All Blacks named against Wallabies

[mr selfdestruct]

Starting XV:

1. Tony Woodcock (86)
2. Keven Mealamu (93)
3. Owen Franks (34)
4. Luke Romano (1)
5. Samuel Whitelock (28)
6. Liam Messam (10)
7. Richie McCaw - captain (106)
8. Kieran Read (38)
9. Aaron Smith (3)
10. Daniel Carter (87)
11. Hosea Gear (9)
12. Sonny Bill Williams (17)
13. Ma’a Nonu (66)
14. Cory Jane (31)
15. Israel Dagg (15)

Reserves:

16. Andrew Hore (65)
17. Ben Franks (18)
18. Brodie Retallick (3)
19. Victor Vito (14)
20. Piri Weepu (59)
21. Aaron Cruden (11)
22. Ben Smith (5)

[Phrack]

That's a pretty big team. Only concern is the obvious midfield defense without Conrad.

[mr selfdestruct]

Still, probably better than Tamati starting his first test at Centre against the Wallabies eh?

No Thomson either, go Messam, don't botch it this time!

[Phrack]

Would have thought Tamati would be a better reserve than Ben Smith, unless he can cover center? Otherwise I guess the Cruden/Carter could happen.

Messam has earned that spot, be happy to see him make it his.

Also happy to see Gear in there! Hopefully he gets himself involved. Fast ball from Aaron Smith should help, along with SBW/Nonu offloads.

[mr selfdestruct]

Yeah that is definitely my preferred back 3 and thought that should have been the 'go to' back 3 at the world cup barring injuries.

Once SBW leaves I suspect they will run with a Carter/Cruden 10/12 and Nonu at 13 and maybe bring Tamati into Centre off the bench

[xor]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-union/un...816-24bgu.html
wow, the strayan rugby journo's don't even believe their own tripe. SUuuuuuuuuurely.

[mr selfdestruct]

That's all rubbish, All Blacks by 17

[Genesis]

Can't wait, will be an epic match.

Only problem is I got to put up with the retarded, aussie as fuck Foxtel commentary.

[Deadmeat]

Do the aussies have money on nz or something?

[Heresy]

STRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYA FUCKIN YEAH CUNT

[Ab]

That was a pretty average effort from the ABs and a below-average one from the Wallabies. Not a great game.

[Deadmeat]

The AB's seemed like they had the usual first-test-as-a-team-rustiness. The Ausi's seemed at times like they'd been told about this 'rugby' thing half an hour before kick off and then thrown on the field.

[Baxton]

thing I dont get is the Sonnybill nonu partnership is going to take a bit to bed in, which sounds like what they kinda expected.

being we only get sonny bill for 2 games, and the back line will be shakey for half of those why not just put in some new talent?

[xor]

Because it takes 3 guys to mark SBW at all times and even then he's more than likely to flick an offload and create an overlap.

[Deadmeat]

I thought it was a temporary arrangement until Conrad was back.

In other news...

Ouch.

[Genesis]

Destroyed.

[orpheus]

Originally Posted by Genesis

Destroyed.

should have been 50+ Zip

[Genesis]

Originally Posted by orpheus

should have been 50+ Zip

true dat

[xor]

Originally Posted by Baxton

thing I dont get is the Sonnybill nonu partnership is going to take a bit to bed in, which sounds like what they kinda expected.

being we only get sonny bill for 2 games, and the back line will be shakey for half of those why not just put in some new talent?

*cough*

[Baxton]

ha yea for the first half I was glad he was in the squad. set the platform for pushing the heel down on their neck in the second.

but yea I wasnt really questioning what he was bringing to the team, it was more why not try some new combo/new blood with an eye to the next 2 years of sonnyless nz rugby. especially since the aussies looked shakey.

but I am happier with a 0 score by aussie.

[blynk]

Did anyone else feel like Dagg had a bet on himself to score the first try?

There seemed to be several times that he looked selfish to try and get the try, where if he had of passed it, we probably would have scored.

I agree that we didn't destroy them. Sure keeping them scoreless is good, but destroyed would have been at least another 20+ points. Even if it meant Oz scoring some points.

[xor]

Thing I didn't get was that the Wallabies had the chance to kick for 3 points at the 50 minute mark but opted for the kick to touch.

They were only down 19points at that stage, wtf.

[Baxton]

their whole game plan was fucked but that really did demonstrate it. why not get points and then build some momentum

same with their play, they would run the ball with strength then kick it aimlessly and hand it over.

[Deadmeat]

Originally Posted by Deadmeat

I thought it was a temporary arrangement until Conrad was back.

All Blacks attack coach Ian Foster has heralded the return of centre Conrad Smith and confirmed he will be paired with Ma'a Nonu in the midfield against Argentina on Saturday.