2013 Rugby Championship - Australia v New Zealand

The All Blacks will be fielding a starting lineup of players with 683 Test caps on their combined CVs, versus an Australian team with 442 Test Caps. Riding the pine, New Zealand also have an advantage in experience - 169 to 93. That would seem to give us the edge, especially in the front row (who'll be looking to master new rules and continue the demolition act the Lions pulled on the boys in yellow), the loosies, and our granite-like midfield pairing of Smith & Nonu.

But that's not to say it will be easy. Nonu is carrying a dodgy ankle, and a huge chip on his shoulder; as ever, his discipline could be an issue. The loss of Messam also weakens us at blindside a little, as we are having to start a debutant in Steven Luatua in his place - and immensely gifted player at Super level. Richie McCaw has played some club rugby since November last year. And there is no Daniel Carter.

But look past the media whipped-up negatives. Aaron Cruden is a player of immense talent and skill. Sam Whitelock is turning into one of the best locks in world rugby. McCaw will be fizzing, and our back three will be itching to return the possible Brumb ... I mean Wallabies kicking game. Ben Smith, Julian Savea and Israel Dagg ... more dangerous than a SharkNado!

Huge test for Ewen MacKenzie’s team. I expect them to be fired up, and contesting everything to niggle away at New Zealand and disrupt them. They have talent out wide to burn ... but questions remain over their forwards ability to win & retain the ball those speedsters need.

It’ll be a cracker. Nerves all round .. but I think New Zealand will do it by 10 points. There. I’ve jinxed it.

2012 - That’s a Wrap.

This is little catch up, more than a retrospective. Real life caught up with both Ferdy and me post-RWC2011. Posts became less frequent, and I even missed a few games late in the year for the stat graphics.

Below are the game sheets for the final Bledisloe Test against Australia, and the November Tests against Scotland, Italy, Wales and England.

My own views about a couple of the games are here, but hey, let’s look back happily on a pretty solid year as World Champions ... probably the best year by a RWC-winning team following their win.

We are still the best side in the world, and have a more than solid foundation to build on as we head into next year’s exciting 3 Test series in NZ against France, then the Rugby Championship. We should also look forward to an awesome series across the ditch as Dingo Deans’ Wallabies take on Warren Gatland’s Lions team.

For now though, if you wish to trawl the numbers from any of this years All Black Tests, search through our blog ... or if you want the whole lot on one hit (you stat slut, you), then here is a PDF that compiles them all.

As we have said before, we are happy for all these to be shared and circulated amongst fans, though Ferdy and I would appreciate either a credit for our site or a link to where they originated.

Thanks for stopping by everyone. Its really cool to see on our blog analytics that rugby fans are coming here from all over the world. We’ll try to keep up the good work in 2013 when game stats for the Six Nations and NZ Super Teams will reappear.

Meri Kirihimete, and a Happy 2013!

 

The Rugby Championship 2012 - Round 6

The Rugby Championship 2012 – Round 5

The Rugby Championship 2012 - Round 3

Rugby Championship - Australia v New Zealand

Well, after years of talking, the Tri-Nations is consigned to the history books, and The Rugby Championship is now a reality.

However, its not so much a massive redesign or reboot for Southern Hemisphere rugby as much as shifting the deck chairs to a more natural layout – that of Argentina being allowed to play with the main SANZAR nations. (We still need work on helping the Pacific Island teams between Rugby World Cups, but these wheels turn slowly).

Last night’s game between the Wallabies and the All Blacks was not a classic. Indeed, the game was stripped of being any sort of spectacle by referee Rolland’s incessant whistling. If my pipes at home degenerated to that sort of stilted flow, I’d be moving into a hotel for the night.

Let’s face it. Australia were shocking ... yet they still sat for a time really only one score behind a very rusty All Black side. This is a step up from Ireland, both in pace and in rivalry, but when we play away against South Africa and Argentina we must not produce that error rate. We’ll lose.

We miss Jerome Kaino and Brad Thorn immensely ... however,  they are G-O-N-E. It is Conrad Smith’s injury-enforced absence is most noticeable and more worrying. The ‘experiment’ of Williams and Nonu as our 12/13 axis failed, it looked haphazard and confused ... Ma’a will have to play better than that to stay in the team. He has done it before, but perhaps Ellison or Ben Smith may nudge a start next week.

So ... 6.5 out of 10. Players are warming up and stepping-up from Super Rugby, but next week in Eden Park requires a much more decisive result, and the forwards need to really dominate ...right there in plain view, not just on the stat sheet.

Our handling needs to massively improve, the passing was not as slick as we demand, yet after 80 minutes of rugby we now already have one hand on the Bledisloe again.

New Zealand v Ireland - Second Test

All Blacks and Ireland 2012

On the eve of test two for the All Blacks of 2012, a few thoughts.

1. How good was this NZ backline? Offset by a Number 9 who finally looks like they can pass faster than Justin Marshall (that in itself is not a tall order at all….but we’ve had such a plethora of sluggish half backs with their inaccurate passing in the last decade, I was beginning to doubt I would ever see the day that NZ would produce someone that could even just have a hint of the Gregan in them).



2. Savea. That’s all. Just Savea.


3. Great to have Dan Carter back steering the ship, supported by the ever sturdy, ever dependable Conrad ‘runs an intelligent line’ Smith – who as it turns out has won 50 of the 56 tests he has played for NZ. This in itself is a world record. What can I say? The man is Taranaki born and bred.


4. Why does Adam Thomson do that wind wiper thing when he is on the lucky end of receiving a try? Can’t stand the guy….sorry Slugso, know you love him, but he’s no Kaino, and his showboating is hard to take.


5. Speaking of showboating….what is Ali Williams doing in this team? From the moment he snatched the Webb Ellis trophy out of McCaw’s hands at the world cup presentation last year, my patience finally wore out for this particular journeyman. Yes, he was good in his day, but he is past it now. Why Williams is allowed to stand in the front row of the haka and do the most am-dram rendition is beyond me. Probably his bezzie mate status with McCaw is protecting him somewhat. However, he doesn’t deserve to be in the All Blacks anymore.


6. The Irish weren’t as bad as the scoreline predicted. Often they had it over our forwards and took us to the wire in the back row.


7. In saying that – I wish they would stop moaning about how tired they are because they’ve been playing for 11 months. It is such a poor excuse. The All Blacks often have played for 11 months when they made the trip to the UK for the end of year autumn internationals. And you didn’t hear them complaining much about being tired.


8. So the Irish are already done and dusted. The series will be 3-zip. Well… that is according to every arm chair critic in the country. The flames are fanned of course from the parochial and arrogant NZ media (Chris Rattue, a ‘commentator’ who has had to eat his words more times than I have banged on about Robbie Deans being a traitor). Best remember people ‘pride becomes before a fall’. And to dip further deeper into my carpet bag of clichés: ‘It ain’t over till the fat lady sings’.


9. It would be nice if Richie McCaw acknowledged the opposite team a little more. It is so important to be gracious in victory and defeat (well, for the most part, unless of course Wayne Barnes has been officiating…then it is fine to blame the ref).


10. It should be another emotional night with it being the first test match back in Christchurch since the earthquake. I hope it turns out to be a spectacular one in the best possible way for everyone concerned.

New Zealand v Ireland - 1st Test

2012 TESTS First Matches

Test Match Fever! Here we go ... a revised version of the graphic I did last week, now showing the (expected) walk on teams for all three of this weekend’s top tier Test matches: New Zealand v Ireland, Australia v Wales, and South Africa v England.

Each game has the starting XV lined up in their positions, and each player has their number of Test caps indicated so you can see just who is out of their depth (I’m looking at you Bradley Barritt!). Mind you, Sean ‘The Tullow Tank’ O’Brien is also up against Our Richie.

Check it out. Wallabies looking better than the team that lost to Scotland, but they better front, because this Welsh team is tight. Will teh Boks have enough class to take out a rebuilding and ever-confident England?

Predictions: I hate this bit, but ... NZ by 20 points, Wales by 7, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Boks by 15.

Jinx!

We knocked the bastard off! France V New Zealand RWC 2011 final

And when I say bastard, I mean the big RWC monkey off our backs....not France (who were simply magnificent).

New Zealand 8 - France 7
8-7.... 87? Spooky

What can I say about this match. It was the most traumatic, harrowing 80 minutes of rugby I have ever had to endure and I swear to God that at half time, my heart beating hard in my chest, sweat dripping off my red face, I had to go and put my head under a cold tap. "What would I rather?" I thought to myself as I looked at the wheezing female staring back at me in the mirror."Death from a rugby induced stroke? Or the All Blacks losing this thing..once again to our nemesis."

When France lined themselves up in a v for victory formation, hands tightly clasped with each other as they approached Kapa o Pango, flirting with an IRB fine, but more importantly responding to the haka in a thrilling challenge,  all New Zealand supporters took a big gulp. Without a single ball being kicked, we knew that the mythical A game that France manages to produce every so often (mainly when their backs are against the wall and they are playing the All Blacks in a world cup knockout) were going to turn up today.

And man, did they what!  Every French player on that field equalled or shaded their opposite number, led by their inspirational and fearless back row, Harinordoquay, Dusatoir (a man of the match performance) and Bonnaire.  They were mighty, effectively shutting down All Black stars, and in the second half, they grew in confidence as they felt the wind at their backs, the warm Auckland night air on their faces and the sniff of victory. They had silenced the 16th man. They were gearing up for yet another dramatic (and entirely typical) French upset.

How the heck did the All Blacks manage to hold on? Through sheer dogged will power and the fear of losing? Or as Wayne Smith said - through the heart that beats under the fern. Also through a  magnificent captain who fought on one foot to the bitter end. While others were losing their heads, feeling the hands of history tightening across their collective throats, as they fell off tackles, missed goal kicks and just generally went missing, inspirational McCaw, the heart and soul of this great team led his men bravely up onto Hilary's step, onto the summit of his own personal Everest. He was not going to die on the cliff. He was not having any of it. (My only criticism of McCaw is that he did not acknowledge the French immediately after the game in his speech on the pitch.  I wish that he would have done this).

I live in London and after reading the British papers this morning, the northern hemisphere is distinctly poo pooey about this wonderful, long awaited and deserved world cup victory for the All Blacks (the only team unbeaten in this tournament and the top try scorers by quite some way and playing with our 4th choice fly half). "Joubert had a shocker" the pompous Surrey soaked Daily Telegraph readers screamed.  I could taste the stench of their sour grapes at the back of my throat. Whatever paper you picked up, it was all the same. The French deserved to win this one, they were robbed. By the ref. By New Zealand passion and desperation. By our cheating number 7. It was a fix, it was this, it was that. The media were different to the people I met on the streets yesterday and the lovely people in my office today (yes, it's a miracle, I did manage to drag myself into work this morning) who have been very kind and congratulatory these last few days. Maybe it is only morons (like me) that go onto these message boards.....

The fact was, this game was not pretty. But it was riveting and absorbing. Some are daring to say the greatest World Cup final ever.  How fitting that it should be after one of the greatest rugby world cup tournaments.

Then, thirty six minutes into the final, and one of the great stories of rugby redemption in the tournament. When Aaron Cruden limped off after crumbling to the ground after an encounter with a French washing machine, Stephen Donald started his warm up stretches on the sideline. Mr Average, Donald Duck they have called him in the (god awful) NZ rugby media and on the streets from Kaitaia all the way to Invercargill.  In Babel (the New Zealand supporter filled pub I was sitting watching the game in Clapham) a collective groan  richocheted around the walls as Donald ran onto the field. But then we started clapping for the man, encouraging him on, willing him on 20,000 kilometres away. He was our final hope.

And in what could have been our darkest hour, he surprised us all. A searing little line break, a kick into French territory when the All Blacks were defending yet again in the dangerous red zone, and finally a penalty that almost missed, but didn't. The man that made his world cup debut in the world cup final, in 50 minutes had transformed from zero to hero.

And so what of us, the fans?  I have imagined for many years what it would feel like to see an All Black team lift the Webb Ellis trophy after 1987.  And when that final whistle came, the feeling was strange. For me, it was as if I had experienced a huge shock and I wasn't quite sure how to take it. Then the relief began to surge through my veins and as Richie held that cup aloft his head and kissed it ever so sweetly, finally the realisation that the dream of our stadium of four million, the dream that we thought we might never live to see, had finally come true.

  Is Tom Scott psychic? This cartoon appeared in Saturday's paper - a day before the final

Semifinal 2: New Zealand v Australia

Winners are grinners.

Slugso’s Report:

Straight off, I have never experienced an All Black game like this. The revamped Eden Park is a stunner and was an amazing setting for this epic battle to decide who would meet France in the final.

All week the Aussie media and players had been banging on about how all the pressure was on the All Blacks, and it was a line that proved to be as ill conceived and poorly executed as the Wallaby game plan. I regard New Zealand as 12 points better than the Wallabies on a normal day. Man for man they are weaker, yet the Reds Super win, and the Test wins against a weak Bok side and a less than fit All Black side led them to believe they were on track to seriously challenge for RWC.

Last night our All Blacks stood up and monstered the Wallabies, sending them packing 20-6. And they are lucky Gilbert has produced a new standard of Flying Pig ball this year, because had Piri Weepu been on target the Green and Golds could have been staring down the barrel of a 35-6 loss or something.

From Cooper’s first blunder at kick-off, through our early charges into their 22 that led to Nonu’s try, it was obvious the New Zealanders were there for 2003 and 2007 payback (and 1999, 1995, yadda yadda yadda).

I am watching another replay of this on the Rugby Channel as I type this rubbish in, and the highlight reel really does need to be 80 minutes long. Aaron Cruden tackled 120% and was sublimely confident, Piri  Weepu’s legend continues to grow. Cory Jane was velcro-gloved under the pointless high balls, Dagg a constant threat, Nonu a handful as usual.

Kieran Read made huge tackles, as did Owen Franks. Brad Thorn was everywhere, and along with Mealamu and, later on, Andrew Hore, just seemed to relish in and grin at contact. And Jerome Kaino? What can I say? He has been the granite in this team all tournament, every game so far, but for me his first half clean and jerk on Digby Ioane to deny a certain try will be an enduring memory.

And Sir Richie of McCaw? Well, he bettered the supposedly best 7 in the world. Again. A flanker is nothing without a dominant pack, and Australia never got to go forward last night, they stood deep and could not get to the gain line. Pocock was lined up by our ball carriers and nullified. Brilliant to watch.

McCaw has beaten off not only human opponents in his 101 Tests, but also law changes that have constantly sought to deny his type of game ... and every time he has learned, changed and grown.

Australia: Outplayed, outgunned, out thought. I could park two HQ Holdens in midfield and they would create more than any combination of Ashley-Cooper/Faingaa/Horne/McCabe. These players might tackle, but they do not attack.

And Quade? Well, let’s just say he reaped better than he played. The NRL beckons.

As for Graham Henry, Steve Hansen and Wayne Smith, I appreciate we are 80 very hard and nervous minutes against a quality French side away from possibly getting Bill back ... but that game was a vindication for them, their progress and their supporters, among who both Ferdy and I always counted ourselves.

We never wanted Deans, and laughed when the ARU grabbed him and crowned him saviour. The chickens have been tallied and they are now roosting comfortably in Sydney.

We know what its like to lose to at RWC, to be knocked out in a semi (and earlier) .. hell, Deans was even our coach when it happened in 2003! Yet, as the clock hit 78 minutes last night, my mate Jimmy and I launched into our “Four more years!” chant, as naturally as everyone else around Eden Park who did ... it was a kind of mass catharsis that just manifested itself and was joyfully directed at the lads in yellow.

Not clever. Certainly not original, no. But bloody priceless.

All Blacks book their place into the RWC 2011 final (it's been a long time coming)

Ted 1  - Deans 0

I'll write a few words later when I have calmed down and stopped crying tears of joy. Well done you mighty All Blacks. Bloody well done!

What Stephen Jones said...

Is this our time?

Richie

As an All Black supporter I have danced the highs and lows following my great team for many, many years. On the eve of our biggest world cup game this tournament, I feel nervous and I am ashamed to admit, I am preparing myself for the worst. Not because I think the All Blacks deserve to or should lose. Just because we have been here so many times before. As we saw today with Wales, sometimes the best team does not win in this awful yet exhilerating tournament.

But still, I have three bullet points that all New Zealand supporters could do by remembering in these next few hours and in the aftermath of tomorrow's game:

• Whether we win or lose tomorrow, let us be gracious about it.
• The All Blacks have been near invincible for over 100 years, with or without Daniel Carter
• No matter what the outcome, I will always support the All Blacks. I am not a fair weather rugby supporter. This team is one of my main passions in life, and I am behind them 100% of the way. I will not spit at the fly half, write 'losers' on their baggage as they go through an airport, or demand the coaches head on a plate if we lose. I won't rant on message forums that everything we did in the preceding years building up to this tournamnet was wrong and woeful. Graham Henry and his players have done their utmost best. They will do everything in their power tomorrow to win. And I will remain with them, no matter the outcome.

All Black game plan against the Wallabies revealed - RWC 2011

One month into the RWC 2011

Some snapshots of the highs and lows...

7 cliches of RWC 2011 that I would be happy never to hear again

"Ireland have turned this world cup on it’s head" quoted 1,570,899 times in the last day by all newspapers in the British media.

"It depends what French team turns up on the day" said 700,000 times (mainly by Sean Fitzpatrick).

"France have become the All Blacks’ nemesis"  said by 4 million New Zealanders on a daily basis since Cardiff 2007.

"Chokers" said 5 billion times, mainly by Australians and a lot of fairweather rugby 'fan's from around the world who are only rugby  'experts' when a world cup is on.

"Can the All Blacks get this monkey off their back?" said 508,789 times by anyone that doesn't have anything original to write in their newspapers (mainly stuff and NZ herald journalists).

"Stop this mindless rotation!" Stuff and NZ Herald journalists again. Guys, write some new copy would you?

"Without McCaw and Carter the All Blacks are doomed." All of us, all of the time. (Too many times to tally).

Australia 25 - All Blacks 20

Trinations decider 2011 - Suncorp Stadium - Brisbane

The omens are not looking good for an All Black team that creaked into gear after a scintillating start by Australia.  This game had many ups and downs.  Some moments of pure genius and joy (the Australian backline). And also some moments of complete crap (the entire All Black team in the first half, bar Nonu who played like a hero when all around him were losing their heads and blaming it on each other).

We were beaten by a better team who were more committed. The New Zealand backline cannot match this Wallaby backline which is just sensational. What I would give to have a Will Genia on our team when what we have in place is Piri Weepu who seems to think a great tactic is waving his arms around a lot and shouting meaningless instructions instead of grabbing the ball from the bottom of a ruck and releasing it - quickly - to his backs.

When it comes to karma, I do so hope that it catches up with Quade Cooper next month.  What is his obsession with Richie McCaw?  Anyone that knees the New Zealand captain in the head is no friend of mine, ever again.

Other depressing things about this game?  Keiran Reid is injured. Possibly Richie too. Dan had a shocker, particuarly in the first forty. There were several All Blacks on the field who looked passed their used by date. Is this All Black team too old with our Brad Thornes and Ali Williamses.  And what of Mils Muliaina. He has been a great servant to NZ but I have been saying for a year at least that he is selfish with the ball, and slow.  He cannot be the first choice fullback when Israel Dagg is in the wings. But he will, because with Woodcock, Graham Henry loves these two incumbents. I think this loyalty is misplaced. One last moan. Zac Guildford. I haven't seen him play well when the chips are down. My heart today is breaking for Hosea Gear.

Glimmers of hope?  I've never really see Victor Vito play before, and I thought for a young, inexperienced All Black, he stepped up to the mark.  Ditto Nonu who was my man of the match. It was heartening to see an All Black fight back and we did win the second half (grasping at straws now). As for that old NZ foe Wayne Barnes?  I give him a pass mark.  I don't think he did too badly at all. Plus - he's no longer New Zealand's main foe. That baton has been passed on now, to Robbie Deans and his young team of Wallaby young guns.

Watch a post match interview with Graham Henry to see what he thought of the game

All Black RWC 2011 Squad World Cup Experience

Been there, done that ... but only got the t-shirt to show for it. Looking at the squad, this radial graphic shows which All Blacks have played at a World Cup before, and therefore where our core layers of experience lie.

What do you think? Any surprises in this for you? Remember Corey Flynn in 2003? No, Neither do I.

Going to work on doing these for all 20 squads - at time of posting 2-3 countries have still to announce their squads before the deadline.

South Africa v Australia - 13 July 2011

It took a few days, but here are the visual numbers. Another tight game where no one seemed to get the upper hand in set pieces - perhaps a victory for Aussie there. The Boks just couldn’t get the edge, though the TMO denied Fourie by the slimmest of margins. Both sides goal kicking also looked rusty which kept a few points off the scoreboard.

For me, that Aussie midfield pulled off some mean tackling. I have been quite non-plussed with their midfield - Ashley-Cooper is no Mortlock for me, and 12-13 just seemed to be an offensive weakness. Last weekend they just got on with it. The thing I like is that while all the hot doggin outside backs and Quade Coopers of this world get all the Twitter follows and press column inches ... a bloke like Pat McCabe is quietly going about his job and getting better each week.

South Africa? Who knows? This could be such a different team, and maybe from next year it will start to rebuild around the youngsters liek Broussow, Aplon, Lambie etc. But for now it looks like P Divvy will simply revert to type, with Morne Steyn behind a big, big, hungry pack. And you know what? ... in a drag down, bar brawl of a semi, who knows ... its worked for them before.

This weekend our B team(?) takes on the Boks and its X Factor in more ways than one: Jane, Kahui, Toeava may all get last chances to shine before the squad of 30 is picked next week. However, the Last Chance Saloon should surely also be observing Sonny Bill Williams. He needs a special game this weekend. As of yet I don’t think he has done enough in the Test arena to warrant the selection everyone else thinks he deserves.

Nonu is a better 12, Smith a better centre, Toeava & Kahui can cover fullback and wing between them ... as can Corey Jane. SBW is a devastating player, but seriously, in a big knockout match, on defence, with that tendency to fly in with no hands ... the cards may come out. Good luck to him though.

Go the All Blacks.