With a menacing pack, the Kiwis are ready for an Anzac War
Roar Guru
By Alan Nicolea, 5 May 2009 Alan Nicolea is a Roar Guru
Despite the furore surrounding the availability of key players such as Jeremy Smith, Frank Pritchard and Issac Luke, the Kiwis still have what it takes to repeat last year’s World Cup heroics against a Kangaroos side desperate to regain some lost pride.
Although Pritchard has been officially ruled out of the Anzac Test this Friday night, his replacement in Sika Manu was a part of the same New Zealand seventeen that caused chaos to Australia’s standing as the most dominant league nation.
He, along with the rest of the Kiwi squad, will be hell-bent on providing proof that last triumph at Suncorp Stadium was no fluke.
What makes this year’s Anzac Test so appealing is the fact that New Zealand’s key players are all performing well for their respective NRL clubs.
Benji Marshall has had his finest start to a season since 2005, which has seen the Tigers claw themselves out of games which they should have lost.
With the added responsibility of captaincy, expect the Tigers half to really flourish on the back of a Kiwi pack that is even stronger than last year’s winning unit.
Rabbitohs’ captain Roy Asotasi will only bolster a Kiwi pack that already counts on premiership winning forwards Jeff Lima and Adam Blair.
Greg Eastwood and Bronson Harrison will form a Kiwi second row that has enough creativity to provide Marshall and Nathan Fien with second man play options which will severely test the Australian defence.
Harrison, in particular, has probably been the form second-rower in the NRL this season, despite the fact he is playing for an underachieving Raiders outfit that sit second last on the ladder.
He currently leads the NRL in offloads, beating fancied rivals Feleti Mateo and Anthony Tupou.
Probably the only question marks surrounding the Kiwi test team is in their backline, which only makes do with the explosive form of Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei and the efficient dummy half running of Sam Perrett.
Players such as Jason Nightingale, Iosia Soliola and Jerome Ropati have failed to show enough form this season that will trouble a star studded Kangaroos backline, headed by Golden Boot winner Billy Slater.
It was a big surprise to see Tigers winger Taniela Tuiaki left out of the Kiwi squad, considering he has been in much better form than fellow winger Nightingale.
Despite the limited potential of New Zealand’s backline, the Kiwis’ should have enough confidence and belief from last year’s heroics to know they are in with a good chance of causing another ‘upset’ against the Kangaroos.
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katzilla said | May 5th 2009 @ 3:36am | Report comment
Good old NRL review committee.
‘We’re playing the Kiwis and they have all of their players? Quick lets review the tapes and get one of em sidelined’
alan nicolea said | May 5th 2009 @ 8:54am | Report comment
Katzilla
Do you think Issac Luke should be free to play then? I think so too. If he is out though, Dene Halatau would be his most likely replacement in the side.
Hemjay said | May 5th 2009 @ 11:44am | Report comment
The review panel is a joke, There is nothing in it, We kiwis are used to the Perennial judicial hearings where one of our players reputation and place in the ANZAC test match is put on the line.
No matter what the judiciary decide or the result on friday night. NZ will still be World Champions and its still another four years before Australia can get revenge for that. Fridays game is just another ANZAC test I know which trophy I’d rather have sitting on the shelf.
Luke should be cleared
PuntPal said | May 5th 2009 @ 3:53pm | Report comment
My statistica; analysis has Australia winning by 14. And last week my analysis had me tip Eels and Knights to win.
Kiwis are no hope this time around. They may have been if they picked Tualiki, Fui Fui and Ben Roberts…but Soliola? and Nightingale? hahahaha
Good luck boys, you wont get the game given to you by the Ref this time around.
katzilla said | May 6th 2009 @ 1:13am | Report comment
If by ref you mean Brain explosions and Forward domination then yeah. I don’t think we’ll win as easiyl this time round.
Don’t worry, I don’t think Sheens will embarass you with a toy throw afterwards.
And yeah Alan, he should definately play. It would have merit had the ref seen it and placed him on report, but some idiot sitting in a video room somewhere? Give me a break. More like someone fishing for a reason.
alan nicolea said | May 6th 2009 @ 8:21am | Report comment
Katzilla
Even Anthony Laffranchi thought Luke’s report was a surprise. Its a physical game for god’s sake.
Hemjay said | May 6th 2009 @ 10:28am | Report comment
Its just a farce if nothing a ploy to unsettle the Kiwis.
This is just a one of test it has no relevance to who is the world champions and the Aussie can not and will not get the chance to exact revenge for another 4 years. Do all they like its us who will wake up on Sunday morning as World Champions.
Post a cricket score do what you like it will never erase the Humiliation suffered at the hands of the Kiwis in 2008.
I’m just disappointede that the best possible Australian team hasn’t been picked. Even I as the staunchest kiwi supporter have to admit when Aus are on their game they are special
Mr Sports said | May 6th 2009 @ 11:12am | Report comment
On Bronson Harrison would you beleive that there was a season preview in one of the league magazines that predicted he would be one of the 10 worst buys of the year? Whoever wrote that must feel pretty stupid as he is clealry amongst the best acquistions with the players the Bulldogs brought in
sunshinecoaster said | May 6th 2009 @ 11:21am | Report comment
I think what annoys me more than anything is that its now Wednesday and we are still waiting for a hearing and decision on the Luke inccident,would it be too much to ask them to sort it out last Sunday night or Monday at least?