By Monty String
October 12th 2008 @ 12:04am
Loading ...The Wallabies have a Hong Kong hoodoo
There can’t be too many rugby fans who don’t know that the Wallabies and the All Blacks kick off their overseas tours when they meet in Hong Kong, November 1. Which brings up a question: which team will have the advantage playing away in this particular game?
The records say that the Wallabies and the All Blacks have only ever met once outside their respective countries, but Hong Kong has been considerably kinder to the Kiwis than it has to the Wallabies.
True, it’s been in the seven-a-side game, which is a night and day difference to the 15-a side variety. But the fact remains that New Zealand have won top honours in Hong Kong ten times since 1976.
The Aussies have won the cup five times, the Fijians nine times, England four times, and Samoa twice.
Moreover, there hasn’t been an Aussie success in Hong Kong for twenty years, while the Kiwis, during that period, have taken all the marbles no less than seven times.
So you’d have to say that the All Blacks will feel more confident playing at a ground that’s seen so much New Zealand success.
Then, with just a week between the games, the real nitty begins.
The Wallabies meet Italy in Padua, England at Twickers, France in Paris, and Wales at Cardif.
The All Blacks, on the same dates, play Scotland at Edinburgh, Ireland at Dublin, a midweek game against Munster at Limerick, Wales at Cardiff, and England at Twickers.
So I throw the following open for discussion: seeing that there are quite a few posters familiar with the overseas teams, and their venues, what do you think the positives and negatives will be for the Wallabies and the All Blacks in each of their games against these different teams, all of which have different styles, different crowds and, as stated, different venues?
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(4)
LeftArmSpinner said | October 12th 2008 @ 4:33am | Report comment
The AB’s have the upper hand on all fronts. They are a fundamentally better team, fitter, better skills, more committed and better led.
They have taken the tough decisions (or players have taken their own decisions by moving on) and are well on the way to rebuilding for the next RWC.
Finally, they have better depth.
So, a no brainer really……..
spiro zavos said | October 12th 2008 @ 6:15am | Report comment
The irony about the Hong Kong venue and Australian rugby sides is that in the early years of the Hong Kong Sevens Australia was so dominant the spectators adopted the praqactice of booing them. The practice still is in place. Whether it will be revived for the Bledisloe Test remains to be seen. At least 6000 Australians, most of them lawyers and businessmen who have discovered urgent conferences in Hong Kong around November 1 will ensure that the support will be for the Wallabies.
Against this is the fact that the All Blackks are a much better team playing away from home than the Wallabies generally are.
sheek said | October 12th 2008 @ 6:38pm | Report comment
I would expect the ABs to win simply because, at present, they are better…..in just about every department.
Even looser said | October 13th 2008 @ 3:21pm | Report comment
Sheek - “in just about every department.” And in which department are they not better?
I once would have answered “the coach” but I have to say that GH seems to have outcoached us lately. Of course that can all change now that RD has some time to make his mark on the team.
For me I’d reckon it’ll come down to what GH does with depth versus what RD does with developing skills, fitness and attitude within the existing group.
Hong Kong should be a cracker.