Bledisoe I: Will it be another Austrailure? (probably)

[Spy]

Crotty. I just don't get it.

I know, but as has been pointed out, he's probably the best we've got available. And he can both remain organised in defence and tackle effectively. Fekitoa is a choice I'm happier with than Moala, but he's still learning the craft of centre play, IMO. Midfield certainly seems to me to be the area of the team you could point at as a relative weakness in the side. There aren't too many others.

[Lizard]

And the Wallabies:

15: Israel Folau
14: Adam Ashley-Cooper
13: Tevita Kuridrani
12: Matt Giteau
11: Dane Haylett-Petty
10: Bernard Foley
9: Will Genia
8: David Pocock
7: Michael Hooper
6: Ben McCalman
5: Rob Simmons
4: Kane Douglas
3: Sekope Kepu
2: Stephen Moore (captain)
1: Scott Sio.

Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Allan Alaalatoa, Dean Mumm, Scott Fardy, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Rob Horne.

Pooper at 7.5 and McCalman at 6 over Fardy is interesting.

[cashead]

Wallabies team added to OP.

[rowan]

I sense a Wallaby surprise or two this year.

[Lizard]

This is the test we are most likely to lose this year.

[zer0]

Australia has now been respected by Hansen.

“If anyone looks at our record - and we've been reasonably successful - like you don't be successful if you don't respect the opposition. So I think they're kidding themselves if they think we're not respecting them"

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all- ... sloe-clash

[Lizard]

That was just after he casually mentioned they'd lost 4 in a row, wasn't it?

[cashead]

And now Nathan Harris is ruled out of the Championship with a busted knee. Codie Taylor has been promoted to the starting XV (first start, I think) and Dane Coles has been shuffled onto the bench. Presumably, we'll see someone called in during the coming week as well. Probably Hika Elliot or James Parsons.

[Spy]

This is pretty mad:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/ar ... d=11697828

The Crims deny involvement.

A sophisticated listening device was discovered in the All Blacks' team room in their hotel ahead of tonight's test against the Wallabies.

The device - the sort used by law enforcement and spying agencies - had been planted in a chair in the Sydney hotel where the team have been staying since Sunday, the Herald has learned.

Australian police have been alerted and the hotel has launched its own investigation.

A New Zealand Police spokeswoman said it was referring all inquiries about the incident to Australian authorities.

The Herald understands the foam of the seat appeared to have been deliberately and carefully cut to make way for the surveillance device and then sewn or glued back together to be almost undetectable.


It was discovered on Monday after team management asked the security detail looking after them in Australia to sweep the room for bugs.

[J Dory]

Bizarre. Will be interesting to see what comes out of it.

[Len]

Considering their ancestry, are we surprised?

[Digby]

The listening chair will at least raise the profile of rugby in Ozland. Did the event have to start with the Olympics not yet over?

[zer0]

What do the Olympics have to do with anything?

[Spy]

Super try. Nice downtrou from Dagg.

[Len]

Crotty. I just don't get it.

Cough

[jared_7]

Thought Australia started pretty well but now find themselves a try down

[Spy]

Good linespeed from NZ.

[zer0]

Coles gave that pass awfully early. Those ribs still hurting him?

[zer0]

Offside line disappears at a charge down, doesn't it?

[Spy]

It's one way traffic at the moment.

[Spy]

Wallabies in disarray.

[OptimisticJock]

Going to be a pumping

[jared_7]

Hmmm this is going to be a battering

[zer0]

Whitelock. Why you no pass? Could've been in again...

[Len]

Cheika can sit in on the ABs meeting from now on. Won't make a difference. They're shit.