Williams dropped amongst three changes to All Blacks

Jack, what I actually said was that I didn't care who Kahui's (excellent) performances were against, not that I didn't care for his performances. Bit of difference there.. And likewise, I'm "sure" that you're "probably" making presumptions about what I may or may not have said about Williams. I actually think he's quality footballer, and he's done well in unfamiliar positions this tournament, and I'll be very surprised if you can find comments of mine that have even attempted to play down his worth..

TAB had the wallabies at $3 to win last night. Based on recent history and the comments above that's easy money! The reality I think, is toss a coin or take a guess. There are two very competent and skillful teams that both deserve their semi final spot. I am going to the game hoping for the All Blacks drought to end, but overall excited that our great game is so close that it will be a privilege to be a spectator in classic quality rugby union.

Kahui ahead of SBW. Good stuff. Could you now please start Jimmy Cowan at half and Stephen Donald at 5/8? That should just about do it.

This is a great team. Good move to put SBW on the bench. Kahui is a far better option, great under the high ball, good strength and speed and has a lot more experience on the wing than SBW which is need for this kind of game. Lets just hope Cruden can step up and run this great back line.

Kahui has a much higher work rate than SBW and has better acceleration off the mark he is safer under the high ball than SBW and I believe offers more on attack than just an offload - he is the right choice to start!!! SBW off the bench when the game is loose is going to devastating - Its a strong AB team only Carter could make it stronger. Should be a great game...when do we hear the Aussie team

brett, you say you don't care for kahui's performances against lesser teams...but i'm sure you were probably the first to say sbw's great efforts against these same teams were not indicative of his real worth since they are lesser quality opponents!

Yes AK, and indeed that's perhaps why he is never scrutinised: almost any team he chooses will mostly win, and so he never needs to choose the best, and so he chooses the safest who are still good but not the best and so get found out when, as in a RWC, an opposition team for once plays outstandingly well.

Thanks Kingplaymaker, on that note I might quit while I am ahead :) Seriously though, I agree about the squandering of riches, the ABs have got to where they are due to the talent of the players rather than anything Henry has done. HIs conservatism may yet be their undoing.

AussieKiwi I believe you have just written pretty much the best post ever produced on the Roar. Henry has squandered Ranger, Fruean, Maitland, underdeveloped Cruden, Slade, Todd when it was obvious they might be needed as back-up, and yet according to most observers all he can do is good. Deans' player development and management has been exemplary in comparison.

Disappointing that SBW will be on the bench. A player with sublime skills, should be running on. The danger is that when he does come on he will try to do too much (a bit like QC), especially if the ABs are behind on the scoreboard. I think Graham Henry has done a poor job in player management and development, yet he has faced nothing like the critical scrutiny Deans has had to endure.

Brett for SBW/Kahui we'll see, though the Wallabies should be in seventh heaven how :-) My sense is that NZ have moved their entire game-plan to Weepu at 9, who not only made all the decisions but even most of the plays last week, missing out Cruden entirely. So if you can pressurise Weepu then NZ are in real trouble, and the Wallabies did that effectively last time. Your point is good that if Cruden, or indeed Weepu come under pressure then the new playmaking axis could undermine the efforts of the midfield, not that I expect much from the wildly out of form Smith and frankly Nonu has only looked good against weak opposition this year. Should that happen, then NZ will have to look out wide to Dagg for inspiration, but Cruden is not a great long-passer and Weepu can't be expected to get the ball that far from half-back. Basically shut down Weepu, you shut down Cruden, do that and the midfield, already weaker than most think, is dead in the water. And then the ball will never make it in good shape to Dagg. Thinking about this, the player to put all this pressure on the half-backs is none other than David Pocock. If Joubert stops him plundering, then he should dedicate his efforts to this.

I know he's not a specialist, but he's a hell of a lot closer to it than is Williams. I don't really care who Kahui's performances were against, those performances were top shelf. And don't forget he switched wings for the Japan game, which isn't always easy. If a guy can be named as best player of a pool, having only played two of the four games, he's going pretty well.. And while I agree on your points of focus, I think we'll also see the Wallabies wanting to put a lot of pressure on Cruden, which will have the flow-on effect of limiting Nonu and Smith. Cruden's a good player, but he's carrying a lot of weight on his shoulders (and groin, if I might) going into this game..

Im sure Quade Cooper will heed your advise.

Brett Kahui has played a little there, but is still no specialist. His performances in pool A were against feeble Tonga and Japan. Against France, a half-decent defence, he was unable to make any penetration. In contrast, against this better defence and with half the time on the field, SBW ran riot. The conservatism underlying this decision is what may lose the whole tournament for the All Blacks. With SBW out, Australia should now focus all their energies on Dagg, Nonu and Jane. Jane and Nonu have recently been unable to get through tough defences, although don't have problem with weak ones, and so really I think the player to take care of is Dagg. They no longer need to worry about the three defenders necessary to take down SBW, the other player capable of unlocking the toughest defences. So really, it's stop Dagg, pressurize Weepu, knock back Kaino, and then you're doing well. I think those are the three keys: Dagg, Weepu, Kaino. SBW could have won it for them, but if they want to lose the RWC that's their choice.

The stakes are pretty high, I suppose, I don't know I'd be leaving an untried winger on the wing in the same situation. To be honest, I think it makes their backline stronger - Kahui's more aware of the dynamics on the wing, and knows when to come in and when not too. He wasn't named player of Pool A for nothing..

Brett we shall see how it pans out on sunday. Great news for the Wallabies. It does signify pure fear has taken over the All Black coaching staff, as this must be the most conservative decision in history. The Wallabies should play on that fear.

Every time McCaw finds himself on the wrong side of the ruck, make sure to tread on his right foot. Really really hard.

Kahui for Sonny Bill, eh?? Cue Kingplaymaker rant in 3 ... 2 ... 1 ....