THIS WEEKEND 26 JULY
Preview
Australia
34, New Zealand 19 in Sydney
Australia won by 15 points.
I Predicted New Zealand
by 5.
Reviews
Australia raced to a 17-5 mid-way through the first half but
the All Blacks put pressure on Australia
and reduced that lead to 17-12 at half time. Early in the second half New Zealand
took the lead 19-17 and were the stronger team. However a very strong later
second half secured the game for Australia. New Zealand turned over a lot of
ball and generally made too many mistakes. Australia’s defence was strong. New Zealand’s
loss meant that for the first time since 2004 they have lost two games in row. New Zealand
has also held the Bledisloe Cup since 2003. A win in Auckland next Saturday would secure the trophy for Australia.
Related articles
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7518830.stm
History of the Bledisloe
Cup
http://www.rugby.com.au/fixtures_results/bledisloe_cup/bledisloe_cup,22045.html
Previews
There is only one test match
this weekend. Although it’s a quiet time of the year globally in the Southern
Hemisphere the Tri Nations rugby tournament sees some of the oldest
international rugby rivalries surface. New
Zealand plays Australia
in Sydney for
the Bledisloe Cup and the Tri Nations.
Sydney is probably the second capital of New Zealand. Some 200,000 Kiwis
live in Australia and many
of them reside in Sydney.
If you are analysing home ground favouritism then the New Zealand All Blacks could well
feel at home at the ANZ Stadium when they run onto the park. You can be sure
that not only resident Kiwis will arrive in their thousands but a good many
will fly the short hop across ‘The Ditch’ (the Australasian term for the Tasman
Sea) to cheer on their team.
As well as the accepted
fierce rivalry between these two old foes a new unusual rivalry will also
surfaces. The new Wallaby coach is a Kiwi. Many New Zealanders felt that
following the disaster of the 2007 Rugby World Cup Robbie Deans should have
replaced Graham Henry as the national coach. That didn’t happen. Dean’s
services were no longer required and Australia snabbled
him up. It will be interesting to see the outcome.
Australia threw this year’s Tri Nations tournament wide open
when last weekend they defeated a tired Springbox
side in Perth. New Zealand and South
Africa evened their score during two tests in New Zealand
with a win apiece.
The Bedisloe
Cup is the symbol of rivalry between New Zealand
and Australia.
LAST FIVE ENCOUNTERS
21.07.2007 New Zealand 26-12 in Auckland (Bledisloe
Cup and Tri Nations)
30.06.2007 Australia 20-15 in Melbourne (Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations)
19.08.2006 New Zealand 34-27 in Auckland (Bledisloe
Cup and Tri Nations)
29.07.2006 New Zealand 13-9 in Brisbane (Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations)
09.07.2006 New Zealand 32-12 in Christchurch (Bledisloe
Cup and Tri Nations)
LAST FIVE ENCOUNTERS IN SYDNEY
13.08.2005 New Zealand 30-13 (Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations)
07.08.2004 Australia 23-18 (Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations)
15.11.2003 Australia 22-10 (World Cup Semi-Final)
26.07.2003 New Zealand 50-23 (Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations)
03.08.2002 Australia 16-14 (Bledisloe Cup and Tri Nations)
GWC RUGBY RANKINGS: World Table-Australia 1st, New Zealand 3rd
Oceania Table-New Zealand 1st, Australia 2nd CHANGE
TEAMS
Australia
15 Adam
Ashley-Cooper
14 Peter
Hynes
13 Ryan
Cross
12 Berrick Barnes
11 Lote Tuqiri
10 Matthew Giteau
9 Luke
Burgess
8 Wycliff Palu
7 George Smith (Capt.)
6 Rocky Elsom
5 Nathan
Sharpe
4 James Horwill
3 Alistair Baxter
2 Stephen
Moore
1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements
16 Tatafu Polota-Nau
17 Matthew
Dunning
18 Daniel Vickerman
19 Philip
Waugh
20 Samuel Cordingley
21 Timana Tahu
22 Andrew
Mitchell
Coach:
Robbie Deans
New Zealand
15 Mils Muliaina
14 Anthony Tuitavake
13 Richard Kahui
12 Ma'a Nonu
11 Sitiveni Sivivatu
10 Daniel
Carter
9 Andrew
Ellis
8 Jerome Kaino
7 Daniel
Braid
6 Rodney So'oialo (Capt.)
5 Alistair Willliams
4 Brad Thorn
3 Gregory
Somerville
2 Andrew Hore
1 Anthony Woodcock.
Replacements
16 Keven Mealamu
17 John Afoa
18 Anthony
Boric
19 Sione Lauaki
20 James
Cowan
21 Stephen
Donald
22 Conrad
Smith
Coach:
Graham Henry