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

[donmcdazzle]

I will admit though I would rather have a fit and in form Colin Slade in the All Blacks right now seriously I don't believe Slade has been playing very well or as well as Donald has done for the All Blacks overall. Donald had a few average tests in 22 caps (most of the time Don did his job or better. Slade has had a few average tests in a row and made worse mistakes than anything Donald did in Hong Kong last year - the test that all but ended Don's test carrier. Can anyone honestly say now that Slade would have done a better job than Donald did on that day off a long injury break and 4 games of ITM cup? Slade hasn't really looked an all black since he test debut last year and he's looked just ok at best even against minor teams in pool phase. Teams that Donald would have a field day against.

One thing I've said a few times is that Donald has never had a bad on NZ soil (bar the first test vs. france in 2008 where the whole team played **** and the All Blacks forwards got the snot kicked out of them) wind the clock back 2009 and Donald had a superb game on eden park against Australia. Donald has made some important contributions off the bench against Australia both Brisbane 08 and Sydney 09.

It's not Donalds job to win the world cup but I think he will be a solid backup to cruden. He can kick goals and he's kicked in the region of 75% of his goals for the All Blacks and he can tackle as good as any 10 in world rugby. I'd love nothing more than to see Donald go out and be himself play well and be part of the team that lifts the cup and have the NZ public see him in better light, light that I think he deserves.

Would be great to see a scene like this at least one more time. lol

http://www.espnscrum.com/newzealand/rugby/story/100300.html

We all hope he goes awesome if he takes the pitch. It's a hell of a chance for him to go out on a good note; he literally has nothing to lose as a player so hopefully that helps him if he gets on.

As a side note; god that AB squad was bad. Eaton, Evans, Ross, Latimer.. urrgghhh.

 

[Larksea]

on Luke McAlister

I'm really ****** off with McAlister. If McAlister wanted to be in this world cup he would be. If luke decided at the end of super rugby he wanted WC selection so badly he should have been the first to turn up to Harbor for NPC and he should have pleaded with the coaches to play at 10 and gone out in ITM cup played his heart out and demanded All Blacks selection.

What did Luke Do? He didn't even show up. *****ed and moaned and tried to wiggle out of his contract.

Donald went out in ITM cup and took his team all the way to the final and the simple fact Waikato were utter crap when Donald wasn't on the field showed how important he was. And since ITM cup I think he's been playing for his University club side that he also coaches?

No contest between Donald & McAlister IMO

 

[RyotoTheDragon]

I will admit though I would rather have a fit and in form Colin Slade in the All Blacks right now seriously I don't believe Slade has been playing very well or as well as Donald has done for the All Blacks overall. Donald had a few average tests in 22 caps (most of the time Don did his job or better. Slade has had a few average tests in a row and made worse mistakes than anything Donald did in Hong Kong last year - the test that all but ended Don's test carrier. Can anyone honestly say now that Slade would have done a better job than Donald did on that day off a long injury break and 4 games of ITM cup? Slade hasn't really looked an all black since he test debut last year and he's looked just ok at best even against minor teams in pool phase. Teams that Donald would have a field day against.

One thing I've said a few times is that Donald has never had a bad on NZ soil (bar the first test vs. france in 2008 where the whole team played **** and the All Blacks forwards got the snot kicked out of them) wind the clock back 2009 and Donald had a superb game on eden park against Australia. Donald has made some important contributions off the bench against Australia both Brisbane 08 and Sydney 09.

It's not Donalds job to win the world cup but I think he will be a solid backup to cruden. He can kick goals and he's kicked in the region of 75% of his goals for the All Blacks and he can tackle as good as any 10 in world rugby. I'd love nothing more than to see Donald go out and be himself play well and be part of the team that lifts the cup and have the NZ public see him in better light, light that I think he deserves.

Would be great to see a scene like this at least one more time. lol

http://www.espnscrum.com/newzealand/rugby/story/100300.html

awesome mate lets get behind the don. here's me hoping he has a blinder if he plays. always a fan of his, and the NZ public has been very hard on him just because of the test in hong kong. have to feel for the guy. Lets go stephen donald!!

 

[Larksea]

We all hope he goes awesome if he takes the pitch. It's a hell of a chance for him to go out on a good note; he literally has nothing to lose as a player so hopefully that helps him if he gets on.

As a side note; god that AB squad was bad. Eaton, Evans, Ross, Latimer.. urrgghhh.

Yeah I kinda agree interesting to see Tamati Ellison's name, I think he's back playing in NZ next year. Must admit I always really liked Bryn Evans and thought he was very underrated by Colin Cooper - Evans struggled for gametime under Cooper though I thought he was better than Eaton or Thrush. Evans is a big guy and when he shows up to rucks the mommentum always seem to change in his teams favour and he did the core stuff really well. He seemed to come in and fit really well with the All Blacks it was a shame injury took him out of that squad.

 

[Isurus]

So here's the side I think they will select:
1. Woodcock
2. Mealamu
3. O. 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. Donald
22. SB. Williams

Bit of a toss up between Mealamu and Hore for a starting berth but I like Hore coming off the bench and it seems the selectors do too. I would prefer to see Ben Franks on the bench ahead of Afoa but I think the selectors will go for Afoa against Australia for his mobility. No idea what kind of shape Thomson is in at the moment but I could see him or Vito take the 19 shirt - I will go for Vito though given performances so far. Cover is a little light in the centres and outside backs so I am seeing the sense in having SBW with some wing experience under his belt. Fullback is covered by Jane, midfield by Kahui and SBW, wings by SBW. A little bit of angst regarding wing cover but nothing to be done there, no room in the 22 for Guildford/Gear, so SBW just has to do the job. Actually can Donald cover any other positions than 10?

I must say that I like this lineup. Quietly confident going into the biggest match in 4 years.

 

[Larksea]

So here's the side I think they will select:
1. Woodcock
2. Mealamu
3. O. 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. Donald
22. SB. Williams

Bit of a toss up between Mealamu and Hore for a starting berth but I like Hore coming off the bench and it seems the selectors do too. I would prefer to see Ben Franks on the bench ahead of Afoa but I think the selectors will go for Afoa against Australia for his mobility. No idea what kind of shape Thomson is in at the moment but I could see him or Vito take the 19 shirt - I will go for Vito though given performances so far. Cover is a little light in the centres and outside backs so I am seeing the sense in having SBW with some wing experience under his belt. Fullback is covered by Jane, midfield by Kahui and SBW, wings by SBW. A little bit of angst regarding wing cover but nothing to be done there, no room in the 22 for Guildford/Gear, so SBW just has to do the job. Actually can Donald cover any other positions than 10?

I must say that I like this lineup. Quietly confident going into the biggest match in 4 years.

Donald can cover 12

Same as what I posted earlier with don in for slade, though Ben franks my find his way in if fit.

I agree seeing the team on paper makes me feel quite confident, the forward pack in particular is pretty much full strength and in form. If they fire it could make life pretty good for who ever is playing 10 out.

EDIT: honestly I'd be happy if Thomson isn't named. He's been a pretty big factor in the All Blacks two losses this year and Vito seems to be tracking well.

 

[Isurus]

Actually (yeah yeah, I'm replying to my own post, deal with it), if we lose Kahui or Jane then there is the option to bring SBW into midfield and move Nonu to wing but I really don't think that would happen - the selectors would be reluctant to split the Nonu/Smith combination.

The more I dwell on this the more I think they might start Hore ahead of Mealamu. The work Hore does at the breakdown can really help us win the contest in that area which will be so so important.

 

[Aout]

Cruden is smaller than Parra ?

 

[Isurus]

Same as what I posted earlier with don in for slade

I got there first - named this lineup on the first page of this thread

honestly I'd be happy if Thomson isn't named. He's been a pretty big factor in the All Blacks two losses this year and Vito seems to be tracking well.

Agreed

 

[donmcdazzle]

Cruden is smaller than Parra ?

He might be a centimetre or two shorter but I think he is a kilo or two heavier.. Hard to tell how accurate some player stats are though. One thing is for sure, neither are very big blokes!

 

[nix0000]

Come the hour, come the man.
Stephen the duck Donald.

This guy is to NZ rugby what Brian Scalabrine is to the NBA.

Still, it's a chance for redemption for him. And if he does pull a rabbit out of the hat, i can see him going down as a legend in NZ.

 

[ranger]

Come the hour, come the man.
Stephen the duck Donald.

This guy is to NZ rugby what Brian Scalabrine is to the NBA.

Still, it's a chance for redemption for him. And if he does pull a rabbit out of the hat, i can see him going down as a legend in NZ.

He looks funny and he isnt very good?

 

[nix0000]

He looks funny and he isnt very good?

Both of them are awkward players, Scalabrine is the goat of the NBA, and Donald's the goat of the All Blacks

I'm not hating on Donald btw, i can honestly see him coming off the bench and doing something special. In many ways, he could actually be more suited to starting than Cruden; Donald's a better goal kicker, and despite his awkward kicking style which screams charge down, he seems to get better kicking distance than Cruden. And finally, Donald's best attribute is his ability to hit the line hard and straight, whereas Cruden's diminutive size is ill suited. My only worry with Donald is that he's not a big game player, he lost a Super 15 final, he lost an npc final agianst Canterbury, he was a mainstay in the 2009 all black team which lost to France and SA at home. And of course the Hong Kong test.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

That's more like it.

I honestly think Donald has all the skills necessary to be a world class 10, he just needs to get his head right.
He has had his up's and down's but he's kind of lucky, he's in the right place at the right time.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for him really, he could possibly become a legend.

Imagine Donald finding touch in the last minute to win the World Cup, could be the next "Yeah Right" advert, but could come true!

Fixed. I think most kiwis would settle with that.

 

[Black Heart]

Great idea - we should also play Muliaina at centre
Hopefully the AB's coaches have learnt an important lesson from previous Rugby World Cups: DON'T PLAY PLAYERS OUT OF POSITION! The AB's have two 10's in the squad, Slade and Cruden, they simply have to choose one of the two for this match and back them to do the job (their choice may be easy if Slade's injury proves serious).

Yeah they've certainly learnt that lesson...


"... Kahui at 14, SBW at 11, Whitelock and Williams at 6, Weepu at 10, Dagg on the wing..."

 

[Dizzy]

Oh no, how did Beaver manifest into the squad. This is 2007 all over again.

 

[Shaggy]

I see that Craig Joubert is reffing this match ... he's had a pretty good tournament so far

 

[Darwin]

I see that Craig Joubert is reffing this match ... he's had a pretty good tournament so far

I'm very happy to have Joubert - I was impressed with the way he reffed the Ireland v Wales match. Hopefully he (rightly or wrongly) penalises Pocock every time he enters the breakdown area (he should after I sent him that gold watch anyways...)

 

[Tricia McMillan]

I'm very happy to have Joubert - I was impressed with the way he reffed the Ireland v Wales match. Hopefully he (rightly or wrongly) penalises Pocock every time he enters the breakdown area (he should after I sent him that gold watch anyways...)

You sent him a gold watch? I sent him platinum cufflinks.

 

[Co2en5]

Come the hour, come the man.
Stephen the duck Donald.

This guy is to NZ rugby what Brian Scalabrine is to the NBA.

haha i dont think ive laughed harder at a sport-related joke for a long time