Tuqiri: We like the physical stuff
16 Jul 2008
Australian wing Lote Tuqiri expects his team to stand up to the physical challenge of playing the Springboks – and hand out some punishment of their own.
Tuqiri missed the Wallabies’ 40-10 win over France with a knee injury but has recovered to be named in the starting team for Saturday’s Test. While he acknowledged the Test would be physically demanding, he expected his team-mates to also dish out some rough stuff.
“It’s no place for the faint-hearted – the Tri-Nations – and there’s certainly guys in our team who like that stuff and don’t shy away, so everyone’s looking forward to a good contest,” Tuqiri told the West Australian.
Much as been said of Boks’ aggressive tactics, with Kiwi flyhalf Dan Carter voicing his distress at the attention he received, but Tuqiri believes this is all part of a competition such as the Tri-Nations.
“The last two games between the All Blacks and the Boks have been, obviously, very physical and we expect nothing different on Saturday night and nothing different for the rest of the tournament.” said Tuqiri.
Tuqiri has stressed the importance of standing up to the Springboks.
“You definitely have to be up for the physical contest as everyone knows,” he said.
Flanker George Smith, who held off the challenge from Phil Waugh and will win his 87th cap at the Subiaco Oval, concurred with Tuqiri’s sentiments.
“It’s always that case – the Tri-Nations is always a high-intensity game and the aggression levels are up there,” said Smith.
“We’re under no illusions that this is going to be a tough match, the Springboks coming off a win against the Blacks over there in New Zealand. It’s always a tough win and it’s going to be a tough night for us,” said Smith.
93 Comments
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16 Jul 2008, 15:39 pm
#49 Wallabie – Superbru S14 Champion: you can spin it how you like walla. check who the opposition is mate.
the wallabies clearly dont play friendlies then eh?
ag, its a non-issue. irb award plus wc medal plus more tries plus more pace plus uncompromising defence plus good kicking game = winner.
you decide who i am talking about.
now down to the serious business. will your pack hold us?
16 Jul 2008, 15:40 pm
#46 rangerman:
Your research you got it from the Beeld?
16 Jul 2008, 15:42 pm
#50 Wallabie – Superbru S14 Champion: mate, maybe in oz, but we seriously dont view him as a threat in south africa.
maybe he is dangerous against sides who dont line up to tackle attackers onto their asses, but against us he is a show pony, nothing more.
and furthermore, jusdging by habanas last performance at perth, is your heart in your mouth? check the TWO tries on youtube, just dont search for lotta.
16 Jul 2008, 15:42 pm
#51 rangerman:
anyway you can spin your lot…you can go on if you want.
This is a debate and not an opinion bashing session.
I will leave it at this because soon we will be comparing *****’s , clearly i would win
16 Jul 2008, 15:43 pm
…*wonders if either of these 2 players will even see the ball on Saturday*…
16 Jul 2008, 15:45 pm
#53 rangerman:
Enjoy the game it will be good.
Bias aside i have the wallabies just ahead of the boks for this weekend.
If the wallabies keep to their attack game plan then the game will be over but if aus try play the boks at their own game then it is anybodys game.
16 Jul 2008, 15:45 pm
#52 Wallabie – Superbru S14 Champion: from that scrum site you gave me. bit short on info, but sheesh you guys have some intersesting names for the competitions you play!
cook cup? and theres more. clearly they werent friendlies but if you steal players like the big fijian then how can you expect them to be friendly?
oh, and by the way, yes we poached some zimbos but we would never dream of playing their side, let alone callling it an “international”.
16 Jul 2008, 15:46 pm
Seems Wallabie gets a bit hot under the collar when Tequila gets a bit of criticism. I think Drew is better.
16 Jul 2008, 15:46 pm
#55 Wi-Kid:
You talking about JP and habana?
16 Jul 2008, 15:47 pm
#57 rangerman:
But you guys will play namibia who are in the same tier as Zimbabwe….and make it a test.
16 Jul 2008, 15:47 pm
#50 Wallabie – Superbru S14 Champion: Your heart is in your mouth because you like him in a way you just can’t explain…right?
16 Jul 2008, 15:49 pm
#58 lightie:
People underrate him and because he does not score as many tries his work rate always goes unnoticed.
wallabies has always been a team who play for each other and that is why you will see more players in a team who have mutliple tries ie 20 plus whereas other teams you have a handful scoring the bulk of them.
16 Jul 2008, 15:49 pm
#56 Wallabie – Superbru S14 Champion: lol, i have the boks by plenty, 15 to be exact.
if the boks impose themselves on the wallabies as we know they can then it may be more.
enjoy.
16 Jul 2008, 15:50 pm
#62 Wallabie – Superbru S14 Champion: they play for each other when they arent breaking each others jaws!
16 Jul 2008, 15:53 pm
#63 rangerman:
There will be only one winner…the boks to underestimate the wallabies.
The ABs, whilst both games were exceptional, were poor at the ruck and left almighty holes. two tries from RSA came from poor defense at the ruck.
You wont get that against the wallabies.
16 Jul 2008, 15:54 pm
#64 rangerman:
Okay i am done…your debate is beginning to be lacking.
I am out.
16 Jul 2008, 15:55 pm
You boys know anywhere where i could watch the Dunedin game online, i was at T in the park and missed it. Iv seen highlights but i want the whole bloody thing.
16 Jul 2008, 15:57 pm
Remember keep your feet planted to earth…the boks still have won one and lost one against an understrength NZ.
And with a few players still cutting their teeth in test match rugby.
NZ and wallabies are going through a change of resources where RSA are largely unchanged.
16 Jul 2008, 16:06 pm
#66 Wallabie – Superbru S14 Champion: ag walla i was only kidding man, but sorry ja, maybe in poor taste.
i am off too. have a good one and lets get the heat going during the week mate, ups the anticipation!
16 Jul 2008, 16:21 pm
Gonna be good…roll on Saturday – Go Bokke!
16 Jul 2008, 16:42 pm
#37 Soda: a “friendly” is when you play any NH side hahaha
16 Jul 2008, 17:54 pm
Poor old Wallabie going blind as well the stats prove Habana is a better finisher than Lota Tequila any day. It is even acknowledged around the world that he is the best finisher. The only better winger in the world is Joe Rocketcoko.
Lota is a poor team player as well remember the push on Norton-Night what a team man hey?
16 Jul 2008, 20:56 pm
#36 Wallabie – Superbru S14 Champion: Tuqiri is ****
16 Jul 2008, 23:25 pm
#72 TheTackler is a Bok Supporter:
Difference between better finisher and being a better all round player.
17 Jul 2008, 00:41 am
It would be quite funny if PdV cam out and insisted (and stayed insisting straight up to the game) that he will tell his players to be as dirty as possible, and to intimidate by any means possibel, watch the Aussie press be excited into a slavering ball of fury with twisted panties and all, and then play the cleanest game that they have ever played.
LOL!!
17 Jul 2008, 02:44 am
#65 Wallabie – Superbru S14 Champion: and therein lies the value of one Mr McCaw.
Although Shalk plays a more physical game than most, its on the ground where he’s not his best, Waugh and Smith can both nudge ahead here, but they’ll need the full contingent of Aussies backing them up.
Aus have a huge strength in teh Giteau Burgess link, solid, and can be very unpredicatble, often resulting in the not quite desired effect, but if they get it right, watch out!
Can the Boks back up as strongly from last weekend – I think they are capable, but physically, the last couple of weeks have been tough, they may have peaked in Dunedin, and if they go into this test with the same mindset like they did in Wellington, they will lose.
Its a close one to call, but I tip the Aussies to sneak it by 4.
#72 TheTackler is a Bok Supporter: Habana is not necessarily a better finisher, he’s arguably a better starter esp from the intercept – but a finisher, I think Lote is his equal there along with a fit Rokocoko.
Habanas anticpation of the intercept at the risk of being offside has given him more status than he deserves. He used to be a good kicker too, but that seems to have faded.
17 Jul 2008, 04:08 am
#11 rangerman: Just remember you boers are imports as well
17 Jul 2008, 04:22 am
#36 Wallabie – Superbru S14 Champion:
And the kak keeps coming.
Fool yourself if you like, mate. Tuqiri is a great wing, but he’s not even in the top four in world rugby at the moment. He’s a powerful ball carrier and good under a high ball, but that’s about it. He’s been exposed positionally more than a few times in world rugby, and his one-on-one defense is (surprisingly) average, particularly against bigger runners.
His work-rate is good, but I don’t think there’s a wing in the world that can match Habana for getting around the park, currently. And if you want to call Habs one-dimensional, then the only one exposing his limited intelligence on this site is YOU.
17 Jul 2008, 04:22 am
#77 CHAZ:
Ja, we CHOSE this place. You were shipped down there against your will.
17 Jul 2008, 04:26 am
#48 warbiscuit:
He’s also, ironically, a better offloader, and manages to stay on his feet just as long in the tackle as does Tuqiri.
In fact, Tuqiri is clearly the more limited and inferior rugby player.
Suck on that, Walla. The truth hurts.
17 Jul 2008, 04:35 am
Sometimes I wonder how some of you people watch rugby.
There are certain criteria you look for to evaluate certain positions. To do so properly you have to really pay attention to one player for at least 40-50 minutes of a match. Off-the-ball work is just as important as on-the-ball, PARTICULARLY for wings and fullbacks.
Habana used to be a lazy, one-dimensional intercept merchant. He was dropped from the Bok team, and for good reason. Since his return, he has established himself as a multi-dimensional, complete wing, both on and off the ball. One who still happens to have that instinctive sense for the intercept try.
And no, his kicking game has not faded. He just clearly trusts himself with ball in hand more now than before.
17 Jul 2008, 04:50 am
#51 rangerman: Yeah and how many of them were from intercepts, seagulling on the wing, seems to me if you go back a week ago I counted 3 tackles in the first half halfabrain missed
17 Jul 2008, 04:58 am
#73 Big Hit: Amen, the most over rated player in the world
17 Jul 2008, 04:59 am
#73 Big Hit: Ha, a winging pohm making a statement like that, pot calling the kettle black, since when have your useless lot put out a decent winger, and mean a person that plays on the wing, not a windger
17 Jul 2008, 05:01 am
#79 MaraudingJ: No dofuss you got the wrong island
17 Jul 2008, 05:08 am
#65 Wallabie – Superbru S14 Champion: yeah but we wont get the AB scrum either so expect the wobblies to go backwards faster than the French Army
17 Jul 2008, 06:35 am
#74 Wallabie – Superbru S14 Champion:
Too bad Tuqiri is neither of the two.
17 Jul 2008, 06:36 am
#81 MaraudingJ: “And no, his kicking game has not faded. He just clearly trusts himself with ball in hand more now than before”
To a degree, thats right, but all I’m saying is that when he has to kick, or could kick, it has not appeared to be one of his strengths.
Yes he has looked busier than he did – which is to be expected, he has alot more experience now, and he is a very big threat, but during the tests in NZ, particularly Wellington, he was about 4/10, Duendin he got to a 7, he was just that bit more accurate down south, although he put himself offside once by accident,
17 Jul 2008, 06:55 am
#88 KiaKahaNZ:
I don’t really know why you’d say his kicking game has gone downhill. He has a huge boot, and has cleared well under pressure. Of the SA backs, though, he’s by far the least likely to put boot on ball now. In the past he used to have one of the most useless chip kicks around. So glad he let that go.
He had an extremely up and down game in Wellington, agreed. He was extremely busy on defense and worked hard to try to organize the two inexperienced backs with him, but his hands let him down too many times on offense. Watch him next game, though. I haven’t seen a wing hit and clear rucks that much in a while. I would’ve given him a 5 in Wellington.
Much better in Dunedin, though. He was a little overeager and actually put himself offside TWICE when we were in scoring positions (one wasn’t really offside, but it was practically impossible for the player inside him to get him the ball). He also cut in when calling for the ball that time that Big Joe ended up passing it to the linesman. However, his workrate was just as high, and, if anything, he was even better off the ball and in the rucks. I would’ve given him a 7.5 in that game.
It really is a sin that he doesn’t get ball more often. He has shown in the last two years that he can make something happen from nothing, and that he isn’t just an intercept merchant anymore. For one thing, he’s revealed a mighty step that I didn’t know he had before. He’s also finally mastering the subtlety of pace variation (the thing that makes Shane Williams so potent and made Campese a legend).
I would already rate Habana the best overall wing in the world, and he’s still learning. Not complete by a long shot.
Tuqiri’s a good wing, but he’s not Habana. I always laugh at how gung-ho Aussies like to get about Tuqiri. He’s not that feared. The only two times I worry about Tuqiri in a match is when it’s 8th or 9th phase and midfield defense is scrambling, or when a high ball is hung up on his side against someone who’s mediocre under garryowens — the former because he does hit the gainline extremely hard and at good pace, and the latter because he has the knack for timing his jumps perfectly and he has great hands in the air.
Good flyhalves have figured him out, though. He’s lazy turning around, and he creeps up too early, leaving the back exposed. Butch is too stupid to take advantage of this on Saturday, but you’ll have noticed that Carter’s always looking to ping the space behind him.
17 Jul 2008, 07:02 am
#88 KiaKahaNZ:
Oh, and PS, much happier to be trashing Aus with you than be at sixes and sevens about Boks-ABs games. haha
Also, hope you didn’t get all riled up about the Carter trashing in that other thread. I don’t like the guy, but in my opinion he’s a far more complete flyhalf than Wilkinson, and he’s still getting better.
And it’s my job to study flyhalves. Sort of. At least, it’s my passion. haha
17 Jul 2008, 07:29 am
#90 MaraudingJ: hey look, much of what you say is true, and I thinkn at the moment he is probably the form winger in the world, and agree his work rate is up there. I just lately he’s been a wee bit exposed, found out of you like by players who are able to put pressure on him.
The problem in comparing him to Tuqiri I guess is alot of Aussies have seen more of him, and when he was a very accomplished league player, we all saw a huge array of skills, so the analysis is somewhat skewed.
Additionally, you’re South African so of course you would say all those things and rate him higher in the two tests. Maybe I had higher expectations of him.
So, yeah, its nice not to have the jibes firing our way this week, next week will probably be like a ghost town in here.
Its dinner time…and a glass of Pinot has been poured, enjoy!
17 Jul 2008, 07:44 am
Well, there are two things I watch really closely when I watch rugby: flyhalf play, and the play of the back three. So I end up following wings and fullbacks off the ball quite a bit when I’m bored and sit down to watch games a second and third time.
I probably do have a bias for Habana simply because he’s my favorite player, but I tried to keep my analysis fairly objective. He still has a lot of work to do — one of his shortcomings is that exact inconsistency that you mentioned.
But between him and Tuqiri, I would always pick Habana, no matter what team I support. Unless my plan was to kick for the heavens all night long. That said, I think Tuqiri does a great job for Aus, and defenses have to take him seriously, particularly when he comes in from the blind to the open on the angle, because if you only get an arm on him, he’s going to go by you.
17 Jul 2008, 10:40 am
#6 EEE: shine on you crazy diamond.
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