who ever, then I think right now the ABs would opt for the experience of Weepu and the familiarity he has with the AB environment and structure vs bringing a complete rookie into arguably the toughest level of international rugby. You might be right and some of the others you suggest may be in many ways considered better options (certainly long term) but the ABs are traditionally quite conservative with selections, particulalry at pivot - think Donald in the RWC. Let's hope it doesnt come to that though. Hopefuly Cruden and/or Barrett will be fixed. Maybe Benji might be rushed over?? No-one has suggested that yet...

Not rushed like SBW was - simply because he doesn't have the off-field hype and the apologists that come with it. If it were SBW, they'd be pickets all over the NZRU by now.

 

[ABs2011]

Romano out til November with groin tear
Cruden out for up to 6 weeks with a posterior cruciate ligament injury
Barret out with calf strain, expected back for Argentina on September 7

 

[Jaguares]

Weepu as cover for fly-half, with Carter, Cruden and Barrett possibly injured and not available...

I prefer to Colin Slade before Weepu for that position.

Regards

 

[ABs2011]

Not rushed like SBW was - simply because he doesn't have the off-field hype and the apologists that come with it. If it were SBW, they'd be pickets all over the NZRU by now.

Yeah, it wasnt a serious suggestion, in fact I think the Blues have made a massive mistake going after Benji. I highly doubt he will even get close to being an AB.
The timing is poor as well because he really should play a few club games and a season of ITM cup before trying to push for a Super Rugby spot. Instead he will be thrown straight into the toughest rugby comp in the world and will force some poor bugger unfairly out of their position because the Blues will want to get value for money from him in the first Super Rugby game of the season.

 

[admartian]

Romano out til November with groin tear
Cruden out for up to 6 weeks with a posterior cruciate ligament injury
Barret out with calf strain, expected back for Argentina on September 7

http://www.allblacks.com/news/23045/All-Blacks-medical-update---Cruden-and-Barrett-out
Yep confirmed.

Come on Colin, this is your chance. He's definitely shown flashes. Hopefully the time off, plus more experience has made him more composed in the Black jersey. The last time I remember him playing he looked like Mark Sanchez (NFL fans inside joke - jittery, uncomposed, and prone to errors).

And Tom Taylor should be alright. He seems the sort to maybe not break the game open for you like the other 10s, but also the sort to not get flustered.

 

[Kiwiwomble]

no one mentioned that Slade will have highlander team mates either side of him...of course he wasthe next best option

 

[Larksea]

well Cruden's injury is 2-6 weeks not a flat 6 weeks

going to make for a very strange championship for all blacks selections

Slade or Taylor this weekend, then Barrett will likely be fit again, then after that Carter should be available for selection again maybe Cruden too. could see 4 different 10's start 4 tests?

no mention if Messam will be fit. I expect if is is then he will start and Luatua could be lock cover on the bench. If thrush was an option surely he would be in the squad? I did see somewhere that maybe he's injured? Personally I'd have Luatua or Luke Whitelock on the bench ahead of thrush.

It's quite a lot of disruption having three players for one position go down one after another. You do have to admire the team > individual nature of the all blacks environment. and it's not just a saying they obviously actually operate that way and not just talk about it. Seems like whoever comes in gets 100% support from the rest of the team. Surely a big factor in the last world cup result as well. I think the critical part of that is the huge experience in the squad and the selfless nature of those guys. McCaw, Carter, Mealamu, Read, Hore, Conrad, Woodcock. I bet ya they drive that and sort out anyone who falls out of line. Can prob class the Franks Brothers and Sam Whitelock in that group as well. Ben Franks doesn't get all the gametime and alloades but I recon he's worth his weight in gold as a squad member. It's without a doubt a legacy of Graham Henry.

 

[ABs2011]

If thrush was an option surely he would be in the squad? I did see somewhere that maybe he's injured? Personally I'd have Luatua or Luke Whitelock on the bench ahead of thrush.

I hadn't heard that, and I watched him play for (and captain) Wellington v Counties on Thursday (and I didn't notice him get an injury in that game). Seems the AB selectors have gone for 6/lock cover in Luatua and L Whitelock but I wouldn't be suprised now if Thrush comes in with Romano now confirmed out for a long period! In fact they will have to bring a specialist lock in now wouldnt they? maybe not for this next game specifically but certainly for the rest of the RC.