Loading ...Here we are a few days away from the Tri-Nations final with South Africa as spectators to the clash in Brisbane on Saturday between the All Blacks and Wallabies and all we read about in South Africa are sex, lies and video tape.
I am tracking the Guinness Premiership taking place between 12 teams in the UK, through till May next year and there is no controversy like this in Europe. The focus is all about rugby and the best team.
I am hopeful that there are initiatives under way to similarly bring the South African focus back to rugby and especially to heal these deep and divisions in our sport.
The All Blacks have dominated and won the Tri-Nations since 2005 and now face the Wallabies in the Tri-Nations decider. Perspectives from both teams are:
The New Zealand All Blacks
The All Blacks today named an unchanged team for their Tri-Nations rugby series decider against the Wallabies for this Saturday.
New Zealand, will field the same starting XV against Australia as in their previous two tournament outings against South Africa and the Wallabies.
The All Blacks, who lead the Australians by just one point heading into the final game, beat Australia 39-10 in Auckland and South Africa 19-0 in Cape Town in their last two internationals with the same team combination.
A decision on the team’s reserve prop will be made on Friday as John Afoa’s recovery from a sore shoulder is monitored and was bracketed with Neemia Tialata.
Skipper and open-side flanker Richie McCaw (ribs), lock Brad Thorn (hamstring) and winger Sitiveni Sivivatu (ankle) returned to the starting line-up after they were rested from last week’s 101-14 romp against Samoa in New Plymouth with minor injuries.
This Samoa outing was perfect preparation for Saturday as the try scoring fest teaches the All Blacks how to score tries and where, like under the poles. Every All Black player contributed to the tries scored and then takes this imprinting and winning skill set into the Wallabies match. Players have to learn how and where to score tries in the thick of battle, as it becomes all about instinct and the Samoa match was perfect to have the All Blacks peaking for this Saturdays Test match.
I am digressing here, but those players that dive for the most “spectacular” corner try, to make the front and back pages of the press and magazines, are best sent to the 1m diving pool for a change in careers. The composed “Nokwe Dot Down” is the way to go, but that discussion is best left for another time.
New Zealand (15 to 1)
Mils Muliaina; Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan; Rodney So’oialo, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino; Ali Williams, Brad Thorn; Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Keven Mealamu, John Afoa/Neemia Tialata, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson, Piri Weepu, Stephen Donald, Isaia Toeava.
Australia — The Wallabies:
Ryan Cross is one of five changes in the Australian starting line-up for Saturday’s rugby union Tri-Nations decider against New Zealand from the side which crashed to a record loss to South Africa two weeks ago.
Deans has made four changes in his forward pack, with hooker Stephen Moore, prop Al Baxter, flanker George Smith, and lock Nathan Sharpe all recalled to the starting eight while Phil Waugh, utility forward Hugh McMeniman and prop Matt Dunning were relegated to the reserves. Hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau was cut from the 22-man squad.
Hooker Adam Freier and back rower Richard Brown were drafted in as forward reserves, with scrumhalf Brett Sheehan and Drew Mitchell covering the backline positions.
Scrumhalf Luke Burgess and lock Dan Vickerman were not considered because of injuries.
Here is the interesting bit for the record book. Australia must win the Tri-Nation’s series outright to reclaim the Bledisloe Cup, which it has not held since a New Zealand side that had Robbie Deans as its assistant coach, prevailed 2-0 in the 2003 series.
As well as deciding this year’s Tri-Nations, Saturday’s match is the third leg of the Bledisloe Cup series, with Australia and New Zealand locked at one win each. The fourth Bledisloe match will be played at Hong Kong on November 1.
— Australia line-up:
Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Ryan Cross, Stirling Mortlock (captain), Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Sam Cordingley; Benn Robinson, Stephen Moore, Al Baxter, James Horwill, Nathan Sharpe, Rocky Elsom, George Smith, Wycliff Palu.
Reserves: Adam Freier, Matt Dunning, Hugh McMeniman, Phil Waugh, Richard Brown, Brett Sheehan, Drew Mitchell.
The All Blacks coming off the Samoa match now have a rhythm and are at their most deadly and should peak on Saturday, against an Australian side that had a hiding from the South Africans.
Take one spectacular record breaking win versus a spectacular record breaking loss and you pretty much have a summary of the mental state and conditioning of the All Blacks and Wallabies.
The All Blacks to thump the Wallabies in Brisbane on Saturday.
Roll on 8, 15, 22 and 29 November for the Springboks in Europe.
Agree your diving point, if i was a coach would fine/censure any player who dived without reason. (in cricket would hang the players who throw the ball up as soon as a catch is made) However thought Nokwe’s 1st try deserved a dive as he nearly had the ball knocked from his grasp.
Sat 1200 will be glued to the tv to see the absorbing Tri Nations final.
Brent
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