Bledisloe 1 @ The Craypot 10 August 2919

TEAM NEWS: All Blacks ring changes for Perth Bledisloe
Today at 10:13 AM The Rugby Championship
by Beth Newman


The All Blacks have made six changes to their run-on side to face the Wallabies in Perth on Saturday night.
While the Richie Mo'unga-Beauden Barrett combination has remained, there are a host of changes through their starting XV for the opening Bledisloe.

Experienced hooker Dane Coles returns to the no. 2 jersey for the clash, pushing Codie Taylor to the bench, while Scott Barrett replaces the injured Brodie Retallick in the second row.

In-form flanker Ardie Savea has forced his way back into the starting team and while there was speculation his return might push Kieran Read to no. 6, it is the Hurricanes livewire who will play blindside, with Sam Cane named to play openside and Read at no. 8.

In the backs, Aaron Smith will start at halfback ahead of TJ Perenara while Anton Lienert-Brown will team up with Jack Goodhue in the centres, taking Sonny Bill Williams' spot there.

New Zealand coach Steve Hansen said there was an extra level of intensity in the side this week ahead of the opening Bledisloe.

“Our preparation this week here in Perth has been very good. We can tell that it’s ‘Bledisloe One’ week as there’s a real sense of purpose in everything we do, and a real desire to do it well," he said.

“With the extra time together, we’re starting to see an improved clarity of roles out on the training park. We’ll need to take the confidence that comes with that clarity into the Test on Saturday and deliver a game which has high energy, high skill and great decision-making.

“The Bledisloe Cup has always been incredibly important to this team and teams before us. It’s those teams, ourselves, our country and our many fans that inspire and drive us to want to go out and ‘re-take’ the trophy. We’ve never felt that it’s about going out and ‘retaining’ the Cup because it’s always been about earning the right to have it. This Saturday is no different. Both teams will be desperate and hungry for success.”

Commenting on Australia, Hansen added: “Australia have started this Investec Rugby Championship well. Their set piece has been very good and if we are to beat them, we’ll need to take them on at set piece time and try and take away the quality of their possession.”

The Wallabies take on New Zealand at Optus Stadium, Perth, on Saturday August 10, kicking off at 5;45pm local, 7;45pm AEST, with the Wallaroos-Black Ferns kicking off at 3pm local, 5pm AEST. The Wallabies are LIVE on Network Ten, FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports and RUGBY.com.au RADIO while the Wallaroos will be shown on FOX SPORTS, Kayo Sports and via RUGBY.com.au RADIO.

TEAM

New Zealand to face the Wallabies
1. Joe Moody (38)
2. Dane Coles (62)
3. Owen Franks (107)
4. Scott Barrett (29)
5. Samuel Whitelock (109)
6. Ardie Savea (36)
7. Sam Cane (61)
8. Kieran Read - captain (119)
9. Aaron Smith (84)
10. Richie Mo’unga (10)
11. Rieko Ioane (25)
12. Anton Lienert-Brown (35)
13. Jack Goodhue (8)
14. Ben Smith (78)
15. Beauden Barrett (75)

Reserves
16. Codie Taylor (42)
17. Atu Moli (1)
18. Angus Ta’avao (5)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (22)
20. Matt Todd (18)
21. TJ Perenara (56)
22. Ngani Laumape (11)
23. George Bridge (2)

https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2019/0...w-zealand-team

Wallabies v All Blacks: James O’Connor gets the nod for Bledisloe game 1
The Daily Telegraph
August 8, 2019 9:20AM


The Wallabies have rolled the dice with former bad boy James O’Connor as they juggle World Cup aspirations with Bledisloe Cup glory against the All Blacks.

As revealed by the Daily Telegraph on Wednesday, O’Connor is set to play outside centre for their clash with New Zealand in Perth on Saturday night, in his first start in six years.

“It’s such an opportunity to be able to play for your country and there’s definitely something building here nicely,” he said.

“I’m just so grateful to be involved.

“I’m not a boy anymore.

“I’ve spent six years in the wilderness, found myself, developed and learned a lot about rugby and a lot off the field as well.

“I guess I know what’s important to me now and this is it.”

With the Wallabies struggling to convert dominant possession and opportunities into points in their Rugby Championship clashes with South Africa and Argentina, coach Michael Cheika has decided to bring another ball-player into his backline to replace outside centre Tevita Kuridrani.

Grand slam-winning captain Andrew Slack, who is a former Wallabies selector said that O’Connor needed a chance to prove himself for World Cup selection after only getting 10 minutes off the bench in the Wallabies win over Argentina in Brisbane.

He said that O’Connor should even be a considered as an option at five-eighth, should Christian Lealiifano or Bernard Foley not rise to the occasion ahead of the World Cup.

“I certainly think O’Connor should play a role in the game,” Slack said. “I don’t think they’d go for O’Connor at 10 although that’s what he was originally and should nothing show up with Christian or Bernard playing particularly well in the few games we’ve got, he may be worth a punt at 10.”

WALLABIES 15. Kurtley Beale 14. Marika Koroibete 13. James O’Connor 12. Samu Kerevi 11. Reece Hodge 10. Christian Lealiifano 9. Nic White 8. Isi Naisarani 7. Michael Hooper (captain) 6. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto 5. Rory Arnold 4. Izack Rodda 3. Allan Alaalatoa 2. Tolu Latu 1. Scott Sio.

Reserves: 16. Folau Fainga’a 17. James Slipper 18. Taniela Tupou 19. Adam Coleman 20. Luke Jones 21. Will Genia 22. Matt Toomua 23. Tom Banks.


ALL BLACKS:
1. Joe Moody (38) 2. Dane Coles (62) 3. Owen Franks (107) 4. Scott Barrett (29) 5. Samuel Whitelock (109) 6. Ardie Savea (36) 7. Sam Cane (61) 8. Kieran Read - captain (119) 9. Aaron Smith (84) 10. Richie Mo’unga (10) 11. Rieko Ioane (25) 12. Anton Lienert-Brown (35) 13. Jack Goodhue (8) 14. Ben Smith (78) 15. Beauden Barrett (75)

Reserves 16. Codie Taylor (42) 17. Atu Moli (1) 18. Angus Ta’avao (5) 19 .Patrick Tuipulotu (22) 20. Matt Todd (18) 21. TJ Perenara (56) 22. Ngani Laumape (11) 23. George Bridge (2)

https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/wa...ac91795a578d21

A shot across the bows of GRR’s entertainment and in-game music??

Media release from Rugby Australia:

Rugby Australia, in partnership with Great Big Events (GBE), the world leaders in sports presentation, are set to deliver an Australian first for spectators at Qantas Wallabies matches during 2019 with ‘Sounds of Rugby’.

Rugby Australia has worked with GBE to create a Sport Presentation concept that is in contradiction to current trends in sports globally where more and more music is being played right across the delivery of sports. In a bold move away from this trend, GBE and RA are stripping back the use of music and will instead bring the raw Sounds of Rugby to spectators at this year’s Wallabies matches.

Sounds of Rugby will create an immersive experience for spectators by bringing the sounds of players, ref-calls and the action on field, into the stands making it feel like spectators are on the sidelines and closer to the game. GBE has specially developed technology to capture and deliver these sounds.

Cameron Murray, Rugby Australia Chief Commercial Officer, said: “The aim of Sounds of Rugby is to provide fans who attend Wallabies Test matches a best-of-both-worlds experience, bringing elements of the broadcast experience into the game day experience.

“The on-field sounds of play and communications from the referee are amplified through parabolic microphones into the PA system in the Stadium, giving fans in attendance a genuine feel for the intensity of the game and immediate intel on a referee or TMO decision.

“After working with GBE to trial the concept in the opening Mitsubishi Estate Rugby Championship Test in Brisbane last month, the feedback from the trial was overwhelmingly positive from a survey taken from fans in attendance at Suncorp Stadium.

“We look forward to taking Sounds of Rugby to another level this weekend for the historic Bledisloe Cup Test at Optus Stadium.”

Greg Bowman, GBE Managing and Creative Director, said: “GBE strive to deliver innovative solutions for our clients and ultimately to enhance the live experience.

"After analysing the traditional model of music and the role it plays, including feedback from spectators, GBE highlighted a need to get back to what grass roots rugby provides.

"The ability for a fan to hear the impact of each tackle, the engagement at scrum time, understand referees calls and a sense of feeling part of the action to allow the spectators to create the atmosphere is what we are striving to achieve.

"GBE has had a long association with Rugby Australia having delivered their sports presentation since 2001 and this is yet another way in ensuring the Wallabies remain at the forefront of sport presentation in Australia and fan engagement."

That should last about as long as it takes for the ref's mike to pick up a frank exchange of opinions about the scrum... :hahaha:

Good to see they've followed the leader.

On point though, that is potentially the first intelligent thing I've seen in Rugby for a long time. Anyone with SportsEars knows what a difference it makes to the understanding of the game, and I've long held that the ref's mike should be a red button option on Foxtel as an alternative to commentary. Hearing directly what is going on would have to be the quickest and easiest means for someone new to the game to learn the code.

Must admit I prefer this to music and some dickhead waffling on about something he or she doesn’t understand!

Based on the supporters coming past my balcony, the crowd tonight will be ~65% for the All Blacks, ~25% for the Wallabies and ~10% for a mixture of the Force, Eagles and, I think, Perth Glory!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sheikh

Based on the supporters coming past my balcony, the crowd tonight will be ~65% for the All Blacks, ~25% for the Wallabies and ~10% for a mixture of the Force, Eagles and, I think, Perth Glory!

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And apparently WA has forgiven RA for their sins :lol:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SPaRTAN

And apparently WA has forgiven RA for their sins :lol:

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Sell out crowd will let them spin it that way regardless of the colours of the jerseys in the seats.

Great to see all the people involved in grassroots rugby! Hopeful with all the wallabies flags in every seat aren’t they 🤔

I don’t believe it! Cheika is the Messiah! We will win the World Cup!
TBH I’m just pleased for Aussie rugby.
I’m not sure wether I’ll be placing a bet on them next week though. It would be nice to have that belief though.

Were the Wallabies playing Curtin?

https://i.imgur.com/cF9K08A.jpg

Kiwi View: ‘Arrogant’ All Blacks, Michael Hooper a ‘relentless whiner’

AFP, AAP and staff writers
FOX SPORTS
August 12, 2019 10:03AM


The record All Blacks loss to the Wallabies in Perth left the proud rugby nation struggling to find positives with an increasing suggestion their golden days may be over.

“The intimidating aura which has served them so well fell with an almighty thud,” wrote Chris Rattue in the New Zealand Herald.
The reigning world champions were humiliated by the 47-26 scoreline but their 10-year reign as the top-ranked side in the world continued thanks to England beating Wales at Twickenham.

“The fear factor is largely gone,” Rattue said of the All Blacks, adding there was a good chance they would not win the upcoming World Cup and the “long domination which the incomparable Richie McCaw inspired may well have disappeared forever.”

“The black jersey was ripped up once and for all by men in yellow jerseys on Saturday night,” Rattue wrote.

“A golden generation of extraordinary All Black players is at an end, while other countries are far better organised on the field even if the individual talent is still comparatively moderate.” Rattue said a fading status means big refereeing calls are no longer routinely going the All Blacks’ way, as seemed to be the case before McCaw’s retirement in 2015.

Frustration was fuelling ill-discipline, he wrote, highlighted by Ardie Savea’s shove to the head of a prone Michael Hooper.

“It was an act of arrogance, one that could only make the All Blacks’ task even harder,” Rattue wrote.

“Those great All Black World Cup loose forwards of not long ago, McCaw and Jerome Kaino, didn’t bother with pointless cheap shots, an attitude which worked.

“Savea’s petulance revealed an All Black team which feels threatened and is frustrated by mounting failures.”

Three of Rattue’s rugby writing colleagues at the NZ Herald all believed Barrett’s 39th minute offence warranted a yellow card at worst rather than a sending off.

Gregor Paul slammed referee Jerome Garces and opined that rugby risks losing its physical essence if such decisions continue to infiltrate Tests.

Paul believed the All Blacks still showed enough bright moments with 14 men to suggest they’ll mount a compelling World Cup campaign.

“If there was a recurring thought in the second half — other than Garces is a plonker and Michael Hooper a relentless whiner — it was that
the All Blacks have a phenomenal number of quality footballers who can conjure something out of nothing.

“The rest of the world tends to get overly excited by these lapses.

“But the All Blacks don’t really do terminal decline... there is no particularly daunting or unachievable task on it and a record loss one week can easily be a record win the next.”

Other headlines screamed “All Blacks thrashed,” “Bledisloe Bashing.” “Wallabies shock All Blacks,” “Hansen has egg all over face” while Radio NZ, perhaps unable to face the truth, posted the headline “All Blacks beat Wallabies” on their website before giving the correct match details.

Tony Smith, writing for stuff.co.nz, tried to find a silver lining by noting that Australia also beat New Zealand in the 2011 and 2015 southern hemisphere championship but it was the All Blacks who won the World Cup in both years.

Only four All Blacks have ever been sent off in Test history with Stuff’s Paul Cully noting French referee Jerome Garces was responsible for two of them in two years: Sonny Bill Williams against the British and Irish Lions in 2017 and then Barrett against the Wallabies in Perth on Saturday.

But Cully added: “A more uncomfortable truth lurks below the headlines that Barrett’s red card will attract: say it quietly but the Wallabies were already the superior team.”

Former All Blacks coach John Hart told stuff.co.nz that the forwards deserved to shoulder the blame for the humiliating defeat.

“Hell, it’s not going to work unless the forwards are better,” Hart said.

“You can talk all you like about Mo’unga and Barrett but, gee, we got smashed up front and, as a consequence, where’s the go-forward ball?”

https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/ru...aa7b4227c64ac8