Cut some slack, Henry’s building for the RWC
Roar Rookie By Bronson2my, 7 Aug 2009 Bronson2my is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- All Blacks, Bryn Evans, Corey Jane, Graham Henry, International Rugby, Isaac Ross, Rugby Union, RWC, Stephen Donald, Tri Nations
Related coverage
- Rugby Union news
- Tri Nations Tournament news
- International Rugby Union - Six Nations, Heineken Cup, Rugby Championship news
- New Zealand All Blacks news
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.
Recommend this story.
August 7th 2009 @ 3:59pm
Rugby4Life said | August 7th 2009 @ 3:59pm | Report comment
GreenandGold, I generally dont reply to these but I had to with your comment, ‘Giteau is a far better player than Carter will ever be.’
Are you kidding? You must be the only rugby fan in the entire world to think this.
And I imagine on the 22nd, ONCE AGAIN he will be shown up by Carter.
August 7th 2009 @ 4:40pm
GreenandGold said | August 7th 2009 @ 4:40pm | Report comment
HA HA All the Kiwis have come out firing. I know it hurts but don;t worry..maybe one year when the Wallabies and SA dont participate in a world cup..you could battle it out with Wales or England.
Jokes aside, why do you guys all think Carter is superman? The fact is he got owned in that semi final against France and please dont give me any ‘injury’ excuse because there was none. Even Michalak pulled off a better performance !!
You may have won 22-16 in Auckland but geez wait til the 22nd when we run riot like we did last year. The players may have changed but the game is still the same.
August 11th 2009 @ 12:46pm
Fuzz said | August 11th 2009 @ 12:46pm | Report comment
Surely we are not talking GreenandGold about the same Wallabies team that has now lost it’s last four matches against the All Blacks, the same Wallabies outfit that has not had the Bledisloe Cup or Trinations title for over 6 years,
Last 4 matches are as follows
1. Eden park 09 NZ 22 – 16 Aus
2. HK 08 NZ 19 – 14 Aus
3. Brisbane 08 NZ 28 – 24 Aus
4. Eden Park 08 NZ 39 – 10 Aus
Most titles won:
1.New Zealand – 37 (including 1931)
2.Australia – 12
Longest time held by Australia: 5 years (1998-2002) (5 Titles)
Longest time held by New Zealand: 27 years (1951-1978) (12 Titles)
Tri Nations NZ 9 Aus 2
World 7s Series NZ 8 Aus 0
I think New Zealand s record more than makes up for the one more World cup that Australia holds.
As for 07 being a disgrace it sure was for that Ref and his touchies for letting a forward pass go that was so far forward they were calling mine up in Denmark.
August 7th 2009 @ 4:41pm
sportphobia said | August 7th 2009 @ 4:41pm | Report comment
Does anyone else just laugh at all the comments by ‘greenand gold’?
“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.”
On a serious note, some fair points brought up in this article. The fact that players such as Ali Williams, Kevin Mealamu ect is a positive thing for the All Blacks, allowing them to get undistrupted rugby under their belt heading into 2011. I am more concerned about the tactics Henry used against the South Africans in both tests. The talent is there in New Zealand rugby, as is the depth to be the best side in the world. It will just come down to fitness, tactics and combinations in 2011.
August 7th 2009 @ 4:52pm
GreenandGold said | August 7th 2009 @ 4:52pm | Report comment
Sportphobia – Are there any non kiwi fans on this site?
One criticism i do have against Australian rugby is the lack of support!!! I went to the France v Wallabies game at Telstra and there was a serious lack of support. The French drowned any aussie chants.
Going back the article – Which Kiwis have stepepd up? You know realise how pathetic Rokocoko is and that Muliana cannot penetrate through defences. Andrew Whore obviously doesn’t know the term ‘straight’ or finds it amusing to overthrow on their own lineouts. Isaac Ross is still getting through Rugby 1011 hence we cannot blame him for coming from an offside position and kicking the ball when SA clearly had it.
Yea, there are a number of positives….. if you’re an aussie or south african that is.
August 7th 2009 @ 11:37pm
ohtani's jacket said | August 7th 2009 @ 11:37pm | Report comment
At least someone sports wood for the green and gold.
August 8th 2009 @ 12:04am
pothale said | August 8th 2009 @ 12:04am | Report comment
OJ! Language please – this is a family forum. Tsk, tsk.
August 8th 2009 @ 1:04am
ohtani's jacket said | August 8th 2009 @ 1:04am | Report comment
Sorry. It was a typo. I meant supports the green and gold.
August 7th 2009 @ 5:02pm
Ben J said | August 7th 2009 @ 5:02pm | Report comment
I would hate it if my team concedes tests 2 YEARS out only to “prepare” for the World Cup. Winning is a habit , not something that can be turned on at will.
August 7th 2009 @ 10:33pm
katzilla said | August 7th 2009 @ 10:33pm | Report comment
But we’ve had that in spades Ben J
It obviously didn’t work.
August 8th 2009 @ 1:15am
Knives Out said | August 8th 2009 @ 1:15am | Report comment
2005 and 2006 must have been hard years for you then, Benjamin.
August 7th 2009 @ 7:06pm
Rugby4Life said | August 7th 2009 @ 7:06pm | Report comment
Greenandgold, we will all see whos having a chuckle on Sunday morning, when your Green and YELLOW team get a wallopping. We all know its coming… do you? As for your world cup team, will they actually allow Mortlock on the pitch with a zimmerframe?
August 7th 2009 @ 10:32pm
katzilla said | August 7th 2009 @ 10:32pm | Report comment
For guys that a Regulars on here –
Greg Smith has 3 accounts.
Trophymaster
Greg Smith
And Greenandgold
Don’t be fooled by the not so subtle Nom De Plume.
Greenandgold in his mind DOES NOT refer to the Wallabies.
August 10th 2009 @ 2:50pm
Johnny English said | August 10th 2009 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
Green and Gold where were your aussies in the weekend?
Wasnt i right about Mortlock? Old and looks as if the body is going out the door.
(i must say be sad to see him go because he is a great player no doubt about that…… makes the best losing captains speech ever as well.)
How about Giteau throwing the game away……. Dan Carter would never have done that.
Not sure if u know but Dan back in the All Black camp…. Shivers down the shine of the Aussie team i bet.
by the way he scored all of Canterburys points in their win over Auckland.
The player with class in your team is James O’Connor who grew up in NZ anyway.
Great feedback from the Kiwis the numbers stack up against you!
August 11th 2009 @ 12:09pm
Todd Day said | August 11th 2009 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
OK say what you like chokers and all that rubbish but seriously who has a better win loss record than the AB’s at test level? So every 4 years we seem to watch it sail away…..but the other 3 we beat all comers (apart from the Henry and Hart years). Funny thing if the Aussies hadn’t made the final in 2003 the tournament woulda been a financial disaster….and 2007 looked like all 4 sthn hemisphere teams were a walk up to the finals and both aussie and NZ get knocked out insuring a financial success with england and france somehow scrapeing in…….both 2003 and 2007 questionable referring but both tournaments went on to be very financially succesful…… Never trust anything the IRB run, they scream dishonour……just look at what they do to the Pacific Islands and asia…..give them a few dollars and alot of lipservice…..disgraceful! Sack the NZRFU before you sack Henry, It’s not his fault they appointed him when he was so obviously incompetent! It’s not his fault they let Robbie and Gats go…..disgraceful!
August 11th 2009 @ 1:02pm
ohtani's jacket said | August 11th 2009 @ 1:02pm | Report comment
What is all this squabbling from two sides who are a combined 0-3 against the Boks this year?
Deans’ failure in South Africa pretty much mirrored Henry and Co. It’s hardly worth having a Deans vs. Henry argument now, is it?