Wallabies get jump on All Blacks
Welcome back!
The Wallabies entered training camp today as the first of four camps where Robbie Deans will assemble his team in the lead-up to the All Blacks clash and subsequent Spring tour in November and December.
Deans ran his 34 man squad through their paces as they prepare for an end of season defining tour that will shape the likely future of Australian Rugby under Dean’s leadership.
The All Blacks on tbe other hand while still playing out the final weeks of the Air New Zealand Cup will not go into camp until one week before the Bledisloe Cup clash in Hong Kong.
The Air New Zealand Cup final will not be played until 25 October and the All Blacks team will be named the next day before they depart for Hong Kong on Monday. The All Blacks will only have that week to prepare before they commence their tour with the Bledisloe Cup match against the Wallabies.
The Wallabies however will go into the tour perhaps better prepared than anytime in recent memory with all key players except Lote Tuqiri on deck and keen to show what they all offer the Wallabies for the future.
The tour will showcase the full squad and will likely allow future stars like Ben Alexander, David Pocock, Quade Cooper and James O’Connor to establish their claims for long term considerations for the Wallabies.
All Blacks retain Tri-Nations & Bledisloe Cup: Video Highlights
The All Blacks were too good for the Wallabies 28-24 last night reclaiming the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup. The Wallabies who have not won the Tri-Nations in 7 years has their chances but were unable to seal the victory with the All Blacks surging home and the Wallabies employing inferior tactics when they were leading 17-7.
Watch the match highlights from Fox Sports below.
Tri-Nations: Australia vs New Zealand Preview
Brisbane will stage the final of the Tri-Nations tomorrow in a match that will decide the winner of the 2008 Tri-Nations series between the Wallabies and All Blacks.
Brisbane has been a bit a fortress for the Wallabies but the last team to beat them here was a Richie McCaw inspired All Blacks in 2006 that triumphed 13-9. The match will be a tough uncompromsing encounter with the All Blacks keen to retain their silverware and the Wallabies wanting to claim it.
The Wallabies have been critised heavily after their defeat to the Springboks 53-8 and the critism has stung them, they will not repeat the disaster at Ellis Park. Robbie Deans has worked on the mental issues within the team and will have them primed for the match.
Graham Henry knows all about pressure, he has been under it since before the World Cup loss in 2007. Henry has a team that on their day can blow anyone of the park and they have McCaw. McCaw is the best player in the game and is always virtually unstoppable. If McCaw and Carter the next best player in the game get on a roll then the All Blacks will win.
The Wallabies will need to shape up in the forwards, without a solid platform the Wallabies will be beaten. The battle of the backrow will be perhaps the highlight, the winner will take the Tri-Nations Trophy. THe big battle is Smith vs McCaw. McCaw can’t be stopped but his influence can be reduced.
If the Wallabies run continually at McCaw and get him involved in alot of tackles they have a chance to stop his involvement through fatigue. This has worked against McCaw in the past, it will not stop him but the more tackles he has to make then the less his involvement at the breakdown will be.
The All Blacks will look to dominate the scrum hoping to dent the Wallabies front row. If they dominate early the Wallabies will not have a platform to go forward. The Giteau, Mortlock, Cross combination is another area that will have plenty of runners heading their way. The All Blacks will aim to exploit this new combination and will heavily pressure Giteau’s kick all night.
The Ruck and Maul Verdict: Maybe I am crazy but I reckon the Wallabies will win by 5. George Smith will play the game of his life and will control McCaw as best as possible and Ryan Cross will do all the damage.
Australia
Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Ryan Cross, Stirling Mortlock, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Sam Cordingley, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Rocky Elsom, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.
Reserves: Adam Freier, Matt Dunning, Hugh McMeniman, Phil Waugh, Richard Brown, Brett Sheehan, Drew Mitchell.
New Zealand
Mils Muliaina; Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan; Rodney So’oialo, Richie McCaw, 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.
Elsom sits out Wallabies training
Rocky Elsom sat out training today after being hit with a virus. Instead of Elsom training he spent his time back at the hotel but team management assure that he will be ready to take his place at the side of the scrum for the Wallabies in his 39th test on Saturday.
Hugh McMeniman took his place but come game time it will be Elsom back in action in what will be his final appearance for the Wallabies in the near future as he will move to Leinster after the match.
All Blacks 2009 Test Schedule
The New Zealand All Blacks announced their 2009 Test Schedule today. The good news for All Blacks fans is they get to see their team all over the country with 2 matches to be held in Wellington and one each in Dunedin, Christchurch, Auckland and Hamilton.
The real winner of the 2009 schedule is Hamilton who missed out on an international this year and will be keen to impress next year.
Sat 13 June - All Blacks v France - Carisbrook, Dunedin 7.35pm
Sat 20 June - All Blacks v France - Westpac Stadium, Wellington 7.35pm
Sat 27 June - All Blacks v Italy - AMI Stadium, Christchurch 7.35pm
Sat 18 July - All Blacks v Australia - Eden Park, Auckland 7.35pm
Sat 12 Sept - All Blacks v South Africa Waikato Stadium, Hamilton 7.35pm
Sat 19 Sept - All Blacks v Australia Westpac Stadium, Wellington 7.35pm
Live Text Rugby - Australia vs New Zealand
The Ruck and Maul is looking at covering the Rugby test between Australia and New Zealand in Brisbane on saturday night at 8pm in the form of text updates every couple of minutes.
As it is not always possible to see the match around the world and most sites i have seen on the net seem to just give update the score without giving you any form of commentary then it is hard to judge how the game is going.
I am interested in you our readers and if this is something that you would be interested in. Email me at wes@theruckandmaul.com or add a comment to this post. If I get a few responses then I will provide Live Text Rugby in the form of updates on average every two minutes, it will look something similar to below;
10th Min - Wallabies attacking on All Blacks goal line, 3rd phase, defence line looks weak, Wallabies on a roll.
12th Min - Wallabies score in corner on 8th phase, GIteau try, Wallabies dominating breakdown.
13th Min - Giteau converts from sideline. All Blacks look exhausted.
If you like me covering the match like this then let me know and I will cover the match for those that can’t watch. If I don’t get responses it won’t happen so let me know.
All Blacks unchanged for Brisbane
Graham Henry has predictably named an unchanged side to the team that beat the Wallabies and All Blacks in recent weeks. The All Black stars Richie McCaw, Brad Thorn and Sitiveni Sivivatu have all been ruled fit and are looking forward to taking on the Wallabies in this make or break Tri-Nations clash.
The inclusion of McCaw is a huge boost to the All Blacks, he is a proven winner in his 64 tests and has an amazing 89% success rate, superior to that of Dan Carter on 86%. The impact McCaw has on the game is trememdous and will give the All Blacks a massive boost this weekend.
The New Zealand All Blacks team is;
Mils Muliaina; Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan; Rodney So’oialo, Richie McCaw, 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.
Wallabies make 5 changes for All Blacks clash
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has made five changes to the Wallabies starting side as the Australian’s prepare for their biggest match of the year.
Predictably George Smith, Stephen Moore, Al Baxter and Nathan Sharpe have won spots in the side. Berrick Barnes was ruled unfit and Ryan Cross will take his place in the side resulting in a Wallaby reshuffle. Ryan Cross moves to outside centre and Mortlock moves in one position to inside centre.
The addition of Cross to the side is a major boost for the League convert who has been sensational in anytime he has spent on the field.
Adam Ashley-Cooper has retained his spot at fullback and will bounce back this week. Timana Tahu, Dean Mumm and Tatafu Polota-Nau have been dropped from the squad with Adam Freier and Richard Brown the new men in the squad.
For Richard Brown this will be his first crack at Wallabies selection and will win his first cap off the bench. The hard running and agressive Western Force player has been rewarded for a strong year where he was one of the best at the Force.
The full side is;
Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Ryan Cross, Stirling Mortlock, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Sam Cordingley, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Rocky Elsom, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson. Reserves: Adam Freier, Matt Dunning, Hugh McMeniman, Phil Waugh, Richard Brown, Brett Sheehan, Drew Mitchell.
Jonathan Kaplan to set record in Bledisloe Clash
Whistleblower Jonathan Kaplan will join retired New Zealander Paul Honiss on 46 test matches when he takes the whistle this weekend in the final Tri-Nations clash of the year.
Paul Honiss set the record earlier this year before he retired but Kaplan will equal and then break the record in November as the most capped referee. The naming of South African Kaplan will no doubt send shivers down the spine of Wallaby supporters after his efforts in matches where Australian teams have played previously.
The NSW Waratahs and Brumbies have long memories of matches where they have very blighted by Kaplan’s decisions that cost them vital games. The Wallabies will need to be extra vigilant at the ruck and scrum as Kaplan will be police this area heavily and any sign of the Wallabies not shaping up cost them dearly.
Do you have an opinion on Jonathan Kaplan, share your thoughts in the post comments.
Wallabies ponder key selections
Robbie Deans will name his Wallabies squad tomorrow as the Wallabies prepare for their most important match of the year. Robbie Deans is likely to make a number of changes with Nathan Sharpe replacing Hugh McMeniman at lock, George Smith returning for Phil Waugh and Berrick Barnes subject to fitness replacing Timana Tahu.
Robbie Deans is also likely to make a change at prop with Matt Dunning returning to the bench and Al Baxter starting the match up front with Benn Robinson and Stephen Moore returning at the expense of Tatafu Polota-Nau.
Adam Ashley-Cooper’s spot at fullback is also under threat from Drew Mitchell as Ashley-Cooper struggled against the Springboks in Johannesburg after returning from a broken hand. The two weeks off is likely to serve him well and Ashley-Cooper may just retain his spot.
The Wallabies are well and truly fired up for this make or break clash and will surely not let the home fans down in Brisbane. It will also be Rocky Elsom’s final match before he moves to play for Leinster on a short term contract. The Wallabies will be hoping to send him off in style and give Elsom something to return to in next year’s Rugby Tri-Nations should he return.
The Ruck and Maul will report the Wallabies side when announced tomorrow.