Bledisloe I (All Blacks team room bugged)

gollum

I don't really buy they've played enough against different teams, though part of the reason could be the defensive patterns the 2 teams play, ie umbrella v rush v push & so on.
 
Barrett has tended to cause chaos v the Boks mostly because he has come off the bench after the ABs have run them all over the park, I think its more about extreme pace v not great fitness than it is about him being particularly suiited.

Billy Tell

Sacrilege to say but my interest in this game is middling with the Olympics on. Will probably be a replay I watch. 
My interest for the next game will increase if NZ lose though...

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="605653" data-time="1471277777">
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Sacrilege to say but my interest in this game is middling with the Olympics on. Will probably be a replay I watch. 
My interest for the next game will increase if NZ lose though...
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</blockquote>
 
The opportunity to put Australia on a 6 game losing streak over the next two weeks must be a tasty one for many of the players and coaching staff - especially after the way they were talked up heading into the final last year. South Africa would then play them in Brisbane to equal their professional era record of 7 on the trot from 2005.
 
Also knocking Aussie off in Aussie becomes less voluntary than it has been in previous years after England did it three times on the trot. The trolls will be out in force if we drop this fixture. Huge game and first high stakes game since the RWC - can't wait.

kiwiinmelb

It has to be said though , it is a fixture we have struggled with in recent times, 
 
Last 2 games is a loss and a draw , and even when we win we haven't looked great for a while , 
 
Aussies tend to front for this one more than any other , 
 
Without looking up stats , I would say it is up there with Ellis Park for difficulty but doesnt get the same build up

Rembrandt

My interest will definitely be higher if BB starts

antipodean

The Wallabies have been in camp for a month leading into this fixture. If they can't win this against an injury-ravaged team that contested the Super Rugby finals, they won't win anything.

mariner4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Billy Tell" data-cid="605653" data-time="1471277777">
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Sacrilege to say but my interest in this game is middling with the Olympics on. Will probably be a replay I watch. 
My interest for the next game will increase if NZ lose though...
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I'm with you mate. The only reason i remember it's on is this thread. Between the Olympics, and club semi this weekend, i would be surprised if i watched the whole game. 
 
Still, be nice to win

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="antipodean" data-cid="605685" data-time="1471300312">
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The Wallabies have been in camp for a month leading into this fixture. If they can't win this against an injury-ravaged team that contested the Super Rugby finals, they won't win anything.
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I honestly prefer the ABs lead up - Coles is one of only two starters in the AB side to play last weekend and he rested the semi final and Savea hardly has been overworked. They've had adequate time with the Blues, Highlanders, Crusaders and Chiefs players, I'd much rather the young guys from those last three franchises coming in brimming with confidence from a great season where they won a finals game - while hardly being overworked since the June international window opened.
 
Given the huge rest gap after RWC I'm guessing guys like Whitelock, Read and Rettalick are in the best nick they have been since 2012.
 
The centre combo is a huge worry and if the Aussies can't come up with a plan to attack it I have serious questions about the team they have in the box.
 
Another huge wildcard for me is going to be discipline. We saw at least 4 incidents in the RWC final by Wallabies forwards that would have been yellow card offenses in any other test - they usually come out full of piss and vinegar for the first Bledisloe and Cheika will likely do little to dampen that - so making sure that aggression is channeled correctly will be important.

kiwiinmelb

Apparently our winning record in this fixture over the last 15 years is 47% , that's it then , wallabies are favourites .

mariner4life

Where the Aussies usually catch us out in these games is we play a bit lateral, we are a bit passive in the ruck, they tackle well, mess up our ball, the game stays close, then the grab a late try and turn another corner.
 
The script generally goes we then go home, play direct and hard, are brutal at the ruck, and fucking blow them off the park in the first 30 minutes, and they go back around the corner to the drawing board.

nzzp

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="605690" data-time="1471302704">
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Where the Aussies usually catch us out in these games is we play a bit lateral, we are a bit passive in the ruck, they tackle well, mess up our ball, the game stays close, then the grab a late try and turn another corner.
 
The script generally goes we then go home, play direct and hard, are brutal at the ruck, and fucking blow them off the park in the first 30 minutes, and they go back around the corner to the drawing board.
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Bottom line is our tight 5 front up and we win.
 
For the Aussies to win, we need an off night and they need to play well. It happens, but only 1 in 5 or so

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="kiwiinmelb" data-cid="605689" data-time="1471302206">
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Apparently our winning record in this fixture over the last 15 years is 47% , that's it then , wallabies are favourites .
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<img src="http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/2013/07/finger.gif" alt="finger.gif">
 
 
The actual stats at ANZ Stadium, are 7 wins, 7 losses, 1 draw. Hardly overwhelming, but its the only ground in the world where the ABs don't have a winning percentage... apparently.
 
Though its pertinent to note that they don't have a losing percentage there, either... :)
 
 
I would expect our Foreign Legion to be heavily involved, and that might tip the balance for us. What that says about the quality of our current Super Rugby teams is there for all to see. Maybe something like this:
 
1 Slipper
2 Moore
3 Kepu
4 Douglas
5 Simmons
6 Fardy
7 Hooper (c)
8 Pocock
9 Phipps/Genia
10 Foley/Quade
11 Mitchell
12 Giteau
13 Kuridrani
14 AAC
15 Folau
 
16 TPN
17 Sio
18 Robertson
19 Mumm/Coleman
20 McMahon
21 Genia/Phipps
22 Toomua/Cooper
23 DHP
 
But there are a few permutations in there that could make it anything.

ACT Crusader

Looks about right Nick. Although I can't see Quade starting. Perhaps a bench spot. Foley to start and then 2 of Toomua, Quade and Giteau will be in the 23.

Smudge

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="605687" data-time="1471301277">
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I'm with you mate. The only reason i remember it's on is this thread. Between the Olympics, and club semi this weekend, i would be surprised if i watched the whole game. 
 
Still, be nice to win
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I'll be surprised if I'm awake at 10pm. It'll be the second day of a two-day bender in Auckland, including going to the Ellerslie races on Saturday.

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="605693" data-time="1471303507">
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The actual stats at ANZ Stadium, are 7 wins, 7 losses, 1 draw. Hardly overwhelming, but its the only ground in the world where the ABs don't have a winning percentage... apparently.
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No, they have a winning record there. They beat Wales and France there in the 2003 RWC.
 
If you go a little further into the city though their record at the SFS is 2-4. Their record at the MCG is 1-2. Hong Kong, of which Australia had a hand is 1-1, and the old Kings' Park in Durban was 3-3.
 
But of serious venues where they are likely to play again in the near future Ellis Park is the only one with a record of 7-9 overall - although positive since the advent of neutral refereeing.

Nepia

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="605687" data-time="1471301277">
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I'm with you mate. The only reason i remember it's on is this thread. Between the Olympics, and club semi this weekend, i would be surprised if i watched the whole game. 
 
Still, be nice to win
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I'm the complete opposite, don't give two farts about the Olympics and only had the Warriors and the other bogans to watch this weekend so I'm hanging out for this match.

NTA

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="rotated" data-cid="605703" data-time="1471305956">
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No, they have a winning record there. They beat Wales and France there in the 2003 RWC.
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Against the Wallabies, obviously... Unless Wales and France get a shot at the Bledisloe or TRC now? :)

rotated

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="605714" data-time="1471309141">
Against the Wallabies, obviously... Unless Wales and France get a shot at the Bledisloe or TRC now? :)</blockquote>
 
I wouldn't say it is obvious when you are talking about a losing record at a ground. Although if you want to eliminate those two RWC games chuck out the semi final too as it wasn't for the Bledisloe or TRC/3N either. Anyway you slice it they have losing records at other grounds and not matter what filter you put on it Ellis Park is a venue where they actually have a losing record.

Crazy Horse

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Smudge" data-cid="605698" data-time="1471304767">
I'll be surprised if I'm awake at 10pm. It'll be the second day of a two-day bender in Auckland, including going to the Ellerslie races on Saturday.</blockquote>
 
Growing old is a bitch.

Stargazer

George Moala is out with a knee injury and will miss Bledisloe I.
 
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The Silver Fern

Bledisloe I (All Blacks team room bugged)