Wallabies and All Blacks at top strength
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The Wallabies are set to stick to their tried and true players while New Zealand are poised to make half a dozen changes to bolster their team for Saturday night’s Bledisloe Cup Test at Eden Park.
Both teams will announce their sides on Thursday morning for what shapes as a major litmus test for the trans-Tasman rivals leading into next month’s World Cup.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has shown his hand in training over the past week, rewarding the starting 15 which outclassed the depleted South Africans 39-20 in their Tri-Nations opener 12 days ago in Sydney.
The only changes are expected on the bench where lock Dan Vickerman, halfback Luke Burgess and winger Lachie Turner are in line for promotions.
The All Blacks have key forward quartet Keven Mealamu, Owen Franks, Brad Thorn and Kieran Read all ready to return after being rested for last weekend’s 40-7 thumping of the Springboks.
Halfback Piri Weepu and winger Hosea Gear have shrugged off injury-riddled seasons to be in line for starts in the backline at the expense of Jimmy Cowan and Zac Guilford.
The Wallabies flew to New Zealand on Wednesday night desperate to end a 25-year drought in Auckland while the All Blacks want to continue their amazing record at Eden Park where they are unbeaten against all nations dating back 17 years.
A New Zealand victory will instantly retain the Bledisloe Cup for the eighth straight year.
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The Crowd Says (5) | Page 1 of Comments
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August 4th 2011 @ 6:24am
Moaman said | August 4th 2011 @ 6:24am | Report comment
New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw(c) 6 Jerome Kaino , 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Samuel Whitelock, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Colin Slade, 22 Sonny Bill Williams.
So,seven changes to last week and still a couple of alterations with the object of rehabilitation in mind.Gear,Sivivatu,Ellis.Interesting too-I believe if the Selectors are going to stick with SBW as a bench player then that enhances the chance of Slade making the Cup due to his versatility.The makeup of the bench is probably more of a poser than the starting lineup.When you throw names like Toeava and Dagg into the mix alongside the Janes and Guildfords et al -it looks a real headache for the 3 Wise Men.
August 4th 2011 @ 6:46am
Dave said | August 4th 2011 @ 6:46am | Report comment
I’m willing to punt that SBW will start one of the away games. Possibly Kahui too.
Toeava in particular but also Dagg have been out for a while now, I think they’ll have to be thrown in if he’s to make the cup squad. He’s had a wretched run with injuries Toeava.
August 4th 2011 @ 7:11am
Moaman said | August 4th 2011 @ 7:11am | Report comment
Dave-If the ABs win-and I expect them to-this saturday-and thereby lock away the Bled…..the squad to make the away leg of the 3N might be quite different and I would be surprised if SBW didnt start at least one.How does Henry play it if the Boks field a full-strength side of miraculously recovered top players at PE? Agree about Toeava-that hip problem he has is a real bummer.I spend a lot of my time defending him to mates of mine-I think he is a very under-rated player.
August 4th 2011 @ 8:05am
cinematic said | August 4th 2011 @ 8:05am | Report comment
IMO this is more a power based side compared with last weeks snappier side. Accordingly I expect a very direct approach from the AB’s this weekend. Nice bench.
August 4th 2011 @ 12:04pm
kaha said | August 4th 2011 @ 12:04pm | Report comment
Great I hope everybody agrees the best sides they can both put out. So no excuses from the loser( we still got injuries to come back, it wasn’t ourbest side, the rwc is the goal this year etc etc) Like one boxer said “take your beating like a man”.
GO THE BLACKS