Official Rugby Thread

[Smudge]

Rather ironic that our tries are coming from lineouts considering how terrible that set piece has been for us over the last 10 years.

 

[Johnners]

Again!!! Usually it's the strongest set piece for the Wallabies, just don't get it.

 

[ohtani's jacket]

THAT.

That was one of the great victories of the Henry era.

 

[Somerset]

You'd have done well to have predicted a margin of victory of 29 points after last week!

A really fantastic performance from the All Blacks - the handling, turnovers, territory, line outs - everything that was so appalling last week turned to gold tonight. One handling error in a whole half (and in the 40th minute at that) is absolutely outstanding, territorially to kick the ball twice as much as Australia worked brilliantly with the precision and execution of the kicking game tonight and the line outs, incredible. To turn the ball over eight times at line outs alone will give the side massive confidence in an area they've tended to struggle in over the last decade or so.

Intensity and aggression was the other key difference IMO. Right from the Kapa o Pango haka the ABs seemed to have so much more physicality (thats straight from the Murray Mexted vocabulary by the way) and their approach was so different to Sydney in that department that I don't think Australia knew what to do. Burgess looked lost and was hammered a few times for his efforts, while Giteau and Barnes were hardly able to exert any dominance like they did last week.

 

[Somerset]

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.

Absolutely agree. Jimmy Cowan was sensational tonight, a far better performance than any then Ellis has offered in his five test starts. Kicking game brilliant, execution to the Carter and the backline fantastic and everyone knows how solid his defence is. In saying all that, I don't think he could've produced such an effort without the forward pack, in particular the tight forwards, being so dominant over the Wallabies tonight.

 

[_Ed_]

Absolutely outstanding performance.

 

[Craig]

You'd have done well to have predicted a margin of victory of 29 points after last week!

A really fantastic performance from the All Blacks - the handling, turnovers, territory, line outs - everything that was so appalling last week turned to gold tonight. One handling error in a whole half (and in the 40th minute at that) is absolutely outstanding, territorially to kick the ball twice as much as Australia worked brilliantly with the precision and execution of the kicking game tonight and the line outs, incredible. To turn the ball over eight times at line outs alone will give the side massive confidence in an area they've tended to struggle in over the last decade or so.

Intensity and aggression was the other key difference IMO. Right from the Kapa o Pango haka the ABs seemed to have so much more physicality (thats straight from the Murray Mexted vocabulary by the way) and their approach was so different to Sydney in that department that I don't think Australia knew what to do. Burgess looked lost and was hammered a few times for his efforts, while Giteau and Barnes were hardly able to exert any dominance like they did last week.

CW - Learning something new every day.

 

[Craig]

So Money Bill Williams is officially a Toulon player. According to Toulon President Mourad Boudjellal that Williams "could develop into an "extra-terrestrial" in rugby union".

 

[age_master]

So Money Bill Williams is officially a Toulon player. According to Toulon President Mourad Boudjellal that Williams "could develop into an "extra-terrestrial" in rugby union".

Personally i think he will be pretty crap. The only thing he has going for him is his shoulder charge which is illegal in Union. He cant tackle or kick. There is potential for him to learn but i doubt his ego will let him.

 

[age_master]

THE All Blacks playing a full-strength Waratahs team at the Sydney Football Stadium next season is being planned as a way to overcome the northern hemisphere disease of sending their B-grade line-ups here every June.

Angered by northern countries treating their southern tours with near contempt by not picking their best players, Australian Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill yesterday proposed that the trans-Tasman neighbours take a dramatic new course.

It involves ignoring the north and having the All Blacks tour Australia during June to play three local provinces - Waratahs, Reds and Brumbies - followed by the Wallabies going to New Zealand to play the Crusaders, Blues and Hurricanes. Matches would be played on Tuesday and Saturday nights.

O'Neill said the idea came during a recent conversation with his New Zealand counterpart, Steve Tew, where they discussed their frustration with the June tours.

They had been further irritated by misguided International Rugby Board officials recently explaining that northern countries would from now on select their best for the June tours, because all domestic competitions in that part of the world would supposedly finish on May 31.

However, seconds later, during a telephone hook-up, a leading French official told O'Neill and Tew that their competition would end next year on June 6, meaning that if key local players were playing in the finals they would not be able to tour New Zealand and Australia.

France are scheduled to play two Tests in New Zealand and one in Australia next year. Two Italy Tests are also scheduled for Australia. Australia and New Zealand have other ideas.

"We've been confronted two years in a row with under-strength teams coming to Australia from the northern hemisphere. In 2007, Wales fronted up under-strength, and then this year the French showed up under-strength," O'Neill said yesterday. "Apart from the impact it has on the fans, the viewers at home, sponsors, broadcasters, and the look and the damage it does to the integrity of Test match rugby, the financial cost to the ARU over two years was $1.6 million."

O'Neill added that the ARU was "not obliged to accept an inbound team that doesn't comply with IRB regulation 9, which means best available".

"The alternatives we need to look at includes whether in that window we look at the Wallabies going to New Zealand, and playing the Blues, Crusaders and Hurricanes, and the All Blacks coming to Australia and playing the Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies," O'Neill said.

"Remember the Lions tour of 2001 �c Canberra Stadium packed, SFS packed, Brisbane packed. You are talking about a full-strength All Blacks side playing against a full-strength NSW team, and so forth. That would lure a crowd.

"We're not being Bolshevik about it. We are simply saying that we can't rely on the quality of the northern hemisphere teams. Our audience is disillusioned. We're hurting and we should be allowed to look at alternatives. We're looking to expand Super Rugby, and that's our commitment. When that happens it will fill the June window. That will hopefully be in place by 2010.

"But in the interim, you've got to say Wales 2007, France 2008 �c do we really want to insult the audience again?"

�¡ In other news, foreign players are expected to be allowed to appear for Australian Super 14 provinces from next year. ARU directors will shortly be asked to endorse a new foreign player policy that would allow each province to have what is expected to be one high-profile overseas performer.

The ARU board has agreed in principle to relax a regulation that prohibits players ineligible for Wallabies selection from playing with the four Australian Super teams. A final submission will be presented to the board for approval on September 5.

from smh.com.au today. Good idea for mine. I would certainly go and see the Tah's play the ABs

 

[Perm]

Good call, but I still want to see us play the Northern Hemisphere teams. Maybe we could France to come over and play the Chiefs, Highlanders and the All Blacks.

 

[Somerset]

A full strength All Blacks side against the Reds and Brumbies in particular would be just a little one-sided one feels...

I think the only plan that could be introduced to counter the northern hemisphere sides sending B-teams (or even what resembles C-teams in some occasions) is by avoiding scheduling the tours at the tail end of their seasons.

 

[Perm]

A full strength All Blacks side against the Reds and Brumbies in particular would be just a little one-sided one feels...

I think the only plan that could be introduced to counter the northern hemisphere sides sending B-teams (or even what resembles C-teams in some occasions) is by avoiding scheduling the tours at the tail end of their seasons.

We wouldn't select a full-strength side to take on the Reds or Brumbies, that'd be ridiculous in most instances. You would, IMO, use the games against Super 14 teams to test combinations/trial new players/rest older guys.

Also, with regards to your last point, when else are they going to come? In the middle of their domestic season? That would only serve to disrupt clubs and cause massive confrontations.

 

[Somerset]

We wouldn't select a full-strength side to take on the Reds or Brumbies, that'd be ridiculous in most instances. You would, IMO, use the games against Super 14 teams to test combinations/trial new players/rest older guys.

Also, with regards to your last point, when else are they going to come? In the middle of their domestic season? That would only serve to disrupt clubs and cause massive confrontations.

I've got no suggestions for when they'd come, I just thought I'd point out the problem. Something for the administrators to come together to reach some sort of solution.

If we don't select a full strength side, then why would Australia be better off...or are they basically happy with a weakened AB side but not a weakened French or English team?

 

[Craig]

SBW yellow carded on debut for Toulon for a shoulder charge. He played out on the left wing but after his ten minute enforced break he did not appear for the rest of the game.

Williams playing as winger, ITSTL.

 

[chaminda_00]

Would Japan and Argentine send full strength sides?

Better off just playing that lot and Pacific Nation sides, rather then Super 14 teams. Or maybe matches against Australia A and NZM sides.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

SBW yellow carded on debut for Toulon for a shoulder charge. He played out on the left wing but after his ten minute enforced break he did not appear for the rest of the game.

Williams playing as winger, ITSTL.

 

[Somerset]

SBW yellow carded on debut for Toulon for a shoulder charge. He played out on the left wing but after his ten minute enforced break he did not appear for the rest of the game.

Williams playing as winger, ITSTL.

Bet Toulon are thrilled with that effort.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Haha just saw the aforementioned shoulder charge, he has nfi what he's doing.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

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