Shake's blog

The All Blacks go head to head with the Springboks tomorrow in the heart of Soweto at the ground where Spain were crowned World Cup champions & should have taken home a gold medal for diving too.  While it is beyond doubt that the All Blacks will be crowned Tri-Nations champions this year this test is hugely important for the Boks as they attempt to put the miseries of their tour behind them.  How the All Blacks stand up to the challenge against a very fired up Boks at altitude is going to tell us a lot about them.

While the rest of the world has been quick to jump on the "All Blacks are peaking too soon" bandwagon, one of New Zealand's great wingers - John Kirwan (the Mangere butcher's apprentice) - has rubbished such talk.  Over in South Africa as a RWC11 Ambassador, JK has pointed out that the All Blacks & the New Zealand public expect to be number one & therefore need to be peaking all the time.

The All Blacks have made only two changes to the starting XV for this week's test returning Jimmy Cowan to the halfback spot in place of Piri Weepu & replacing one Franks brother (Owen) with another (Ben).  Meanwhile the Boks have made 7 selection changes & another positional change as they look to avenge the hidings they took in New Zealand.
 
Yes its that dreaded word REST (but not rotation) given as the reason for Owen's demotion & he's not even in the 22 man squad with John Afoa coming on to the bench.

The dreaded term - Rest & Rotation - seemed to have been buried but is starting to rear its ugly head with Graham Henry discussing the need to start Aaron Cruden in some tests this year "sooner rather than later".
 
One of the positive aspects this year has been the consistency in selection with combinations being developed.  Players such as Kaino & Mealamu have gone to a new level with solid game time.

Tana is back but can he lead Counties to the ultimate glory - the capture of the Ranfurly Shield?  Forget the talk of playing for NPC points this is all about the Shield as any Counties supporter will tell you.
 
For those of us who had to endure the heartache of Palmerston North in '77, Eden Park in '79, Waikato in '81, robbery at Lancaster Park in '82 & then Eden Park again in '85, a Counties shield challenge often brings back bitter memories.

I am really not too sure which way to turn this weekend which means I should leave this game alone but as Anonymous seems to enjoy ridiculing me each week & the emotional hedge is leading to some real enjoyment watching these games at the pub I can't turn away from that strategy.

A feisty capacity crowd of 18,000 will be packed into Rugby Park, Invercargill this weekend for a reminder of the glory days of NZ provincial rugby when the Ranfurly Shield challenge & local rivalries meant everything. 
 
Otago haven't held the Shield since 1957 & were unsuccessful in 2 challenges last year. Meanwhile Southland get the chance to play in front of a packed crowd in what will be the biggest game of their lives for many of the team (especially compared to playing for the Highlanders).

New Zealand Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan has struck out at the behaviour of some NZ rugby fans at the Bledisloe Cup match in Melbourne last week.  He has used it to generalise about NZ rugby fans, drinking & even youth culture at large.  As for the mention of xenophobia by NZ fans in Australia - you must be joking!  This guy has obviously spent too much time sipping chardonnay & eating canapes from the comfort of numerous corporate boxes. 

First of all a few quick comments on last week's test.  While I thought Carter was offside for the AB's first try for the next 30 minutes until half time they played some of the best rugby I have seen in quite a while.  You got the feeling from the moment you first saw them coming out of the shed that they had a determination but also a confidence about them that they were going to let loose on this Aussie team.

Piri Weepu replaces the injured Jimmy Cowan in the only change to the All Black starting XV for this weekend.  This brings Alby Mathewson onto the bench & in line for his first test jersey.  Benson Stanley replaces Israel Dagg on the bench which is surely due to injury as well.
 
Meanwhile the Aussies continue to be in state of flux & have not yet named their team but there is expectyed to be about 5 changes.