All Blacks v Australia Hong Kong

[Alehana]

All Blacks team to face Australia (test caps):
1. Tony Woodcock (69)
2. Keven Mealamu (80)
3. Owen Franks (17)
4. Brad Thorn (46)
5. Tom Donnelly (13)
6. Jerome Kaino (33)
7. Richie McCaw - captain (89)
8. Kieran Read (25)
9. Jimmy Cowan (41)
10. Daniel Carter (74)
11. Josevata Rokocoko (66)
12. Ma'a Nonu (52)
13. Conrad Smith (41)
14. Cory Jane (21)
15. Mils Muliaina (89)
Reserves:
16. Hikawera Elliot (uncapped)
17. John Afoa (25)
18. Samuel Whitelock (8)
19. Daniel Braid (4)
20. Alby Mathewson (1)
21. Stephen Donald (19)
22. Isaia Toeava (26)

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=10683657

Australia team to be announced later today

SBW missing, no suprise there,

 

[Alehana]

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_6473477,00.html

preview, should be a good game

 

[kia ora storm]

Some good experience in that side...Kiwis by 12.

 

[Butters]

Wallabies by a million. The ref may have to call it off at half time.

After winning this match they'll go on to continue undefeated and win the world cup by a record score against the ABs.

 

[shiznit]

Wallabies by a million. The ref may have to call it off at half time.

After winning this match they'll go on to continue undefeated and win the world cup by a record score against the ABs.

lmfao.... with a prediction like that it doesnt surprise me that your Avatar is The Chronic... :lol:

FTR... i reckon it will be close... but by NZ under 5

 

[Alehana]

the pre match thing is such a joke, those foxsports commentators are shocking, are the wallabies never favourites? i cant remember when the last time, they were asked, who they thought would win, and they all havent said the wallabies... they are so one eyed, surely they must realise alot of people watching their coverage want a unbaised critical assessment with the merits and disadvantages of each team, then on this a indepth prediction and analysis of the expected result.

 

[AuckMel]

Great kicking by the Aussies

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

:lol:

I used to think the English League commentators were as biased as it got, but they've got nothing on this lot.

Token win for the Wallabies, good on them. Better it happens this year for the All Blacks than next year.

 

[Alehana]

yeh good game to watch, dont mind losing that one, as the roll would have to stop somewhere, and i'm glad its now and not in the wc final, i think nz will be stronger because of it, kinda a win-lose for wallabies, they won the game now, but what will it do to the abs, i can only see they will get stronger,

as for the all blacks, donal is the worst fly half i've ever seen put on the number 21 jeresey, god help us if he ever gets to wear the 10, i've never been a fan of him, i thought he'd be alright after the first season with the all blacks, but he has not improved, GH should rethink his selection and bring in someone that can kick the ball out in their own 22 when they are 5 points ahead with 30 seconds on the clock, that would be a devent starting point,
Jimmy Cowan played terribly, halfbacks in NZ are over rated atm, piri is good, but hes injured, Ellis is terrible, and Mathewson is still young.

commentators finally got one right, whats that? 1 out of 11 right for the commentators pre match against the ABs,

 

[AuckMel]

They were a disgrace. Absolutely nothing like them. Nice touch by Cooper at the end the wanker.

 

[Alehana]

the way these games seem to go now, is NZ play their traditional slow start to a game, and wallabies are winning at HT, then nz realy on superior fitness and skills aka dan carter and richie mccaaw, to get over the line,

but thats just against the wallabies i'm sure its different vs other teams, i'd like to see nz (minus DC and RM) vs wallabies at ANZ stadium, i think Aus would win by 12 points.

oh yes, Cooper (thats that kiwi playing for Australia), cant tackle, puts on a goosestep and everyone has creamed their pants.
however give him a few years and he will be a lot more consistant

 

[shiznit]

f**ken Donald....

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Cooper just needs maturity and experience. Right now he's a show pony and makes way too many mistakes because of it.

All this game did was highlight the need for a decent back up five eight. If Donald is the second best five eight we have then we're f**ked if Carter is injured. If Carter stays on the field for 80 minutes we win that match comfortably. Can't afford for him to go down injured.

 

[lockyno1]

I'm not a NZ fan, but surely McCallister is a better option as a backup?

 

[aussies1st]

We certainly did our best to lose it, Donald just did it better. Brilliant game by Beale and Pocock, JOC finally did something in the last few minutes. His goal kicking looks the most assured of the lot used so tempted to send him to 12.

 

[butchmcdick]

the pre match thing is such a joke, those foxsports commentators are shocking, are the wallabies never favourites? i cant remember when the last time, they were asked, who they thought would win, and they all havent said the wallabies... they are so one eyed, surely they must realise alot of people watching their coverage want a unbaised critical assessment with the merits and disadvantages of each team, then on this a indepth prediction and analysis of the expected result.

Cause Murray Mexted and co are bastions of impartialality.

I agree that Kearns in particular was whinging with the best of them tonight but it seems that all host broadcasters are doing it nowdays.

AS for the game well I thought the ref had no idea come scrum time and that Donald was the best player we had in the time he was on the park. How the f**k does phil blake get a gig as a defensive coach ? Australia's kicking and defence was woeful at times and t seemed to me that the blacks didn't get out of third gear all match.

Always good to get a win but not as significant as Marto and co would have us believe.

 

[Alehana]

I'm not a NZ fan, but surely McCallister is a better option as a backup?

before he went to england so last WC he was, but lack of game time over the past few years in the 10 has seem him play most his rugby at 12/13, but yes, even jimmy cowan would be a better option than Donald, why is it that the coaches dont see that, they must be loosing their eye sight or something

personally i'd have Colin Slade as backup, then Aaron Cruden, then Luke Macalister, then Quade Cooper, then SBW then Stephen Donald as the All Blacks back up to DC

 

[butchmcdick]

They were a disgrace. Absolutely nothing like them. Nice touch by Cooper at the end the wanker.

Yeah pushing McCaw was pretty ordinary. I wonder if his missus will call the Blacks twigs ?

 

[lockyno1]

McCaw was pushing and niggling him all night long. Works both ways.

 

[Parra]

enjoyed