The New Zealand vs Australia semi final of the 2011 Rugby World Cup is complete with participants that have “skin” in the game.
Already exciting enough even without considering the individual contests within the game, the semi final presents a wonderful series of confrontations, not just between the teams vying for the chance to become the World Champions for the next four years, but individual players, coaches and competitor codes domestically.
The New Zealand and Australian public and rugby supporters
New Zealand has gone through insufferable quadrennial torture at having the 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups ripped from their grasp despite having the number one ranked and clearly the best team, pound for pound on each occasion.
Each time, they are lulled into a false sense of security by their 80%+ winning ratio throughout the intervening four year periods.
New Zealand is currently $1.65 to win the RWC with Australia a distant second favourite at $4.50. New Zealand is rated $1.44 to defeat the Wallabies ($2.82) in this weekend’s semi final.
For such a knowledgeable and passionate rugby nation, how much can they bear if they were to lose this semi final?
How would the nation survive the trauma of being victims of day light robbery for the sixth consecutive time?
Conversely, the Australian public had had a roller coaster ride over the past two world cups.
The extra time field goal from Jonny Wilkinson’s weaker right boot in 2003 was not as painful as the pathetic capitulation to the English in 2007. The Australian public has since suffered four years of inconsistency.
Robbie Deans 2008 appointment brought short lived hope and confidence.
However, his coaching record since he took the Wallabies’ reins in 2008 stands at 30 wins, 21 defeats and one draw – a success rate of only 57 percent.
Australian rugby needs a strong and successful national rugby team to defend and grow its audience domestically.
The Coaches
Henry, Hanson, Smith, Deans and Nucifora all have plenty of skin in the game. All are all likely to be jockeying for senior appointments in 2012. A win will ensure that they are able to choose their appointment.
A loss invites usurpers such as Ewen McKenzie, John Mitchell, Gatland or Plumtree into the respective frays. A loss spells the end for Henry Smith and Hanson. Two losses are too much.
An essential new broom will sweep them clean away.
A loss for Deans means little in terms of his current employment but closes the door on his ultimate goal of coaching NZ while opening the door wider for Smith, Gatland and Hanson to take the New Zealand job.
New Zealand Scrum vs Australian Scrum
The New Zealand scrum start a long way ahead of their opposite numbers. The New Zealand scrum has the responsibility and expectation of the nation that they will destroy the Australian scrum and potentially win the game for the team and the nation.
The Australian scrum is facing total embarrassment, ridicule and blame if they do not at least achieve parity at scrum time. This tag will go with them for the rest of their careers in the minds of competing front rows and referees alike. They have a lot of skin in this game.
New Zealand lineout vs Australian lineout
The component parts of the lineout, the callers, catchers, and the throwers have plenty of skin in this game. In addition, around the field, the battle between Moore and Mealamu will be a very tough one.
McCaw vs Pocock
The old stallion comes up against the next big thing. Both have lots of skin in the game. Can McCaw be the one who brings the Cup back to New Zealand? Can Pocock shatter that guaranteed life long pension plan while also usurping McCaw’s position as the world’s best number 7?
Cooper vs Cruden
Cooper needs to prove to himself and the rugby world that he is more Benji Marshall than David Campese by playing a competent and clever game that gets his team the win. Cruden everything to lose and everything to win.
A good performance and he will be ordained as the next long term New Zealand number 10. A poor performance will see him join Donald as the whipping boy and an unreliable and hopeless case for years to come.
McCabe vs Nonu
Both McCabe and Nonu have plenty of skin in the game. Theirs is a more literal interpretation. Theirs is fully stretched skin, supported by coiled bone, muscle and sinew smashing into eachother.
The battle of the midfield promises to be enthralling and bone rattling. They will each receive massive support from their respective colleagues such as Read, Kaino, Thorn and SBW and Samo, Elsom, Vickerman and Ioane.
peterlala
Guest
“I thought we were on Mike Tindall’s stag do”. that's gold, LAS.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
Upon arriving at Heathrow airport, Manu Tuilagi was asked to sum up England's Rugby world cup performance. "World Cup"??? He replied "I thought we were on Mike Tindall's stag do".
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
Adn now I see that the SMH, a day later, has decided to pinch my story angle, talking about the coaches game within a game..............flattering.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
Skin in the game means the people who have the most to lose........or win from the outcome. Its a financial term, and usually refers to the shareholders. Investors like the management team to have skin in the game so that they win and lose if the company wins or loses.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
AJ, au contraire. I think that Henry has done the hard yards and shown great composure and class appearing with Deans at the sydney charity luncheon and on "enemy" soil. as for his selections, he has taken a great risk in sticking with the 2007 squad, essentially, and not having blooded replacements for Carter or MCaw are an enormous risk that appears will not pay off. Cruden has started just one test match, prior to this one.
AJ
Guest
Yep good one Las pinner,what strikes me though is how cruel it would be on the All Black coaching staff, for me they are an eminently dislikeable trio of smartarses,(in fairness judging only by their media quotes.)But I cant fault their selections and preparation for this cup,nor do you read many complaints from the NZ roarers,highly astute as they are.Yet if the Wallabies suddenly click and pull off an upset,or the All Blacks pl;ayers turn into humans and make some mistakes,it's expected the coaches will cop it. If we lose most would say,well we lost to the All Blacks at Eden Park.Deans will get some flak but after last week, some sins will be forgiven,semi final pass mark an that.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
Mikey, much appreciated.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
both benji and campo are x factor players. Benji has become much more consistent and reliable than campo. I was referring to the consistency of Cooper. Dont worry, I am a big fan of both and would pick them in any team of mine
mikeylives
Guest
Best comment I have ever seen you post west (despite the numerous spelling errors). This game will be HUGE. p.s LAS - Not sure I fully got into the skin metaphor, but you should definitely write in the left column. Would gladly sub the majority of your articles for Spiro's 'so you think you can ref' columns during the WC.
mikeylives
Guest
Yeh, but Campo is still a punce. A brilliant, attacking punce.
Rugby realist
Guest
Agree KiwiDave. That was a broad sweeping statement that was not fully considered. In 87 and 91 even Nick Farr Jones has said that Aus were at least equal favourites going into the tournaments. And pre tournament 95 All Blacks were 3-4 favourites. They only became favourites during the tournament. 99 they were favourites, however not enough focus was on the 5 loses in 1998. The flaws in the team were never fixed. And they were not pound for pound the best sides in those tournaments. I would argue that 07 was the only time they were ''clearly the best team, pound for pound ''
flying hori
Guest
Campo is a legend, QCs not, no comparison ( yet? )
west
Guest
FORGET numbers facts HISTORY, trust me New Zealand has, this match will be counting on skill, heart and determination and if Australia pull it off they would have earned it threw blood sweat and tears and kiwis will respect that. All Blacks will be playing for there rugby lives and there country's eyes are watching with hunger. as there team fights for this war of RWC drought to end.
kiwidave
Guest
"New Zealand has gone through insufferable quadrennial torture at having the 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups ripped from their grasp despite having the number one ranked and clearly the best team, pound for pound on each occasion." 1991-1999 predate the rankings, 2003 England were ranked #1.
Rhino
Guest
"Cooper needs to prove to himself and the rugby world that he is more Benji Marshall than David Campese" Wasn't Campese a major contributor to a winning RWC team in 1991 plus before RWC started part of a Grand Slam team plus multiple triumphs against NZ. Benji has what - one domestic NRL title, right?
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
mace22, I dont put them in the same league, just in the same game in the same jersey number and in direct opposition to eachother in so many ways. Nonu will try to run through the 12 channel and mcCabe will try to stop him!!!! I am a big nonu fan and believe that if he is successful, it will significantly remove the cruden problem.
LeftArmSpinner
Roar Guru
morning Unc'. yep, I get your extending the metaphor........skin in the game gives them the logical and personal reason for them to turn up and play well. Instead of skin, think self interest or motivation. Brains and heart are what should follow if they have skin in the game. Never a truer word spoken: THEY REALLY ARE DUE!!!!!!!!!!
mace22
Guest
Can't believe you put mccabe and nonu in the same league. Ones line busting machine ( nonu ) the other a fill in until someone better comes along.
Uncle Argyle
Guest
Morning LAS, I don't care much for skin but what it holds inside; a brain and a heart and me thinks those two will be whats required if the Walalbies are to win the RWC. I think they have shown they have both and I am expecting a realy quality Wallaby performance come sunday. They really are due.