Shaggy
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Beyond the A games with Shaggy â€" Pool A qualifiers, New Zealand V Argentina, Sunday 9th October, Eden park, Auckland
Here we go, the knock out stages of the cup, with all of the southern hemisphere sides on one side of the draw, and the other side being made up of northern hemisphere sides.
This is the fourth and final quarter final match of the weekend, so by the time the whistle is blown to start the match, all of the other semi-final teams will be known.
At the time of writing this blog, neither the All Blacks nor the Pumas sides had been named for this match, but as it's the knock out stages, it’s reasonable to expect that the strongest sides possible will have been named.Two names that will obviously be missing from these teams, are the respective vice captains, Dan Carter, and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, who are both out of the tournament due to serious injuries. While both of these players were in great form, and were integral parts of each team, these injuries, while critical to their team's chances of progressing further, may not prove fatal. If the other senior players, step up and support the players called in to replace these players, and take more responsibility of controlling the game, there's no reason why either of these teams couldn't progress through to the finals, and the ultimate prize of winning the rugby world cup.
Both sides have a number of players in good form, and with the game breaking abilities, so we should be able to enjoy the talent on show, and not dwell too much on who isn't playing. The Argentines are a good mix of hard, uncompromising forwards, who will play a physical, confrontational, style of game, and fast, exciting, backs, who can and will run the ball when that option is on. I've really liked the looks of the openside flanker, Leguizamon in this tournament, and Gonzalez Amorosino in the backs, but there are many others that have played well, and one of their strengths is that the team as a whole is playing as a cohesive unit. They will also be match hardened, after playing both England and Scotland during pool play. Key to their chances will be their captain, Felipe Comteponi, as he is the old head/decision maker, in the back line. He has been under an injury cloud with very sore ribs for most of the tournament, and he can probably expect some more discomfort, with maybe Maa Nonu running at him during this match.
New Zealand will probably try to dominate the rucks and mauls, and will launch most of their attacks from there. Their chances very much lie with how they can step up against harder opposition without Dan Carter to direct the play. Colin Slade hasn't looked too bad in this role against weaker opposition, but whether they start him, or shift the more experienced Piri Weepu into the number 10 jersey will be interesting. The All blacks will need the experienced Nonu and Conrad Smith in the centres to take the heat off whoever starts at first five eighth in terms of leadership and running the back line. Whoever starts at halfback should also take more responsibility, all three are experienced, and bring different strengths to the game. All Blacks captain, Ritchie McCaw has been under an injury cloud as well, but needs to play, as the team needs his leadership.
Recently returned number 8, Keiran Read, could also be a force in this match, if he can regain his form from earlier in the year, as could blind side flanker, Jerome Kaino, who has been in very good form during this tournament. In the backs, aside from those already mentioned, Israel Dagg has been outstanding and should be named either at full back, or on the wing. All of the players used in the back three so far have been playing well, so it's hard to predict who will be selected. New Zealand has history behind them, with the Pumas yet to record a win against them, despite coming close on a few occasions. The Pumas have a very good recent world cup form, having finished third in the last one.
I predict a closely contested game, but I think the All Blacks will come away with the win in the later stages of the match, with a margin of maybe 12 â€" 18 points.
Beyond the A games with Shaggy â€" Pool A qualifiers, New Zealand V Argentina, Sunday 9th October, Eden park, Auckland
Here we go, the knock out stages of the cup, with all of the southern hemisphere sides on one side of the draw, and the other side being made up of northern hemisphere sides.
This is the fourth and final quarter final match of the weekend, so by the time the whistle is blown to start the match, all of the other semi-final teams will be known.
At the time of writing this blog, neither the All Blacks nor the Pumas sides had been named for this match, but as it's the knock out stages, it’s reasonable to expect that the strongest sides possible will have been named.Two names that will obviously be missing from these teams, are the respective vice captains, Dan Carter, and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, who are both out of the tournament due to serious injuries. While both of these players were in great form, and were integral parts of each team, these injuries, while critical to their team's chances of progressing further, may not prove fatal. If the other senior players, step up and support the players called in to replace these players, and take more responsibility of controlling the game, there's no reason why either of these teams couldn't progress through to the finals, and the ultimate prize of winning the rugby world cup.
Both sides have a number of players in good form, and with the game breaking abilities, so we should be able to enjoy the talent on show, and not dwell too much on who isn't playing. The Argentines are a good mix of hard, uncompromising forwards, who will play a physical, confrontational, style of game, and fast, exciting, backs, who can and will run the ball when that option is on. I've really liked the looks of the openside flanker, Leguizamon in this tournament, and Gonzalez Amorosino in the backs, but there are many others that have played well, and one of their strengths is that the team as a whole is playing as a cohesive unit. They will also be match hardened, after playing both England and Scotland during pool play. Key to their chances will be their captain, Felipe Comteponi, as he is the old head/decision maker, in the back line. He has been under an injury cloud with very sore ribs for most of the tournament, and he can probably expect some more discomfort, with maybe Maa Nonu running at him during this match.
New Zealand will probably try to dominate the rucks and mauls, and will launch most of their attacks from there. Their chances very much lie with how they can step up against harder opposition without Dan Carter to direct the play. Colin Slade hasn't looked too bad in this role against weaker opposition, but whether they start him, or shift the more experienced Piri Weepu into the number 10 jersey will be interesting. The All blacks will need the experienced Nonu and Conrad Smith in the centres to take the heat off whoever starts at first five eighth in terms of leadership and running the back line. Whoever starts at halfback should also take more responsibility, all three are experienced, and bring different strengths to the game. All Blacks captain, Ritchie McCaw has been under an injury cloud as well, but needs to play, as the team needs his leadership.
Recently returned number 8, Keiran Read, could also be a force in this match, if he can regain his form from earlier in the year, as could blind side flanker, Jerome Kaino, who has been in very good form during this tournament. In the backs, aside from those already mentioned, Israel Dagg has been outstanding and should be named either at full back, or on the wing. All of the players used in the back three so far have been playing well, so it's hard to predict who will be selected. New Zealand has history behind them, with the Pumas yet to record a win against them, despite coming close on a few occasions. The Pumas have a very good recent world cup form, having finished third in the last one.
I predict a closely contested game, but I think the All Blacks will come away with the win in the later stages of the match, with a margin of maybe 12 â€" 18 points.
