Discussion
New Zealand vs South Africa on Sat. The two best teams in the world go head to head in Wellington. Kick Off our time is 08.35am and on Sky Sports 1
With McCaw out, Juan Smith and Burger will be the backrow you need to stop this tme around, (anyone know if Spies is injured or dropped).
So'oialo at 7 on Sat is a big gamble by Henry and one i don't think will pay off and im not sure Ali Williams is fully fit, so another gamble. All Blacks will still be very dangerous in the backs and the inclusion of Conrad Smith is a good one.
SA forwards should get the better of NZ, but the SA 15, 14 and 13 are pretty inexperienced and not that great in defence. Going to be very close but i'll go for a narrow Kiwi win, but SA to win the Tri Nations.
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina; Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Rudi Wulf; Daniel Carter, Andy Ellis; Tony Woodcock, Andrew Hore, Greg Somerville, Brad Thorn, Ali Williams, Adam Thomson, Rodney So'oialo (capt), Jerome Kaino.
Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Neemia Tialata, Anthony Boric, Sione Lauaki, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Leon MacDonald.
South Africa: Conrad Jantjes; Odwa Ndungane, Adrian Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Butch James, Ricky Januarie; Gurthro Steenkamp, John Smit (capt), CJ van der Linde, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Joe van Niekerk.
Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, Brian Mujati, Andries Bekker, Luke Watson, Bolla Conradie, Francois Steyn, Percy Montgomery.
With McCaw out, Juan Smith and Burger will be the backrow you need to stop this tme around, (anyone know if Spies is injured or dropped).
So'oialo at 7 on Sat is a big gamble by Henry and one i don't think will pay off and im not sure Ali Williams is fully fit, so another gamble. All Blacks will still be very dangerous in the backs and the inclusion of Conrad Smith is a good one.
SA forwards should get the better of NZ, but the SA 15, 14 and 13 are pretty inexperienced and not that great in defence. Going to be very close but i'll go for a narrow Kiwi win, but SA to win the Tri Nations.
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina; Sitiveni Sivivatu, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Rudi Wulf; Daniel Carter, Andy Ellis; Tony Woodcock, Andrew Hore, Greg Somerville, Brad Thorn, Ali Williams, Adam Thomson, Rodney So'oialo (capt), Jerome Kaino.
Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Neemia Tialata, Anthony Boric, Sione Lauaki, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Leon MacDonald.
South Africa: Conrad Jantjes; Odwa Ndungane, Adrian Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana; Butch James, Ricky Januarie; Gurthro Steenkamp, John Smit (capt), CJ van der Linde, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Schalk Burger, Juan Smith, Joe van Niekerk.
Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, Brian Mujati, Andries Bekker, Luke Watson, Bolla Conradie, Francois Steyn, Percy Montgomery.
Edited by stimmers on Thursday 3rd July 10:24
BigMansZetec said:
Read somewhere that Argentina are again trying to join the Tri-nations. Hope they get to join, they need regular competition like that if they are to improve. I know there were thinking about them joining the Six Nations a while back, but I don't think that is practical really.
Argentina have a massive problem. If they play in the Tri Nations, non of their European based players (pretty much all their best players) would not be released by their clubs and if they join the 6 Nations. where do they play and who will go to watch?Argentina need a Super 14 side, which eventually would mean that their main players have a good option for staying and playing their rugby in Argentina, grow the sport there and then enter into the Tri Nations
stimmers said:
BigMansZetec said:
Read somewhere that Argentina are again trying to join the Tri-nations. Hope they get to join, they need regular competition like that if they are to improve. I know there were thinking about them joining the Six Nations a while back, but I don't think that is practical really.
Argentina have a massive problem. If they play in the Tri Nations, non of their European based players (pretty much all their best players) would not be released by their clubs and if they join the 6 Nations. where do they play and who will go to watch?Argentina need a Super 14 side, which eventually would mean that their main players have a good option for staying and playing their rugby in Argentina, grow the sport there and then enter into the Tri Nations
Agree with Stimmers WRT tri nations and players being released.
Clearly they cannot have an Argentina home league due to lack of enough teams. They could look into creating an Americas league which includes Canada, USA. Could also have lower leagues with the lesser countries which could be promoted into the higher league. OR one big side/provincial side per country for canada/use/mexico/brazil etc etc. And then a lower league which will have a full league in each of those countries which will result in the Provincial side being able to pick the best players from the lesser leagues.
Worringly in time the SRU could be in the same state as the PUMAS!
All a bit academic regarding the Puma's entry to either 6 or Tri nations as their national game needs to go professional first:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/s...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/s...
Jinx said:
All a bit academic regarding the Puma's entry to either 6 or Tri nations as their national game needs to go professional first:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/s...
I think what Stimmers said about them having a Super 14 team would probably solve that. That way they would only need to sort one team, whereas if the national game went pro, they would need a whole professional league which I doubt would be possible.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/s...
9-8 NZ at HT
Hell of scrap so far. The physicality is immense. NZ have been by far the better team IMO, they have played nearly all the rugby. The SA front row is in massive trouble and there seems to be no structure to either lineout (although the weather won't help). SA defense has been impressive and kept them in the game.
Only been two real backs moves, one by either team. Carters little chip through for Smith i think it was who gave it to Nonu - well that would have been a brilliant try, good SA defence. And a simple D-V break (much quicker than you think) and when you have Habana outside you, its a try all day long.
Loving this massive battle, but i do think SA need to step it up in the forwards 2nd 40
Hell of scrap so far. The physicality is immense. NZ have been by far the better team IMO, they have played nearly all the rugby. The SA front row is in massive trouble and there seems to be no structure to either lineout (although the weather won't help). SA defense has been impressive and kept them in the game.
Only been two real backs moves, one by either team. Carters little chip through for Smith i think it was who gave it to Nonu - well that would have been a brilliant try, good SA defence. And a simple D-V break (much quicker than you think) and when you have Habana outside you, its a try all day long.
Loving this massive battle, but i do think SA need to step it up in the forwards 2nd 40
19-8 to NZ
New Zealand better in every department, especially in the 2nd 40. The pace and intensity from the All Blacks was superb. SA were made to look a little average in the 2nd 40.
I'm confused by the fixtures. It now seems each team plays everyone 3 times. So New Zealand play SA three times, and twice they are at home. Australia have NZ away once and twice at home, and SA have Aus home twice and once away.
Whats that all about ?
New Zealand better in every department, especially in the 2nd 40. The pace and intensity from the All Blacks was superb. SA were made to look a little average in the 2nd 40.
I'm confused by the fixtures. It now seems each team plays everyone 3 times. So New Zealand play SA three times, and twice they are at home. Australia have NZ away once and twice at home, and SA have Aus home twice and once away.
Whats that all about ?
stimmers said:
19-8 to NZ
New Zealand better in every department, especially in the 2nd 40. The pace and intensity from the All Blacks was superb. SA were made to look a little average in the 2nd 40.
I'm confused by the fixtures. It now seems each team plays everyone 3 times. So New Zealand play SA three times, and twice they are at home. Australia have NZ away once and twice at home, and SA have Aus home twice and once away.
Whats that all about ?
I cant work that one out either. Disadvantage to Aus as SA is a pretty tough place to tour.New Zealand better in every department, especially in the 2nd 40. The pace and intensity from the All Blacks was superb. SA were made to look a little average in the 2nd 40.
I'm confused by the fixtures. It now seems each team plays everyone 3 times. So New Zealand play SA three times, and twice they are at home. Australia have NZ away once and twice at home, and SA have Aus home twice and once away.
Whats that all about ?
Very good game. Theres going to be some sore bodies tomorrow after the hammering they gave each other. NZ really stepped up the intensity in the rucks and the speed of the ball sometimes was very impressive. NZ are still a bit vulnerable of the counter attack as shown by Habana's try. If NZ can win both the remaining home games and take one of the tests in Aus they should take the Tri Nations again.
If they come and play the Home Nations like they did this morning they will destroy them.
Logie said:
Great game on Sat and a deserved win for SA. Whats peoples thoughts so far on the ELVs? TO me, the games and much quicker, more attacking and more fun to watch so the current rules get the thumbs up!
Are the ELV's coming in the Premiership this season, I think they are but I'm not sure?BigMansZetec said:
Logie said:
Great game on Sat and a deserved win for SA. Whats peoples thoughts so far on the ELVs? TO me, the games and much quicker, more attacking and more fun to watch so the current rules get the thumbs up!
Are the ELV's coming in the Premiership this season, I think they are but I'm not sure?dickymint said:
BigMansZetec said:
Logie said:
Great game on Sat and a deserved win for SA. Whats peoples thoughts so far on the ELVs? TO me, the games and much quicker, more attacking and more fun to watch so the current rules get the thumbs up!
Are the ELV's coming in the Premiership this season, I think they are but I'm not sure?Chrispy Porker said:
dickymint said:
BigMansZetec said:
Logie said:
Great game on Sat and a deserved win for SA. Whats peoples thoughts so far on the ELVs? TO me, the games and much quicker, more attacking and more fun to watch so the current rules get the thumbs up!
Are the ELV's coming in the Premiership this season, I think they are but I'm not sure?http://www.wru.co.uk/1391_18631.php
dickymint said:
Chrispy Porker said:
dickymint said:
BigMansZetec said:
Logie said:
Great game on Sat and a deserved win for SA. Whats peoples thoughts so far on the ELVs? TO me, the games and much quicker, more attacking and more fun to watch so the current rules get the thumbs up!
Are the ELV's coming in the Premiership this season, I think they are but I'm not sure?http://www.wru.co.uk/1391_18631.php
I am considering a come-back next season so I shall look forward to being able to collapse mauls legally.
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