11 . turmeric 12 Oct 2011 04:17 PM
Sounds good mate. It's a shame for Slade that in the run up to the RWC he had bugger all rugby and therefore hasnt really developed, whereas Cruden has certainly come on in leaps and bounds. If Slade had been injury free I may well be agreeing with you. I am from the Manawatu so am most certainly biassed, but it also means Ive watched a lot of Cruden and know both that he has improved a lot and is certainly a special player.

I also just listened to a few people that made some pretty astute comments on the radio a few minutes ago making a strong case for the AB pack over the Wallabies. Most interesting I found was a comment that when Pocock is bent over trying to steal ball in the rucks the AB boys (particularly Franks, Thorn, Mealamu and Woodcock) are known hit the rucks hard targeting him around the back/shoulders and that after 20 minutes of that Pocock becomes quite timid and disappears from the game a bit. Made sense and Ill be interested to watch that a bit in the game on Sunday.

By the way it looks like Beale may be gone, if thats the case I think OZ are in a bit of strife, apart from Genia he is OZ's best player IMHO.

9 . turmeric 11 Oct 2011 02:15 PM
@jacland cant agree, for me ABs are still big favourites even without Carter. Cruden is a fantastic player and improved immensely this past season. Mark my words when I say he will be a star All Black first five for the next 10 years. I agree he is not the quality of Carter right now and therefore the loss of Carter is big, but Im very confident with Cruden there. Piri could probably cover 10 OK but Id prefer him at 9 and as a result a back line that has played together a bunch; Piri - Cruden - Nonu - Smith - Jane and therefore a bit of continuity in a team that has had to deal with a lot of change.

7 . rowdymcbowdy 11 Oct 2011 08:45 AM
So I guess Beale has a hamstring problem and I think McCabe has an issue with his shoulder. I also heard that Luke Charteris and Priestland have concerns for Wales too.

5 . Barcaldine Bunyips 10 Oct 2011 05:59 PM
As a Wallabies supporter, I think I would like to see Stephen Donald starting. I'm not saying I think he is a bad player, I don't. I just want to know that that there are All-Blacks supporters out there who have to cover their eyes and say a little prayer everytime their # 10 gets the ball in a pressure situation, like I have to. Aaron Cruden would have been a great choice as the back-up from the start. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. I'm at the stage now where I don't care who makes the final. If Australia makes it, I would prefer they play Wales, because Wales have been the form team, showed respect for the tournament and haven't ever had a shot at it before. As for Australia,well, to lose a pool game, then beat SA ( the defending champs), NZ(the hosts) and beat the form team( Wales), would be truly legendary stuff. Spoken of in hushed tones amongst those who saw it for years to come. If New Zealand go through then obviously the same applies for Wales(it would be a spectacular visual feast with the Red and the Black) but to see them play the French would be satisfying and Wayne Barnes should be the ref. I am a Wallabies supporter, but I have lived in NZ for 6 years, so if this WAS to be the case, may the ABs please win. With the earthquakes , the oil spills, the price of milk and the poverty, it would be a nice little boost coming into Summer not to have to step over beaten wives and suicide victims on my way to work, but mostly just so All Black supporters can shut the F*ck up finally.

3 . turmeric 10 Oct 2011 04:40 PM
well Donald and Gear in to the squad for a start but I doubt either will feature. Maybe Donald makes the bench? not sure I doubt it though. From what Ive heard all NZ players will be fit and for me thats enough. Franks, Kahui, and Dagg will come back into the starting line up, with Afoa dropping out all together. They will have to make a choice between Thompson and Vito for the bench but the BIG choice will be if they deicde to go for cover for half back and first five on the bench! i.e. will either SBW or Toeava miss out all together so that Donald can take his place on the bench??

My pick is the team will be:
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Richard Kahui, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Brad Thorn, 4 Samuel Whitelock, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Ali Williams, 19 A. Thompson, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Sonny Bill Williams, 22 Isaia Toeava.

And therefore if worst comes to worst and we lose 2 of the halves then Dagg will slot into 10.

Any word on fitness concerns in the OZ camp?

1 . rugby world cup 2011 10 Oct 2011 04:15 PM
cool