Rugby’s north vs south internationals
Roar Rookie By Francois le Roux, 7 Jun 2012 Francois le Roux is a Roar Rookie
- Tagged:
- All Blacks, robbie deans, Rugby Union, Wales rugby, wallabies
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It’s hard to believe but the 2012 international rugby season is already under way. It feels as although it was just yesterday that the All Blacks were crowned champions of the world for the second time.
What an exciting time in rugby it is. We are entering new coaching eras for the AB’s as well as the ‘Boks and a fresh start for Dingo Deans and his young Wallaby Side. There is little doubt that 2012 is the year of the unknown.
The June Internationals did not start so well for Robbie Deans on Tuesday night as Scotland earned a rare win on Aussie soil, on a shocking Newcastle night. In all fairness, it was a second string side from the Wallabies, made up mostly of Reds and Force players and a few fringe players from other franchises.
It was a dour affair and even the most die-hard rugby fans would be hard pressed to describe the game as anything other than simply boring, hard fought as it was.
Australia faces a much tougher task this weekend as Wales are looking ominous after a great World Cup showing and Six Nations crown. Although there are a few injury woes for the men from the UK, such as star inside centre Jamie Roberts, they will be more than confident going into the Wallaby clash.
On the other hand the Wallabies won’t be feeling too concerned about their loss to Scotland and will be looking forward to putting the whole experience behind them and quickly consolidating against Wales. A lot of people are predicting the Welsh to come out all guns blazing and blow the Wallabies off the park.
While this is a real possibility, it is probably not going to happen. The Wallabies are a different beast altogether in Brisbane and it is truly a fortress of world rugby. Even the All Blacks and Springboks have fallen victim to the Wallabies when backed by the Queensland crowd. The combination of a Wallaby team on the rebound and Suncorp Stadium should see the Wallabies up by 11.
The All Blacks take on the men from the emerald Isle in what should prove to an extremely fascinating clash. The All Blacks are entering an age post Graham Henry and will be looking to impress early. Steve Hansen has made some strange selections (Piri Weepu in particular) and will be looking to quickly stamp his own authority on All Blacks history.
The Irish will also be relishing an opportunity to get an extremely rare win over the All Blacks. And if the feat was ever to be accomplished, many feel this is the best opportunity the Irish will get.
The Irish have a few of their own injury concerns heading into the three-match-series with veteran lock Paul O’Connell not expected to be fit for the first game at Eden Park.
However, the All Blacks should get up by at least eight.
The Springboks take on England with the first test at Kings Park in Durban. The Springboks, like the All Blacks, are also sailing in waters unknown with new coach Heyneke Meyer selecting a rather controversial squad that features very few players from Super Rugby’s table toping Stormers.
The side is predominantly made up of Bulls and Sharks players and with notable exclusions, such as the omission of Heinrich Brussow, there is a definite element of mysticism in the Springboks at the moment.
The Boks will have to learn to do without the likes of Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, John Smit and Fourie du Preez, who have all moved on. There is still a blend of youth and experience in the Springbok camp, it just all depends on how the new Boks Mentor uses his artillery.
England too have a new coach and were top contenders in the recent Six Nations. They were in fact unlucky to be beaten by Wales due to a highly controversial call at the death. Stuart Lancaster took over after an abysmal World Cup campaign for the former world champions and by all accounts is improving his young English side.
Although England are looking good, an injury free (since the local derbies) Boks side should be too strong as combinations should not be too unfamiliar in the Boks squad. Boks should win by nine in a low scoring game.
Enjoy the rugby on the weekend guys. Give your opinions in the comments below!
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The Crowd Says (10) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- All Blacks, robbie deans, Rugby Union, Wales rugby, wallabies
June 7th 2012 @ 2:04am
Johnno said | June 7th 2012 @ 2:04am | Report comment
great weekend of rugby ahead , NH V SH but some feelings to come alreayd out of the aussie vs scotland match and the NH VS SH matches coming up.
-Wouldn’t it be great if rugby union like rugby league could be on a global rugby calander
-All the players all on the same timetable same level of match fittness and time of the season
-so there would be less pull outs from the Nh squads Scotland’s dave denton, and wales jamie roberts
-Still going to be great rugby but hope rugby union larns a thing or 2 about scheduling from there rugby league friends who have always been good friends and develop a sam time table or a global rugby calander.
-Still looking forwad to the matches can’t wait but the NH players have come off a big season would be great if all players around the world were on a 100% same timetable like rugby league , or like majority of soccer leagues around the world.
June 7th 2012 @ 4:45am
Viscount Crouchback said | June 7th 2012 @ 4:45am | Report comment
I have an inkling that the northern teams will be much more competitive than usual and will win at least one, and possibly two, of the weekend’s confrontations.
Why?
Because the new lengthened Super Rugby season is a disaster for the southern hemisphere’s national teams. Pocock & Co now turn up for duty more tired than before, and probably less focussed than before, given that these internationals take place during the domestic season.
Thus, your players are now nearly as hamstrung by the calendar as ours have always been, and we will see a consequent levelling up of results.
June 7th 2012 @ 7:10am
Jerry said | June 7th 2012 @ 7:10am | Report comment
I don’t follow how they’d be more tired they’ve played 13 games so far which is the same they’d have played in any season since expansion in 2006. In fact, for the top sides, it’s less.
June 9th 2012 @ 10:16am
Nick said | June 9th 2012 @ 10:16am | Report comment
same old unsubstantiated myth.
Its not been your calendar thats hamstrung you. Its that you’ve played teams that are better than you.
You might win a game or two this weekend but when we look back in 5 years we’ll see the same pattern we’ve seen for the last 105. Dominance with the occasional surge here and there by the NH
June 9th 2012 @ 10:24am
Ben S said | June 9th 2012 @ 10:24am | Report comment
So it’s a myth that the French calendar is ridiculously long? That’s unsubstantiated?
June 10th 2012 @ 12:45pm
Nick said | June 10th 2012 @ 12:45pm | Report comment
No, its a myth that the reason for the SH dominance is that the NH sides don’t have the same prep for matches.
4 zip overnight would tend to back that up right? Wallabies had bugger all time to prepare 2 games in 5 days and the ABs had a week together and mowed down the irish like they weren’t there.
If you’re going to continue to blame defeat on being ‘hamstrung’ by anything other than not developing good enough players and coaching staff then you’re going to continuer to lose.
June 7th 2012 @ 2:50pm
moaman said | June 7th 2012 @ 2:50pm | Report comment
” Thus, your players are now nearly as hamstrung by the calendar as ours have always been ” ‘Always’ is a long time Count.Please elaborate.
June 8th 2012 @ 6:34am
Pot Hale said | June 8th 2012 @ 6:34am | Report comment
Since 14 November 632 BC.
June 9th 2012 @ 10:14am
Nick said | June 9th 2012 @ 10:14am | Report comment
What strange selections has Hansen made? You cite Piri but to be honest he had to pick him as he made clear. The decision was a simple one: Pick two half backs who play the same game (smith and ellis) or pick the better of those two (smith) and have an alternate style to finish the game in a robust combative player like weepu.
Other than Weepu what are the odd selections? There aren’t any. It’s the only side that could’ve been picked. Its the absolute best NZ can produce (aside from injuries to jane, kahui and kaino)
June 10th 2012 @ 4:16pm
Francois le Roux said | June 10th 2012 @ 4:16pm | Report comment
Nick,
Selections like Weepu over Ellis are strange, and its widely regarded to be the case here in New Zealand. Other strange selections include Ali Williams, Victor Vito ahead of Thompson and the several wings/fullbacks that were picked ahead of Andre Taylor.
I did not imply that his selections were down right bad and wrong, I merely made an observation. An observation that the rest of New Zealand made as well.
Next time, before your so critical, do a little bit of research and don’t make assumptions based on your very limited knowledge of other peoples opinions.