Roar Guru
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Rugby mad kiwi stuck in the AFL heartland.
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One of the hardest records for the All Blacks is getting past 17 wins in a row - a record they share with the…
The year was 2004. The All Blacks were in rebuilding mode after another failed World Cup campaign. John Mitchell was gone and Graham Henry…
For the third time in their history Argentina and Australia will meet in a World Cup. On the other two occasions they met in…
Two decades ago New Zealand and South Africa met in the 1995 World Cup final. It took a Joel Stransky drop goal in overtime…
Almost every team at the 2015 Rugby World Cup have played three matches, and we are now in the homeward stretch of the pool…
Pool D is dominated by Six Nation sides, with Ireland and France the two standouts. On current form they should account for the others,…
Without doubt the easiest of groups to decipher, with the All Blacks, the tournament favourites, tipped to go through this group untroubled. Argentina will…
Without doubt the weakest of all the groups, South Africa should breeze through Pool B untroubled. Who finishes second could be a little trickier.…
Without a shadow of doubt, Pool A is the strongest and most interesting of the pools. It may not contain the best side in…
It was another fantastic week of rugby. It started with the Blues, despite being undermanned, showing how tough a nut they are to crack…
Given the cannibalistic nature of the conference system in Super Rugby, one country getting three sides into the finals is seen as a great…
After 11 rounds, the New Zealand conference is without doubt the strongest in Super Rugby. It has two teams sitting more than a game…
The Australian conference is once again dominated by two sides, the Brumbies and the Waratahs, while the Rebels have shown improvement and the Force…
The South African conference has been dominated by three teams this season but it has not been the usual Bulls, Stormers and Sharks. The…
With the World Cup looming, I have been keeping a keen eye on the impact injuries will have on teams. Aaron Cruden went down…
There are so many quality games this week, and I can see a lot of flicking between ESPN and and ESPN2 over the weekend.…
It's hard to deny that the SEC West is the premier conference in college football. With the likes of Alabama, Ole Miss, Auburn, Mississippi…
The final round of Super Rugby is upon us and, like last year, everything is still up in the air about who will finish…
It's the final round of Super Rugby and while the six finalists have been sorted out, where they will finish all comes done to…
Before the weekend, all the talk was about who deserved to be Alabama's opponent in the Bowl Championship Series National Championship game. There were…
For me there are just too many things in the All Blacks favor for them to lose.
First point is people mention the Sydney game a lot but one thing with the All Black Wallaby games is the Wallabies generally get the first win when they have a new coach. Deans and Cheika both did this. Its like a feeling out period for the All Blacks and they generally come out the next time and belt the Wallabies. You can read just as much, if not more, into the Eden Park game, as the All Blacks adapted to the new style of play the Wallabies were using under Cheika.
Second, experience. A lot of the All Black players have been to the final and won it. They know what it takes to win a final where this is all new to Australia. How they handle the pressure of their final to how the All Blacks do would have to be in the All Blacks favor
Third, the emotional element. Richie and Dan have been massive parts of the All Blacks for the last decade. If winning the world cup was not enough incentive, add in wanting to give everything for your inspirational captain one last time, you got the recipe for disaster for an opposition.
Fourth, confidence. This team doesn’t panic. It backs itself in to get the job done and thrives on adversity. The self belief they has is amazing.
Aussie are a chance to win by its not a 50/50 chance. They are a rough outside chance at best. This All Black side is something special and will cement itself as the greatest of all time Saturday night.
The stats you don't see on TV: Rugby World Cup final edition
Double points during world cups so yes, the Wallabies would likely jump NZ to top the IRB rankings if they win
This is a Wallabies team that New Zealanders should respect
In the derby, I think the perth horse might be the one to beat. Sure, it hasn’t been beating much but it has been winning and winning well. Should get a gun run from the one gate and has the middle distance form on the board. Have not been impressed by the colts and gelding going around the Melbourne scene. The fillies toweled them up in the Norman Robinson and Vase. Tarzino is the obvious dangerand maybe the quinella might be the way to go here.
2015 Derby Day: Victoria Derby, Mackinnon, Coolmore Stud, Myer Classic Group 1 previews
The amusing thing is you are saying he is the better player because he has been starring against lesser opponents. When Pocock has come up against the best, he has been found wanting most times.
David Pocock versus Richie McCaw battle to decide World Cup
I am not equating team performance to individual, but when these two go head to head, invariably Richie wins out almost every time. Yes, a lot of that is to do with the better support cast he has around him. The title of this thread is Pocock vs McCaw battle will decide the world cup and I am stating the obvious in that we have an excellent game plan to nullify Pocock. He struggles against the All Blacks compared to other sides because we have the right coaches and players to nullify his influence.
David Pocock versus Richie McCaw battle to decide World Cup
Would be a brilliant race. Both horses have sizzling finishing bursts and the straight of Flemington is perfect for both of their racing styles.
Hot favourite Exosphere to face 11 rivals in Group 1 Coolmore
Has a chance but you are right, it is way too short for a horse weighted where it is. Hopefully it does start very short and miss a place as I will be going for the first four on the race again.
Anti-Fame Game: Why he won't win the Melbourne Cup
Absolute lock. Exosphere into All Blacks doubles your money.
Looking forward to Exosphere vs Chautaqua the following week. The two best sprinters in the world going head to head.
Hot favourite Exosphere to face 11 rivals in Group 1 Coolmore
The six of them, McCaw, Carter, Woodcock, Mealamu, Nonu and C Smith played their last game at Eden Park. It was their swansong in New Zealand. Everyone of the ground that day knew this was their last All Black home game.
Richie McCaw is rugby's most decorated representative
The All Blacks have had a plan for Pocock since 2008, just like the have a plan to deal with every other Wallaby out there. It is amazing how people think stuff like How will the All Blacks contain him like it is some new threat never seen before. They have been extremely effective controlling his influence in the 15 prior times they have encountered him so I am pretty sure they have an effective game plan for countering him yet again.
David Pocock versus Richie McCaw battle to decide World Cup
If I can get $1.50 I will plonk $5,000 on them
The All Blacks are strong favourites, but should they be?
2011 the All Blacks went into the final trying not to lose the game rather than going out and winning it. I think they will be going with a different mindset against Australia. They play their best rugby against Australia when they take the game to them and this is what I expect to see in the final.
The All Blacks are strong favourites, but should they be?
LMAO! Simon, if you want to look at it objectively take the home and away results and combine them. New Zealand vs Australia in their two clashes its 7 tries to NZ to 4 to Australia.
The All Blacks are strong favourites, but should they be?
How many times has Pocock played New Zealand and how many times has he beaten them? He is 3 from 15 against New Zealand. A paltry 20% win rate. In 2011 everyone was raving about Pocock and how great he was in the quarter final against South Africa. Everyone was saying he had surpassed Richie. He came out the next week and got a lesson from Richie in the semi final and suddenly he was dropped back to obscurity with everyone hailing Richie to still be the king. Is Pocock a quality player. Yes, he is. He is a game winner for Australia and stars against almost every side in world rugby. There is one team though that has his number and has always had his number.
People keep saying how Pocock is the best player in the world and how are we going to stop him. Its simple. We will stop him the same way we have been for the past seven years. We know how to stop him and we are very effective at it. He may be god like when playing South Africa, England, Wales or Argentina but when he comes up against the All Blacks he is consistently made to look like a mere mortal.
For me I am more concerned about how the tight five will go. That is the key to me. We get ascendancy there and keep Genia on the back foot, it will be game over. While he is one of the best halfbacks going around with front foot ball, when he is going backwards he is one of the worst. I see the All Blacks executing a game plan similar to 2011 and Eden Park earlier this year. Nigel Owens oversaw that game so we know what to expect from the ref. Hopefully it will be good conditions, but if it rains I am not too concerned as it will favour us more than Australia.
David Pocock versus Richie McCaw battle to decide World Cup
Its a fact the All Blacks grow a leg in the wet and the Australians lose one. Everybody in world rugby knows Australia are great firm trackers but woeful soft trackers
The Wallabies are no chance to win the Webb Ellis
If it rains, one in twenty is a fair call. On a dry track one in four
The Wallabies are no chance to win the Webb Ellis
The All Blacks were well off their game in Sydney. They looked disinterested and focused elsewhere. It was the kick up the butt they needed but one thing for sure, I would not read anything into that game. I wouldn’t read too much into Eden Park as well as Cooper is hopeless. I think Cheika deliberately rested Foley for that game as he knew they were on a hiding to nothing, like pretty much the whole rugby world, knowing the blacklash was coming. He saved Foley from the mental scarring that day. Also we will not have to contend with Wayne Barnes who clearly favours the Wallabies and has been your 16th man in our last two losses against you. His impact will be minimal from the touchline.
The Wallabies are no chance to win the Webb Ellis
Didn’t rain all match but when it came the tide definitely turned in Scotlands favour
Owens to referee World Cup decider
I remember 2011 after the South Africa Australia quarter final. The whole rugby world was abuzz about Pocock and his incredible game. The press were touting him the best thing since sliced bread and that Richie McCaw had been surpassed. A week later, with a broken foot and all, Richie showed the rugby world who the undisputed king of the breakdown is as he gave Pocock a lesson. Four years on I see history is repeating. Pococks time to take Richie mantle will come. It will come on Sunday once Richie retires but not before Richie delivers him one final lesson.
Rugby World Cup final marks the end of an era
Dan isn’t the best goal kicker in the world. I would take Biggar, Farrell and Sanchez over him when taking a shot at goal. I would however take him in a heartbeat over Foley. If you forget the English game, his goal kicking has been terrible.
All Blacks or Wallabies for a record third Rugby World Cup?
Folau would chase it if he wasn’t on one leg.
All Blacks or Wallabies for a record third Rugby World Cup?
Defence – Wallabies 9 All Blacks 7
You leaked 3 tries to Scotland and although not conceding a try, you missed 33 tackles against Argentina. We leaked 1 try to France who are arguably better than Scotland and kept the Springboks from scoring. All Blacks despite tougher opposition gave away 31 points. Australia gave away more than that in just the Scotland game, leaking 49 points in their two matches. There seems to be this misguided notion Australia have some impenetrable wall but that is not the case as clearly shown. All Blacks have been miles better defensively, with less tries, less missed tackles and far fewer metres conceded, If anything All Black 9 Wallabies 7 is a fairer assessment.
Attack – All Blacks 8 Wallabies 8
Both sides have been good on attack but the All Blacks have been a little more clinical in this department and a lot more creative. All Blacks 9 Wallabies 8
Goalkicking – All Blacks 8 Wallabies 8
You are kidding aren’t you? Aside from England, Foley has been one of the worst goal kickers out there and add to that his limited range he is at a big disadvantage to a more accurate longer kicking Carter. All Blacks 8 Wallabies 6
Scrums – All Blacks 8 Wallabies 8
While good early on in the tournament Scotland and Argentina have touched you up big time in this department. You have improved but not to All Black level and I will be surprised to see your pack break even. All Blacks 8 Wallabies 7
Lineouts – All Blacks 8 Wallabies 8.
Actually one thing that has really impressed me this tournament is our lineout. Solid on our own throw and we have been turning over a lot of opposition ball as well. Our lineouts where our achilles heel for many a year but this tournament it is actually a strength, All Blacks 9 Wallabies 8
Coaches – Wallabies 8 All Blacks 7
Perhaps the most laughable ranking of the lot. You are looking at a coach with only 3 losses from 53 matches, with a Plan A,B,C,D,E,F,G and H and you rate Cheika better. All Blacks 9 Wallabies 7. No contest who the better coach is.
All Blacks or Wallabies for a record third Rugby World Cup?
If I was Australia I would be less concerned with the referee and more concern with the weather. Very good possibility of rain on Saturday. I can’t remember the last time the All Blacks lost in the rain, and I also can’t remember the last time Australia won in it. If the rain comes the All Blacks will have one hand on the cup before kickoff.
Owens to referee World Cup decider
He done enough to ensure Australia maintained a 100% winning record under him taking the tally to 13-0
Owens to referee World Cup decider
Australia wins final Pocock will get world player of the year. Hooper won’t beat him. New Zealand wins final will depends on what Carter and Savea do. I can see Carter having a big game but if Savea can notch a couple of tries and take his world cup tally to 10 he would be an outside chance. Right now Pocock is the favorite but a dominant All Black win will likely see Carter win it.
Pocock and Hooper in line for top player gong