NZ v Scotland

[aussies1st]

NZ have one last game to wrap up the Grand Slam. Scotland however won't come close to the ABs unless some miracle happens. The ABs are miles ahead of any team in World rugby.

AB team for the Scotland game

New Zealand: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Rico Gear, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Tana Umaga (c), 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Nick Evans, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Angus MacDonald, 5 James Ryan, 4 Chris Jack, 3 John Afoa, 2 Anton Oliver, 1 Saimone Taumoepeau.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Neemia Tialata, 18 Jason Eaton, 19 Mose Tuiali'i, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Leon MacDonald, 22 Ma'a Nonu.

 

[Iafeta]

New Zealand by 45-50.

 

[ozbash]

good on graham henry, thinking ahead.

 

[Jackal Dog]

Hmmm heard some big raps on the "Iceman" Isaia Toeava from my kiwi friends, will be keen to see how he goes!

 

[Scorpio30]

Hmmm heard some big raps on the "Iceman" Isaia Toeava from my kiwi friends, will be keen to see how he goes!

Apparently a league convert two or so years ago.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Smart of Henry to play mostly second-stringers for this one, they'll be hungry to impress and should rack up a cricket score, but he's left enough old hands on deck to keep the ship steady in case the Scots put up more fight than expected. NZ by 50.

 

[aussies1st]

Isaia Toeava is rated highly, and had a good debut for Auckland this season. He should go well against the Scots.
I'm just surpised the ABs didn't pick Hore and Cowan to start.

 

[aussies1st]

Here is Scotland's team Paterson moving from fullback to wing

Scotland: 15 Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh Gunners), 14 Chris Paterson (Edinburgh Gunners), 13 Marcus Di Rollo (Edinburgh Gunners), 12 Andrew Henderson (Glasgow Warriors), 11 Sean Lamont (Northampton Saints), 10 Dan Parks (Glasgow Warriors), 9 Chris Cusiter (Border Reivers), 8 Simon Taylor (Edinburgh Gunners), 7 Allister Hogg (Edinburgh Gunners), 6 Jason White (Sale Sharks), 5 Stuart Murray (Edinburgh Gunners), 4 Craig Hamilton (Glasgow Warriors), 3 Bruce Douglas (Border Reivers), 2 Scott Lawson (Glasgow Warriors), 1 Gavin Kerr (Leeds Tykes).
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall (Edinburgh Gunners), 17 Craig Smith (Edinburgh Gunners), 18 Alastair Kellock (Edinburgh Gunners), 19 Kelly Brown (Border Reivers), 20 Mike Blair (Edinburgh Gunners), 21 Phil Godman (Edinburgh Gunners), 22 Simon Webster (Edinburgh Gunners).

 

[SpaceMonkey]

What an anticlimax. NZ were never really threatened but hardly looked interested against a brave but outclassed Scottish outfit. The league result is overshadowing the grand slam today if anything!

 

[Timbo]

I was really impressed with the Scots.

They're the whipping boys of the UK these days, but they put up a gallant effort against an AB side that would have thumped most other outfits.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I was really impressed with the Scots.

They're the whipping boys of the UK these days, but they put up a gallant effort against an AB side that would have thumped most other outfits.

Yeah if the Scotrs play like that in the 6N they should at least finish mid-table. To be fair though the ABs hardly really got out of second gear, they looked disinterested in the second half.

 

[Iafeta]

ABs played pretty sh!thouse IMO.

I don't think Toeva is anywhere near test quality, I cringed every time a bomb went up, and neither is Angus MacDonald. I thought he was fairly level headed sort of bloke, some of the penalties he conspired to give away were ridiculous.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

ABs played pretty sh!thouse IMO.

I don't think Toeva is anywhere near test quality, I cringed every time a bomb went up, and neither is Angus MacDonald. I thought he was fairly level headed sort of bloke, some of the penalties he conspired to give away were ridiculous.

Yeah I don't think you realise quite how good Collins, Mils, and even So'ialo are until you see lesser players in their positions. MacDonald might be ok but he looked like an impotent shadow compared with Jerry's prescence.