Australia will be desperate to end 26 years of Auckland hurt when they run out to face an ominous-looking Kiwi side in Bledisloe Two on Saturday.
Despite last week's defeat at ANZ Stadium being cushioned slightly for the Wallabies by the eight-point losing margin, it should have been more.
They were distinctly second best and lacked the cutting edge their visitors oozed. Cue criticism from an ex-coach and the return of Quade Cooper. Cooper is charged with igniting a spark out wide, but questions remain over how his temperament will hold up at a venue he did not enjoy in 2011.
The returning Reds fly-half was clearly in no mood for reminiscing about the World Cup in front of the press on Thursday as he was gone in just six seconds, revealing in a low-key tone: "I'm back. I'm fit, healthy - I'm ready to go. And I will see everybody at Eden Park." He then placed the mic on the floor and walked away. The puzzled faces of speechless journalists waiting to pose their teasers to him truly were a sight to behold as Cooper seems to be in a zone ahead of Saturday.
It is fair to say that some have had their knives out for both Cooper and Robbie Deans of late and it could be that a poor Rugby Championship might be the final straw in Deans's tenure. A defensive style is one facet that has been in the spotlight but that shouldn't be a major cause for concern this weekend as Cooper and Waratahs wing Drew Mitchell will offer a greater attacking threat than shifted team-mates Adam Ashley-Cooper and Berrick Barnes.
But will say a 20% improvement in performance be enough to overcome the All Blacks?
As former Springbok coach Nick Mallett put it over the weekend, it is now highly-likely that New Zealand will claim the inaugural Rugby Championship. Mallett's reasoning for what some might view as a premature statement was that the All Blacks should beat Argentina home and away and also pick up victory over South Africa at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Add in this weekend's expected result and that would give them five triumphs out of six. Job done.
The Boks will no doubt shake off such a suggestion, but their inability to pick up all five points at home to the Pumas might just come back to haunt them. Consider the rate at which injuries have mounted up after only one round (David Pocock, Tony Woodcock, Bismarck du Plessis, Juan Martín Hernández, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Sekope Kepu) and then weigh up teams' depth and it is likely that the later one faces Argentina, the better.
New Zealand will, of course, also not buy into the notion that the title is already sewn up as this is a wounded Wallaby side. And with Cooper set to return to the international fold for the first time since he was taunted by 52,000 All Black fans, there is now a growing subplot to monitor. A fine game from him and he was 'focused on the job at hand' whereas if there is a repeat of the nightmare he endured in that semi-final last year, one fears for such a talent.
Ones to watch:
For New Zealand: This could be the last time rugby union sees Sonny Bill Williams in a New Zealand jersey as after Saturday's fixture he moves to Panasonic Wild Knights before returning to rugby league. Williams scored the last try in his final game for the Chiefs and such is his class, there is a good possibility he will go out of All Black colours with a bang.
For Australia: Did you even have to ask? Quade Cooper returns to the Australian line-up and will be looking to prove a point. It's likely he will defend from full-back but if the Wallabies choose not to employ that tactic, expect Sonny Bill Williams and Ma'a Nonu to hammer his channel. One thing is for sure and that is it won't be a smooth transition from Super Rugby to Tests so how he responds from what will be a tough opening fifteen minutes is the key. Impressive young talent Michael Hooper is also one to watch at seven.
Head-to-head: What happens on the openside is sure to be intriguing. Richie McCaw got the better of David Pocock last week and the Australian's absence would in many corners be seen as a monumental blow. But do not write off Michael Hooper. He, along with Liam Gill, are two geniune talents coming up through the ranks and they won't take a step back.
Recent results:
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
2009: New Zealand won 33-6 in Wellington
Prediction: The Auckland rot will not end for Australia. New Zealand by 12!
The teams:
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Ma'a Nonu, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Brodie Retallick, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Ben Smith.
Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Drew Mitchell, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia (c), 8 Scott Higginbotham, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Sitaleki Timani, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 James Slipper, 18 Radike Samo, 19 Liam Gill, 20 Nick Phipps, 21 Anthony Fainga'a, 22 Kurtley Beale.
Date: Saturday, August 25
Venue: Eden Park, Auckland
Kick-off: 19:35 (07.35 GMT; 08.35 BST)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: Alain Rolland (Ireland), Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
By Adam Kyriacou
@PlanetRugbyAK
Comments
passtheball says...
Who will have the red noses tomorrow?
George S you are a contender today with your call for Simmons and Samo over Sharpe and Dennis.
Posted 12:33 24th August 2012
bigb6969 says...
OzinLondon says "coach making ridiculous accusations 5 years after the event because he couldn't get his team past the 1/4 finals."
No one who could watch that game with a critical eye, and know the actual match stats, could come to any other conclusion that the All Blacks were sawn off (the South African's thought they were on a fraction of the evidence last year). 73% possession in the 2nd half, 165 rucks (record) won, yet zero penalties in the second half. The ONLY time that happened in 103 tests (88 wins 85.4% win) Graeme Henry coached. Read the IRB stat reports, a constant figure over IRB tournaments is the team in possession get 70% of the penalties yet here the penalty was 10 to 2 in favour of France. I also notice you noted the "forward pass", cool it was a forward pass in the winning try. So blantant even you noticed it. Yet when it comes to when the All Blacks win in 2011, you say the ref "bottled it"as an excuse, but cannot point to anything? The head butt and eye gouge on Richie McCaw cried for red card and a lengthy ban, pictures speak for themselves, but the IRB swept that under the carpet as per usual with any thuggery committed on Richie McCaw.
Posted 12:33 24th August 2012
TVaddict says...
@kakapo76
I'd have Digby Ioane in my world XV as well as Genia.
Posted 11:59 24th August 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
What kind of Bok team would you like to see in the Dunedin match Jay Starr?
Posted 11:35 24th August 2012
StunTheMullet says...
And how much rugby has the Quadestile played recently and is he even in form?
Posted 11:27 24th August 2012
SACanuck says...
AB's by 20. No sweat, feel bad for Deans, as he will take the heat and may get fired, just like they did to Eddie.
Posted 11:26 24th August 2012
powerplay says...
Every time it looks like a done deal, or a smashing for the other team, one gets a little nervous, because of past experiences with France. So far, though, this AB side has learnt from past experiences, but i will never write off Auz, even after last week. May the best team win!!!
Posted 11:23 24th August 2012
latin says...
the feeling here is that the pumas are more likely to pick up a win against Aus or NZ than SA at home..........just saying. we more scared of SA than the other 2. Dont know if likely means we may be abel to, but here's hoping.
at least we have added a new dimension to what was becoming a boring tournament i think, not so?
Posted 11:23 24th August 2012
PREEST says...
I think Cooper wills struggle at Test level having not played a lot of rugby this season. If he can ignite the recently stagnant Australian back line then we could have a game on our hands. However, Cooper seems to equally be as much a liability for Australia as a play maker.
Posted 11:15 24th August 2012
jmanngod says...
Jaystarr... you crack me up!
Posted 11:09 24th August 2012
jmanngod says...
Boks are no chance in NZ ... no chance. I think this game will be the classic we were expecting last week. Only caveat is another weak and out-of-depth NH ref. Owens may yet spoil another game of rugby.
ABs by 7
Posted 11:07 24th August 2012
Carpelone says...
This could be difficult for NZ. How can you realistically bet against them, though?
This is a more balanced backline for Oz, however counterattacking balls could get them off balance. It also depends upon which side of the bed Owens gets up. If for some reason he starts to target a specific player, he would never stop. We all hope that that player is the # 7 in black. My prediction is for a NZ's win, but maybe with a losing bonus point for Oz (either 4-0 or 4-1).
Posted 10:42 24th August 2012
olepete says...
Don't be too cocky lads, it isn't won yet.
Posted 10:36 24th August 2012
melkdave says...
Hard to argue with PR prediction ,it might also be a tad generous to Australia.That they will come out fired up and playing aliot better is a given ,but you also expect the ABs to do/be the same firedup and not as rusty.NZ by 15 min i think.
Posted 10:28 24th August 2012
OzinLondon says...
2EyedKiwi
Thank god Kiwis never make excuses when their team loses... (cough... food poisoning, corrupt refs, forward pass, Quade was nasty to Richie... cough). God knows what would have happened had the SA ref not bottled it in the RWC final last year.
At least its just Aussie fans on rugby blogs making excuses... rather than our coach making ridiculous accusations 5 years after the event because he couldn't get his team past the 1/4 finals.
Good luck tomorrow. I'll be amazed if the Wallas pick up a win. Just get off the high horse buddy.
Posted 10:12 24th August 2012
JayStarr says...
I don't think it's such a sure thing at all that the All Blacks will beat the Springboks in Dunedin... If HM picks the right squad for that game, I think we actually stand a reasonable chance if we play well. This All Black team is brilliant - no doubt - but they don't scare me. Our top players played as well as theirs this year. HM just needs to pick them now (which is a different challenge entirely).
Posted 09:43 24th August 2012
Dangerous says...
I think the worst thing cooper can do is be a flash man early on. Almost every all black in the pack is renowned for their solid defence and hard hits. I expect him to be under a lot of pressure in the first quarter. May be better to shift to Barnes in the beginning. But cooper will try to be a flash man in the beginning and go backwards. All blacks by 10.
Posted 09:11 24th August 2012
2EyedKiwi says...
My 2 predictions:
1. The World Champs by 22+
2. Trinats6 will communicate the following reason/s for a Wallabies loss:
a. Richie McCaw is a cheat
b. Eden park "Hoodoo" (not actually sue what that means, but whatever...)
c. NH Ref payed off by some Kiwi. Probably Sir Graham Henry or Richie McCaw...
d. SBW is over-rated. Oh, and a cheat.
e. Kieran Read cheated
f. This "young" Aussie side needs time to gel
g. (insert any other All Black name here) cheated
h. It's all Robbie Deans fault. And he's probably a cheat)
i. Coopergirl is still injured, but next time I guarantee....
j. Any, some, or all of the above
k. Something else equally as pathetic, but not anything remotely to do with the fact that Wallabies are in fact simply not up to it
Posted 08:41 24th August 2012
kakapo76 says...
If the AB's turn up with the top 3% sorted then the Wallabies are going to get smacked. Facts are the AB's 1-15 are better than their equivilants in the Wallabies with the exception of Genia, who makes my world 15 any day. Hopefully Crockzilla has a good match scrumwise to go with his awesome tackle rate in the loose. AB's tend to start slowly and build into a season- the continuity is the key. In regards to OZ, Quade is what he is- Spencer was was he was- nuff said (although neither would/did get a regular AB slot, better off the bench IMHO). I think the Wallabies will come out of the blocks absolutely firing but won't last the distance- All Blacks by 15.
Posted 08:39 24th August 2012
georgesmith says...
I like the part on M.Hooper and L.Gill. They will be demon-like tomorrow. M.Hooper goes crazy at the breakdowns. He is good. Overall Wallabies team weakened are by the inclusion of N.Sharpe and D. Dennis. It would have been a real contest if R. Simmons and R. Samo were in the starting line-up. I say a single mistake from the two 'briefcase(s)' and they should be replaced at once.
Posted 08:37 24th August 2012