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Roar Guru
Joined May 2010
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RK, Gasnier didn’t nail down an exact jersey, flittering between the midfield and wings, but he did start basically every game for Stade. I thinkit’s a shame. I would have liked to have seen him play.
On the subject of ex-league players, Luke Rooney looked to be maturing into a good 15. As an Englishman I was looking forward to his switch to Worcester and his claim that he was seeking the England 15 jersey. A few weeks later, following Worcester’s relegation, he’s pledging allegiance to a Wallaby jersey. Another shame, but a consistent theme.
Gasnier returns, but with unanswered questions
I’m not looking to start one of those ‘SA aren’t as good as they think’ arguments, Lee, but at the risk of sounding pedantic the Leiseter Tigers side was far from first string, and a lot of the SA players involved in that specific match were cemented SA players (albeit some more peripheral than others): Ndungane, Olivier, Nokwe, Pienaar, Steenkamp, Ralepelle, Du Plessis, Rossouw, Bekker and Brussow. Just saying.
The Boks are favourites to win Tri-Nations 2010
You may well be on to something there, Lee. Oh well. Anyway, back on topic – I can’t wait for the game. I hope it’s not an anticlimax.
If your run on side is spot on I can’t say I’m convinced by Du Plessis at 3 and De Villiers on the wing. Granted there are no standout 14s, and Aplon is inexperienced, but that just doesn’t look too clever. I know that De Villiers has played wing before, and recently versus Italy, but one of Graham Henry’s big pre-match points has been about the back three working as a unit. A centre, an error prone and Habana wouldn’t fill me with confidence. It’s an interesting choice – if it’s right.
All Blacks need to beat the Boks, badly!
True.
On a different note, there’s been quite a bit of chat about whether or not Smit, Bokka, Matfield et al will be as effective next season as they have been in recent years but Brad Thorn’s age is often overlooked in the same debate. This is going to be a long tournament at his age.
All Blacks need to beat the Boks, badly!
This really is quite academic: SA nilled NZ last season and NZ have struggled with the SA pack and with the SA defence and gameplan since Henry took over in 2004 etc etc. There is no escaping any of that, and no other NZ Roarers are attempting to. You have enveloped various threads emphasising how NZ have been so consistently excellent, which only serves to heighten the achievements of SA’s record last season. You cannot suggest that SA’s achievements have been exagerrated and then suggest that SA are the favourites to win IN New Zealand. That is contradictory.
NZ have to win. Not SA. It would be a a great victory for SA rugby were the Springboks to win, but they don’t have to. Their ability as a team will not rest on this, much as you claim that NZ’s ability as a team did not rest on their two away defeats last season. SA aren’t expected to win because a) nobody wins in NZ, and b) NZ are the number 1 ranked side in the world. If SA win then they have won in NZ for three consecutive seasons, and if they lose then so what? Hardly anybody wins in NZ, least of all a team that has whitewashed them in a season. It’s as simple and as complicated as that.
All Blacks need to beat the Boks, badly!
I think that Rod McQ was the last Australian original thinker, GTW. England had Woodward, who for all his faults revolutionised English Test rugby. I also think Henry is a very original thinker, and he’s achieved everything bar the WC. I think that there are lots of original thinkers, but without the players.
How to beat the Springboks
Touche. That’s a match winner all right.
The Boks are favourites to win Tri-Nations 2010
Please, stop misquoting me. It’s very tiresome. Also stop being so hostile and rude.
The Boks are favourites to win Tri-Nations 2010
Really. Wow, that sounds grand to an London Englishman. Was the famous Campo around?
How to beat the Springboks
Lol.
http://www.toonpool.com/user/252/files/judge_dredd_19875.jpg
Sonny Bill has knee surgery
I’m not trying to push any opinion. Again, I ask you to re-read what I have said (all the way from my initial post down to my last), stop being so aggressive and stop trying to undermine SA rugby. It’s a very, very predictable routine by now. Since 2008 SA have beaten NZ two times, with two of those victories being on NZ soil. NZ have beaten SA twice, with one win on SA soil. Simple.
The Boks are favourites to win Tri-Nations 2010
‘This team can’t seem to grind out a good cup of coffee.’
Maybe they should get in touch with Campo?
How to beat the Springboks
Mmm… well that’s just semantics. I’ve never heard McCaw mention the revenge word before. That’s an unusual word for an All Black captain to be using. The All Blacks may well be focussed or incredibly nervous, or both. Given that neither of us is an All Black we don’t know, but on the basis of a few media bytes I tend to err on the side of agitated. In broader terms SA can afford to lose these games. NZ can’t.
All Blacks need to beat the Boks, badly!
Socboy,
‘Super rugby is just that super rugby the 3N is a different beast.’
🙂
All Blacks need to beat the Boks, badly!
This is becoming too predictable. Please read what I have said and stop making subjective and incorrect inferences. SA have had two seasons of dominance over NZ. That is the fact of the matter. Losing two tests will not eradicate that. Stop trying to undermine and underplay the achievements of SA. If you have nothing constructive to say why even comment?
The Boks are favourites to win Tri-Nations 2010
Doesn’t even make sense. This site is a forum for debate, questions and opinions. Sarcasm isn’t debate.
Gasnier returns, but with unanswered questions
‘And then 2007. Why when he did decide to leave didn’t he move straight to the ARU? Isn’t that what someone serious about playing rugby would have done? At this point he was 27, and although getting on would have had some years left in the tank for Australian rugby.’
I believe the diametric opposite. Going overseas to learn a trade is a mark of respect for Australian rugby IMO, if, of course, he held firm designs on a Wallaby jersey. I remind you of the story of Brad Thorn.
I also have no idea how you think his various negotiations represent arrogance? That is how the private sector works. I also have no idea how you think Gasnier didn’t ‘mean it’ during his negotiations with Australian rugby, but that Williams did with NZ rugby. Were you involved in the deal?
Gasnier returns, but with unanswered questions
Super rugby is a different beast, but that the Springboks have won away in NZ for two consecutive seasons and that their Super sides have posted such excellent results in NZ illustrates beyond doubt that even if SA lose they still must have mental strength and know how to win in NZ for the simple reason that so many SA players have won in NZ recently.
Further, SA may well lose, but if they lose by a small amount then that will hardly diminish their reputation. Only if NZ win comfortably as SA beat NZ in SA last season will the status quo be firmly challenged, It’s all well and good being ranked number 1 in the world and having the measure of other sides, but as OJ points out, Graham Henry has struggled with SA much more than any other national side since 2004.
The Boks are favourites to win Tri-Nations 2010
Equally Australia has been pretty rubbish during NZ’s 7 game winning streak – that’s rugby. At the end of the day only two sides have beaten NZ in two seasons, and two of those four losses have come at home to SA. Further, the SA Super sides posted excellent away records. In my eyes SA supporters and the Springboks themselves have a lot to be positive about.
The Boks are favourites to win Tri-Nations 2010
Depends how they lose, I would suppose. Even if they do lose both games one cannot ignore three away wins in two seasons and the most recent Super results.
The Boks are favourites to win Tri-Nations 2010
The two tests in SA last season were played with Donald at 10 and a weaker front five.
How to beat the Springboks
I’m really looking forward to this game, and I can’t recall the last time I felt that way about a 3N Test.
SA:
* hints of an improve scrummage +
* absence of Du Preez and Steyn affects kicking game (accuracy and length), and also potential for long 3 pointers –
* PdV seems unsure of best midfield and back three combo –
* emergence of Louw and Potgieter in terms of new law interpretations +
* excellent lineout +
* dominance of Super sides and three wins in NZ in past two seasons +
* excellent defence +
* experience +
BUT … NZ simply MUST win. I can’t recall the last time I saw such an agitated All Black side. Rugby is still a game based primarily on emotion (aggression), and sometimes rationale goes out of the window. Can’t wait. Hope it’s going to be a humdinger.
All Blacks need to beat the Boks, badly!
It must be great to be able to speak for an entire majority. It’s certainly news to me that English people don’t want to join the EU due to ‘double standards’. Thanks for informing me, David.
England's not so golden generation
Good player Juan Smith, and a good lineout option. His loss means that SA are basically down to Matfield, and Spies and Botha occasionally at the back and front. With Smit’s absence in 2008 the SA lineout went haywire, so fingers crossed for SA fans that the big man in the middle doesn’t get injured.
The Boks are favourites to win Tri-Nations 2010
That’s true, the sides were definitely not one or two key players short, but Bob did say a couple and the side versus the Tigers did have a strong Springbok spine. Anyway, a moot point in the grand scheme of things, eh. There’s bigger and better things at stake and the game is nearly afoot.
The Boks are favourites to win Tri-Nations 2010