Test Rugby 2014 Rugby Championship

[Aucklander]

First game tonight. Bledisloe Cup game 1.

Been reading lots of positive stuff off the back of the Super Rugby win. A bit premature?

Should be lots of Kiwi support in Sydney tonight. Reckon the Aussies might just grab game 1 by 6-10 points.

 

[chibimatty]

I dunno, I get the feeling the Kiwis will smash us by 50 points to 10 or something. I just didn't like the look on Ewen McKenzie's face when he was questioned about Beale being picked over Foley, reminded me of the way Robbie Deans used to behave when he was stumped for answers.

Anyway, here's hoping for something different; I always think of the 2003 RWC semi-final, which was the last time the Wallabies surprised me after I had truly wrote them off.

Best of luck to the men in gold.

 

[elsler]

Go you good things

 

[Aucklander]

s**t game. Completely boring. At least the ABs didn't lose I guess.

 

[Mint Condition]

Not the worst game in my opinion given the conditions. Was pretty tense and the Wallabies had their opportunities to win and just couldn't get it over the line.

I think Phipps should start ahead of White. White's pass was slow and his box kicking poor. I'm also unconvinced about Beale at 10. I thought the Wallabies forwards went well though.

In the other match South Africa were pretty lucky to beat Argentina 13-6 in even worse conditions. I didn't see all of it, but most of what I saw was Argentina on top. South Africa scored a try very early and that was the difference in the end.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Foley at 10, Beale at 12. Toomua is next to useless and McKensie is off with the fairies if he doesn't play Skelton for more than 10 minutes!

 

[King Elvis]

Girl singing our anthem was cute.

AJ rev up speech was decent.

 

[King Elvis]

Strong haka

One of the great spectacles in sport.

St Kilda should start doing a haka before our NZ games.

I'd love to see Skelton in the starting side, and have him advance on the Haka.

 

[Underarm]

Can someone explain why the all black was sin binned? Commentators made a big deal without really saying what he did wrong...

 

[King Elvis]

Can someone explain why the all black was sin binned? Commentators made a big deal without really saying what he did wrong...

Can't play the ball if you're on the ground.

 

[Underarm]

And that's a binnable offence?

Thanks guys. Seems soft - wouldn't expect Union to even have that as an option....

 

[King Elvis]

Meh.

Not convinced with Beale, would prefer AAC in the centers as well.

 

[Mint Condition]

You guys are kidding yourselves. McCaw's yellow was an absolute obvious card. Wallabies hot on attack, he's lying on the ground and knocks the ball away with his hand. It's a professional foul and a yellow card every single time. Completely cynical.

Wallabies yellow was a lot softer but I think it was more to do with repeated infringements than anything else. The Wallabies discipline has been poor.

All Blacks are dominating this now. Looks like another year without the Bledisloe.

 

[King Elvis]

I've got no problem with Richie's - deserved and nice to see, for a change.

I thought ours was pissweak.

 

[Mint Condition]

I've got no problem with Richie's - deserved and nice to see, for a change.

I thought ours was pissweak.

In isolation it was soft, but it came off the back of 4 or 5 penalties in a short period of time and there's always the danger of receiving a card when that happens.

 

[Mint Condition]

Bloodbath.

 

[Mint Condition]

Phipps, Foley and Higginbotham have made a big difference. Should start in the next game, especially Phipps.

 

[Greasyrhys]

Sigh, may as well keep the Bledisoe over in NZ, don't even bring it back over here, not even for display or teasing. The wallabies will never again win a series against them kiwis.

And btw Adelaide Oval (& every major stadium in Australia) >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Eden Park graveyard

 

[Aucklander]

What a pounding. Izzie run down by Barrett

 

[Mint Condition]

Izzie run down by Barrett

Izzie isn't really a top liner speedster, and Barrett is actually very quick. Take a look at this video of him chasing down Willie Le Roux who I'd guess is a bit quicker than Folau.

 

[Mint Condition]

In the other match South Africa beat Argentina 33-31. By all reports Argentina were the better team on the day, but as has become common with them in the last couple of years, they weren't able to close out the win. Nevertheless, Argentina are clearly moving forward, while the same can't be said about the Boks.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Toomua at 12 was a joke, White even worse!

 

[Greasyrhys]

Good to see plenty of people dressed as empty seats in Perth...

 

[Aucklander]

Solid win for the ABs in pretty ordinary conditions.

 

[Aucklander]

I was watching the game in Perth and with a few minutes to go I thought it was safe to go back to the AFL, nek minute check out the scores and the Wallabies won.