Official Rugby Thread

[ohtani's jacket]

It wouldn't have made any difference if we'd had McCaw, Collins or anyone in Europe. We're not going to win Test matches playing that kind of rugby. The All Blacks' game plan was a dud from the beginning. They were headless chickens, trying to run the ball from everywhere instead of playing a territory game, creating a forward platform and working it through the backs.

 

[Craig]

Kiwis turn on 'stupid' All Blacks

NEW Zealand rugby fans turned on the All Blacks after the team's loss to Australia, with pundits labelling them "stupid" and beleagured coach Graham Henry under renewed attack.

The knives were out for Henry as the coach once hailed as the 'Great Redeemer' was outsmarted by Robbie Deans, the boss the New Zealand Rugby Union did not want and encouraged to move to Australia.

Saturday night's long-awaited Test, the first pitching Henry against Deans since Henry's reappointment despite last year's World Cup flop, turned into a one-sided affair as the Wallabies romped to a 34-19 victory.

"It wasn't just the margin, it was the fact that the off-field mastermind was a man we could have had for the asking that left you feeling sick by game's end,'' wrote columnist Phil Gifford in the Sunday Star-Times.

Deans is by far the most successful coach in the history of the Super rugby series, and he has moulded the Wallabies along the same lines that he used to take the Crusaders to five Super rugby titles.

Even All Blacks assistant coach Steve Hansen said there was an air of the Crusaders about the Wallabies, yet the All Blacks did not seem prepared for that.

Veteran broadcaster Murray Deaker, who fielded non-stop calls on his radio talkback programme blaming Henry for the heavy defeat and bemoaning the loss of Deans to Australia, described the All Blacks game plan as "ill-conceived''.

The All Blacks were "more stupid than courageous'', wrote Gregor Paul in the Herald on Sunday.

"The All Blacks straddled that fine line between bravery and stupidity last night and ended up putting the emphasis too heavily on the latter,'' he wrote.

"As a consequence, New Zealanders really will wake up this morning and wonder if they let the wrong coach go at the end of last year.''

Under the headline 'Backline try-hards fall short again', columnist Duncan Johnstone pointed out the inability of the All Blacks backs to finish off promising breaks.

"With a mountain of possession the All Blacks made 11 line breaks to the Wallabies' eight, ran with the ball 121 times compared to Australia's 73 and made almost twice as many metres (909 to 503),'' Johnstone said.

"Yet they didn't have much to show for it in the end as they were either smothered by some hugely effective and at times desperate defence from the home side.''

An underlying theme of the criticism was that New Zealanders will not stand for another loss.

"One more defeat, especially at home against the Wallabies, and this whole Henry thing could implode in a big way. Seriously,'' columnist Marc Hinton wrote on the RugbyHeaven website.

"The New Zealand public will bay for blood on the floor if the All Blacks lose three on the trot. They'll demand change, even if the reality is it can't come until, at the very least, the end of this competition. It will be an unholy mess.''

Gifford saw next Saturday's Test as a "must win ... or the rest of the Tri-Nations will be long, painful, and, perhaps worst of all for our rugby, divisive.''

In an article headlined 'A dingo ate our soft All Blacks', Greg Ford in the Herald on Sunday took issue with the decision to retain Henry as the All Blacks coach at the expense of Robbie "Dingo" Deans.

"Given Saturday night's result and their shock decision to re-appoint Graham Henry back in December, a poll of the New Zealand Rugby Union board as to whether they still stand behind their decision would be a fascinating exercise right now,''

(Link)

Ouch!

 

[Flem274*]

Talk about OTT, one game FFS. Still that reaction was always going to happen, hysteria sells papers.

 

[BoyBrumby]

Talk about OTT, one game FFS. Still that reaction was always going to happen, hysteria sells papers.

Two defeats on the bounce now, tbf. I can't remember the last time that happened to the ABs. The margin of defeat was a surprise too, can't recall the last time NZ went down to such a kicking either.

Henry should never have stayed on after the WC for me.

 

[Flem274*]

Two defeats on the bounce now, tbf. I can't remember the last time that happened to the ABs. The margin of defeat was a surprise too, can't recall the last time NZ went down to such a kicking either.

Henry should never have stayed on after the WC for me.

He shouldn't have stayed, but the bloodlust after losing two games of rugby is amazing in this country.

 

[James]

He shouldn't have stayed, but the bloodlust after losing two games of rugby is amazing in this country.

Happens in pretty much every country with the national sport though doesn't it.

I'm sure the England guys would say the same thing happens with the English football team. India with the cricket as well, etc.

 

[Flem274*]

Happens in pretty much every country with the national sport though doesn't it.

I'm sure the England guys would say the same thing happens with the English football team. India with the cricket as well, etc.

Highly likely.

If we win 3-1 some journos might look a bit silly.

I suspect it will be a close fought series though.

 

[ohtani's jacket]

Two defeats on the bounce now, tbf. I can't remember the last time that happened to the ABs. The margin of defeat was a surprise too, can't recall the last time NZ went down to such a kicking either.

Henry should never have stayed on after the WC for me.

The answer to both is 2004.

 

[ripper868]

Stoked with the win obviously

Must say i expected Nonu to smash through Barnes all night, as it turned out Barnes was quite possibly the rock of Australia's defence, taking down bigger guys all night. Impressed with Ashley-Coopers desperation as well, half knocked out by Tuitavatke, gets up and does it all again on the otherside of the field.

Looking at stats the AB's ran for 400 more metres of gainage (new word), 900 odd - 500. Line breaks were also more.

Carter outplayed Giteau, a real class player he is, should talk to him bout coming over as well.

The ELV's. I dont mind them, a quick tap and the game is on again instead of Carter/Giteau kicking for a lineout all the time.

Dissapointe the wallabies scrum, disintegrated on a couple of occasions, including once when thorn was off in the bin.

Anyway, thats my 2 cents. Can't wait for Auckland.

 

[ohtani's jacket]

NEW ZEALAND: 15 Leon MacDonald, 14 Mils Muliana, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan/Andy Ellis/Piri Weepu; 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino (c), 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Greg Somerville, 2 Andrew Hore/ Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: 16 Hore/Mealamu, 17 John Afoa, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Adam Thomson/Daniel Braid, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Richard Kahui.

Thank God Henry relented.

 

[Johnners]

MacDonald Ruled Out

 

[Somerset]

Bit disappointed that Leon MacDonald won't be playing, seems we'll now be forced to head into the test with similar tactics to Sydney. Though with the Auckland weather over the last few days (and of course over the whole country), I'd be wanting to play the territorial game as much as possible.

 

[age_master]

Really looking forward to the game tonight, last weeks game was brilliant, hopefully this one will be even better.

 

[Jakester1288]

Hopefully Australia can beat New Zealand tonight in the Bledisloe Cup. Carn Wallabies!

 

[Somerset]

Should be VERY interesting tonight. ABs are playing Kahui on the wing which has caused some debate throughout the week, as had the bracketing of the half back, hooker and reserve loose forward positions but with McCaw back I think that'll be a huge confidence booster. Conditions in Auckland aren't great but could be worse, so a better kicking game than last week is absolutely essential. As for Australia, I read in the paper this morning that they've lost every match away from home in the Tri-Nations since 2001 - I can't see them rectifying that tonight, though then again who predicted last week's result?

 

[Craig]

If that Haka is anything to go by, passion will not be a problem for the AB's.

 

[Smudge]

The speed to the turnover is still inferior to Australia's at the moment...

 

[Johnners]

Ugh, Wallabies kicking game has been terrible.

 

[Smudge]

21-10 at half time. Cowan is grabbing his chance with both hands, giving much superior service than Ellis. His strength is getting him out of tough positions. Woodcock only a few metres away from being the first AB prop to score three tries in a test since about 1958 or something.

 

[Johnners]

Yet another quality Australian lineout leads to another try.[/sarcasm]

Lineout has been terrible for us tonight.