AB’s turn to Gear and Donald
10 Oct 2011
Hosea Gear and Stephen Donald will debut in the World Cup semi-final against Australia.
Aaron Cruden has been confirmed as the player who will start at flyhalf after injury ended Colin Slade’s tournament. Cruden played the last 47 minutes against Argentina. He was a replacement for Daniel Carter, which means the All Blacks have lost both their original squad flyhalves.
Gear, a shock omission from the original squad, is a wing starting option or will provide wing cover on the bench. He replaced Mils Muliaina who hurt his shoulder in his 100th Test. Muliaina will play his rugby in Japan next year and won’t again play for the All Blacks.
Both players left the squad on Monday.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry told the media scrumhalf Piri Weepu would stay at No 9.
‘They’re very disappointed,’ said Henry. ‘They’ve got tournament-ending injuries, so how they feel is very natural. They’re very disappointed to be leaving the group at this stage of the tournament.
‘It’s a difficult situation. They can’t stay with the team.’
Gear and Donald will link up with the squad on Tuesday.
‘We’re lucky the guys coming in have played test match football in recent times,’ said Henry. ‘[The situation] is not out of their control, because they have been here, they know the players, know the environment we live in and know the rugby we’re trying to play.’
The All Blacks coach said he was delighted at how Cruden had played.
‘Keeping Aaron Cruden off his skateboard has been a major. Last week he was skateboarding round Palmerston North having a couple of beers and watching us play. Now he’s the No 1 No 10 in the country. It’s a big challenge but last weekend he handled the situation particularly well.’
44 Comments
10 Oct 2011, 07:04 am
Heart sore dragons!
How badly did Quade play yesterday! ABs can beat Wallabies even with Donald.
My theory as to why Wales are winning… Stephen Jones is not starting!
10 Oct 2011, 07:04 am
BTW.. Go Wales!
10 Oct 2011, 07:14 am
Donald the duck and anti-kick gear. All blacks will struggle if the duck has to play at flyhalf. I’m guttered about the Boks losing but its time to move forward:
Head Coach: Heyneke
Forwards Coach: Naka
Backs Coach: AC
Technical Analyst: Rassie
Kicking Coach: Braam van straten
10 Oct 2011, 07:16 am
Cooper also had a shocker in the first Bledisloe game and then produced 2 magic performances, we need him to repeat that trend.
10 Oct 2011, 07:17 am
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-3: Naka? Are you serious??!
10 Oct 2011, 07:29 am
Ive seen smaller bandages than the one on Crudens knee than I have in the Cairo Museum.
10 Oct 2011, 07:30 am
I wonder if the Sharks will have some of their Boks for the Lions game.
10 Oct 2011, 07:33 am
Richie looked quite strapped up. Hope he makes it the whole way
10 Oct 2011, 07:41 am
well that pretty much cancels the flyhalves out.
otherwise donalds just backup to piri i think.
if you pressure quade he will fade.
but now the ab have the same problem if they play donald.
10 Oct 2011, 07:46 am
2 more games to world cup glory
10 Oct 2011, 07:46 am
oh and tackler…you know the drill…ffuck you…
10 Oct 2011, 07:52 am
Lions soutie, yes naka will be my choice. That raises another questions, do we really need 4 coaches? How about just rassie and AC?
Boks could always bring in consultants like Eddie, braam or sheryl colder
10 Oct 2011, 08:28 am
Gear is excellent; Donald isn’t.
10 Oct 2011, 08:29 am
@once more unto the breach, dear springboks, once more…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-9: feeble…
10 Oct 2011, 08:38 am
bwahahaha “Beaver” back in the mix, tl tl tl GH is scraping the barrel now, not that he has a choice..
if beaver breaks then i guess tony “the tiger” brown will be next in line and then maybe luke mcalister.
10 Oct 2011, 08:41 am
Gear should have been there from the start and can the Kiwis tell me in who’s cereal did McAlister take a dump. Surely he is better than Donald?
10 Oct 2011, 08:43 am
Why is Delany from the Cheifs out of favour – i thought he played excellent in the black
10 Oct 2011, 08:49 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-16:
McAlister was rubbish and his attitude sucked.
He couldn’t even make his own provincial team.
10 Oct 2011, 08:51 am
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-14:
well its a feeble ffuck you all the same…
10 Oct 2011, 08:53 am
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-12: I was listening to Tim noakes last night on masterplan NZ show, and he said he found it amazing that 3 out of the 4 coaches leading teams into the semi’s are new zealanders, and that this ought to be celebrated, SA coaching should learn from this and inculcate a more information inclusive and sharing system amongst the local coaches. SA has technically sound coaches AC, heyneke, Rassie, drotske, PdV, I just have an issue with their philosophy of coaching style, which I think needs to be broadened and more inclusive of styles beyond bok rugby strengths and ensure a higher skills development focus.
10 Oct 2011, 09:03 am
OMG Stephen Donald is back. Please Cruden, play your socks off! Please!
10 Oct 2011, 10:00 am
Pundu, 3 NZ coaches leading teams to semi’s is pure coincidence. 2007 WC, where did the NZ coaches end up? The sharks and lions struggled in super rugga. If it wasn’t for the foreign players then japan would be smashed every game
10 Oct 2011, 10:05 am
Not Donald! I don’t believe it!!!!!!
10 Oct 2011, 10:05 am
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-3: My boet and I were talking the weekend and this is the coaching panel we were punting for…
Head Coach: Heyneke Meyer (knows the SA style of play inside out and is very tactically smart)
Forwards Coach: Gert Smal (Excellent forwards coach – imagine the improvement from that wolly Gary Gold)
Backs Coach: Eddie Jones (Unlikely, but the man is smart as they come when it comes to tactics – 5min with the team in 2007 proved how drastically we improved under his tutelage)
Technical Analyst: Rassie Erasmus (definitely more a man for the technical side as opposed to man management – just no more red light, green light shenanigans).
Kicking Coach: I’d stick with Percy as kicking coach – great servant of Bok rugby… Braam does seem to be getting a good name for himself having consulted with OZ and been the catalyst for change with O’Connor’s kicking).
10 Oct 2011, 10:06 am
Jeezus just keep Donald off the field. Cruden anyday above him. And btw I reckon Quad Cooper is the Earl Rose of Oz rugby lol.
10 Oct 2011, 11:31 am
HHS _ have also been asking myself why on earth isnt MacCallister in the AB sqaud!!
10 Oct 2011, 12:04 pm
@race of tan(race of tan)-26: Mc Alister has gone overseas and is playing there. The Ab’s have a sellection policy against chosing overseas based players.
10 Oct 2011, 12:28 pm
Ratings-Oz
15. Kurtley 7: Most dangerous back
14.James 7: Excellent kick and defence
13. AAC 5: Defended the whole day
12. McCabe – 8: Defended like a Beast
11. Digby 5: Welcome back, will be good to tackle AB
10. Quade 1: Pathetic
9. Genia 5: Under huge pressure
8. Samo 6: Defence
7. Pocock 10. What more can one do when you dont have any ball
6. Elsom 5
5 Horwill 5
4 Vickers 5
3 Alexander 5
2 Moore 6
1 Kepu 5
10 Oct 2011, 12:50 pm
Hosea is back. The ABs are pinging. The wannabes had a win that came from the boks losing rather than them winning…basically dodged a bullet…..cooper was as hapless as a rabbit with rabies . I’m glad that the wallies think they have had a win as we know that come next weekend it will be their last match in the WC. The ABs are about to show the world why they are number one in the world and will send the wallies home saying they will learn from this defeat.
Finally, we will not only be ranked number one but will be the best team that has ever played rugby on this planet in its entire history;-)
10 Oct 2011, 12:55 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-27:
if they have a policy why have they called up donald?? he is with bath nw, luke is kak wouldnt pick him myself, IMO they should have called up nick evans
10 Oct 2011, 12:59 pm
Mmm, that must have been an interesting call for Ted to do for both …
“erm, hello it’s Graham Henry, I know I did not want you guys in the squad originally (or even as the back up plan’s. back up plan for Donald), but would you mind joining us now?”
Gear probably should have been selected anyway
10 Oct 2011, 13:02 pm
@rossoneri(rossoneri)-27: http://www.rugbyworld.com/news/bath-finally-sign-stephen-donald/
10 Oct 2011, 13:15 pm
31. Danuk yep hosea shud have been there in first place..funny how its all working out now. It’ll be F’n hilarious if scores the winning try.
10 Oct 2011, 13:43 pm
@seabiscuit(seabiscuit)-30: @Transformation(Transformation)-32: Chaps, I presume Donald has not left their shores yet and will start at Bath next season, whereas I think Mc Alister is already there. Who knows. Maybe they think Donald is better than McAlister.
10 Oct 2011, 15:41 pm
@captain fantail(captain fantail)-29:
The wallabies were poor last weekend…we all know that.
If cooper fires this weekend abs will be in trouble…cooper will lift for this game…why? You boys have been booing him and would love it most to poke you boys in the eyes.
Your mate sean fitzpatrick is worried if cooper fires….he believes wallabies won without him…if he turns up…he fears.
10 Oct 2011, 16:51 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-22: I think Heyneke Meyer as coach would be a disaster and show we have learnt absolutely nothing. We have been playing Bulls rugby for the last 4 years and yes we can sometimes (like Sunday) through sheer physicality and will put ourselves in the position to win (we should have won) against a top team. But we cannot ignore that we have been owned by both the Wallabies and All Blacks over the past 2 years and we cannot score tries against the top teams. The skill levels in South Africa have declined and we have to turn that around and fast. I think we should get the Welsh Coach Gatland. He has done wonders for the Welsh with a much smaller pool of players and they are playing a great brand of rugby as well. They mix good forward play (a strength of ours) with enterprising backline play (something we need to learn).
10 Oct 2011, 19:49 pm
@malcolm(malcolm)-36: We have exciting youngsters and if there’s one man who can hammer excitement out of you, it is Heyneke Meyer.
If he coaches the Springboks, prepare yourselves for another 4 year excuse of boring rugby that won’t yield results in the end.
10 Oct 2011, 20:31 pm
@lepel(lepel)-37: Agreed!
10 Oct 2011, 22:15 pm
@captain fantail(captain fantail)-29: All four teams have 2 games now regardless.
Whoever loses will play each other in the 3/4 playoff
Donald. Hmmmm. We are obviously desperate to drag him back, however, its the situation we find ourselves in, and naturally if any international team lost their 2 best 10s, they too would be scraping the bottom of the barrell
Im very confident of a good performance by NZ this weekend, and expect Genia to try and turn the game around for the Aussies. Our tackling around the fringes has tobe 100% better than what it was against the Argies, and quicker recyclling.
Isnt that a shame tho, that in all honesty, we will be relying on the ref to rule the game fairly, and not allowing Pocock to flop all the ruck like he was against SA
10 Oct 2011, 22:17 pm
@malcolm(malcolm)-36: You cant get gatland, that would mean the top 3 SH teams would all be coached by kiwis !!
Gatland is locked into a water tight deal with the Welsh RFU till 2015, unless they sack him.
11 Oct 2011, 01:16 am
Agreed, the Wallabies won in spite of Cooper. He really is becoming Carlos Spencer — you truly never know who will show up each week.
As an AB supporter, I won’t lie — I do not have a good feeling. Cruden running the cutter, McCaw nowhere near 100%, Kahui and Dagg coming off injuries…
11 Oct 2011, 06:24 am
@DAS(DAS)-41: I watched that game, and sad to say, SA were bloody awful with ball in hand. They were clueless, they ran into the Aussies, they never looked like they actually had a plan. It was like watching a train smash in slow motion.
SA were horribly guilty of thinking that a moment of individual brilliance was going to be enough to win them the game. Had the try been scored (as opposed to being ruled passed forward) they would have backed themselves to win – under false pretence.
The SA forwards were very slow to each ruck, laboring their way around the park. This allowed Samo/Pocock/Moore/Horwill to play havoc at each ruck. Aus didnt have to win every ruck, they had to slow SA down, re-align defence, and they knew that SA were going to keep firing blanks – and thats exactly what happened
Aus were fractionally better in the loose stuff, but they were not accurate enough, and as a result, they never ever looked like cultivating a try.
I’m not as worried as you, but i am cautious
12 Oct 2011, 01:17 am
@wallabie.(wallabie.)-35: One player will not win this trick. I know what you are saying and understand but really Coopers showing of late has been well below what would be expected of someone in the professional league. He falls apart under pressure and this game is all about the biggest pressure in the hottest enviroment that the rugby world has.
As much as they( papers etc) say the pressure is all on the AB’s its not really. These boys are all experienced campaigners and pro’s through and through.
Majority of the Wallys have not seen a campaign like this before, Genia, cooper, Horwill…maybe as much as 50% of their team so I really feel the advantage is with the AB’s all the way through. The stage will be too big for them whereas we will just soak it all up.
Truth of the matter is Wallaby, three years ago I saw the changes begin in the Wallys and the Q’d reds and have always maintained that come WC time the Wallabies would be their greatest threat to reaching the finals, but have also maintained that they need an extra year in development and lets face facts, the Wallys are evolving out of sight through proper development and management. They will probably rise to the top for the next WC without a doubt, but this year is ours!!
12 Oct 2011, 01:30 am
@KiaKahaNZ(KiaKahaNZ)-39: KK, I’m 100% for the win this weekend. Donald too me is not a problem or a liability as everyone brings something. Wrapped Hosea is back as I love his mongrel, speed and power..like a mini Lomu in some respects. Kahui and Dagg, well they are just bloody magnificent and for any dos to think that that Cooper is the golden boy in relation to their running game is dreaming. If Pocock falls all over the ball, well thats fine to if the ref allows us the same deal.
Where exactly are the Wallies really going to beat us.
Desire- no
Determination- no
Physicality- no
Fitness- no
Experience- no
Attitude-no
Composure-no
Talent- no
History-no
Records-no
Team cohesion- no
Home advantage-no
Support-no
Head to head-no
If we lose after all we have going for us the universe obviously had other ideas.
I see McCaw lifting the goods so dont worry Kiwi fans and BELIEVE.
E
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