Originally posted by CrowleyBrussouw should beat him to the ball and has the strength to turn hum I think. Their is talk of Smith being off to France and I haven't caught their line up Crowls.
The Aussies don't give up the ball easily. I think the bok forwards might just roll over them, but we'll have to see...
Will be interesting to see Brussouw vs. George Smith (Is he still playing?)
SA will be very hard to beat for the next few years especially as they are gelling so well as a team. Set plays are top notch and discipline is getting better too.. they are tight and focussed.
(I sound awful saying that stuff...it chokes)... haha
Who ever beats SA at present will have to be very tough, tight, disciplined and slick. Aussies/// not yet but in 2 years who knows?
NZ... no sign of any improvement whatsoever for six years... decline ahead. (maybe my words will be my brussell sprouts hmmm)
Originally posted by Tirau DanThey are unchanged, apparently.
Brussouw should beat him to the ball and has the strength to turn hum I think. Their is talk of Smith being off to France and I haven't caught their line up Crowls.
SA will be very hard to beat for the next few years especially as they are gelling so well as a team. Set plays are top notch and discipline is getting better too.. they are tight and focu ...[text shortened]... t whatsoever for six years... decline ahead. (maybe my words will be my brussell sprouts hmmm)
Australia team: 15-Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14-Lachie Turner, 13-Stirling Mortlock (captain), 12-Berrick Barnes, 11-Drew Mitchell, 10-Matt Giteau, 9-Luke Burgess, 8-Wycliff Palu, 7-George Smith, 6-Richard Brown, 5-Nathan Sharpe, 4-James Horwill, 3-Al Baxter, 2-Stephen Moore, 1-Benn Robinson
Replacements: 16-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17-Ben Alexander, 18-Dean Mumm, 19-David Pocock, 20-Will Genia, 21-Peter Hynes, 22-James O'Connor
It's a good team, with a decent balance of youth and experience.
We still have a lot of discipline issues to work on and we need someone to ignite a spark under a backline of very talented players...
Our forwards are just bloody awe-inspiring at the moment, led from the front by John Smit who seems to be getting better and batter every season.
Originally posted by CrowleyAgreed.. you guys will be the force for the foreseeable future. Their will be challenges to that force come world cup time, but not from this side of the Tasman. I like the progress of Ashley-Cooper and Berrick Barnes from Aus.. they are gonna be stars under Deans as for Mortlock hahah he's a freak .. gotta love the guy.
They are unchanged, apparently.
Australia team: 15-Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14-Lachie Turner, 13-Stirling Mortlock (captain), 12-Berrick Barnes, 11-Drew Mitchell, 10-Matt Giteau, 9-Luke Burgess, 8-Wycliff Palu, 7-George Smith, 6-Richard Brown, 5-Nathan Sharpe, 4-James Horwill, 3-Al Baxter, 2-Stephen Moore, 1-Benn Robinson
Replacements: 16-Tatafu Polota-Nau, ...[text shortened]... oment, led from the front by John Smit who seems to be getting better and batter every season.
General manager of professional rugby Neil Sorensen said yesterday head coach Graham Henry and assistants Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith retained the confidence of the NZRU.
Interesting. I wonder if they will be saying that at the end of the year - or even at the end of the Tri-Nations. On the other side of the ditch, Deans has said that this weekend "Is as good as it gets." Aussies are looking forward to testing themselves against the in-form World Champions.
NZRFU stance is that the losses against the Springboks is "Just a blip." Lets hope they are right!
Originally posted by Tirau DanThe foreseeable future being two years for me. I really hope the core of this team will still be together in two years, but that's a long time in rugby. The current SA team is still the one built by Jake White with the only new player I can think of offhand being Brussouw - and he was reluctantly introduced. The woefully out of form Jacobs and Januarie are still part of the squad and need to go. The future of the current team will depend on how new blood is brought in, otherwise it will be like the English Dad's Army of the last when it comes to WC time.
Agreed.. you guys will be the force for the foreseeable future.
I'm hesitant to put a scoreline on the SA-Aus game. Clearly, SA are favourites, but Aus will play a more clever game and they will have done analysis. Also, they won't play like headless chickens as NZ did. They will play a more controlled kicking game, will compete in the tight, won't lose too many in the lineouts (their pack is better than we give credit to), won't give away so many penalties and will attack with the usual tempo and intensity, seemingly able to change up a gear when it counts. They certainly will be more difficult opponents from the tactically inept NZ team of last weekend. In short, they will play with better brains.
I'll still pick SA, but in a more tight game. I'll stick my neck out and say SA 21-16 but I'll probably be completely wrong anyway.
Originally posted by Swiss ToniHeads in the sand stuff.
General manager of professional rugby Neil Sorensen said yesterday head coach Graham Henry and assistants Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith retained the confidence of the NZRU.
Interesting. I wonder if they will be saying that at the end of the year - or even at the end of the Tri-Nations. On the other side of the ditch, Deans has said that this week ...[text shortened]... stance is that the losses against the Springboks is "Just a blip." Lets hope they are right!
The scoreline really flatters the Aussies, it should have been 40-10.
Five good try-scoring opportunities thrown away. The boks will have to re-learn the belief that they CAN actually score bloody tries.
Our forwards are awesome, but it was troubling to see the scrum struggle without Bakkies and Beast...
Now on to see if we can win games on tour...
Originally posted by CrowleyYep they made a few mistakes of their own making.. maybe just getting a bit keen. You'll fix that and don't worry with a bench like yours you'll be right for a while. Aus would have taken some lessons on board.. they are looking more like a team on the right track.. just wish the same this side of the ditch.
The scoreline really flatters the Aussies, it should have been 40-10.
Five good try-scoring opportunities thrown away. The boks will have to re-learn the belief that they CAN actually score bloody tries.
Our forwards are awesome, but it was troubling to see the scrum struggle without Bakkies and Beast...
Now on to see if we can win games on tour...
Wrong again.. haha
however is Jonathan Kaplin the worst ref under the sun. Twice disallowed a fair try... the guy is absolutely hopeless or corrupt. Still too many dropped balls and I dare henry to say it was because of some super complicated game plan that the guys are developing... no pressure just bad bad hands and a disgusting lack of basics.
I bet Robbie Deans won't open his big mouth before an important test again for fear of another bok backlash. Rather wait until they board the plane after playing their games.
That was another "boring rugby" display, eh Bob?
We as bok fans do owe him a great amount of gratitude. He's has given us the push we needed to play more attacking rugby and use our very talented backline.
Thanks Mr. Deans!