Originally posted by boarmanWell, the Broncos slipped up, so what now? I think the Storm go on to play the Sharks yes?
Yeah they played good but wont come close to beating the eagles next week.
Manly are gunna a take it to another level.
Now lets just hope the broncos win tonight.
I'm still not sure of the warriors beards ,what is that for.
Originally posted by muppymanYes.
Well, the Broncos slipped up, so what now? I think the Storm go on to play the Sharks yes?
Melbourne are looking ominous, talented right across the park.
As long as the NZ Warriors whack Manly i'll be happy!
On paper form Melbourne and Manly should play in the Grand Final.
Originally posted by boarmanSmith was the worst for them. I thought the game was league, not Brazilian Ju-Jitsu. He got what he desreved.
Great decision by the judiciary to ban Cameron Smith for 2 weeks.Now they might think twice about these grapple tackles.
Go the Kiwis, cos Manly masticate donkey wee wees!
Originally posted by lordhighgusWell it's all over.. Warriors got swooped all over by the Sea Eagles.
Smith was the worst for them. I thought the game was league, not Brazilian Ju-Jitsu. He got what he desreved.
Go the Kiwis, cos Manly masticate donkey wee wees!
Couldn't even score until late in the second half.. 30pt drubbing.
Well done the better team.
Anyway.. thats done now bring on the real rugby..
The Auckland teams in NPC have all failed miserably this season.. thats usually a bad sign for super rugby. Pivac is out of NPC Harbours dismal performance.. disappointing as he showed so much promise with Auckland a few years back.. he should never have gone to Fiji.
Originally posted by Swiss ToniHe's having a try fest isn't he.. the test is coming though as here come the All Blacks...
Back to rugby for a moment - just watched the Cardiff Blues vs Leicester Tigers in the EDF Energy Cup. How good is Leigh Halfpenny?
The All Blacks will play five Tests in five weeks as well as a midweek match against the European champions Munster.
They have the Bledisloe Cup game against Aussie in Hong Kong on 1st Nov , then head to the United Kingdom and Ireland for matches against Scotland (November 8), Ireland (November 15), Munster (November 18), Wales (November 22) and England (November 29). (Shame they could play France, SA and Argies as well.. now that would be a tour (lol)
7 new players you won’t have seen before. The NPC turned out some real surprises forcing change.
The new 35 man squad is:
Backs: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Joe Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Hosea Gear, Anthony Tuitavake, Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Isaia Toeava, Ma'a Nonu, Daniel Carter, Stephen Donald, Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu, Andy Ellis.
Forwards: Rodney So'oialo, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Scott Waldrom, Liam Messam, Adam Thomson, Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Anthony Boric, Jason Eaton, Ross Filipo, Tony Woodcock, John Afoa, Neemia Tialata, Jamie Mackintosh, Ben Franks, Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu, Corey Flynn.
Originally posted by Tirau DanI read somewhere that the IRFU wan't releasing their test players for the Munster game. That stinks - though I do understand why. It would be great to see a full-strength Munster team up against the All Blacks.
a midweek match against the European champions Munster.
I really miss proper tours. I'd love it if the ABs would come to England, have three tests (two at Twickenham one at Old Trafford) with some tour games against Leicester, Gloucester, Sarries etc. Makes it hard to follow your team when you have to travel all that way to see only one game. Cricket has it right in that regard.
Originally posted by Swiss ToniYou're right. I always wanted to go on a tour with Buck Shelford and Cliff Morgan up the Valleys of Wales.. do the pub crawl, the sing song and museums, take lots of photos , then go off the stay at my cousins next to Twickers and watch a test there.. That would be bliss.
I read somewhere that the IRFU wan't releasing their test players for the Munster game. That stinks - though I do understand why. It would be great to see a full-strength Munster team up against the All Blacks.
I really miss proper tours. I'd love it if the ABs would come to England, have three tests (two at Twickenham one at Old Trafford) with some to ...[text shortened]... hen you have to travel all that way to see only one game. Cricket has it right in that regard.
Even though he has been reigned in from his constant rotation I doubt if Graeme Henry will play any test players against Munster esp if they aren't. It's a sad time of the signs. But watch out some of our new guys are chomping at the bit for test spots and will play out of their skins. I expect a 30 pt win against Munster at least.
New Zealand play Australia in Hong Kong today
Look out for Dan Carter at 2nd Five taking on Sterling Mortlock head to head.
Ritchie McCaw is again head to head with George Smith.
Our own Waikato stalwart Steven Donald outside the impulse engined Jimmy Cowan will feed Carter and Conrad Smith And finally you'll get to see Hosea Gear on the right wing. Ths Wellington player has been screaming pick me pickme for a few years.. Now is the perfect time to experiment as the Bledisloe Cup is safely won by NZ with 2 wins already this year (a loss would draw the series 2-2 so the cup would stay in NZ).
New Zealand: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Hosea Gear, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Dan Carter, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Greg Somerville, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Ma'a Nonu, 22 Cory Jane.
Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Stirling Mortlock, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Richard Brown, 7 George Smith, 6 Dean Mumm, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Mark Chisholm, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Phil Waugh, 19 David Pocock, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Berrick Barnes, 22 Lachie Turner.
My prediction is a good solid win to NZ which should be a foundation for a clean sweep of their Northern Tour of Ireland and Britain. I just hope that Henry sticks with his choice and lets them gel as team.. if he plays swapsies they'll fall over.
Score???? 42-16 to NZ
Low scoring game ruined by a whistle happy tosser and pitch surface that wasn't up to it.
The ref blew up everything... and it cost the Aussies as they let themselves down after starting well.. they lost discipline and gave away to many penalties. They were very lucky to finish with 15 players after front rowers were warned 4 times for incorrect engagement.
The pitch seemed to have new turf on top that came unstuck every time a player tried to change direction or accelerate... not good enough. Hong Kong didn't manage to fill the stadium though I believe they've done enough to get tour or festival games again.. fix the pitch though guys.
14 - 9 unusual score these days, this was a game that could have gone either way. From NZ's point of view the Donald Carter combination didn't come off, the abs were far more slick when Donald went off and Carter went back to first five. Some of the new comers look quite at home in test rugby.. this is a new team with lots of promise.
Aussie look as if the Deans Effect is working. They showed some sublimb moves and awesome promise as they learn new combinations and set pieces. Both the down under teams will excel up north. Look out Europe
All Blacks on Tour.
Vs Scotland on Saturday.
This is the best chance Scotlands will ever be handed to defeat the abs.
They never have and probably won't this time but Henry has named no fewer than 12 changes from the team that beat Australia.
The Scottish are upset that they are to face a virtual third string side. I'm with them! I hate it when arrogant sons of b's send experiemental sides down under and this is no different. I am a rugby fan first and an ab fan 2nd this is not good for rugby.
I agreed new blood should be introduced against the lesser teams on tour and Scotland are in all honesty a lessor team at the moment but so many changes in name of resting key players when they've had 1 test in months is stupid.
Graeme Henry is a complete plonker risking the unbeaten pride of the abs to prove his bloody-minded rotation policy.
Good luck Scotland.
Prediction
(heck I'm hopeless at this bit)
NZ 45 - Sco 12
Boks vs the Dragons on Saturday.
This is the best bok side I've seen in ages, except for two areas.
We don't have a recognised flyhalf and kicker. Pienaar does kick for the Sharks, but his record is not good enough for this level.
The Welsh are still smarting from their losses here last time - one game they thought they should've won...
They will have to deny the boks the ball, else they will be crushed. Hopefully the boks can gel - they seem relaxed and rested, even at the end of a VERY long season.
Prediction SA 29 - Wales 17