Since the ABs don't have alot of their key players, who else thinks the Wallabies will win Saturday night?

Question

People saying ABs will smash up are forgetting that the Aussies have home advantage and therefore the favourites. I know you might have all forgotten home advantage after being beaten by the Boks but it still plays a massive roll.

For the person who said I am going to watch my team get beaten on home soil...South Africa arn't playing this week, mate.

Answer 1

*If* the Wallabies do beat the AB's on Sat.  I think Graham Henry will be looking for a remote cave to hole up in.  The AB's management might be in the cave right next to it.

Answer 2

I think everyone has forgot that we basically smashed SA in the first game, a game everyone said we would loose, and if SA played against us like they did last week we would have won. I reckon we need to cut the AB's some slack, We have lost Hayman, Jack, Collins, Mauger, McAllistar, Kelleher,Howlett to overseas, Plus our top 7&9 to injury, yet we have only lost one game to a team with 10 of their starting 15 from last year by 2 points. I think we will beat Oz close game, think Carter will be the difference, but really if SA don't win the tri-nations they are c**p

Answer 3

They have a 50% chance.

Answer 4

I think the Aussies may do it this week, it'll be pretty close though, but home ground advantage may tilt it slightly in their favour.  I don't think the NZ pack will demolish the Aussies as everyone thinks, their pack has been holding up quite well recently.

Answer 5

in my opinion the all blacks are only missing McCaw and Leonard as far as player strength goes. McCaw just happens to be one of the most important players in the squad.

You may find it strange that I list leonard as a missing key player. I happen to think he's a class above elis who has strugled at times in the two games so far.

Other Players I would class as Key

carter

Williams - not 100% but close I hope. one of the 3 most important players with carter & McCaw IMO

Thorn

rodney

Mils

Woodcok

Missing McCaw is a blow and I'm not a huge fan of braid but i have a feeling he will have a big game. Hope that Black jersey with the number 7 on it brings out the best in him.

Answer 6

The Wallabies have the better backs and it is because they have league players in their team.

League players are much more skilful with the ball in hand than rugby players.

All this talk about Mortlock being gone means they are weak is rubbbish, Cross and Tahu are such good players and are much more dangerous.

If their forwards can hold their own which i think they will then I assume the Wallabies will win.

Henry makes the same mistakes as always, why the h**l won't he give Tuitavake a run at centre?

This guy has magic hands and magic feet, he brings alot of skill to a team.

Please tell Carter to stop kicking so much!!!!

Answer 7

hmmmm not too sure - it'll be tight

Answer 8

The wallabies chances of winning are as good as george bushes chances of getting raped by a giraffe.

The All Blacks are missing key players but Aussie are to stupid to even put Lachlan Turner in the team. He is the All Blacks worst nightmare and I for one am dam happy he aint playing!

Answer 9

Alot of key players???

Now thats unfair, we've only lost McCaw, and we've got a good replacement in Daniel Braid

Don't forget that Stirling Mortlock is out, and with out him, Nonu and Tuitavake are going to destroy the Aussie midfield.

I have to say that the forwards are evenly matched in this one, with Rocky Elsom and Phil Waugh making up for the rest of their crappy squad.

Although if the All Blacks lose this one, there gonna have a hard time winning the Tri Nations this year, as they still have away games in Perth, South Africa and Hong Kong (which I think is still going ahead).

It will be a good match however, as Aussies have home advantage.

I say the AB's win by 12 and under.

Answer 10

I think new zealand will dominate. it will be tough for both teams since there is no bok to cite and no aus or new zealnd refs to make convroversial calls against a springbok

And about nz taking on the bokke at home in a few weeks, good thing about being at home is nz wont have thier star player... the ref

Answer 11

The wallabies played very intelligently against the Springboks and nullified their perceived advantage at scrum time by accurately engaging on the tight head side first.

I am sure that they would have done a lot of analysis of the All Blacks and would have seen that Tuitavake have difficulties with any ball above shoulder hight. They would also have picked up that the AB coached said 2 weeks ago both Kahui and Tuitavake does not cover effectively when the ball is kicked to the back.

I think it will be a very close game that will be dominated by defense (the Ausies have that over us) and clever kicking.

If they (Australia) can get parity with possession the game is theirs. If we can smother them the game is ours.

My vote goes to the Wallabies ...

Answer 12

The All Blacks have less players missing than the Wallabies.  If the All Blacks lose this week it will be because they are facing a Wallabies side who have a huge belief in themselves off the back of a good win over the Springboks.  

The All Blacks have selected a very physical side and I believe they'll be too much for the Wallabies up front.  The three tri nations sides are so close at the moment though and I would not be surprised to see an upset this weekend.

Answer 13

i think all blacks can win, cuz mortlock gone, wallabies will be **** in midfield with nonu crashing over barnes and cross... u just cant compare the foward packs of abs and wallabies. abs are way better, apart frm the fact that mccaw isnt here. so bokkes would want aussies to beat abs but i aint gonna happen. so prepare to be humiliated by the all blacks on ur home soil

addition - i didnt mean boks are gonna play this week, i meant that in about 3 weeks time when boks face all blacks in south africa. prepare to be humilitated, so called "world champs"

Answer 14

i think the all blacks will be seeking to win after losing to south africa. beating the roos will vindicate them as the boks beat them. they will start thinking they can  beat south africa again.

losing to australia will be a severe blow to the blacks.

Answer 15

A new coach usually brings a fresh mentality within a team; more inspiring than before...the fact that they have Robbie Deans coaching them and they're playing at home will mean they will be VERY confident in beating the AB's. Personally I believe our forwards will make life difficult for the Aussies and give our midfield great front foot ball and expose a good but not great Aussie midfield defense...that to me will be the difference between these 2 teams and I'm picking the AB's to win by 5pts

Answer 16

which key players are we missing? McCaw only, and the ABs showed in game 1 v Boks that they didn't miss him much at all. Game 2 was pretty even, considering the huge losses of Williams and Thorn (both of whom are back this week).

however, look at the Wannabes without Mortlock and they do not look anything like the force of old.

ABs will boss the tight, have parity in the loose, and just far too much class in the backs. We'll get superb scrum ball (while disrupting theirs) and if our lineout can compete then I'd predict a nice 25point win to the mighty Blackness.

I love the way everyone has jumped on the "ABs have lost their aura" bandwagon. Underestimate the Knights of Darkness at your peril!

Answer 17

JaJaBokks,

You are obviously South African......sharp me I tell ya.....you are in the same spot we AB fans where in last week....we needed Oz to beat the Boks to even up the Tri-nations table & not let any team get too far ahead. Tough comp this year

With Mortlock out I think the Oz mid-field will struggle, No GO forward, Cross is OK not yet a force at Int level though.

I pick the AB's to get through because they are rested & fresh & will be stung by loss to the Bokks

My 2 cents

Answer 18

.Most Aussies, but then, their knowledge of Rugby is almost as lacking as their players skills.

Go the mighty blacks.

Answer 19

Yes, I think the Wallabies definitely have a good chance of beating the All Blacks this Saturday.

I'm from New Zealand but I'm living in Sydney at the moment and New Zealand has lost a lot of their really good player in the last 5 years. Especially Tana Umanga!!

I think we will lose, probably. Or tie at the most.

): Don't get me wrong, I definitely WANT the All Blacks to win, I just don't think we will.

Although I could easily get proved wrong.

I hope i do!! (: xx

Answer 20

NOWAY GO THE ALL BLACKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

WE R GONA SMASH THE OZYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

lol:)

Answer 21

I reckon it will be one of those games where... The ABs will just scrape in... or they will absolutely smash the Wallabies. The ABs were blown out of the game against the Boks by that idiot Ref.  Sour grapes?? I think not.

Be very careful Wallabies.

Answer 22

I'm a Wallabies supporter through thick and thin. Have seen some great wins also some not so great losses. I would dearly love to see a Wallaby win but my head tells me the ABs should win and do so comfortably.

I think next season will see a dominant Wallaby line up. There will be changes by then, particularly in the backs.

Answer 23

I don't know where your coming from mate but the AB pack will demolish the wobblies. Watch Woodcock, Sommerville, Thorn, Kaino and Soia'alo run the wobblie forwards off the the rugby field and with the Poly boys( Nonu, Tu'itavake, Kahui , Muliaiina  and  Sivivatu run circle aroun Tuquiri and who ever else hi,hi,hi,hi!!!! can't wait.