Rugby - Six Nations, S14, Lions, Can't Wait

[Andydog]

Wulf broke his shoulder just before the French tests. Haven't heard if he is back in contention since then.

Agree about Weepu, not about Sivivatu though - he had an average game on Saturday but still looked very dangerous in attack. I think he's good enough. Hear what you say about Donald, but you have to admit that he has improved with every test. The Boks singled out his channel and he defended it well in general. In attack, he took the right options most of the time. Sure, he is no Dan Carter, but I don't think he is as bad as you make him out.

[kittenOFchaos]

So...

1. How to bet for the rematch this Saturday?

2. England will host the 2015 Rugby World Cup (who knows if I'll still be in Britain for that!)

Very excited about the possibility of attending my second Rugby World Cup...the last time was in Murryfield during the 1991 World Cup with my mini-rugby team. Was VERY painful seeing Rob Andrew take England to the Final over Scotland, especially given our hero Gavin Hastings had missed an absolutely simple shot a goal (we definitely needed Paterson for that one!).

[finbar]

Sure, he is no Dan Carter, but I don't think he is as bad as you make him out.

Yes he is. But you had your way with Cowan and Franks, even if the latter was injury-induced. I would certainly have had McAlister at #12.

How to bet for the rematch this Saturday?

Expect more of the same as last week. Boks to rampage before losing their way. It's a matter of whether the ABs can improve their line out, lift their support play - and overcome their lack of a #10 - in order to take advantage.

[Havak]

The Boks played better rugby against the 'lame' Lions in all three tests than they ever did against the truly pathetic ABs last weekend. 8 mins of ball in the first half is a stat worthy of Spain not the mighty ABs.

But keep up the baiting, I love it.

And great news that the RWC is coming to a country with the infrastructure to host if properly. Japan in 2019.

Looks like the Aussies or Boks will be defending their RWC title in England first though. The only question is who will the ABs lose to in 2011 - France or Australia?

[Caligastia]

I sense glee.

[LDiCesare]

The only question is who will the ABs lose to in 2011 - France or Australia?

Do you suppose they can't lose to England?

[finbar]

Ever the realist, Havak is assuming England won't get past their pool games.

[Caligastia]

Isn't it a bit early to be making predictions?

[finbar]

There are predictions ... and there are certainties ...

[kittenOFchaos]

There are predictions ... and there are certainties ...

Oh, it is a fascinating pool group B and that is for certain.

Argentina, England and Scotland with only two able to go through (not to completely discount the other two teams that'll qualify, but minnows don't do that well in rugby).

All three teams are capable of beating each other on their day, and I could see each team winning against each other e.g Argentina beating England, but England beating Scotland and Scotland beating Argentina and it coming down to score differences.

I definitely think it is the group of death for the tourney, second being group D as Wales face Fiji again

[Havak]

Oh it is not glee - it's all done in the spirit of cut and thrust banter with my old mate andydog. Who might not even see the irony that his 'lame' labelled Lions gave the Boks three much stiffer Tests than the two attempts where they easily brushed aside this lacklustre AB outfit.

The Wallabies really need to kick themselves for going down to this AB side, it's not firing on even three cylinders.

I don't see England beating the ABs in the next RWC, nor do I expect them to necessarily win the pool. Though Scotland certainly won't.

I do expect Mr Dickinson to helm a crucial pool game and issue 13 red cards to English players, all of which are quietly rescinded by the IRB the following week.

Although the reality is England will win the group of course, though I admire Scottish optimism they have a chance the odds and history are really hugely against them. Currently averaging one win over England every six years or so based on the last two decades?

Now todays game - the ABs lack quality half backs and quality locks. The back three were headless wonders under the high bombs sent their way. The only world class player I'll concede the ABs had on the pitch was McCaw and it's not often you watch the ABs and think that is it? There is work to do there for Mr Henry.

[finbar]

It's a while since I've seen such a shambolic AB effort. A lot of it, it has to be said, down to Bok pressure, but much too much of it self-inflicted. The scoreline flattered because the AB try, as nicely worked as it was, was scored against the run of play.

Yes, they need halves with some quality - I'm still right, Donald isn't up to it - and better locks. Isaac Ross, in the real world, would be at least a season away from the ABs. He's a baby with talent. Circumstances have him in the team, paired with Thorn, who is never better than a decent support to a strong locking partner, and the result is there for all to see.

I can only assume that the rest of the shambles is down to a complete lack of confidence. Mils seems to have lost the plot defensively at full back and Joe Rokocoko and Sivivatu have turned into disasters waiting to happen. The line out is, somehow, getting worse. McCaw is class, but Brussow out-McCawed him today. Actually Brussow is more George Smith than McCaw and he will probably out-Smith George next week.

Quite right. The Wallabies will rue their missed opportunity. But it's the way of the Wallabies of recent times, unfortunately. I fear for them next week. Though one thing this Bok machine isn't doing is scoring tries.

[kittenOFchaos]

Quite right. The Wallabies will rue their missed opportunity. But it's the way of the Wallabies of recent times, unfortunately. I fear for them next week. Though one thing this Bok machine isn't doing is scoring tries.

The Wallabie game will again be very interesting to see just how good this SA team actually is.

The Lions weren't far off beating the South Africans in the series, in fact had the beast been properly reffed in that first game they may well have lost that and it just required O'Gara to have kept his head for one minute to have won the second. So little in it.

The NZers are missing lots of key players that will return to the fold and didn't have anything to mitigate the forward dominance of SA, particularly as the NZ lineout and kicking game is currently so bad.

What Australia still have, is some great runners, alot of skill and traditionally Australia seem to manage their weaknesses very effectively.


What will also be very interesting to see is if SA can win against Australia and NZ away...

I just hope I'll be able to get a chance to watch some more of these games. As for betting on these games...forget it!!!

[finbar]

The ABs could legitimately play the injury card when they were missing McCaw, So'oialo, Conrad Smith, Sivivatu and others from the opening Tests. Now they're really only missing Carter (obviously) and Ali Williams, who, though not a great lock, would be vastly more effective than either of the current pair. Neither will solve the problem of a lack of depth of quality elsewhere and what appears, now, to be a widespread lack of confidence. A big test for G. Henry.

Mental strength is a key in rugby. The Boks have it. The Wallabies don't yet. They used to. The ABs have it over the Wallabies but not the Boks.

Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes are the keys to the Wallabies' efforts next week. If they can get enough decent ball - a very big "if" - they can direct a game in a way Stephen Donald could only ever dream of doing. The Boks revel in dictating the game. The Wallabies have to stop that. If they can, they have the quality at #10 and #12 and further out to captialise. With Steyn, the Boks are tied to a kicking game, limiting their attacking options. It will be a very interesting contest. I suspect mental and physical strength will prevail.

It also doesn't help that the Wallabies will be without Robbie Deans for much of this week over there. His Dad died yesterday in New Zealand.

[Andydog]

Dear oh dear oh dear oh dear. I don't think I've ever seen such a dreadful display of rugby from NZ. Positively un-All-Black one might say.

Hats off to the Boks, they applied massive pressure and capitalised on elementary mistakes and a total absence of any sensible tactics or direction.

Donald, after showing hints of potential against Aussie, regressed against the saffas as much as the rest of the team. I reluctantly find myself agreeing that against SA, Donald was as bad as Finbar says he is. In fact, none of the ABs are playing with confidence, key players are way out of form, and the Cartel seem to be denying that anything is wrong with their coaching. Graham Henry thinks the game plan was fine? Steve Hansen doesn't want to call in a specialist to help with the lineouts? Wayne Smith believes long kicks are a waste of time? Dear oh dear oh dear oh dear. This is pretty much the same side that swept all before them last season. You have to ask yourself where did it all go wrong?

Oh well, at least I have the comfort of knowing that even in our darkest hour, we could still beat the lame Lions.