All Blacks vs Springboks, July 10th 2010

[Dizzy]

Are you sure, he wasn't included in the Tri Nations squad named.

lol bro, fortunately he must NOT be back lmao

 

[Darwin]

I know Carter's running game is second to none, but I mean his goal-kicking has been poor for a while. Seriously, I'd love to see his kicking stats that aren't in front of the poles. I'm also not saying he's a bad goal-kicker, it's just that he's not kicking as well as he used to - he went through a stage where he couldn't miss.

Mainly though, the kicking for goal will probably be the crucial factor, and this is why I think the Boks will win. Yes, I know what Carter has done before, but when he has a kick from the touchline, most people (and don't lie to yourself) are thinking "Nah I don't think he'll make it". If you don't believe me, you'll see what I mean. I paid huge attention to his kicking during the S14 and he almost missed everything that wasn't right infront. Like his conversion he missed in over-time which lost the Crusaders the game - I can't remember who it was against. And the kick was really not that hard.

Morne on the other hand has had his fair share of pressure-filled kicks. You normally expect him to make anything and he is much stronger mentally, as he can quickly put a bad kick behind him.

Though Carter didn't kick at his best during the super 14 (kicked at 72%, Steyn was at 78%), he has been outstanding for the AB's this year - he's currently kicking at 88% (22/25). These have included a number of kicks from the touchline - I don't think South Africa has any advantage at all when it comes to goal kicking.

 

[Jake Heke]

^ maybe just a little bit, but nothing to talk about.

 

[Darwin]

ABs named: (http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/3888564/All-Blacks-name-team-to-play-Springboks)

Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino, Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Sam Whitelock, Liam Messam, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Richard Kahui.


A predictable starting lineup. Messem's inclusion on the bench is a surprise - I'm assuming Vito hasn't fully recovered from his calf injury.

Apparently the SA team naming has been delayed until Thursday, as both Bakkies Botha and Rossouw are under injury clouds.

 

[Jake Heke]

^ So Daggs still injured?

 

[Darwin]

^ So Daggs still injured?

Don't think so - they were saying a few days ago that, apart from Vito, they had a fully fit squad.

 

[Jake Heke]

Interesting... ill assume that he is, since there can't be any other reason why hes not in the squad.

 

[Darwin]

Interesting... ill assume that he is, since there can't be any other reason why hes not in the squad.

Mils is clearly still rated by the AB coaches as their number 1 fullback (which I agree with). They want someone to cover centre and wing on the bench, so Kahui and Ranger are competing for that spot, meaning there is no room for Dagg in the 22.

 

[havingaball2011]

Mils is clearly still rated by the AB coaches as their number 1 fullback (which I agree with). They want someone to cover centre and wing on the bench, so Kahui and Ranger are competing for that spot, meaning there is no room for Dagg in the 22.

I agree with your description - but it is a frustration as a HB Magpies supporter to watch Magpie Dagg arrive in the AB's resulting in Magpie Guildford being moved to the bench then dropped altogether and then Dagg is not picked/available leaving both on the outer having done little wrong.

 

[nickdnz]

I know Carter's running game is second to none, but I mean his goal-kicking has been poor for a while. Seriously, I'd love to see his kicking stats that aren't in front of the poles. I'm also not saying he's a bad goal-kicker, it's just that he's not kicking as well as he used to - he went through a stage where he couldn't miss.

I also rate all of those guys you mentioned except Brad Thorn. He's a strong scrummager but that's where it ends. And rating him higher then Bakkies Botha is very, very disturbing. I think Bakkies has done more then enough to earn his rep, yet this guy has sucked for a good while and has only just hit a bit of form and all of a sudden he's better then Bakkies Botha? You even said so yourself, you hated Brad Thorn. Has anyone ever hated Bakkies Botha? Sure, we might get mad at him when he gives away penalties too often, but his general talent makes him a far better lock then Thorn can ever hope to be.

Also, if BJ Botha starts and Gurthro keeps up his very uncharactersistic good form, our scrum will be much better then last year. Although if over-rated Tendai starts then I do expect the Boks to get destroyed at scrum time.

New Zealand also would have greatly bennifited from Hosea Gear. He's the type of player South Africans battle against. A guy like Rockococo, despite being a good player, is a bit er......been there done that. He's like Lomu, a great player, but Lomu didn't ever score a try against the Boks.This is because us Saffas don't fear physicality, we fear electric speed. This is very obvious as it is normally the players with more speed that do damage to the Boks then the big strong guys - not that Joe is slow though.

The AB's biggest strength is their backs, but the Springbok defence is looking resolute. All the backs barring Januarie and Kirchner are decent defenders - Morne Steyn has greatly improved his tackling. If Jean de Villiers and Jaques Fourie are the centre combo the ABs won't be given many line-breaks. The best shot would be for Cowan to take advantage of Januarie's slowness.

Mainly though, the kicking for goal will probably be the crucial factor, and this is why I think the Boks will win. Yes, I know what Carter has done before, but when he has a kick from the touchline, most people (and don't lie to yourself) are thinking "Nah I don't think he'll make it". If you don't believe me, you'll see what I mean. I paid huge attention to his kicking during the S14 and he almost missed everything that wasn't right infront. Like his conversion he missed in over-time which lost the Crusaders the game - I can't remember who it was against. And the kick was really not that hard.

Morne on the other hand has had his fair share of pressure-filled kicks. You normally expect him to make anything and he is much stronger mentally, as he can quickly put a bad kick behind him.

I've never hated Brad Thorn, I said I didn't like Kieren Ried, I think Thorn has been the best international lock besides Matfield (and for a small part Paul O'Connel) for the last two seasons. He has a great work rate and is a fierce tackler, his only slight fault is that he is not really tall enough to be a great line out jumper. He is the strongest All Black in terms of upper body weight and is also the fittest forward. So yes, I think he's better than Bukkies, who in my opinion has lived of Matfield's success for the last 3-4 years, and offers physicality in the ruck as his only real attribute, something which Thorn does best anyway. They are too similar players, the main thing that seperates them is how high South Africa rates Bukkies over Thorn.

Daniel Carter had a bad S14. No one is denying that. But now he's back to best, so I would not expect him to miss. Joe Rokocoko seems to be great off the pitch, but on it he seems a little hesitant. He's still the fastest All Black according to speed trials, but he just seems to pause a little bit during the game. Hosea Gear would be very good against any international team, but Henry doesn't seem to care too much about that.

Our arrogance is going to be our undoing... I'm feeling a whopping coming.

Haha, well I would be lying if I said South Africa coming last in the Tri Nations wouldn't make me very happy, but in fairness South Africa have a bunch of very good players and are peaking. Like you, I tend to feel that even if you are confident of a win, it is better to say you back the team you support, but leave it there, rather than talk ones team up. The higher they are talked up, often the bigger the fall.

 

[SpanishBob]

Muliaina is the natural 15 for the All Blacks, no doubt (for now). But he wasn't that brilliant against Wales two weeks ago. I think he shouldn't be there against Springboks; perhaps too early to expect him at his beast. Until then, Dagg has proven to be a perfect substitute.

Besides, Nonu is one of my favourite players, but he's been out of the field for too long; A tough game to be back, maybe too much.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Tough call. Since its in NZ I guess NZ are the favourites but its almost as if our sides have started touring better and better over the last 2 to 3 years. If Fourie du Preez was there I would have backed SA for the win but as it stands I wouldn't be surprised if we fell short on the first test.

SA to lose the first one and then go on to win their 5 other Tri-Nations tests for the ***le! Oh, just had a look at the All Blacks squad. Feeling a bit more confident seeing Muliaina and Nonu are there ahead of Dagg and Stanley TBH. Boks by 2 with Januarie the only real weak link in the probable Bok squad. Hugely important position to give away an advantage, though.. Damn, I've lost my confidence again.

 

[SavageLez]

That's not nice, as long as the SH are dominating rugby I am happy!
New Zealand have home ground advantage and are really keen on getting revenge on SA as skipper McCaw has been saying all week! History say's NZ should win, that with home ground advantage NZ would have walked it if they picked their best side. SA are at their weakest with critical injuries to Fourie Du Preez and Bismaark Du Plessis and the ghosting of Frans Steyn. SA are there for the taking! I can't believe they can't find room for Dagg or Kahui. NZ should have given them a go to see how they do against SA as a practice for next years world cup! It might work in SA 's favour that Nonu, Smith and Muliana are playing after long breaks (injuries). Rokocoko, has been out of form and it is time that he repays the AB coaches for his selection. On the other hand, it does make sense to bring in some experience I suppose.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

That's not nice, as long as the SH are dominating rugby I am happy!

Odd thing for a proud Scotsman to say!

 

[Jer1cho]

This guy is a marked man it seems. HAHA. You make the bed you sleep in...

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Odd thing for a proud Scotsman to say!

Hell of a spot!

Aahaha!

He is not safe whatever he posts now :lol:

 

[Kieron]

I don't see the AB performing this Tri Nations... Unless the Boks play their second string team!!! If both teams are full strength, I say 27-12 for the Boks

Everybody's bad mouthing Jannuarie... He gets under the opposition's fingernails and that causes them to make unforced errors....

My posts count going down??? That is weird...

 

[SpanishBob]

That's not nice, as long as the SH are dominating rugby I am happy!
New Zealand have home ground advantage and are really keen on getting revenge on SA as skipper McCaw has been saying all week! History say's NZ should win, that with home ground advantage NZ would have walked it if they picked their best side. SA are at their weakest with critical injuries to Fourie Du Preez and Bismaark Du Plessis and the ghosting of Frans Steyn. SA are there for the taking! I can't believe they can't find room for Dagg or Kahui. NZ should have given them a go to see how they do against SA as a practice for next years world cup! It might work in SA 's favour that Nonu, Smith and Muliana are playing after long breaks (injuries). Rokocoko, has been out of form and it is time that he repays the AB coaches for his selection. On the other hand, it does make sense to bring in some experience I suppose.

¿Rokocoko out of form? Nine tries in Super 14 says the opposite. Perhaps ther are more atractive alternatives, but I don't think he is out of form at all.
Dagg and Kahui deserves room, no doubt, but Henry doesn't need to test them with the WC in mind I'm afraid. I'm sure that if nothing strange happens Nonu and Muliaina are the first option in their respective positions for the WC.

 

[User1245]

SA ready for 'irritated' NZ

Auckland - John Smit says his Springboks are braced for an "irritated" All Blacks team in the Tri-Nations opener at Eden Park on Saturday.

The touring skipper believes South Africa's whitewash of the All Blacks over three Tests last year will have New Zealand primed for revenge.

Smit fronted a large media gathering in Auckland on Tuesday where he left little doubt about the challenge he felt his side faced in defending their Tri-Nations ***le this season, especially in a campaign they open in New Zealand with back-to-back Tests in Auckland and Wellington.

"The All Blacks are going to be as competitive as they were last year, if not more so because of the fact that they didn't win it last year," Smit said.

"They are the team that has won the Tri-Nations the most out of all three of us. Not winning it really irritates them.

"I'm pretty sure they are going to rock up pretty worked up and ready to go on Saturday."

The Springboks have not beaten the All Blacks at Eden Park since 1937 and the last home defeat for New Zealand there was in 1994 against France.

Smit said that history wasn't lost on his team.

"It's a tough place to play rugby against a tough team," he said of Eden Park.

Asked how his side could make their own history there, he said: "You try and come with the best you have got and you certainly try to stick to your strengths. If you can do that and manage to get a few things right … that hasn't been done for a long time because it is such a big challenge. So we are certainly up against it on Saturday."

The fact that Eden Park would be the World Cup headquarters next year when the Boks defend their world ***le had little relevance to this test, according to Smit who refused to be drawn into the psychological benefits of winning there after victories in Dunedin and Hamilton over the previous two years.

"It's important for us to succeed in every test," he emphasised with the Boks operating under an expectancy that perhaps only the All Blacks can understand.

"For us to get too wrapped up in the World Cup now would be a bit foolish. We have a three-week campaign that takes us halfway through the Tri-Nations and they are three important games because we haven't had much success in Brisbane (against Australia) either.

"It will be the lessons learnt that will help us towards the next World Cup."

He had watched the June tests in New Zealand and Australia with interest as the All Blacks and Wallabies tuned up but read little into them as far as what their impact on the Tri-Nations might be.

"It's hard to judge where teams are at this early in the year – time will tell. It's always a challenge coming here and you can see that by how seldom we have been able to achieve a result.

"So it's nice to come here and have two cracks in a row. But it's only really nice if you are able to get success on the road

The Tri-Nations was about maintenance and improvement along the way whether you were winning or losing.

"Any one of the three teams can lose on any weekend and that's what makes it such a challenging tournament. You have to try and make a statement every single weekend."

Source

 

[SavageLez]

Odd thing for a proud Scotsman to say!

Not odd at all mate, go read my threads. Of my top 4 teams 3 of them are SH teams!
Oh, and watch out - Bullitt may kick you off, you are not following the topic!!!!