In Brisbane: All Blacks
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With that world record 18 victories in their sights, the All Blacks go in hunt of moving to within one of that target when they face Australia on Saturday.
Beating the Wallabies this weekend would equal the mark set by the 1969 All Blacks and the Boks of 1998. Lithuania hold the official highest total while Cyprus (15 international wins) will no doubt keep knocking on the door, so New Zealand are not alone in striving for global bragging rights.
Speaking of landmarks, the fixture at Suncorp will see Keven Mealamu make his 100th appearance for his country while Nathan Sharpe will wear the gold for one last time in front of Australian fans on home soil. How the veteran lock will hope it's not to be during their 100th loss to New Zealand.
The Force forward, who recently announced that he would further prolong his international career until after the end-of-year tour, will lace up his boots alongside Sitaleki Timani in a pack that has seen more than its fair share of injuries. This week, it's Saia Faingaa and Ben Alexander.
Injury nightmares have not ended there either as James O'Connor revealed on Thursday that he would not feature on the upcoming tour due to a hamstring issue, which means he joins scrum-half Will Genia and utility-back Berrick Barnes in definitely missing November games against France, England, Italy and Wales. Should their rotten luck continue, a testing winter month in Europe lies in wait.
New Zealand could not be in more of a contrasting state going into this contest, as an unbeaten Rugby Championship and players fit and in form makes theirs a happy camp. They seem settled and even boast the luxury of experimenting instead of changes being forced upon them. In comes tighthead Charlie Faumuina, who has waited patiently for his start while there is one other change of Mealamu in for Andrew Hore as they look for revenge for that 25-20 defeat 14 months ago when the Wallabies won the Tri-Nations.
Sam Whitelock touched on that loss this week so by no means will this just be a warm-down with the Bledisloe Cup already safely locked up for another year, the Kiwis want to make a statement. Can they be beaten? It seems unlikely due to the cohesive unit the All Blacks have become. Steve Hansen is also timing his tweaks perfectly - case in point being the inclusion of Hosea Gear over a much less experienced Julian Savea for their game in Soweto. That move proved inspired as Gear deserved his return, shone and has ultimately retained his place after causing SA a great deal of bother. Savea will get other chances.
Yes, we can say what we like about the Wallabies' injury issues, South Africa's selection arguments and Argentina's rebirth but not enough credit has been paid to Hansen in our opinion. Look back at 2003 and 2007 for a moment and how those English and Springbok teams struggled to remain at the World Cup bar they had set themselves. New Zealand meanwhile have gone about their business post-Graham Henry, with Hansen looking set to lead a group capable of greater standards right up until 2015's main event in England.
Ones to watch:
For Australia: Barring the absence of David Pocock, this looks as close as Australia are going to get to their starting back-row line-up. Wycliff Palu returns on Saturday after a long absence and forms a well-balanced trio alongside the busy Michael Hooper and in-form Scott Higginbotham and Robbie Deans will be hoping they click in quick time. When fully fit, Palu is a destructive and intelligent carrier so one hopes he plays to his potential behind a lock who will be playing his last game on home soil for Australia, Nathan Sharpe.
For New Zealand: Kieran Read and Daniel Carter were quite simply superb against South Africa in Soweto. Carter had his swagger back while Read was his consistent self at the base, despite almost bombing a certain try for Cory Jane before recovering to find Ma'a Nonu on his other shoulder. Carter meanwhile was once again back to his mesmeric as his set-up of Conrad Smith's try from slick hands being one of the highlights from last time out. All Blacks fans and neutrals hope for more displays of simple yet brilliant rugby again.
Head-to-head: We arrive at hooker for this battle as the powerful Tatafu Polota-Nau collides with the man making his 100th Test appearance for the All Blacks, Keven Mealamu. The Blues veteran has been handed the starting spot on Saturday and will be only the third All Black to reach the distinguished milestone, following captain Richie McCaw and full-back Mils Muliaina who made their 100th appearances during last year's successful Rugby World Cup. Polota-Nau and Mealamu know each other's games well but that shouldn't take anything away from their battle. On the other end of the scale, two players who have never faced each other on the international stage, Nick Cummins and Hosea Gear, clash on the wing. Both are high-impact entertainers which bodes well for a decent scrap this Saturday.
Recent results:
2012: New Zealand won 22-0 in Auckland
2012: New Zealand won 27-19 in Sydney
2011: New Zealand won 20-6 in Auckland
2011: Australia won 25-20 in Brisbane
2011: New Zealand won 30-14 in Auckland
2010: Australia won 26-24 in Hong Kong
2010: New Zealand won 23-22 in Sydney
2010: New Zealand won 20-10 in Christchurch
2010: New Zealand won 49-28 in Melbourne
2009: New Zealand won 32-19 in Tokyo
Prediction: Australia are an unprecedented 7/1 to win at home. New Zealand by 15!
The teams:
Australia: 15 Mike Harris, 14 Nick Cummins, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Nathan Sharpe (c), 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 James Slipper, 2 Tatafu Polota Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Sekope Kepu, 18 Kane Douglas, 19 Dave Dennis, 20 Liam Gill, 21 Brett Sheehan, 22 Drew Mitchell.
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Owen Franks, 18 Luke Romano, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Ben Smith.
Date: Saturday, October 20
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 20:00 (10:00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
TMO: Matt Goddard (Australia)
By Adam Kyriacou
Comments
tweedledee49 says...
@kpe12
True, Carter is no where near where he was 4+ years ago but even with where he is now, he is still worlds better than any other flyhalf at the moment. Hence, the praise he gets.
Btw bro, how did the wildknights game go? I heard it was a do or die
Posted 09:58 20th October 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
No time to watch this dead rubber now the HC games are all on YouTube.
Posted 09:20 20th October 2012
Carpelone says...
Ruckingkiwi
What should France say about CJ's refereeing at the final then?
I would not say that the early lead was entirely due to AR, not at all. If you truly believe this, you can have an upset, sooner than later.
No doubt that New Zealand was the best team in Soweto. However as a saffa, I am glad to take all the positives for us.
Still, few positions in the ABs' squad can be optimised further (especially the second row) and they have to prepare to substitute 12 and 13 in the next couple of years..
Springbocks need to work much harder as there are much more uncertanties. In some positions, we found extremely good prospects, to be competitive come RWC 2015.
Posted 08:55 20th October 2012
jonesy2 says...
Latin-- shut up and jog on. this is the greatest, most prestigious and highest quality rugby fixture in history. twit.
olepete -- huh? wales got sweeped in their series with the injury ravaged wallabies not 4 months ago. this is in fact the only chance anyone are getting to beat the all blacks this year and the wallabies are even more injury hit than ever, make no mistake and you can be in all the denial you want but this all blacks side is evidently the greatest rugby team ever
Posted 07:39 20th October 2012
jonesy2 says...
"the busy hooper". the guy is as much of a superstar as a flanker can get whats with the stupid description. thats describing conrad as "efficient" or mccaw "consistent". its a given for goodness sake. all blacks will win but not by 15 thats insane not at suncorp. you fail at knowing rugby yet again planet rugby.
Posted 07:30 20th October 2012
Connaughtabu says...
I don't understand the need to play each other 3 times a year, I can't imagine getting worked up about it.
Based on current form against SA, Oz is perhaps not as bad as they seem and NZ is not as good. Battered, the Oz pack took it to the boks in the 2nd half. Fair play to them. In contrast, in the recent bok vs AB match, the inability by the boks to defend against the counter attack done at pace by the ABs and the aimless use if the bench, allowed the clinical ABs to romp home in the end. Kiwi coaches are great exponents of the bench. Players are brought on for a reason, not simply to give them a run except when the game is already won.
The all blacks will win and win easily, but who cares, really? ;-))
Posted 05:25 20th October 2012
KiwiJoe says...
Good point about the 2003 and 2007 World Champions England and the Springboks.
Both sides ended up being walloped by teams who have never beaten the All Blacks, no to mention just about everyone else.
This current All Black side have shown there,s more to being World Champions than just winning the World Cup, you want to be great World Champions and maintain this standard as long as possible.
I suspect an All Black win tomorrow, by one point will do.
And the Wobblie Wannabes?? No.2 in the World with that many injuries, The Dingo has done pretty well and would be good to see an unbeaten Euro tour by his team.
Posted 02:18 20th October 2012
Trinats2 says...
This Wallaby side is a side NZ have never played before, so can't understand the very high odds on offer. If I was a betting man I'd have a or two dollar on it.
Can't see an upset and NZ winning !!!
Posted 01:24 20th October 2012
sukkadoits says...
This Australia forward pack is top notch and it will be interesting to see if they can give their backs good quality ball, I suspect they will. But as @nzmaoriboy alluded to it will be a different story at the backend of this game, especially when you look at the firepower on the ABs bench opposed to what Oz will bring. Great for Faumuina to get his deserved 1st cap alongside his mentors Mealamu and Woodcock. It's little touches like this that give credit to these coaches.
Posted 21:24 19th October 2012
isthatrightref says...
Will go one of 2 ways: if wobblies score early & get their confidence up AB by 10ish but may only hit the front with 15 to go; if AB can do to Beale what they did to Cooper at Eden Park the last 3 times we've played them there, AB by 20ish.
@ Waz4before... Cooper's just had a knee op, couldn't play even if he & Deans kissed & made up.
Posted 21:15 19th October 2012
Webbie says...
@Latin: I believe you are mistaking the Bledisloe with the 6 Nations
Posted 20:57 19th October 2012
Wallaroo says...
Wish I could say that I'm confident of an Aus win; plighted by injuries and men out of position it going to be a tough day at the office for the men in green and gold. Head says NZ to win comfortably, heart says Aus to be competitive and maybe just maybe pull off the unexpected.
Posted 19:33 19th October 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Carpelone, I think the All Blacks main hammering was from the referee, 9 penalties and 60 mins later NZ are awarded their first, by which point they'd scored 4 tries. It could very well have been 16-0 but it could also very easily have been 40+ at the end, at altitude, away from home, after a trip around the world, against a supposedly desperate team, even after wrapping up trophy, but hey no excuses.
The Oz away games are tough and despite a severely depleted team they're still ranked 2 in the world and have everything to play for, I cannot see NZ winning as comfortably as their 2 previous encounters but any win will be fine to round off the SH season, NZ by 9.
Posted 18:13 19th October 2012
wfgwoody says...
I think teams make their own luck. For there to be so many injuries I feel there must be something very rotten at this core of this golden team.
Posted 18:04 19th October 2012
olepete says...
I'm a great fan of the ABs but agree with Carpalone that they may not be all that good. they have been helped by the injury toll in Oz and the woeful state of the Springboks who, having been awful for years, can't even hack it with a different coach and much-vaunted new blood. Also NZ got the chance to bed down their new coaching system against terrible Ireland. If any team over here manages to front up on the day (Wales perhaps?), the ABs may get a fright.
Posted 16:25 19th October 2012
Trinats2 says...
Can't see an upset in Briso, even with Aus with their 4 string side.
Aus by 4 +
Posted 16:18 19th October 2012
APV1 says...
Even the most miopic Oz supporter can't really expect Oz to win. can they..?
NZ by 8.
Posted 16:07 19th October 2012
Oceansnz says...
@ Latin
Its not about the cup mate. Its all about having the opportunity to make fun of our neighbours and vice versa. As long as that continues, there will always be a cup!
Posted 15:57 19th October 2012
Kiwikev says...
@ latin
You have a view quite different from us Antipodes!
@kpe12
Who is your first five that is better than DC on his worst day? SMH
Posted 15:54 19th October 2012
peewee2 says...
I don't expect OZ to win but I also don't expect NZ to win by more than 20 as some pundits predict.
Posted 15:34 19th October 2012