The All Blacks have named their side to face the Springboks in Hamilton, NZ on Saturday in their second last Tri-Nations match (last match in the TN for the Bokke) of 2009.
The Team is:
15 Mils Muliaina
14 Josevata Rokocoko
13 Ma’a Nonu
12 Stephen Donald
11 Sitiveni Sivivatu
10 Dan Carter
9 Jimmy Cowan
8 Kieran Read
7 Richie McCaw (captain)
6 Jerome Kaino
5 Isaac Ross
4 Brad Thorn
3 Owen Franks
2 Andrew Hore
1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Aled de Malmanche, 17 John Afoa, 18 Adam Thomson, 19 Rodney So’oialo, 20 Brendon Leonard, 21 Isaia Toeava, 22 Cory Jane.
Looking at the team, I’m not exactly filled with fear… an ageing Joe Rocco, mediocre Donald at centre, slowpoke Jimmy Cowan at scrummie, Kieran Read, young inexperienced Franks…
This is an All Blacks team which should and could be beaten, except for the fact that they are still the All Blacks, have huge pride in their jersey and will be absolutely amped and determined to revenge the 2 losses to the Springboks in SA.
Depending on the Springbok selections, it appears that SA will once again have dominance in the line-outs. With Franks in their front row, the All blacks also have a “weaker” tight head, like SA… so, will we at least have parity in the scrums ?
The battle for the loose ball or ground ball is going to be huge, with Heinrich Brussouw having shaded Richie McCaw and Co in the 2 previous encounters. The All Black captain will certainly have identified that they better negate Brussouw’s influence, this time round.
In a man-for-man analysis of the backlines, The Bokke are better off at No 9 & 12, with parity at No 11, 13 & 14, whereas one would probably have to say that Dan Carter possibly shades Morne Steyn, but barely… and that Mills Muliaina shades Ruan Pienaar or Frans Steyn.
The All Blacks bench does not inspire fear either but neither does the probable Bokke bench.
I have this uneasy feeling that the All Blacks will be hungrier than the Bokke on Saturday, yet they have a bigger mountain to climb, having to get 4 tries, to keep their Tri-Nations trophy aspirations alive.
Match details:
Date: Saturday, September 12
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT, 09:35 SA time)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)
Jan, vat daai oorseese Johnnies vas… trap hulle plat !
i think the one weakness in their setup (as you’ve said) is their line-outs. they also dont have back-up on the bench in case one of their locks get injured. De Malmanche is quite a good player with ball in hand, but can be a huge weakness come line-out time.
carter, i think, will be at 12 with donald at 10 … think ghenry is trying to blow smoke up our asses with that one!!
oppas bokke die blacks is gekwes en sal nie sommer gaan le nie
barney as jy sak sat sak laag met jou regter skouer op woodie se skof en sit al jou gewig op sy skof hou jou rug reguit voete uit mekaar en gee als,hart siel en pi@l.dan sal jy ok wees
Het al beter AB spanne as hierdie gesien.
@K9-MonsterLeeu – 5 ja ma die een is gewond
@grootblousmile – Hubris … a dangerous path to navigate … there is many a hard yard between “most likely” 3N champs & actually holding the trophy 😉
Yes peoples….never count out the All Blacks, do so at your own peril, we already saw what happened this past weekend when everyone forgot that we still actually had to play to win and thought it was a dead ringer!!!
Here are some juciy little nuggets about this game :
The All Blacks have played South Africa 77 times since 1921, with 42 wins to the All Blacks, 32 to South Africa and three draws.
It’s an historic Test match for Hamilton this weekend – the All Blacks are playing South Africa in the Waikato city for the first time.
27 year old Daniel Carter is currently sitting on 893 Test Points (25 tries, 156 Conversions, 150 Penalties & 2 Drops) & when he reaches 900 points he will become just the 7th International Player to reach this milestone.
Going to be tough but we can still do it. Said this so many times, but think Odwa should not start. Let Frans play on the wing this week. 14 if Odwa plays will be our only weakness.
@Rugby_Princess – and if Carter reaches 1000 points this weekend? 🙄
@K9-MonsterLeeu –
Honestly not sure … two virgins ? Come now, dont begrudge him some recognition – this is a feat only achieved by 6 other internationals !
@K9-MonsterLeeu – 11
Eish, that comment was in extremely bad taste 🙂
@SA Barbarians –
1000 – 893 = 😯
No, man!!!
12@Rugby_Princess – You asked who the Ref would be… it’s all in the Article at the top…. Ref, Assistants, TMO…. their wives, children, pets….
Hehehe
@SA Barbarians – @Rugby_Princess – relax all. I was stirring. 😉
@K9-MonsterLeeu – Well I hope he does just to punish you for saying it ! Let him consider it a double-dare !! 😯
@Rugby_Princess – well if he reaches 1000 and the boks still win……..what a game of rugby that would have been
@SA Barbarians – 14 – mmmm calculator?? hehehe
@grootblousmile –
Oi vey … so now I must read between the lines ? 😉
Oohh my goodness Ayoub is the TMO ? He would not know a decision if it bit him on the boude ! Your Boks will no doubt be pleased to see Barnes again 😆 I wonder if Bakkies will blow any kisses in Nige’s direction … could be an unfair advantage 😀
@K9-MonsterLeeu –
NNnnnnooooo ! Really ❓
@K9-MonsterLeeu – Wow … definitely time for your meds 😆
@K9-MonsterLeeu – 19
Huh??? I hope the score board in Hamilton uses a different calculator from the one you have 😯
1000- 893 = 14???? bloody hell Ted will sue the IRB 🙂
@Rugby_Princess – 20
Would it be a problem if Bakkies compliments Nige on his sexy eyes? 🙂
@SA Barbarians – 14 = comment no 🙄
@K9-MonsterLeeu – Ja ja ja… nice recovery …. 22 = 🙂 (smiley) hehehehe
Sjoe – Carter just a little bit better than Steyn – sjoe – k@k strong statement!
I wouldn’t play Stephen Donald at fly-half if I were the All Blacks but Stephen Donald at inside-centre that’s even worse! The guy can’t tackle to save his life, if he runs out at inside-centre Jean de Villiers will score a hat-trick.
“Carter shades Morne Steyn, barely” What?! Carter is 15 billion times the player Morne Steyn is.
27@vanStraaten – It’s a matter of opinion… Morne Steyn has showed remarkable BMT during the B& I Lions Tour and thereafter…. Carter has just returned from long injury…
Let’s see how they compare on Saturday.
Hey, GBS, happy Birthday! Ek sal vanaand my Ouma bel om ‘n jeripiko(spellng?)te drink namens my op jou. Sy’s ongelukkig die enigste een met ‘n smaak vir daai soetes van jou 🙂
29@Loserer – Hehehe… Thanks !
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