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, 13:22 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler) : @ 3
Must say, its disappointing to see a Tickler Spelling Bee without the trademarked signature
If you can’t spell, you…..
Keep up your standards, Pilgrim.
25 Nov 2010, 13:24 pm
@gunther(gunther) : @ 20
BaXXies !
25 Nov 2010, 13:24 pm
@gunther(cunther) :
We are all victims Gunner.
One way or another.
That’s what I was saying, Gunther is a victims cooler.
25 Nov 2010, 13:24 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther) :
these religious fundamentalists.
25 Nov 2010, 13:25 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri) : @ 27
Pervert, stop stalking the boy.
25 Nov 2010, 13:35 pm
@poppa69(poppa69) : @ 42
Pops
were you here the other day when the local blogger-poll (yes, you know who you are) asked the Question “which ABs would get in the Boks, in terms of talent” ? this on the rationale that the ABs are more the sum of their parts rather than a team of individual stars.
By the time they’d finished thinking it over, I think only Carter got in………
*phew* aye ? *phew*
Its the incredible depth of the Bok squad, y’see. Even the AB locks wouldnt get in any 1 of the SA14 squads, y’know. Its because NZ rugby is kuk, did y’hear.
Its been as long as 6 months since we heard all that.
And, yet, it almost seems like an eternity.
25 Nov 2010, 13:41 pm
Chaps, SBW is the business he just needs, the S15, game time will be critical plus coaching to fine tune a few aspects of his game. Richie McCaw is undoubtedly the best flanker on offer, no one comes close, no one. We also know that DC is the business, he display against Ireland was something to behold, I’ve not seen that since the days of Herschelle Gibbs at Bishops, just sublime and commanding. However, ABs need to bring back Nick Evans as number 2 to Carter, there’s really no one else at such short notice. Donald, well he just never was; Cruden is akin to Lambie, has no impact at international level but could come on later in his career; and Colin Slade after the WC he could develop into a revelation.
25 Nov 2010, 13:41 pm
@Nils(Nils) : @ 87
that was truly sickening. Football is awash in the sewer with blatant gamesmanship like that. Mourinho is an arrogant piece of merda, gutter scum ( and this from a lifelong Chelsea fan).
25 Nov 2010, 13:46 pm
@Qudeni(Qudeni) : @ 107
there was more than 1 “taxi for Donald !” sung out out Lansdowne Road on Saturday as he ran the touchline, of that I can assure you.
The ABs miss N.Evans as a no2-no10 than they do C.Hayman as a no1-no3.
25 Nov 2010, 13:50 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther) : hehe I missed it
Only Carter?
gees, they were being generous that day huh?
thats ok though, what really hurts these guys is the fact that two NZ coaches are doing wondrous things in SA… so SA is just like the rest of the world and importing the Talent from NZ..
that says it all really dont you think?
25 Nov 2010, 13:55 pm
Transie, having an opinion of your own? what have they done with the real Tranny?
25 Nov 2010, 13:59 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther) : Very true, they’ve done well to cover Hayman’s side of the front row.
25 Nov 2010, 14:02 pm
@poppa69(poppa69) :
My current favourite laugh is Boy Georges’ “Plum learnt all his rugby under McIntosh”, thereby meaning he’s not a Kiwi in rugby terms but is, in fact, a Natalian/Safa.
John Plumtree is not only born’n'bred Taranaki farmer stock, but also the product of NZ rugby having played for Southern (Hawera) from U6 to the Seniors; played for the Hawera High School 1st XV for 3 years; representing Taranaki Schools for 2 years; earned his blazer for Taranaki during 1985-89, 40 games in the NPC ; All Black Trialist.
Yep. Learnt ALL his rugby under the great Mac.
u-huh
ssssssssssure he did.
25 Nov 2010, 14:04 pm
slurp slurp slurp.
25 Nov 2010, 14:10 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther) : let the old man have his moment, its all he can do to remain from being emasculated by the banshee… I see grunter hasnt had the correct dosage, slobbering everywhere
25 Nov 2010, 14:13 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther) : I can’t help it.
25 Nov 2010, 14:17 pm
@Qudeni(Qudeni) : Agreed but i think Evans is definately out of favour
25 Nov 2010, 14:34 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri) : @ 116
Neither can my wife.
Over the weekend, the local Dublin lasses asked us if we “knew Dan Carter ?, on the presumption we all ‘know’ each other (only half-true). They reckoned “he’s smokin’”, which was pretty much his form on the pitch too. Wow, he’s majestic this tour.
25 Nov 2010, 15:11 pm
@stew(stew) : I don’t think Henry likes him much, what a waste, the Boks should talk to him that’s the type of flyhalf the Boks require, can run, kick both out of hand and still ball, beautiful hands, an immense acceleration.
25 Nov 2010, 15:12 pm
@Black Panther(Black Panther) :
Dan is a total hottie.
26 Nov 2010, 00:42 am
Grunter, Miss-Information (HG).. TrannyNation
the only victim this year has been rugby whenever the Boks have run on to the field..
i weep for the game every time I see a team look as bewildered as the Bokke when they get that oval ball in their hands, they seem scared so try to boot it as far away as possible..
Springboks in headlights anyone?
26 Nov 2010, 07:37 am
I weep for the game
You sanctimonious tosser.
You are trying far too hard
26 Nov 2010, 08:42 am
It’s business as usual. The All Blacks are sublime 1 year out from a World cup. There is such a psychological advantage they have over the NH. The Scots were beaten mentally before the kick off. The 49 points was just details, and Ireland were mentally comfortable with a brave loss and some positives to talk about. Heaven help Wales on Sat.
RE: The World Cup. This all seems so familiar. Australia and England heading towards a peak 1 year away, and South Africa erratic and stuck in a deep trough. (The boks used to have the same aura as the AB’s but some rubbish teamwork, management and coaching is the bain of SA rugby.)
Let’s hope the AB pattern of peaking too early holds true and Graham Henry’s demons come back to haunt him come Sept/Oct next year
26 Nov 2010, 12:28 pm
Is it just me or has anyone else spotted the similarities btw SBW and Spies? Both big, athletic, fast fellows. Couldn’t PS be coached/retreaded as a centre and be just as devastating as SBW in the midfield. He would need a proper coach, however…!
26 Nov 2010, 12:31 pm
@Travel Guy(Travel Guy) :
Yes, it’s just you.
26 Nov 2010, 12:35 pm
@Travel Guy(Travel Guy) : The Maori sleeve on both their right arms??
Their recent transition from league to union??
I give up. What’s the similarities?
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