AW v Mexico Match Thread 5pm SS1 Thurs4th

AW v Mexico Match Thread 5pm SS1 Thurs4th

OK, Nelsn injury and Vicelich suspenstion create some challenges for us this game, esp at the back. Marius Lacatus2010-02-23 12:11:28

Prefer the first option. Keeps the shape and the rest of the squad get to play together again as they hopefully will in South Africa. Ryan will slot in for Boyens with ease and I dont think Ivan will start ahead of Tommy Smith anyway. Only change is that I'll have McGlinchy over Elliot. Big call but I prefer his speed of ball over Elliots experience. Other option is having McGlinchy as an impact player with 20 to got when Eliot is poked.

I like the idea of starting Simon (I'd make him captain) and sub him off round the 60 min mark like hapens to Becs in Italy.

I'd have no problem with starting Wood over Killen if Herberts worried about lack of fitness etc..

bearing in mind the dynamic period we had when Wood and Mcglinchey were on against Bahrain..two players with a bit of pace.

Not sure we need both the giants starting- one for the other. Smeltzy has been in crap form, but probably has to start...though leaving him as an impact player for Wood based on current form would certainly be interesting.

Wood is is closer to Smeltz in style than Fallon or Killen...

FTMexico [5 - 0] Bolivia
3'[1 - 0]P. Barerra


13'[2 - 0]J. Hernandez


18'[3 - 0]B. Luna


20'[4 - 0]J. Hernandez


53'[5 - 0]P.N. Aguilar

hmm will mexico have all their big guns for this game or is that probably not an option?

Article on Mexican team for AW game:

Game is live on Thursday on SS1 at 5pm

iraqgoals?

I finish work at 5pm, fortunately there's MySky HDi so I'll watch it live when I get home while recording

S**t the Mexican side looks very strong.

probably

Mexico to play in black?

sanday2010-02-27 10:14:51

Gee watching those Mexicans thinking Siggie isn't that quick. How quick is Smith? Don't know if slowing the game down to an A-league pace is going to be an option here...

Mexico 5 Bolivia 0 auskiwi2010-02-27 17:54:11

some awful defending by bolivia as much as brlliane by mexico

In case you missed it...

Cheers hammer head.  Not a lot of TVNZ in Aus, . Been looking for leadup stuff on this game and it seems thin on the ground. They have already sold 50,000 tickets, friendly or not this is a huge test for the team. Sounds like Tim Brown knows what they are in for. Really looking forward to see how they go against a true class side. Mexico to win their WC group.

auskiwi2010-03-03 01:54:47

yeah. not really the game you'd think we'd want to be experimenting and conceding a massive hiding...

I'm Flying to LA tomorrow for the game it sounds like its going to be a zoo with 50 - 75,000 at the Rose Bowl. A few of us will be meeting at 6:00 at the  Luck Baldwins Pub in Pasadena
http://luckybaldwins.com/NewIndex.html
to walk to the game if anyone is interested in meeting up.

Cheers,

Geoff
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likely sky only. If on FTA it will be on prime.

I tend to agree with Chris Rattues suggestion that this game is hugely important.

My thoughts are that what rugbyheads think doesn't matter - and neither does the result, really. What matters is whether the game is useful for the AWs to get their act together, and for Ricki to work out a few combinations. The suggestion that if we might get beaten we shouldn't be even trying (which Rattue also trotted out at the time of the Bahrain qualifier) is totally pathetic - what kind of a sports team runs away from good opposition because it will be the end of the world if you're beaten?!? A team which has given up all hope and all reason to exist, that's what kind.

Chris Rattue just likes being a Cassandra, because if you are negative all the time it gets you attention and you look cool if a disaster happens. If we took his attitude seriously, we wouldn't play any opposition more fearsome than Vanuatu again - and then Rattue would be even more negative about us. To improve, risks must be taken, and to hell with anyone who's afraid of being laughed at if we lose. Nothing ventured nothing gained.Doloras2010-03-03 14:58:22

I totally agree Doloras but my fear isn't so much based on what us true fans of the game think, but on what the bandwagoners think. The honeymoon period is over after the Bahrain game and rather than listen to the doomsayers telling me that  I need to be more realistic, I would prefer it if the whole country shared our optimism no matter how crazy we might seem.

I agree with many of your thoughts.  Perhaps the comeback to the thugbyites is to ask how NZ did at the last rugby world cup, and will we get to play France at the next one?.  My experience is that they are good at dishing it out but not so good at taking it.  Wallies.

I thought Rattue's article ok. what i recall him saying (essentialy) was that it sounded like a great idea at the time, but with nelsen and vicelich out and with the phoenix playing such a big game on sunday, there are now a number of risks associated with the game. a humping would be disruptive in the build up and neither do we want to see nix injuries. I dont think he said it shouldnt be played though. It was reasonable piece of opinion journalism

implying that the Nix have a right to be peeved is a bit off. They understand it is an international window.

Do you remember all the angst on this forum about how we weren't going to get enough quality opposition to prepare? It seems that no matter what decisions are made, the Cassandra Crew come out in force.

I don't think "a humping" will be disruptive as long as it's "a humping" from which we learn what to do and what not to do against top class opposition. I much, MUCH prefer a humping in Pasadena to a humping or three in South Africa.

humping? do you think he meant to say thumping?  Hammer Head2010-03-03 17:16:14

Suggesting we shouldn't be playing this game due to public perception is foolish, because it essentially boils down to "don't play anyone better than us - we might lose".

Was hoping Setanta or ESPN might show the game here in Aus but no.
Not to worry there's always the Usual Sources�.

I'm in Australia at the moment, where can I watch it?