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)
@Ed_the_Lion –
Was net eenkeer. Die mense wil weet wat by die Leeus aangaan. Mag nie sy naam ydelik gebruik nie. 🙂
Man toe ek nou daardie sien wat daai lot praat toe onthou ek hoekom ek weg is daar.
@Supa Die Bloubul – Hulle sal noooit hulle eie tyd gebruik vir blog nie. Skelm man….werkstyd.
@WilladieLeeu – Baie welkom.
@grootblousmile – @K9-MonsterLeeu –
Dankie man, lyk my dis soos die AA vir Leeus hier.
Dit lyk nice. Heel fancy…
@WilladieLeeu – Ek verstaan.
63@K9-MonsterLeeu –
Presies. As hulle base uitvind hoe hulle geld en tyd steel was daai klomp al lankal onder hulle gatte geskop!
@WilladieLeeu –
Helloooo WillieWelpie.
Welkom broer, nou kan jy rugby gesels soos jou hart smaak.
Geen rassisme, politiek, godslastering of rondebollies hier nie, net rugby.
Ons sien uit na jou bydrae.
Jy het jou talente verspil daar op Voldy.
Daai spul ontdooi net as die wyn trek of as daar politiek ter sprake is.
Ou Dawn het bv in 4 jaar nog nie een keer n rugbyverwante psot gelos nie, maar sy ken die kleur van elke speler se onderbroek!
@WilladieLeeu – Wees versigtig. hier is baie blou bulle. 😆
Well, we know SECURITY is much tighter here, so let those who want to come in peace, come…. by all means..
The trolls…. well, they’ll not be approved…. simple as that.
@K9-MonsterLeeu –
Was jy DAAR?
Ek is lanklal uitgelog by die spul, gaan beslis nie moeite doen weer nie.
Ek is so fokken moeg vir hierdie keyboard activists.Praat kak en beweeg nie aan nie,hulle tyd is verby in SA.Progresiewe mense maak nou n impak nie diegene wat op geskiedenis se rug ry met n jannie jammergat victim mentality nie.
Nee wat,hou maar verby.
Maggies maar daar is nou blerrie baie Bulls en Lions ondersteuners op die site.
@Ed_the_Lion – maar ons weet mos hulle is hier om te leer by die leeus 🙄
@Fern – Ek stem Fern, hens die rede ons nie meer op keo gaan nie.
hehehe die vullisdrom is nou behoorlik omgeskop daar in die ghetto. Die lot toy-toy vir die vale….
Hulle dink seker hulle kan hier ook kom besoedel en besmeer… bwaahahahaha
@grootblousmile –
Don’t know bru.
That lot is lekker skelm, they traced us here didn’t they?
@K9-MonsterLeeu – Dit is net moeilik om hulle te leer. Hulle sukkel baie.
69 @Ed_the_Lion – en al die tyd het ek gedink daar is net 3 lewende leeu ondersteuners oor, maar nou is daar darem 4, een vir elke pawiljoen op Ellispark 🙂
@Loosehead – 3 van ons 8 leeus is hier!!!!
@grootblousmile –
Check net vir fake nicks, WPTID is goed daarmee, Lilith, Harry Bitchstalker en SanLangkop ook.
@Pietman –
As ek Pietman op Google search gaan dit my nie n result met die blog gee nie?
77@Pietman – Fark, that it took so long for them to find us is strange… in fact they could have simply googled us from day ONE !
Well, going Public has been rushed by ONE day… no problems
GBS/Ed, kan ‘n mens jou ‘intekening’ by die ‘dark side’ (keo) permanent sluit, kanselleer ?
Ai man, dis lekker om ‘n “Rugby-Talker” te wees.
Laat die Keo-talkers, dis nou die self proclaimed arseholes, hulle goed gaan, hulle in hulle se moere gaan.
Dis lekkerder as…….wel, darem nou nie heeltemal! 🙂
@Pietman –
Hulle sal maklik uitgesnuffel word hier. Hulle maak te veel rassistiese en godslasterlike uitlatings. Dis juis hoekom ons die nuwe blog het. Om weg te kom van dit.
Kom ons praat eerder rugby.
Wie dink julle gaan wen Aus of NZL?
@Fern –
Weet nie van Pietman op google nie, maar Fern sekerlik….. 🙂
terloops, jy my antwoord gesien oor Gerhard mans, om net vinnig rugby te praat?
@K9-MonsterLeeu – Am I the only Cheetah supporter on this site?
Dis lekker om ‘n rugby-talker te is….te is!!!!!!! Ons is, ons is weet julle wie!!!!!!
Daar nie ‘n smiley met ‘n vinger nie?
84@bdb – 10 000 – Ja, mail hulle webmaster en vra hom om jou Profile te DELETE.
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