Time to believe in the Wallabies' selections

So it's Friday...where's this promised special guest article? We're under 24 hours to kick off!

I said 'reasonable exchanges' Birdy, of course I reserve the right to respond to your rubbish in kind whenever the whim takes me, which admittedly won't be often since it takes a fair bit of effort to stoop to your level. I am conscious of subjecting others to overly tedious exchanges with you, as everyone knows your MO. And since this story was intended to be positive and motivational, and there were no slights on the English prior to your own unwanted frothing rant, you do admit you're a troll right?

"I’m done trying to have any kind of reasonable exchanges with you." OK, Coconut, I'll try and handle the loss.

Waffle, waffle, blah, blah... your mock affront at any perceived slight is tiresome mate. That stuff can easily be chucked right back at you. As has been pointed out to you ad nauseam, those kinds of people are everywhere if you want to find them, as are the stories. And the 700 odd largely disparaging comments by your countrymen on a completely benign and actually quite interesting story about the grassroots game in NZ in the Guardian is a testament that your lot are as capable as any Kiwi at being arrogant, condescending and focussed on finding the negative in anything. I don't find the Kiwis on this board to be all the things you say, and the same goes for the Aussies and South Africans here - sorry but you're the exception. Most have quite good and insightful things to say (Digger et al). Anyway I'm tired of your same old distorted generalisations and negative outlook. Here's a generalisation for you - I suspect everyone on this board is as probably as tired as I am reading your obsessive paranoid rants. For gods sake man, did you even read the title of this story? You are delusional, particularly when examples of the good things the ABs are trying to do as rugby ambassadors in your country are pointed out for you... you persist with your negative crap. Your miserable little snipe in Spiro's story was typical of your spiteful and frankly nasty attitude - that story was supposed to be how the game can have such a positive impact on people that had suffered (and continue to suffer) so much through the earthquakes, similar to the huge impact the 95 final had for South Africa. What did Birdy choose to focus on? No surprises there. I don't particularly care if you've got Kiwi or Aussie friends, but you're a troll on this board mate, nothing but. I'm done trying to have any kind of reasonable exchanges with you.

Im with you RT. Its the change in coach regime so late that tempers my expectation. Which is countered by the greatly improved depth

That would be like asking Birdy not to breathe...

Coconut; I respond to what I get. From a large proportion of Kiwi rugby fans that tends to be abuse about my country, my rugby team, the fans, etc etc. For many years the response from me and others was to roll our eyes and shrug. Personally, I've had enough of that. I had no intention when I woke up yesterday of lashing out with negativity - I was in a very good mood looking forward to the rugby. Then on virtually every site I go on there's a Kiwi banging on about English 'arrogance', 'colonial mentality', 'perfidious albion' blah, blah, blah. Stuff that we know, with absolute certainty, would be greeted with national outrage if the roles were reversed. The Williams article was a disgrace and so were his 'excuses' afterwards which no-one with a brain could possibly believe. But there was also the lower level stuff from the Herald; Ian Jones; and random Kiwis on any blog you care to name - I never knew there was so many of you. It seems that many Kiwi rugby fans are genuinely puzzled that the kneejerk abuse they throw out brings a response these days. It's called the internet and has led to many English people being increasingly able to gauge the level of the crap that comes out. It was particularly galling when we're being told there's a Kiwi 'charm offensive' we should all be thrilled to be experiencing. I suppose the basic rule is if you don't want to take it don't give it out. You'll probably find this impossible to believe but I have a significant number of Kiwi (and Aussie) friends. Obviously, they're friends, so I get on really well with them. But even my Kiwi friends take leave of their senses when rugby is discussed and become a bit weird. It's like a fever that you just have to let pass. Regarding the RWC, I'm very optimistic it will be a cracker. Hope you have a good one as well.

@ Shane D, Thanks for that information Shane, as I was not really aware of it, but then again Steyne is a big loss, as I really do regard his style of play. Thanks again.

HAHA ...We`re talking top 10 nations number 8`s...hahaha.... Well if you can direct me to a game against the AB`S where MR INVISIBLE had an influence on the result i `ll have a look.. What`s Mr INVISIBLES strike rate when he plays the AB`S?? ..PeterK can you bring that stat up for me mate...

Birdy, birdy..., I've seen your comments plastered all over the UK Telegraph still banging on with the same theme, which is that Kiwis are arrogant, as is their team etc etc ad nauseam. Don't you ever have a new record to play? The ABs have made a conscious effort to get out to the schools for coaching sessions in and around London, they've made themselves available to the public for meet and greets... so what on earth are you going on about? Instead, you cherry pick sound bites from non rugby playing commentators and media stories looking to stir things up, and then extrapolate this to represent the entire New Zealand population, its rugby supporters, and its team. You my friend have an almighty chip on your shoulder, which its precisely what you continually bang on about Kiwis suffering from - doesn't that make you a hypocrite? Now I don't know what your issues are with New Zealand, but its like you are wandering around the place with a perpetual rain cloud over your head and a perennial list of grievances that I simply don't think its possible to help you with... especially given the apparent depth of feeling expressed by you in other forums. What is staggering though is how utterly negative much of the comments are on those forums (Guardian, DT, Telegraph), so you are in good company there with your own countrymen. I can almost hear the collective whine from out here in the middle of the Pacific. It is bizarre, given we don't see such negativity (by and large) on this forum, but it explains why Birdy is such a glass-half-empty, one track pony type of fellow. Do you ever have a good thing to say mate? I think not. You need help man, you're way too bitter and it just cant be healthy. Anyway, good luck to your team in the World Cup, I can only hope the rest of your country embraces the spectacle, and the teams, including New Zealand, of the RWC, and that the tournament leaves the game in a stronger position at its conclusion.

I don't quite agree. In order to make the Semi-Finals the team would likely only need to defeat one of South Africa or England. Defeat England and likely play Samoa in a QF or lose to England, finish 2nd and then need to defeat South Africa in a a QF. Either way, they would only need to defeat 1 team that has been able to defeat us in the past 4 years. Making the Semi-Finals would be a pass mark. If we didn't make them we would have likely lost to England and South Africa in the tournament which I would consider to be a less than sound tournament. If we play good rugby, win 5 games in a row and make the Semi Finals I would consider that to be a good tournament.

"In terms of my ‘negativity’. I logged onto the rugby blogs I usually do yesterday in a good mood excited about the RWC. Within half an hour I’d been ‘told’ by various Kiwis that my country was an historical disgrace, the ground, fans, team and management of the international team I support by far the worst in the world etc, etc. If you genuinely can’t see how Kiwis would have reacted to that if the roles were reversed in 2011 I give up". I'm sorry Birdy but that is rubbish. When you hold a big event there will be some criticism. You have some up with a couple of stories about what some journalists said, the content of which you have exaggerated grossly to make your point. But more importantly who cares about a minority who are negative? They will always be there, and are far outweighed by the positive articles and comments. This site is but one example. On the other side Woodward, and no doubt many others, have been shooting their mouths off attacking the WBs and the ABs. Again, who cares? A few random people on the internet??? Why the relentless focus on the negatives Birdy? Reread your last paragraph: Anyway, in the name of the people of England, welcome to my country and I hope the rugby is great and we make lasting friendships, particularly with our charming visitors from down under. Unfortunately, I’ll be leaving the country for a while and won’t be able to bask in this charm, but I’m sure the warmth will come through on the internet. Do you not see that, in the context of what precedes it, this comes across as not just negative, but frankly quite nasty?

Wouldn't disagree with much of that, TM. As you may remember I've been saying for a long time that this RWC has come at least 18 months too early. I see a parallel with 1999 when the stirrings of a good side were visible, but it took until about 2001 before the RWC winning side really took shape. I don't see Burgess as a 'panic' move. Given the number of young inexperienced players in the backline, he wants a physical presence at 12. With the absence of Tuilagi it was a straight shootout between Burgess and Burrell to cover Barritt. The coaching staff have obviously seen something in the extended camp that just gave Burgess the edge. Happy to trust them on that one. The only hopeful caveat I would add is that although England could quite easily go out in the pool stage, they have a good recent record against Australia, Wales and Fiji, particularly at Twickenham. It wouldn't be a surprise to see them fail, but equally it wouldn't be a surprise to see them top the group. If they did that it would be Samoa/Scotland in the QF and Ireland/France in the SF. Those are winnable games at Twickenham. England could find themselves in a final even with all their flaws and then, as we've seen in final after final, anything can happen. The Twickenham factor is the unknown. It could inspire like the Olympics in 2012; or be a weight that crushes them. Lots and lots of unknowns. There are very few English fans foolish enough to say they'll definitely do well in this RWC - there are rather more observers around the world willing to say they'll definitely do badly. Not sure either position would necessarily be more foolish than the other.

Backline defence alignments has been glaring in all the matches this year (not counting the Auckland match as we all know what happened there result wise) that the defence has been narrow and left over laps to exploit.

' In particular, Cheika won’t be too troubled by the Fiji lineout so I would expect this pack to start to knock the wind out of them early (consider especially that Skelton has been rested)…' Nakawara and co are pretty good lineout operators.

Exactly, people who criticise other people's opinions should suck it up. The last thing we want is turn this site in to the Silverfern where it's over moderated and staid.

Whereas I'd be more concerned about your actual rugby if I were in your position. England's position as what is it now, favourite or second favourite seems overated based on the current squad. With an overly large percentage of younger players they look a very inexperienced squad, and few big names to boot, Robshaw probably the biggest. Burgess is a bit of a desperate move and a sign of panic I believe. I mean no ones even convinced he can play the game yet. Some look promising, but it does appear a lot is riding on too many young heads or perhaps the gimmick in Burgess lifting this side from its relatively average run last few years. On top of that the home pressure on them will be huge and even a Fiji win wouldn't be a total shock. With oz looking sharper last couple of months Fiji could well target England and Wales and that might be enough. Nervous times ahead Birdy...never mind what the media are saying.

Oh God; how depressing. Yes, TM my response is based on fear. If I wasn't so scared I'd find Ali Williams's comments delightfully quirky. Regarding the point about the relative size of the media market, I would have thought it was obvious why I made that point, and I'll resist the temptation to link your misunderstanding of it to an argument that Kiwis seem to see putdowns everywhere (whoops, my bad). When Kiwis focus on a throw away line instead of the much more prevalent positive comments about the ABs it's even more unreasonable given the size of the UK media market. One negative article out of 5 written about an EOYT is one thing. One article out of 35 is something else. But, you're probably right; my natural colonial instincts and urge to dominate bubble up without me even realising it now.

I think the normal cliché is you need 5 who are best in their positions. Not sure if that still holds true, though. I think there are more excellent players spread around more teams than in the past.

Well all I see is a very nervous Birdy and a just as apprehensive home media but of all the posts here this week you seem to be the first to splash out on negati.ve media comments and having a go at all and sundry and are now justifying it as a matter of 'severity' of treatment, i.e. Twenty times worse is somehow worse? Well if that's the way you are going to play it then good luck to you. And mentioning things like a media market 'twenty times the size' etc etc is typical of the English superiority thinking as though it's somehow more important as a view. I mean the rugby playing population is just as big but that isn't that impressive either. Just think taking that selective media tone and reporting it back here isn't going to get you far, but good luck to you anyway.