Who will win the Rugby Championship?

First topic message reminder :

Are the people crazy?

Spoiler:

The prestigious webpage Planetrugby.com did a poll asking Who will win The Rugby Championship?
All is ok with the winer, NZ, but the crazy is that Argentina has more votes than Australia!
Me, as Argentine, don't think so.
What is your opinion?

That could get ugly Disney. Over to Hugh standing alongside the Mitsubishi Viagra. How's it holding up down there Hugh?

disneychilly wrote:Yeah the French commentators are pretty hilarious.

Biltong maybe you guys should start sponsoring Bladen. "And over to Hugh in the Castle Lager commentary box-how's the sponsor's product doing boet?"

He'll be to busy to make a comment.

KIA, how's your creative project going, I believe you are still on leave?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGhWzI_6xK0

This is pretty hilarious.

Kia if you're sitting with a bottle of Monteiths Black I'll start crying.

Biltong I need another red card mate. I have hit a creative brick wall and am failing to break it down on here!

Disney that is priceless! I could murder a Monteiths...

The biggest surprise could be those sides expecting to pick up bonus points versus Argentina.At Full Strength,they have a formidable pack and a solid defence.They will be very difficult to score 4 try`s against me thinks.

emack2 wrote:The biggest surprise could be those sides expecting to pick up bonus points versus Argentina.At Full Strength,they have a formidable pack and a solid defence.They will be very difficult to score 4 try`s against me thinks.

Alan...its quite obvious we have designed the draw to have SA make the Argie bones as brittle and breakable as possible before they get near the precious Oz and NZ sides who will play two rounds of touch rugby/ no contest scrums by agreement before going on to the tough stuff...

If I was the Nz coaches i would be looking to get 2 wins versus Oz then build from there.Injuries of course will be the big thing especially as I expect many AB`s to be involved in a S15 final.The Crusaders are coming to the boil at the
right time.A NZ S15 title would be nice but not at the cost of a 4Ns title.

emack2 wrote:If I was the Nz coaches i would be looking to get 2 wins versus Oz then build from there.

In case they havnt figured this in already I'll forward this on...thanks Alan...

Good thing about players like Thompson, Hore, A Smith, Gear, Nonu, Mealamu, Woodcock and likely some of the canes AB's- Smith, Jane (not that he needs it) will get a good rest up before Oz while not being used for the knockouts of the sxv. Nonu probably needs another run but Thompson especially can expect a heavy load during the rest of the AB tests

Thompson? Hope not. Shift McCaw there and play Cane 7. Vito's back as well isn't he, rather he play over Thompson despite lack of game time recently. These players are naturally fit, so it doesn't take long to get back on the horse.

With six tests and the AIs Thompsons perfect for backup if he isnt first up.cane thompson, vito read and mccaw should be the back row for the rest of the year.

No Messam? Personally I don't want to see Vito at 6. I'd have him at 8 or 7. We need muscle at 6. For that reason I don't want to see Thompson there, at least starting. I think that team that scored 60 - 0 is not as good as the scoreline suggests but they definitely deserve another game together for that effort.

I think Argentina will shock the big three though not necessarily win any games for the first couple of seasons. By shock I mean give them really good test matches - especially at home.

For me, New Zealand and South Africa will leave Australia and the Pumas behind this year.

Welcome to the boards JAM204.

It's going to be interesting to see how they perform. I think they need to target at least a home win out of the three available. And I think their best chances of that lie in the NZ or Aus games near the end of the tournament. The only way I can see a win against SA is if SA hump Argentina in the opening game and don't turn up mentally right away the following week and the Pumas are stung into action by their loss.

Recently i am getting the perception by some here that i am a senile old man living in the past.Just because my opinions on the way the gameplan should be played or change does`nt fit in with there preconceived ideas.Fine if thats what they think but it does`nt stop me voicing them my opinion being as valid as anyone elses.The 3Ns [4Ns] have been decided mostly by SA v NZ matches,plus nicking the odd result versus Australia.Bonus points have only
the been difference [I think] on one occassion 2004 when all 3 teams one 2 games each.This year will be no different Argentina have a squad that can compete well.They may lose every match,indeed on the IRB ratings they should.
Bonus point wins versus them will be few if any.AB`s and Boks have`nt met at near fulll strength since 2010 .I don`t think the 2011 3Ns result or the early season tours really have much relevence.Both SA and NZ are in rebuild mode Coaching and player wise.Injuries will all have some effect as will S15 finalists,the
rules being re-interpratated this year.Will mean adjustments to the game plans of ALL sides..The back row problem for the AllBlacks stems from the fact that currently.There is no exact replacement for Kaino,that he only came into real prominence in 2011 .When other backrow regulars were injured or carrying injuries and he had to take up there load.Options at 6 are Read,or M cCaw[unlikely]Thomson,Vito or Messam.Hansen has already indicated that the 6 will have to modify his Super style to a tighter AB one.Thomson has allthe skills.is a genuine lineout option and is a realistic option at 6,7,or 8 but is a recognized 6,Vito is better at 8.Messam is both to small and lightweight for the role.Hoerta may be worth a run at 6.George Whitelock would`nt let anyone down.Luke Whitelock,Brad Shields,Sam Cane,and Matt Todd the future.

Yeah Alan...and Kia. Not sold on messam vs the top three. Went well against Ireland but hes been flat against the bigger sides. Dont think many outside the five will play the back row barring injury....they'll do...just.

Relatively positive article in NZ about Argie getting a win against oz in Rosario, maybe more.

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10820713

Poor old Oz. The journos seem happy enough to say Argentina will probably beat somebody so long as that somebody is Australia. But as AWOP has said, traditionally NZ has been the team to struggle the most in Argentina. When a team can negate the NZ set piece like the game against Italy (the one that got an apology from the ref!), Scotland (when our young props got done in the scrum) we tend to struggle. Australia are used to fighting in the set exchanges so it doesn't seem to bother them as much. They look to dominate in areas where they have an edge whereas sometimes I think NZ tends to go into their shell when a team gets on top of them and their attack is consequently blunted. But I guess until results come, this patronising attitude that Argentina might squeak a win against Australia at home will prevail.

Yeah kia, but NZ have never lost to Argentina and Australia has lost 4 times... 3 times in BA. So "traditionally NZ has been the team to struggle..." = nonsense!

Rosario will be even tougher I feel and the Wallabies are most ripe for a loss if they are complacent (again) or if the set pieces don't go their way and panic or lack of game plan adjustment occurs (we're good at that!).
Whereas NZ will most likely scrape through if it's a close one or win quite comfortably.

Thanks LB. You fell into my trap. I just wanted to see you make those comments. I will now add your post to my NZ Herald job application.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Thanks LB. You fell into my trap. I just wanted to see you make those comments. I will now add your post to my NZ Herald job application.

That's low Kia Never mind very, very sneaky.

Those were the very two attributes on the job application they prized over everything else.

Then you will definitely benefit from Keo, he knows everything you need to know.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Thanks LB. You fell into my trap. I just wanted to see you make those comments. I will now add your post to my NZ Herald job application.

Having circulation problems are they? You would be just the tonic!

No in all seriousness I didn't realise you had lost so many times there. How can you be so gash against lower ranked teams and so annoyingly effective against SA and NZ? Do you channel your rage at losing against us? Do you mind if we bottle it and then spray our AB shirts before a RWC knockout match against France?

You know us kia - we're hot and cold... and we have less of a chip on our shoulders (= complacency at times) and we tend to be more generous by nature... let the minnows gain a false sense of security once in a while

I'm not convinced about this exclusive 'rage' against NZ/SA thing - it's just a little luck here and there every now and then and 101% application - about once or thrice a decade for Australia - yet the ABs do this quite regularity. Flick the 'On' switch.

You guys need to stop talking about the France Syndrome. That has always surprised me - a couple of important one off games but one was aided by 'we know who' and no, our secret potion is not for sale! However, a cheap, fake version is available in some outlets

Don't tell Biltong LB but 95 hurt by far the most. The thought of so many iconic players without a RWC medal doesn't heal with time. France are just a smokescreen. Secretly we all want to see them at their devastating best. Even if it comes at your expense. Well maybe not that much!

Look forward to buying Rage, essence of stinky man in an outlet my way soon.

Russia

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Don't tell Biltong LB but 95 hurt by far the most. The thought of so many iconic players without a RWC medal doesn't heal with time. France are just a smokescreen. Secretly we all want to see them at their devastating best. Even if it comes at your expense. Well maybe not that much!

Look forward to buying Rage, essence of stinky man in an outlet my way soon.

OK, I won't. Your secret is safe with me... he's watching the cricket anyway.

Great name that: RAGE - essence of taipan with a dash of kea feather pigment.

Linebreaker wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Don't tell Biltong LB but 95 hurt by far the most. The thought of so many iconic players without a RWC medal doesn't heal with time. France are just a smokescreen. Secretly we all want to see them at their devastating best. Even if it comes at your expense. Well maybe not that much!

Look forward to buying Rage, essence of stinky man in an outlet my way soon.

OK, I won't. Your secret is safe with me... he's watching the cricket anyway.

Great name that: RAGE - essence of taipan with a dash of kea feather pigment.

Just popped in to offer my condolences, I remember the expression of the New Zealand captain after the match, so yeah, that's why I don't gloat.

It is eina.

Linebreaker wrote:
OK, I won't. Your secret is safe with me... he's watching the cricket anyway.[/color]

Tricky call for which team to supporting for a south african,?

anotherworldofpain wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:
OK, I won't. Your secret is safe with me... he's watching the cricket anyway.[/color]

Tricky call for which team to supporting for a south african,?

Not really, I have decided to support both, that way I don't get disappointed as we win either way.

I see one of the SA batsmen go out for the duck already!

You can't lose Biltong, can you? Lucky man!

How's the stuffed toy dog feeling?

Bored to death.

It's sending me to sleep.

Might as well take a nap, the bowlers seem to be going through the motions with little rhyme or reason.

The pitch seems dead. I can't understand - they've had the wettest April-June on record yet it looks as though there is hardly any life in the pitch.

That's the beauty of cricket. Have a nap and wake up to see if things have become interesting. If not, have a beer and go back to sleep. Wonderful sport.

That must be the New Zealand way...

I couldn't even get into 2nd wave sleep before our champion side (in their heyday) would be shattering the peacefulness of it all and beer would be flying across the room.

Ooooh a common pigeon... slow day indeed!

I slept a lot back in those days of watching cricket. Woke up briefly to see Martin Crowe's 299 against Sri Lanka, Mark Greatbatch's pinch hitting, Nathan Astle´s double ton against England, Shane Bond's 5 wicket spells against Australia, that outfield catch by Sinclair, Taylor's thrashing of a Pakistan bowling attack who had made a prior trip to the bookie´s and the rest is pretty much a blur.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:I slept a lot back in those days of watching cricket. Woke up briefly to see Martin Crowe's 299 against Sri Lanka, Mark Greatbatch's pinch hitting, Nathan Astle´s double ton against England, Shane Bond's 5 wicket spells against Australia, that outfield catch by Sinclair, Taylor's thrashing of a Pakistan bowling attack who had made a prior trip to the bookie´s and the rest is pretty much a blur.

I was at Lancaster Park for Astle's knock. When he finally got out we'd gotten the song from "100 more boundaries to hit" (to the tune of "10 green bottles") down to "24 more ..." and the Barmy Army had joined in!

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:I slept a lot back in those days of watching cricket. Woke up briefly to see Martin Crowe's 299 against Sri Lanka, Mark Greatbatch's pinch hitting, Nathan Astle´s double ton against England, Shane Bond's 5 wicket spells against Australia, that outfield catch by Sinclair, Taylor's thrashing of a Pakistan bowling attack who had made a prior trip to the bookie´s and the rest is pretty much a blur.

I must be a glutton for punishment.....I couldn’t even get myself to sleep watching Tom Latham and Jacob Oram bat in these last few ballsups we’ve gifted to the Windies....

The beauty of living in Madrid is what the eye doesn't see the mind cannot contemplate. So when I saw the stories on stuff I conveniently glossed over the grim headlines and pretended it wasn't current news. Then I had a beer and a siesta...

For some godforbidden reason, I cannot shake my schoolboy sense of loyalty to the cricket team. Each new horizon brings forth another era of dross but somehow....even when you think the barrel can go no deeper, the Black Caps seem to find ‘sensational’ players lurking in the depths. If ever there were a song about the NZ cricket team, it is surely the Who’s ‘Won’t get fooled again’ because well, we do in the end....

Bert Sutcliffe must be spinning in his grave

But even then, most of the players around him were Poopie

It is the ying and yang of the world. If the ABs exist so too must the Black Caps. Every so often we have to realise we are not the world's best at rugby but then every so often we find a way to reach the semi finals of the cricket world cup with 5 right arm where do you want this lollipop over the wickets and some pinch hitters with an average of 22. But I'm prepared to put up with batting collapses and innings defeats for AB glory.

Ewen Chatfield was my cricketing hero growing up. He proved you don't have to have the full package to be effective and I told every girl I knew of this. But then I blamed them leaving me on my Chats moustache and beige outfits. It was a complex relationship...

anotherworldofpain wrote:I see one of the SA batsmen go out for the duck already!

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:It is the ying and yang of the world. If the ABs exist so too must the Black Caps. Every so often we have to realise we are not the world's best at rugby but then every so often we find a way to reach the semi finals of the cricket world cup with 5 right arm where do you want this lollipop over the wickets and some pinch hitters with an average of 22. But I'm prepared to put up with batting collapses and innings defeats for AB glory.

Ewen Chatfield was my cricketing hero growing up. He proved you don't have to have the full package to be effective and I told every girl I knew of this. But then I blamed them leaving me on my Chats moustache and beige outfits. It was a complex relationship...

True Kia the ABs supercede the Black Caps that's for sure!

Ha I knew Ewen from rep cricket-I played with his son who should have learned from his dad because Ewen's a lovely humble bloke and his son is a complete tool. I'll tell him next time I see him what his mo inspired!

Richard de Groen and Willie Watson opening the attack. Shudder.

disneychilly wrote:

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:It is the ying and yang of the world. If the ABs exist so too must the Black Caps. Every so often we have to realise we are not the world's best at rugby but then every so often we find a way to reach the semi finals of the cricket world cup with 5 right arm where do you want this lollipop over the wickets and some pinch hitters with an average of 22. But I'm prepared to put up with batting collapses and innings defeats for AB glory.

Ewen Chatfield was my cricketing hero growing up. He proved you don't have to have the full package to be effective and I told every girl I knew of this. But then I blamed them leaving me on my Chats moustache and beige outfits. It was a complex relationship...

True Kia the ABs supercede the Black Caps that's for sure!

Ha I knew Ewen from rep cricket-I played with his son who should have learned from his dad because Ewen's a lovely humble bloke and his son is a complete tool. I'll tell him next time I see him what his mo inspired!

Richard de Groen and Willie Watson opening the attack. Shudder.

Disney, we certainly grew up in the periphery of each other's circles! I used to play at Naenae, where Chats is undeniably God (or is that now Jesse Ryder?) but as you point out, his son Richard was a dick of the highest order - I put him up there with Ollie Mannix who we've whinged about before....must be the 'directly related to someone relatively famous/well known syndrome' which makes them act like dicks...

The history of NZ cricket is absolutely littered with military medium bowlers...richard Petrie anyone??