Bledisloe Cup: Match Thread

[bsando]

First topic message reminder :

Date: Saturday, August 24
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 8.30am UK
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees:Craig Joubert (South Africa), Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

New Zealand

15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Tom Taylor, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (capt), 6 Steven Luatua, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Jeremy Thrush, 20 Sam Cane, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Colin Slade, 23 Charles Piutau.

Australia

1. James Slipper (Queensland Reds), 2. Stephen Moore (ACT Brumbies), 3. Ben Alexander (ACT Brumbies), 4. Rob Simmons (Queensland Reds), 5. James Horwill (c - Queensland Reds), 6. Scott Fardy (ACT Brumbies), 7. Michael Hooper (NSW Waratahs), 8. Ben Mowen (ACT Brumbies), 9. Will Genia (vc - Queensland Reds), 10. Matt Toomua (ACT Brumbies), 11. James O’Connor (Melbourne Rebels), 12. Christian Leali’ifano (ACT Brumbies), 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (NSW Waratahs), 14. Israel Folau (NSW Waratahs), 15. Jesse Mogg (ACT Brumbies)

Replacements
16. Saia Fainga’a (Queensland Reds), 17. Scott Sio (ACT Brumbies), 18. Sekope Kepu (NSW Waratahs), 19. Kane Douglas (NSW Waratahs), 20. Liam Gill (Queensland Reds), 21. Nic White (ACT Brumbies), 22. Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds), 23. Tevita Kuridrani (ACT Brumbies)

[ChequeredJersey]

Looking hairy for Aus after they worked their way back into the game. Ironically, as we were talking about kicking earlier, they need to sort theirs out!

[Artful_Dodger]

That charge down try has really hurt the Wallabies. Match turned on its head.

[ALPanorak]

I get the feeling this championship will mark the changing of the guard at 10 for the All Blacks, Cruden is ready to permanently take over the reins from Carter. He's already bested him at club level over the past couple of seasons and shall only improve at international level with more starts...

[Ozzy3213]

Cracking game this.

[wales606]

Ballsy going under the posts Genia

[Taylorman]

great try genia...between smith and dagg they should have had him but all class. Toomua, as was a good possibility, having a shocker.

[wales606]

What a game!

[Knowsit17]

Great half to kick off the tournament, the AB's looking the more organised and dangerous by far but Aus making the best of what chances they get. Huge counter-try at the end there.

[LeinsterFan4life]

Aus doing well to be only 6 down.

[Rory_Gallagher]

Fantastic game so far, cannot wait to see the second half!

[Knowsit17]

Have Dagg and Folau locked horns directly yet? I await the outcome of the battle of Israel.

[Taylorman]

All those penalties keeping them within reach. Expect Cooper on shortly after half time. He'll better serve his outsides. Toomua's just not up to this. Crudens got him covered on his own.

Interesting second half coming up. The ABs do seem to find the tries are coming fairly easily. Hope that continues.

[wales606]

Cooper would certainly scare cruden a bit more

[maestegmafia]

31- all draw

Could be on the money mate..!

[Ozzy3213]

Wallabies need Quade on now. They need to stretch the AB's.

Cooper and Kuridrani on for Toomua and Mogg.

[Knowsit17]

The Smith & Smith show sounds like a 70's quiz/chat weekly

[maestegmafia]

Aussie moving their backs around a fair bit there...?

Joc to 15

AAC to wing

Kuridrani to 13

[LeinsterFan4life]

Stupid mistakes costing AUS.

[Hound of Harrow]

Hooker forgot to 'hook'.


Game over.

[maestegmafia]

31- all draw

Could be on the money mate..!

Mayb spoke too soon there...

[Knowsit17]

Smith's second, 3rd Smith try of the evening (Smith with the assist?). AB's pulling away now.

[LeinsterFan4life]

NZ fans booing Cooper. Its pathetic.

[maestegmafia]

Thought that was applause??

[maestegmafia]

Aussie backline has great skills but simple mistake and they are back on their own line...

[ChequeredJersey]

Is that JoC's Australia career in ashes for now?

[maestegmafia]

Cooper would certainly scare cruden a bit more

Not so sure?

Now he's on he looks no different to the last fella.

[BamBam]

A penalty for a crooked feed ?? I can practically see Brian Moore combusting from here

[maestegmafia]

Is that JoC's Australia career in ashes for now?

It's the Aussie pack that are the issue not the backline...

A bad pass here or there is not as much an issue as getting turned over in attack..

[maestegmafia]

Barrett on for Cruden who seems to be limping.

[BamBam]

Total points market on Bet 365 was taking candy off a baby today .. lets hope this continues!

[maestegmafia]

Smith picks up and goes for the corner...

6 try win for the ABs...

[Knowsit17]

Could be a half-century by 80 mins!

[HawkTheSlayersRubbish]

the jugs are on ben smith

[ChequeredJersey]

So TM, I agree, Ben Smith is better than Mogg

[maestegmafia]

Awful by cooper. Fluffed a three on one overlap

[Knowsit17]

The lineout is the only blemish for NZ tonight, they've had at least 3 or 4 stolen. Everywhere else they've been dominant.

[maestegmafia]

White lock YC for the last two mins...

Can the wallabies get some consolation?


JOC in the corner...!

[Hound of Harrow]

Aus basics have been shocking. Fair play to NZ, they have been utterly ruthless in converting the chances.

Despite B. Smith's hat trick, MOTM should go to Cruden or C. Smith.

[maestegmafia]

80 mins are up.

18 point six try win to the ABs

29 - 47

[wales606]

Ben Smith is an excellent player - play him at 13, 14 or 15 and he can put in a class international performance.

Long term successor to Conrad Smith if you ask me.

[Taylorman]

So TM, I agree, Ben Smith is better than Mogg

yeah that was a bit lucky. Smith was the benefactor of two but the speed off the mark for the third was great, typical B Smith. Its just the pressure the ABs applied. Meant the ozzie backs were all over the place. Moggs 'tackle' on Conrad Smith was hard case.

Cooper and JOC obviously work well together so even though Cooper looked out of sorts he did provide the width a couple of times.

Happy with Luatuas performance. Got stuck in all day.

Gotta be happy with that performance.

[kiakahaaotearoa]

NZ are blessed to have depth at 9 and 10. Cruden has shown he can translate Chiefs form into test form.

Timing and fitness of MCcaw still off but what a ticker he has to keep on chugging away.

Game was in the balance but NZs firepower told in the second half. Great result in Sydney and now three home games to solidify their RC position. You have to salute this effort as in years gone by such changes would've hurt us more.

Long way to go but Link will find now already some criticism. Australia will only get better but patience will wear thin if improvement isn't seen. It's easy to criticize from outside but it's tough work being in the spotlight.

[bsando]

Cracking game. Shame wallabies made so many silly errors in sensitive areas of the pitch. The potential is there though. Hooper, JOC and AAC were all fantastic. JOC looked very good, a safe pair of hands going into contact, great with the offloading and got involved all over the pitch.

Cooper looked better at 10 it pains me to say, but he is still a bone head making dumb decisions then creating odd moments of genius.. Can't win really, it might just be best to stick with him and hope it pans out. He needs someone who is a genuine competitor to his position however, I'm not sure about toomua, he looked pretty one dimensional.

Expect the wallabies to be better in Wellington and score line to be closer.

[Heaf]

Hooker forgot to 'hook'.


Game over.

Just checking my understanding of the laws - if the ball goes straight through the tunnel shouldn't the scrum be reset?

[21st Century Schizoid Man]

Conrad Smith is an awesome rugby player - still !!!!

[blackcanelion]

Very drunk, very happy and slightly bemused....

[Hound of Harrow]

Hooker forgot to 'hook'.


Game over.

Just checking my understanding of the laws - if the ball goes straight through the tunnel shouldn't the scrum be reset?

That's right. But I didn't think it came straight out. NZ just shoved Aus off the ball.

[Heaf]

If we're talking about the one that lead to NZ's (fifth?) try I'm pretty sure it went straight through from the reverse angle on the replay ...

[Hound of Harrow]

I would need to see it again then, but no one in the pub thought it did.

[Guest]

Oz didn't look that threatening in my opinion. One run away try and a consolation try. The inability to find a legitimate successor to Larkham is hurting because now all they they have are a noob and a boob.

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