Kiwis call on Crockett
22 Aug 2012
The All Blacks have made one change for their Rugby Championship match against the Wallabies in Auckland.
Wyatt Crockett will start at loosehead prop following the rib injury to veteran Tony Woodcock, while Sonny Bill Williams will play his last Test before joining up with the Wild Knights in Japan.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said that while the All Blacks had been happy with their first-up 27-19 win over the Wallabies in Sydney last weekend, the expectation of the team was to continue to seek improvement in its performance.
‘We are expecting that Australia will take a step up in their intensity after last weekend’s loss and we will have to be ready for that challenge.’
However, the chances of the Wallabies winning at Eden Park are slim, to say the least. They have lost 13 games in a row in Auckland with their last win coming 26 years ago.
All Blacks – 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Ma’a Nonu, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Subs: 16 Andrew Hore, 17 Ben Franks, 18 Brodie Retallick, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Ben Smith.
9 Comments
23 Aug 2012, 07:25 am
WChamp Dragons!
23 Aug 2012, 07:44 am
This is going to be a tough day at the office for the Wallabies. The AB’s were pretty poor in Sydney, but it is rare that they play badly 2 weeks in a row. Add to that home advantage, the Wallaby’s injury problems, and the Eden Park factor, and it could end up a stuffing for theboys in yellow.
Where are the AB’s weak points? Probably in the second row, and in the poor combination formed by Nonu and SBW. However, the Wallabies aren’t particularly strong in those positions either, so I don’t know if they can make much of that.
Read was pretty rusty in the last game, and Messam erratic (just seemed to try too hard, which he has been guilty of in the past). But without Pocock, the Wallabies won’t get much out of that area.
So all in all, it will be quite an upset if the Aussies manage to pinch this one.
23 Aug 2012, 07:55 am
Oh to be able to interchange props at will…
Boks are in some serious trouble if JDP (or Beast for that matter ) goes down… the mere fact that Cilliers is on the bench and there is nobody else like Gurthro and Coenie around) is testament to that…
Pieter De Villiers needs to get in amongst the u20′s nationally and starting drilling TH/LH hybrids…
23 Aug 2012, 10:08 am
@bryce_in_oz-3: When you think about it, SA, Aus, and NZ are all a bit light in the propping department , in fact a bit light right through the tight 5.
23 Aug 2012, 10:26 am
@aliboy-4:
NZ has plenty of props
23 Aug 2012, 10:42 am
3 (Franks, Franks, Woodcock) with reasonable or good international experience? Crockett only 6 caps, and potentially an issue against the wrong opposition or wrong ref. Who else is proven at this level? Might be some reasonable looking candidates coming through, but you can’t really rate them until they prove themselves against the worlds big boys.
23 Aug 2012, 13:12 pm
bryce_in_oz – All 3 big teams are suffering with injuries. I have a feeling it is hte rediculous exteneded S15 that is taking its toll on players!!
23 Aug 2012, 13:50 pm
What I like most about this Team.
They are going to win this weekend.
End of.
23 Aug 2012, 15:59 pm
@bryce_in_oz-3:
agree – we have little depth at TH and especially with dominating props who can scrummage and dominate.
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