A few days ago, one of my pub-pals Monty String posted the gist of my conversation with him regarding my thoughts on the invincibility of the All Blacks this year. This was done with my permission.
But for some reason, a couple of Roarers decided that I – full name Rex Godwin – am a figment of Monty’s imagination and therefore, a phantom who doesn’t exist.
Well, I’m here to say that I do indeed walk the earth, although it’s true that, at my age, my walk is getting closer to a hobble.
As for my opinions regarding the superiority of the All Blacks, the brave challenge the Boks will mount against them and the weaknesses of the Wallabies, I saw nothing on the weekend to make me change my view.
In the backs, the Wallabies have but two game-breakers: Israel Folau – get well soon Issy – and Nick Cummins.
At nine, Will Genia seems to have lost all enthusiasm for the game. We have a fine if sometimes erratic 10 in Quade Cooper, and a solid 12 in Matt Toomua.
The reliable Adam Ashley-Cooper could get the 13 spot. McKenzie may well choose to play Pat McCabe, currently in great form, on the wing to partner Cummins. If Folau isn’t back in time for the French, then Kurt Beale is my choice at fullback. Jesse Mogg doesn’t seem to trust his speed as a ball carrier.
We have little to brag about in the forwards. Props? We’re short of two good scrummagers who can consistently belt their way over the advantage line. The All Blacks and the Boks will be far superior in this department.
As for our engine room, it’ll be shaded by Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock, and Victor Matfield and Eben Etzebeth.
We have two excellent breakaways in Michael Hooper and Scott Fardy, and while Cliff Palu is strong, he isn’t the kind of eight who scores tries like Kieran Read.
The Boks’ back three are painful bruisers, and you can bet that the All Black flankers will be a nightmare for their opponents.
So I put it to Aussie Roarers – pick your best 23 and put it up against the best New Zealand and South Africa can field.
I leave it to our Kiwi and Saffer Roarers to suggest their squads. When I look over my picks for the All Blacks and the Boks, and compare my picks for the Wallabies, I find that the Wallabies are outgunned, front and back.
It’s harder to predict how we’ll go against the French. They have some outstanding players if they’re all healthy and available for the tour.
The French played some awful games in the recently concluded Six Nations, giving up as many points as they scored, so they’re not exactly brimming with confidence pre-tour. In the past, the French have done well against the Wallabies in France, winning 13 and dropping 8. They’ve done poorly in Australia winning 4 and losing 14.
Like all rugby Roarers, I’m looking forward immensely to these Tests against Les Bleus which begin June 7 at Suncorp. We’ll get our first good look at this season’s Wallabies and be able to properly assess how they go individually and as a team.
Until then it’s all prediction, but that’s the fun part.
One digression to end on – people often ask me to name my all-time combined All Blacks and Wallabies side. I can’t because I find it impossible to choose the wingers.
It is impossible to choose between Jonah Lomu, David Campese and Ron Jarden.
Spiro saw all three of them. Maybe he’s got the courage to drop one?
dannylXV
Guest
1. Scott Sio 2. Stephen Moore 3. James Slipper 4. Rob Simmons 5. James Horwill 6. Scott higginbotham 7. Michael Hooper 8. wycliff Palu 9. Will genia 10. Quade Cooper 11. Nick cummins 12. Matt Toomua 13. Adam Ashley Cooper 14. Kurtley Beale/Pat Mccabe 15. Israel Folau 16. Tatafu Polota Nau 17. Benn Robinson 18. Ben Alexander 19. Kane Douglas 20. Scott Fardy 21. Nic White 22. Tevita Kuridrani 23. Chris Sautia players who are close to selection: Luke Jones, Will Skelton, Ben Mccalman,kyle Godwin, Liam Gill
richard
Guest
Yep,you're right,we do all see what we want to see.One man's truth is another man's lie,so to speak. Afew of your points - the game is no longer about free flowing rugby etc..Agreed,it is about attrition and points accumalation,blame the IRB for that.It is the NH that have pushed that through. The ref conspiracy is obviously a reference to the AB-Italy game in 2009? The ref (name escapes me) was disgraceful.The Italian prop Castrogiovanni bored in at the scrums and wasn't penalised,that is why the AB management were filthy on him.Frankly,your refs weren't up to it,but if it's any consolation,neither are ours. Joubert,I'm blase about.If you want a ref I'm filthy on,try Wayne Barnes ( and not just for the 2007 QF).As biltong says further up,there is a real paucity of quality refs atm.
Fil
Guest
I guess you see what you want to see, rather than the truth. Without ref assistance, AB's would never have secured such dominance. The game is no longer about free-flowing rugby, but about winning free kicks and penalties at set pieces. My primary comment was as to why, with so many international refs to choose, we are always saddled with craig joubert who destroys any attempt at attractive rugby and presides over a game of attritional warfare. Bledisloe cup would still have combination of kiwi and aussie refs had Kiwis not winged to IRB about state of aussie refs
Harry Jones
Expert
Top class post, BB. "Rugby is not a sport where you can hide inferior physicality" "it causes serious injury, broken bones and ends careers." Hear. Hear. Very dangerous to ignore that.
richard
Guest
Garbage.I could easily look at a first half,when the French were regularly offside,and weren't pinged for it.In fact France's try came from a break from a mis-directed Piri Weepu kick.Which he was forced into making as frog players hemmed him in,front and back.If Joubert was doing his job properly,it should have been a penalty to the ABs,instead Dusatoir scored.Swings and roundabouts,bud. Oh,and please spare us about the WB scrum.You cop it v most teams you play because your scrum is crap,not because of any perceived bias.I can remember the early noughties when Aussie had that down pat,winning numerous games v the ABs using that very tactic.A point the late John Drake often made reference to in the lead in to a Bledisloe game.
Arrogant? Ah, that says it all.
Fil
Guest
Ahhhh.....no. please don't speak for me and be so arrogant as to dismiss my observations about rugby officiating of certain referees as being influenced by media beat-ups and hype. I dont have a general sweeping opinion for all SA referees but joubert is a coward of a referee who doesn't have the guts to referee against the All Blacks. In the World Cup final, with the French down by a point and NZ infringing, either offside or hands in the ruck, he would simply warn the Kiwis and then when the ruck broke down, avoid penalising NZ by giving the scrum to the french when they should have had a penalty and kick at goal for the lead. Similarly, in the Bledisloe he only watches how the Wallabies scrum down, ignoring Kiwi infringements. He misuses his authority and position and for that reason alone he is an absolute disgrace.
Well, trying to debate this issue is akin to fa....ing against thunder. Many games have been questionable this season, but the focus remains squarely on the SA referees, it is a waste of time to argue with the majority, especially those blinded by their own bias.
richard
Guest
biltong,I hear you.I have been reading some of the comments on the roar having a swipe at SA refs.Personally,I think you have the best cadre of refs in the world.
Richard, Fil's comment is just another one of those supporters influenced by media hype that the SA referees are corrupt. Yet totally blind to form his own opinion and realise there is currently a serious problem in general.
richard
Guest
Please tell us what he did to France? Unlike 1999 and 2007,you had a ref who wasn't going to put up with the frog BS that the ABs were subjected to in earlier tournaments.Even then,they engaged in their usual off the ball shenanigans,the only difference being it didn't affect the result.
You must have missed the performances from other referees, eh?
Fil
Guest
With Craig joubert as ref, we have no chance. Remember what he did to France in the 2011 world cup final? Surely there are other refs. Why do we always have to get that corrupt official?
Harry it is a complex situation. Government has done little from their side to develop sport in SA, in fact it has not been on their agenda for the past 20 years. Had they done anything to improve facilities, build structures etc to develop sport I would have said they have the right to dictate. In this case they really don't have a leg to stand on, but due to them being the ruling party, they don't need to think of the ramifications of what they are suggesting. Having said that, I have no issue if they want quotas, what I do have an issue with is where do they think we are going to find those players? Rugby is not a sport where you can hide inferior physicality, it causes serious injury, broken bones and ends careers. It is fine if you introduce quotas at lower levels, but at super rugby level it becomes a stupid idea for a number of reasons. It is a professional game, you weaken the competition you lose money. You undermine every African player's credibility of playing in Super Rugby because of the reasons for selecting a specific number. You will lose, some may say it will improve, but my question is how many careers will you prematurely end? To do the same quota system for the Springboks, well, you may as well throw out the white flag.
Conrad
Guest
So good to hear from all those big head Kiwis at this time of the year
Harryonthecoast
Guest
Hi BB. I wondered what your opinion is of the government's(?) directive in SA regarding the percentage of black players required in the Springboks and how, in your opinion, it will affect the national team?
Crackle
Guest
Such an optimistic view is admirable. Rip on down to the TAB and clean up, then as fate will have it, your marked words will remain with you for a very long time indeed.
Crackle
Guest
oooh..............that's not good :-(
Crackle
Guest
Some of the Wobblies best ever games has been played on paper...........
Kick us out of Super Rugby, then you won't have to worry about it.