Carter back in black
29 Nov 2012
Dan Carter has recovered from a calf injury and will start at flyhalf for New Zealand against England on Saturday.
Carter replaces Aaron Cruden, who drops to the bench. Coach Steve Hansen has made a further two changes, with Brodie Retallick starting at lock and hooker Keven Mealamu filling in for the suspended Andrew Hore.
Hansen has confirmed that despite their niggling injuries, players like Mealamu and Tony Woodcock will be available for the game at Twickenham.
All Blacks – 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Victor Vito, 21 Piri Weepu, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Ben Smith.
79 Comments
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29 Nov 2012, 14:41 pm
@NZINCHINA-49:
Agree, because they could not test themselves properly in the internation community. But the few oppotunities they had, they did well.
1980 beat Ireland
1981 lost in NZ 2-1 (dubious reffing by Clive Norling)
1984 beat England 3-0
1986 beat the NZ Caviliers 3-1
1989 beat WorldXV
There were a few more games, but I can’t recall them all. In 1980 I think they lost to the Jagurs who had Hugo Porta.
29 Nov 2012, 14:42 pm
@gonzo-50: Re Cheaters…it’s a very big wheel that takes time to turn.
29 Nov 2012, 14:47 pm
@blik-51:
I’m sure they were a very good side but to show no respect to this AB side who holds every trophy in world rugby and has not been beaten in 20 tests is just wrong, are you trying to tell me if the situation was reversed you’d be saying this was an average Bokke side of course you wouldn’t we both know that.
29 Nov 2012, 14:57 pm
HiHiHiHi!!! These Safas are hilarious.
Lets leave the worldcup out of the equation its a K@K competition anyway that can even be won by England and twice by Australia, the AB`s do not claim their dominance because of the worldcup but the fact that they are consistantly the IRB number one team year in year out for the past two decades now.
29 Nov 2012, 14:59 pm
@NZINCHINA-53: I am not showing disrespect. I agree, the AB are currently the best team, and have over the last 20 years been consistently the best team.
The point I am trying to make is the class of 11/12 has won a RWC, and come close to haveing the most consective wins. But I think there have been much better AB teams in the past who have not come close to those stats.
IMO the reason why the class of 11/12 is doing so well, is because of the lack of competition as opposed to them being a ‘great’ team.
For example I think, the 95/96 ABs were better. So too the early 2000′s. Think of players like Christian Cullen, Zinzan Brooke, Olo Brown, Frank Bunce, Sean Fitzpatrick, etc
I think Dan Carter is the best rugby player I have ever seen. I know Richie McCaw is very good and is highly rated in NZ, I do think he is one of the best, but not the best.
Also, NZ can’t help it that Aus and SA are struggling at the moment, they have to play as well as they can, and if there is not much competition, it’s not their fault. I am just saying, they are not ‘great’ when compared their predescessors.
How do you feel, do the current stock compare to past AB teams?
29 Nov 2012, 15:11 pm
@blik-55:
“How do you feel, do the current stock compare to past AB teams?”
They may not be as good individually but as a team this AB`s are playing way better than any other team i have seen.
This is what people do not see its not the brilliance of individuals but the brilliance of the team and thats what makes it a very good team. Team imcludes the coaching staff.
29 Nov 2012, 15:15 pm
@Namblack-56: But you can only play as well as the opposition allow you to play.
The current Bok team would play some brilliant rugby against the blind school too.
29 Nov 2012, 15:21 pm
@suffer_guy-38: That’s what happens when your team aren’t toilet trained.
29 Nov 2012, 15:25 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_-43:
Ha ha
29 Nov 2012, 15:35 pm
In other news, The All Blacks have come down with sickness. Coach Steve Hansen has reported that his entire camp is suffereing from aggressive vomiting and diarrhea.
29 Nov 2012, 15:36 pm
Blik: Fair comments, the 96′ & 06′ teams were pretty special with some big name players, the perception is that this team doesn’t have as many big names but I disagree Dagg Jane Nonu Smith Carter Read McCaw Woodcock etc are all world class. If this teams goes unbeaten in 2012 it will be a very special achievement.
29 Nov 2012, 16:23 pm
Good to see him marshalling the troops in the final game of the season and obviously the most difficult one on tour, although Wilkinson is not playing, so BH won’t akcnowledge it as an English full strenght team.
29 Nov 2012, 16:26 pm
“Aggressive” vomiting even – such pro’s.
29 Nov 2012, 16:29 pm
@Daddy-60: Even that won’t save the Poms.
29 Nov 2012, 17:48 pm
@Nils-64: A pity the Maori team has already flown home or they could play. Or perhaps NH-based players could have a throw around and probably still win
Afoa, de Malmanche, Hayman, ?, ?, Kaino, Nick Wiliams, Masoe, Cowan, Evans, Sivi, MacAlister, Payne, Roks, Mils
Not sure who to pick at lock now that Thorn has come home
@blik-55: McCaw and Carter getting older could be a problem by 2015 but by then Read and Dagg will be even better, SBW will probably be back, and who knows, maybe Kaino but I’m not relying on that. We’ll probably be better placed for half backs than in the last 5-10 years too. Wing has never really been a major problem. Doesn’t look like a team in decline to me
29 Nov 2012, 17:51 pm
Can’t see why this team cant be classified as n great team hell what more must they do??? Don’t see what the saffers argument is here.. Pointless actually
29 Nov 2012, 18:44 pm
@supersader-66:
No one is taking anything away from your side , they are simply trying to say that just because you won a World cup at home and 2012 Championship , does not mean the current team is better than the 1996 All Blacks or the 2005/2006 All Blacks who were brilliant sides in their own right.
Many of us feel you had a easier year than usual as the Wallabies and Springboks have not been up to the standards you’d expect.
No excuses tho , AB’s best in the world by a mile
29 Nov 2012, 21:59 pm
@Daddy-60: Dan poms have hired Suzie to do the cooking
29 Nov 2012, 22:13 pm
@wp_boytjie-67:
I see your/their point and I feel it is a valid one.If the 2013 Ab team have another stellar season again against an improved Bok side and hopefully a better Wallabies then they can be considered as being on a par with the Great Ab sides of the past….it does take time to create a legacy.
29 Nov 2012, 23:33 pm
Everyone seems to think the Boks are on the cusp of greatness due to subpar performances the entire season on the basis od injuries and supposed retirements.And that the AB’s will flounder somehow due to some of the more experienced players maybe be leaving in next 12-18months
WRONG
2/3 years out from RWC 2015 the all blacks have already capped a number of young players which are better or at very least as good as Bok youngsters.
Of the current bunch Woodcock,Mealamu,Smith,Nonu,Weepu won’t make it
AB will make sure Carter,McCaw make it.but even then
1.Ben Franks 2.Hore 3.Owen Franks 4.Romano 5.Whitelock 6.Messam 7.Cane 8.Read 9.Smith 10.Cruden 11.Gear 12.SBW 13.Kahui 14.Jane 15.Dagg
16.Coles 17.Famuiana 18.Retallick 19.A.Savea 20.Kerr-Barlow 21.Barrett 22.B.Smith
VS
1.Beast 2.Bismark 3.Jannie 4.Eben 5.Kruger 6.Louw 7.Burger 8.Vermuelen 9.Pienaar 10.Goosen 11.Habana 12.De Villiers(c) 13.Fourie 14.JP 15.Steyn
16.Strauss 17.Cilliers 18.Bekker 19.Alberts 20.Hougaard 21.Lambie 22.Taute
That AB team would still beat Boks with Meyer in charge
Of young players capped only Etzebeth is better than NZ counterpart
30 Nov 2012, 00:42 am
The greatest ten to have played the game.King Carter!
30 Nov 2012, 00:43 am
@aliboy-68: Dan = Damn
30 Nov 2012, 00:44 am
@aliboy-68:
who is Suzie?
30 Nov 2012, 01:09 am
BTW, congratulations to Habana. Try of the year, and well deserved. How I hated him at the time!
30 Nov 2012, 01:18 am
@gonzo-65: The only player I truly regret leaving for good is Evans. A gem of a player. But he is unlucky to shine in the same time as Carter.
It’s like an Oscar awards. One year may produce some legends but only one gets the ultimate prize and the rest will never have another crack having bad luck to be in the same year.
30 Nov 2012, 21:30 pm
@blik 55: good comments, and I see where you are coming from. I would rather watch the 1996 or 2005/6 teams play than this one. The current side has certainly played brilliantly at times, but has been quite inconsistent (playing badly in at least 4 games). Partly reflects there isn’t quite as much depth in this team as those other teams.
Also agree the boks and Aussies haven’t been strong this year. This has helped Te all blacks recover from the loss of senior players like kaino, muliaina, thorn, toeava plus richee starting the season well off the pace after recovering from op on his foot.
This AB team also has a number of defensive selections, like smith, Jane, whereas the earlier teams required more attacking sting of their players. Not as good to watch, but more effective in tight games.
30 Nov 2012, 23:26 pm
@corporal punishment-76: Smith is a great defender, but he sets up a lot of tries as well. You only need to look at how many the wings score to realise that the midfield is doing it’s attacking effectively. As for Jane, whilst he again defends well, especially covering the back, he is one of the most naturally gifted attacking wings in the game. I agree however that this team lacks some of the out and out genius of some previous teams, but it also seems to be more coherent and structured as a team entity. Like you I wold probably prefer to watch the 1996 or 05/06 teams due to real flashes of brilliance, but this team might become the most successful of them all due to the total teamwork.
30 Nov 2012, 23:29 pm
Aliboy, Agree with all of that. Jane scores great tries, he just does it with a different skill set than recent AB wings.
1 Dec 2012, 07:09 am
@aliboy-77:
Nonu has been excellent on this tour…..Once again ends the year as the premier 2nd Five in Rugby….
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