All Blacks unchanged for Brisbane
Welcome back!
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.
Brumbies look to new Captain in 2009
Andy Friend the new Brumbies Super 14 coach in 2009 announced on ABC Radio in Canberra this morning that the Brumbies are actively considering standing down Stirling Mortlock as captain and announcing a new captain in 2009.
The rumours have been doing the rounds for a week or so now but this is the first confirmation that the Brumbies are considering standing down Mortlock as captain. Friend acknowledged that Mortlock was under pressure with the responsibilities from the Wallabies captaincy and media responsibilities and that relieving him as the Brumbies captain may allow him to focus on his other duties.
This would in no way mean Mortlock would not have a leadership role on the field as he is an inspirational leader but it would devolve him of the media obligations that can add considerably to the workload. The same approach was done several years ago at the Brumbies when George Gregan was still the Australian Wallabies captain and Stirling Mortlock replaced Gregan as the Brumbies captain. Gregan was still as vocal as ever on the field and the Brumbies barely missed a beat.
So who is in line to take over as captain should the Brumbies follow through on their discussions? THe most likely candidates are Stephen Hoiles, George Smith and even Mark Gerrard as a dark horse in the pack.
Do you follow the Brumbies? If so what do you think of Andy Friend’s comments.
Magners League Round One Results
In the first round of the Magners League for 2008-09 Munster got off to a winning start against Edinburgh winning 20-15 in a result that was closer than it could have been. Munster scored two tries to Chris Paterson’s five penalty goals and were clearly the stronger side against the home team.
In a penalty fest Glasgow won 12-6 over the Dragons thanks to Dan Parks boot with four penalties in a rain soaked match. The match was played in tough conditions which reduced the match to a battle of the forwards and kicking, the backrow of Glasgow took control and Dan Parks kicked his side to victory.
The Scarlets defeated Ulster 16-9 in another low scoring rain affected match. Scarlets were the only team to score a try through Darren Daniel and former Queensland Reds player Clinton Schifcofske scored all Ulster’s points through penalties.
Ospreys downed Connacht 16-3 through a try to Nikki Walker and the boot of James Hook. The win in rain affects conditions was Ospreys first away win in the Magners League since the 2006-07 season.
Magners League Round One Preview
The Magners League kicks off tomorrow Australian time with Connacht playing Ospreys. Once again we are likely to see a highly competitive season and no doubt some teams will develop into surprise packets.
The big match of Round One is the Cardiff Blues vs Leinster, the top two sides from last year. The winner is likely to be regarded the most likely champion of the Magners League. Cardiff Blues are likely to scrap over the line but Leinster will build as the season progresses.
Leinster recruited well with Australia’s blindside flanker Rocky Elsom to join them in the coming weeks after his commitment with rhe Wallabies cease after the New Zealand clash. Elsom will add considerable venom to an already imposing side.
In other matches Ospreys are likely to have too much firepower for Connacht. A potential early clash that could determine the quality of both sides is Edinburgh and Munster. Munster have been a traditional heavyweight and Edinburgh could be a big performer this year.
We will soon get a clearer idea in the coming weeks of who are the pretenders and who will challenge for end of season glory. The Ruck and Maul will cover the results after the matches on the weekend. I have bolded the teams I believe will win.
Who do you rhink will win the Magners League?
Friday 5th September
Connacht vs Ospreys
Edinburgh vs Munster
Newport-Gwent Dragons vs Glasgow
Ulster vs Llanelli Scarlets
Saturday 6th September
Cardiff Blues vs Leinster
ARU approve foreign players in Super 14
The Australian Rugby Union board today approved the inclusion of foriegn players in the Australian Super 14 teams. The new Foreign Player Policy is highly conditional and restricts each Australian Super 14 franchise to a maximum of two overseas based players.
Australian Super 14 teams will be able to sign one marquee foreign player. This marquee player can be an international player but can never qualify for Australian selection due to the IRB regulation restricting each player to only represent one country throughout their career.
Each Super 14 team will also be allowed to recruit a second developing foreign player who has yet to represent his country at international level in tests, sevens or A-team level. This player can then qualify for Australian selection after three years of consecutive residency.
Super 14 teams can also choose to select two developing players instead of one marquee and one developing player. The ARU has imposed the additional restictions of each bid for a foreign player having to be submitted through the ARU and approved prior to the contract proceeding. The ARU has also restricted these foreign players to only a two year contract at any one Super 14 team.
This change opens the door to bringing in players that would draw a high degree of international appeal to the Australian game. Players such as Sebastien Chabal and Shane Williams would have a tremendous following should any Australian team attempt to bring them to their franchise. It is certainly a smart marketing move from the ARU and bodes well for the game.
Rugby World Cup 2011 announce venues for finals
The Rugby New Zealand CEO Martin Snedden announced today that Christchurch and Wellington would each host two quarter-finals at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and confirmed the previous plans for the semi-finals and final.
Martin Snedden, the former New Zealand cricketer, now CEO of Rugby New Zealand announced the good news today that Christchurch and Wellington will both host two quarter-finals.
The news has been met with great excitement particularly in Christchurch and is a clear indication of the commitment to ensuring the major rugby destinations outside of Auckland get quality rugby matches at the business end of the tournament.
Snedden, went on to confirm Eden Park in Auckland would host the semi-finals, 3rd placed match and the final. Eden Park was chosen on the basis of it being the biggest available stadium and was a clear choice for the major tournament matches.
The four quarter-finals will be played on the weekend of 7-9 October while the semi-finals will be played on the weekend of 15-16 October.
The bronze final will be staged one or two days prior to the final which is scheduled to be played on the weekend 21-23 October 2011.
The bases for the 20 rugby teams will be announced late in 2009, so watch this space for where your favourite team will be based.
All Black Tuitavake out for six weeks
New Zealand All Blacks winger Anthony Tuitavake has been ruled out rugby for six weeks after suffering a fractured cheekbone against Samoa yesterday.
Graham Henry had initially given the all clear for the All Blacks after the clash but scans revealed the worst for Tuitavake. The fractured cheekbone is also likely to affect cost him a role in the remaining Air NZ Cup matches for his team.
Scans have revealed that Tuitavake fractured a cheek bone in the All Blacks victory over Samoa in New Plymouth on Wednesday.