The Yarpies - a serious World Cup threat?

[Iafeta]

Discuss, the Springboks, can they translate their Super 14 form to the World Cup?

And, similarly, a lot of the All Blacks who came back looked very short of a gallop and out of knick - can New Zealand recover in time for the 'Cup? In my book, the reconditioning period has backfired and raised the bar for the Springboks in particular (could have helped the Wallabies, but we all know they are sh!te anyway so they were no chance).

 

[Twizzle]

the reconditioning thingy was definitely a failure

dont think we'll ever see that again, but you'd have to think that RSA are in there with a good chance given their S14 form and the kiwis inability to convert form into a WC

 

[Sanchez]

sa cant play well away from home

 

[shiznit]

how has the reconditioning window failed?? it was to make sure the players peak in September/November.
the reconditioned players should be just getting into mid competition form. while its sad we couldn't win the super 14... its still abit premature to say if the reconditioning window has worked yet. i was resigned to the fact we wernt going to win the super14 this year due to our top players not really hitting top gear in time... whats changed??

on the boks... they have always been a big threat... probably our biggest. as all us kiwis know... super14 form doesnt translate to world cup form...

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Before the S14 a lot of people said that the reconditioning period would stuff our chances of the S14 title so that shouldn't be a surprise... the most surprising thing was how well our S14 sides actually went during the first 8 weeks. Too early to tell whether it's worked until we see how the ABs go in their first few matches.

 

[ozbash]

the south africans are playing very positive footy and are building

the all black seem to have 'peaked' 12 months too early

the aussies are just waiting on a decent coach to organise the very high quality players at their disposal.

S.A and world cup ? they are as good a chance as any.

 

[crusader-eel]

SA have gained a lot of confidence from the S14, but their record away from home isn't the best, as Sanchez pointed out. Their home crowd just lifts them, as seen at Loftus (which was pretty awesome, even for a Crusader fan!).

I still think the All Blacks will have the best chance as they play well at home and away, and they'll lift their performances with more games played.

But, as everyone knows, one mistake, a chance seized and plans can go out the window.

The Wallabies aren't much of a chance, but they can lift when it counts and cause a massive upset.

Still think All Blacks or France (mainly because they're at home)

 

[Scott]

Far to early to tell how the All Blacks will go this year. The whole reconditioning thing was aimed at October! Not the f**king Super 14.

FFS - some people have no clue!

 

[SpaceMonkey]

the south africans are playing very positive footy and are building

At S14 level sure. At International level we still haven't seen what they can do, and they certainly didn't play particularly constructively last year, their attack seemed to generally consist of intercepts and capitalising on opposition mistakes.

the all black seem to have 'peaked' 12 months too early

They were good last year but had room for improvement with the talent at their disposal and still have more depth than anyone else. Too early to see if they've peaked or are still on the way up.

the aussies are just waiting on a decent coach to organise the very high quality players at their disposal.

Even with a good coach and all their players fit, their scrum would still be pathetic, and that seriously hampers their chances.

S.A and world cup ? they are as good a chance as any.

Maybe, but they'll need to learn to win away first.

 

[ozbash]

Maybe, but they'll need to learn to win away first.

while that is true, the SA S14 teams certainly surprised a few home teams this year, especially over here.

its hard to say what could happen at the cup but i think that the AB's have grabbed the spotlight and while everyone is watching G Henry, the SA's were quietly going about their bussiness.

interesting to note the "French" side due to tour here soon will not do the AB's any favours. Its a 3rd tier (at best) side and will offer little opposition.

Does anyone actually know what the elite players did in the reconditioning ?
they sure as hell wernt match fit when they returned as shown by the injuries and the NZ S14 teams poor finals form.

 

[Iafeta]

My disagreement on the 'reconditioning' thing is this; take for instance the Highlanders, where the likes of Jimmy Cowan and Nick Evans fill the halves and hope to play for the All Blacks, and are fringe All Blacks as well. Without Hayman and Oliver up front with Dermody the front row lacks a bit of sting. That's where the Highlanders have been great in the past through Hoeft, Meuws, Oliver, Willis, Hayman and Dermody and the likes creating a bit of space for their inside backs to push them down field. Without that, Evans looked a bit lost and thus I think his World Cup chances are probably gone, which is a shame because when he has a good pack in front of him he has the skills to win big games, as well as he has the versatility factor. I also think confidence is important, the likes of Dan Carter seem to spring onto a roll after a good few performances, but most of the All Blacks were either benched upon return, or listless, so they are going to lack confidence at the start of the season. If they can't get the momentum, whose to say whether they'll be mentally able to overcome the demons in France?

I probably wouldn't have had a problem with an elite group of 7 or 8 missing the first 5 rounds, but some of the names missing really seem to go a lot better with form behind them from the Super 14. That's why I deem it a failure. Maybe I have "no clue", but it's worth discussion nonetheless.

 

[ozbash]

your probably right, then you get coaches like nucifora saying to elite players like ali williams, mealamu they have to get in line if they want a spot. fair enough but i thought he (nucifora) was cutting off his nose to spite his face.

i,d still love to know what happened at the 'reconditioning', they all came back bigger.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

your probably right, then you get coaches like nucifora saying to elite players like ali williams, mealamu they have to get in line if they want a spot. fair enough but i thought he (nucifora) was cutting off his nose to spite his face.

i,d still love to know what happened at the 'reconditioning', they all came back bigger.

I can't argue with Nucifora though, his team were winning the S14 after week 8, would've been unfair to bench all those blokes just to get the ABs back in the side.