Scotland v New Zealand

[TRF_Cymro]

Mealamu included in NZ 22 according to the BBC Sport Website

New Zealand: 15-Mils Muliaina, 14-Isaia Toeava, 13-Conrad Smith, 12-Sonny Bill Williams, 11-Hosea Gear, 10-Daniel Carter, 9-Jimmy Cowan; 8-Kieran Read, 7-Richie McCaw (captain), 6-Liam Messam, 5-Sam Whitelock, 4-Brad Thorn, 3-Owen Franks, 2-Keven Mealamu or Hikawera Elliot, 1-Tony Woodcock.

Replacements: 16-Andrew Hore, 17-John Afoa, 18-Anthony Boric, 19-Daniel Braid, 20-Andy Ellis, 21-Stephen Donald, 22-Ma'a Nonu

Yahoo: http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/11112010/2/rugby-new-zealand-team-play-scotland.html

 

[woodward]

50+

 

[cyRil]

16-44

 

[seatea15]

Laugh Woodward. Is that to Scotland? :OP

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Rain/Snow showers forecast for the weekend :huh:

 

[nickdnz]

My prediction - 13-28 All Blacks.

 

[Black Heart]

Rain/Snow showers forecast for the weekend :huh:

Lol, might aswell be a home game for the All Blacks.

27 - 9

 

[Dizzy]

Well I'm not predicting any score for this game... every single score I've predicted on this forum never comes close to it... the men in black change their style each time and I alwa,..... oh what the hell 53-12

 

[Shaggy]

Also, Ted went on record as stating that they want this to be a sort of "simulation" of next years RWC, taking a quad of only 30 rather than the usual 35 or 36 (but now 29 with the absence of Sivivatu).

Yes, and as Scotland could be the team that we meet at the quarter finals, perhaps they want the core of the players to be familiar with Scotland's play come RWC time ... I'll go for the AB's by 13, but don't really care as long as we win

 

[Larksea]

I like this side,

Though I think the threat from counterattack/the back is reduced a bit without Jane & Roks I think Toeava & Gear pose a huge threat from set piece quick ball

Also good to finally see Messam get a start as part of a top side, hope he does well

****** off Andy Elis is on the bench, Mathewson was so much better than Elis was last weekend. And I'm sure when donald comes on Elis is going to make life hard for him. It got a lot tougher for Carter when Elis came on last weekend.

I think there is something brooding in the AB's, they aren't far off "clicking" again and scoring 4-5 frys a game rather than 2 and I think the scots will find trys almost impossable to score. It took some very relaxed refing for that all out attack english side to even score one, I dont think the scots will touch down.

35 - 9 to the AB's

seeing hore play will be interesting, been a long time with no rugby at all then all of a sudden he's in a test match?

He is very experienced though and tough as hell.

 

[Dizzy]

now that you mention it... the english side did do alot to score one try[though undeserved] so the possibilities of Scotland scoring are slim, providing Toeava doesn't slip up again...

 

[durbutter]

now that you mention it... the english side did do alot to score one try[though undeserved] so the possibilities of Scotland scoring are slim, providing Toeava doesn't slip up again...

TBH Scoring tries are not their thing really. They'll just kick penalties all day long.

 

[northharbour]

I am quite disappointed that Anthony Boric is not starting...

They said on radio sport and on 3 news that the scots best asset is their lineout. So why have they put Boric on the bench?? IMO he is the best lineout operator in New Zealand. Just look back to Australia vs All Blacks in the last tri nation game. Boric came on with 20 minutes to go and fixed all the lineout problems we had and was one of the key players in the All Blacks comeback.

I think Boric (4) and Whitelock (5) will be our best locking combo. Thorn on the bench to smash up the tiring defence.

 

[Larksea]

I agree about Boric

I think in the early tests this year before the tri nations he was the standout lock, even more so than brad Thorn. but since his injury he hasn't been given the chances I think he deserves.

I'd like to see him get a start on tour.

 

[nickdnz]

Boric is the most average lock in New Zealand, it's laughable that he'd put Thorn on the bench. My WC squad, Boric wouldn't even have a place.

 

[Seaton]

What are the odds in NZ for a Scotland win at the moment?

The scrums should be interesting in this game

 

[squirrel]

thorn has a good workrate but his lineout work is pretty average i think hes a bit of a media favourite and gets talked up after every game even if hes lagging behind abit

 

[woodward]

Scotland 11.0
New Zealand 1.03
about right, enough to discourage people making easy money on big bets for NZ

 

[squirrel]

11 bucks, the tab needs to be more enticing than that

 

[RoosTah]

11 bucks, the tab needs to be more enticing than that

See, if only I could convince the banks to briefly lend me a million dollars, I'd make a nice $30,000 off that .