World Cup 2011 ~ Discussion Board!

[Michael Alexander]

Brisbane - New Zealand coach Graham Henry was at pains to reassure an anxious nation that the loss of the Tri-Nations was merely a bump on the World Cup road, but glum faces across the coaching board suggested the mountain had become a little harder to climb.

The All Blacks' 25-20 defeat by Australia at Lang Park on Saturday was their second in a row, and came a week after Henry sent a second-string side to South Africa to fumble their way to an 18-5 defeat against the Springboks.

The 65-year-old former schoolmaster, a model of tranquility throughout the buildup in Brisbane, was back to his cantankerous best when grilled by reporters demanding to know how the result could be good for any team's World Cup preparations.

"Going back over the history, there's no blueprint that winning a Tri-Nations is the recipe for winning a rugby World Cup," Henry told reporters, flanked by stony-faced captain Richie McCaw who was wearing a frown and several bruises.

"Hopefully if there was any complacency in this group, it's well gone now. I think that will be an advantage going forward."

Henry does have history on his side, with South Africa finishing last in the 2007 Tri-Nations after resting their top players, and then going on to sweep the World Cup.

But pride and the All Blacks' relentless hunger for silverware put paid to any notions of bringing a second-string side to Brisbane and may also have reaped a bitter harvest with injuries to key players.

Back-row enforcer Kieran Read limped off the ground with an ankle injury early in the first half and was joined by flanker Adam Thomson who suffered a hyperextension of his elbow.

Their losses unsettled the All Blacks' structure, allowing the Wallabies to sprint to a 20-3 lead at the break, and may yet have repercussions for Henry's World Cup plans with the tournament's Sept. 9 kick-off looming.

"We're not sure how serious those are, so that will be a concern on the wait of getting a report on those," said Henry.

While praising the All Blacks for their spirited second-half fightback, Henry lamented his charges' sloppy, bloodless start and reminded his players that they had to justify their place in the 30-man World Cup squad.

The All Blacks' imperious record and status as perennial favourites has been their cross to bear and the side will face enormous expectation at home to end their 24-year wait for a second World Cup win since their triumph in the inaugural 1987 edition.

Like Henry, captain McCaw was similarly scathing of his team's lack of intensity early against the Wallabies but said the scale of the World Cup task had become clearer, at least.

"There's very little between these teams," said McCaw. "It's how you turn up, it's the mental state and how you turn up and we saw that tonight, especially in the first half.

"I guess it's a goodly reminder that winning big Test matches you've got to start well."

[Michael Alexander]

Not long ago, Graham Henry was asked who he thought the All Blacks' main competition would be at the Rugby World Cup. His answer was Australia.

Even allowing for the fact the Wallabies won last night's Tri Nations decider, my answer to the previous question would be unequivocal: South Africa.

I am worried about the Boks. A lot of people will have dismissed that result because it was a second-string All Black team.

But I think that masks the potential problem. We gave the Boks some belief, no matter what the make-up of the side they played against.

They know there is no such thing as a bad All Black team. More than that, they have gone back to their ability to win ugly.

Coach Peter de Villiers has been a long time deciding on his best team and, in particular, his best first five-eighths. What we saw at Port Elizabeth was that Morne Steyn is the man who just clicks into that favoured style of play.

When they get players like Fourie du Preez, Bismarck du Plessis, William Alberts, Pierre Spies and Schalk Burger back from injury, coming into form and driving forward, they will be even harder to beat.

They have gone back to a style they are comfortable with; that they have confidence in - and that means a lot to them mentally.

All the teams that have won the Cup thus far have had iconic captains and, if you look through the squads coming to New Zealand, there are few who have skippers who can be called iconic.

South Africa's John Smit is, and I think many people have underestimated his effect on the Boks and his skill as a hooker and a leader too.

I have not enjoyed the sight of a fine player having his career hauled through the gutter by the media. There's no question he was damaged by that move to make him a prop. That did him no favours and he's had to endure being told he's not worth his place.

But he remains a real force at hooker. I think they will start with the captain and then replace him with Bismarck du Plessis.

And what a player du Plessis is. I think he will have a great World Cup and I have been so impressed by his attitude and his play. He is steaming when he comes on and desperate to do his best - and he makes a difference.

I think there is little question that he might be starting in front of Smit if it wasn't a World Cup year - and that tells you all you need to know about Smit and what he means to his team.

Australia will always be dangerous - they so often play well against the All Blacks - but that loss at Eden Park damaged them. If they lost at Brisbane last night, that mental scar will be bigger.

England will be a threat if they realise they have to play the same way as South Africa. They have to play Jonny Wilkinson at 10 and grind things out.

However, Martin Johnson can be a stubborn man. It's like his selection of Shontayne Hape in the centres. Johnson appears to be the only person who can't see it - like his selection of Steve Borthwick as lock and captain.

France will be a handful but you never know what they bring to the party and it's a worry trying to second-guess them. The real danger now is the Springboks.
By Sean Fitzpatrick | Email Sean

[Michael Alexander]

All together now.....

"Ireland
Ireland

Side by side
We stand like brothers
One for all and all together
We will stay united through darker days
And we'll be unbeatable forever

Ireland, Ireland
Together standing tall
Shoulder to shoulder
We'll answer Ireland's call!

Come the day and come the hour
Some will live in song and story
We were born to follow our guiding star
And to meet our destiny with glory

Ireland, Ireland
Together standing tall
Shoulder to shoulder
We'll answer Ireland's call!

Hearts of steel and heads unbowing
Vowing never to be broken
We will fight, until we can fight no more
Till our final requiem is spoken

Ireland, Ireland
Together standing tall
Shoulder to shoulder
We'll answer Ireland's call!

Ireland, Ireland
Together standing tall
Shoulder to shoulder
We'll answer Ireland's call!
We'll answer Ireland's call!"

[Michael Alexander]

Tie me kangaroo down..... cough! Cough!  Way to go Ireland..... bought me a few cans of Guiness to celebrate.....

[Mike Stenson (RIP)]

Not good for the Boks, might have to get passed NZ and Aus to get to the finals.....

[Michael Alexander]

If you want to win the world cup and be the best in the world, best you play all the big boys on the way......... otherwise you don't deserve to claim the trophy,

[Mike Stenson (RIP)]

Does not work like that in the world cup, some always play more big boys than others... the eventual winner won't care how he got there....