RWC 2015 Final Australia v New Zealand

RWC 2015 Finalists Stat Comparison Matrix

RWC 2015 Finalists Team Comparison: Australia v New Zealand

RWC 2015 Semi Final 1 New Zealand v South Africa

RWC 2015 Semi Finalists Stat Comparison Matrix

RWC 2015 SF1 Team Comparison: South Africa v New Zealand

RWC 2015 QF 2 New Zealand v France

WC 2015 M33 New Zealand v Tonga

RWC 2015 M23 New Zealand v Georgia

2013 Rugby Championship - Round 1

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 4

The Rugby Championship 2012 - Round 2

New Zealand v Ireland - Second Test

Kiwi Super Franchises

 Let’s be honest: the New Zealand Super teams are made up entities. They were constructed out of thin air, mashed together from provincial catchment areas in 1996, to allow true professional rugby to run free across the land. In doing SANZAR created a top tier of domestic rugby where the best Australian, New Zealand and South African players could remain in their countries, earn proper money and retain the opportunity to represent their respective nations in Test rugby.

Yet, years later, 16 years later, do our Super teams in NZ really reflect or draw from the areas they supposedly represent? A few months back, a twitter post by Sam (@Scorz_) about his perception that maybe the 2012 Chiefs could be doing more for the provincial unions in their zone got me thinking too.

We all know the Crusaders pull heavily from Canterbury, and Auckland have so many players they should really win the bloody thing every season ... but what about the others: the poached Chiefs, the struggling Highlanders, the non-performing Hurricanes. Where do these kids come from each year?

So, that's what I have got here. A graphic that shows what percentage of the squads’ players come from within ‘the Zone’ versus that which does not. Then the squad is listed in order of its composition, based on NZ provincial unions (and a few dodgy imports ... I’m looking at you, Haskell!)

Why the hell are there no Manawatu players at the Hurricanes? Have they just followed Dave Rennie to the Chiefs? Hell, all four Whitelocks are from Feilding FFS, yet they left for Canterbury the day school broke up. Even the best Hawke’s Bay players – Guildford and Dagg – left the Hurricanes zone muy rapido.

What's going on? Is it politics? Is it economics. Is it All Black jerseys? Is this just a Kiwi problem? We’d would love to hear from any South African fans on how players move about the Republic between Currie Cup and Super.

All feedback welcome. Once again, Ferdy and I are putting this out for discussion rather than stating any conclusions.

Quarter Final 4: New Zealand v Argentina

That was edge of the seat stuff for a bit last night - not only did the Pumas stop us scoring, then score themselves ... but they had the lead on us and created some very nervous moments for All Black fans last night. Were we going to be knocked out again?!

The people who did not panic were the 15 very composed blokes on the park in black polyester, and that now gives me great confidence going forward. Players were dropping like flies with injuries at times, but we never got rattled, and simply kept plugging away, safe in the knowledge that we'd end up with more points after the 80 minutes, even if they all had to come from Piri Weepu’s laser-guided boot.

Great team performance, right across the park. And Brad Thorn a try! He deserves one.

That was my buzz word from the win: composure. It manifested itself stoically last night at Eden Park, where four years ago in Cardiff it slunk off into the shadows like Kwade Kupa facing a try-saving tackle on Ma’a Nonu.

At 7-6 to the Pumas I was a nervous wreck, and when Kaino threw that no-look pass in the second half, down towards Argentina’s line, it hung in the night sky for what felt like an eternity as the Pumas player reached for what looked to be a dead set intercept. Four more years? Not today.

Our forwards had to battle through set after set of multiple phases to gain any ground for the first 40, as Argentina’s defence threw everything at us. They are a very good team, and after a few seasons settling in to the newly expanded Tri-Nations, just may well have that X factor to go to the last four again in 2015. Its cliché to bang on about the passion of the players and their fans ... but it there for all to see, its tangible. When they exit RWC, and the tournament loses something.

I hope Slade and Mils are okay. Colin Slade again started nervously, maybe this is just his schtick? He does grow into things though, but his injury bought Aaron Cruden on, Manawatu’s stellar No. 10, fresh from the travel agents where he had to cancel his Fijian holiday to save our World Cup campaign!

The kid has confidence to burn, he has had everything to prove and nothing to lose this year since being dropped from the All Blacks ... after taking the can for a poor forwards performance. He has a love for hitting the line and popping passes that make SBW look on in wonder. I think he showed enough to warrant a start even if Slade is okay.

I think we saw that these games are going to be very tight - no way is Nonu going to carve easily through Australia, it will be a pressure cooker game, that chances taken will win (or mistakes made will lose). I think we can do it, but we have to be prepared that we don’t.

I feel for all the Bok fans out there, having had their champion team knocked out in the quarters. If it is any consolation ... All Black fans completely understand how it feels because of 2007. It hurts, it does not seem fair, but in four years time (a lifetime away it may seem now) ... the optimism and fever of the next World Cup will completely heal the scar. After older players exit behind P Divvy ... you’ll look to your depth in Currie Cup and Super, and you have the makings of a hell of a team for the next few seasons.

I was not impressed with the way Sky TV cut away from Mils Muliaina’s 100th Test Cap presentation - we missed both Jock Hobbs’ introduction and Mils’ response. That was an embarrassing mistake - Mils not worthy Sky? I think it was a bit insulting.

Not the prettiest game, but we rolled on, completed all our set pieces, got good ball, and converte chances. For four years English fans have been telling us ‘that’s all you have to do to win RWC’.

Well, we did it ... and where are yous?

Time to cast this Eden Park Hoodoo over the Wallabies in concrete ... in gold! pass it to Cooper!

Quarter Finalist Preview: New Zealand

Ferdy says:

Putting aside the Daniel Carter heartbreak, let’s not forget the All Blacks have been formidable for 100 years (and Dan has only been around for about eight of those). This is a team sport.

In saying that, I still think our major final will be the semi. Whether it is Oz or SA, well, either will be horrible and hard, and I am not going to be watching that game because my blood pressure will not be able to take it.

NZ, the team that has been number one inbetween world cups since the world cup tournament began. Now is our time. We deserve it. And we're going to do it (she says with everything crossed).

Ferdy’s pick: winners.

Slugso says:

We are lucky; on paper this is the easiest quarter final ... but rugby is not played on a piece of paper. Things have to click this weekend for us to be really dominant, the Pumas can use space, even a little space, very well if allowed ... and they have the pack to create those holes.

Huge pressure on Colin Slade, but provided he gets fast ball, all he has to do is kick or pass ... it really isn’t rocket science. As for our backline? Well, they are the best in the business, and given 80 minutes can go crazy, but this is knockout stuff. With all the lineup changes they have been through, can they defend too when it counts?

Scrums will be huge, so Woodcock better be fit. This is going to be a big test for the team’s fitness, and especially for those loosies of ours that have been carrying niggles. And that’s most of them.

Weepu must start as halfback - that is whee he is best. I hope Cruden gets to come off the bench at some stage to prove all his detractors wrong.

Slugso offers: we’ll beat Argentina, and make the semi against the Boks. Injuries will occur.