Bledisloe Cup

[R33F]

That time of the year again !! When 'the only game played in heaven' starts to get interesting. We belted the Poms, were to strong for the Irish, but now it's crunch time.

The Bledisloe and Tri Nation Series.

Has everyone seen the Australian Advertising Campaign ? With the All Blacks doing the Haka holding handbags ? What was the ARU thinking ? From talking to mates on the South Island, apparently it has been front page news !

Bit like holding a Red Flag to a Bull if you ask me. And rumour has it that they are going to show it on the big screen and Jade Stadium before the Aussies run out.

So I want to know what the farkin rugby supporters think. Has John Connolly done enough to get us over the line against the All Blacks ?

Has changing the props around given us what we need at scrum time ?

Will Larkham's attacking game be enough ?

Will Ben Tune's return be our blessing or downfall ?

Should George '4 steps pass' Gregan be in the starting line up ?

Your thoughts please.

[TonyG]

Bring on the tri nations.
I enjoyed the soccer, it was good for some excitment and something new. The state of origin was average at best, but the Tri-nations and Bledisloe is why I get up in the mornings!
Knuckles has done a fabulous job, and I think we have a good chance of pinching at least one game off the AllBlacks this year. I don’t think it will be this one, but later on perhaps. Hopefully in the final of the tri!
I see this game going one of two ways, We get early points and NZ putting a huge amount of pressure on themselves and we sneak a narrow win, or NZ getting early points and running away with a comfortable win.
My 2 cents.

[gravelclimber]

Has John Connolly done enough to get us over the line against the All Blacks ?

Hopefully, though with homeground advantage I expect the ABs to win.

Has changing the props around given us what we need at scrum time ?

Rodzilla's still out injured so maybe not. Won't get slaughtered though like against England last year.

Will Larkham's attacking game be enough ?

If he's not under too much pressure, which could be the case with McCaw running at him.


Will Ben Tune's return be our blessing or downfall ?

He's a Queenslander. It is a blessing of course :)

Should George '4 steps pass' Gregan be in the starting line up ?

Most of the time he's passing quicker then I've ever seen him. He's playing much better this year.


Can't belive the timing though. Match on 11pm in Adelaide. TDF time trials on at the same time. DH race on Sunday.

[JDB]

Can't belive the timing though. Match on 11pm in Adelaide. TDF time trials on at the same time. DH race on Sunday.

Never fear, your problem has been solved (well at least part of it) 6:30 broadcast.
http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2002_july/changes_to_bledisloe_cup_broadcast_time_14277,6788 .html

[scblack]

For the AllBlacks its something of a building phase, and they are rotating the team a bit, so they MAY be a little weak.

But we are in a phasing-out phase. I mean Gregan and some others are going to be very lucky to last through to 2007 World Cup, so WE may be a little weak.

Knuckles has done pretty well so far. Though we have only played England and the far better Ireland sides, so that hradly gives me a great deal of confidence. He has made the forwards a better pack to my views, and the backs seem to be doing pretty well.

One thing, I am so happy not to have to see Wendell Sailor out there. He was a waste. Tuqiri is a great player, and Rogers good too, but Sailor was a poor rugby winger. Ran well, but had no clue otherwise.

[R33F]

Teams are as follows:

Qantas Wallabies

Greg Holmes, Tai McIsaac, Guy Shepherdson, Nathan Sharpe, Dan Vickerman, Mark Chisholm, George Smith, Rocky Elsom, George Gregan (captain), Stephen Larkham, Lote Tuqiri, Mat Rogers, Stirling Mortlock, Mark Gerrard, Chris Latham

Reserves: Jeremy Paul, Al Baxter, Scott Fava, Phil Waugh, Sam Cordingley, Matt Giteau, Ben Tune

All Blacks

Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Carl Hayman, Chris Jack, Jason Eaton, Jerry Collins, Richie McCaw (captain), Rodney So'oialo, Byron Kelleher, Dan Carter, Joe Rokocoko, Aaron Mauger, Mils Muliaina, Rico Gear, Leon MacDonald

Reserves: Andrew Hore, Greg Somerville, Ali Williams, Chris Masoe, Piri Weepu, Luke McAlister, Isaia Toeava

.................................................. .................................

With Holmes, McIsaac & Shepherdson up front I think our scrums should be able to hold the AB's. There is almost 345kg's there. I am always worried about Baxter, as shown in previous tests, he is prone to being 'hustled' by the AB's. McIsaac doubles as a prop doesn't he ? Wasn't he playing loose head for the Force ?

If we are to have a chance, our forwards have to get stuck into the AB's.

As for Gregan, I still think it's time to put him out to graze, I don't think he has an 'edge' over the younger Cordingley. I think Gregan has the ability to still play good rugby, but it's definately not outstanding. I think the people are still living off that ' 1 tackle'.

Mortlock should be Captain IMHO. Phil Waugh Vice Cpt.

For anyone local to the Gold Coast and interested, The Lansdowne Road Irish Tavern is generally a great spot to watch the game. ;) [insert beer icon] There is usually a good crowd of rugby supporters, from both teams.

[gravelclimber]

Never fear, your problem has been solved (well at least part of it) 6:30 broadcast.
http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2002_ju...77,6788 .html

Awesome!!!!!!!! Cheers for that. Extended period of drinking through to the end of TDF time trials = bigger hangover for race. Can only be a good thing :)

[gravelclimber]

Phil Waugh Vice Cpt.

Gotta be in the team first and under Connolly that's not likely as he's going for line out strength and Waugh's a little too short.

As for Gregan, I still think it's time to put him out to graze, I don't think he has an 'edge' over the younger Cordingley

Cordingly is only a couple of years younger than Gregan. Not a generational change.

[Daver]

After watching NZ play Ireland and then seeing the Wallabies play them i don't think we'll have any problems getting up over the All Blacks. What happened to Carlos Spencer and Tana Umunga (forgive my spelling, i don't speak Kiwi)?

[R33F]

Cordingly is only a couple of years younger than Gregan. Not a generational change.

There's only 3 months difference between Gregan and Matt Bourke, and Bourke was told he was too old ? :confused:

What happened to Carlos Spencer and Tana Umunga (forgive my spelling, i don't speak Kiwi)?

Tana has given up International Rugby to spend more time with his family. He is still playing Super 14 though.

Carlos Spencer : (http://www.carlosspencer.co.nz/index.phtml) Is where George Gregan should be. Retired from International Rugby :p

[gravelclimber]

Carlos Spencer

Show pony who didn't cut it in hard games. Dan Carter is a far, far better player. He's being touted as the best fly-half ever (in NZ at least).

Tana Umunga

Retired from internationals.

[scblack]

After watching NZ play Ireland and then seeing the Wallabies play them i don't think we'll have any problems getting up over the All Blacks. What happened to Carlos Spencer and Tana Umunga (forgive my spelling, i don't speak Kiwi)?
Pretty much what the Irish said after their loss to us, but once we are on the field, it will be very different. I'd never discount the AB's.

[Binaural]

My, those man-bags (http://blogs.smh.com.au/rugbyheaven/archives/2006/07/defusing_the_ha.html) are certainly fetching.... ;)

[Kunal]

I retract my statment F*%^ing Kiwi's

[fleshbone]

ah,go the kiwi's.and only the kiwi's can make fun of tana about the bag insident,cause we are kiwi.;)

[R33F]

I'd never discount the AB's.

100% on the money scblack.

They dominated on the paddock, and used the width of the paddock when the wallabies lost the pill, turning on the attack like only the AB's can.

They deserved the victory.

I felt the wallabies were totally out classed, and dont even know where to start in diagnosing that defeat.