The Australian and New Zealand teams for this weekends round two Rugby Championship and Bledisloe clash have been announced. There are milestones coming, and two great rugby nations are once more preparing to do do battle.
I said recently that I had serious concerns about the impact New Zealand’s injury count would have on game play. First Dan Carter, then Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barret, Luke Romano, they’re dropping like flies. Yet a cursory glance over the All Blacks list has given me cause to remember, Carter may not be there, but he is still only one man. One man does not a team make.
Tony Woodcock is running out for his 100th test, joining a very illustrious club only recently joined by Captain Richie McCaw. Try machine Ben Smith, game breaker Israel Dagg, the names go on. We have the experience of Kieran Read, the power of Julian Savea, the sheer determination of Conrad Smith. We have a good team. Actually, we have a great team!
One surprise though was the promotion of new number 10 Tom Taylor. Taylor has been drafted in from the Canterbury Crusaders and gets his first test cap filling the very large boots vacated by Carter, Cruden and Barrett. I must admit I’m surprised Taylor got the nod over Otago based Colin Slade. Slade has test experience, and Rugby World Cup experience that Taylor does not have. True, Taylor DOES have Super Rugby experience to draw on, and equally true is the fact that the Crusaders franchise is something of a breeding ground of excellence. There is, however, a marked difference between Super Rugby, and Test Rugby.
Looking into the Wallabies camp, coach Ewen McKenzie has maintained faith naming a virtually unchanged side from the one which faced the All Blacks in Sydney last weekend. That faith however is tempered with a very simple message: Perform or Perish. McKenzie has put his neck out drafting in the likes of the underwhelming Israel Folau, and the unremarkable Quade Cooper. Cooper, who still finds himself a target of hatred here in New Zealand, has stated his reputation with Kiwi fans doesn’t matter to him. Interestingly, however, Cooper is still starting off the bench, McKenzie giving the starting spot to Matt Toomua.
The only change to the Wallabies team this weekend is Hugh McMeniman going out after he aggravated an old shoulder injury and has now been sidelined for the rest of the year awaiting surgery. Brumbies flanker Scott Fardy, who made his international debut last weekend off the replacements bench comes into the starting line up in place of McMeniman.
The Wallabies should not be underestimated, that much is for certain. Christian Leili’ifano was devastating with the boot, and Will Genia proved if you give him space, he will give the Wallabies a try. This is not even taking into account the Folau factor – I really do not believe we’re going to see the same Folau on the field this weekend. We’re probably going to see the Folau whose pace and sheer dominance on the field helped the Melbourne Storm win their premiership a couple of years ago. If the wallabies can get behind the All Blacks defence, or get the ball into space there is going to be big trouble.
The All Blacks need to keep the game contained, and avoid giving too much possession away. The All Blacks can’t afford to kick the ball away too often, because the Wallabies are a team that knows how to adapt. They are going to play a much wider, faster game, and they are going to use the field a lot more.
The bottom line is the All Blacks need to forget about Carter, Cruden, Messam, Romano and Barrett. They need to think about Genia, Folau…and maybe even Cooper. The Bledisloe cup is there for the taking, and the winner is almost certain to be sitting second on the Rugby Championship table as well, as the Springboks are fairly likely to maintain their hold on the top spot after they probably defeat Los Pumas again. The All Blacks will be playing for victory…and the Wallabies potentially for their lives.
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