It is Bledisloe Cup time again as the All Blacks host the Wallabies at Forsyth Barr Stadium this evening in Dunedin. Join us from 5.35pm AEDT for live scores and commentary.
The Wallabies come into the match with plenty of injury worries but on the back of their best performance since Ewen McKenzie became coach.
They and their fans will be hoping for a much improved performance compared to their previous showings against the All Blacks this year.
Several injury enforced changes mark this side. Peter Betham comes onto the wing and Matt Toomua starts at inside centre, Ben McCalman moves into number eight while Mike Harris and Dave Dennis are recalled to side.
It is also worth noting that Benn Robinson is still warming the bench.
The All Blacks in the meantime are undefeated this year and looking to continue that run, not to mention looking to notch up their 30th-straight win on home soil.
The darkness are resting Brodie Retallick who is replaced by Jeremy Thrush, while Ben Smith moves into the centres in the absence of Conrad Smith, while Charles Piutau comes onto the wing after Cory Jane was a late withdrawal due to a hamstring strain.
Fox Sports has been running a ‘Breaking Black’ advert this week.
I think that’’s a little optimistic. The danger for this All Blacks team as always is switching off and not playing with enough intensity, thereby enabling the Wallabies to pick up momentum in the third and final trans-Tasman test of the year.
This is the last match before the end of year northern hemisphere tours and both teams will be eager to set off on tour in the right frame of mind with a victory.
Come and join the heckling (and conversation) here on The Roar from 5.00pm AEDT on Saturday October 19.
Jokerman
Guest
I was just affirming Chan Wee's words and he is Australian. Also no need to sign off with your name, it is not a formal email. From Jokerman (you see? Silly eh.)
Jimi T
Guest
As for your injury list is better than ours, could the wallabies win a world cup with a fourth call up fly half?, I don't even think you have a fourth fly half to call up. We don't have injury worries as our depth is so vast which is why we kill you every time, even with a aussie media so called NZ injury cloud.
Jackster
Guest
You guys aint seen nothin yet! Ardie savea, yes Julians bro, is accompanying the abs in the coming ai's just as a spectator but if he gets game time...look out. You didnt think we could get any better? Ardie Saveas the start of the "next level". Remember Michael Jones? Even the ice-man will be seeing a faster,fitter, freakier version of himself in this kid. Mark my words...
MARK CONLEY
Guest
Looking forward to TPN and Pocock especially, not that Moore isn't my favourite aus player, and Fainga'a S is solid (despite majority opinion). Higginbotham still over-rated imo. Read, what a natural! first player picked surely. Dagg all class and Conrad Smith much missed. All-Blacks, some 'pundits' are saying the greatest ever; despite some brilliant all-class players don't think the team is as 'great' as some before imo.
MARK CONLEY
Guest
Well said LL
MARK CONLEY
Guest
Jokerman; unbelievable; NZ has as many one-eyed 'bleaters' as Aus; it's just you guys don't get that many opportunities (AB's don't lose much) but crikey read the old threads and when they do ....... stop embarrassing your fellow countrymen by inane rants, mark
Jokerman
Guest
Indeed Chan, and he was not really on his feet. If it happened the other way, Australia would be yelling for a yellow
Jokerman
Guest
My apologies, it was just some mild bleating that made me assume he was Australian.
Jokerman
Guest
Yeah I haven't seen the replay but they looked close to being forward at times. Its the Reds style just pushing these flat sometime forward balls. Genia's forward pass to Woodcock, was so silly. And Woodcock was penalised.
Sage
Guest
Love your work Biltong. Clarity and very little bias. A breath of fresh air on here constantly
Sage
Guest
Criminal? More of those in Kiwi land old mate but don't let that get in the way of a churlish retort
DR
Guest
:)
Machpants
Roar Guru
QC played like the true Kiwi he is in this game, and Genia made PNG proud! ;) However neither really hit the line enough IMO, especially Genia. Where were his long side ways runs with the cut in at the right moment to tear defences apart? Maybe the ABs didn't give him the chance?
Machpants
Roar Guru
I also agree on Piutau, but I reckon B Smith will be fine there too, it just may take the entire northern tour and even into next year for to really get it. Can we take that risk? I think the ABs can 'cos they can pick up the slack from a slightly off form 13. Read is deffo the best rugby player in the world ATM, by a margin. However Vito is the next player if he is injured. It annoys the hell out of me the the ABs shove him in 6, say be more mongrel, and then drop him when he doesn't go well there. He is not a 6, although he can play there, and is not a mongrel player type but more the big engine and skills closer to Read. Vito plays 8 for the canes and has been the player of the ITM cup captaining Wellington from 8. However he only needs to be called up if read goes down.
Garth
Guest
Loved the forward pass into Woodcock to milk the penalty, ref missed it, but it stuck out like a sore thumb on the replay. Hope it teaches Woodcock to pay more attention when retiring from the breakdown.
Shungmao
Guest
Nothing wrong with being one eyed, didn't see the forward passes but I thought CJ call on the wallaby maul 5 out and the obstruction we awful . Still your boys had it I the bag...
Shungmao
Guest
I don't think it's numbers of, more key positions. Still based on the your boys are still way ahead
Billy Bob
Guest
Some folk from a certain nation like to indulge in Aussie bashing, even if the 'bashee' is not actually an Aussie. Neutral observers displaying open mindedness have been known to get caught in the cross fire. Lowveld Lion you are brave coming onto an Australian site and talking about an Australian game, with an opinion that could be construed as pro- Australian. That is just not how its played around here. If you're not sure of the rules, google up 'groupthinkNZ' and you will get a printout of the lists of allowable and disallowable comments. (A tip - the first list is a lot shorter)
stillmatic1
Guest
martin and kearns are former wallabies and that hasn't helped with their knowledge, has it!? so why would being a former player mean anything?
Ditto
Guest
The clinical skills of the AB`s under pressure is amazing and at a different level. Brilliant to watch.