Who is key for the Wallabies and All Blacks?

Roar Rookie

By nird99, 12 Jul 2009 nird99 is a Roar Rookie

Tagged:: Al Baxter, All Blacks, Benn Robinson, Berrick Barnes, Bledisloe Cup, George Smith, Luke Burgess, Mils Muliaina, Rugby Union, Tri Nations, wallabies

Related coverage

With the first Bledisloe and Tri-Nations games only a week away, we should have a look at which players we think will be the keys for each team.

Wallabies

Berrick Barnes. I think that he takes so much pressure away from Gits that he is the real key for me. He adds another dimension to the kicking game and allows Gits to take on the line when need be. He ensures that the Australian team is less one dimensional.

Luke Burgess. If he is able to give some quick service to the backs, the Wallabies may be able to get on the front foot in attack. With players outside of him that are able to break the defensive line (Mortlock, AAC etc) there is nothing more important than giving them the ball on the front foot.

Al Baxter and Benn Robinson. I never thought that I would include Baxter in something like this but his form (particularly in comparison to Alexander) has been very good this season so far. The front row really need to set a platform for the rest of the pack. This also helps players like Smith have a bigger impact if the others are holding their weight against the awesome black pack.

George Smith. I don’t think I can understate how important this player is to the Wallabies team at the moment. He is such a driving force for the rest of the pack to follow and such an influential person. It is also important because of his direct clash with possibly the greatest 7 of all time in McCaw. If he can any way put McCaw off his game (no matter how slight), he will have done his job in getting the Wallabies over the line.

All Blacks

Mils Muliaina. Mils forms a very strong combination with his wingers and is the key to counter attacking for the All Blacks. The Wallabies have shown that they have quite a strong kicking game this year and if Mils is able to make inroads into the Wallabies during kick returns then the All Blacks will be well placed.

Ma’a Nonu. With his ability to break the line and offload, he could be the key to setting the All Blacks backs into many attacking raids. With his test experience, he could be a useful support for a lesser experienced fly half.

Piri Weepu or Jimmy Cowan. Both of these players will have an important role because of the missing figure of Daniel Carter. Whichever one starts on the field will have the job, I believe, of not only directing the forwards around the park, but helping in a big way to run the backline. It is something that All Black half backs have not had to think about for a while, but they will have to take a much bigger role in offense.

Richie McCaw. What else do I need to say. An inspirational captain and leader, a lead from the front man if ever I have seen one. Richie seems to have the ability to turn a game on his own. He will make that amazing cover tackle, but better yet he will get to his feet, steal the ball and pass off to an explosive back to counter attack. George Smith has been brilliant this year and Richie will need to ensure he plays well to dominate Smith if he wants his team to win.

As for the match ups, lets see what starting teams are named and who is playing where.

I am looking forward to an amazing series and hope that these games continue to match up with the hype surrounding them. One of the first games of Rugby (having grown up in a League house) I watched was a Bledisloe game and every time I watch one it still brings back very enjoyable childhood memories.

Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.

The Crowd Says (30) | Page 1 of Comments

bennalong said | July 12th 2009 @ 2:43pm | Report comment

YOU’VE MENTIONED HIM in regards to Barne’s role, but I guess I’d put Giteau up there as the key figure against the Blacks.
He’s always been compared to Carter who isn’t there now so this pivotal position goes to the Wallabies! Can he carve them up?
Getting back to the classic Deans concept of two fly halves you would have to be happy with these two. One left footer, one right footer, and both gifted with line-breaking vision.

My tip is we’ll see a dour start with lots of kicking to the corners like in the BaBaas game. Turn ‘em around, turn ‘em around, hoping to frustrate them.

The second key area of course is the breakdown. The French test was encouraging because we showed a newfound enthusiasm to get numbers there, though we were far from as physical. McCaw won’t be fully fit so we have a edge there. If Sharpe continues his great form, amazing really, our back row will match theirs.

The French showed Nonu is neutralizeable and Mortlock has broken through on him in the past.Also, I really think Adam 2-dads has come of age and will be as dangerous as Mils Muliaina.

On paper, we’ll win !

Reply
mattamkII said | July 12th 2009 @ 2:47pm | Report comment

I have always though Mils to be a decent player but pretty over rated to be honest.

The 7′s and 10′s will be the key to both sides.

Reply
Stash said | July 12th 2009 @ 5:23pm | Report comment

I’m thinking that Leonard may run on – he was devastating in the Super 14. Very hard to contain – aggressive defence, and probably the fastest pass (maybe he can cut-out pass 10, that should help). The Nonu and Smith combination is what took the Hurricanes to the semis – even Mortlock will have hi9s hands fill there.

Giteau is a great player – and 10 is a huge problem for the blacks, but both Donald and McAllister have very good defence, so there is not really in any holes in that channel.

Most important individuals? Henry and Deans – Henry has to instill (make that demand) that kicking for territory (and kicking out) is a valid facet of the game. The all blacks need to be out their own 22 and absorb pressure elsewhere in the park. Deans – he needs to make replacements in the second half earlier than later (it was his undoing last year). Deans is not going to be comfortable in Auckland, and neither are the Wallabies – and that seemingly affects their steering of the game when playing in NZ.

Reply
Who Needs Melon said | July 12th 2009 @ 5:29pm | Report comment

I’m struggling to nail down one or two players who I would consider ‘key’ but, from an Australian perspective, there are a lot of things I’m looking forward to seeing in these tri-nations games:

1) How telling will the absence of Carter be? Will our backline be able to exploit his absence? How lessened will the All Black attack be for his absence?

2) McCaw vs. Smith. A guy coming back from injury and a guy playing his 100th test, both seemingly still at or near the tops of their game. As ever it will be enthralling to see if either has pulled ahead or closer to the other.

3) How will our scrum go? We seemed to make good headway last year but I was a little unimpressed against Italy and France. Will it come down to a referees toin coss again?

4) The lineout. An area I consider a traditional strength of aussie sides but, again, I was unimpressed so far this year. Seemed to not contest a lot of the time. Perhaps through focus more on 7s than on lineout jumpers?

5) Our backrow. Will Elsoms (eventual) return be all it’s been blow up to be? Will it inject the much-needed mongrel into this area? Will it match the SA and NZ backrows?

6) Will any of the backlines for any of the teams fire all do the teams all know one another too well by now and, like local derbies, they all be low scoring arm-wrestle affairs?

7) Our newbies. How will JoC and Genia go (assuming they get a run)? And Pocock? Are these the x-factors with a bit of unknown about them that might spark something in the backline?

Who will end up in the number 8 jersey? Which Palu will turn up? Will Brown make the most of his opportunities – I’m betting he WILL get some.

9) Will SA implode? If so, when?

Ahhh… bring it on.

Reply
Sam Taulelei said | July 12th 2009 @ 11:56pm | Report comment

Key player for NZ and Australia will be whoever is named at tighthead prop. For arguments sakes I’ll name Neemia Tialata and Al Baxter. An accurate indicator of which team will gain ascendancy in the forward pack will come at scrumtime. If the scrum is doing their job then the openside flanker has a headstart on the opposition ball. The halfback and first five are on the front foot and the backs will have a solid and reliable platform to attack from as well as defend. Nothing is more unsettling for a team than their scrum being disrupted on their own feed or going backwards. The pressure on an unsteady front row ripples through the rest of the team in a similar fashion to a dysfunctional lineout. NZ’s lineout has been one of the few shining lights of their past three tests and they may decide to attack the Wallabies in that area more than in previous encounters. The NZ scrum will have to match or exceed its lineout. The same is true for the Wallabies who although are the more settled and confident side haven’t yet been subjected to intense pressure from quality opposition so the jury is still out on how good this side really is. For the team that wins the scrum battles, forget about any great influence being exerted by the opposition number 10. There won’t be any.

Reply
Knives Out said | July 13th 2009 @ 2:29am | Report comment

Surely Robinson and Baxter. If that pair mangle Mtawarira and Smit as they did in the Super 14 then Australia will have a great foundation.

Reply
ohtani's jacket, said | July 13th 2009 @ 9:30am | Report comment

The key for both sides will be the backrow.

Henry and Co. will likely go with the backrow that won it for them last year — Kaino, McCaw and So’oialo, whereas Deans doesn’t appear to have his first choice backrow available. I still wait it as a 50-50 game, as opposed to the usual 70-30 odds in favour of NZ, but NZ have the better forward pack on paper.

The backs will only make a difference depending on who wins the forward battle. There’s not a single back in either side who can’t be contained by a first up tackle and I expect a defensive tussle for the most part.

Reply
Jameswm said | July 13th 2009 @ 10:44am | Report comment

Geez at this level everyone has to play well. They’re all good so we don’t know who will end up as the key player.

Reply
Knives Out said | July 13th 2009 @ 10:52am | Report comment

Can’t ignore the foundations, Ohtani. The tight five must come first. To that extent a big tournament is required from Woodcock, Hore and Thorn.

Reply
Hayden said | July 13th 2009 @ 11:08am | Report comment

Sam, couldn’t agree more. Never mind the show ponies and hair highlight brigade, whoever crunches the other guy up front will win. If Henry can get his forwards riled, or Deans for that matter, the rest is just window dressing.

Reply