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

[Larksea]

have to wait for the injury report to come out but at this stage for the AB's at least Mills is almost sure to be a gonner, Slade I'd say 60% chance to be ok

My pick for All Blacks 22

1, Woody
2, Mealamu
3, Franks
4, Thorn
5, Whitelock
6, Kaino
7, McCaw
8, Read
9, Weepu
10, Cruden
11, Kahui
12, Nonu
13, Smith
14, Jane
15, Dagg

16, Hore. 17, Afoa. 18, A.Williams. 19, Vito. 20, Cowan. 21, Slade/Toeava 22. Sonny-Bill Williams

Key for the AB's is winning the forward battle and either dealing with Pocock or Hopeing the ref deals to Pocock because he got away with Murder against the boks. The way Lawrence refed Pocock to me was totally bizarre and simply did not make sense.

Really want to see Read take another step up again this week, he has been the AB's key man the last couple of years and his combination with McCaw has given the AB's the edge in many close games with Aussie really important he clicks. I really like the settled nature of the forward pack and the fact key forwards are coming into form at the right time. Thor(n), Whitelock, Woodcock and Owen Franks in particular.

Key in the backs is the return of Kahui and Dagg, kahui will bring a bit more stability to the wing with his rock solid play and finishing ability and Dagg will bring the x-factor while SBW will move back to his impact role off the bench which he's done well in this year.

Going to be a huge game!

 

[Darwin]

Well done to Aussie making the final. We are stuffed without DC. TAB have them paying like $3.30 or something crazy, so I've duly got the house on the Wobblies, who aren't quite as wobbly as we are. Cooper will play a blinder, he is due after 5 shockers. Pocock will rule the ruck and we will be chasing the game once again without DC to guide us.

My worst nightmares have come true.

I don't buy this. We have beaten Australia in the past without Carter, and we will beat them in the future without Carter too. I'm not saying Carter isn't a huge loss, but the AB's don't rely entirely on one player (no matter how good he is). I think it will be a close game - it certainly may be worth putting a few dollars on Australia if the TAB offers good money for them, but I think the AB's will still enter the game as (slight) favorites. I expect we will dominate in the forwards (apart from in the loose, where Pocock may well destroy us!) - if we can put pressure on Cooper (as most teams this tournament seem to have been able to do) we will have a very good chance of winning. I'm nervous about this match already!

 

[ACT1NUP]

^I'd be more than happy with that starting 22. They'd beat Aussie who must be the most overrated team left in the world cup. And Pocock is the breakdown king but our loosie combo trumps theirs.

 

[Isurus]

Two major priorities for this match - 1. stop their backline from getting good quick ball, and 2. find a way to nullify Pocock at the breakdown. Obviously these 2 are related.

Here is a prediction, Pocock will be very quiet in this match. Our backrow is the best around. The three wise men are the best around. They will nullify Pocock, you just wait and see.

 

[Felipe Ramirez]

james horwill's been good at the breakdown aswell since he's in the starting lineup, i'd worry about him aswell

 

[Siva Tau]

Hore needs to start with Mealamu fresh legs at 60 mins

 

[Kiwiwomble]

Yeah we can bring in cover if Slade is ruled out. As to who it is likely to be.... I have no idea! Donald and McAlister would be the obvious choices, but they are both playing in the Northern Hemisphere - they would take a couple of days to get back, and selecting them would probably go against the AB's policy on selecting overseas based players. Likewise Mike Delany would be another option, but he is playing in Japan. There are really no obvious choices: youngsters like Gareth Anscombe or Beaudan Barrett could well be the next 10's on the list

tony brown!!!

its got to be tony, i said it six month ago, 20 mins left and leading by six, who would you rather come on, someone trying to impress and risk possession or someone with nothing to prove and happy to thump anyone not in black

 

[Darwin]

Hore needs to start with Mealamu fresh legs at 60 mins

I would love to see Hore start too. He is our best forward at the breakdown, and we really need him to help combat Pocock. I don't think it was any coincidence that the AB's started to get quicker ball when he came on with 20 mins remaining. My only reservation in starting Hore is that the AB's lineout has been going so well with Mealamu at hooker - I'm sure Hore is capable of throwing well, but I think Mealamu is the better lineout thrower.

 

[Larksea]

Hore needs to start with Mealamu fresh legs at 60 mins

I'd really like to see Hore start as well but I dont think it's going to happen. I think Hore's clearly our #1 hooker and maybe even out #1 breakdown forward.

Though I think Mealamu had an ok game, one of his best games this year and that will likely secure his starting spot.

 

[InsaneAsylum]

yep, wallabies are ****, most overrated team left in the cup, don't deserve to be here, cheats, cooper is a ********, cooper's going to fail/get served by -insert backrower-/sleeping with -insert refs name- yadda yadda yadda *yawn*

 

[Kiwiwomble]

yep, wallabies are ****, most overrated team left in the cup, don't deserve to be here, cheats, cooper is a ********, cooper's going to fail/get served by -insert backrower-/sleeping with -insert refs name- yadda yadda yadda *yawn*

who are you replying to?

 

[donmcdazzle]

yep, wallabies are ****, most overrated team left in the cup, don't deserve to be here, cheats, cooper is a ********, cooper's going to fail/get served by -insert backrower-/sleeping with -insert refs name- yadda yadda yadda *yawn*

Huh? Nobody has said that in this thread? In fact I reckon Aus are favourites heading into this one which is why I've already got money on them.

 

[Darwin]

The Wallabies have a couple of injury concerns themselves: Beale has a hamstring injury, and McCabe has shoulder injury. Both will be assessed further today. Beale in particular would be a huge loss for Australia if he was ruled out.

 

[ACT1NUP]

yep, wallabies are ****, most overrated team left in the cup, don't deserve to be here, cheats, cooper is a ********, cooper's going to fail/get served by -insert backrower-/sleeping with -insert refs name- yadda yadda yadda *yawn*

Never said half of that. They're the most overrated though. All the pre cup talk was about how good they were going to be but they havn't impressed once in 5 cup games they've had. Throw in their average results before the cup and the fact that they've had one good game against the ABs in 12 odd starts. What have they done to be even considered ***le contenders this world cup?

 

[Dizzy]

At the rate we're going we might work our way down to Stephen Brett. Aaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!

Or Lachie Munro.

Or, since they seem to quite like throwing him around the back line, why not Sonny Bill Williams at 10? Lol.

This made me giggle my ass off lol

have to wait for the injury report to come out but at this stage for the AB's at least Mills is almost sure to be a gonner, Slade I'd say 60% chance to be ok

My pick for All Blacks 22

1, Woody
2, Mealamu
3, Franks
4, Thorn
5, Whitelock
6, Kaino
7, McCaw
8, Read
9, Weepu
10, Cruden
11, Kahui
12, Nonu
13, Smith
14, Jane
15, Dagg

16, Hore. 17, Afoa. 18, A.Williams. 19, Vito. 20, Cowan. 21, Slade/Toeava 22. Sonny-Bill Williams

Key for the AB's is winning the forward battle and either dealing with Pocock or Hopeing the ref deals to Pocock because he got away with Murder against the boks. The way Lawrence refed Pocock to me was totally bizarre and simply did not make sense.

Really want to see Read take another step up again this week, he has been the AB's key man the last couple of years and his combination with McCaw has given the AB's the edge in many close games with Aussie really important he clicks. I really like the settled nature of the forward pack and the fact key forwards are coming into form at the right time. Thor(n), Whitelock, Woodcock and Owen Franks in particular.

Key in the backs is the return of Kahui and Dagg, kahui will bring a bit more stability to the wing with his rock solid play and finishing ability and Dagg will bring the x-factor while SBW will move back to his impact role off the bench which he's done well in this year.

Going to be a huge game!

I agree with you completely. The referee's need a good tuning up, I remember for the first couple weeks with these new laws, they made it clear when the ruck was formed you need to release, they made it clear that the attacking player had to be released immediately so that he can place the ball. Now it seems they've diverted back to letting it all go.

Two major priorities for this match - 1. stop their backline from getting good quick ball, and 2. find a way to nullify Pocock at the breakdown. Obviously these 2 are related.

Here is a prediction, Pocock will be very quiet in this match. Our backrow is the best around. The three wise men are the best around. They will nullify Pocock, you just wait and see.

I reckon McCaw will make this his prime duty.

 

[Dizzy]

Never said half of that. They're the most overrated though. All the pre cup talk was about how good they were going to be but they havn't impressed once in 5 cup games they've had. Throw in their average results before the cup and the fact that they've had one good game against the ABs in 12 odd starts. What have they done to be even considered ***le contenders this world cup?

Well they made it to the semi's for a start? Now only two teams stand in their way.

 

[ACT1NUP]

Huh? Nobody has said that in this thread? In fact I reckon Aus are favourites heading into this one which is why I've already got money on them.

Aussie favourites? your kidding right? someone please explain something I've missed...

Well they made it to the semi's for a start? Now only two teams stand in their way.

So did 3 other teams. ABs and Aus have been the only ones who have been talked up as real contenders since well before this event started. Now I understand why ABs are contenders, they're at home and have a pretty good record at Eden park but why are the Aussies contenders based on the way they have played. I think they're still a year or two off being their best.

 

[Dizzy]

Aussie favourites? your kidding right? someone please explain something I've missed...

Well they made it to the semi's for a start? Now only two teams stand in their way.

Here ya go

 

[TRF_RC]

The way Lawrence refed Pocock to me was totally bizarre and simply did not make sense.

To be fair to Bryce Lawrence, he is the worst referee in pro-rugby.

 

[donmcdazzle]

Aussie favourites? your kidding right? someone please explain something I've missed...

They just weathered an absolute storm against SA and came out smiling, even with Cooper trying to cost them the game. We have looked rudderless without DC. If Cooper fires (he is long overdue) we're gone, and even if he plays poorly they can still win, as they showed yesterday.

What have we done post Carter that shows we should be favoured? Would've got hammered by SA if we played them not Argentina.