Recap: New Zealand v Australia LIVE | Bledisloe Cup II
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There is plenty on the line for both the All Blacks and Wallabies at Eden Park in the second Bledisloe Cup test. Here are 10 points, written by New Zealand Herald writer Christopher Reive, that could go a long way in determining the winner.
FIVE REASONS THE ALL BLACKS WILL (PROBABLY) WIN
Eden Park
The All Blacks haven’t lost at Eden Park since 1994, and Australia hasn’t won at the ground in 33 years. If there was ever a team to feed off of a home-field advantage, it’s the All Blacks when playing at Eden Park.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1LA_NBI5wf/
History
In 165 matches between the two sides, New Zealand has won 114. You have to go all the way back to the 2001 Tri-Nations to find the last time the Wallabies claimed back-to-back wins over the All Blacks.
Pressure
You know what they say: pressure makes diamonds.
Former All Black Carl Hayman talks about his setbacks in 2019 https://t.co/Ov0w6hbw8L
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 16, 2019
Opportunity is everything
This is the All Blacks’ penultimate Test before the World Cup, but it’s also the last time they will play before the World Cup squad is announced. The midfield is still a puzzle, and there will be some tough choices to make in the front row and in the backline.
On the wings, Sevu Reece and George Bridge have been handed golden opportunities to make a lasting impression on the selectors, while Sonny Bill Williams will start in the midfield looking to show he is fit and ready to go. They will all be eyeing a big performance.
Pride
If all the records and historic data aren’t enough to spur the hosts on, the simple matter of not wanting to see the Australians make off with the Bledisloe Cup surely will. Steve Hansen has said the Bledisloe is second only to the World Cup in their plans this year, so you can bet that they won’t want to see it going to Australian shores.
WHAT DO THE WALLABIES HAVE GOING FOR THEM?
Momentum
If you’re a believer in momentum, you will know it is firmly on the side of one team. On the back of their biggest ever win over the All Blacks, the Wallabies will come surging into Eden Park with the belief they can take the Bledisloe back home.
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Nothing to lose, everything to gain
They will have plenty of people cheering them on and hoping they win, but there will be very few who actually expect them to. The Wallabies have nothing to prove and everything to gain from this fixture.
Pressure (part II)
Pressure is a sword – and sometimes you find yourself on the pointy end. The Wallabies will be hoping that is the case for the All Blacks.
Nic White
The kid is a threat. His selection ahead of Will Genia in the No9 jersey last weekend out was questioned by some but he put any doubts to rest with his performance. You can bet he will get right back to scurrying from the back of the ruck to test the All Blacks defence. If he can cut through them as easily as he did last week it could spell problems for the All Blacks.
A former Wallaby has stoked the fires of trans-Tasman rivalry on the eve of Bledisloe II, firing a number of shots at the 'sad declining All Blacks.'https://t.co/8f63OtrWd3
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 16, 2019
Continuity, or lack thereof
Weekly changes to the All Blacks’ matchday squad doesn’t allow the players out there to form reliable combinations. Using the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe matches alikeWorld Cup trials is something that has to be done but it could be costly for the All Blacks in the short term.
NEW ZEALAND: 1. Joe Moody (39 caps), 2. Dane Coles (63), 3. Nepo Laulala (18), 4. Patrick Tuipulotu (23), 5. Samuel Whitelock (110), 6. Ardie Savea (37), 7. Sam Cane (62), 8. Kieran Read – captain (120), 9. Aaron Smith (85), 10. Richie Mo’unga (11), 11. George Bridge (3), 12. Sonny Bill Williams (52), 13. Anton Lienert-Brown (36), 14. Sevu Reece (1), 15. Beauden Barrett (76). Reps: 16. Codie Taylor (43), 17. Ofa Tuungafasi (28), 18. Angus Ta’avao (6), 19. Jackson Hemopo (4), 20. Matt Todd (19), 21. TJ Perenara (57), 22. Ngani Laumape (12), 23. Jordie Barrett (10).
AUSTRALIA: 1. Scott Sio (57 caps), 2. Tolu Latu (14), 3. Allan Alaalatoa (33), 4. Izack Rodda (20), 5. Adam Coleman (32), 6. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (14), 7. Michael Hooper – captain (94), 8. Isi Naisarani (3), 9. Nic White (25), 10. Christian Leali’ifano (21), 11. Marika Koroibete (22), 12. Samu Kerevi (28), 13. James O’Connor (46), 14. Reece Hodge (36), 15. Kurtley Beale (86). Reps: 16. Folau Fainga’a (10), 17. James Slipper (89), 18. Taniela Tupou (14), 19. Rob Simmons (96), 20. Liam Wright (uncapped), 21. Will Genia (103), 22. Matt To’omua (45), 23. Adam Ashley-Cooper (117)
WATCH: Australia winning the 1998 Bledisloe Cup
Comments on RugbyPass
Good to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
16 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
16 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
16 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
16 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
16 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
16 Go to comments