Blacks wary of Wallaby jumpers
5 Jul 2006
The All Blacks are concerned about the number of line-out jumpers selected by John Connolly for the first Bledisloe Cup encounter.
The Wallabies coach has kept the line-out options of Daniel Vickerman, Nathan Sharpe, Rocky Elsom and Mark Chisholm in his unchanged starting line-up for Saturday’s Test in Christchurch. George Smith is another option that may be used at the back, and the Wallabies will lose little height when Scott Fava comes off the bench in the second half.
The All Blacks boast two quality jumpers in Chris Jack and newcomer Jason Eaton, and there is the option of one of Richie McCaw, Jerry Collins and Rodney So’oialo at the back.
The difference between the two teams is in the experience of these players as frontline line-out winners. Vickerman and Elsom are regularly employed for their franchise the Waratahs, as is Chisholm for the Brumbies. Having represented Australia 44 times, Sharpe is vastly experienced at this level and may only be rivaled by Chris Jack in this respect.
All Blacks forward coach Steve Hansen confirmed yesterday that the Aussie line-out will be a factor.
“The set pieces are obviously going to be an area of the Test where there will be a huge focus,” Hansen told Greg Growden on rugbyheaven.com. “They [Australia] probably feel they have an edge at line-out time, and we may have a small edge at scrum-time … but we’ll see what happens.”
Hansen said the 2006 Wallabies could easily be compared with the All Blacks of several years ago.
“Australia are very similar to us, in having three coaches coming back from the UK, as we did in 2004 [when Hansen, Wayne Smith and Graham Henry returned to New Zealand]. With us, there was then a huge emphasis on the set pieces, and the physicality of the game. I’m sure that’s what Australia are looking to do too right now.”
The Springboks are another side who depend on their line-outs as a major source of possession, but with Bakkies Botha in doubt for the Australasian tour and Schalk Burger out until next year, they too may have to seek alterior methods of combatting the Wallabies.
36 Comments
5 Jul 2006, 11:34 am
the australasian psy-ops have began.
5 Jul 2006, 11:37 am
All Blacks gaan hulle aarde toe bring…
5 Jul 2006, 11:37 am
Die All Black’s gaan net te sterk wees hierdie naweek… wag en sien. Lag dan kliphard vir daai ****** ozzies
5 Jul 2006, 11:40 am
hope they beat the hell out of each other
5 Jul 2006, 11:40 am
What a lot of ****.
The AB’s have done good enough on opposition throws. Their opposition have done better.
This tells me the problem doesn’t lie with the collectors, more like the hooker/lifter/jumper timing. Not to mention the piss poor throwing.
5 Jul 2006, 11:40 am
I just hope no one gets injured… then they won’t have any excuses come next Saturday.
5 Jul 2006, 11:43 am
We wont win the trinations but we will take one game away from home and maybe 2 at home
5 Jul 2006, 11:43 am
skoorsteen
What excuse would that be needed for? Not winning by the expected huge margin!
At the end of the day, a win is win.
5 Jul 2006, 11:45 am
Ahoi Brads.
Wait sheepy. Wait for the Green Storm.
5 Jul 2006, 11:49 am
Dont say “storm” skoor!
5 Jul 2006, 11:52 am
suparugby
I am looking forward to this 3N.
Lets give away Bravado and be honest. This series could be close!
NZ has created depth, sure, but that only really helps in a RWC environment. In 3N, each team can call up who they like.
As for NZ, the best that can be said for the 3 test teams that were selected todate is the players gained experience.
Yet to see a convincing performance that justifies our #1 status.
5 Jul 2006, 11:55 am
skoorsteen
Excellent. I wait with baited breath.
Fully expect to be disappointed tho
5 Jul 2006, 11:57 am
Brads
Its gonna be tough and we will do ok, i just dont see us winning week after week. Dont think we are consistent enough, where aussies and kiwis are more consistent (sometimes consistently bad). Thats why i think we will win 2 or 3 out of 6. We will struggle over there. The winner of saturdays match will win the trinations.
5 Jul 2006, 12:03 pm
suparugby
I don’t agree. May happen as you suggest, but the shape of this competition allows for a poor performance to be redeemed.
Either team on saturday could go on to win the 3N, or not even feature after the win. Honestly, NZ could scratch through a win and then slide. Who knows?
5 Jul 2006, 12:29 pm
With the colour of those jumpers I’d be wary too.
5 Jul 2006, 12:34 pm
Hi guys and gals, i’ve always read keo,but never posted till today…does anyone know where i can find 100 meter times for squad members of franchises or the southern hemisphere teams? appreciate it
5 Jul 2006, 12:37 pm
caged
you probably wont get that information, dont think it gets released
5 Jul 2006, 12:54 pm
Die Ausies gaan 10 teen 1 die 3 nasies wen die jaar.
5 Jul 2006, 13:05 pm
Fok dit. Nie die Aussies nie asseblief tog.
5 Jul 2006, 13:20 pm
Al hou ek ewe min van albei, is my geld op die Bandiete.
Die skaap molesteerders word heeltemal oorskat
Al die diepte beteken ook niks. Daar is net 15 op die veld, nie 45 nie.
5 Jul 2006, 13:24 pm
Supa,
10.
Ek stem. Die woord “Storm” of enige vorm daarvan, hou gewoonlik verband met vernederende rugby loesings en vuil na-uurse gewoontes.
5 Jul 2006, 13:38 pm
Just as the favourite comment on here is that the ABs can only field 15 players, well the Wallabies can only throw to one person each line-out.
In the middle of the lineout the height and skill of the catcher is very important, but at the back it much more about getting the throw exactly right and the jump well timed. Height doesn’t really enter into it: McCaw wins plenty of ball for Canterbury without being a monster.
Is not Connolly’s insistence on loads of jumpers covering what he sees as a weakness? If he had four men who were capable of winning quality ball, why would five be necessary?
That or it is just a convenient excuse to pick the players he wanted to pick: thereby not needing to really explain why Waugh is out.
I figure he has the big men because he wants to play a tight game, Warratahs-style, with his best chance of scoring being from lineouts close to the AB line. Hence the need to throw to the rear, so as to get the best possible roll-on for the line.
He sacrifices a lot of mobility to do it though, so expect the ABs to counter with loads of movement. Not the silly “fling it wide” **** of old I hasten to add, but no-frills barges in the centres and moves off the base of the scrum.
5 Jul 2006, 14:00 pm
The line-outs are a key aspect, but not the most important one. Compare Bull’s advantage in Super14. The key is rather how the line-out advantage will be utilised in overall scheme. AB’s are more balanced and should have the edge, though marginally.
5 Jul 2006, 14:41 pm
I am not so convinced of the AB’s quality in the backline. They have not found a convincing replacement for Tana, and Ma’a Nonu is out. The Aussie backline is pretty bloody goos right now with Gregan, Larkham, Giteau, Mortlock, Gerrard, and Latham – each of them natural attacking footballers and mostly big and fast. Also their defence is legendary. Their weak point may be upfront (although they didnt look too weak against Englnd). I reckon AB’s must take them on up front, with mauls and drives down the middle.
5 Jul 2006, 14:46 pm
But WWW, that back-line of Oz is pretty similar to last year, which didn’t get the job done.
Moreover we can be fairly sure that Knuckles will not be using Jones’ gameplan, so don’t expect the Wallaby backs to get much running ball in mid-field.
My prediction: Larkham to have a shocker. But he will make one good break and the press will forget the rest of his game.
5 Jul 2006, 14:47 pm
www
Agreed. dink die All Blacks senter kan n swakpunt wees
5 Jul 2006, 14:49 pm
Chiefs
You’re wrong. They didnt have the same backline. Thats how they started losing. They lost Larkham, Giteau, Rathbone and a few others
5 Jul 2006, 14:57 pm
Well, they don’t have Giteau in the starting line now, so no different. Rathbone is neither here nor there, since his replacements are pretty good.
Didn’t Larkham start the season though? I struggle to remember, he gets injured so often.
5 Jul 2006, 15:02 pm
He played the game in sydney where we got thrashed and got injured later on. He is a key factor though, their backline is not the same without him. There were more injuries – at one time it added up to 15
5 Jul 2006, 15:12 pm
Ah, just like this year then! Larkham to get his bottom spanked and then injured.
Sorry, but Larkham just isn’t going to be the difference. If the Wallabies are going to win, they will have to do more than just rely on him.
If a Kiwi suggested that because we have Carter we are going to win with our pacy backs, would you credit that as sufficient reason?
5 Jul 2006, 15:26 pm
Suparugby,
The last time Larkham played in the south island for Oz he had an almighty shocker with the boot. I remember the game was played in torrential rain and the ABs only won with a small margin due to the Ozzies superb defence and countless missed opportunities. Xavier Rush scored a try IIRC. Larkham was pressed into a kicking game and it just isn’t one of his strengths. Passing – yes, Running – yes, Kicking – No, No, No, No!
The Ozzies will look to Rogers I think to get them field position, but again he can be flaky when put under real pressure. I expect the ABs to turn the screw on the Ozzie decision makers and to prey on their weaknesses – namely positional kicking.
5 Jul 2006, 15:35 pm
Chiefsfan,
I agree completely. If Oz are to win it will be because their scrum held up, their forwards gained an edge over the AB pack and they won the lineout battle. Forget the possession statistics, it’s all about whether they can get quality possession and whether they can take advantage of it.
I can’t wait to find out the answers to these questions:
- Can the inexperienced Ozzie front row handle Hayman, Mealamu and Woodcock?
- Will the Ozzie lineout with all its jumpers really be that much of an advantage?
- Will the Mealamu begin to throw in properly?
- Who will get the upper hand in the battle of the best two scavengers in the world – Smith or McCaw?
- Will Gregan wind Kelleher up again, or will BK show some maturity and play for the team?
- How will Carter and Larkham perform against each other for the first time?
- How will Muliaina fare against the marauding Mortlock on defence?
- How will Mortlock fare against the elusive and quick Muliaina on defence?
- Will Oz’s back three look as pedestrian on the field as they look to be on paper?
- Which gameplan will Oz use – one of containment or one of enterprise – to try and defeat the ABs?
- Will the ABs put in a performance expected of the #1 side in the world?
I for one can’t wait!!!
-
- McCaw to engage in his personal tussle with Smith, to see if the Ozzie front
5 Jul 2006, 15:35 pm
That’s pretty much how I see it Stodders. Both sides to start the game kicking for position, but the ABs to have the better of it.
Later on it will open up, but not a lot.
Expect Larkham to have to make lots of tackles too. If I was Henry, I would instruct the boys to run at him all day.
5 Jul 2006, 15:41 pm
Wicked Wugby Wascal,
The ABs can’t replace Tana. His style and experience is irreplaceable. What they are doing is exposing gifted footballers to the #13 role. Guys like Conrad Smith, Mils Muliana and Isaia Toeava are what Henry is looking for – players who can hurt the opposition and distribute the ball to the talent the ABs have in their back 3.
Nonu of course provides an alternative to these guys and if he can improve certain aspects of his game like ball retention and decision making he will be in the mix too.
But the future of the ABs seems to be to have smart footballers who can release the flyers.
5 Jul 2006, 18:59 pm
Wouldn’t have a major impact on the game…the AB’s are a well-balanced side with skill and pace, and has brought another dimension to their game, i.e. off-loading in the tackle.
5 Jul 2006, 21:59 pm
I disagree, and I think so does Graeme Henry. Tana wasn’t producing in 2005 and had to go. Sure they lose power, but sometimes guile is better.
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