Eales prepares for gold rush
14 Jul 2006
John Eales is tipping the Wallabies to win, saying the Springboks don’t pose the threat of the All Blacks.
Morris Gilbert reports from Brisbane that former Wallabies and Reds captain Eales said the Boks would be bruising challenge, but technically they were not in the class of the All Blacks. He also singled out the Wallabies record against the Boks in Brisbane.
“My feeling is that the Wallabies will win on Saturday. They have not lost to the Springboks at Suncorp Stadium and this is a record they would like to retain,” said Eales, who questioned the front row of the Boks, much like Wallabies assistant coach Michael Foley did earlier in the week.
“The Springboks scrum well, but the All Blacks are by far the best in the world. They have succeeded in combining power, technique and experience in a winning formula instead of relying on size and weight only,” Eales said. “Graham Henry (the New Zealand coach) has realised you can be the best in the world only if you also dominate in the tight phases. The All Blacks then worked on their shortcomings and now they have the best pack in the world. I do not expect that the Springboks will subject the Wallaby front row to a stiffer test than the All Blacks did.”
Eales also felt the selection of Mat Giteau would give the Wallabies backs more variation and make them more dangerous.
“It was a clever move to select Matt Giteau at inside centre. He has recovered from his injury and has always been the logical choice at No 12. With him in midfield, things can happen more quickly because he is a very creative player.”
22 Comments
14 Jul 2006, 08:01 am
going to be tough one this weekend, in my heart i do believe the boks can do it,but thats my heart
14 Jul 2006, 08:03 am
We certainly have much to prove
I dont think that any of us quite know what to expect after the shaky performances here.
Perhaps all the negative criticism will have bonded the team. Does Jake have the hold over the team like he did.
Cant wait to see.
14 Jul 2006, 08:04 am
Is eales ***? no seriously, is he?
14 Jul 2006, 08:06 am
boks by 5
14 Jul 2006, 08:07 am
Hopefully JAKE will shock the WALLLABIES, by not applying the “rush defence”– the rugby world have worked this out so it is no longer a surprise. With steppers in their 3/4 line we could leak a lot of tries using the rush defence.
Time to change JAKE & surprise the world, unless this surprise is for the world cup and he is prepared to lose test rather than expose his hand?
14 Jul 2006, 08:10 am
tough one to call – if the Aussies play like they did against England, then…. Hopefully the Bokks will not allow them that chance!
The bokks need not hide on their shells, they have more than enough talent and should exploit this to its maximum – Like the Doc said; if you want to win a rugby game, put 15 ball players on the park and let them play!
Go Bokke!!!!
14 Jul 2006, 08:11 am
In my heart I’m always a bok supporter .. by my gut and my head tell me that this is going to be the same as the French test and that the Aussies are going to do the boks in my about 10 points.
14 Jul 2006, 08:13 am
Suncorp Stadium = Bunch of shitfaced auzzies singing waltzing M. on arrival and crying on departure! And I’ll see the $100 bet on smiths dreadlock and raise it another hundred
14 Jul 2006, 08:14 am
I’m afraid the Boks won’t win this match.
Last year, it took a full strength Bok team to beat a Wallaby side decimated by injury. We could only manage a 3 point victory and it was at Subiaco Oval, our most successful away ground.
Injury-wise, the roles are now reversed. Form-wise, the Wallabies are on the rise and the Boks are on a downward spiral and I’ve never seen the Boks play a good game in Brisbane.
Hate to be pessimistic but it’ll be a miracle if they win this match…
14 Jul 2006, 08:14 am
Given how badly the Bulls play overseas and given how many Bulls are in the starting XV, we are screwed!
14 Jul 2006, 08:16 am
Do I hear $300??
14 Jul 2006, 08:17 am
Seriously, our away record sucks and our form this season has been awful. The Wallabies had 60% possession against the All Blacks and were stopped by the AB physicality at the breakdown and awesome defense. If our defense isn’t 100% we are going to get nailed.
14 Jul 2006, 08:26 am
Could this be a repeat of our first game last year against the Aussies where we were taught a rugby lesson?
It seems every time Jake relies on a big Dinosaur pack, all the Aussies do is run around us.
Lets hope all the negative sentiment is wrong. We could do with a win!
14 Jul 2006, 08:33 am
SA NEEDS LUKE VERY BADLY
14 Jul 2006, 08:45 am
If we are beaten by a strong performance from George Smith, u can expect a public outcry for Watsons inclusion. Wonder if Jake will listen the way he did with Akona.
I hope Akona settles quickly and shows his talents the way he did for the bulls.
Lote is out to get him, I will sacrifice a testicle to see Akona tackle Lote so hard that he starts crying for his mommy.
Wouldnt it be nice to see Os tackle Lote at full pace….
14 Jul 2006, 08:57 am
Aikona he won’t listen like he did with Akona..
14 Jul 2006, 09:06 am
I hate to say it, but Akona is gonna tase Brisbane turf on a few occasions on Saturday.
14 Jul 2006, 09:14 am
tase=taste
14 Jul 2006, 09:35 am
got to get in giteus face early… he has not played ruga for a hile and will be rusty.. cant let him get confidence
BOKNAAI
14 Jul 2006, 09:42 am
Ig who’s the ref?
14 Jul 2006, 09:56 am
I confess, it’s me.
14 Jul 2006, 11:07 am
20,
honis I think
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