RWC: New Zealand - Japan (16-09-2011)

[Larksea]

potential lineup after injuries???

1, Woody
2, Mealamu
3, O Franks
4, Thorn
5, Whitelock
6, Kaino
7, Thompson
8, Vito
9, Elis
10, Slade
11, Kahui
12, nonu
13, Smith
14, Jane
15, Toeava

Reserves: Andrew Hore, John Afoa, Ali Williams, Anthony Boric, Piri Weepu, Jimmy Cowan , Sonny Bill Williams

I'm in shock.....

EDIT: Stuff.co.nz just says: "Injuries force All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, Mils Muliaina and Israel Dagg out ... More soon"

as a breaking news headline...

 

[Dizzy]

there is a bit of an eerie feeling going on now as to whether this was a premeditated decision. The coaches wanted everyone to think they were going to settle with their best all tournament but they always planned to rotate their players, isn't it ironic that the cemented and safe positions of Nonu and Smith never get put out for injury??..

Especially after seeing the South Africans "REST" their (FAKE) injured key players, I'd say Henry thinks it wise to rest McCaw and Carter in this match and give Toeava another shot against Japan because the race is between Dagg and Mils

 

[Larksea]

from stuff.co.nz now

"All Blacks Doctor Deb Robinson said McCaw, who was due to play his 100th test against Japan, had suffered a minor calf strain in his left leg, Muliaina had a tight right hamstring and Dagg had a right abdominal strain.
"It was a bad day at the office as far as injuries are concerned but the good news is that all the injuries are not serious," Robinson said."

All Blacks will be as predicted in my above post with Vito starting at 8, Thompson at 7 and Toeava at 15 with Boric Coming onto the bench to take Vito's spot.

 

[Shaggy]

Confirmed on NZ's radio sport site

http://www.radiosport.co.nz/SportsNews/sprug/Detail.aspx?id=204768t


Toeava is at full back, Thomson to open side, Mealamu captain ...

 

[donmcdazzle]

there is a bit of an eerie feeling going on now as to whether this was a premeditated decision. The coaches wanted everyone to think they were going to settle with their best all tournament but they always planned to rotate their players, isn't it ironic that the cemented and safe positions of Nonu and Smith never get put out for injury??..

Especially after seeing the South Africans "REST" their (FAKE) injured key players, I'd say Henry thinks it wise to rest McCaw and Carter in this match and give Toeava another shot against Japan because the race is between Dagg and Mils

How is Mils meant to win the race if he isn't going to play? Bit of a conspiracy theory I can't see them making the big elaborate plan just so the public don;t complain about rotation; I hardly think armchair critics affect their decision making

 

[Dizzy]

How is Mils meant to win the race if he isn't going to play? Bit of a conspiracy theory I can't see them making the big elaborate plan just so the public don;t complain about rotation; I hardly think armchair critics affect their decision making

Well considering there is still France and Canada to play, that's how!.. Play Mils against France and Idk, Maybe give both a half each in the Canadian game.. It's just really eerie how these guys get injured frequently and not the Nonu's or the Franks brothers, etc, especially when they are up against an opponent they can experiment with. I bet if we were playing Aus tomorrow night, McCaw would play out his tight calf, without a doubt.

 

[Larksea]

I don't see a conspiracy theory here either. For one Mills really needed to play this game and it means he will have to come in to play France undercooked he really needed the run, two I don't see why they would pick McCaw and hype his 100th game up so hard only to pull him out if it was not 100% legit.

This does hurt the AB's buildup, worst case scenario with Carter, McCaw and Mills - Three of the AB's most experienced and most important players under injury clouds.

 

[Dizzy]

Well if you think about it, maybe they built up the 100th game hype so that the injury was more believable, the 100th cap doesn't cloud the fact that if McCaw does fall, we need a safe backup and at the moment, Thompson is not producing so he needs more game time. In the grander scheme of things, the safety of backup if things do go wrong means more than his 100th cap.

Could be true with Mils, but I still think Toeava was meant to be given another chance, Henry knows that Mils is safe back there and is going to be needed in the big games,.. besides the fact that Henry has a special bond with Toeava, against a weaker side like Japan, he can afford to test players one more time before we take on France, heck, even against France he could test his squad, it's not like we aren't going to make the playoffs, It's going to be interesting to see how many first line players are injured during the knock out stages.

 

[Larksea]

I think the injuries are genuine just not the sort of injuries that would keep these guys from playing if it was the french game or the knock out stages.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

can't wait to see the tui billboard for this

minor calf strain... yeah right

also carter has back stiffness.. c'mon

this reeks of graham henry rotation policy

 

[sigesige00]

Japan's mission is to finish 3rd by beating Canada and Tonga. Japan's coach openly accepts that Japan has no chance against New Zealand/Aotearoa.
My prediction: Japan 13-70 NZ

 

[Dizzy]

can't wait to see the tui billboard for this

minor calf strain... yeah right

also carter has back stiffness.. c'mon

this reeks of graham henry rotation policy

As a proud Kiwi, I hate that I have to agree with you!...

That tui billboard is a good one. It'd sound hypocritical of me if I defended this but I had an absolute ball laughing at the Springboks Tri Nations "Injuries"... this is a perfect reflection of that.

 

[Darwin]

The injuries are very unfortunate - McCaw needs all the game time he can get, and I was hoping Muliaina was really going to step up this game under the pressure of Dagg. The only good thing about the injuries is that we get to see Toeava at fullback, which is by far his best position in my opinion. I expect he will feel a lot more confident at fullback, and hopefully we will see his Super Rugby form transferred to test level.

 

[james5000]

there is a bit of an eerie feeling going on now as to whether this was a premeditated decision. The coaches wanted everyone to think they were going to settle with their best all tournament but they always planned to rotate their players, isn't it ironic that the cemented and safe positions of Nonu and Smith never get put out for injury??..

Especially after seeing the South Africans "REST" their (FAKE) injured key players, I'd say Henry thinks it wise to rest McCaw and Carter in this match and give Toeava another shot against Japan because the race is between Dagg and Mils

I think most of what you say is bang on
Bar the Muliiana injury which i think is probably genuine, i believe this is Graham Henry doing his version of a Pete Divvy.

The man has got dementia i am sure of it, says one thing does the opposite. He thinks he didn't F@#k up last time, he better hope it don't happen again.
I must admit i haven't got over his last failure, he promised so much and delivered the worst world cup performance i hope we ever have.

That French team was s@$t, and he managed to lose to it with such a powerful squad. A 10 year old could have coached them to a higher position, he honestly couldn't have possibly failed worse then he did.

Why the hell does he continue with his retarded policy????

 

[ExcaLiBuR]

To be honest I think the AB should be playing every game with a full strength team, opening night because its a great honor and should be awarded to the best players. Then Japan it should be a full strength team because they play France next, they need to have game time together just before a HUGE test, not come together just before the most important text against the team that has knocked them out of RWC 2 times. Then you have Canada game after which is just before the quarter finals, you should have more practise, I understand if rest 1-2 stars on that game because they played against France but not mix and match every game like Graham has been doing.

Look at the Aussies, we always play our stars, no matter what, if we get an injury eg. Ioane we deal with it and figure it out now before its to late. You cant with a RWC with just 1-2 players its a team, and if Dan carter gets injured, which he wiill not, he hasnt for a long time, well if u cant win a world cup because 1 player gets injured then you shouldnt win. Just play rugby with the best teams and win.

I hope you understand my point I typed it up without thinking if it made sense haha. I hope AB do well and make it to the final so us aussies can kick you out in style

 

[james5000]

To be honest I think the AB should be playing every game with a full strength team, opening night because its a great honor and should be awarded to the best players. Then Japan it should be a full strength team because they play France next, they need to have game time together just before a HUGE test, not come together just before the most important text against the team that has knocked them out of RWC 2 times. Then you have Canada game after which is just before the quarter finals, you should have more practise, I understand if rest 1-2 stars on that game because they played against France but not mix and match every game like Graham has been doing.

Look at the Aussies, we always play our stars, no matter what, if we get an injury eg. Ioane we deal with it and figure it out now before its to late. You cant with a RWC with just 1-2 players its a team, and if Dan carter gets injured, which he wiill not, he hasnt for a long time, well if u cant win a world cup because 1 player gets injured then you shouldnt win. Just play rugby with the best teams and win.

I hope you understand my point I typed it up without thinking if it made sense haha. I hope AB do well and make it to the final so us aussies can kick you out in style

I agree, and I hope that we make the final with you aussies so we can knock you out in style

 

[Black Heart]

The injuries are very unfortunate - McCaw needs all the game time he can get, and I was hoping Muliaina was really going to step up this game under the pressure of Dagg. The only good thing about the injuries is that we get to see Toeava at fullback, which is by far his best position in my opinion. I expect he will feel a lot more confident at fullback, and hopefully we will see his Super Rugby form transferred to test level.

I smell an undercover rotation policy. <_<

 

[Black Heart]

I hope you understand my point I typed it up without thinking if it made sense haha. I hope AB do well and make it to the final so us aussies can kick you out in style

I hope Australia make the final as well. It will be nice to give Quade Cooper a welcome home party at Eden Park.

He enjoyed his stay last time. I remember.

 

[Icemn]

The injuries are very unfortunate - McCaw needs all the game time he can get, and I was hoping Muliaina was really going to step up this game under the pressure of Dagg. The only good thing about the injuries is that we get to see Toeava at fullback, which is by far his best position in my opinion. I expect he will feel a lot more confident at fullback, and hopefully we will see his Super Rugby form transferred to test level.

i agree, i can't see why GH would rest players and create a conspiracy theory... I feel he is afraid to risk more serious injuries to these players if he played them... and he is right... it is Japan and he can afford to rest players.... but it doesn't do any good to the team as it breaks momentum.... Toeava gets a second chance at fullback... i can't wait!!! its gonna be a screamer!! i think Slade is gonna have a good game as well.....

 

[Icemn]

To be honest I think the AB should be playing every game with a full strength team, opening night because its a great honor and should be awarded to the best players. Then Japan it should be a full strength team because they play France next, they need to have game time together just before a HUGE test, not come together just before the most important text against the team that has knocked them out of RWC 2 times. Then you have Canada game after which is just before the quarter finals, you should have more practise, I understand if rest 1-2 stars on that game because they played against France but not mix and match every game like Graham has been doing.

Look at the Aussies, we always play our stars, no matter what, if we get an injury eg. Ioane we deal with it and figure it out now before its to late. You cant with a RWC with just 1-2 players its a team, and if Dan carter gets injured, which he wiill not, he hasnt for a long time, well if u cant win a world cup because 1 player gets injured then you shouldnt win. Just play rugby with the best teams and win.

I hope you understand my point I typed it up without thinking if it made sense haha. I hope AB do well and make it to the final so us aussies can kick you out in style

i have been saying this the whole time... henry himself has said the very same thing 2 weeks ago, as this is the reason why they went out in prev world cups.... that is why i feel the AB will not win this wc because they are doing the same thing again and rotate players... where as Aus is sticking to their guns... that is why you won the tri-nations aswell... if the AB can stick to 1 team and let them build momentum no-one will stop them....