Tuqiri calls a cracker
8 Sep 2008
Australia wing Lote Tuqiri says the Tri-Nations decider won’t be a dour forward-orientated affair.
The teams meet in Brisbane on Saturday, with the winner being crowned tournament champions. Finals rugby is usually characterised by two conservative teams who play the percentages for fear of a costly error. However, Tuqiri predicted that this Test would buck that trend.
“The Kiwis are bound to come out pumped up and I’m tipping it’s going to be one of the best games of the year in terms of entertainment,” he wrote in his column in the Sunday Telegraph. “The All Blacks are not shy about giving the ball some air and neither are we, so everything points towards a high-quality spectacle.”
Tuqiri said they had moved past the pain of the 53-8 defeat to the Springboks a fortnight ago and were hoping to rebound in Brisbane.
“I questioned whether I was worthy of wearing the Australian jersey,” Tuqiri said. “On the positive side, we have a shot at redemption against the All Blacks.
“This is shaping up as the biggest game of the year for us and we need to prove we’re capable of bouncing back as a group after a heavy loss. We’ve got a great record in Brisbane and we’re playing for the Tri-Nations title and to stay alive in the Bledisloe Cup, so motivation is certainly not going to be a problem.
“It’s times like these that you’re glad there’s another game to get excited about, so you can stay optimistic about righting the ship and burying a bad result.
“For the Wallabies, we need to keep believing in what we’re doing despite one poor performance in South Africa. We need to put more consistency and fluency into our performances before we truly announce ourselves as being back among the big boys of world rugby.
“We’re not too far off, and personally I’m very psyched up about the challenges that lie ahead.”
18 Comments
8 Sep 2008, 08:13 am
So much talking, so little dragons…
8 Sep 2008, 08:33 am
pip the ozzies
if you wanna make some money, bet on them
8 Sep 2008, 08:36 am
once again Lotsa Talkies is doing the only thing he is good at….
8 Sep 2008, 08:49 am
Tuquiri how are the tuquilas going.
8 Sep 2008, 08:53 am
With Berrick Barnes out – the Wobblies have even less chance of tipping the AB’s ship over.
Blacks to win by 10/15 points.
8 Sep 2008, 08:58 am
#5 SyKoPlaya: has that been finalised yet re barnes ? thought they were giving him as long as he needs to try and be right for this game ?
8 Sep 2008, 09:02 am
#6 poppa69:
It’s being reported that unless he his 100%, he will be out. He run some training drills with the backline, but absolutely no contact yet.
Maybe the Wobblies are going to pull as fast one and pick him to play. The mid-fiels with Mortlock and Cross just isn’t the same as Barnes and Mortlock.
8 Sep 2008, 09:12 am
NZ doesn’t have the finishing talent out wide we have boasted for the previous 5 or so years in this team.
It will not be a free running game with counter attacks from inside the 22.
The match will be dominated by set plays and the odd counter attack from turnovers inside the opposition half.
8 Sep 2008, 09:12 am
Was it a Pyotts cracker????
8 Sep 2008, 09:16 am
#7 SyKoPlaya: agree with your assessment of the midfield, amazing how quickly Barnes has become a pivotal figure for the Wallabies, seeing as he was pushed into the position at last years WC…
8 Sep 2008, 09:23 am
#10 poppa69:
Most #10′s are also good #12′s – I also think that in time he may go back to #10. (IMO Gits is a better #12 than a #10 and with Barnes learning the ropes the way his is – I think that a switch around for Barnes and Gits is a possiblity in the future – maybe in 2010/11).
Therein lays the leason for Fransie Steyn – play at #12 to learn to play #10 properly from a good flyhalf and outside centre. Less pressure, ect. ect. This has been proven too many times (Merhts and Carter – another example)
8 Sep 2008, 09:39 am
#11 SyKoPlaya: yeah agree again… though sorry, even as an AB supporter I was never a fan of Merhtens, the bloke was such a liability on defense, he was very much a glorified goalkicker (sorry, been reading to many keo headlines, alliteration is a disease
)…
I think Barnes has all the attributes of being a no. 10, Im still undecided on Giteau, doesnt really stand up in the big games to me as of yet…
8 Sep 2008, 09:43 am
#6 poppa69: Dont worry lads, I can smell a really good victory for the AB’s in the wind. The Wallys are really struggling all over the place at the moment- form, confidence, positions, attitude, partnerships etc. If they pull this one off they will have bloody well deserved it!!
AB’s by 20+
8 Sep 2008, 09:45 am
#12 poppa69:
I always admired the way that Merhts played in the sense that he generally always found a way to win a game. Glorified goalkicker – but what a matchwinner. Reminded me of Naas Botha.
I wonder what their (Nass and Merhts) played / won / lost ratios are in all first class and test matches is.
8 Sep 2008, 09:47 am
#13 captain fantail: seems we were in that same boat after 2 losses earlier this season, I never like to write off teams that have their backs to the wall…. still be backing the Black attack, just think it is going to be a lot closer then most expect, Im tipping the AB’s by 7 points…
8 Sep 2008, 09:49 am
#14 SyKoPlaya: yeah I would be interested in that too… probably 2 of the very best in that regard (finding ways to win)…. though I unfortunately never seen Don Clarke play, apparently he had a thunderous boot to match an all round game…
8 Sep 2008, 13:51 pm
“Lotes” of rent-a-quotes from the big man. Always. Never fails. Pressmen must love him.
Pity he can’t play footie as well as he can talk!
8 Sep 2008, 14:42 pm
Typical wing.
Will just never get it.
It is all won and lost up front!!
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