Tri NAtions is almost upon us…
Been reading how the Aussies are going to hand it to the All Blacks in the first test in 2 weeks time as they beat Ireland by more than the AB’s did… With that said we haven’t even seen the top AB side of the season yet…
South Africa can’t score tries and have been put away by France after less than stellar performances against Scotland…
My pick is for the AB’s to narrowly put away the aussies in the first match and then build from there… they might slip up in SA again but should still take the Tri Nats…
Aussies to finish second this year…
Cheers!
Daryl
[quote=“daryl_ks”]Tri NAtions is almost upon us…
Been reading how the Aussies are going to hand it to the All Blacks in the first test in 2 weeks time as they beat Ireland by more than the AB’s did… With that said we haven’t even seen the top AB side of the season yet…[/quote]
WHY CAN’T WE BEAT A SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE SIDE? :bravo: Just kidding… the Wallabies are always strong, in my opinion. The 15-11 Irish lead looked very good for a short while. 
I’d say that the ABs will be wide awake after a tough match in BsAS – the Pumas surprised me…
Unfortunately you’re spot on in this regard. 
Something seems to be going wrong when our players progress from National Age-group teams (under 19/under 21) to the senior side. If you look at how our under 21’s ran OVER the Kiwis at the U21 World Cup in France :bravo: (had to squeeze this one in daryl!) you’ll notice that SA teams can actually score them. Methinks our senior boys are becoming sissies, what with all the ‘injuries’ etc.
Having said all of the above, I still think the Boks will be a better team come the TriNations!
My blood will always stay green!
Where are you guys going to watch the games as they are no longer available on Star Sports. 
DSTV at NT$1000 per month or ABC on digital cable wiill have them.
I guess it’s off to the sports bars for many. 
Or look for the guys that have DSTV at their homes… theirs plenty of them
Yeah, what’s the story?
I thought RupertFuckingMurdoch’s News Corp had forked out drillions to Sanzar for broadcasting rights over the past decade.
Is it coz of the recent MediaZone deal?
Yeah, what’s the story?
I thought RupertFuckingMurdoch’s News Corp had forked out drillions to Sanzar for broadcasting rights over the past decade.
Is it because of the recent MediaZone deal?[/quote]
Simple really, espn star sports has lost the rugby rights… to the ABC AP… the rights are bought for usually 5 year periods… so nothing on Star Sports Taiwan except local basketball and baseball for you.
Even last year Star Sports only showed a few delayed rugby games…
hopefully the Wallabies will win every game they play. 
[quote=“Satellite TV”]
Simple really, espn star sports has lost the rugby rights… to the ABC AP… the rights are bought for usually 5 year periods… so nothing on Star Sports Taiwan except local basketball and baseball for you.
Even last year Star Sports only showed a few delayed rugby games…
hopefully the Wallabies will win every game they play. [/quote]
Interesting.
Can’t imagine the Wobblies winning many with their powder-puff forward pack.
Be that as it may, at least you know they won’t win by dropping dramatically all over the show. I’m back to rugby, soccer sucks.
HG
The Aussies seem to be back in gear and are going to be a real threat to the AB’s, esp in the mid field. I’d say the first test in less than 2 weeks time will be a 50/50 call. The ABs haven’t started to fire yet in their 3 games, while the Aussies have pounded the English and the Irish. Look to Mortlock and Rogers/Giteau will cut us to shreds. Three years after the RWC where we lost because we didnt have a suitable replacement for Umaga and now he is retired and still no suitable replacement!!! Perhaps we need to match the offer from France to get him out of retirement (its only about double for 3 months of playing to what the NZRU paid him annually!) The Boks as always unpredictable…they could be sublime, they could be atrocious,
[quote=“Infidel”][quote=“Satellite TV”]
Simple really, espn star sports has lost the rugby rights… to the ABC AP… the rights are bought for usually 5 year periods… so nothing on Star Sports Taiwan except local basketball and baseball for you.
Even last year Star Sports only showed a few delayed rugby games…
hopefully the Wallabies will win every game they play. [/quote]
Interesting.
Can’t imagine the Wobblies winning many with their powder-puff forward pack.[/quote]
Obviously you didn’t see the Wallabies drive the Irish back 3m in a scrum to win a tight head on Saturday
You’re right, I didn’t. But the ABs did much the same to the Irish scrum.
I know which pack I’d put my money on. 
Agree with your comment re the Oz backline, monoclub. They will be very dangerous, as always. By the look of the squad Ted & Co named today, seems they’re going to bite the bullet and play Mils at 13. With an in-form Rangi at fullback, that gives me a lot of confidence.
I don’t think its obvious that they intend to play Mils at 13, with both Nonu & Toeava still in the squad it looks like they are going to try and develop a genuine replacement. Anyway its all guess work for now.
Don’t let your love of the AB’s cloud your judgement like most other kiwis - the Aussies know how to play the game as they have shown in winning 2 World Cups. They don’t have our depth but their first 15 will take it to us. They have a big and tall forward pack. I’d put money on it if you like even though I dont think I have ever bet against the AB’s! They will be competitive in the scrums and at the breakdown and I bet they will get a few against the throw as our line out’s still, after how long? seem to be a problem.
Yep, it’s all conjecture.
I hope they give Mils the job first up against Mortlock. Nonu’s played 12 tests since his 2003 debut - mostly coming on as an impact player, and starting at centre a few times. He’s had his chances to cement his claim to Tana’s place, and he’s failed, imo. Good bench option; liability as a starter.
Toeava’s only played a couple of tests and will probably get more chances later in the 3N, but I’d be very surprised if they risk him in the first game. Then again, this selection panel is full of surprises. Ted’s already said they’ll be rejigging the starting XV during the series to keep the players fresh.
Long term ('07 RWC) I’d love to see Conrad Smith fit and firing.
I won’t. Thanks for your concern, though. My “powder-puff pack” comment was merely a dig in reply to Satellite TV’s desire for the Wobblies to win every game they play.
Cheers
Reuben Thorne into the AB squad…
great call… he should’ve been there for the past three tests… but who knows, amybe this was the plane all along as he was pretty much the form Kiwi blind side in the S14…
Lets hope our kiwi brethren at home can leave all the “suitcase” and “captain invisible” stuff out of it as Thorne is a really good player…
Be great having him on the bench to back up Colliuns, So’oialo, and McCaw… and he’ll probably get a start to rest Collins as well…
For all the Kiwi rugby fans out there who have grown tired of missing the best rugby competition in the world… read this:
mediazone.com/channel/rugby/ … /nzcup.jsp
I for one will be forking out 40 US to watch all the NPC games on delay…
It seems the coaching battle has already begun with John Connoly coming out and saying how they are underdogs… then Henry says we are not looking that great and the Aussies are a real threat. I think if the AB’s had been playing a solid team going into the Tri-Nats then they would be firm favs… but as it stands we won’t have any idea until the 80 minutes are up.
Cheers!
Daryl
[quote=“daryl_ks”] I for one will be forking out 40 US to watch all the NPC games on delay…
Cheers!
Daryl[/quote]
Maybe I should record all the NPC games I get off satellite… or Max from the Brass M or Michel Tavern could do that for you… then you could tyake you mates and go watch there
actually prefert to watch in the comfort of my own home… can just run the PC through my TV and sit back on my own sofa in air-conditioned bliss with a cool beer…
Can’t wait…
Looks like Mils is now almost certain to start at centre on Saturday:
[quote]Tuitupou in for injured Nonu
03/07/2006
Midfield back Sam Tuitupou will join the All Blacks squad on Tuesday as a replacement for the injured Ma’a Nonu.
Nonu will play no further part in the All Blacks Philips Tri Nations after fracturing his thumb playing club rugby for Oriental Rongotai on Saturday.
He is to undergo minor surgery in Wellington and is expected to be out of rugby for six weeks.
Tuitupou earned his seventh cap when he started for the All Blacks against Argentina less than two weeks ago.
Nonu fractured the base of his left thumb in club rugby last Saturday and will need minor surgery. He is expected to be out of rugby for six weeks.[/quote]
Team to be named Tuesday, around 8am Taiwan time I think.
yep… Mils for centre on Saturday…
read a good column on planetrugby about refereeing…
planet-rugby.com/Off_The_Fie … 2253.shtml
Cheers!
Daryl
at off to Infidel, “Powder Puff forwards” was an accurate forecast and nice to see the AB’s drawing first blood with a strong performance but also showing promise of a lot more to come.
