All Blacks latest – SBW show returns
25 Nov 2010
Keo.co.za brings you the latest from the All Blacks’ Grand Slam tour.
SBW show returns - Sonny Bill Williams will start at inside centre when the All Blacks face Wales on Saturday.
Williams was relegated to the bench in the All Blacks’ 38-18 win over Ireland last weekend, but has been promoted ahead of Ma’a Nonu for the Cardiff Test in one of five changes made by head coach Graham Henry.
In the backline, wing Isaia Toeava and scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan also start as they replace Cory Jane and Andy Ellis respectively. Amongst the forwards, lock Brad Thorn has recovered from his hamstring injury and will make his 50th Test appearance as he replaces the injured Tom Donnelly, while hooker Keven Mealamu also returns after serving his two-week ban at the expense of Hika Elliot.
On the bench, flanker Daniel Braid is preferred ahead of Liam Messam.
All Blacks – 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Isaia Toeava, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 John Afoa, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Daniel Braid, 20 Andy Ellis, 21 Stephen Donald, 22 Ma’a Nonu
Hansen defends McCaw & co – Steven Hansen hit back at those who accuse Richie McCaw and the All Blacks of cheating.
McCaw has been criticzed of foul play at the breakdown before as he frustrates oppositions by slowing down their ball. Irish flanker Stephen Ferris is the latest person to accuse McCaw of being a dirty player.
‘If I’d been a referee I would have handed out a couple of yellow cards. It’s the usual old faces that are doing it, but they’re good at it and get away with it. Richie McCaw did a great job at slowing it down,’ claimed Ferris.
All Blacks assistant coach Hansen came out in McCaw’s defence.
‘He is the greatest openside flanker in the game and probably knows the rules better than the referees do,’ said Hansen.
‘When you make a tackle and get up and you are on their side of that tackle, he is entitled to be there until a ruck is formed – and the ruck is not formed until two guys are bound over the ball.
‘It is actually becoming quite boring and I think quite disrespectful,’ Hansen continued. ‘All it really does, though, is actually motivate him to play better, so they want to keep doing it. I will keep putting up with the boring-ness of it so he gets motivated.’
Hansen also hit back at Wallabies head coach Robbie Deans, who accused the All Blacks of ‘trickery’ and believed they ‘manipulated’ referees at the scrums.
‘It is laughable, really. I mean, I think Richie summed it up best – when you are under pressure you say funny things and Rob is obviously under a bit of pressure himself,’ said Hansen.
‘He seems to always fall back and start talking about New Zealand when he is actually involved with the Australians.’
‘Carter’s amazing’ – Neil Jenkins believes Dan Carter is the best rugby player in the world.
Carter is set to break England pivot Jonny Wilkinson’s record for most Test points (1178) when the All Blacks face Wales on Saturday. Carter is only two points behind.
Former Wales flyhalf Jenkins believes Carter will have his moment at the Millennium Stadium this weekend, which he deserves.
‘He is probably the best, I think he is an amazing rugby player,’ Jenkins said. ‘I just think he is an incredible rugby player. To be the stand-out player he is, for this amount of time, is very special and his record speaks for itself.
‘He is an overall fantastic rugby player, not just with his goal kicking. I don’t think he has got a weakness in his game, you know, not that we know about in this moment in time.’
126 Comments
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25 Nov 2010, 10:35 am
@Transformation(Transformation) : Marius won points with me for that. Even he adores McCaw!
25 Nov 2010, 10:36 am
@gunther(gunther) : even the great robbie deans becoames a clown if he points out All Black “trickery” – he must be under pressure
talking about “pressure”, what did steve hansen say last year when asked if he was “under pressure” because the all black lineout was kak?
25 Nov 2010, 10:39 am
@Transformation(Transformation) : He said he used to be a cop and is very accustomed to pressure.
25 Nov 2010, 10:42 am
When does McCaw pick up his third international player of the year award and his 6th or 7th nomination it must be shortly, fortunately his peers know he is the ultimate rugby player both on and off the pitch unlike the clowns on this site who know **** all.
25 Nov 2010, 10:42 am
Sonny, yesterday our mid-field was filled with rain
Sonny, your offloads really eased the pain
The dark days are done
The bright days are here
Our Sonny shines so sincere
Sonny one so true
25 Nov 2010, 10:46 am
speaking of clowns…
25 Nov 2010, 10:47 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA) : Honestly trying hard to figure out if anyone can beat him to the award with no luck. I saw him taking an inside ball from the wing on Saturday after having been involved in the previous ruck and thought the guy is a machine. His handling and support play are quite something for someone who has to do so much work on the field – RESPECT.
25 Nov 2010, 10:48 am
Sonny Bill can speak braille.
25 Nov 2010, 10:50 am
Soony Bill can blow bubbles with biltong.
25 Nov 2010, 10:51 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy) :
He should win it hands down, he has added scoring tries to his formidable arsenal of skills, he can now beat three players on the outside and score in the corner with 2 minutes to go.
@gunther(gunther) :
Don’t speak too soon you might just see 15 in green in a few days time.
25 Nov 2010, 10:53 am
Speaking about ‘cheating’ and ‘knowing the rules’. How many refs have been vs RM in recent years? A big plenty from various countries INCLUDING huge number of cases where ref was a Saffa. The result?
The refs 0
RM 1
Conclusion?
25 Nov 2010, 10:54 am
@Nils(Nils) :
Ritchie gives them a gold watch after each game?
25 Nov 2010, 10:54 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA) :
keep hoping china.
25 Nov 2010, 10:56 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy) : a fact thats commonly overlook with Ritchie… his support play is phenomenal, his link play superb… after M. Jones I didnt think we’d get another nearly as good for so long, but McCaw has filled the breach admirably… NZ rugby has been very very lucky in that regard.
25 Nov 2010, 10:57 am
@gunther(gunther) :
Actually I would prefer the Bokke to win but I don’t think you will, you have to be able to score tries to win a game of rugby.
25 Nov 2010, 10:57 am
Sonny Bill has a deep and abiding respect for human life… unless it gets in his way
25 Nov 2010, 10:59 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA) : But then its never been a logical process.
25 Nov 2010, 10:59 am
Sonny Bill is G A Y!
25 Nov 2010, 11:00 am
@Transformation(Transformation) : @rossoneri(rossoneri) : @ 52 and 53..
Hansen just got the NZRFU checkbook out (their off shore Sth African account is booming thanks to Oregon
)..
but seriously, GH saved him by changing things around, remember?
25 Nov 2010, 11:00 am
You know what really pisses me off.
Those new-fangled little weeny cars with names like Micra and Yaris and Tweeny and Boxy and Atos and Porthos.
They like an infestation on wheels.
Little irritating wannabes.
25 Nov 2010, 11:01 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA) : We are going to get 50 points put past us this weekend- watch this space
25 Nov 2010, 11:01 am
@Dorff(Dorff) : yeah perhaps, but I know he spells it D O R F F gees, its that close you could swap the F’s for K’s and we’d be spot on..
25 Nov 2010, 11:02 am
And any car with “Lite” in the name.
25 Nov 2010, 11:02 am
@gunther(gunther) : Paddy rubbishes Deans’ conspiracy theory…
Refs’ boss scrums down with Deans
International Rugby Board referee manager Paddy O’Brien has taken exception to claims that his officials are biased towards the Australian scrum, while All Black captain Richie McCaw also questioned claims that team “manipulate” match officials.
O’Brien insists senior referees have been told to rule on what is in front of them, countering Wallabies coach Robbie Deans’ complaint that they are taking pre-conceived ideas into Tests.
Deans, for months, has been privately seething that other nations are exploiting the Wallabies’ reputation for having a weak scrum to fool referees into awarding them penalties whenever anything goes amiss in the set piece.
On Monday he finally broke his silence, publicly accusing referees of basing their scrum rulings on pre-conceived ideas.
O’Brien, while refusing to discuss the specifics of Deans’ accusation, claimed that the issue of referees only ruling on what they could see had been addressed at their recent high performance meeting in London.
“I asked referees to referee each scrum on its merits,” O’Brien told The Australian. “That was the message at Lensbury, to be accurate and consistent.”
The Wallabies firmly believe their scrum is held up as a model of a weak set piece and that referees reinforce each other’s low opinions of the Australian front row.
Meanwhile the All Black captain, McCaw, was surprised when asked about Deans’ latest outburst.
“We came off a fixture against the All Blacks … they don’t scrummage,” Deans claimed. “They just manipulate, they play the referee constantly. It’s all about trickery. Then you get across to the United Kingdom, and they scrummage more so. There are elements of trickery but they do want to go forward with that trickery.”
However, told Fairfax Media that he was surprised to hear such claims from his old former mentor at the Crusaders, Deans.
“Someone said he has been saying things like that. Perhaps a bit of pressure does that to you, I don’t know,” McCaw told Fairfax.
“I think you have seen over the years that we certainly have put a lot of work into it (scrummaging).
“In this part of the world it is a big part of their game too – I don’t know where those comments come from.”
25 Nov 2010, 11:03 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy) :
Agreed and obviously your number 9 should have got the award in 09′ and McCaw in 08′.
25 Nov 2010, 11:03 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy) : nah you wont… weather is supposedly very wet, so this is PDV’s godsend…
perfect for the rugby the boks have been playing.. Eng IMHO will try to be expansive, the wet will be their undoing
25 Nov 2010, 11:03 am
@Dorff(Dorff) : Post 68.
You wish dorff.
You and your erotic fantasies.
25 Nov 2010, 11:09 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy) : Post 71.
Your lot will win. They have their backs to the wall.
SA by 11.
25 Nov 2010, 11:10 am
@poppa69(poppa69) : We will kick onto their back three who will run it back with support through our weak midfield and hey presto before we know it we are back in our 22 or behind our goalposts.
25 Nov 2010, 11:12 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy) : nah, like the ABs, your forwards will as Cane says above, have their backs to the wall (a good thing seeing as Dorff is around
) and will be the difference…
25 Nov 2010, 11:14 am
@Dawn(Dawn) :
unlike the BMW.
the cougar’s choice.
25 Nov 2010, 11:16 am
@NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA) : Most probably.
Did you see Real’s antics vs Ajax? Who is RM to compete with The Special One?
25 Nov 2010, 11:17 am
@gunther(gunther) : BMX only on this thread Grunter, no Penny Farthings allowed..
25 Nov 2010, 11:18 am
@Nils(Nils) :
Saw that guilty no doubt about it!
25 Nov 2010, 11:18 am
@Nils(Nils) : too busy enjoying Spurs win over Bremen myself..
25 Nov 2010, 11:23 am
@poppa69(poppa69) : There win over Arsenal was even better for us ManU fans.
My brother happens to be a big Spurs fan and shame he hasn’t had anything to smile about for years
25 Nov 2010, 11:25 am
@poppa69(poppa69) : @NZINCHINA(NZINCHINA) : I must admit that was an amazing piece of cheekiness, probably only this wile fox could plan it. Handshake said it all, it was carefully planned. On paper legally, it seems.
Shame, ref fell into this trap, I would like to see Mourinho’s face, if ref had given verbal lash only to both.
25 Nov 2010, 11:30 am
@bananaboy(bananaboy) : Ive loved spurs since the days of Steve Archibald, Ozzie Ardiles, Glen hoddle, Ray Clemence, Ricky Velia (sp?) still remember Velias two goals in the FA cup final during the falklands… wonderful goals too..
we had something to cheer about last year, making the champions league… and we’re going alright too at the moment…
25 Nov 2010, 12:01 pm
poppa69:
I see you’re a little sensitive to SBW criticism! Don’t you think the journalism re this guy is a bit overhyped! I.e. ‘The SBW show!!’ or ‘The next Lomu!!’ All I’ve seen him do is some decent offloads! Big deal!!
If you wan’t to compare him to Spies, then play him in the pack and we’ll see.
25 Nov 2010, 12:15 pm
@stand-off(Braders) : The big deal is from those offloads he splits the defence and they score tries – something Spies needs to learn !
25 Nov 2010, 12:18 pm
@stand-off(Braders) :
Pooper is more sensitive than a virgin’s cooter.
Be gentle.
25 Nov 2010, 12:46 pm
@gunther(gunther) :
And gunther is a v…………………..
8)
25 Nov 2010, 12:49 pm
@Panzer Chief(cane) :
vegetarian?
25 Nov 2010, 12:53 pm
There’s a thought from the AB camp SBW may turn up in Super15 on the side of the scrum. He’s already played at No6 for Toulon. Anyway, did read earlier that having undergone speed and strength tests, the AB camp declared that SBW would be stronger and faster next year. Scary stuff!!!! Thought you had to have a licence for a lethal weapon
25 Nov 2010, 12:54 pm
@stand-off(Braders) : of course I do, but people writing him off after two games at this level? be thankful they arent your selectors, youd be going a lot worse… the guy has potential and is still a fair way off the finished article…
Ive seen SBW play league for a number of years, I can tell you he would put his body on the line, not sure the same can be said for Spies at times..
25 Nov 2010, 12:57 pm
@Panzer Chief(cane) : dont worry about grunter mate… small fry…
25 Nov 2010, 13:03 pm
@poppa69(poppa69) :
that’s the spirit pops.
still it was sweet of caner to stand up for you.
he clearly feels your pain.
by the way nobody was writing sonny off.
they were just querying the hype.
therein lies your problem.
whenever somebody disagrees with you, you assume the worst
25 Nov 2010, 13:15 pm
@gunther(gunther) : 97 it’s called being overly sensitive
especially after the banter unleashed by saffas after last year’s tri-nations…he’s like an abused victim now…
25 Nov 2010, 13:17 pm
@gunther(gunther) : 97. Now Poppa will never assume drunken AB supporters are a worse threat for the 2011 WC than Al Qaeda, like the NZ Police does…
AB rugby fans – as close as the great game of rugger has to soccer hooligans…
Seen it myself
25 Nov 2010, 13:19 pm
@Transformation(Transformation) :
quite right.
pooper makes an excellent victim
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