Bledisloe I: Will Australia Spy Another Defeat? (Probably, yes)

[J Dory]

Will be interesting to see how McKenzie goes at 15, hope Sopoaga gets a run.

[J Dory]

I wonder if the selectors gave any thought to starting Perenara so he and Barrett could combine followed by Smith and Sopoaga to keep the Hurricanes and Highlanders halves combinations together.

[Spy]

McKenzie at 15 is an interesting selection, particularly as it entails shifting B Smith to the wing. I wonder if he's going to be the goalkicker?

[morepork]

We're going to need a proper 13 pretty soon. Liam Squire continues his education. Where's Jerome Jerome the metronome? I really wish Lowe would have opted to stick around.

[Spy]

We're going to need a proper 13 pretty soon. Liam Squire continues his education. Where's Jerome Jerome the metronome? I really wish Lowe would have opted to stick around.

Lienert-Brown had a good year last year.

Although the reports in the paper say "Kaino dropped", I'd be surprised if he doesn't return for the Bokke tests. I reckon they're expecting an easier ride for the forwards against Australia, hence giving Squire game time and experience.

[morepork]

This No.6 issue is shaping up to be an acute one in the bigger picture. Is Jordan Taufua likely to get a look in at all?

[rowan]

Predicting predictably comfortable wins for the Kiwis and Saffas - and a yellow card at some point for Silly Billy.

[Spy]

There's a right beating being dished out in Sydney. HT 6-40, 6 tries to none.

[canta_brian]

6 - 54 with 30 mins left.

[canta_brian]

Although as I type that Oz store a couple of trys. are NZ trying to keep Oz rugby alive as some kind of warped joke?

[Spy]

We're getting very sloppy. Missing tackles, pushing passes. 3 Australian converted tries in a row.

[Spy]

Ffs. Really not sure how that try got awarded, but it's 7 more to the Wallabies.

[Spy]

That's about as loose as tier 1 Test rugby gets. FT 34-54. 6 tries in each half, with the AB's scoring the first 8 and the Wallabies the last 4. Fair play to Australia -down 54-6 at about 50min it looked like they might be looking down the barrel of conceding 70 or 80, but the dominated the final half-hour of the game.

Great first half from NZ. I thought Crotty , A Smith and Retallick were particularly excellent. Bit of a shambles in the second half. I suppose the game was won, and changes were made. Feels churlish to complain about putting a record score on the Wallabies.

[rowan]

Predictably predictable, though I didn't bother to watch - mostly for that reason. This evening's result should be similar. Pumas might beat the Aussies in Argentina this year, however; judging by the state of things.

[zer0]

I've always been unsure of Read as captain since he stood in for a test against Argentina a few years ago now. Following on from the Lions series, this performance has done absolutely nothing to temper my doubts about his leadership abilities.

Whitelock would be a much better captain, I think. Just look at what he did with the Crusaders this year.

[rowan]

Do lighten up, Cashead. The comment was obviously tongue-in-cheek. & I'm not sure how much of an anomaly it was given he got sent off in the 2011 RWC final - the biggest stage in the game.

[morepork]

I second the Read concern at captain. Doesn't really seem to rally the machine as a ruthless focused unit like GOAT did. This would only be predicted to be accentuated by an increase in new faces and a decrease in experienced, swinging dicks.

[rowan]

Looks like Silly Billy came off second best in this exchange: http://www.rugbyrampage.co.nz/blog/did- ... last-night

[J Dory]

Entertaining test at least. The Aussies actually look pretty good on attack, lots of big fast strike runners. If they can shore up their defense a bit they could be a real threat.