AB’s change centres again

Fred Flintstone is clutching at straws. Sonny Bill and Lienert-Brown. That certainly is interesting. 

What the boks did to sbw the week before was genius. First hit up of the game for sbw the boks hit him hard and fairly (unlike kiwis cheapshot last week on hooper).

SBW was then very wary about running again - I would imagine Cheika and the boys will have SBW in their crosshairs early this weekend too. 

SBW has been a good athlete but serious up him self wanker off the field. I hope his inclusion creates more cultural discord in the kwi team this week.

You sound pretty amped Red! Not even a Kiwi or Wallaby, but really looking forward to this one too. 

Dave 

Goodhue is injured and all Hansen  did was to move  Lienert Brown to 13 and bring in  Williams.   For some funny reason Hansen does not like Luamape,     

Hansen asked Laumape to work on his communication, passing and kicking during super rugby. He obviously doesn't feel that he can be relied upon, just yet. Not skilled enough. Well, I say Lau is the better bet between he and Sonny. Here's what Barrett and Hansen had to say: 

Barrett:

“He’s sat down with Jason Holland at the Hurricanes and worked really hard on his attacking game and no doubt Fozzie (Foster) has helped him with the structures at the All Blacks,” Barrett told reporters in Buenos Aires this week.

“He understands his role, which is his job in the team, but also he understands how important our relationship is in getting aligned so that we almost think the same thing.

“He knows what I expect of him, and I know what he expects of me and he’s worked really hard on that.”

Hansen:

“We asked him to go away and be more dominant with his voice, particularly in aiding the No 10 in his decision making,” Hansen said in comments published by the New Zealand Herald.

“He’s been adding skills to his game and got a nice wee kicking game going at the moment.

“He is completely driven - you’ve got to give Ngani a 10 out of 10 for how hard he is trying.

“People like that will eventually get rewarded.”

...as expected Hansen rotates the squad again giving everyone a run befote the RWC...Laumape on the bench to back up the injury prone SBW a wise move and a great impact player to bring on later in the match...

..see theTAB are paying almost $5.00 for an Aussie win so looks like they expect the Aussies to get a good  hiding at Eden Park..

Brycy

Was the odds not the same last week?   The bookies must have made a fortune about that loss.    

I think that despite the loss in Perth the AB's should win on Saturday, even though I would have prefered Akira Ioane at 8 and the wings is an improvement on the two last week.  I would als o have preferred Frizell to Savea at 6.         

...the ABS could drop to fourth in the world rankings if things go terribly wrong this weekend i think...dependent also on Wales beating England - that should be motivation enough for a big performance...would take a brave man to bet on the Aussies to win this weekend...

Frizzel 's getting game time in the Mitre 10 Cup as are other fringe players in readiness for the RWC..

Well, for starters, he's a much better player than Bent Read...better sport too....the rot started with Kierang(private jest) in charge...I can't believe Hansen can't see it.

moolaa

Thanks for the info - but Read was not all that good for the past year now,   Obviously the injuries caused problems - but Read is not getting any younger and maybe am nearing his "sell-by date".  

moolaa

Thanks for the info - but Read was not all that good for the past year now,   Obviously the injuries caused problems - but Read is not getting any younger and maybe am nearing his "sell-by date".  

read is still world class in my opinion both as leader and a number 8. He was one of the few kiwis that turned uplast week. 

I think aussie will def struggle this weekend shame rory is out i think his second row ability will be missed. Coleman is good lock but simmons off the bench is pedestrian.

i thnk kiwis tinkerin still as are wallabies to some degree but it seems backline coming together finally for aussies.

I think 5bux is probably pretty good odds for aussies - should be closer to 10... but... you never know -the cultural divide in nz at the moment is effeting them as well as their horse faced actress PM... 

kiwis play their best rugby when they dont have pretenders running the show.. i think too mny pretnedners in the mix now.

I don't like Read...never did...and it's got nothing to do with his ability as a player. I think he is a poor sport and that includes his leadership - unsporting IMO...so yes, read my comment in that light.

Agree Read is a poor sport - his facial expression / interviews show that he seems to be a very bad loser and not a gracious winner either... maybe its his leadership combined with the overly entitled PI/Maori players (mounga / SBW etc) that is contributing to cultural spiral at AIG HQ... 

Time will tell.   

On an athletic note though I must yield to the fact that Read is a good number 8 - especially from a aussie perspective... where good number 8s are a genuine rarity...

As far as I can make out Read will retire from test rugby after the WC. anyway,  

Bok regular

1087 posts

Agree Read is a poor sport - his facial expression / interviews show that he seems to be a very bad loser and not a gracious winner either... maybe its his leadership combined with the overly entitled PI/Maori players (mounga / SBW etc) that is contributing to cultural spiral at AIG HQ... 

Time will tell.   

On an athletic note though I must yield to the fact that Read is a good number 8 - especially from a aussie perspective... where good number 8s are a genuine rarity...

I just think he's an arsehole...can't believe they made him captain...it seems like the ethos of the team changed post Richie...again, my perception.

“Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character.” – Albert Einstein....I hope it's not that bad.

It's a personal dislike...I've got nothing to back it up with...don't want to either.

No shit Sharklock!...it's more like a pub.

Neither a pub nor a club to be sure and precise but an asylum most queer filled with Lügnerins and lies.

Aag nee man Herr Auge, don't be so cynical!

it is bit like a pub... haha..

many opinions about what could should would etc..

none of it really having too much matter except for a laugh or two..

...and maybe rile a few kiwis on the way through...

... my kiwi neighbours will know about it if the aussies do get up tonight... they been very sheepish (pun intended ) this week... lol

Bent Read had a good game for a change...well the small part I watched anyway...balance has been restored to the force...for now.

Well the centers played well SBW got some good time on the park in the AB jersey and ALB is underrated and played well. The two 10s approach is shaping up nicely as is playing Ardie at 6. Hansen has made some big calls and the ABs played well.

JW makes a welcome return - what an ab win can do.