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Joined November 2018
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Hi Nicholas
It would help if Australia had a fullback who could kick – as is Folau. They Have a fullback WHO can kick (Beale) but insist on playing him everywhere bar fullback
Why don’t the Wallabies have a kicking game?
I agree that 2019 will be the most exciting rugby year of the decade. The Irish have the media mantle of favourite, and as they will find out to their folly on 20th Oct 2019, talking your own chances up has only one result.
The Six Nations is an even tournament, and joining France as a team capable of an upset will be Scotland, so win those two games and you are likely halfway to winning the Tournament.
Heading into the tournament just a month after the Rugby Championship will mean the Southern Hemisphere teams will be match fit, a hugely important quality at this type of event. I hope as a NZ Fan that they sit back and acknowledge that the trial of Damien Mackenzie as a fullback has not worked. Having Ben Smith, the worlds best fullback (please don’t even mention Folau) at wing while Mackenzie takes high ball after high ball was quite galling all last year. What’s worse were the Mackenzie fans claiming his attacking game more than made up for his gaffes under the Highball. It absolutely does not. Has anyone seen ben Smith in attacking mode – he is devastating, and over previous years his combinations with Israel Dagg, Beauden Barrett and others were stunning. Daggs gone but I’d like to see Jordie Barrett on one wing as the new Dagg, capable of dropping to fullback at times. Persevering with anyone other than Smith is a recipe for a loss in one of the big games at the RWC.
The Pool games will throw up 7 obvious Quarter Finalists and 1 surprise one.
Predictions (winner and r/up)
Pools
Pool A – Ire and Scot
Pool B – NZ and SA
Pool C – Eng and Arg (Argentina knocking the French out)
Pool D – Aust and Wales. Australia will exact revenge on the Welsh, with about 6 players out of position. At this point they should consider to save airfares and book a ticket home after the QF
Quarter Finals
QF1 – England will break Welsh hearts again in this dour encounter
QF2 – NZ will take the foot off the break against the Scots, and try new combinations and rest key players.
QF3 – Australia will lose in a tight game to the Argies. This will see the end of Cheika’s reign and as a Kiwi who loves our rivalry with Australia, maybe someone will get the coaching job and pick players IN POSITION!. Folau is not a fullback, Beale is..get the picture
QF4 – Ireland will not handle the self-imposed pressure as favourites and lose in a tight game to South Africa.
Semis
Eng vs NZ. Provided Smith is fullback (with Mackenzie coming on when Barrett swaps to Fullback after 60mins, and Mounga comes on) NZ will account for the English and do it well. A dry track will see the All Blacks counter attack ruthlessly expose the Poms
Arg vs SA. South Africa will reach their 3rd Final
Final
NZ Vs South Africa
New Zealands Forward pack will lead the way with Aaron Smith and Beauden Barrett getting go forward ball. Ma’a Nonu in a stunning comeback will provide the kind of ball that Reiko Ioane and Ben Smith and Jordie Barrett will love.
Final Score 37 to 22 to the All Blacks. Sanity in the Rugby World will have been restored. Capping it off will be the Announcement from Rugby NZ that Scott Mcleod will be the new coach!
The greatest year in rugby history is coming
I was fortunate enough to hear Owen Finegan speak at a function a few months back, then escorted him around for several hours the next day. As a Kiwi it was great to have some banter with Owen, but he made some absolutely valid points.
He is a highly impressive speaker, the classic gentle giant, with hands the size of trees. he kept our audience spellbound with an intimate look at Aust Rugby
The rot is within Rugby Australia. Castle can’t be blamed, she has been there for what?, six months. Clyne and the Board need to fall on their heads. If Aust Rugby can get crowds of 20,000 to Club Games it is not too late.
Rein in Cheika selection power: Cannon
Good article. Sily comments by Steve that Rugby is struggling in NZ. It is not. Obviously crowds are down, luckily the NZRFU has the substantial sponsorship money from an ‘American Insurance Company’ AIG to look after it
On others posts that rugby is increasing its profile and NZ should be worried, seriously think guys before you write. NZ need and want harder competition. Playing the best brings out the best. Look at this stupid conference system, NZ Teams playing each other twice, the Lions and Co not even getting a go some years. And if it was top 8 solely based on points half the years our fifth team the Blues would qualify.
The top game of the year for European teams is often EYOT game against the AB’s – they lift themselves, are playing at home and throw 120% into it – because they are playing the best
Similiarly Right now there very much are tier 1 nations and tier 2 nations…but look at cricket. 30 Yrs ago Sri Lanka was tier 2 – now one of the top teams in the world. Bangladesh anyone?.
What Rugby Australia must learn from New Zealand