Brits would upset saracens, Smit out of retirement?Originally Posted by NotreDameRFC
Brits would upset saracens, Smit out of retirement?
I thought nonu was anonymous against aus.
When things go wrong, blame McGahan
I think that was the main reason he was there. Anonymous with the ball in hand. His decoy running lines were unreal though and really fixed the Wallabies defence. Kiwis were very smart in using SBW and Nonu as dummy runners (after all the media build up being about the centres smashing through) with Dagg sweeping in behind them and Carter mixed it up very very well I thought.
Beat you to it earlier Outlaw
Press release today: Qantas Wallabies captain David Pocock is expected to be out of action for up to three months after undergoing key hole surgery today in Sydney.
Pocock was operated on after damaging the articular cartilage of his right knee during last Saturday’s opening match of The Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship against New Zealand in Sydney.
The recommended timeline for rehabilitation means that Pocock will not take any further part in the Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship, while his availability for November’s Spring Tour is also considered doubtful.
The Qantas Wallabies side for Saturday’s return Bledisloe Cup Test against the All Blacks in Auckland will be named on Thursday morning before the side flies to New Zealand that afternoon.
Halfback Will Genia has been confirmed to take over in the captaincy role from Pocock.
Kepu out now to match Woodcock. 2 big losses...................
Qantas Wallabies prop forward Sekope Kepu has been ruled out of this weekend’s Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship match against the All Blacks after sustaining a grade two strain to the medial ligament of his right knee.
Kepu suffered the injury during this afternoon’s training session in Sydney, with the damage revealed by scans this evening.
with kepu and pocock out..one positive will be that more Australians should actually start the game........
"Lads, your not to miss practice unless your parents died or you died" Frank Leahy
All Blacks: Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Ma'a Nonu, Sonny Bill Williams, Hosea Gear, Dan Carter, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Luke Romano, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: Andrew Hore, Ben Franks, Brodie Retallick, Victor Vito, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Ben Smith.
South Africa: Zane Kirchner; Bryan Habana; Jean de Villiers (capt), Francois Steyn, Lwazi Mvovo; Morne Steyn, Francois Hougaard; Willem Alberts, Jacques Potgieter, Marcell Coetzee; Andries Bekker, Eben Etzebeth; Jannie du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Tendai Mtawarira Replacements: Tiaan Liebenberg, Pat Cilliers, Flip van der Merwe, Keegan Daniel, Ruan Pienaar, Patrick Lambie, JJ Engelbrecht
Argentina: Martin Rodriguez; Gonzalo Camacho, Marcelo Bosch, Santiago Fernandez, Horacio Agulla; TBA, Nicolas Vergallo; Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Alvaro Galindo, Julio Farias Cabello; Patricio Albacete, Manuel Carizza; Juan Figallo, Eusebio Guinazu, Rodrigo Roncero Replacements (from): Marcos Ayerza, Martin Bustos Moyano, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Juan Imhoff, Martin Landajo, Tomas Leonardi, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Bruno Postiglioni, Nicolas Sanchez, Leonardo Senatore, Tomas Vallejos
Queensland Reds halfback Will Genia will captain Australia for the second time after the Qantas Wallabies team for the second Test of The Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship against the All Blacks was named today.
The elevation of Genia, and the inclusion of the promising Brumbies flanker Michael Hooper in the starting line-up, are both a consequence of the knee cartilage injury which has ruled out the previous Wallabies stand in skipper, David Pocock.
Genia, who led the Qantas Wallabies for the first time against the United States at last year’s Rugby World Cup, becomes Australia’s third skipper for the year, after the initial incumbent James Horwill was injured on the eve of the June Test window.
He will team for the first time this Test season with flyhalf Quade Cooper, who makes his long-awaited return following a serious knee injury at last year’s Rugby World Cup.
Cooper last featured for the Wallabies in the Bronze Final which was played at Saturday night’s Test venue: Auckland’s Eden Park.
The return of Cooper shifts Berrick Barnes out one place in the backline to inside centre. Barnes retains the goal-kicking duties after an impressive run of form which has seen him kick 19 of 23 attempts in Test matches this year, including five from five in the year’s first clash with the All Blacks.
Another backline change sees the versatile Adam Ashley-Cooper switch from wing to fullback. The experienced NSW Waratahs winger Drew Mitchell takes up the position vacated by his former house-mate, Ashley-Cooper, on the right wing.
Mitchell, who last appeared for Australia against Russia at the Rugby World Cup, was an un-used substitute on the bench last week.
The selectors have opted to hold off finalising the bench due to an injury concern and will finalise the make-up of the run on reserves once the side arrives in Auckland tonight. 25 players will travel in the Qantas Wallabies party which leaves Sydney this afternoon.
The two changes to the starting forward pack from last week’s opening Bledisloe Cup Test have both been forced by injury, with Brumbies front-ranker Ben Alexander slotting in at tighthead for Sekope Kepu, while Hooper runs from Pocock’s spot on the openside flank.
Hooper will oppose All Black skipper Richard McCaw for the first time as the Brumbies didn’t face the Crusaders during Fx Pro Super Rugby this year. It will also be the first time at Eden Park for last year’s Australian Under-20 Player of the Year, who will be figuring in his fourth Test after making his debut at Newcastle earlier in June.
This weekend’s assignment represents his first starting role in Tests.
After coming off the bench last weekend, Stephen Moore, who will be on the bench again, is poised to achieve a notable milestone in Auckland, where he will make his 72nd Test appearance if he is again required to enter the game as a substitute.
Moore’s next appearance would tie Jeremy Paul as the most capped hooker in the history of Australian Rugby. He made his 100th appearance in Fx Pro Super Rugby earlier in the year during the final qualifying round of that competition.
The Qantas Wallabies team to play New Zealand in the second Test of The Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday (kick-off: 7.35pm NZ time, 5.35pm AEST) is:
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs)
14. Drew Mitchell (NSW Waratahs)
13. Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs)
12. Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs)
11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)
10. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)
9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds, captain)
8. Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds)
7. Michael Hooper (Brumbies)
6. Dave Dennis (NSW Waratahs)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
4. Sitaleki Timani (NSW Waratahs)
3. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
2. Tatafu Polota Nau (NSW Waratahs)
1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)
Run on Reserves: To be advised
Stephen Moore will celebrate becoming Australia’s most capped Test hooker alongside Jeremy Paul by starting in Saturday night’s Test against New Zealand in The Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship.
Moore, who will play his 72nd Test, has replaced Tatafu Polota Nau in the starting XV, after Polota Nau ruled himself out following today’s training run in Sydney.
The NSW Waratahs hooker, who started in last week’s opening Bledisloe Cup Test of the year in Sydney, suffered a cork in his backside at Tuesday’s training session.
While the injury has showed improvement, and Polota Nau was named in this morning’s starting line-up, he was again troubled by the injury during today’s session, approaching the coaches afterwards to stand down.
As the Qantas Wallabies seven-man reserves bench won’t be confirmed until after tomorrow’s captain’s run at Eden Park, Polota Nau may still be included among the reserves, should he complete that session without discomfort.
“It’s not ideal but it’s a mature decision that Tatafu has made,” Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says.
“We are in the fortunate position of having good depth at hooker – the fact that we are bringing in a player who is about to become Australia’s leading hooker in terms of Test appearances, highlights that.
“If Tatafu can complete training tomorrow, it may well be that this simply becomes a case of reversing the order in which we use them.”
For his part, Polota Nau says his decision was straight forward.
“The team comes first. If I can get through training tomorrow, I’ll be available for the bench, but everyone needed to know what was going on now, the team needed to be certain who was playing hooker, and I couldn’t provide that,” he says.
“This is a massive game for us. Everyone needs to be at their peak if we are to give ourselves a chance.”
The Qantas Wallabies depart for Auckland this afternoon. A party of 25 players is travelling, with the seven reserves to be determined following tomorrow’s captain’s run at Eden Park at 12.30pm (NZT). A third hooker, Queensland Reds rake Saia Fainga’a, is among the players travelling.
The revised Qantas Wallabies starting XV to play New Zealand in the second Test of The Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday (kick-off: 7.35pm NZ time, 5.35pm AEST) is:
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs)
14. Drew Mitchell (NSW Waratahs)
13. Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs)
12. Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs)
11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)
10. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)
9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds, captain)
8. Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds)
7. Michael Hooper (Brumbies)
6. Dave Dennis (NSW Waratahs)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
4. Sitaleki Timani (NSW Waratahs)
3. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)
Run On Reserves: To Be Advised
OK, I am ignorant about this Hooper guy... is he another star in the making... another brilliant No7 that Australia consistently find when needed....??
He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck either, but a real duck that was actually lame. Maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.
Jaquade the Flaky back for a game in Auckland? This could be fun to watch...
Vorsprung durch Pfennig.
He's actually a very good 7 yes. Not as powerful as Pocock but a good runner on the shoulder which is different to Pocock working as a first receiver at times. Gets himself into the right places at the right times at the breakdowns too. Was influencial for Brumbies this year and will be with Tahs next year. I would personally have played both Pocock and Hooper last week rather than Dave Dennis
Hooper is quality, but Pocock is still a huge loss- they'll have less ball than they had last week, and Pocock would have a fair chance of stemming the tide.
Wizened Rugby-Betting tin-foil-hat bearers
dropkickrugby.com/forum
Can't see past another Kiwi demolition job. What the forecast like?
Would question the selection of Genia as captain, I think he's a slightly selfish player and petulant at the best of times. Stirling Mortlock types are in short supply outside of Pocock.
I am the million man.
I have no problem will Genia as captain. Has led the Reds to the finals this year in Horwill's absense and is used to shouting at Higginbotham and Quade inside/outside him. The only other option was Sharpe but he has had his better season in ages this year since he gave up the Force captaincy so better off just leaving him as pack leader.
Expected to be dry and low teens Saturday night I think
You going squire? You've gone a long way from Dooradoyle and 150 people watching Garryowen
I am the million man.
Nah man can't afford another flight to NZ and I've been to Eden Park 7 times in the last year so I've had my fair share of Auckland already! In front of d'telly with my dinner will do me fine this week! I'll be in Brizzie for the 3rd Bledisloe alright.
Ah I miss Dooradoyle and the 150 people watching! Although I do remember the place nearly getting 5 figures back in early/mid 90s aswell! Them were the good ol days!
Wallabies full team including bench...................
Queensland Reds loose forward Liam Gill stands poised to make his Test debut after today being named on the Qantas Wallabies bench for tomorrow night’s Test against the All Blacks in The Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship in Auckland.
This year’s Australian Under-20 captain will become the 861st player to have represented Australia in Tests should he be inserted into the game.
Gill is one of four forwards named, alongside the three backs, who include last week’s starting players, inside centre Anthony Fainga’a and fullback Kurtley Beale.
Hooker Tatafu Polota Nau has been ruled out after failing to overcome the discomfort provided by deep-seated bruising at today’s Captain’s Run at Eden Park.
His place has been taken by Queensland Reds hooker Saia Fainga’a, who joins his twin brother Anthony on the bench.
The Wallabies completed their preparations for the game with a light session at Eden Park this afternoon.
The full Qantas Wallabies line-up to play New Zealand in the second Test of The Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup at Eden Park in Auckland tomorrow night (kick-off: 7.35pm NZ time, 5.35pm AEST) is:
15. Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs)
14. Drew Mitchell (NSW Waratahs)
13. Rob Horne (NSW Waratahs)
12. Berrick Barnes (NSW Waratahs)
11. Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds)
10. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds)
9. Will Genia (Queensland Reds, captain)
8. Scott Higginbotham (Queensland Reds)
7. Michael Hooper (Brumbies)
6. Dave Dennis (NSW Waratahs)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
4. Sitaleki Timani (NSW Waratahs)
3. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
2. Stephen Moore (Brumbies)
1. Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs)
Run On Reserves:
16. Saia Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)
17. James Slipper (Queensland Reds)
18. Radike Samo (Queensland Reds)
19. Liam Gill (Queensland Reds)
20. Nick Phipps (Melbourne Rebels)
21. Anthony Fainga’a (Queensland Reds)
22. Kurtley Beale (Melbourne Rebels)
Nz by 25??
"Lads, your not to miss practice unless your parents died or you died" Frank Leahy
very much so. You can get -26 at 5/1 in lads. Im on that, and -29 at 7/1. The pain is coming.
Wizened Rugby-Betting tin-foil-hat bearers
dropkickrugby.com/forum
Arg. v. SA. The Meat-Off In Mendoza. It may see the first cases known to medical history of death by meat-shock.
Vorsprung durch Pfennig.
Someone was not happy this was on in Mendoza...
Seriously though- they chose to play South Africa in their only game at home at significant altitude(700 odd metres). Mind boggling stuff.
Wizened Rugby-Betting tin-foil-hat bearers
dropkickrugby.com/forum
anyone watching this...???
odd game.... Adam 2-dads the standout player so far...
He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck either, but a real duck that was actually lame. Maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.
Hooper doing me proud so far! Doesn't look phased at all. He'll be a world class player in a few years. Pity the other 2 back rowers won't be though! CMON THE WALLABIES!
Still 0-0 after 20mins
Wallabies looking a lot more physical. Nigel Owens going a decent job. Possession all gold so far. Need to put points up though
25 mins gone... finally 3 - 0.....
He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck either, but a real duck that was actually lame. Maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.
Genia yellow card after 30mins. Very cynical play on the ground. Aussie commentary not happy (giving a yellow card in a Bledisloe Cup match is a massive call apparently!). Correct decision in my eyes.
6-0 All Blacks
Timani is having an absolute stormer. With his concussion from last week and his abrasive nature you'd wonder why there's no second row on the bench. Beale on FB now. Mitchell injured yet again. Aussie commentary slating Mr. Owens still. All Blacks knocking on a lot. Wallabies should stop kicking to Israel Dagg before it's too late!
G2323.... Im disappointed in your assimilation....unusually when one moves to Australia you end up despising their teams
"Lads, your not to miss practice unless your parents died or you died" Frank Leahy
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