9:25AM Wednesday Aug 19, 2009
By Mark Geenty
SYDNEY – The Graham Henry “rark-up” of last week has been and gone for the underperforming All Blacks. Now captain Richie McCaw will cast a steely glance at his teammates and hope each takes responsibility for a rare downturn in their rugby fortunes against the Wallabies here on Saturday.
Rarely do the All Blacks lose three tests in a row but that is the prospect if Robbie Deans’ men topple them at ANZ Stadium to keep the Bledisloe Cup alive for 2009. A year ago, with McCaw absent through injury, the All Blacks lost to South Africa in Dunedin, then crossed the Tasman for a 19-34 defeat in coach Deans’ first test against his old team. Doom merchants emerged and the fateful 1998 season of five consecutive defeats reared its head. But McCaw returned at Eden Park to inspire a 39-10 victory and spark a nine-match winning streak which included a second grand slam in four years. The gloom returned this year, partly thanks to the absence of key men McCaw and Daniel Carter, as they lost to France, scraped past the Wallabies then lost twice to the Springboks.
With Carter back for the first time in 2009, McCaw was excited about their chance to revive their fortunes at ANZ Stadium where they’ve lost three of their last four tests. “Last year we lost two in a row, the guys were pretty desperate to get it right which we managed to do and it’s exactly the same this year,” McCaw said. “We’re up against a team that’s in the same boat so that’s going to make for a pretty good test with two pretty desperate teams. “It’s not one of the nicest situations to be in but you’ll see how good guys are to get themselves back up and performing.” Carter had slotted back into the side like he’d never been away, McCaw said.
The key in recent days had been keeping a lid on the excitement after two high-octane training sessions, still several days out from kickoff. Henry’s paint-stripping team talk last week didn’t need to be followed up by more ranting and raving in Sydney, McCaw said. McCaw felt as responsible as anyone for their South African struggles after his early-season period on the sidelines, and took it upon himself to lead the way here. “When you’re out there it almost hurts more because you know you weren’t doing it right. I know my performances personally weren’t as good as I would have liked. That gives you a real want to go out and put things right.”‘
The fallout from South Africa saw the benching of frontliners Rodney So’oialo (for Kieran Read) and Ma’a Nonu (for Luke McAlister) yesterday. The in-form Read admitted he was surprised to usurp So’oialo, with lineout strength a key component in his elevation. “It’s always tough when you take over from someone, but in my role I’ve got to do what I can for the team,” he said. “Rodney’s been pretty good and we get together quite a lot, so he’s still helping me out. He’s still a great player and he’ll add a lot off bench.”
All Blacks
Mils Muliaina, Joe Rokocoko, Conrad Smith, Luke McAlister, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Daniel Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Isaac Ross, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Aled de Malmanche, John Afoa, Jason Eaton, Rodney So’oialo, Brendon Leonard, Stephen Donald, Ma’a Nonu.
Australia
James O’Connor, Lachie Turner, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Berrick Barnes, Drew Mitchell, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Richard Brown, George Smith (capt), Rocky Elsom, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.
Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Ben Alexander, Dean Mumm, David Pocock, Will Genia, Ryan Cross, Peter Hynes.
– NZPA
(This Article was sent to me, courtecy of Rugby Princess. Thanks RP)
MakouJan…
Iets nie lekker in die artikel hierbo nie GBS…
The Bulls are not prepared to stretch their budget to keep Bryan Habana at the union.
The Springbok wing was in talks with Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus in Cape Town on Monday, but according to the Business Day, sources at the Bulls say they won’t break the bank to prevent him from leaving.
Habana’s contract with the Super 14 champions ends at the end of October and he will have a tough time deciding where to further his career. Habana is on the shopping list of WP, the Sharks and French club Toulon.
However, with Habana being one of the Bulls’ best buys in the last few years, he is expected to stay with the union with an improved offer.
Ek hoor Rassie wil vir Jannie Dup en Bismarck ook koop. As Rassie sy sin kry lyk WP se pan so volgende jaar:
1.Wikus
2.Bismark
3.Jannie Dup
4.Van Zyl
5.Bekker
6.Schalk
7.Louw
8.Vermeulen
9.Duvenage
10.De Waal
11.Habana
12.JDV
13.Mossie
14.Koster
15.Jantjies
Sterk!
4@Supa Die Bloubul –
As dit Rassie se span is dink ek hulle behoort regtig n kans te staan om weer 5de te eindig in die s14. 😆
Waar is Ed, die Hongergaarse Leeu?
Middag almal.
Pietman ek het “Oor die kole” gekyk toe hulle met Gerhard Mans gesels het.Was daar nie n speler van SWA wat tronk toe is vir diamante nie?
@Supa Die Bloubul – #5 Bwaahahahahahahaha Shame man hoe moet hulle nou voel?
@Fern – Halloooo varing, hoe gaan dit?
@Pietman – Hello Pietapedia. Ek is hier.
@Fern –
Andre Stoop.
Ook vir strafbare manslag.
Hy en Leon, sy broer.
@Pietman –
Hulle het Andre op Saterdae uit die tronk gehaal, om vir SWA te speel….saans gaan hy weer terug.
Hy woon nou in die UK.
@Fern – Hello Fernly!
Ek sien ons “Guests” het skielik moooooosa vermeerder vandat die mense op Voldy van ons weet….
Hehehehe
Bwahahahaha
Die ouens loer nou ernstig hier !!
WilladieLeeu, welkom, jy is Approved !
@grootblousmile –
Dis seker daai jaloerse klomp skuim soos Dawn, Deon Prins (WPTID) ens. Daai is nou regtig nie lekker mense nie.
4 guests wat inloer…mmm Prawn, Crabs, Deon Prins en Transie?
Wat kyk julle???? hehehe
16@Supa Die Bloubul – Ek worry nie oor hulle nie…
• 13. WP Till I Die :
August 19th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
#11 chch:
Supa die Bloubul, “Self-Appointed Censor and Inquisitor-General”, for one
• 15. Transformation :
August 19th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
#11 chch: Gbs, Pietman, Ed-the-Lion & the rest of their little gang, from now on to be referred to as the 28s, hosh!
• 16. WP Till I Die :
August 19th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
#14 chch:
They created their own rugby blog website, rugby-talk dot com.
• 17. Dawn :
August 19th, 2009 at 2:49 pm
New website complete with vrot spelling and Terms and Conditions as long as War and Peace.
• 18. Dawn :
August 19th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
#15 Transformation:
What’s Ashley doing on their vrot website. And why is RP sending them articles!!!
• 19. chch :
August 19th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
#16 WP Till I Die:
A self imposed SEPARATE website under DEVELOPMENT
• 20. WP Till I Die :
August 19th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
#19 chch:
I think I’ll buy them a SpellChecker for Christmas.
• 29. Dawn :
August 19th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
#20 WP Till I Die:
And a literacy course.
“Pictures will be put here”
Hulle mis ons vreeslik baie. Transie huil omdat ek nie meer op keo gaan nie.
19@Ed_the_Lion –
Lyk my daai klomp is erg jaloers! Hulle mis ons!
Ek kan nie dieselfde se nie…
19@Ed_the_Lion – Kap met ‘n ignortjie… hierdie site is baaaaie verder in Tegnologie as waar hulle is…
@Supa Die Bloubul – Ek kan ook nie dieselfde sê nie. Veral ouma Dawn. Moet sê sy weet minder van rugby af as van vrou wees.
@Ed_the_Lion –
Ja daai klomp sit so verveeld daarop keo. Met n mond vol tande (figuurlik – want letterlik kort hulle n paar tande!) 😉
@grootblousmile – Baie waar. Ons het in 2 weke gedoen wat hulle in ‘n leeftyd nie sal regkry nie.
@Supa Die Bloubul – bwahahahaha
As AB’s verloor saterdag, dan gaan Henry verban word uit NZ. Drie verlore in ‘n ry. Watter jaar het hul al vier verloor in ‘n ry, 1998 of was dit 2003 ?
@Ed_the_Lion –
Bwahaah! Ja nee Dawn kwalifiseer nie heeltemal as n “vrou” nie. Bietjie grof vir my…vloek soos n matroos daai een!
@grootblousmile –
Hello mense.
Ek ook nie, mis nie daai mense nie, nie my klas nie.
Ek is heel n ander mens van ek nie meer daai nonsens lees van ‘jis boet, wassup dude, damn proud to be your brother boet’, en dan ou Dawn se rassistiese one-liners.
Van Deon Prins praat ek nie eens nie, kamma kastig n polisiereservis 🙂
Wonder waar was hy en sy polisie verlede naweek toe Lankop en sy makkers Nuweland bemors het?
23 @Ed_the_Lion – Ja, ek het gehoor sy dra deesdae ‘n snor … soos Snorre.
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