Tri-Nations

[CanadianSteve]

Who saw the SA-Aus test? The Boks' tackling was impressive, especially Dewett Barry. Rogers and Sailor combined on a nice try. The Springbok player Brent Russell had a great game, running around Roff for 1 try, and handling the ball twice on a long, classic try involving several players.

Do the Wallabies look to be in trouble heading towards the WC?

It will be interesting to see if SA can beat the All Blacks in the next test.

 

[AliN]

Yes Steve, I saw the game and the Aussie looked terribly disorganised making the Springboks look even better.

I'm thinking it's just a clever ploy by the Aussie to not be favourites in the Cup, then go out and destroy all in their path!!

I also thing the Springboks will beat us on Sunday, they were very good on defence and will shut us down.

 

[JoeD]

I quite like the look of the AB team that Mitchell has picked and I think they can win well on Saturday. Watch for Carlos and Tana to have a big game on a dry track in the afternoon.

 

[AliN]

I hope you're right Joe.

But if SA shut down our backs, we'd have to work pretty hard to win.
It'll be interesting to see how Mauger goes, I quite like the idea of Carter coming off the bench.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Anyone brave enough to bet against the All Blacks after last night? We must be short odds for the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe after that, and close to faourites for the WC as well.

 

[AliN]

Well I must admit when I heard the scoreline, I thought the announcer had made a mistake, and SA had won!!

I haven't seen the game yet but it sounds like we played very well and deserved more points if Carlos had slotted a few more. But he nailed 22 points, he can't overwork himself before the big one next weekend!!

Well done AB's, you've surprised me, and I won't doubt you til next time!!

 

[CanadianSteve]

The AB's were very impressive. They out-tackled the Boks, who had been so physical the week before against Aus. Plus the AB's have great skill and speed in the backs. They may beat the Wallabies by a few tries.

 

[guten_targ]

The pleasing aspect of this game was that the AB's went away from the Canterbury orientated games of the past and ran the ball at every oportunity.

I am not a fan of union these days..but even I have to admit that what the AB's did to South Africa was nothing short of murder.

If carlos had of nailed those kicks, the score would have been 69 to 16.

Poor old SA..their Rugby is in a crisis right now and the Hangman is already on the loose over there.

 

[AliN]

Well, we'll see if the first two games have been flukes or not when the All Blacks take on the Springboks in Dunedin on Saturday night.

If nothing else, they'll freeze them into a loss!

 

[AliN]

Very defensive game last night.

At halftime I really thought the Springboks would take this one by the way they played the first half.

But we came back at them with Carlos the difference netting 5/5.

Whatever we seemed to throw at them the Springboks defence seemed to read really well. Good on them... with all the bad publicity they've had of late, especially from their own fans.

Well done AB's proud holders of the Tri Nations trophy for another year =D>

Now if we can only get that Bloodyslow Cup in our trophy cabinet this year as well!!!

 

[SpaceMonkey]

I'm starting to think that Australia may have done us a favour by getting sole hosting rights for the WC. The ABs look pretty much untouchable on a fast, dry track which is what the Australian grounds are likely to produce come WC time, whereas NZ would've been more likely to throw some wet spring conditions into the mix, and both Enghland and SA have shown that the ABs are mortal once the conditions become a bit more treacherous.
Here's hoping for fione weather in Auckland this weekend! ;-)