New Zealand ring the changes for last Tri-nations match, but are they the correct ones?
Posted by | Posted in All Blacks, Tri-Nations | Posted on 16-09-2009
Messeurs Henry, Smith and Hansen delayed the announcement of the team to face the Aussies in the last of the Tri-nations matches, which, in all essence is a dead-rubber and only competing for wooden spoon, which I guess, if you’re not a Bok is a big thing. But have they made the decisions in keeping Rockoko, Hore, Thorne and to an extent, Nonu? are the replacements in the form of Donnelly, Thomson, Toeava and Jane the correct ones?
If your lineouts are going pear shaped, do you fire the lock calling them or the hooker who can’t find his jumpers? personally, i think Hore should’ve got the boot, ROss has played all the ABs matches this year and i rate him above Thorne.
Joe must have a photo of the 3 ‘wise’ men with a sheep or something, how is he still being selected above the likes of masanga, david smith, hosea gear and co?
Nonu is lucky to have survived the axe from what i’ve heard about his display last weekend. his hands are not consistent and he doesn’t offer that much around the park outside of a wrecking ball, which again lacks consistency.
is this the right team? should this be a trial match for those fringe or new players? personally, i dont think the changes will change the mental strength that is lacking in this team, the determination and fierceness that we’ve become accustomed to over the last 2 decades or so. let me know your thoughts/comments!
Loading ...
In what is the worst run of form for the all blacks in 11 years, the coaching staff continues to make bad calls.
Ross should be in starting line up. He has been the find of T3 for New Zealand. Thorn has been average. I can’t comment on Donelly haven’t seen him play. Thomo is a brilliant S14 player but he has been found wanting at test level. Whats on Thomo’s side is the fact that Kaino doesn’t exactly light it up and Rod is on his way out.
Hore, the one of the worst players in the history of the ABs, is the luckiest player on the planet. There aren’t any options due to Mealamu’s injury and Del Malmanche isn’t AB standard. Nonu is another benefiting from the lack of options. His handling was crap and that’s an understatement. Ice-man, who love to bits, is an enigma. At S14 level he kills it but he’s never put any consistant performances together.
Joe must be related to Henry. Has gone from a legend of rugby to the village idiot. Henry could Joe some justice by putting him out of his misery.
my back line would be
9 Cowen
10 Carter
11 Gear
12 Stanley/Batemen
13 Toeva
14 Jane
15 Muliana
Damn, I hate Henry but his job is difficult. there is no one to select. However, he doesn’t take enough calculated risks.
yeah its true hey, some of those guys are being selected basically coz there’s no one else to do the job. it seems NZs rich depth has been depleted and they failed to manage the talent coming through to the point they can slot in.
iceman cant seem to catch a ball in international rugby, its definitely an enigmatic problem with him
i think mils must also start finishing up, jane at fullback is a good option.
dan coles from the hurricanes is in the same mould as britz, i think he’s just lacking size for a front rower, otherwise he’s a good option going forward. the other canes lock, forgotten his name, is also a good player that should be given a chance i reckon. he’s miles better than eaton who shouldnt even be on the bench after his shocker when he came on in one of the recent tests, pretty much lost the game for the ABs.
i think its time the colin slades, zac guilfords etc of NZ rugby were given the chance, even off the bench. blood them now and they’ll be ready for RWC 2011, fail to do so and the kiwi’s will be looking at another quarter final exit, on HOME SOIL!!
carter and mccaw can stay, but they really need to start looking at finding their replacemetns as they wont be around forever and they’re holding this team together with ductape!
But even the backline you have named is not scary at all Ultimate All Black!
What happened to the conveyor belt of NZ rugby talent?
2011 could be a big big disaster for the AB’s!
we must also remember the Abs are missing conrad smith, luke mcalister and richard kahui (awesome talent) through injury
i’d rather see something like this:
9. Cowen
10. Carter
11. Masanga
12. Toeva
13. Muliaina
14. Gear/David Smith
15. Jane
have you okes seen david smith? that guys magic on his feet, reminicent of rupeni caucabaca
ABs are lacking the centre combinations/players of umaga, bunce, little, mager, etc
no proper open side, richie is better at 6 than 7, and thomson isnt the answer.
locks are a joke and even front row is nowhere near as menacing as they used to be. woodcock is over the hill i think, or at least not dominating like he should be
cowan is the best we have which is sad, coz he wouldnt make the aussie team eve with genia playing the way he is.
def think that the ABs havent blooded younger players properly to replace the like of marshall, mccaw, carter, mager, umaga, haymens, jack etc… and that you can put down to the coaching staff…
This All Black team is as sad as they get. On paper it must be the weakest I have seen in a while. But becasue they are playing at home and becasue they are under pressure to keep their jerseys, they may just turn up and put in a good show. Problem is, noone knows which AB side will pitch up to play. This teams will either be embarassed or win convincingly vs the Aus. This game will not be close at all. Whoever wins will take it by a solid margin. This is the most difficult match to predict i must say.
Guru, once again you have called this one right. i guess the right AB squad showed up, one that was definitely more hungry for a win than the W.
Well Manny, i guess you have to enjoy your wooden spoon status for the next year or so, enjoy, if you forget i will constantly remind you!
Chaps just something to think about, what do you think about the first try by Jane? I dont think it was a fair contest as Naas showed post match he jumped for the high ball with his studs pointed at O’connor. You chaps saw that young W fullback couldnt contest because of this? Is everyone going to be contesting for the high ball in this manner going forward? Other than the studs showing, it was a damn good try though…
i did not see the game but I read a lot of reviews and the general feeling a get is that the wallabies were pathetic and the all blacks were average. your views on the all blacks team last week were not so positive. 33-6 is very comprehensive guys. one thing for sure, 2011 is still far and by then things would have changed drastically.