justice_4_all says...

Well done Oz!!!! An historic win! Trinats, send the socks...I'll eat them with Mrs Balls Extra Sterk Blatjung.

Posted 17:56 04th September 2010

justice_4_all says...

@Trinats, I'm so nervous, that I just took 4 to 1 on Oz to win....a kind of insurance policy. I'll either be very, very happy if the Boks win or drowning my sorrow in style. Good luck to all of Oz and remember when you win the "bronze" in the Tri-Nations, that is worth more than the gold in any other rugby union competition, except the big one where the the three of us are currently 5 for 6 and likely to be 6 for 7 next year....this says something about how we challenge and motivate each other to improve...so go for it Wallabies: let's see some of that champagne rugby Beale and Mitchel and the rest have been showing flashes of in the last few matches. (but Boks still to win by less than 10)

Posted 12:33 04th September 2010

ManWarrior says...

@Trinats, thanks for the 'heads up', Bok RWC2011 Champs.

Your comment read something to the tune of (and I quote)'But it will come down to the REFS interpretation'...and this from an Aussie that has labelled us SAFFAS as whingers? And lastly, boet, Fourie Du Preez fasioned his game after Joost van der Westhuizen who was one of the Words best scrumhalves. He was good in every way but it was his sniping runs down the blind side that made him 'special'. Like wise, Fourie du Preez is even better and his kicking game is just one aspect of his accuracy and talent. Will Ginea would fit his mould if he could kick as well.

OK, I'm done educating you now, the Springboks will do the rest tomorrow.

Go Bokke. RWC2011 Champs!

Posted 20:40 03rd September 2010

5Lock4ward says...

True Trinats, IF is a big word. I agree wholeheartedly that when Horwill comes back things will change to the good for Australia. Vickerman will make a big difference as well once he gets back into the swing of things. I just think Australia need to find a proper #8 and I think Hoiles is that man if he can remain healthy. I also think Rodzilla could be back in a Wallaby jersey faster than one might imagine. They have amazing backs and when they can straighten out the tight 5 I'd say your right to expect huge huge things from that squad.

Posted 16:11 03rd September 2010

Trinats says...

5Lock4ward:

I agree, as I said can't believe, ("just have to marvel at them") we are still up their.

"If France hadn't lost their match to Los Pumas" If, If, If, IF Gits could kick a goal straight in front of the posts, or IF only we had 15 players on the field for Melbourne game, or IF only we had just a couple of first choice forwards back from injury, IF only Campese was still playing, we would be ranked No1.

What goes around comes around. We lost a very good team of true superstars (Gregans, Larkhams, Eales, Lathems etc) through retirement and rebuilt over the past 5/6 years. Current side is very young (and with heaps of injuries) and competing with the best NZ and SA sides (again with superstars, McCaw, Carter, Smit, Matfield etc) but very shortly (maybe before RWC) they will be retiring and will take time to rebuild, how far ahead will Aus be in the next few years, it's scary to think !!

Deep down I'm hoping Boks do win and PVD is retained as coach to mislea... (whoops) lead SA to the RWC !!! And "Link" to take over from Deans so it's an all Aussie affair when we lift BILL next year.

ManWarrior:

RWC is in 2011not 2010, but you keep dreaming, we'll wake you when it's over.

Posted 15:18 03rd September 2010

Carpelone says...

Australia has not a great forwards group, in addition Cooper should play a more sensible rugby rather to invent things his mates do not even understand.

They are not where I was expecting them to be.

On the other end, the Springboks when at full strength are not far from the ABs. In addition, the way ABs play is suitable for Test Rugby, but not for RWC, when you have to play 7 bruising games, which leave you without energy when it counts. AB 2005 class looked even better than this side, they were all re-conditioned and they went out soon. This will happen again.

Tomorrow, SA by ten, if they do not take lightly the Wallabies as they did last week in the first 20 minutes.

Posted 14:47 03rd September 2010

danut says...

If OZ would have gone directly to Bloem,to stay at altitude the hole week,Bokke would have been in danger!!

But with OZ in vacation in Durban Boks by 8.

Posted 14:09 03rd September 2010

5Lock4ward says...

Not to disagree too harshly Trinats, but I think it's Australia who is lucky to be in the top 3. If France hadn't lost their match to Los Pumas, who had already lost twice to Scotland (who by the way also defeated Australia), then it would be France in the #3 spot. Based on the Wallabies current form I think France gives both South Africa and New Zealand more of a scare before kick off than the Wallabies do. South Africa are long in the tooth and had their head coach been less sentimental he'd have dropped most of his current starters in favor of some new blood, allowing the newbies to get some valuable 3N test match experience under their belt before next year's RWC. He's going to bat with the good ol' boys knowing that win or lose he's out of a job when it's all said and done. And the only one's to lose out are the players who deserve to wear the Boks jersey right now based on form and the Springbok fans. I am not a Bok fan but it is foolish to write them off when a smoldering and rested Bakkies Botha returns; not to mention a game changer named Heinrich Brussow who had just started to get a taste for test match success before injury. And if PDV wasn't so foolish he'd have put his newest SA citizen aka the Beast back into the first XV asap, another game changer.

Posted 13:20 03rd September 2010

sanzarian says...

Trinats: Betfair mate. Average across all the other bookies is about 3.5 for a win.

Posted 12:55 03rd September 2010

Trinats says...

Brasilrugger: It's because they are surviving on last years results for the rankings, beating the number one side (all be it a second string side and rebuilding) in the world, at home and twice in SA catapulted the boks into second. By the time December rolls around SA (on current form 50% win/lose) will be lucky to be in the top 5. Which is scary, because when they entered the 1995 world cup they were just in the top ten. Might be time to find Suzie!!!.

As much as you hate Aus, you just have to marvel at them, in Brasil you probably have bigger support/playing numbers (numbers not %) than Aus in rugby following, yet Australia are still ranked 3rd in the world and after this weekend 2nd.

Justice 4 all: mate, i can't keep folding on these predictions. Just going on last week, if we can win 50% of our OWN lineout inside the 22 we should convert to points against an aging team. I thought your defence was great (saved you the game) With regards to Gits, he is like Habana, bit lost at moment so no big deal to bring on Barnes as a replacement, I guess deans is keeping him in there for some senior players on the field as he is one of the oldest at 26. Lineouts should be better this week with Chisholm and McCalam in for a very criticised Brown and under preforming Mumm.

But it will come down to the REFS interpretation and either side could run away with it. I'm predicting the inconsistent wallabies to run away with it. I have changed my lucky socks for this one, And hopefully HOPEFULLY, back up again next week.

As for missing du Preez, if he had played last week hed would have done his usual box kick or kicks down field and given away possession and you'd have missed out on your 5 trys (when was the last time SA scored 5 trys !!). Not sure his style will fit in with the new laws when you need to hold onto the ball.

Posted 12:09 03rd September 2010