Schalk Burger
Dwyer’s thoughts in blue with some commentary from my side in black.
The Boks were well under strength with about eleven first choice players missing and, as was clear with the second-string Wallabies against the Samoans, this is rarely good enough.
So clearly it is not just the Springboks who struggle with their second stringers. What worries me though is that we probably have more rugby players in the Western Cape than the entire Australia. One would think we have enough depth to be competitive with a second string team.
Wallabies (15) 39 / Springboks (6) 20 (Final Score)
The Wallabies hosted the Springboks at ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia at 12:00 SA Time (20:00 Sydney Time). This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
Sub-standard performance from the Springboks and a consumate Wallaby performance. 5 Tries to 2.
The Wallabies are sweating on the fitness of star fly half Quade Cooper after he sat out of Friday’s captain’s run ahead of the TriNations opening against the Springboks.
South Africa, who travelled to Australia without 21 Test regulars, have included three uncapped players in their team for Saturday’s Tri-Nations opener against the Wallabies.
The Springboks will award Test debuts to props Dean Greyling and Werner Kruger as well as number eight Ashley Johnson on Saturday at Sydney’s Olympic stadium.
Australia have brought back their heavyweights to play South Africa after the embarrassment of last Sunday’s loss to Samoa.
Australia will field nine of the players who started in last year’s history-making win over South Africa at Bloemfontein after the Wallabies’ combination for Saturday night’s opening Test in the Tri Nations was named today.
Samoa beat Australia for the first time in rugby history when they pulled off a shock 23-32 victory in Sydney on Sunday.
Samoa have named their rugby team to face Australia which includes five players who have played under Wallabies coach Robbie Deans whilst he was coaching the Crusaders.
Waratahs and Wallabies prop Benn Robinson has been ruled out of Rugby for the rest of the season ruling him out of the TriNations and the world cup.
Veteran back-rower Radike Samo has been reactivated by the Wallabies as one of 15 triumphant Queensland Reds named in Australia’s 40-man Test squad on Sunday.
Fijian-born Samo, who celebrated his 35th birthday with a Super Rugby title, is one of the big selection surprises along with Reds reserve hooker James Hanson and Melbourne Rebels utility back Mark Gerrard.
Bloemfontein – Springbok reject Sarel Pretorius will continue his Super Rugby career in Australia. Continue reading
To mark the final World Cup-ometer, let’s take a look at the building blocks already laid down by the Tri Nations contenders over the regular rounds of the competition.
There will be further twists and turns over the coming weeks of finals football – and the opportunity to see how the players cope with the unique pressure of the knockout stages – but there has been ample evidence already presented to make a judgment of how the Wallabies, All Blacks and Springboks are shaping up.
Alarming signs for the Wallabies at provincial level, Kieran Read proves his no Thorne in New Zealand’s side and will the South African selectors make the big call to prevent the Bulls’ slide from affecting the Springboks? Paul Cully puts the weekend’s Super Rugby action into a World Cup context.
ROBBIE DEANS is expected to be reappointed Wallabies coach before the World Cup in September for at least two more seasons.
The newly-established SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia Rugby) organisation based in Sydney has appointed former international referee Lyndon Bray to the new role of Game Manager.
Matt Giteau will wait to see if he needs “something fresh” before deciding where he will play beyond the end of 2011.
Wallabies skipper Rocky Elsom is fearing that the start of his 2011 season could be hamstrung by injury, although there is hope that he won’t require any major surgery ahead of a busy World Cup year.
Argentina face the daunting task of joining the top three rugby union teams in the world, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, in an expanded Tri-Nations from 2012.
France (13) 16 / Wallabies (13) 59 (Final Score)
France hosted the Wallabies at Stade de France at 21:45 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
With the halftime score still indicating 13 / 13 and the Wallabies scrum in trouble in the first half, the Wallabies opened the taps and put a sorry French side to the sword in the second half, raining in the tries and giving the French their biggest ever defeat against the Wallabies, with a 43 point winning margin.
Fianl score Wallabies 59 / 16.
The Wallabies scored 7 tries against one penalty try.
3 Matches are played simultaneously this afternoon.
Scotland vs Springboks 16:30 SA Time
Italy vs Wallabies 16:00 SA Time
England vs Samoa 16:30 SA Time
For this time of year there is a lot of rugby to be seen on TV in SA This weekend.
Wallaby coach Robbie Deans has dropped Matt Giteau from the starting line up to face Italy after he was shown a yellow card in last weekend’s loss to England.
Munster secured a 15-6 victory against Australia in gale-force conditions at Thomond Park handing Australia their second loss on the end of year tour.
Connacht (16)26 v Samoa (17)22 (Final Score)
Leicester (12)15 v Australia (13)26 (Final Score)
Geordan Murphy will captain Leicester Tigers in their clash with Australia at Welford Road on Tuesday night at 7.30pm (21:30 SA Time).
Why is the Wallabies’ scrum at best very average compared to most top rugby nations, and at worst ineffective and a barrier to winning the 2011 World Cup?
Wales (6) 16 / Wallabies (7) 25 (Final Score)
Wales hosted the Wallabies at the Millenium Stadium, Cardiff at 16:30 SA Time on Saturday 6 November 2010. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 6 and CSN on TV in SA.
The Wallabies scored 3 tries and won the match by 25 / 16.
Wales host the Wallabies at the Millenium Stadium, Cardiff at 16:30 SA Time on Saturday 6 November 2010.
We look at the match ups and how the game might unfold.
Australia kept faith with the side that beat New Zealand last weekend for Saturday’s test against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
All Blacks (17) 24 / Wallabies (12) 26 (Final Score)
The All Blacks and Wallabies went toe to toe in Hong Kong in their last Bledisloe Cup game of the year at 10:40 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 6 and SSHD on DSTV in SA.
The Wallabies snatched a win after the hooter with a James O’Connor try and pressure conversion, what a game!
The Wallabies will hope that the change in scenery will bring about a similar change of fortune and see them avoid a whitewash in the fourth and final Bledisloe Cup match against the All Blacks in Hong Kong on Saturday.
10:25 – 12:40 Supersport 6 Bledisloe Cup New Zealand v Australia
Wallabies prop Ben Alexander will play his first Test since suffering a knee injury in June when he packs down against the All Blacks in Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup Test in Hong Kong.
Injuries and form fluctuations have ensured Graham Henry has named the same All Blacks starting XV for Saturday night’s test against the Wallabies as the one which walloped the Aussies 49-28 in Melbourne on July 31.
THE Wallabies’ running might be back to its best before this week’s All Blacks Test, but skipper Rocky Elsom says spring tour success will hinge on the set-piece.
Popping a sleeping tablet was not the only reason Graham Henry grabbed some decent shut-eye during the 9144km flight between Auckland and Hong Kong yesterday.
Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has spent the past few weeks trying to rid his side of its soft centre as he continues to transform the look of his team.