Wallabies arrive in Auckland
Welcome back!
The Wallabies touched down in Auckland this afternoon ahead of the clash with the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday. The Wallabies have not won at Eden Park since 1986 and the team will be hoping that they can reverse the terrible record in recent years away from Australia. In fact the performance of the Wallabies has been that terrible away that they have not tasted serious success abroad since John Eales retired.
The Walabies were treated to a mute response upon arrival in New Zealand this evening. However, Robbie Deans was greeted by the New Zealand public upon his arrival as fans sought his autograph and he posed for photo’s. It is clear the New Zealand public still hold Robbie Deans in high regard and would dearly love to see him as the All Blacks coach.
The Ruck and Maul will preview the Tri Nations Rugby clash tomorrow.
Kahui named on Wing for All Blacks
Richard Kahui has been named on the wing for the All Blacks for their clash against Australia at Eden Park on Saturday. Kahui would did nothing wrong in the loss to the Wallabies in Sydney is better known as an outside centre but has been placed on the wing in what is a vote for his kicking game.
Kahui has a strong kicking game, as evidenced by his performance against the Wallabies. Henry seems to be opting for greater kicking options, these are not as strong in Tuitavake and Wulf who were also indicated as possible replacements on the wing.
Leon MacDonald out of All Blacks
Leon MacDonald has been ruled out of the All Blacks team to take on the Wallabies at Eden Park. The loss of MacDonald is a big blow as his experience, kicking and positional play is highly regarded by Graham Henry and his experience would have been beneficial to the All Blacks.
Mils Mulieana is likely to return to fullback and a possible replacement for him may be Rudi Wulf.
John Roe retires from injury
Sad news today for the Queensland Reds who lost their captain John Roe today through retirement. Roe, 31, the Reds captain played 107 games for the Reds and 19 internationals for the Wallabies in a test career that began in 2003.
Roe retired due to the inability of his shoulder to respond to medical treatment. Roe has a shoulder reconstruction in 2007 and missed the last few games in 2008 with another shoulder injury. It is a big loss for the Reds as Roe was one of the key members of the team and his loyalty and commitment to the team was one of the key reasons they were able to retain some promising young players.
Mortlock back to battle All Blacks in Auckland
Stirling Mortlock is back to lead the Wallabies into battle against the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday. Mortlock has recovered from the concussion that ruled him out of the sensational victory on the weekend.
Only one other change was made to the team to take on the All Blacks with Phil Waugh added to the team to replace Rocky Elsom who is out with a ligament strain to his foot. The pairing of George Smith and Phil Waugh is a mouth watering option that Robbie Deans will be unleashing on the All Blacks, along with Richie McCaw and Schalk Burger they are the four best backrow players in the world.
The fact Australia will unleash two outstanding flankers upon the All Blacks will ensure that the All Blacks will have to be at the top of their game to nullify their brilliance. With the return of Richie McCaw the All Blacks will be more potent and Deans will be hoping that they two sensational players who play well together will be able to deliver another blow to the All Blacks in Auckland.
The Wallabies team to take on the All Blacks is;
Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Stirling Mortlock, Berrick Barnes, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Phil Waugh, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.
Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Dunning, Dan Vickerman, Hugh McMeniman, Sam Cordingley, Ryan Cross, Drew Mitchell.
McCaw to lead All Blacks at Eden Park
Richie McCaw has returned to the All Blacks team to lead them into a must win Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup clash against the Wallabies at Eden Park in Auckland. The reputation of the All Blacks and the coaching career of Graham Henry all depend on a make or break victory. A loss will certainly cost Henry his job and force New Zealand Rugby into total damage control.
To make matters worse the All Blacks have a number of players under injury clouds with Piri Weepu put on standby as the third choice halfback behind Ellis and Cowan. Andrew Hore and Keven Mealumu have both been named at hooker as an injury cloud still hangs over Hore with a bruised hip.
The All Blacks have made some positional changes and adjusts to the lineup with Leon McDonald replacing Mils Muliaina at fullback as he moves to the wing to replace Tuitavake. Richard Kahui returns to the bench with Conrad Smith taking his place at outside centre.
The New Zealand squad is;
Leon MacDonald, Mils Muliaina, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan/Piri Weepu/Andrew Ellis, Rodney So’oialo, Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore/Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Andrew Hore/Keven Mealumu, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson/Daniel Braid, Jimmy Cowan/Piri Weepu/Andrew Ellis, Stephen Donald, Richard Kahui.
Elsom ruled out for Auckland Tri-Nations match
Rocky Elsom has been ruled out of the Wallabies team to take on the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday. Elsom has succumbed to a ligament strain which forced him off towards the end of the second half in the Australian win over New Zealand in Sydney.
Elsom is only expected to miss one game and is likely to be replaced by Hugh McMeniman who possesses the same combative and aggresive style of play to get under the skin of the opposition.
Elsom has been one of the Wallabies best this year and has played a major role in the five consecutive wins the Wallabies have had this year. Elsom has formed a deadly backrow combination with George Smith and Wycliff Palu that culminated in a dominant performance against the All Blacks.
All Black injurys mount
The All Blacks are counting the cost of the bruising encounter against the Wallabies in Sydney. Both halfbacks Andy Ellis and Jimmy Cowan are injured as is Andrew Hore. At this stage both halfbacks are doubtful starters for the clash at Eden Park this week while Andrew Hore is likely to be fit.
The All Blacks will be plumbing the depths of their talent to replace these positions as it is likely Piri Weepu will come into the side at halfback should both players be ruled out.
In other injury news Richie McCaw will almost certainly be back in action this week. A loss for the All Blacks would be a disaster for the team and spell their chances of winning the Bledisloe and Tri-Nations Cup virtually over. Plus it would seal Graham Henry’s fate.
Sonny Bill Williams departure baffles the NRL
The Sonny Bill Williams incident has inflamed Australian sports in the last few days. Sonny Bill Williams, a player for the Bulldogs in the National Rugby League in Australia walked out on the Bulldogs without advising senior management or fellow players. It was reported on Saturday he was on a flight to Paris to sign with a Toulon. The contract was reported to be worth $3 million dollars over 2 years.
Fans in Australia and fellow players have be annoyed by the act of departing mid contract. Sonny Bill was on a five year contract and not yet two years into a near $500,000 a year contract when he walked out the door on the Bulldogs.
This story has a long way to run yet as the Bulldogs are taking legal action to stop him playing but time will tell if it proceeds or not. Do you have an opinion on Sonny Bill Williams, share your thoughts in our comments section.
Wallabies celebrate Bledisloe win
The Australian Wallabies produced one of their finest team efforts in recent years to down the New Zealand All Blacks 34-19 in Sydney last night. In what was a fantastic match the Wallabies deserved their win with a magnificent team effort.
This was one of the most hyped Bledisloe Cup matches in recent memory, perhaps since 2003 as new Wallabies coach Robbie Deans was to face off against the man who won the New Zealand coach over him, Graham Henry. It was billed as a match where Robbie Deans wanted to make the All Black selectors ro regret their decision to re-appoint Henry and despite that it was anything but a grudge match. Both teams started dynamically but it was the All Blacks that slipped up first when Brad Thorn tackled Giteau high near the posts and was sent to the bin for 10 minutes, it was hardly a sin bin offence but Australia thrived on this period of 14 men from the opposition.
Giteau took the penalty and Australia were on the board first. It was not much longer until a fantastic effort from the Wallaby team and some inspired play at the ruck with a long Burgess pass and a fine low pickup by Giteau before unleashing an unmarked Cross down the left wing to score. It was soon 10-0 and the All Blacks looked shell shocked.
The Wallabies were dynamic around the ground with Smith, Elsom and co dominating the breakdown, even the much maligned scrum held up first and did not look like cracking early on. It was not until half way into the first half when the All Blacks started to find their mojo. It was the brilliance of Dan Carter who inspired the counter attack and eventually the All Blacks scored after an 80 metre try that went through a number of hands until Mils Muliaina scored. It was the sign for the All Blacks to spring into gear and they began to dominate for the next period. However, the Wallabies were to score next with a fantastic effort again by Tuqiri and then a kick ahead by Ashley-Cooper who was in fantastic form at the back for Peter Hynes to score. The Wallabies were looking at a 17-5 lead with two minutes till half time but the dynamic All Blacks again sprung into gear and scored a length of the field try to Andrew Hore. It was half-time and both sides looked exhausted, the score 17-12 to the Wallabies.
The second half started with the All Blacks of old as they rushed the breakdown, the previously dominant efforts of Smith, Elsom and the forward pack seemed subdued as the All Blacks gave it their all and it paid a big return with a fantastic series of plays providing a try to Andy Ellis. It was converted by Dan Carter who was starting to exert his considerable class into a 19-17 lead. The All Blacks looked to have the running now but the Wallabies never gave in as Smith and Barnes, then Giteau and Horwill dug deep to produce some amazing aggression at key moments to pull of great tackles and ball steals. It was Smith who stood up most when it all countered and he played an insprirational role in the performance of the Wallabies as they struck back. The try finally came to Rocky Elsom who incised the All Blacks through the middle of the field to run over 25 metres and score under the posts. It was the fantastic play of the Wallabies, with Giteau playing a major role in the stages leading up to the try.
The Wallabies then extended the lead with a Giteau drop goal from his opposite foot with 12 minutes remaining. With a lead of 8 points the victory was almost sealed. However, the Wallabies were not done their as they produced some dynamic play with their substitutes on and Phil Waugh smashing the All Blacks at the breakdown the Wallabies delivered a series of telling moments that symbolised the game, they pulled off big tackles when it mattered and then turned key ball over at the breakdown and then unleashed an enthusiam rarely seen from the Wallabies. With the Wallabies stringing phases together they unleashed Hotwill close to the line and he barged over to cap off a sensational individual match and team effort. The Wallabies won 34-19.
Ir is hard to single out any one player for the Wallabies but it was perhaps Giteau, Smith, Elsom, Barnes and Horwill who had the biggest impact but it was the whole team that delivered brilliantly. The forwards looked inspired and Australia dominated the breakdown, they held firm in the scrum for the majority of the game and the backs prospered with a platform to work with in attack. The defensive effort was hard and each tackle seemed to pound the confidence of the All Blacks, Smith typified this with some bone crushing tackles and fantastic play around the ground. It is hard to imagine a Wallabies team that does not have him in it playing a major role.
The only negative for the Wallabies is Rocky Elsom who has been ruled out of this weeks match due to a ligament strain. Australia will take on the All Blacks next week in Auckland in what is shaping as a make or break game for Graham Henry. If the All Blacks lose I don’t think we will see Graham Henry leading his team on the Northern Hemisphere tour at the end of the year. Even if they win it looks like the damage has been done.
Do you have a comment about the game? Share your thoughts!
Australia 34
Tries: Ryan Cross, Peter Hynes, Rocky Elsom, James Horwill
Goals: Matt Giteau 4 conversions, 1 penalty and 1 drop goal
New Zealand 19
Tries: Mils Muliaina, Andrew Hore, Andrew Ellis
Goals:Dan Carter 2 conversions