All Blacks v Wallabies - Eden Park (McCaw back)
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Well we haven't lost at Eden Park since ages ago but that won't count for anything come Saturday evening. Master Deans will know the ABs are licking their wounds from Sydney and with a few walking wounded ABs, he'll be keen to rub salt into the wounds. Mortlock will be back for the Wallabies but they have lost Rocky Elsom to a foot injury. Everyone rugby supporter in NZ will be praying that McCaw will be named in the team today. Silver Arrow2008-07-29 14:34:01
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All Blacks coach Graham Henry and his assistant coaches Wayne Smith and Steve Hansen have announced the team to play Australia in Auckland on Saturday August 2 at Eden Park:
1. Tony Woodcock
2. Andrew Hore/Keven Mealamu
3. Greg Somerville
4. Brad Thorn
5. Ali Willliams
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Richie McCaw (c)
8. Rodney So�oialo
9. Jimmy Cowan/ Piri Weepu/ Andy Ellis
10. Dan Carter
11. Sitiveni Sivivatu
12. Ma�a Nonu
13. Conrad Smith
14. Mils Muliaina
15. Leon MacDonald
Reserves:
16. Andrew Hore/ Keven Mealamu
17. John Afoa
18. Anthony Boric
19. Adam Thomson/Daniel Braid
20. Jimmy Cowan/ Piri Weepu/ Andy Ellis
21. Stephen Donald
22. Richard Kahui
Decisions at hooker and halfback are expected on Thursday as injuries to Andrew Hore (hip pointer), Andy Ellis (ribs) and Jimmy Cowan (knee) are monitored.
Meanwhile centre Conrad Smith returns to the starting line up and Mils Muliaina moves to the wing to accommodate Leon MacDonald at fullback: �We�ve made some tactical changes in our selections,� said All Blacks coach Graham Henry, �but we also need to change how we play. Clearly there are areas we need to improve on from Sydney. We have to have the right game plan and execution.�
Captain Richie McCaw returns to the side exactly six weeks since he suffered a high ankle sprain against England in Christchurch.
Glad to see Lauaki has been rotated dropped for being f**king useless
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Hope Weepu comes in, but i still hope Aussie win!
ive got a song that wont take long, Adelaide are rubbish.. the second verse is same as the first.. ADELAIDE ARE RUBBISH
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I hope Cantab fans will get over themselves and start backing the A.B's, this deans loyalty is a bit silly
imo
imo
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I hope Cantab fans will get over themselves and start backing the A.B's, this deans loyalty is a bit silly
imo
imo
Yeah, I live in Canterbury but not supporting Aussies for Deans. I just dislike the AB's and I hope Henry gets outsmarted again.
ive got a song that wont take long, Adelaide are rubbish.. the second verse is same as the first.. ADELAIDE ARE RUBBISH
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I hope Cantab fans will get over themselves and start backing the A.B's, this deans loyalty is a bit silly
imo
imo
I'm stuck - I agree with Cantabs because Henry isn't fit to carry the All Blacks' luggage IMHO. The decision to re-appoint him was pure incompetance.
That being said, it seems just plain wrong to ditch your team to support your biggest rival all because of one man.
I'd like to think people would support the All Blacks but not the NZRU or Henry, and support Robbie Deans but not cheer for the Wallabies.
(So glad I'm an Aussie - no worries for me!)
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I hope Cantab fans will get over themselves and start backing the� A.B's, this deans loyalty is a bit silly imo �
I'm from Canterbury respect deans and am pissed he is the Australian coach, he should be wearing a black blazer, but bugger me if I'm going to support anyone but New Zealand. I was born in NZ, raised in NZ, infact I've never left new zealand. Why the hell would I support some country I've never been to over a country I've never left because of 1 man?
These anal rapers are the same people who thought Henrys rotation policy was Genius before the world cup and then said they hated Henry and never believed in his policy after.
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Smith bought in for Kahui? I thought Kahui was very good and is a bit unlucky to be replaced. Hope Weepu plays, id like to see more punch around the breakdown. Would have changed Kaino for Thompson aswell, want to see him running of Nonus shoulder a bit more, similarly Mills and Sivi bopman2008-07-29 17:08:06
www.kiwifromthecouch.blogspot.com
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maybe instead of rotating, we should do what the French and English sides do when they tour down under at the start or end of their respective seasons.Send c and d grade sides to get hammered and gain experience that way.
but wait that just devalues the shirt, apparently (if that's the case, Englands shirt must be worthless)
but wait that just devalues the shirt, apparently (if that's the case, Englands shirt must be worthless)
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Smith bought in for Kahui? I thought he was very good and is a bit unlikely to be replaced. Hope Weepu plays, id like to see more punch around the breakdown. Would have changed Kaino for Thompson aswell, want to see him running of Nonus shoulder a bit more, similarly Mills and Sivi
imo i would have put mils at centre and ma'a on the wing. i thought Ma'a was absolutely horrible in defence at times on saturday(i know he can tackle i've seen it with my own eyes), i just think they try to use ma'a as an impact player through the middle to break tackles, but that doesn't seem to work so well, i think Mils would carve them up at centre, as would Ma'a on the wing ( theres less things for Ma'a to worry about out there), mils can also kick reasonably well too under pressure ,something ma'a can't seem to do, he gets isolated real easy trying to run it out, rather than get it up the field with a counter attacking kick and chase.
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Smith bought in for Kahui? I thought Kahui was very good and is a bit unlucky to be replaced. Hope Weepu plays, id like to see more punch around the breakdown. Would have changed Kaino for Thompson aswell, want to see him running of Nonus shoulder a bit more, similarly Mills and Sivi
Yeah, but what did Smith do to allow Kahui to come in, Smith hasn't put a foot wrong, and Kahui didn't exactly set the world on fire.........
I think having Mcdonald in at full back is a good idea, gives a good kicking option and a bit of extra smarts on the field. Mils on the wing is just as good as anyone, he's quick and strong, he canm really play anywhere in the back three.
Queenslander 3x a year.
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CAPTAIN Stirling Mortlock and flanker Phil Waugh have been recalled to the Australia starting 15 for Saturday's second Bledisloe Cup rugby Test against New Zealand in Auckland.
Mortlock returns at outside centre in place of Ryan Cross after recovering from concussion which ruled him out of the Wallabies' 34-19 win over the All Blacks in Sydney last Saturday.Waugh was elevated from the bench to the No.6 jersey in place of Rocky Elsom, who was ruled out with a ligament strain in his foot.
He will combine with George Smith to form an imposing flanker combination against returning All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.
"They're two quality players, it's good to get both of them on the ground," coach Robbie Deans said.
Mortlock and Waugh are the only changes to Deans' run-on side, chasing their first win in Auckland in 22 years.
Hugh McMeniman, who missed last week's squad altogether, takes Waugh's place on the reserves bench, while utility back Timana Tahu drops out after making his Test debut on Saturday.
Tahu will still travel to Auckland as the team's 23rd man.
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Too many 'brackets' for my liking. The Hore/Mealamu thing is just stupid. They are going to select one of them, and the other will be on the bench, so why bracket them. I thought the whole point of bracketing was if someone was injured and was 50/50. I know Hore was injured but if he is declared fit to play then he will start with Mealamu on the bench. If he isn't, then he still goes on the bench. And bracketing Thomson and Braid also confuses me.
This whole bracketing thing confuses me. Otherwise, strong looking team.
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30/07/2008 12:52 p.m.
All Blacks fullback Leon MacDonald has been ruled out of the second Bledisloe Cup test with concussion-like symptoms
A major blow for the All Blacks ahead of the second Bledisloe Cup test at Eden Park.
Fullback Leon MacDonald has been ruled out for medical reasons, suffering concussion-like symptoms.
Dr Deb Robinson says MacDonald spent some time at home to try to get right but did not respond well to training this week. She says the symptoms are minor in nature but his past issues with head knocks mean they are not taking any risks.
Not good news for our kicking game. Nonu should learn how to kick the ball. All we need him to do is kick it when we are in our half and Carter is in the ruck. Leave the fancy kicking to Carter.
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Saturday
Max: 14�C
Min: 11�C
(Day)
(Overnight)
Rain, some thunder. Strong northwesterlies.
Max: 14�C
Min: 11�C
(Day)
(Overnight)
Rain, some thunder. Strong northwesterlies.
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Graham Henry and his All Blacks put the boot into their critics and the Wallabies as they produced their promised kicking improvements and backed it up with power and precision to tie up the Bledisloe Cup with a hugely satisfying 39-10 win in Auckland on Saturday night.
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