RWC Semi Final: New Zealand - Australia (16-10-2011, 21:00)

[RedCard]

I think NZ to just about pull off the win. I reckon this could be bit off a wobble for them as the pressure builds and I know playing Oz adds to that pressure. 60/40 in favour of NZ.

 

[Icemn]

I don't think Cooper did himself any favours by hitting McCaw in that final... in fact, if the Eden Park Fans get any hint/indication that Cooper is about to receive ball... they will start to "BOO".... and this will continue until he passes or give ball away.... so expect one nervous Cooper this weekend AUS might as well not play him... well i'll be "BOOING" infront of the tv here in Cape Town... I have to contribute

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

vBookie All Blacks - Wallabies

vBookie added for the SH clash

 

[Tricia McMillan]

vBookie added for the SH clash

Interesting odds. I kind of figured we would be favored in this match, but I thought it would be more narrow odds than that. I'll have to check the spread and money lines on the game too.

 

[Tricia McMillan]

The betting spread is New Zealand by 7, paying at $1.92. To not cover the spread is $1.98. Money lines are $1.38 for New Zealand and $3.33 for Australia.

 

[Darwin]

It isn't relevant. In the same way that the Wallaby stats aren't relevant because both are no reflection on how well or how poorly an individual played - this was why I mentioned Cruden. The fact that Donald's record against Wallabies looks good is more relative to how poor Australian rugby has been over the last 4 years or so.

Anyway, that original comment was just a mild joke. I wasn't expecting anyone to take it literally (although it wouldn't surprise me if it turned out to be true)

It is really hard to tell whether people are joking about Donald or not - I'd suggest 50% of people I talk to are absolutely convinced that the AB's will lose if Donald comes onto the field (which is clearly not the case)! A good 'tip for young players' is that if you are going to make a joke use a 'smiley', as it is often impossible to determine if someone is joking or not from text alone.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I just take the odds off Bwin.

 

[james5000]

The closer we get to the game, the more confident I am getting.

A lot of talk has been made about our injuries at 10, but Cruden is the man for the occasion.

He may be small but you know the saying, it's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.
Cruden is a damn warrior, he fought testicular cancer and won, then a year later he captained and starred in the Junior World Cup.
That says enough about his fighting spirit to me!!! He is the stone cold nuts(nut). Forget Dan Carter, he might as well go and earn some big bucks in France.

Cruden will do his job, I have no doubt.

The main question to me is can our forward pack dish out a whipping?
Man for man our 8 is well ahead of the Aussies, but David Pocock is a major trump that the aussies have.

If our forward pack can lay a platform similar or close to what the Boks did, we will give the Aussies a good 20 point thumping.

 

[donmcdazzle]

The closer we get to the game, the more confident I am getting.

A lot of talk has been made about our injuries at 10, but Cruden is the man for the occasion.

He may be small but you know the saying, it's not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog.
Cruden is a damn warrior, he fought testicular cancer and won, then a year later he captained and starred in the Junior World Cup.
That says enough about his fighting spirit to me!!! He is the stone cold nuts. Forget Dan Carter, he might as well go and earn some big bucks in France.

Cruden will do his job, I have know doubt.

The main question to me is can our forward pack dish out a whipping?
Man for man our 8 is well ahead of the Aussies, but David Pocock is a major trump that the aussies have.

If our forward pack can lay a platform similar or close to what the Boks did, we will give the Aussies a good 20 point thumping.

Woah back cowboy, neither team will win by 20 points, I think there'll be about 5 in it, and it is a coin toss at this stage as to which way it goes.

Greg Martin seemed very confident about the Wallabies chances on Reunion last night.

 

[james5000]

Woah back cowboy, neither team will win by 20 points, I think there'll be about 5 in it, and it is a coin toss at this stage as to which way it goes.

Greg Martin seemed very confident about the Wallabies chances on Reunion last night.

Just saying, it remains to be seen whether we can lay that platform.
Will be difficult, the boks had a massive territory and possession advantage.

If you give the AB's that amount of Ball in that area, your going to be blown away, no doubt about it.

Greg Martin says the same **** every week, doesn't make a difference to me.

 

[Darwin]

I actually think the AB's are capable of beating Australia by 20 points - I don't necessarily think they will, but if Australia plays like they did versus Ireland/South Africa it is a distinct possibility. I know everyone is nervous because this is a Rugby World Cup, but the AB's have a very impressive record versus Australia over recent years, and they haven't lost to Australia in New Zealand since 2001! This certainly doesn't mean that they won't lose to Australia, but based on the recent matches between the two teams, and the teams performances this Rugby World Cup, the AB's do deserve to be favourites for this match.

 

[james5000]

I actually think the AB's are capable of beating Australia by 20 points - I don't necessarily think they will, but if Australia plays like they did versus Ireland/South Africa it is a distinct possibility. I know everyone is nervous because this is a Rugby World Cup, but the AB's have a very impressive record versus Australia over recent years, and they haven't lost to Australia in New Zealand since 2001! This certainly doesn't mean that they won't lose to Australia, but based on the recent between the two teams, and the teams performances this Rugby World Cup, the AB's do deserve to be favourites for this match.

I think based on World Cup form we are at least a 10-15 point better team.

Greg Martin based a lot of his argument around our performance against Argentina. Australia's performance against the Bok's was 100x worse than our performance.
They were terrible, they won on sheer guts, it will take more than guts to beat the AB's.

They will actually have to have a pack going forward, I don't think we can lose when our pack is going forward.

 

[Dizzy]

I'd say the All Blacks by 15+. Based on the kicking form of Weepu[if they decide to play a penalty based game ala Argentina]

 

[cardassian]

Hasn't Aussie beaten us 2 out of the last 3 times?
Must mean we're due for a win lol.
God I hope we pull this one off, if we win this I won't even mind if we lose the final to Wales (would mind if we lost to France though).

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

And the previous 2 times these 2 teams played in the semi finals, Australia won... So, who knows...

 

[donmcdazzle]

Hasn't Aussie beaten us 2 out of the last 3 times?
Must mean we're due for a win lol.
God I hope we pull this one off, if we win this I won't even mind if we lose the final to Wales (would mind if we lost to France though).

I was saying this to my mates last night. I actually wouldn't even care (that much) if we lost to France either, I just can't handle losing to the aussies.

 

[igy]

i think this is a game where anything can happen, especially if Quade Cooper is in one of his good days, i know he still didn't played in the WC and he pull out a horrible performance against SA but his a hell of a player and he can show everything against NZ.


it's gonna be a hell of a game and i wanna see how the AB's fly halfs are gonna play against a side like the Wallabies.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

had the same conversation with my wife this morning, she asked me if i'd rather lose to the all blacks or lose the final. she's a kiwi by the way so very nervous/tense household this weekend.
we're trying as much as we can not to not talk about rugby.

i'm not going to speculate, but just say every game is a new game, none of us know what's going to happen.

 

[donmcdazzle]

I'm actually enjoying the banter, seems like both sets of fans are nervous and wary of the other team. Usually people are talking up their side/bagging the other but there seems to be a bit of mutual respect going down which is good. (I hope this continues after the match regardless of who takes it).

 

[ExcaLiBuR]

I think the Wallabies have a very good chance of winning this semi-final. I would agree and say 60-40 in favour of AB to win just because of Eden Park. History doesnt matter when it comes to this game, this is a new Wallabies team, and a team of tri-nation and super15 winners. The same as AB, tri-nation and Super15 champions, both teams know how to win finals.

The Wallabies played bad in stats against the Springboks, true, however they still won... they mentaly won, they had perfect defence, great rucking and won by more points. I think that is very good news for Australia, as they mostly are the oposite and play perfect running rugby. If Aus can put both games that we know we can play together Aus could win.

AB did not play very well for the first 65mins against Argentina, but Argentina did play very well and played with heart, yet still lost. if AB play like that against Aus they might lose, as Aus has prooved as they did to SA they can play well for 80mins not 65mins like Argentina. Cooper even tho most NZ dont like him, he is the most skillful no.10 out of both squads, also has been in the starting role the most so has more experenice with the team and a great partnership with Genia...

I dont know what Im trying to say, its just I think it will be a close game, and AU/NZ both have teams of champions and every team has good players, if you had to name a top 15 world team a lot would be made up of both AU and NZ not just NZ.