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)
150!! Bulle!
@Ex Player – Ek hoop so.
@bdb – 10 000 –
Ja, ek wonder of hulle hom nie te gou teruggebring het nie. Tyd sal leer.
@Supa Die Bloubul – Sorry Supa. Ek kry altyd daai 150. 😆
151@Supa Die Bloubul –
Stadige bulle!!
Kwas gaan nie wen die naweek nie en Wobblies gaan die AB’s ook pakgee.
149 @Ex Player – dit is nie op hul tuisveld nie, en omdat die ander groot spanne hul nie meer onderskat nie, dink ek dit gaan baie moeliker wees vir hulle. Die eerste 5 rondtes was hul die verrassingspakkie, maar nou weet al die spanne hul is goed. GKW sal nou self ‘n trappie hoër moet gee, as hul met die groot honde wil saamblaf.
Hul speel nou die Sharks en Cheetahs daarna, as hul ten minste een van die twee wen, dan is hul nog in die wedloop vir ‘n semi, verloor hul egter altwee sleg, kan dit dalk hul einde beteken.
155@trupisero – Sien die Sharks sukkel met voorrye. Beast, Jannie en John by bokke – Deon Carstens en Pat Cilliers (wat ek nogals taamlik rate) is beseer.
Mens kan nie Griekwas se pak ligtelik opneem nie.
En nog iets – hoe de hel kom Guthro altyd weg met in- en opskrum!
@Ed_the_Lion –
Geluk Eddy! Jy was te vinnig…
@Supa Die Bloubul – Dankie Supa. Geluk met jou 100, jy was ook te vinnig.
An article by GBS, is there no end to his talent!! 🙂
Till Later Boys
@Ed_the_Lion –
hehe, ek gaan gou uit. Is oo n halfuur terug. Dalk baklei ons dan vir 200!
157@Ex Player –
Kan altyd Rassie se uncontested scrums taktiek try…
156@bdb – 10 000 – Goeie afleiding!
Dink ook die kleiner spanne het baie vermag met die games wat nie uitgesaai is nie, maar toe het een van my informante vir my gesê: Moenie worry nie – daar is by elke game ‘n kamera gewees – al die spanne het manne oor die land gevlieg na die ander se games – behalwe Boland – hehehehe – Hulle het Kimberley toe gevlieg, en terug gery met die bus – om kostes te bespaar. So hulle vlieg verseker nêrens met hulle kameras!
160@carol – Hellooooo Karlien
No our friend Rugby Princess sent it to me…. been a bit busy developing the Advert spaces on the sides…
Oh, and our own specialised Rugby-Talk Logo and some ads should be up quite soon !
157 @Ex Player – Guthro het baie sleg teen Ctahs geskrum, maar baie goed teen GKW. Sal interessant wees om te sien of BB nog stutte en hakers gaan aankoop of nie.
right — ek’s uit.
cheers!!
Ek dink – en sal seker gekruisig word – dat die fout by Kuun in die skrums lê – en nie by die stutte nie (alhoewel ek Kruger nie rate nie). Kuun kry nie die pak op die voorvoet met die sak nie. Hy squad effens met sy gewig na agter – en dit maak dat die hele skrum die ‘hit’ verloor.
164@grootblousmile –
hmmmm
hoekom is jou gesig in die skadu op daai foto?
…
ooooooooooooo, lossit maar, ektit ytgefigure vi’ myself!!
ek sou oek skaam gewiesit as ek ñ blou bul was!!
😆
@trupisero – Cheers Troepster!
@ashley – Asbak, ek sien jy word gemis deur Dawn 😆
170@Ed_the_Lion –
sien? ekt mos geweet sy like my! 😀
hahahaha – Arme Ashley! Ed – rokof – los my Boland maatjie uit!
Cheers manne – ek gaan nog vir so halfuur maak of ek werk!
168@ashley – Hehehe
Sorry for the picture of my ugly mutt on the sidebar… was testing what types & sizes of JPeg’s / Flash Video / Animated Giff ect would be able to go there….
Stuur vir ons ‘n Advertensie van jou Negosiewinkel…. ek plaas dit op vir jou… ja, net vir djou !
Wie van julle is deel van Born2brag?
@ashley – Kan haar nie blameer nie. Jy is mos aantreklik. Jy en Pietman maak my lekker honger as julle so van die bobotie en goed praat.
@Ex Player – Jou mielie man. Ek en Asbak kom al ‘n lang pad saam. Hy is amper ‘n Leeu, nog so bietjie werk en hy is reg. 😆
@WilladieLeeu – Ken dit nie. Wat is dit?
@ashley –
Jy krap nou in die webmonster se slaai, met Dawn …..
167 @Ex Player – Ja, dit kan wees. Ek is maar nog steeds van die oortuiging dat Kuun ‘n gemiddelde haker is maar ‘n skitterende flank (soos Pienaar ‘n gemiddelde losskakel is maar ‘n skitterende skrummie). Sal graag meer van Frik Kirsten wil sien as vaskop van die Bulle.
As ek kon kies, sou ek die volgende voorry gekoop het vir die Bulle, jongmanne vir die toekoms:
Heinke vd Merwe
Andries Strauss
Coenie Oosthuizen
Maar ek sien Coenie het reeds geteken vir die Ctahs. Behalwe hierdie drie, en natuurlik die Sharks/Bokke voorry, is daar verder regtig niks in SA om oor opgewonde te raak nie.
Weet ook nie of daar oorsee enige goeie voorry spelers rondloop nie.
174@WilladieLeeu – Nee, ek gee op, wat de vloek is dit ?
@WilladieLeeu –
Walter het sy eie game, amper soos Superbru maar jy moet die scores raai. Nogals nice.
http://www.born2brag.co.za
Soek my naam daar op die log.
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