Rugby Union | PUNT ROAD END | Richmond Tigers Forum
  • IMPORTANT // Please look after your loved ones, yourself and be kind to others. If you are feeling that the world is too hard to handle there is always help - I implore you not to hesitate in contacting one of these wonderful organisations Lifeline and Beyond Blue ... and I'm sure reaching out to our PRE community we will find a way to help. T.

Rugby Union

The All Black side to play the Lions on Saturday night was announced today:-

All Blacks team sheet:

Tony Woodcock, Keven Mealamu, Carl Hayman, Chris Jack, Ali Williams, Jerry Collins, Richie McCaw, Rodney So’oialo, Justin Marshall, Dan Carter, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Aaron Mauger, Tana Umaga (Captain), Doug Howlett, Leon MacDonald.

Reserves:
Derren Witcombe, Greg Somerville, Jono Gibbes, Sione Lauaki, Byron Kelleher, Mils Muliaina, Rico Gear

http://www.allblacks.com/index.cfm?layout=displayNews&newsArticle=2104
 
The Lions have named their team for Saturday ngihts match against the All Blacks:-

The team: Jason Robinson (ENG), Josh Lewsey (ENG), Brian O'Driscoll (IRL) captain, Jonny Wilkinson (ENG), Gareth Thomas (WAL), Stephen Jones (WAL), Dwayne Peel (WAL), Martin Corry (ENG), Neil Back (ENG), Richard Hill (ENG), Ben Kay (ENG), Paul O'Connell (IRL), Julian White (ENG), Shane Byrne (IRL), Gethin Jenkins (WAL)

Replacements: Steve Thompson (ENG), Graham Rowntree (ENG), Danny Grewcock (ENG), Ryan Jones (WAL), Matt Dawson (ENG), Will Greenwood (ENG), Shane Horgan (IRL)

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,15694166-23217,00.html

Interesting selection of Johnny Wilkinson at inside centre (12) instead of five-eighth (10)....
 
Can't believe they left out Henson, and neither can quite a few over here.

Maybe they figure he's tired after Charlotte's trip over. ;)
 
You are right TGN, I find it astonishing that thirteen of the twenty-two players in the side are English, especially given their poor recent form and the fact that both Wales and Ireland finished above them, convincingly, in the Six Nations.

The bias of Woodward is amazing, especially when you are playing Johnny Wilkinson out of position (not that he can't do it), just to have him in the side. He is there out of reputation alone, which would be fine, but he has barely played a full match since drop kicking Australia out of the World Cup final in 2003.

I have never seen him play inside centre, and he does not have a reputation for being a utility back like a Matt Burke was or a Dan Carter is. He will also have to be careful, the New Zealand flankers will go out of their way to destroy him.

I am really looking forward to this match and am squarely in the All Black camp!!!
 
Australia also play Italy on Saturday afternoon in Melbourne, which should be more practice for our Wallabies leading into matches against france and then the Tri-Nations. While the Italians are improving, and did beat Argentina last week, I don't really think they will have the same amount of class as the Aastralian team. Especially given the inclusion of both George Gregan and Stephan Larkham.

Wallabies team: Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor, Stirling Mortlock, Matt Giteau, Lote Tuqiri, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (c), David Lyons, George Smith, Rocky Elsom, Nathan Sharpe, Mark Chisholm, Al Baxter, Jermey Paul, Bill Young.

Reserves: Stephen Moore, Matt Dunning, Hugh McMeniman, John Roe, Chris Whitaker, Morgan Turinui, Mark Gerrard.

http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,15697952-23217,00.html
 
QueenC said:
You are right TGN, I find it astonishing that thirteen of the twenty-two players in the side are English, especially given their poor recent form and the fact that both Wales and Ireland finished above them, convincingly, in the Six Nations.

The bias of Woodward is amazing, especially when you are playing Johnny Wilkinson out of position (not that he can't do it), just to have him in the side. He is there out of reputation alone, which would be fine, but he has barely played a full match since drop kicking Australia out of the World Cup final in 2003.

I have never seen him play inside centre, and he does not have a reputation for being a utility back like a Matt Burke was or a Dan Carter is. He will also have to be careful, the New Zealand flankers will go out of their way to destroy him.

I am really looking forward to this match and am squarely in the All Black camp!!!
Click to expand...

I'm with you Queenie! A Lions win would not be much fun for me living over here and to be frank, I can't STAND Woodward!! I think as a coach he's over rated. I think he managed to accumulate some fine players for the World Cup and guys like Johnson, Dallaglio lead them well with Wilkenson providing the class. Even then they stumbled through the tournament! They deserved to win it as they were the best side but they nearly blew it!! We moved here 3 months after the game and they were still salivating over it.

How Woodhead can justify not picking some of these Welsh and Irish players I don't know. He genuinely doesn't seem to know who his best team is. Maybe he'll change his mind and drop some Poms after the Lions get stuffed in the first test.

The only thing that worries me is the All Blacks have been held out of the lead up games and haven't played any tests themselves for quite a while (except for a stroll in the park against Fiji) so maybe the Lions may surprise them early.
 
The English forward pack was far and away the best in the world in 2003 and that is why England were so powerful and Wilkinson was so good, he was very well protected and got a great feed of the ball.

And it just goes to show how infrequent English sporting wins are given their massive over-reaction to the victory against Australia at the World Cup. As good as it was, I am not sure you can justify knighting the coach because of it!!!

I don't think there is anyone who is from anywhere other than England that actually likes (Sir) Woodward, his arrogance seems to know no bounds and that has been proven again with this tour. The touring party (players and coaching staff) is so over-populated I don't think they have all actually met eachother yet.

New Zealand may have only had the one training run against Fiji, but the Lion side is more or less in the same boat, because this particular combination of players have not played together before either. And the Lions sides that have played have all looked less than convincing against their provincial competition, in my opinion.

The All Black side is (roughly) the same as it was against Fiji (McCaw has been declared fit to play) as well I think, so at least they have played together once. And other than that they are always scary good on their home turf.

As for not choosing more players from the teams that have actually been winning, I think he would justify that by saying he is the coach and therefore knows better that anyone else (ever  ;) !!!) who should be on the park. No other explanation needed!!!

I just hope New Zealand prove him wrong and hopefully that will make living up there a little easier for you TGN  ;) ;D !!!
 
Woodward is a tosser

Can't see them scratching the All Blacks

They should just roll out the Crusaders and give the Lions a practice match
 
QueenC said:
The English forward pack was far and away the best in the world in 2003 and that is why England were so powerful and Wilkinson was so good, he was very well protected and got a great feed of the ball.
Click to expand...

Absolutely right. I didn't see any great evidence of coaching brilliance!

QueenC said:
I don't think there is anyone who is from anywhere other than England that actually likes (Sir) Woodward, his arrogance seems to know no bounds and that has been proven again with this tour. The touring party (players and coaching staff) is so over-populated I don't think they have all actually met eachother yet.
Click to expand...

:rotfl :rotfl

QueenC said:
New Zealand may have only had the one training run against Fiji, but the Lion side is more or less in the same boat, because this particular combination of players have not played together before either. And the Lions sides that have played have all looked less than convincing against their provincial competition, in my opinion.
Click to expand...

Agreed! My only point was that because they are both underprepared there is a chance of an upset.

QueenC said:
I just hope New Zealand prove him wrong and hopefully that will make living up there a little easier for you TGN  ;) ;D !!!
Click to expand...

Here's hoping Your Majesty!

I'm going downstairs to watch it now.
 
I do enjoy watching the Wallabies :hearton Would love to go one day with someone who can explain the finer points to me.
When do the All Blacks play the Lions? Sports news in NZ was full of the tour when I was in NZ in early May? Souvenir stuff was EVERYWHERE!
 
How good was the Haka?!! So much passion! I love it.

Jeez there's a lot of underhanded tackling going on. I'm amazed these guys can get up after some of the head high tackles in the first half. Really makes Razor's love tap with Cloke that time look more and more like a peck on the cheek.
 
Yeah, I shouted for a high tackle, then remembered I wasn't at the footy

Haka was awesome, always impressive

Crowd had a good sing song too

Lions are terrible at the line outs
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
< Centrelink Queries | Lost socks, teaspoons and things you can’t find when you really need them >
Official PRE merch now on Redbubble!
Top Bottom