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)
25@Ed_the_Lion –
Stem. Ons kry al klaar meer posts en ons het nog skaars begin. Dis omdat mense soos Dawn, WPTID daai plek besoedel!
@bdb – 10 000 – Snorre het die idee by haar gesteel. π
@bdb – 10 000 –
Bwahaha! Sal nie verbaas wees as Dawn n man is nie…sys darem baie grof.
28@Supa Die Bloubul – Friends, slow down on being critical of those on Voldy, the good bloggers are welcome here… and they know it…
Definitief egter nie Dawn en WPTID nie.
@Supa Die Bloubul –
Lilith vat die koek, met vloek.
Ek wonder wat sou die prokureursorde van haar haatspraak dink op n www.
Die mense is onopgevoed man.
Laaggeteelde werfetters.
Hulle dink om witmense te haat is om progressief/liberaal te wees.
Wat my skaam maak is dat hulle almal daar onder in die Kaap sit, n plek waarvoor ek lief is.
@Pietman –
Ja nee Deon Prins mos darem maar sy company se geld erg!
@grootblousmile – Agree. We don’t have to go down to their level in life. Lets enjoy our blog.
Dawn :
August 19th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
#32 chch:
Yes. They have the bloody nerve to credit Richie article to her.
I donβt believe them.
Iβm going in there.
As a Taliban representative.
@grootblousmile –
I agree GBS.
We are in a different league here.
We don’t need to concern ourselves with their woes.
GBS ek het vir jou ‘n artikel gepos.
@grootblousmile –
Not critical – facts!
@Pietman –
Ja nee ek stem Pietman. Hulle gee Voldy, die Kaap en WP n slegte naam.
@Loosehead – It might take a while as the P0eskantoor are going on strike tomorrow.
40@Loosehead – Thanks, got it !
Sal netnou opsit, vrind !
@Pietman –
Ek het so n spesmaas gehad dit was hy gewees,wou net confirm.
Wat die ander liberale vryheidsvegters aanbetref,lag ek net.Hulle doen niks vir die downtrodden nie,”self imposed” exciles…
Prins moet liewers nie die weermag join nie,hy sal die dood van n hele klomp van sy eie mense veroorsaak.
Hallo Hallo Hallo
Hallo Dawn!!!!
LMFAO!!!
The Ghetto has finally woken up to the fact that their company is no longer enjoyable to decent people
@isigidi –
37. WP Till I Die :
August 19th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
#35 Dawn:
β(This Article was sent to me, courtecy of Rugby Princess. Thanks RP)β
@WilladieLeeu – Ag nee, nog ‘n Leeu!!!!!!!!!!!!!! π
@WilladieLeeu –
Welkom Willa!
@WilladieLeeu – Welkom in ‘n beskaafde gemeenskap
Voldy is in elk geval in sy maai sonder ons.
Ou Transport, Grant en daai sal nie lank hou nie, dan raak die mense gatvol.
Ek was lanklaas daar, weet nie eens of die spul godslasteraars/liberaliste nog ooit blog nie.
Seker hulle geselskap het opgeraak sonder ons daar….hulle koppies is maar leeg wat rugby betref.
Dis hoekom hulle nie naweke met game tyd blog nie, het ek opgemerk.
@isigidi –
Ons is orals…soos die mafia.
@WilladieLeeu – Willa, jy moenie so baie van Geo praat op Keo nie. π
Dankie almal. Ja-nee, van daai mense daar kan darem maar ongeskik en net plain weg stupid wees.
@WilladieLeeu – Welkom Willa. ‘n leeu is altyd welkom!!!
54@WilladieLeeu – Hellooooooooo Willa
Vertel ons wat jy dink van onse plekkie…
Nog so paar “fine-tunes” om te doen, maar ons stoom klaar !
Ons het Saterdag 5 MAAL die comments gehas as Voldy se sites op ons Game Threads.
Hier gaan dinge jolig en gesond !
PS! Ek gaan jou 2de probeerslag vir registrasie delete..
@Pietman –
Ek dink Prins hulle blog nie oor naweke nie omdat hulle dan nie die werk se geld en tyd mors nie.
46 @WilladieLeeu – welkom !
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