Cut some slack, Henry’s building for the RWC
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By Bronson2my, 7 Aug 2009 Bronson2my is a Roar Rookie
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New Zealand's Piri Weepu looks to offload the ball under pressure from Australia's Benn Robinson (left) and Stephen Moore in the first Tri-Nations rugby test of the year, Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand, Saturday, July 18, 2009. (AAP Image/NZPA, Ben Campbell)
Like most other rugby fans, I see the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup as being very important and hope that the All Blacks can pull through. But I would happily swap them both for the Webb Ellis Cup.
Does New Zealand actually think Graham Henry doesn’t know what he is doing with this young All Black team?
Blooding Players
We are a team building towards a World Cup. We are blooding players, making sure these players will be able to perform at peak Test level come 2011.
Think of players like Isaac Ross, Bryn Evans, Stephen Donald, Corey Jane, Aled De Malmanche, and Kieran Read. Notice how there are a lot of new faces that are starting to pop up in the black jersey?
We can see how much we miss the likes of Aaron Mauger, Nick Evans, Carl Hayman, and Dan Carter, but in their absence, haven’t other players really stepped up?
I watched Owen Franks’ game closely last weekend and believed he did a good job. 21 years of age playing a pack of South African Mongrels and marking “The Beast.”
Not a bad effort.
Isaac Ross has come on nicely, and with Chris Jack coming back as well, as Ali Williams coming back from injury, I think Steve Hansen will be licking his lips with the amount of line-out talent we are going to have next year.
Stephen Donald has played well in parts and I am glad they gave him the nod as he is a specialist first five and his form has been solid enough.
Donald makes a few mistakes here and there. But once he works these out, then he can start to establish himself as a World Class Number 10.
Players getting the niggles right
We are getting players that have little niggles and injuries fixed. For example, Daniel Carter, Richie McCaw, Rodney So’oialo, Ali Williams, Richard Kahui, Rudi Wulf, and Adam Thompson.
All of these players will play a huge role in the All Blacks come World Cup year.
Are New Zealand panicking too early?
We lost two games against a very strong South African team who have been together for years now.
New Zealand needs to sit back and chill for a bit. Putting pressure on the All Black coaches is not going to work. They know what they’re doing.
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pothale said | August 7th 2009 @ 7:10am | Report comment
I’d love to cut and paste this and just stick in another country’s name, coach and relevant players and see would it still make sense. Betcha it would.
GreenandGold said | August 7th 2009 @ 9:39am | Report comment
Building for a WC? ha ha like in 95, 99, 03, 07 – Yeah somehow the NZ public keep falling for that old excuse.
The ultimate choke will be on display when they crumble on their own backyard.
The Kiwis have no game breakers – The refs need to get on Mcaw’s back and stop his cheating ways. It was great to see the SA backrow outmuscle him hence the easy victories.
The Wallabies will teach the Saffas a good lesson tomorrow night!!
Johnny English said | August 7th 2009 @ 9:59am | Report comment
I’m guessing your on of those jumped up Aussies?
Remembering your team didnt win 2007 either… You’ve won times before but really? No game breakers?
Who have you got? Giteau (personally believe he would be gutted he wasnt born in NZ he has far too much talent for that Aussie team. He would warm the bench nicely behind i dont know Dan Carter the best player in the world…
Who else?
Mortlock? He’s past it and i dont think he is going to make it to the next world cup thats if his old legs can carry him there.
Game Breakers
Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Ma Nonu, Mils Muliana, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Carl Hayman, Rodney So’oailo
Dont worry about us mate I would be more concerned with the Aussies first.
This was aimed at the NZ public to make them see a different side a more in depth look at it rather than we are going to lose oh no the world is going to end….
I will support the Aussies tomorrow night but come Sydney Dan Carter back in the 10 jersey i can’t see Aussies toppling the All Blacks
Tell me mate, who won the first Tri Nations match at Eden Park this year?
Think you will find it wasn’t your belovered Aussie Team
GreenandGold said | August 7th 2009 @ 10:13am | Report comment
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaZYqU3kr6c
Its plays like this which NZ can never pull off hence their constant wait for a world cup trophy
Even looser said | August 7th 2009 @ 12:13pm | Report comment
G&G – As a Wallaby fan I was loving the trip down Memory Lane. What a try by Kefu great effort. No doubt about it.
And then I made the fateful mistake and clicked another Youtube Rugby hoping for more joy but instead it was those dreaded chaps in black that poke out their tongues and slap their thighs, giving us a right royal rogering. Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!
Bronson said | August 7th 2009 @ 10:42am | Report comment
nice one….
Considering that happend when 2000?
Tell me please as i am dying to know how many times have aussie won the Bledisloe Cup since then?
How many times have the All Blacks won it?
Stop trying to say your team is better face it man it’s not…
I will admit some great players have come out of it but Aussie are average.
Unconditional said | August 7th 2009 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
I agree. I think the wallabies are to fall considerably short come come sunday morning. It’s amazing that when a team like the All Blacks lose a couple of games, the Aussies and Saffas love to verbally beat them down. The New Zealand public is guilty of this also. They are in a massive transition period, and they have a lot to work on. Bearing in mind that alot of heavy artillery will be back very soon, and once these AB’s “click” into gear, they will be a extremely formidable force.
Jameswm said | August 7th 2009 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
Doesn’t anyone else have philosophical problems with teams conceding games as preparation for the RWC? Shouldn’t they be trying to win every game? Is it worth losing for 3 years to do well at a WC?
ohtani's jacket said | August 7th 2009 @ 11:31pm | Report comment
I don’t think they’re losing on purpose. People are just trying to rationalise why we’re playing so badly.
Fuzz said | August 11th 2009 @ 12:35pm | Report comment
Look at South Africa in 07, they were happy to concede 3 games to go on and win the world cup they were also happy to then back this up by concedeing another 4 games to their Sanzar partners so yes maybe it is worth losing in between.
Many people it seems have not picked up on the fact that NZ doesn’t have bad years in between up until now, maybe this is a change in fortunes. I think the world should be worried we are having a bad year now because I very much doubt there will be much tinkering with this All Blacks side from 2010 in. Henrys experimentations bit him in the butt big time on 07 and surely he can’t be that stupid to do it again but then again can he…….?
GreenandGold said | August 7th 2009 @ 1:57pm | Report comment
Johnny English – when is your next stand up comedy performance?
Only SA and AUS can boast that they have won the world cup TWICE. Australia dont even regard rugby as one of their top 3 sports yet they have won more world cups than the kwis. NZ eat & shit rugby yet always and i repeat ALWAYS fall short when its crunch time.
Losing to the French in 07 was an absolute disgrace and seriously cannot be forgiven. You can beat us every game for all I care but i know if we line up in the world cup, the wallabies will demolish you. It would be good if NZ devoted some of its attention to league in which they are the rightful world champions (sigh – probably because it only involves counting to 6 and then kicking) – simple enough for the Kiwis to follow i suppose.
Giteau is a far better player than Carter will ever be. Anyone can perform when their pack is dominating. Have you forgotten how Giteau single handedly brought the Force back against the Crusaders this year when nothing was going right. Can you seriously tell me that Carter could have done that? Probably too worried about his makeup and hair product to put his body on the line.
Unconditional -The Kiwis have already kicked into gear; unfortunately it has lead to 2 agonising losses in SA =)
The whole irony of this is that a Kiwi coach will lead the Wallabies to world cup glory in NZ ! !
Johnny English said | August 7th 2009 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
check this out……
Dan Carter.
See if your intelligence level is high enough to count how many points carter scores
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7n–fmt2wMw&feature=related
Hammer said | August 7th 2009 @ 3:41pm | Report comment
“Have you forgotten how Giteau single handedly brought the Force back against the Crusaders this year when nothing was going right.” .. yawn … yeah with one of his trademark breaks and even more trademark 2 metre forward pass … the bloke can’t even run a game for 40 minutes let alone for a full game … but good luck to ya – you’ll need it …