Rugby Union

[aussie1st]

Ah ok that makes more sense as going 2 matches without conceding a try isn't all that difficult.

 

[-D-S-B-]

Brilliant centenary year for the Maoris. First they beat Ireland and now England!
Why Hosea Gear isn't in the All Blacks still confuses me. He's been NZ's best winger in the super 14 and NPC for the last two years, and I honestly can't see why he isn't being picked.

 

[-D-S-B-]

Well the All Blacks were simply brilliant tonight, outstanding. I haven't seen them play that well for a full 80 minutes for a good 2 years. Honestly. We all think of the Sout African forwards as the biggest most dominant pack in rugby but where were they today? It was All Black, our forwards absolutely dominated them, even at the line-outs (well done Donnnelly). I expect the Springboks to come out much more determined next weekend, but as Mr. Henry said, if we can win next week we will be well on our way to winning the Tri-Nations. Let's hope for more of the same!

 

[CG123]

I'm looking forward to tomorrow night, I didn't get to see us dominate last week because I was away, so hopefully we'll do it again so I can actually see it live.

 

[-D-S-B-]

I'll admit, it felt like crap being the second best team in the world. This is sweet though. South Africa leave with 0 points while we've had two bonus point wins, and I can't wait to see how the Aussies look. The real prize is next year, and it's coming home!

 

[CG123]

New Zealand 10 points, South Africa and Australia 0 points.

What a great win, the only real disappointment was Carter's kicking.

 

[aussie1st]

ABs seem to look really good this season, SA have been very disappointing. Expected a lot more from them after the way their Super 14 sides played.

 

[-D-S-B-]

Exactly. What happened? Of course we played brilliant in both games, but South Africa had no attack whatsoever and they were far from threatening. The only idea they had on attack was an up and under kick which they used far to often, but that was because when they used their backs they had no ideas.
South Africa have a lot of work to do between now and the Aussie match.

 

[aussie1st]

Negative coach it would seem. Even the pods that I kept hearing about in the Super 14 were non existent. In saying that the Bulls game is basically built on the 3 pointers, the Stormers were up and down with their attack. Losing a man isn't helping them but their defence is the big let down. So many gaps which is taking away any advantage they would get from Steyn and his 3 pointers.

 

[aussie1st]

Finally Wallabies v ABs is back on, should be interesting seeing if the ABs can repeat what they did against SA and how well we go without Cooper.

 

[SAfrican]

Should be a good game and the match will be play a crucial hand in determining the outcome of the tournament. If the ABs can continue their form against the wallabies then I can see a TN title coming their way but a win for the wallabies would boost their confidence and would open the tournament right up, though the Boks would need some sort of miracle.

If the ABs can shut down Genia and Cooper then i'd tip them to come away comfortably. but other than that it could turn out to be a spectacle of a match if the wallabies play to their 100%.

 

[-D-S-B-]

If the ABs can shut down Genia and Cooper

Already been done
I guess we want the Bledisloe more than we want the Tri-Nations, but the good thing is if we win the Bledisloe I can't see how we'd lose the Tri-Nations. Just like Otago would rather come last in the ITM cup but beat Southland next weekend, rather than winning the ITM cup and losing to Southland. That's how much the Ranfurly shield would mean to us, 20 unsuccessful attempts at winning it in the last 50 years? Something ridiculous like that. Can't wait to see how we look against Counties tonight though, and to see Tana Umaga play!

-D-S-B- added 0 Minutes and 51 Seconds later...

Nope I just read he's in doubt for tonight's game.

 

[-D-S-B-]

Counties were brilliant tonight and we just couldn't make the most of our chances.
The only match we want to win is next week though so hopefully we can upset Southland down in Invers.

 

[aussie1st]

Thought I had missed SBW debut in NZ but seems he is injured, does explain why I heard nothing about him last week.

Hate all these yellow and now red cards, the offenses have not been that serious and it's killing the Tri Nations. Maybe I should join De Villers on his rant Hard to take much out of a game where you are down to 14 men for 50 minutes of the game but the attack kept stuffing up when it reached a forward.

 

[-D-S-B-]

Hate all these yellow and now red cards, the offenses have not been that serious and it's killing the Tri Nations. Maybe I should join De Villers on his rant

No please don't, devilliers is a complete idiot. I agree that these cards are ruining the tri-nations, most of them so far have been penalty offenses and nothing more. The red had to be given to Drew Mitchell though, end of story.

What about when Sam Whitelock made the perfect textbook tackle, and the ref and touchie both said if they knew who had done it, he would've got a card. This isn't soccer guys