KEY POINTS:
Nine changes were made by coach Graham Henry for the All Blacks first big test of the year.
Here is the latest selection of Your Views:
Prop Forward (Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA)
Johannesburg, get a grip. For every "foreign" player in black (your opinion not mine) there are 10 kiwis playing overseas. If a "true" All Blacks team took the field it is absolutely certain that no other side could keep up!
Arron
"Johannesburg" is showing his ignorance by saying that there has never been a true AB side, and that it is just made up of Fijians and Samoans doing the hard work.The fact is that the Samoan community in NZ is an integral part of NZ society and has been for many years. There are many generations of these people, and it is a slap in the face for them to talk about them as not being real kiwis. I get sick of hearing about how Tana Umaga is Samoan,when he was born in NZ. Even some of the Samoan team now are born in NZ and have chosen to play for Samoa via their ancestry. And how Fijian is Rocokoko, have you heard his accent? A lot of these guys from the islands have come here as toddlers, probably the only exception is Sivivatu, and he has lived in NZ for a number of years now. And what about the Japies? Their greatest ever point scorer is Namibian, and where did Teichman come from? NZ pulls some players from a population of a few hundred thousand in the islands, and all Sth Africa can do with a population of 45 million is try and turn rugby into a drop-goal competition. Try passing the ball out the backline more than twice every hundred years.
Johannesburg
Alas, I cannot agree that the ABs are the best rugby team in the world - for I've never seen in my lifetime a true ABs side take the field. It's usually filled with Fijian and Samoan players who need to do the hard work. I can't help but wonder if the 'mighty ABs' consisted only of New Zealanders how 'great' they would be? It's easier to plough with the oxen of your neighbour when you don't have your own - and then brag when you harvest a great crop.
PJ
As for SA being our "daddy's" at the 95 world cup - would a father poison his son? I don't think so. We did have food poisoning, remember? SA is all talk I think. They're strong at home and will be very physical this weekend. No doubt McCaw and Carter will be in for a rough ride. Come WC time however I don't believe they will be able to string 3 or 4 great performances together which is what will be needed to lift the trophy. We will though.
Hayden (Gold Coast)
Contrary to public opinion, I think the hype that exists over the South Africans capabilities is solely because of a one point victory last year, and the fact that two of their teams were in the super 14 grand final. Aside from Toeava, the ABs side is at its strongest it has been since 2003, which many believe has ominous signs of what happened in the 2003 World Cup, but with Carter, McCaw, and Henry at the helm I believe we will see the undoing of the Springboks... I'm predicting a 23 point victory, and the AB's to win the world cup... that'll make up for 1995.
Scott
SAF to dominate the lineout,(for which there is going to be lots, unless SAF have bricks in their head), ABs to get frustrated with lack of possession and the hot heads to give away penalties like they're going out of fashion. Of course I'll still be here in a London pub cheering us on but that's how I see it going.
Leon (South Africa)
Firstly my spelling is like the All Black rugby supporters' knowledge of rugby (shocking). The Boks were your daddies in the 1995 World Cup, and believe me, this year will be the same. There is only one good thing about All Black rugby and that's the haka and Ali William's broken jaw. Go the Boks.
2-Toof Tiwhu from Tolpuddle
Real close and bloody. I was impressed with the Strine front row last week, with fat Matt giving the Bok props a going over. The ocker second row was good too. The Yarp back row are hard, big, fast and dumb. They won the game with effective route one rugby. Neither back line was worth do-dos in a handbag. The ABs are weak in the second row and at centre, but real good otherwise. The Flav and dopey Rawlers go AWOL when the going gets tough. Ice thinks he is too good to have to bother to catch the ball. It is a pity Kahui and Smith are out and all our good locks. This is a must win game. A good tonking of the "Africaaners without Brains" would smash them into a state of total confusion.
Nev (Sydney)
Go the mighty Blacks. The attitude of the ABs this year is a lot different than those of the past. The ABs will go into the Tri-Nations with there mind on winning the game. Yes, I agree that they have not yet hit there straps with momentum and precision. That has a lot to do with GH altering the players for combinations and player depth. The Tri-Nations will be tough but the ABs will come through with a win. Their major opposition again will be the Aussies as they always like to beat us and they know the Bledisloe Cup means more to us then them.
Bruce (Cape Town)
Strange how Jeanette can say the AB's are not hard enough. They don't come harder regardless of generation. Although, I vividly remember Ian Kirkpatrick, Alex Wylie and Brian Lochore in the 1970 test at Newlands (watching as a 10 year old) - perhaps the true hard men! We will always respect the men in black in SA (it's bred into us!). Looking forward to Saturday, may the best team win.
Left right out back
I think the ABs will win this weekend, however it will be tight, less than 7. The lineout will be a concern, and it will be interesting to see the ABs scrum up against the Boks. McCaw and Schalkburger should be a good match up as always. So much for the Boks hype after beating England, their attack looked flat against Australia and I think the score line flattered the Aussies. South Africa with all the ball they had really should have put them away. If the ABs get enough ball and with the forward pack they have, should do, all they have to do is execute basics properly by minimising mistakes and their powerful backline should show more than enough enterprise to put the Boks away. However I wonder how much the Boks will slow the game down and resort to negative play if the ABs get ahead that's why I think it'll be close.
Andy (London)
And we accuse the Poms of being whingers? The more I read the various comments on these threads, the more convinced I am that leaving NZ was the best decision. Wah wah, rugby's boring, they shouldn't kick, wah, mummy took my blankie away, wah wah. How pathetic. The ABs are beginning to show signs of just how much like champions in waiting they are. Did enough to win and not shoot their bolt three months out from the RWC. They beat a poor French team by the biggest margin ever, and the 2nd rate ABs still put 10 tries past the Canucks. A lot of the Canadian team play in the French T14 and if NZ punters would take their blinkers off, they'd realise that NH club rugby is tough and players up here can tackle, if nothing else. The Canadians knew they'd be under the kosh and had prepared to tackle their hearts out. Good on them. ABs will lose the lineout battle, but win the war this weekend.
Peter (Auckland)
Neither side will be showing what they really have up their sleeve in the Tri-Nations. In this age of super-analysis why would they. The team that wins the RWC will be the one that takes rugby to a new level with a unique approach that the other teams cannot scramble quickly enough to counteract. One time it was the rolling maul another flat line defence. Something of this magnitude from any of the big four will win it. It will be something within the rules but redefining how the game is played. If I was the strategist the ABs would rediscover the centring kick. Teams will be so intent on spreading wide to cut down our wingers that the precision centring kick with our big men ready and waiting will produce easy tries under the posts. Used effectively in the semis it will leave teams in two minds about how to defend and in turn open up gaps out wide as they try to defend the posts. Howlett or Gear would have the skill to do it or you could use the five eights on the loop around. Wingers chipping over the top is predictable so mix it up. Even if you give away possession imagine the ready AB forwards hitting the resulting ruck. Poor Percy.
Mike M (Barcelona)
Good to see Reuben Thorne dropped. We have more dynamic players than him that can be developed, time to leave the suitcase at home. Weepu is a stronger halfback if the scrum or ruck is not moving forward.
This must be Toevea's last chance saloon, time to step up to the plate or go back to your PlayStation sunshine. Boks don't tour or travel well so everyone remember that when we get to the RWC. We need a specialist openside flanker like Marty Holah in the squad as the mongols in the Boks will target Richie, they will also target and take cheap shots at Carter, but we have McAllister and Evans who are good enough. Warning for all - in France, spying and espionage by certain teams will be at its highest. If you don't believe that your living in the past. This is about winning at any cost this is about money and that's what makes the world go round!
Sam Owen (Sydney)
Why do people these days insist on bagging the standards and spectacle of rugby? I'm a purist! I remember NZ beating Aus back in the day, 6-3, scoring two Allan Hewson penalties to one Roger Gould penalty (or was it somebody else?) and we all rejoiced at the victory because it was a superb contest between two evenly matched teams. It was pi**ing down with rain, the forwards spent all day on the cricket pitch and anyone with a jersey number >10 didn't have to wash it for the next week. Look here you sissy touch footy lovers, if you don't like watching the game you obviously have never played the game or don't understand the game so don't watch the game. Go complain about Iraq, or globalisation or some other cause celebre you latte sipping girly men! Or stick to watching League 5-up, kick, 5-up kick, 3-up oops!, 2-up, try.
Keith Wawn
International rugby is at an extremely exciting stage, at present, and the run-up to this WC is fascinating because there are so many teams with a real chance of pulling it off. In reality, this year, there is very little to chose between SA, NZ and AUS (in the Tri-Nations) - Saturday in Durban I reckon will confirm this. The Northern Hemisphere teams should not be written off (watch out for the full French side on their own turf - remember the semi-final in 1999!). Don't be fooled by the NH tour results this year, those were their third teams!
Boomshanka
I don't care if we win or lose as long as Mr Henry learns something from it for the WC.
Jimmy (London)
We have too much class and experience for the Saffas. Apart from our locking combination, this side is close to our best. The front row and back three especially are operating at a level unmatched by any side in world rugby and we have two all time greats at 7 and 10. We will seriously damage the Saffas confidence this weekend and will finish the year unbeaten champions.
Sam
The combination looks alright. But I reckon Lauaki should be in the team somewhere. Just wondering why the selectors did not pick him. Any team would need Lauaki to go against the likes of the Springboks. Only a senseless person would not see what he had done in the last few games of Super 14. He showed power and skill. I am not downplaying Sooialo's ability at other areas, but if the ABs need a go forward, he is the man. Unless he is not fit, then we won't see his tackle breaking ability. It will be interesting to see him, Collins and McCaw as the loosies in the next game against the Springboks. He should definitely be in the World Cup squad. All the best to Henry and the boys.
Bokkie (Pretoria, SA)
I might support the Springboks but allow me to please admire the All Blacks. I really think they think are the best. They seem committed and willing to play for all out glory.
PJ
I think the ABs to face SA is close to the best team we can put out there. I am worried about whether Rawlinson can make much of an impact, although obviously he's only a stop-gap measure. I hope the scrum doesn't suffer with the two locks we have there. Oliver starting is a good ploy, with Mealamu the impact man. I'm glad Thorne's not there, and would be even happier if he never came back. Masoe also needs to find some form but I doubt whether he'll get much of a run. I think for the World Cup Lauaki is a much better bet and far more dangerous player. Rodney could then cover open side. The back line looks good, although I still prefer McAlister to Mauger. I think we should win the game. If the Aussies can get that close we should be able to roll them.
Cape Maori - Nigel
I would like to comment on the negative views from some of the All Black supporters, especially those living in NZ. Mates, this is the Rugby World Cup year and despite our poor showing at the S14, the problem we have with our locks, etc. and whatever else might still go wrong, it's important that we support the All Blacks wholeheartedly. We need to encourage them and set the tone. As far as Greg Rawlinson is concerned, he didn't play too bad for the Junior All Blacks and the Blues and also had a good Tri-Nations against the Boks and Ozzies last year. He also has the advantage that he will be able to interpret their lineout calls, which will probably be in Afrikaans. I also like his work rate in the tight and his ball carrying ability. We shouldn't make the mistake of comparing him with James Ryan, Ali Williams, Jason Eaton and also Keith Robinson. I believe that he can bring something positive to the All Black squad to play this coming weekend in Durban. Let's get 100 per cent behind the entire All Black setup. It'll be advantageous and a good build-up to 2011.
Kia kaha All Blacks.
The looking glass
Well here we go again! The selection is the usual suspects. I agree with the other guys that Rawlison will have a game for about 50 minutes then disapear into obscurity, same with So'oialo as he tends to back off if he gets knocked around a bit. Not much can be done about the line out, take it as it comes and contest the best we can.
I agree. We will miss Nick Evans and his kicking game, his quick step and pace Carter seems off the pace at the moment.
The RWC will be close. It will come down to the bounce of the ball and the call of the ref. From what we are seeing now, Italy could win the cup thru dodgy calls. Everyone has to realise that GH wants the win badly in S.A and if they can pull it and the Melbourne game it will go along way for the mental toughness of the boys. Who wants to win and how badly do they want it! Go the Abs!
Ivan (Johannesburg)
Oh please. Just because the Aussies put their WC final best game out on Sat means little, since they still lost. The Boks were not at their best by a long shot, and still won. What does that tell you, and then the whole of Oz says drop goals are unfair, excuse me but how many games have the Aussies won on drops? This weekend the Boks will be better, and granted that the opposition are the best they will ever face. The Kiwis may get up on Sat, but the reason they fail in WCs is not of their own doing, its just that other teams seem to find a passion in the WC, that NZers just don't find the same since they are used to always winning.
The Boks and the Kiwis are still my favourites for the WC, and could meet in the final. The Aussies are going to come undone. With no backup it takes but one injury to a Larkham or Gregan to undo their entire WC. The Northern Hemisphere is nowhere and doesn't even warrant text, bar the French since home ground advantage is a few points. If SA don't win the WC, I would rather have the humble-in-defeat Kiwis win it than the sun-was-in-my-eyes Aussies or the we-are-greater-than-god Irish, and better looking too, or the we-can-buy-your-entire-team English. So I'll be shouting for SA and NZ, and SA should they meet in the final.
Rumplestilskin
The Springbok scrum is too strong. Their loose forwards have reached a new level and now match the ABs for speed and power. Expect ABs to put up a fight, but get overwhelmed by the pack.
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