RWC: All Blacks - Canada (02-10-2011, 15:30)

[rusty_lock]

1) Buydens
2) Hamilton
3) Marshall
4) Sinclair
5) Cudmore (need some experience)
6) Kleeberger
7) O'Toole
8) Carpenter

9) White
10) Monro
11) Mackenzie
12) Trainor
13) DTH
14) Paris
15) Evans

16) Riordan
17) Tiedemann
18) Hotson
19) Kyne
20) J. Mackenzie
21) Hirayama
22) Hearn

Think a team like that should play the AB's?

Yeah something like that. However, I would get Hotson on early, like maybe half time and have him replace Sinclair at lock. If any of the loosies aren't going right slot Sinclair in there and let him finish from there.

 

[rusty_lock]

We are being screwed again with another short turn around. I hope we can keep it under a 50 point spread and leave the field with some dignity.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

140-6....

the Boks, (out of all the teams) are the holders of the highest winning margin so far... but that was against Namibia... I think the AB can do much better playing their weakest team in their group...

Ahhh, Get ready for a big disappointment if this is what you expect.

 

[Icemn]

Only thing counting against Canada here as against all the 'lower tier' nations is the short turn-around time. IRB should get this notion of 'lower tiers' out of their planning IMO.

Funny no-one was complaining when Namibia had a short turnaround time against you...

as I was saying... i don't care how good Canada is compared to Japan compared to who-ever.... if NZ plays the same team that played against france... its tickets... cuz the build gained momentum.... if the same team played against Japan that played Tonga... the score would have been beter/higher... cuz of momentum... but GH was busy testing combinations etc

so its not a case of Canada being beter than Tonga... ist about the AB gaining momentum....

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Funny no-one was complaining when Namibia had a short turnaround time against you...

as I was saying... i don't care how good Canada is compared to Japan compared to who-ever.... if NZ plays the same team that played against france... its tickets... cuz the build gained momentum.... if the same team played against Japan that played Tonga... the score would have been beter/higher... cuz of momentum... but GH was busy testing combinations etc

so its not a case of Canada being beter than Tonga... ist about the AB gaining momentum....

Erm, Namibia had 8 days between playing Samoa (14th) and us (22nd)...

The rest of your post just seems very dismissive and arrogant and though I do agree that NZ will in all probanility beat Canada and beat them well on the scoreboard I would suggest that Canada are a better team than you might think and will put up more of a fight than you might think despite having little time to recover. Not screwed over as much as Samoa though; they are probably the guys with the most to complain about RE rest time.

Edit; you'll see a lot of people complaining about the short rest periods by more minor teams ahead of games that they possibly could have targeted for an upset. Myself included. And across all pools. IMO it is the only negative about this RWC so far and something the IRb needs to address to allow for greater consistency. IE I wasn't trying to take a cheap-shot at the AB's; it's simple fact and something to consider in predicting the scoreline.

 

[UilamOsa]

It seems as if a lot of people are underestimating Canada. They've proven they're the third best team in the pool and (should) have automatic qualification for the next RWC. Finishing in the top twelve isn't that bad for a tier two side.

I wouldn't say underestimate - they've more than earnt their respect. And if the AB's play their full strength team (barring injuries), then that's an indicator of the respect they'll be shown.

AB's wont be too happy with their overrall game against France, looking to be a scrappy game first up, but the AB's will put accelerator down - I'm expecting at the very least an 80 point minimum. Anything less - i'd be disappointed.

Just for these reasons:

The time for finetuning any gameplans should be at an end for the AB's (much like SA & Ireland). They will want to draw a line in the sand both defensively and in their forwards.

Whereas the lower tier teams over the past week have dropped off at about the 60 min mark - I'm thinking with the pace the AB's will want to set, it'll come earlier and off the back of that - they'll throw punches (tries) in bunches. Much like the french performance.



Then again I'm probably wrong and will have again set my expectations too high.

 

[Canucks]

After yestderdays performance I feel Canada starts the strongest team (including old guys) and brings the subs on early.
This is the start of a long 4 year development cycle, but to start that you've gotta have a measure of pride in your squad and giving Cudmore, Monro, Pritchard, Riordan and Smith an appropriate goodbye is fitting. I doubt any of them will be at the next world cup. We've got a tough slog ahead of us with the more difficult opposition we now get in the November tests.
I would love for the end of the game to be pretty much all the young players that will be here for the next 2 world cups. We are going to thrashed, probably badly, but it will be huge for development with our younger players. This game will probably be standard to which they hold themselves to for the next years. Just need to get guys like Trainor, Evans, Kleeberger, Marshall and White some contracts playing against top class competition.
It will be great for DTH to go against some of the best centers in the world to see the standard to which he needs to improve too. I think Glasgow will give him a look at 13 this season. He's got the speed, tackling ability and power to end up being a top class player at the position, he just needs to play it regularily.
I hope the ABs play they're best team and go for blood. We can't get better unless we play teams that are better and the ABs are the best right now. I don't think it will be over the 100s, but depending on how tired Canada gets, it could reach the 80s with a lot of tries scored in the last 20 minutes.

 

[Dizzy]

Halve that and you'll be closer to the mark. I also expect Canada to score more than 6.

Also, NZ have had their chances; Tonga and Japan < Canada

Only thing counting against Canada here as against all the 'lower tier' nations is the short turn-around time. IRB should get this notion of 'lower tiers' out of their planning IMO.

Well we put 83 on Japan, and Canada just drew with Japan even though I feel Japan deserved the victory, and I feel the All Blacks could've put more on the Japs, so I'm going to say, the tournaments first 100

 

[TRF_Olyy]

No chance it'll be 100+, imo

I expect a similar scoreline to the Japan game

 

[Dizzy]

which was only 17 points away from 100 was it not?.. That's only two more tries and one more penalty.

 

[LittleGuy]

which was only 17 points away from 100 was it not?.. That's only two more tries and one more penalty.

That was a terrible Japanese sqaud not their first XV, it really depends what kind of side Canada is going to put out on the field.

 

[Dizzy]

That was a terrible Japanese sqaud not their first XV, it really depends what kind of side Canada is going to put out on the field.

True, I will slip back to 70pts

 

[LittleGuy]

True, I will slip back to 70pts

I can see that happening, I'm thinking myself 55-60 but maybe I am being a homer.

 

[CDN_Rugby]

I can see that happening, I'm thinking myself 55-60 but maybe I am being a homer.

Last time these two teams met, the AB's won 64-13 in a warmup match before the 2007 RWC. Suffice to say that Canada is a better team now than they were then, but I'm not sure about the AB's. Prior to the 2007 RWC they were on quite the roll.

I think this game will be closer than most people think. If Crowley puts forth the best possible XV (and NZ rests some key players), I think NZ by 40-50 is realistic.

 

[Dizzy]

The difference between 07 and now is that the game has evolved and one of the major differences between the AB's and Canucks is that the AB's have adapted to the modern game better than anyone[arguably] at the moment, so comparing our form back in 07 to now, is irrelevant.

 

[formerlyfastwing]

I think Canada needs to field the best team they can that is under 30. The next 4 year cycle leading to 2015 begins tomorrow morning.

\

THIS.....and nothing more.....let the young guys find out what the best at this level are like, that way they know what they have ahead of them......sit, ed, smith, cudmore, and prichard.....

 

[Canucks]

The difference between 07 and now is that the game has evolved and one of the major differences between the AB's and Canucks is that the AB's have adapted to the modern game better than anyone[arguably] at the moment, so comparing our form back in 07 to now, is irrelevant.

I like New Zealand and I think they are amazing for growing the game of rugby. There is no side that plays like them and they are the best team in the world. I even
own an All Blacks jersey that I bought back in 2002.

Now that being said, I have heard that "best at modern rugby" phrase before 2003 and before 2007. Doesn't mean it isn't true, but you can make the comparision. Depening on who Canada plays and who New Zealand sits, we could see 55-60 with Canada popping in a try or 80-90 against Canada 2nd string (which includes a kid at 18 years old.) It all depends who plays. Please be realistic about this and stop belittling your opposition. It only makes you look bad.
I knew plenty of very nice but very arrogant Kiwis who rubbed it in my face last time these 2 teams played in the World Cup. I can't say I didn't enjoy speaking about what happened later in that tournament.

Being overconfident about a sports team that your not apart of only comes back to bite you in the ass later on.

 

[Darwin]

The margin of victory itself is largely irrelevant to me (and I'm sure the AB's coaches). The most important things for me (apart from obviously winning):

-Giving Kieran Read 50-60 mins of game time.
-Giving the preferred starting halfback (hopefully Weepu) more time with Carter
-Not getting any injuries
-Continue building combination in the rest of the team

If they can do those things I don't think they will be too worried if they win by 30 points or 100 points. Indeed if Canada play superb rugby and the AB's only win by 30 points I'm sure they will be more happy than if Canada play horrible rugby and the AB's win by 100 points!

Oh, and I found out why Victor Vito can't make the 22 - he can't even tackle kids (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby-wor..._id=1503158&gal_cid=1503158&gallery_id=121783)

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Man, that is one of the coolest things I have ever seen, truly... I can imagine my kid running past my big hero Kankowski... It would make me so proud haha

 

[james5000]

I'd be happy with a 60point margin, i'd be even happier if Canada get 0. We need to keep improving our defence and hopefully don't allow any penalty opportunities.