355 Comments

Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 5 6 7 8 » Show All

• 51.captain fantail:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:57 am

  @Black Panther(Black Panther)-49: Yep some strange decisions and mutterings coming from man’,ment….still they must have their reasons.

• 52.stew:
  23 Aug 2011, 08:58 am

  @Black Panther(Black Panther)-49: KIA KAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA !

• 53.realkenyan:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:01 am

  wise decisions by GH. Crockets scrumming technique has been under scrutiny and many NH refs would penalise him in the world cup and GH is not willing to take that risk.also even if Crocket made it he would only get cameo runs in the pool games as afoa will.in the big games it will be Wood####,Mealamu,O franks with Hore and Franks on the bench.
  Toeava versatility gets him through ahead of Sivi and Gear who imo is one of the best finishers of this generations loses out to gulidford because of his low workrate not lack of ability

• 54.RL:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:04 am

  @captain fantail(captain fantail)-43: Gear does the hard work and it was he who cut infeld on Saturday, taking that offload from SBW before drawing in two defenders and setting the dragon Kahui free for his try.

• 55.captain fantail:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:05 am

  @realkenyan(realkenyan)-53: Everything you say is right and can see where you are comjng from re all the boys, except Gear,on the wing doesnt have as many opp’s for involvement. He’s stronger, more powerful, great under the high ball, more feared than Guilford and as you say a great finisher. I think this is their biggest mistake…but he may yet get his chance.

• 56.Monty:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:05 am

  Best team NZ could select. This is a world Cup winning team, and led by McCaw, with players like Carter Dagg, Franks, Nonu, Conrad smith, wonderful experience, knowledge,

  Our best team needs to play all games except maybe the Japan or Canada game.

• 57.ufo:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:14 am

  @Transformation(Transformation)-29:

  remember that andries bekker played with a stuffed ankle (which needed surgery hence not in world cup), a stuffed shoulder and a stuffed hip… in that game… also duane was injured…

  so crockett and the crusaders scrum was made to look better than they were…

  so to say it was harris’s fault is just not accurate…

• 58.captain fantail:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:15 am

  @RL(RL)-54: He makes metres, pulls defenders due to his explosive running and power and his fundamentals are great?

• 59.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:17 am

  The real problem for the ABs is if McCaw goes down there’s an enormous problem, no one in NZ fills that gap. Their impact upfront at the tackle point, breakdowns, ball carrier assists will be under pressure, read will have to do a lot of extra work with kaino.

• 60.realkenyan:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:18 am

  @captain fantail(captain fantail)-55: this quote from the Backline coach Wayne Smith gives a hint on why gear never made it…

  ‘We just pick the best players that play the best,’ said Smith. ‘You want people who can take the high ball, you want people who are able to chase, you want players with high work-rate who can counter-attack, and off phase play get from their side of the field to the other side. You want high number of touches and good ability in the backfield.

  admittedly he looks good every time with the ball in hand but he doesnt get involved enough times

• 61.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:19 am

  @Monty(Monty)-56:
  well, i think they should give slade time against the **** and canadians at the least & maybe even tonga if the ab’s build a lead. (he should at least be primed, just in case. remember carter limped off in 2007).
  same for a few others too.

  dirttrackers worked for sa in 2007.

• 62.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:21 am

  j aps..?

• 63.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:22 am

  Gear’s work rate is wanting, he’s a superb runner with the ball, solid under the high ball but does not look for work enough. Toeava is very lucky to get in, though he covers centre, wing, and fullback, he does not have a great track record for the ABs. Maybe he’ll prove me wrong, with not much game time this year this is risky!

• 64.mshiniwami:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:24 am

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-50:

  All Black squad a very solid one as usual but some very strange calls.

  So the AB’s do pick on sentiment and reputation….Woodcock is not the prop he used to be,got a pasting by Jannie this past weekend and so did Ben Franks when he came on.So the AB prop cover is not as great as first thought.Crockett not going is a travesty if one is looking at form,he does have a tendency to have his hip above his back level when it matters and sometimes lands him into trouble penalty wise-mainly due to his towering size for a prop-1.94m.But elsewhere he is now a better allround prop that Woodcock-who looked old on the weekend.Mike Cron or not time is telling on the once most feared loosehead in the world.

  Gear can feel agrieved as he has done little wrong and worked really hard under the high ball.Was the premier wing in NZ on EOYT last year and played decent in 3N.Toeava over Siti??? Another pick on sentiment and more importantly-to counter up and unders me thinks.Time will tell.

  Vito over Messam is another strange one,even though Messam hasnt det world alight at Test level barring his one French Test in 2009,he has certainly played better than Vito in last 12 months.Vito for all his size is still a bit soft.Im suprised the dropped Hoeatta and picked Boric who isnt a tighthead lock and robs them of a 4/6 option for their bench in 22.In Thorn they have the ONLY had grafting lock impressive at collisions-the rest are all 5′s really.

  If any of Thorn,McCaw,Carter-the All Black balance and dynamic changes altogether.

  But are still clear favourites.

• 65.mshiniwami:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:26 am

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-59:

  Very true. Going without another true openside with Todd,Braid available is strange. Shaggy isnt the answer no matter how much GH wants him to be.Was abysmal at breakdown on weekend.

• 66.Brigadier Van Zyl:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:32 am

  coeect me if i am wrong but thompson took a decent amount of lineout ball during the game….usually the nz achilles heal. that might of been factored in?

• 67.Papoose:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:34 am

  Thomson over Messam?
  hmmmm

• 68.rossoneri:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:38 am

  @John Galt(John Galt)-13: Guilford is in the squad.

• 69.danuk:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:38 am

  No Wyatt Crockett? Afoa instead? Very happy about that!

• 70.danuk:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:40 am

  Richie or Dan gets injured and I think ABs will struggle against SA and AUS

• 71.danuk:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:40 am

  If the Aussies can stay sober

• 72.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:40 am

  Mshini: Ted has always maintained that set pieces will be premium points during the WC, he believes that though Crockett has a superior game in the loose, hitting rucks, and tackle counts, he’ll be expensive at scrum time and at possibly crucial moments during knockout stages. I’m sure that cron had a huge say in the woodcock and Afoa decision. It surprised me that Ben franks lost the argument when played against SA as he’s usually very solid in the set piece, I think Ali Williams may not have put in the work he needed to. Tony woodcock will get better and with thorn behind he’ll have an edge as he goes through the pool stages, he will have to play every game! Boric is only solid nothing more, hoeatta is too inexperienced at test level but he would have made for a better replacement for thorn with his aggression. You are boric is more of a 5.

  Toeava’s optionality is what attracts Ted to him, however I’ve not seen him bring it at test level, as I said maybe he’ll prove me wrong. Sitiveni should be ahead of guildford, siti has experience, pace, workrate, and crazy feet. This selection puzzles me.

  Injury situations to Carter, richie, and thorn will decimate the blacks, there is no doubt. They’ll still be competitive but there won’t be the feeling of a team that will pull through tight situations.

• 73.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:51 am

  Mshini: either Todd or braid should have been included against Fiji, and definitely Baby Boks. Every makeshift 7 that Ted and Hansen have put forward during their tenure has not worked from tanerau latimer to shaggy. This is a real issue, Thompson does not do the key job that McCaw does, breakdown work on defense and offense is not up to scratch, he leaves the scrum too early on defensive scrums, and he’s not a link player in the mould of McCaw at international level. This is a huge problem for the ABs. Vito though always impressive at super and ITM level has not shown anything at test level, maybe Hansen has something up his sleeve but I’d have gone with messam. Afoa, one can only assume, because he’s less prone to penalties at scrum time and perhaps he can play adequately on either side of the scrum married with quite a bit of experience that’s what got him through.

• 74.NoRugbyGuru_0_:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:51 am

  I wish jake white would shut his mouth, who gives a shiit what he thinks? Of all the coaches who won the WC, he has the biggest mouth and is such a headline hunter! Ffuck off jake you snake!

• 75.Black Panther:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:57 am

  Slade obviously showed enough in the 1stH to just get the nod. He’ll go OK, he just needs to feel part of the environment, so he should be started in all fringe matches and subbed on, where scoreboard allows, in the Big Games. He’s no DC, but he’s sturdier than the Duck

• 76.RL:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:59 am

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-64: with 4 “fullbacks” one can see Henry’s thinking … he wants to have players who can take the high balls.

• 77.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 09:59 am

  I’m not sure what the Boks will do without Morne Steyn, their gameplan revolves around him to kick penalties. Boks have no running game at all at all, they so myopic that if their frontline kicker goes then there’s no one else to get them points. You can’t rely on butch, his still ball kicking won’t pass mustard at international level and he does not have range. Lambie is untested as a regular kicker at test level, to bank your house on him would be to seek vagrant status.

• 78.Black Panther:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:04 am

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-72:

  Actually, Toeava has shown glimpses of the promise that the 3 Blind Mice always said he did. I share concerns that he can die with the ball, but he has electric pace from standstill, can nail a spot tackle and is solid under the garryowen. The logic is there in his utility value, no other player was covering more positions (15/11/14/12/13). Im not his biggest fan but there is still enough to suggest, if his fitness allows, that he could explode on the Big Stage. He also appears more confident in the team mix, when previously a lack of confidence hindered him reaching his potential. Lets hope they were right and chch was wrong.

• 79.NoRugbyGuru_0_:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:07 am

  @ Black Panther(Black Panther), slade showed enough in the 1st half? he showed that he is very lucky to be part of the all black squad, weepu will be your back up 10

• 80.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:08 am

  I ope some of these saffas going on about woodcock and afoa being owned realise, like their 21 injured boks, played their first games after injury against the bok A team.

  the sharks/bok front row is poor. Bismarck, beast are poor scrummagers, let’s hope the refs ping beast for his continual boring in.

  Vito, Thompson shouldn’t be there. Matt todd should have been in the 3Ns squad.

  the cartel have shown they STILL can’t pick the right players.

• 81.NoRugbyGuru_0_:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:11 am

  @ poops, you’re so precious go watch the game again, go look at how the Nz scrum got their assses handed to them on a silver platter, did you not see the tighthead?

• 82.NoRugbyGuru_0_:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:14 am

  Nz scrum nicknamed ‘ la as on platter’

• 83.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:16 am

  norugbyguru.

  understand fully. you’re players were rusty coming back from injury, ours aren’t afforded that luxury?

  wait until woodcock has thorn behind him, different beast entirely.

• 84.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:17 am

  Sivivatu should have been there ahead of Guildford, in the humble opinion of the katman. And I was also a little surprised about Crockett. But this is still one hell of a team. And personally I think Vito is a phenomenal talent. The first choice combinations in that squad will be too much for most teams.

  Most, but not all…

• 85.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:17 am

  Poppa: you’ve started again! There’s no need for you to antagonize people, we’ve been having a wonderful discussion without any of your and helen’s madness! Just engage peacefully mate.

• 86.lapoftherugbygods:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:18 am

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-50:

  Ted,Wayne and Steve have made the call and frankly there are none better placed in the world to make the decision than those three guys. Their careers rest on it.
  They have decided the game plan and the positions where they have choice ie winger has come down to who will execute the game plan best not who is necessarily the best or fastest athlete. The second consideration is if something goes wrong who are the players that will react best under pressure.
  I back their calls 110 percent. I believe they have learnt from the last tournament where they had the best team on paper and lost and will be bringing home the cup to where it all first all started.

  They are exceptional coaches and NZ is extremely lucky to have guys of that calibre coaching the national team.

  I agree about Wynand Olliver. have never figured out his appeal. he seems a ok S15 but has never impressed at test level.

• 87.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:18 am

  go watch the bokke/shaekslover front row being murdered in super riugby.

  a full strength bok pack versus an AB pack minus 4 frontline ABs.

  of course that pack should have been shunted. but what do I know.

• 88.NoRugbyGuru_0_:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:18 am

  Woodcock has thorn behind him, sounds interesting I’m sure a beast will emerge hahaha what’s your take on sivi and crockett not being there?

• 89.Slumtown:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:21 am

  Adam Thomson?? After Saturdays perfromance? I reckon that Todd played far better this year but anyways. Give me Thompson any day.
  Victor Vito looking a bit thin on loose forward stocks. thats only 5 loosies?
  An injury to Read or McCaw will seriously weaken them.
  I also dont think Richie is as influential as he once was. if the breakdown gets policed properly at the WC he´s going to struggle to impose himself.

  No surprises at prop except for the ommission of Wyatt Crockett?? WTF? One up for us. Id rather have old Woodcock and Afoa than Wyatt.
  No surprises at hooker either. We´ll probably play Mealamu or Hore – either way we best them in that department and our props held their own on Sat.
  Locks pretty even.
  I´d say Read is their biggest difference in the forward pack. But more or less we are pretty even come forwards. I´d say SA edge it.

  Again no surprises at scrumhalf and flyhalf. An injury to Carter would be devastating for them. No surprises at centre either. Fullback same thing
  So the only 2 dedicated wings in the squad are Guildford and Jane? Reckon theyre missing something by omitting Sivivati and Gear.

  Sa better scrumhalf, NZ better flyhalf, centres NZ might just edge it but not much in it. Wings same. I think in players like Dagg, Guidlford, SBW they have a bit of an edge. Going to be closer than they think in some matches.

  Israel Dagg Zac Guildford, Cory Jane, , Mils Muliaina,

• 90.we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise...:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:22 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-80:
  “continual boring in”..coming from an ab supporter thats a little rich dont you think pops?
  your front row seems to make a habit of it. not to mention those dirty franks driving through the scrum with arms by their sides.

  agreed on not picking the right players. in some ways i’m starting to feel for the ab’s in the way i feel for the boks righ now. saturday will be a watershed perhaps.

• 91.>^..^< katman:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:23 am

  All I remember from this much vaunted AB front row on Saturday is the massive trauma they suffered as those Sharks weaklings bulldozed them off their own ball. They were so freaked out that they started flailing wildly at the Boks when they came up for air afterwards. Poor Sam Whitelock wasn’t even in the front row and he’s had to go for counselling. This is partly due to the fact that he chose to flail at Mr Botha who told him sternly to calm the fck down. Sam later asked GH not to name him in the squad, but it was too late.

• 92.Slumtown:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:24 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-87: your biggest difference is Read – I seriously doubt wether McCaw has a serious impact on the scrum and saying Sam Whitelock is B team and Brad Thorn A team is much of a muchness. I cant see much difference in strength there. Front row even when Franks came on he didtn make much difference, so dont be too cocky just yet.

• 93.NoRugbyGuru_0_:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:28 am

  @ >^..^< katman(katman)

• 94.LITELOCK:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:32 am

  @Slumtown(Slumtown)-89: Fullback may be a surpise.When an interviewer ask GH if Dagg was picked as a starting wing,and he answered”He might have been picked as a starting fullback” Then again GH maybe just shitstiring.

• 95.Gunther:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:32 am

  @>^..^< katman(katman)-91:

  it’s true whitelock doesn’t play in the front row.

  but he found himself there after one of the scrums.

  I’m still waiting for our chinese correspondent to tell us how awesome the all black scrum was.

  @we have it on good authority that on september 11, a legend will rise…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-90:

  continual boring?

  yep, that sounds like pooper allright.

• 96.mshiniwami:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:33 am

  @poppa69(poppa69)-80:

  Bok frontrow on weekend had only played one game vs OZ before weekend’s Test so really thats not a good enough excuse(Guthro has been out longer than Woodock) on Woodcock especially.Afoa has never been of any significance at setpiece,great in loosie.And Ben Franks when he came on also got owned and he had played the previous AB Tests this year.

• 97.Slumtown:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:35 am

  @mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-96: Right on Mshini – you tell that boy! Ben Franks and bro Owned Franks.

• 98.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:36 am

  @mpundulu(mpundulu)-85: where have I started?
  byu highlighting tat the Sharks/Bok front row were also manshamed during the S15?

  what about the Stormers front row? they too were manshamed…

  if you guys dont want to admit it, fine… no skin of my nose…

  wonderful how one comment from me brings out all the rabid dogs..

  excellent stuff…

• 99.mpundulu:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:36 am

  Lapoftherigbugods: the three wisemen are the best coaching team rugby has seen, period! I don’t doubt their ability for a moment, they continually revolutionize how the game is played. With that said, I can see their logic with woodcock and perhaps Afoa as Crockett is prone to penalties at scrum time, guildford and siti there I find them inconsistent, Wayne said he wants an individual who looks to touch the ball as much possible, take the high ball, counter attack, work off phase ball, siti has all these attributes but also presents the x factor which is critical in counter attack. Vito for me has not shown a thing at test level he’s akin to the duck, he always screws up. I’d have persisted with messam, and Thompson though a good player was woeful as an opensider, he just can’t be McCaw’s replacement. Toeava I don’t have too much issue with because he’s optionality is invaluable but he has a history of not showing up at test level, however he did have a useful game against the Boks.

• 100.poppa69:
  23 Aug 2011, 10:36 am

  @Gunther(gunther)-95: whats that spider man? I see youve gone straight for the jugular, when I was talking rugby opinion…

  go figure dutchy…

Pages: « 1 [2] 3 4 5 6 7 8 » Show All

Latest Rugby News by Category

• Super Rugby

  21

  Crusaders 0 Blues 0 (10 mins)

  Keo.co.za brings you live Super Rugby score updates from New Zealand. Read More

• Springboks

  132

  Meyer dealt Duane blow

  Duane Vermeulen is out of the June Tests. Read More

• World Cup

  13

  RFU rejects cheeky Welsh request

  The Rugby Football Union has turned down a proposal from their Welsh counterparts to stage the 2015 World Cup pool match between England and Wales in Cardiff. Read More

• Sevens

  14

  England bury Boks

  Marcus Watson scored in extra time to beat the Blitzbokke in the London World Series Sevens Cup quarter-finals. Read More

• Six Nations

  288

  SA French connection trebles

  French coach Philipe Saint-Andre has included three South African-born players for the three-Test series against the All Blacks in New Zealand. Read More

• The Rugby Championship

  34

  Hansen rewards Blues

  All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has selected several uncapped Blues players in his training group. Read More

Find us on Facebook

Follow Keo on Twitter

twitter.com/keocoza