A dead rubber? Try telling that to the Kiwi and Australian fans when their teams clash heads this weekend in the final Tri-Nations of the 2010 season. Let’s take a moment and explore the good, the bad and the ugly facing both teams this weekend:
Wallabies:
The Good
• Absolutely rapturous and upbeat after a superb last minute win against the Boks after decades long drought.
• Sydney – the fortress of Australia and the home of the only Bledisloe success under the Deans reign (2008).
• A win here breaks the stranglehold of the All Blacks and provides real hope for the World Cup and that’s a lot of motivation.
• The Wallaby pace out of the gates is fast and furious and four tries in the first 20 minutes of the last two games is truly impressive.
The Bad
• The second half jitters and the Melbourne debacle after the last Bok victory
• The Deans strategy looks a lot like the Kiwi template (are they cousins?)
• Nonu, McCaw, Dagg, Mils, Read, Jane, Woodcock, Thorn, Henry.
• Jetlag, battered, bruised and tired legs.
The Ugly
• John Williamson’s sad attempt to resurrect Waltzing Matilda.
• A loss means an unprecedented 10 losses on the trot for the Wallabies. A bad loss and evil eyes turn back on Deans.
• The longest winning streak in the last 32 games is three, and that includes Italy.
All Blacks:
The Good
• A win here is 14 victories in succession, and the first whitewash of a Tri-Nations since the extension to the three-game format.
• Richie McCaw’s NZ record as the most capped all black captain – the bloke is just getting better and better.
• Rested, motivated and high fitness levels ready for a fast, unrelenting 80 minutes.
The Bad
• Playmaker Dan Carter out – a huge amount of pressure on Cruden (but thank the gods Stephen Donald is out).
• Let the Wallabies own the breakdown in the last meeting.
• Henry’s temptation to experiment with the second tier players.
The Ugly
• Jitters and family concerns for the All Blacks after the devastating Christchurch quake.
• Relentless rugby scribes demanding a yellow card for Richie.
• A loss here and Henry’s magnificent year deflates.
• Did I mention John Williamson?
Both teams have more than pride on the line here. It’s not going to be easy for the All Blacks and the Wallabies will be fired up after their victory. I suspect it will be tears for Robbie and another All Blacks victory.
Too much gas in the tank and the rest would have done the All Blacks well.
It’s hard to see the Wallabies reversing their second half collapses particularly with the legs going to jelly. Deans bench management, which has been dismal during his reign, combined with a lack of bench depth will be crucial and it’s unlikely he can redeem this weakness overnight.
Stash’s prediction – All Blacks by 15.
Scotty
Guest
Why?
Mikey
Guest
Damn it must be good whatever you're on cos' you certainly are dreaming....
MarkR
Guest
Hahahaha...very funny Pots, that's 3.
Spencer
Guest
Thanks for the insight SMI. No point watching it now that you've informed us of the impending doom. Must be tough dragging yourself out of bed in the mornings?
Spencer
Guest
JON is predicting 70k. That excludes the ozkiwi's hanging off the outside fences.
Spencer
Guest
That's because the comments are on the right side margin. You need to tie a ribbon on your left hand so you distinguish L from R.
Spencer
Guest
Make that 10004 tickets.
Moaman
Guest
this test holds interest for NZ fans one reason and one reason only DS.....I,for one,have a beady eye on that all-time record held by the mighty Lithuania.
katzilla
Roar Guru
If Stephanie Rice told me to Suck on it i'd ask her how hard? ;)
tiwana
Guest
be afraid, very afraid
BennO
Guest
It was quite a climax.
Stash
Guest
Harry, I don't think it is too strange that Australia gets a lot of NZ supporters at their home games. There are a lot of expats in Australia. Also, I find that expats living abroad (from any country) tend to be more patriotic than those in their native countries. Saying that, disappointing that Hong Kong tickets are not selling well - with some quarters saying they should cancel. Personally, I think they just need better PR in Hong Kong and not rely solely on expats. The last time was great - and there was a lot of locals from Hong Kong (who all seemed to be supporting the all blacks - i think they liked their uniforms better...:-))
Harry
Guest
Very good Suzy. Roll for you as the Pretoria ground announcer per chance? You obviously don't get too to many Bled games in Australia though, fair dinkum it is not uncommon for NZ fans to outnumber Australians, or at least out shout them. Strange thing is so very few of them go to the game in their own home country.
Harry
Guest
QuaSte ... very good Jeremy. Anyway am looking forward to Quade v Cruden. Did they oppose each other at U/20 level? OJ, yep the very same gentlemen ... a humble and likeable young man, attacking genius, brilliant playmaker, courageous on and off the field, true blue 100% fair dinkum Queenslander. Unless he signs with the Eels, then the mullet-headed bogan thief who can't tackle can rack off, no loss there.
suzy poison
Guest
Now about Sephanie Rice, celebrating the Aussie win...not only did she insult gays, but also South African gays, by calling the Boks a bunch of f*ggotts! Too funny Stephanie, BUT don't worry, we know you meant no harm.......it was a passionate sporting moment. HOWEVER based on the pasion of Saturday's game, the Saffas are better lovers. .....First we got behind, then we got back on top, but at the end, we thoughtfully still came second???
suzy poison
Guest
As a neutral, I am predicting a Wallaby win. Yes you heard it here first. First win in ten attempts. Two things stand out for me. One is no Dan Carter. The AB's really sucked without him last year. Two is home ground advantage. This is massive, the ref tends to ref to the crowd. Also that Bloemfontein win for the Wallas was a massive turning point. I think the Wallas will have massive self belief, and I think the kiwis whilst they totally deserve their Tri Nations title have had the rub of the green. The foward pass not picked to win the Soweto game, was a case in point. I think the All Black luck is finally going to run out. In fact as a Bok fan, I am going to sit back and watch a very entertaining game of rugby between two teams intent on using the pill, totally jealous that my team, the Boks simply don't have the same ball skills as your lot do. Also I am going to stick my neck out....Wallabies by 20+
Short-Blind.
Guest
So badboy SA where a little more of an 'intense rabble' against the AB? You've got me there with that logic. The only relevancy in comparing these games is to assess recent form lines. What it shows is that the kiwis game plan, leadership and defence is better and they are still playing 80, attack is vgood as well. The Wallabies attack looked better in the first half last week but they are still not playing for 80 and their on field leadership is still way short of what it should be. Makes for a great game! The mental issue of why they cannot focus for 80 min (I'll take 65) has to be top of RD's horse whispering this week. Like OJ I am excited to see how the AB defence handles the newly confident OZ backline. Notwithstanding we know the game will be won in the set piece and ruck which is why I said we need to have at least 50% (unspoilt or slowed by Ritchie) possession to win. Just hope it is a cracker of a game and the ref is consistent with the loosies.
Stash
Guest
I don't know them all personally, but Robbie will be there, Henry, Richie, JOC...I think Quades, going to make an appearance... and John Wiliamson is definitely going to be there.... :-)
Mikey
Guest
MacAllister is yesterdays man - won't make the AB's again with Nonu & SBW coming on at 2nd. And certainly not a 1st five - Carter, Cruden, Slade, Delaney, Brett.... to name a few - they're all ahead of him
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Guys as a Wallaby supporter this should be a hill too high to climb. There are simply too many things to fix outside of the sleeping second half. The breakdown is a mess. The scrum is OK not great. The kickoff can be a mess. Lineout can be a mess. The ability to get over the gain line in the drive is OK not great. The backs have defensive issues. The backs have handling issues. The backs have issues under the high ball. Apart from this we are feeling 'up for it' and 'confident like horse sh-t turned to manure in a micro second. On the grounds of this we will slaughter them! "There are no American tanks on the outskirts of the city we have killed them ALL!"