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[caption id="attachment_12163" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="New Zealand\'s All Blacks players pose with the trophy after defeating Australia Wallabies to win the Bledisloe Cup in Hong…
[caption id="attachment_9721" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Springboks Bryan Habana looks to get a pass away as the Wallabies Matt Giteau tackles him to the ground during…
[caption id="attachment_9738" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Australia\'s Adam Ashley-Cooper celebrates Australia\'s win during the Tri Nations Test match between the Australian Wallabies and the South African…
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[caption id="attachment_9604" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="New Zealand All Blacks\' Jerome Kaino, left, is tackled by South Africa\'s Bryan Habana during their international rugby test at…
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You would think that with just one Ashes triumph since 1989, England would have approached the first Test on red alert, DEFCON 1, and…
If history were to reflect on the achievements of the Tri Nations sides up to this point, then South Africa, victors over the British…
If one was to believe the talk coming from sections of the local media and former Australian test players, then we are witnessing the…
First played in 1892, the French domestic championship begins in a little over a month, with the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (the French National…
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Spencer and OJ, have just submitted an article to the Roar, but you can read it here.
http://www.rugbycountry.net/2009/06/all-blacks-team-for-2nd-test.html
At the bottom has all the injuries, availabilities, and my pick for the second test team.
Some quick fixes for the All Blacks
I hear you OJ, that sentence by Spiro made no sense at all.
Would love to read his analysis when the All Blacks won a game, considering he could never once seem to jump on a kiwi teams bandwagon during the Super 14.
Also, a bit of a moot point talking about not taking a drop goal, it’s just not in NZ teams mentality.
Also this sentence
“Down 17 – 3 at half-time (the same score line, ironically, at Canberra but with the Wallabies in the lead against Italy), the All Blacks focused their play better and struggled their way to 17 – 17, with a strong chance to win a now unexpected – and undeserved up to this stage – victory.”
Well, the score was 17-11 at halftime, but you say then a strong chance to win?? Nothing that I saw ever had me thinking the the AB’s were in a position to win. French always had the upper hand.
It's all grey for the inexperienced All Blacks
OJ,
Excellent point regarding the “fit”. It would be so interesting in a alternative universe to see what Deans All Blacks would look like had he had the reigns for the last few months.
To build further on your point, many New Zealand coaches have been guilty of provincial favouritism. It was said that the reason a fit again Tana Umaga was not selected in the 2003 World Cup semi final was due to Deans case supporting Macdonald as the starting number 13.
That has been the great aspect of Henry’s 2008 campaign. He has undone “philosophies” that were not working, a la the left right side openside combination seen early in the Tri Nations. Unlike All Black teams in the past, the current hybird seems to be based on a far more patient system, rather than the frantic recycling teams we saw in the past (get it to Lomu ring a bell).
However – while I would agree with OJ and rate Cullen and Brooke “real” world class, I still think Mils and Rodders have the goods to be up there. Remember that these men have suffered from positional switches and rotation, something that never happened to the paekakariki express and Zinny.
All Black depth looking immense again
Thank you so much Roar!
Am humbled to win such a great prize – thanks for such a great competition, and I hope that watching more sports on it will help me write even better articles.
Again, very humbled, very appreciative.
Greatest Australian sporting moment? Winner announced!
In response to a short turnaround, why not have the top 4 or top 6 teams in the world compete.
Maybe the top two six nations and top two tri nations.
Have a good proper comp with no minnows, just round robin games where there is no hiding or avoiding the other best teams in the world.
Rugby must be added to the Olympics
Roars title mate, not mine.
All Blacks face the heat against rampaging Boks