The way I see it, the poms want to play the ABs at their own game this weekend, which is a huge mistake. Looking at the backs they have brought in, it appears they want to not only beef up their D but also to play some running rugby. The two midfield backs they are fielding this weekend are accomplished ball carriers so obviously the idea is to match the ABs style pound for pound. Never the less I think this is calamitous as they dont have the manpower nor the history of playing expansive rugby and they would be doing this at their own peril.
Infact I think they will realise the folly of their tactic early on and then play the game at a snails pace and hope to frustrate the ABs int o doing the same. They cant attack the ABs scrum at anytime because hello hello Tony Woodcock is on the bench this weekend so no hope there. If anything they might try distort the new midfield combination and yes I too like so many peops here have my doubts about Kahui's ability to last even 60 min. That stinking word "rotation" which we all thought had gone with the World Cup seems to have re emerged with Henry choosing yet again to break what was becoming some good combinations. Never the less alot of these players need to be blooded before the tri-nations so quite frankly the dude has no options.
Personally I have my doubts about Adam Thomson's defensive abilities but fitness wise he will live up to his billing. Its a quesstion of whether he will foot the physicality of the game. Rudi Wulf is brilliant under the high ball, a good chaser of pressure kicks but may be found wanting in his ball clearance abilities. Good to see Leon out there as he was the form Fullback in S14. He has never been spectacular ala Cully, but very solid and consistent especially on his home turf.
I hope the lineout has been sorted out coz thats always been a weakness.
Moving on, I am salivating at the Wallabies/France game this weekend(which I cant believe my fellow scribe didnt even mention). We all know how unpredictable the French are and if last weekend is anything to go by, the French will throw the ball around like there is no tomorrow. I have always found the biggest weakness with any Wallabies team is their sort of almost forced regimented style of rugby ala Brumbies style where every player knows where they should be at every breakdown. The Wallabies hate teams that throw the ball around and I think as a team their fitness levels are worrying to say the least. The French would do well to attack their scrum which I must say was not that impressive at all. I know its ealry days in Deans' reign but you just cannot teach an old dog new tricks and those forwards were found wanting at set piece and in general play.
The Wallabies , well they will do their thing play their scripted rugby and maybe throw the casual offload. If there is one thing Deans has to work on, its their improptu rugby ( the stuff ya just cannot teach players).
Friday, June 20, 2008
Weekend Match Preview
NZ vs ENG part2
Ok this is going to be a very good game to watch and I think it will be a nervous one for the Abs but I think they will take it. The battle ground is Christchurch and the conditions will hopefully be similar to last week. England have had a terrible week of preparation with all the distraction of the field with the rape charges but we all know things like this can motivate a side especially if the allegations are false, but either way it will no doubt affect the team. Starting with the backs they have bulked up the midfield defence with Noon and Flood (who is a natural centre) and have sacrificed ball players and kickers in Hogdson and Barkely. Not to say the new guys are not ball players, in fact I think Flood is one of the best distributors of the ball and he is not a bad kicker.
The Abs have stuck with the same 9, 10 and 12 which I think is key besides the fact that I think Ellis had an average game with the ball last week his work rate off the ball was very impressive almost like a 3rd flank. Henry has put faith in Kahui and lets hope he lasts the game without injury coz that boy is seriously injury prone. He D is impressive so Tindell will be iced and his distribution is what made Siti and Flash look so good for the chiefs, I do worry about his footwork and I don’t know him to carry the ball much, I may be wrong. Macdonald is back at 15 and I think from his stint last weekend he is rearing to go.Him and Wulf will be the secret weapons as the England backs will focus on Nonu, Carter and Siti. Wulf has his critics and the stage is set for him to answer them I think its time this youngster turned it up because the potential is there. I would like to see him increase his work load and make some runs in the midfield off the inside backs ala Howlett coz if he gets through he is gone.
The Forwards once again will be the deciding factor although Sheridan is out, which is a big loss for the poms, the have brought in replacements (who I don’t know) but I am sure they will look to that area of the game to dominate the all blacks. They did well in spoiling all blacks ball in part 1 and they read the set pieces very well but failed to make anything of it. They decided to try and throw it around a bit too late in the game and that is not their natural game plan so it failed. I think they would have been drilled hard this week and try and give the back some good front foot ball, kick in the corners and keep it tight.
The Abs have changed things around and besides all his critics I am happy to see So’oialo staying in the squad. His time at 6 think was superb he put in some serious workman-like performances and was very effective in the line-outs. He has not had many chances to run with the ball but when he has he has done the basics well and been an effective link, but he will get a bit of ball in hand now which I am sure he is looking forward to. Elmo’s boy Somerville is back also nice to see and clearly the 3 wise men are expecting a battle of attrition up front and he who lasts the longest will suffice. The big question is who is Adam Thomson? I know him as the crazy guy from the highlanders who plays with his socks down. He is a pretty tough dude and reminds me of Schalk Burger not as good but with a bit more skill and that John Cena – YOU CAN”T SEE ME - celebration that he does he has a bit more flair. The worry is that there will not have a player to do the grind work that So’oialo has been doing and they may be in a bit of trouble in the lose, hence the significance of having Ellis.
Finally (eish! It was supposed to be short) I think it will be a lot closer and it will demand much more from the players than the last but I think the Abs will take it…Oh by the way I am loving Keven leading the Haka he proper looks and sounds the part.
Ok this is going to be a very good game to watch and I think it will be a nervous one for the Abs but I think they will take it. The battle ground is Christchurch and the conditions will hopefully be similar to last week. England have had a terrible week of preparation with all the distraction of the field with the rape charges but we all know things like this can motivate a side especially if the allegations are false, but either way it will no doubt affect the team. Starting with the backs they have bulked up the midfield defence with Noon and Flood (who is a natural centre) and have sacrificed ball players and kickers in Hogdson and Barkely. Not to say the new guys are not ball players, in fact I think Flood is one of the best distributors of the ball and he is not a bad kicker.
The Abs have stuck with the same 9, 10 and 12 which I think is key besides the fact that I think Ellis had an average game with the ball last week his work rate off the ball was very impressive almost like a 3rd flank. Henry has put faith in Kahui and lets hope he lasts the game without injury coz that boy is seriously injury prone. He D is impressive so Tindell will be iced and his distribution is what made Siti and Flash look so good for the chiefs, I do worry about his footwork and I don’t know him to carry the ball much, I may be wrong. Macdonald is back at 15 and I think from his stint last weekend he is rearing to go.Him and Wulf will be the secret weapons as the England backs will focus on Nonu, Carter and Siti. Wulf has his critics and the stage is set for him to answer them I think its time this youngster turned it up because the potential is there. I would like to see him increase his work load and make some runs in the midfield off the inside backs ala Howlett coz if he gets through he is gone.
The Forwards once again will be the deciding factor although Sheridan is out, which is a big loss for the poms, the have brought in replacements (who I don’t know) but I am sure they will look to that area of the game to dominate the all blacks. They did well in spoiling all blacks ball in part 1 and they read the set pieces very well but failed to make anything of it. They decided to try and throw it around a bit too late in the game and that is not their natural game plan so it failed. I think they would have been drilled hard this week and try and give the back some good front foot ball, kick in the corners and keep it tight.
The Abs have changed things around and besides all his critics I am happy to see So’oialo staying in the squad. His time at 6 think was superb he put in some serious workman-like performances and was very effective in the line-outs. He has not had many chances to run with the ball but when he has he has done the basics well and been an effective link, but he will get a bit of ball in hand now which I am sure he is looking forward to. Elmo’s boy Somerville is back also nice to see and clearly the 3 wise men are expecting a battle of attrition up front and he who lasts the longest will suffice. The big question is who is Adam Thomson? I know him as the crazy guy from the highlanders who plays with his socks down. He is a pretty tough dude and reminds me of Schalk Burger not as good but with a bit more skill and that John Cena – YOU CAN”T SEE ME - celebration that he does he has a bit more flair. The worry is that there will not have a player to do the grind work that So’oialo has been doing and they may be in a bit of trouble in the lose, hence the significance of having Ellis.
Finally (eish! It was supposed to be short) I think it will be a lot closer and it will demand much more from the players than the last but I think the Abs will take it…Oh by the way I am loving Keven leading the Haka he proper looks and sounds the part.
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