I have to admit that following a number of white cans on the road trip to Hamilton the previous night this was the first game I didn't manage to watch more than about 2 minutes as I was standing at a leaner outside the default Irish pub (The Steamship). It was soon apparent that it wasn't going to be close & by the sound of it the Argies were just too powerful & mobile for the Romanians. Here are the video highlights.
They had a saying in South Africa last year for the Soccer World Cup - Ke Nako - It's time. Well after 24 & a bit years its New Zealand's time again as we host the RWC & look for a repeat of the All Black victory in 1987. Having only been in the country 3 days I am already struck by the excitment from locals & tourists alike.
Yesterday members of the Berlin 03 Rugby Club were queuing for tickets in front of me. Every second car in Auckland seems to have a Tongan flag on it. The bars down the Viaduct & Britomart are already starting to fill.
Only the All Blacks would be stupid enough to go into a RWC with only 3 fit specialist loose forwards after the injuries to Kieran Read & Adam Thomson last week. Given the history of taking injured players to World Cups & then being forced to pick players out of position this shows they have learned nothing.
The 30 man All Black squad for RWC has been announced & is as follows;
Backs:- Mils, Daggy Boy, Toeava, Jane, Guildford, Kahui, Smith C, Nonu, SBW, Carter, Slade, Weepu, Cowan, Ellis.
Forwards:- Read, Vito, McCaw (c), Thomson, Kaino, Thorn, Whitelock S, Williams A, Boric, Woodcock, Franks the Elder, Franks the Younger, Afoa, Mealamu, Hore, Flynn.
The lucky ones seem to be; Toeava, Jane, Guildford, Slade, Vito, Williams A, Boric, Woodcock, Afoa & Flynn. The 3 guys who were named in the Tri-Nations 30 man squad who missed out (Gear, Messam & Hoeata) must be feeling very unlucky as are probably Sivivatu & Crockett.
The All Black selectors have named a virtual "Possibles" team to play the Springboks this week in PE & have included 6 players yet to start a test this year, four of which have recovered from injury - Dagg, Toeava, Kahui & Woodcock.
Starting XV:- Daggy Boy, Toeava, Gear, Kahui, SBW, Slade, Cowan, Messam, Thomson, Kaino, Williams A, Whitelock S, Woodcock, Afoa, Mealamu (c).
Meanwhile the Springboks look as unsure as ever & have made 5 changes to last week's side.
Starting XV:- Lambie, Pietersen, Habana, Fourie, de Villiers, Steyn M, du Preez, Spies, Brussow, Alberts, Matfield (c), Botha, Steenkamp, du Plessis J, Bismarck.
As a ticket holder for the All Blacks test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth I can only say I am very disappointed in the All Black squad that has been announced for that tour. They have rested first choice players; McCaw, Carter, Smith C, Read, Thorn, Franks the Younger & Mils. More marginal choices like Flynn & Sivi also stay at home.
I can possibly understand Carter but some of the others like McCaw & Smith have barely played this year.
According to this report its not good news for Lancaster Park or the Cantabs in 2012. Looks like large parts of the ground need to rebuilt or even demolished.
They should be wary of temporarily moving out to Riccarton though - just ask Matthew Johns.
I see there is a fair bit of drama in NZ about the price of the new All Black jersey. I'm not so sure why people are so upset - the advent of professionalism & the commercialisation of the game has been going this way for some time.
If you can afford a jersey & want one enough - buy one otherwise don't (like most discretionary items in life). They are only replicas anyway & you don't need one to support the AB's (I will have a Patumahoe jersey on at the match in Port Elizabeth). I remember when replica All Black jerseys weren't for sale - you needed to earn one to get one.
Amongst all the hooplah of last week's All Black victory over the Wallabies - an interesting event seems to have slipped by almost unnoticed (and I even omitted it from my review). Dan Carter coolly kicked only the 3rd drop goal of his international career.
It was almost like he was saying "We've learned some lessons from 2007" as it sailed between the posts. Sure they weren't under pressure by that stage & it seemed like practice but it must be a message for the RWC. Take the points anyway they come.
First of all it was the white collar and now Steinlager have brought back the white can so much part of NZ culture in the 1980's & 90's. Have a look at the TV ad. What's next - Stand by Me & C'mon Kiwi C'mon C'mon being played at the grounds - let's hope so.
