Tri-Nations/Warm-up Tests

[Thomas]

The whole poaching argument is silly. No country, apart from England, poaches known established talent. It doesn't matter where the player was born.

Most of the All Blacks who weren't born in NZ moved there when they were young. Same with the Wallabies. Quade Cooper would have been an extraordinary poach from the ARU since he was something like 14 when he moved to Australia. Same with Pocock and Ioane etc.

England have established players like Hape etc.

 

[Te Kaha]

The whole poaching argument is silly. No country, apart from England, poaches known established talent. It doesn't matter where the player was born.

Most of the All Blacks who weren't born in NZ moved there when they were young. Same with the Wallabies. Quade Cooper would have been an extraordinary poach from the ARU since he was something like 14 when he moved to Australia. Same with Pocock and Ioane etc.

England have established players like Hape etc.

Of course its silly... especially when they move as pre-teens although in Aussiesa case both Cowan and Vickerman moved to aussie as adults AND established Rugby players, so they could classed as "poached"

 

[shiznit]

The whole poaching argument is silly. No country, apart from England, poaches known established talent. It doesn't matter where the player was born.

Most of the All Blacks who weren't born in NZ moved there when they were young. Same with the Wallabies. Quade Cooper would have been an extraordinary poach from the ARU since he was something like 14 when he moved to Australia. Same with Pocock and Ioane etc.

England have established players like Hape etc.

what about Sekope Kepu?? NZ U17, 19 & Colts. couldn't crack the chiefs so was poached by the tahs.

And as for Quade Cooper.... there's a whole heap of kids over here with good footwork, deft ball skills, nice speed and good vision... they just dont get into the elite programs over here because they dont match up well against genuine balanced 10's.

If Quade Cooper stayed home he would be a decent touch footballer.

what makes me laugh about the aussie infatuation with Quade Cooper... those amazing things he does on a football field i used to see on a daily basis by kids in there teens.

When guys like Quade Cooper & Benji Marshall come out and pull off that crazy stuff... there just doing what most kids do here naturally.

Shaun Johnson the young kid at the Warriors is even more talented than those 2 IMO...

BTW.... this is no criticism of Cooper... hes developed into one hell of a good footballer.... but the point im making is watching him play the instinctive football that seems to captivate the aussies... its the natural style of football he was brought up with over here.

 

[Te Kaha]

what about Sekope Kepu?? NZ U17, 19 & Colts. couldn't crack the chiefs so was poached by the tahs.

And as for Quade Cooper.... there's a whole heap of kids over here with good footwork, deft ball skills, nice speed and good vision... they just dont get into the elite programs over here because they dont match up well against genuine balanced 10's.

If Quade Cooper stayed home he would be a decent touch footballer.

what makes me laugh about the aussie infatuation with Quade Cooper... those amazing things he does on a football field i used to see on a daily basis by kids in there teens.

When guys like Quade Cooper & Benji Marshall come out and pull off that crazy stuff... there just doing what most kids do here naturally.

Shaun Johnson the young kid at the Warriors is even more talented than those 2 IMO...

BTW.... this is no criticism of Cooper... hes developed into one hell of a good footballer.... but the point im making is watching him play the instinctive football that seems to captivate the aussies... its the natural style of football he was brought up with over here.

Kepu was actually born in Aussie... He is a bit like Brad Thorn in that regard.. but ONLY that regard.

 

[shiznit]

Kepu was actually born in Aussie... He is a bit like Brad Thorn in that regard.. but ONLY that regard.

yeah i knew he was born in aussie... but he came right through the NZ system.

the only reason he is playing for australia is because he couldnt get himself a super contract with his home franchise waikato.

 

[Thomas]

I suppose we can have those guys. Afterall, you guys had Steve Devine...

 

[shiznit]

I suppose we can have those guys. Afterall, you guys had Steve Devine...

lmfao!! you wanna play that game??

what about Willie O??

 

[aqua_duck]

The whole poaching argument is silly. No country, apart from England, poaches known established talent. It doesn't matter where the player was born.

Most of the All Blacks who weren't born in NZ moved there when they were young. Same with the Wallabies. Quade Cooper would have been an extraordinary poach from the ARU since he was something like 14 when he moved to Australia. Same with Pocock and Ioane etc.

England have established players like Hape etc.

Most of the all blacks not born in NZ?
Sivivatu, Muliaina, and Kaino, that's 3, didn't know 3 out of 22 was 'most'

 

[Thomas]

Most of the all blacks not born in NZ?
Sivivatu, Muliaina, and Kaino, that's 3, didn't know 3 out of 22 was 'most'

You need to read my post again, bru.

 

[Iafeta]

If you listened to the Australian press, the All Blacks were on a hiding to nothing. Old, over the hill, dad's army... Blokes saying Pocock is better than McCaw and Cooper better than Carter. Finally David Campese said it on the fly half argument when he said that Cooper isn't at that level yet because he can't defend. Who the hell hides at fullback and on the wing at test level?

What happened Australia? Surely you can play better than that tripe. Half your blokes looked like they wanted to grab the oxygen mask after 15 minutes.

 

[Silent But Deadly]

Yep the Wallabies had played the game in their head before they got onto the paddock. They had nothing left when the real match started...

 

[Butters]

The Qantas Wallabies team to play South Africa in the Castrol Edge Tri Nations Rugby Test at King’s Park in Durban on Saturday night (kick-off: 1am, Sunday morning, AEST) is:
15. Kurtley Beale (NSW Waratahs)
14. James O’Connor (Western Force)
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)
12. Pat McCabe (Brumbies)
11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)
10. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)
9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds)
8. Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds)
7. David Pocock (Western Force)
6. Rocky Elsom (Brumbies, captain)
5. James Horwill (Queensland Reds)
4. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
3. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs)
Run on Reserves:
16. Saia Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)
17. Salesi Ma’afu (Brumbies)
18. Sitaleki Timani (NSW Waratahs)
19. Ben McCalman (Western Force)
20. Radike Samo (Queensland Reds)
21. Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs)
22. Anthony Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)

http://www.rugby.com.au/wallabies/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1516/ArticleID/4079/Default.aspx

Needs less Ashley-Cooper and more Anthony Fainga'a. Not a fan of them bringing back half the forwards that got rolled by Samoa either. But at least Higginbotham is finally starting, pity McCalman is still in the side at all though.

2 No 8's on the bench as well. I hope they aren't intending on using McCalman as the reserve openside when they've got Beau Robinson in the squad, the best Australian openside flanker all year.

 

[shiznit]

New Zealand: Israel Dagg; Isaia Toeava, Richard Kahui, Sonny Bill Williams, Hosea Gear; Colin Slade, Jimmy Cowan; Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu (captain), John Afoa, Sam Whitelock, Ali Williams, Jerome Kaino, Adam Thomson, Liam Messam

Replacements: Andrew Hore, Ben Franks, Jarrad Hoeata, Victor Vito, Andy Ellis, Piri Weepu, Cory Jane.

not bad for a 'B' team...

 

[Butters]

Colin Slade is NZ's backup flyhalf? :lol:

That team would get rolled by the rebels...

 

[shiznit]

Colin Slade is NZ's backup flyhalf? :lol:

That team would get rolled by the rebels...

:lol: