Taine Randell
On merit, history suggests Sonny Bill Williams will play second fiddle to Ma’a Nonu again.
The only time Williams genuinely cracked the All Blacks was when Nonu had a wretched run with injury. He was No 1 by default. At the last World Cup he was a bit-part player at best.
In terms of the exemption he was granted to be picked for the end of year tour without having to play in the NPC for Counties Manukau, I’m not in favour of it.
Sunday News
You have rules for a reason. For the New Zealand Rugby Union it creates a grey area, which makes it hard when you’re dealing with the next person. Why have the hassle?
It also creates an obligation to play him, even if he doesn’t live up to the hype.
Rugby is a lot more subtle game than league and some of the nuances will have moved on a tad.
TOUGH CALL: Ma’a Nonu and Sonny Bill Williams will be going head-to-head for the second-five position in the All Blacks ahead of the World Cup.
Let’s hope Williams is going to be fantastic but it’s hard to see him getting past Nonu. He’s just has been that good over the past decade and his combination with Conrad Smith is invaluable.
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Moving on to the Springboks, they have been very low profile.
They had an average series against the Welsh in June and probably should have lost at least one of those tests.
They’ve been pretty uninspiring against Argentina so they’ll come in relatively unheralded against the All Blacks. There’s not a lot of fizz or expectations about the Boks this year.
Last year the game at Eden Park was built up as a massive occasion. That was spoiled by the fact Bismarck Du Plessis was wrongly sin binned.
In the test at Ellis Park the All Blacks, without a shadow of a doubt, confirmed themselves as the best side in the world.
The Springboks were up for that test – they had a lot of expectation – but the All Blacks went to another level and rose to the occasion.
This year feels different, more as though there is hope rather than expectation when it comes to the Boks. Quite possibly that makes the Boks more dangerous.
Former South African captain John Smit said last week that Boks must beat the All Blacks at least once this year to have any chance at next year’s World Cup.
I disagree – two or three months can be a long time in rugby.
For the Springboks aspirations at the World Cup it is not crucial that they beat the All Blacks this year. Certainly next year is a different story.
The Boks haven’t beaten the All Blacks since 2011 and haven’t won in New Zealand since 2009. That’s a long time. You can only assume, given how well the All Blacks played last week, and how comparatively poorly the Boks have been travelling, that the test in Wellington will be a comfortable victory for Steve Hansen’s men.
Historically, the Springboks locks have been colossal. Bakkies Botha, Flip van der Merwe, Kobus Wiese and Victor Matfield is back for this tour.
In New Zealand openside is our iconic position – think Richie McCaw and Michael Jones. In England first five-eighth is their equivalent. In South Africa the lock is their national position of importance. That’s where they’ve usually had an advantage.
However, with Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock, they are the best locking partnership in the world. Those two guys especially give me great confidence we will do very well against the Springboks. Not only are the athletic but they have a huge work-rate. It’s not often the All Blacks have the best locking partnership in the world. Here we can attack the Boks’ strength.
The Boks are at their best when they are one-dimensional. They pick a big, strong midfield with not a lot of subtlety.
It’s been shown over the last decade when they deviate from that game plan they are not as successful. There’s no secret – the All Blacks have to muscle up and where possible use they ball like only they can. Without that physical edge in the pack and second-row, the Boks will struggle.
At home, though, the Springboks are a completely different team. Physically they are up for it.
Having played with a number of South Africans, while they come across as straight laced they are emotional people. In that regard when they are circling the wagons, when you play them at home in front of their own people, they grow an arm and a leg.
“Historically, the Springboks locks have been colossal. Bakkies Botha, Flip van der Merwe, Kobus Wiese and Victor Matfield is back for this tour.”
Ha ha, Taine, we know HM is selecting “older” players, but Kobus Wiese?
I guess he is talking about Eben, but maybe HM is really digging deep, then Mark Andrews might also expect a call up.
nortierd wrote:
Kobus is colossal. But not in a good way…..
@ Stormersboy:
Someone has to try out those items on the Wiesenhof menu
Good play by Zimbabwe, Australia losing it?
Utseya for MOTM? what a cameo!
Zim win with 3 wickets 12 balls spare
Not related but Zimbabwe nice and close to a win against Australia in the cricket!
@ nortierd:
The one at Lanseria is pretty good actually.
Bloody marvellous, Zimbabwe
And Zimbabwe WIN – UTSEYA HITS A SIX OF STARC TO WIN IT FOR ZIMBABWE!
Well deserved win, Aus was in trouble most of the time
Arghh damn slow internet in the time it took to get first comment about the cricket I see was beaten to it what can I say superBul – great minds think alike.
Super captains knock from Chigumbura 52 not out, when the 7th wicket fell I thought that’s it Zim wouldn’t do it even though they only had to go at just over 4 an over from that point.
superBul wrote:
Didn’t see it wish I could have. Looks like Aus bowling was not very good, conceding lots of extras.
Stormersboy wrote:
Very good, love the cheesy fries with bacon
And, it’s difficult to get a better setting
Apparently it was 11 407 days ago that Zimbabwe last beat Australia!
@ Bullscot:
And Mitch Marsh only bowled 4 overs for 13 runs, Cutting bowled 6 overs for 18 runs
It is baffling why Maxwell got 8 overs for 41 runs.
16 @ MacroBok:
Gosh that is strange captaincy, they must be trying out things for bigger tournaments.
nortierd wrote:
Yes the kids love it!
MacroBok wrote:
i cant remember if there was more but at around the 40th over Aus concedded 9 in a over followed by 7, that faaarks a bowlers figures up, it was tight, and thats why the Zim win is so precious, they had to work hard for it.
@ superBul:
I know, its hard to compare, but runs came pressy eassily vs maxwell, but I would definitely have given Mitch Marsh a few overs, unless he was injured.
@ superBul:
Aaron Finch went for nearly 20 in his two over’s
Just watched Carte Blanche,
It is a huge thing that came across Joost’s life, much respect for the work he is busy doing!
@ MacroBok:
Saw that, should be an interesting documentary they are making.
ODI Rankings – Proteas now #2, AUS from dropped to #4:
India – 114
SA – 113
Sri Lanka – 111
AUS – 111
ENG – 106
PAK – 1000
@ nortierd:
My mom had scans to see if she had MS a few years ago, it is just rough to see how unforgiving this disease really is.
@ MacroBok:
It looks that way, amazing the spirit Joost is displaying.
Hats off to the man, his legacy will not be his feats on the rugby field
@ Angostura: by your measure Paki’s should be at the top with daylight to spare
MacroBok wrote:
It is disturbing to see how fast he goes backward. But he is brave, i really have the utmost respect for his bravery.
I just hope his family can take this and dont get a fear for life.
Must be hard on his kids too.
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