Rugby World Cup Q&A with Brett McKay from 12:30pm today
Columnist By Brett McKay, 16 Sep 2011 Brett McKay is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- All Blacks, Rugby World Cup, Rugby World Cup 2011, RWC, RWC 2011, wallabies
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As Rugby World Cup 2011 moves into its second weekend of matches, some teams are starting to play their strategic cards, looking to manage player workloads and nurse any niggling injuries. Join The Roar’s rugby expert Brett McKay from 12:30pm (AEST) today as he answers your RWC questions.
In tonight’s match, Graham Henry has rung the changes for the All Blacks, with seven changes to the starting XV which defeated Tonga in the opening match of the tournament last Friday night.
And he’s hinted at a possible new position for Sonny Bill Williams when he comes off the bench, but like all good school teachers, he’s not giving out details of this assignment before he has to.
Japan’s coach, the former All Black great John Kirwan, has gone even further, with no fewer than ten changes to the starting side from the Brave Blossoms’ first match against France.
Depending on your perspective, Kirwan is either fully utilising his 30-man squad, or he’s fairly obviously conceding this match and saving his trumps for their match against Tonga next week.
Tomorrow night, all eyes on this side of the ditch will turn to Eden Park in Auckland, where hopefully the Wallabies can secure a rare win, even if it’s not against the usual opposition.
James O’Connor is unsurprisingly straight back into the run-on side, coming in for the injured Digby Ioane, though he and Adam Ashley-Cooper have switched wings. Ioane’s injury also means Anthony Fainga’a has earned a reprieve after an unhappy time of it last weekend against Italy.
Ireland have named a strong side, and skipper Brian O’Driscoll is rightly suggesting that Ireland are yet to show their best form this year. They will need to be a lot better than they were against the USA last weekend, for what is their biggest match of the pool stage.
But of course it doesn’t need to be all about the All Blacks and Wallabies; what’s grabbed your attention during the Rugby World Cup so far? Which players have stood out? Which team or teams are now smokeys for the quarters?
Fire your questions in and we’ll get through as many as we can live, between 12:30 and 1:30pm AEST today.
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Follow Brett McKay on Twitter: @BMcSport
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September 16th 2011 @ 9:07am
Piven said | September 16th 2011 @ 9:07am | Report comment
Hello Brett – great to have you liiiive. If you get around to it, my question is just a short one, what’s been your favourite match so far? (Mine has been the Samoa win – I just love the physicality and dominance over Namibia… Tuilagi!)
September 16th 2011 @ 12:31pm
Brett McKay said | September 16th 2011 @ 12:31pm | Report comment
Hi everyone, and thanks for firing in your questions early, hopefully I’ll get to all of them..
Piven, up until last night I would have said Scotland-Romania just shading Wales-South Africa, but the so-called “Cold War” match last night was a beauty. The US defence has really impressed me in their two games thus far, and their second half display especially was really enjoyable to watch. I don’t usually find defensive struggles that entertaining, but perhaps the spectacle of the RWC opens my mind further..
Samoa have been impressive in their own way, and I’m reallu looking forward to seeing them take on Wales, which of course could well decide a QF spot in their pool.
September 16th 2011 @ 9:07am
gusbrisbane said | September 16th 2011 @ 9:07am | Report comment
Any upsets this weekend Brett in the six games on Saturday and Sunday?
How do you think the Welsh will perform against Samoa after a heartbreaking loss to the Boks?
Cheers.
September 16th 2011 @ 12:37pm
Brett McKay said | September 16th 2011 @ 12:37pm | Report comment
Gus, that match you mention is possibly the best chance of an upset, and it could well be one of the games of the tourny. Wales were desperately unlucky against South Africa last weekend, and Samoa’s power game can’t be underestimated. How well Tusi Pisi recovers (if he recovers) from his hammy injury could have a major bearing on Samoa’s chance of course, but still, should be a cracker.
Wales, I think, perhaps need to be a little more patient than they were against SA. Warburton will win a ridiculous amount of ball at the breakdown for them, so it will just be about making the most of their opportunities. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them trying to turn the big Samoan wingers around with their kicking game, too.
Oh, and Shane WIlliams v Alesana Tuialagi might be worth the price of admission alone!!
September 16th 2011 @ 9:19am
grandpabhaile said | September 16th 2011 @ 9:19am | Report comment
If the Wallabies lose to Ireland somehow, will that be an upset?
September 16th 2011 @ 12:41pm
Brett McKay said | September 16th 2011 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
Depends on whose jumper you’re wearing, Grandpabhaile!!
If I can attempt to be objective here, it probably will be seen as an upset, yeah, but at the same time, it wouldn’t be that surprising. Ireland are well overdue for a good performance, and now that the Wallabies have notched two on the trot, there’s a decent argument to suggest that they might be now due for an ordinary showing.
You couldn’t rule either outcome out, though obvioulsy, one appeals to me more than the other!
September 16th 2011 @ 9:19am
ohtani's jacket said | September 16th 2011 @ 9:19am | Report comment
Wow, a Brett McKay Q&A… Brett, the Wallaby forwards were fairly lacklustre against the Italians, especially Samo who was seagulling around. Do you think this Vickerman/Samo injection can continue to lift the Wallabies over the entire span of the tournament or was it a one-time only Tri-Nations winning effort?
September 16th 2011 @ 12:49pm
Brett McKay said | September 16th 2011 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
Does this mean I’ve made it now, OJ??
I think the Wallaby forwards did pretty well against Italy, in the second half particularly, but there’s no doubt they’ll need to lift it again against one of the better packs getting around. I rewatched the Ireland-USA game again last night, and though the States have a decent pack themsleves, there were times where the Irish eight just toyed with them. The Wallabies will need to ensure that doesn’t happen, and certainly the front row is going to have to be on their game.
I certainly had reservations about Vickerman starting in Brisbane, but that concern quickly disipated. And he continued this last weekend too, so yeah, I think he will continue his inspiration (and repay the abundant faith shown in him, too). Samo is an interesting one, and I reckon he’s always been one of those players who is either brilliant or fair to middling. No prizes for guessing what I’m hoping for tomorrow night..
September 16th 2011 @ 9:31am
Worlds Biggest said | September 16th 2011 @ 9:31am | Report comment
What a great start to the Cup so far, may it continue. I really think Ireland will lift and if our pigs don’t muscle up ( like Brisbane ) we are in for one hell of a slog. The Wales v Samoa game will also be a beauty.
September 16th 2011 @ 9:47am
darwin stubby said | September 16th 2011 @ 9:47am | Report comment
Hope that industrial fire a fair distance from homebase mate ….. did C9 bid for RWC merely to try and derail it from a free to air point of view given their longstanding ties to RL … the wallabies / Ireland game on delay is mindblowing from a rugby admin point of view
I’m assuming there was some form of a bid process, so you would have thought the ARU would have got some assurances … for rugby to achieve any type of foothold in this country getting live coverage of as many game as possible to go up against the NRL / AFL finals would surely have been a priority
September 16th 2011 @ 12:59pm
Brett McKay said | September 16th 2011 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
nah, I’m well clear Darwin, perferring the cleaner air and leafy surrounds south of the lake..
You may or may not recall that I was happily talking Nine’s coverage plans up in the lead-up, but it’s fair to say I’ve been disappointed over the last week. I can’t fault their promotion of the tournament, and I still can’t get over ‘Rabbits’ Warren mentioning RWC details during an NRL call, but some of the decisions they’ve made around the coverage times have been bewildering, to say the least.
They did the right thing before the Bledisloe and TNs games, and listened to the demands of rugby people around the country, ensuring live coverage on digital channels were initially there were no plans to do so.
Now we’re in the ridiculous situation where Melbourne, Perth & Adelaide are getting RWC games live on digital channels, but the known rugby markets in Brisbane and Sydney (and Canberra, through the WIN network) only get delays on the main channel! HUH?!?
So to answer your question, maybe they have just got the rights so that they can horde, but I sincerely hope that’s not the case. It’s worth remembering that Nine had the 2011 & 2015 RWC rights (and the 2013 B&I Lions tour, too) before they get the TNs/SR rights, but I’d love to know what the ARU think about the coverage so far..
September 16th 2011 @ 2:21pm
Brett McKay said | September 16th 2011 @ 2:21pm | Report comment
Darwin, it seems we’re not alone on this issue on RWC coverage, I just found this on ABCs ‘The Drum’, from Justin Shaw today: http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/2902484.html
(The Roar even gets a mention…)
September 16th 2011 @ 9:55am
The Bush said | September 16th 2011 @ 9:55am | Report comment
Brett,
1. Do you think Fiji has the ability, this time round, to run South Africa close (recalling their 2007 exploits)?
2. Unfortunately the only game I’ve missed so far is the Samoa v Namibia game – by all reports Samoa look good – are they good enough to get the Big V over Wales?
3. I was rather disappointed with the performance of Georgia against Scotland during the week. Do you feel that perhaps the weight of expectation (both at hime where the sport is huge, and on the field where results have shown they can compete with the best) for the Scotland game (beatable Top Tier) stiffled their game and do you expect them to play with more freedom against England?
4. Finally, After Canada’s performance mid-week, despite the four (4) day turn around, do you think they can put on a good show against the French? Or do you expect the French to “bounce back” from the Japan game?
September 16th 2011 @ 1:07pm
Brett McKay said | September 16th 2011 @ 1:07pm | Report comment
Bushy, I’ll follow your numbering..
1. Yes, but I think South Africa’s defence will be too good;
2. As I’ve mentioned above, Samoa-Wales could well be one of the games of the tournament, and yes, I think they are good enough to beat Wales. Whether they will beat Wales is another story, but they’re certainly good enough.
3. I’m with you in that disapointment in Georia, and they may as well attempt to play with some freedon against England. Last week, I actually mentioned Scotland-Georgia as a possible upset game, so it was disappointing to see it play out like it did, though the rain in Invercargill wasn’t that condusive to throwing the ball around. John Muggleton’s work is evident in their defence, but I didn’t see even so much as an inkling that they wanted to spread Scotland wide. Maybe that was a plan?
4. Canada were great yesterday against Tonga, and I’d love to see them knock off France, but I can’t imagine the Frenchies will risk two public sprays from the coach in a week…
September 16th 2011 @ 9:56am
Worlds Biggest said | September 16th 2011 @ 9:56am | Report comment
here here Darwin, I’d like the Roar if possible to take this to the ARU. This game is one of the Biggest in the tournament so far and not to show it live is scandalous. Instead Ch 9 are probably showing Funniest Home Video’s at 6.30. What a farce. What were the ARU thinking giving 9 the rights ?
September 16th 2011 @ 10:06am
darwin stubby said | September 16th 2011 @ 10:06am | Report comment
It’s especially strange in this day and age with free to air digital channels – I’ve no problems with them playing the league live from Brisbane on 9 … but surely they could committed to having a full on RWC show on one of their other channels … something is definitely not right with this … .I just hope the ARU are satisfied with what ever cash they picked up for being dudded
September 16th 2011 @ 10:57am
MR01 said | September 16th 2011 @ 10:57am | Report comment
DS – What’s thrown me is that after all the complaints last week they showed some games live on digital which was great, but this weekend 9 seem to have reverted to their original pathetic coverage. Samoa Wales would be a great game to watch ! I could handle missing ABs Japan if they chose to show some of the more ‘interesting games of the round
September 16th 2011 @ 1:24pm
p.Tah said | September 16th 2011 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
Anyone know where to watch games on the net?
September 16th 2011 @ 1:08pm
Brett McKay said | September 16th 2011 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
Eds, if we’ve got the ability to pass these messages of concern (to say the least) to HQ, I think it’d be great to get some feedback…
September 16th 2011 @ 10:01am
King of the Gorgonites said | September 16th 2011 @ 10:01am | Report comment
your own Q & A!
just one question, are you getting over the ditch for any of the games?
now for a comment on some posts, Channel 9 is showing the game live into non-rugby states live on GEM. IMO Channel 9′s coverage has been fine.
A poster had a critiscm of Georgia. there issue is their back. they struggle to scroe tries. imagine if they still played as the USSR. with the georgian forward pack and the russian backline, it would be very competitive.
September 16th 2011 @ 10:18am
darwin stubby said | September 16th 2011 @ 10:18am | Report comment
there’s nothing to indicate that it’ll be on free to air up here in the NT … and anyway why not free to air on GEM nationwide and why not give the public the option of catching some of the other games
September 16th 2011 @ 11:13am
The Bush said | September 16th 2011 @ 11:13am | Report comment
KOG
I’m aware of their limitations and it definately is in the backs. The othe problem is their second row – hence why the scrum was suprisingly week considering they have one of the most formidable front rows in the world. If the team was still the “USSR” they would benefit from not just Russia’s backs, but also Russia’s locks, one of which plays Top 14 (plus they have Adam Byrnes now too) means the team would be quite formiddable.
Like all developing rugby nations, including Italy and to a much, much smaller degree Argentina, it takes time to develope the kind of quality backs that we possess. Big, tough men can be taught to scrummage – having Quade Coopers skills is about attracting the right athletes (at an early age).
September 16th 2011 @ 1:11pm
Brett McKay said | September 16th 2011 @ 1:11pm | Report comment
KotGs, no plans at this stage, though anyone considering conjuring and funding such plans should be encouraged to do so. And please include room for mum & bub at home too…
NIce thoughts on the ‘USSR’ combo – the Russians looked dangerous last night, but just couldn’t crack an impressive US line.
September 16th 2011 @ 10:12am
Worlds Biggest said | September 16th 2011 @ 10:12am | Report comment
KOG – why couldn’t Ch 9 show the game live in the Rugby states on GEM ? Instead we get re runs of Seinfeld etc..It’s a disgrace.
September 16th 2011 @ 10:17am
King of the Gorgonites said | September 16th 2011 @ 10:17am | Report comment
its all about ratings. there would be no comemrical tv without ratings. channel 9 figures it would get a bigger audience by showing it directly after the league. i see their logic. plus it will get some casual watchers in on it.