Preview: Australia v New Zealand
Saturday can't come soon enough for Australia as they look to create the right kind of publicity in the Tri-Nations finale with New Zealand.
Saturday cannot come soon enough for Australia as they look to create some positive publicity against New Zealand in this Tri-Nations finale.
We have had a certain young starlet's lack of attendance at a team function and subsequently the resurfacing of a three-man scuffle in Paris from last year. Therefore it was no surprise that when Will Genia was involved in two training mishaps that many were checking the details. Result? Both hits were an accident – phew.
So there you have it, a strange week which has been dominated by RWC squad line-ups that slightly overshadowed this usually hefty clash.
New Zealand named their 30 men on Tuesday, with one or two surprises causing us to choke on our early morning cuppa. Into the mix emerged Victor Vito, Zac Guildford, Anthony Boric and Isaia Toeava in favour of Liam Messam, Hosea Gear, Jarred Hoeata and Sitiveni Sivivatu. One left winger in the tournament squad then?
Australia meanwhile had their own eye-brow raiser in the form of Rocky Elsom handing over the captaincy to Reds grizzly James Horwill. Now that move I definitely got on board with, due to Robbie Deans seemingly wanting to filter through some of that Queensland-winning oomph into his group of Wallabies. One can see why those two picks – made by Graham Henry and Deans – side-tracked readers somewhat as Suncorp Stadium readies itself.
Enough of William Webb Ellis for now though, partly because we cannot see for all the Player Profiles that come with it. For now, it is all about this Brisbane showdown.
Just in case you didn't know, the Wallabies have not won this competition since Toutai Kefu crossed for a score in the last minute ten years ago. Since then they have lost in last-game deciders in 2004, 2007 and 2008. They will have extra motivation then, and remember what happened the last time that happened in Hong Kong. It is also worth mentioning that if the Wallabies do manage to end their horror title drought this weekend, that New Zealand will go into the World Cup having fallen to both the Springboks and Wallabies. Underestimating what belief that will give the latter duo would be something to discount at your peril.
New Zealand are the bookmaker's favourites though for this one, a fixture that involves seventeen Reds and Crusaders faces from that Super Rugby final. Australia will be hoping for déjà vu, however, the absence of James O'Connor could be a bigger blow than many are predicting. One reason for this is his goal-kicking. Quade Cooper, as mercurial as he is with ball in-hand, has yet to prove he is the finished article from the tee and I would be tempted to instead opt for full-back Kurtley Beale. I doubt that will happen unfortunately for the home supporters turning out, who must pray playmaker Cooper discovers his side-on range.
On the other side of the fence, there are several All Blacks who will be looking to prove to coach Henry that his 30-man decision was the right one. Left winger Guildford is certainly one back who offers something different to the two guys he has given the slip to. Gear and Sivivatu were overlooked due to Guildford's willingness to work without the ball, something that Wayne Smith is a massive fan of. Henry meanwhile likes 'his work rate, his energy, his availability, especially on that little inside ball'. Each to their own in overlooking Gear and Sivivatu, which must be a nice coaching headache to have. And there could be one or two headaches the morning after this one too as to the victor goes the Tri-Nations spoils.
O'Connor, just an OJ for you my son.
Ones to watch:
For Australia: It will be James Horwill's first game leading out the Wallabies since being made World Cup skipper so expect the television camera to be on him when the individual build-up is chatted by either Greg Martin or Phil Kearns. I am looking forward to seeing Anthony Fainga'a handed his run on home soil but don't expect much traffic going through the thirteen channel as both he and Conrad Smith are two of the best defenders around.
For New Zealand: One man who will be delighted to be back in his regular jersey is Adam Thomson. The Highlander endured a miserable day in Port Elizabeth last week against a physical trio of Pierre Spies, Willem Alberts and Heinrich Brussow, but this time should find freedom in broken-field. There's little doubt that Thomson's best opportunity of making the All Blacks' starting line-up is in the number six jersey so a big game is needed here.
Head-to-head: We were slightly disappointed to hear Quade Cooper reveal that he had thought too much about his personal battle with Dan Carter before their meeting in Auckland. This time around he will be all about the team battle and that is music to the ears for the neutral. Carter has been the better number ten in the Tri-Nations but Cooper held the aces during Super Rugby. This clash, and the World Cup could well decide who's best.
Recent results:
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
2009: New Zealand won 19-18 in Sydney
2009: New Zealand won 22-16 in Auckland
2008: New Zealand won 19-14 in Hong Kong
Prediction: New Zealand should hold on to win by about 6!
The teams:
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Anthony Fainga'a, 12 Pat McCabe, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Radike Samo, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Dan Vickerman, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Sekope Kepu.
Replacements: 16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 Salesi Ma'afu, 18 Rob Simmons, 19 Ben McCalman, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 Rob Horne.
New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 John Afoa, 18 Ali Williams, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Colin Slade, 22 Isaia Toeava.
Date: Saturday, August 27
Kick-off: 20.05 (10.05 GMT)
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
By Adam Kyriacou