2008 Bledisloe Cup Game II: Wallabies v All Blacks.

The rugby clock is ticking – but for who will it toll come full time? A Wallabies victory would surely give them one and a half hands on the treasured Bledisloe. I say half because surely a Wallaby victory would mean that Game III would see the All Blacks with a new coach. Can the Kiwis accept loosing the Bledisloe and exiting the World Cup with the same guy at the helm – still don’t think so.

First the positive for the All Blacks – Mr Richie McCaw. He will add 50% to their team. Unfortunately at present the All Blacks are relying too much on he and Daniel Carter to do the business. Without Carter, Mils Muliaina and Sitiveni Sivivatu how much would the Blacks have lost by in Sydney?

All Blacks selections still seem all over the place. Muliaina was outstanding in Sydney, the best fullback on the field. What do you do with him – move him to the wing. Nothing against Leon MacDonald who, like Mils, is in the top draw of international fullbacks, but Muliaina deserved his spot, not being shunted off to the wing and being asked to join in the play when possible. Although MacDonald would have added to the position with his kicking – he should have been the one asked to play on the flank. All Blacks selectors must start selecting on the basis of performance not some idea they can manipulate things by moving players around – at present their team is not good enough to do this (neglecting of course that rotations DID NOT work in the World Cup either!).

All this brings us to the centres. Although the All Blacks have lost many many players to Europe, the fact they currently are not (by choice or necessity) playing a traditional second five-eighth at 12 is an indictment of their retention policy. How could there not possibly be a ball player in New Zealand capable of playing there? Without more ball players, the Blacks rely too heavily on Carter. And even after his outstanding performance in Game I his team still lost. The inclusion of Ma’a Nonu almost signals the desperation of Grahame Henry. Nonu was not deemed good enough for the All Blacks when he was dominating for Wellington. Henry was not able to develop him into an All Black. I almost see it as a desperate ploy to show the public he is willing to try new ideas by playing him in such a vital position. The fact is Nonu does not have the “skill-set” to play the position. That being said he is a handful every time he touches the ball, unfortunately for he and the dumped Lauaki you have to hold onto it also.

To the Wallabies – congratulations Luke Burgess and the Australian coaches/selectors. By persevering with the young NSW halfback their fruits came early in Sydney. His passing game was far improved on anything he had served by previously in his short international career. As a consequence there was more fluidity to the combination of Burgess, Matt Giteau and Berrick Barnes. Interesting that Barnes seemed to see more ball as a result of Stirling Mortlock not being there. Mortlocks return is a massive inclusion for the Wallabies giving them a player in midfield who can get over the advantage line at almost every opportunity – opposing him will be the man last week deemed not good enough to tackle him Conrad Smith.

The battle of the collisions will be amazing in this Test. Three of the best flankers in the World will be butting heads all night at the breakdown – McCaw. George Smith and Phil Waugh. In difficult weather conditions their battle will be enthralling. Rocky Elsom is a massive loss for the Aussies. His determined ball running and size his brings to the collisions is replaced by the even more tenacious Waugh. My only worry is that Wycliff Palu will be expected to carry a massive load in the ball carries department. Nathan Sharpe and James Horwill will need to be switched on to do the ball running in tight. The wildcard could be Hugh McMenimen. This is a player waiting to break out – this could be his stage, when his physicality and aggression is added to the contest may be a turning point.

It all promises to be another absorbing contest. Will we see more line-outs in this game? Will New Zealand find some kicking options? Will New Zealand seek to slow the game down and take scrums from every free-kick hoping to scrimmage the Australians to death in the Auckland mud? Can’t wait!