Tri-Nations/Warm-up Tests

[Butters]

Now that the Reds have concluded the Super Rugby season with their dominant performance against the Crusaders last night, that can only mean one thing, the test season will soon be upon us.

Feel free to discuss anything in relation to the Tri-Nations and the warm up tests in here.

 

[Butters]

Wallaby squad:Ben Alexander, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Kurtley Beale, Luke Burgess, Quade Cooper, Ben Daley, Rod Davies, Dave Dennis, Rocky Elsom , Anthony Faingaa, Saia Faingaa, Will Genia, Mark Gerrard, Matt Giteau, James Hanson, Scott Higginbotham, Matt Hodgson, James Horwill, Digby Ioane, Sekope Kepu, Salesi Maafu, Pat McCabe, Ben McCalman, Stephen Moore, Luke Morahan, Dean Mumm, James O'Connor, Wycliff Palu, Nick Phipps, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota Nau, Beau Robinson, Benn Robinson, Radike Samo, Nathan Sharpe, Rob Simmons, James Slipper, Sitaleki Timani, Lachie Turner, Dan Vickerman.

http://www.sportal.com.au/rugby-union-news-display/samo-a-wallaby-again-129542

Pretty decent squad for the wallabies, the kiwis would definitely be shaking in their boots having to face so many reds players again.

My team would be:

Ben Daley
Saia Faingaa
James Slipper
James Horwill
Nathan Sharpe
Scott Higginbotham
David Pocock
Radike Samo
Will Genia
Quade Cooper
Digby Ioane
James O'Connor
Kurtley Beale
Rod Davies
Mark Gerrard

 

[shiznit]

from: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/5263037/Jarrad-Hoeata-joins-ABs-squad

All Blacks Squad:

BACKS: Mils Muliaina, Israel Dagg, Isaia Toeava, Hosea Gear, Zac Guildford, Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Sonny Bill Williams, Ma'a Nonu, Dan Carter, Colin Slade, Jimmy Cowan, Andy Ellis, Piri Weepu

FORWARDS: Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (capt), Jerome Kaino, Adam Thomson, Liam Messam, Brad Thorn, Ali Williams, Sam Whitelock, Jarrad Hoeata, Ben Franks, Owen Franks, John Afoa, Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Corey Flynn, Andrew Hore

Injury replacements: Wyatt Crockett, Cory Jane, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Ben Smith.

Wow... thats a good squad.

when Crocket, Jane, Sivivatu & Maitland cant make the squad... you know theres some depth there.

i would be surprised if we see too much of Dan Carter... i get the feeling Colin Slade will be getting alot of time in the saddle to hone his skills as back up.

i dont know if the tri-nations will be taken seriously with everyone trying to build for the world cup.

i think the key test will be the Bledisloe at Eden Park...

Australia havent beaten NZ in NZ for a long time seeing as the world cup is in NZ they will be hoping if they cant win they can get as close as possible to them to show to give them the belief that they can win.

but hell... if the wallabies manage to beat the All Blacks at Eden Park... they will definitely start to believe... and the self doubt will be pouring into the All Blacks minds.

but the flipside for the All Blacks... if they can really blow the Wallabies off Eden Park on August 06 that could almost kill of the Wallabies world cup hopes before the tournament even starts.

its gonna be a pivotal match...

FTR... i think the Wallabies look a decent outfit... i think the reds core will serve them well... i still think theres question marks over how they travel.

i just dont know if they have the overall class to beat the All Blacks at the moment..

 

[Parra]

Concern if RSA send a B grade squad as threatened.

 

[Butters]

The Qantas Wallabies team to play Samoa in the Castrol Edge Rugby Test at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on Sunday is:

15. Mark Gerrard (Melbourne Rebels)
14. James O’Connor (Western Force)
13. Adam Ashley Cooper (Brumbies)
12. Pat McCabe (Brumbies)
11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)
10. Matt Giteau (Brumbies)
9. Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels)
8. Ben McCalman (Western Force)
7. Matt Hodgson (Western Force)
6. Rocky Elsom (Brumbies, captain)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
4. Sitaleki Timani (NSW Waratahs)
3. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)

Run on Reserves:
16. James Hanson (Queensland Reds)
17. TBA
18. Dan Vickerman (NSW Waratahs)
19. Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds)
20. Beau Robinson (Queensland Reds)
21. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)
22. Kurtley Beale (NSW Waratahs)

http://www.rugby.com.au/wallabies/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1516/ArticleID/3809/Default.aspx

As expected the Wallabies name their C team to play Samoa. Hopefully Giteau and Ashley-Cooper are nowhere near the full strength team.

 

[Thomas]

Concern if RSA send a B grade squad as threatened.

I would enjoy seeing Australia put a huge score on a SA team. Shades of England 1998.

 

[Butters]

Wouldn't make much of a difference if the Saffers sent a full strength side or their C team, they hardly ever win in Australia anyway.

 

[abpanther]

Robinson gone with an ACL injury, will miss the WC, big loss for the Wallabies

 

[Butters]

Robinson gone with an ACL injury, will miss the WC, big loss for the Wallabies

Meh

 

[abpanther]

Wallabies have been farkin pathetic today against Samoa...

 

[Matt23]

Lol @ Wallabies

 

[aussies1st]

Good thing I don't have coverage of this.

 

[abpanther]

Giteau is so very very shit, Samoa just hitting harder, Wallabies playing scared

 

[abpanther]

Davis is terrible, been smashed a few times today

 

[Parra Pride]

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lolWallabies.

 

[Parra]

Matt23, Parra Pride - weak as piss the both of you. Apologies if you are not Aussies, f**k you if you call yourself Australians.

 

[Butters]

15. Mark Gerrard
14. Rod Davies
13. Adam Ashley Cooper
12. Pat McCabe
11. Digby Ioane
10. Matt Giteau
9. Nick Phipps
8. Ben McCalman
7. Matt Hodgson
6. Rocky Elsom
5. Nathan Sharpe
4. Sitaleki Timani
3. Ben Alexander
2. Stephen Moore
1. Sekope Kepu

Hope they enjoyed the game, should be the last one they ever play for Australia. f**king pathetic.

Awesome from Samoa though, brutal defence.

 

[Parra]

Awesome game from the Samoans. Hungry, committed and deserved the win.

Wallabies have a lot to do.

 

[Parra]

Giteau + the forwards. Weak . Maybe Giteau has played his last test + Hodgson, Alexander and Moore.

 

[Te Kaha]

Ouch... that was ugly... very very funny.. but ugly.. Aussie has no depth a few injuries and you wont beat ireland or wales, let alone England come world cup time.