ABs vs Australia

78 comments on “ABs vs Australia”

• Comments are now closed

1. Joe Bloggs 1

   31 October 2015 at 2:51 pm

   With regards the question “Will the All Blacks be the first team to defend a RWC title?” the obsessive-compulsive in me says no, the All Blacks will be the third team to defend a RWC title.

   Australia defended its 1999 title in 2003, but lost to England, while England defended its 2003 title in 2007 but lost to South Africa. The other finals occasions have not included the winner from the previous tournament.

   Will the All Blacks be the first team to ‘successfully’ defend a RWC title? – quite probably, but I’m not staying up to watch any awarding of cups, medals, or giving of dodgy three-way handshakes … there’s too high a risk of seeing more of the blossoming bro’mance between Key and McCaw

   • Alethios 1.1

     31 October 2015 at 4:29 pm

     Heard today from some National supporters that there’s been a lot of work going in to convincing McCaw to run for office after he retires from the ABs.

     -Probably still going to get up to watch the game though. I do enjoy my rugby.

     • Treetop 1.1.1

       31 October 2015 at 4:42 pm

       Might be why he is not keen on a knighthood.

     • maui 1.1.2

       31 October 2015 at 5:00 pm

       A good way for him to destroy his popularity.

     • Stuff the Politicians 1.1.3

       31 October 2015 at 5:07 pm

       I would think that R McCaw has , as he always had, very high aspirations in whatever he does in life.

       However, what makes Key think Politics would suit McCaw ?

       Politicians are about as low in the scrap heap as anyone can go and is full of lying, cheating low life.
       And I would think Ritchie well knows that.

       J Key, do not bring a great man down to your level, you weasel.

       • Matthew Hooton 1.1.3.1

         31 October 2015 at 5:17 pm

         Politicians are so narcissistic that they think everyone wants to be one. McCaw is bright enough and has the leadership skills to do whatever he wants in the world. Who knows, but I doubt prime minister of NZ is on his list. I suspect he regards Key’s affection the way the captain of the first XV regarded the admiration of the geeky kid in the 4th form – something he knows it would be rude to reject and which he just has to put up with.

         • Macro 1.1.3.1.1

           1 November 2015 at 3:15 am

           Yes I think you are probably right Matthew – at least I would hope you are. I would be very disappointed if your assessment was not the case.

       • millsy 1.1.3.2

         31 October 2015 at 6:51 pm

         Nearly all attempts by high profile rugby players to stand for public office have ended in failure — Laidlaw, Thorne to name a few.

         I am picking that that McCaw will probably find his home in the corporate word — which has seen ex-AB’s prosper.

         • b waghorn 1.1.3.2.1

           31 October 2015 at 6:56 pm

           After 14 years as an ab and probably the top paid one for at least half that he can probably do what ever takes his fancy. Coaching might be a on the list I would think.

           • ropata 1.1.3.2.1.1

             31 October 2015 at 8:12 pm

             Doesn’t McCaw have a law degree or something? He might want a break from the rugby world… hopefully he joins Greenpeace 🙂

             • millsy …

               31 October 2015 at 8:21 pm

               Something to do with agriculture from Lincoln I think.

             • Puddleglum …

               31 October 2015 at 9:54 pm

               From Wikipedia:

               “McCaw came to the attention of national selectors during a 5-all draw with Rotorua Boys’ High School in the 1998 New Zealand secondary schools rugby final in Christchurch. However, he failed to make the New Zealand Secondary Schools Team, losing out to Sam Harding, Angus McDonald and Hale T-Pole. With Sam Harding moving south to study at the University of Otago, McCaw headed to Christchurch’s Lincoln University to study agricultural science and pursue his rugby interests. He achieved all but two papers for his Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree before rugby became his life.“

               • Treetop …

                 1 November 2015 at 8:13 am

                 MCCaw ended up working with soil.

   • seeker 1.2

     31 October 2015 at 5:21 pm

     Exactly Joe Bloggs. Key and McCaws’ antics have put me off New Zealand rugby for life. (although it’s probably not all McCaws’ fault and I hope I will recover once key has disappeared.)

   • Hanswurst 1.3

     31 October 2015 at 6:47 pm

     Will the All Blacks be the first team to ‘successfully’ defend a RWC title?

     Shouldn’t that be, “Will the All Blacks be the first team to defend a RWC title ‘successfully'”? 😉

     • Matthew Hooton 1.3.1

       31 October 2015 at 6:48 pm

       Yes. Good spotting. “To successfully defend” is a grammatical outrage that Richie would never commit (although Key would).

       • Puddleglum 1.3.1.1

         31 October 2015 at 10:05 pm

         Splitting infinitives was deemed an outrage by Victorian grammarians who wanted English to conform to Latin grammatical structure.

         Personally, I split or don’t split infinitives on aesthetic/aural grounds.

         McCaw’s scholastic history does not suggest that he is exceptionally intellectual though clearly he is no dullard. (He neither completed his undergraduate degree nor went on to postgraduate study.)

         Rugby was obviously a greater allure than was exploration of the fields of knowledge and philosophical or scientific enquiry – which is not at all a criticism.

         Being passionate about thinking and enquiring into the nature of the world is not everyone’s cup of tea.

         • millsy 1.3.1.1.1

           31 October 2015 at 10:36 pm

           That is a bit unfair — McCaw was proxime accessit (second to the dux) at high school, and gain consistently high marks at school. He only gave up on uni because of his rugby.

           • Tiger Mountain 1.3.1.1.1.1

             1 November 2015 at 12:14 pm

             Arts degree, waste of money,
             I find cutting them quite funny.
             We need Kiwis to be thicker!
             Who needs thinkers when we have a kicker!

             –JK love poetry, Twitter

         • Hanswurst 1.3.1.1.2

           1 November 2015 at 7:45 am

           Splitting infinitives was deemed an outrage by Victorian grammarians who wanted English to conform to Latin grammatical structure.

           Whatever your opinion of Victorian grammarians, pedants deserve to be held to a more annoying standard than the rest of the population.

2. Treetop 2

   31 October 2015 at 3:25 pm

   Yes a back to back win between 5 – 10 points. The ABs have so much to play for, they have never met Australia in a rugby cup final, both NZ and Australia have won twice and previously mentioned NZ are the current holders of the cup.

   Last weekend I got up 2 minutes before the start of the second half when the score was 12 SA and & 7 NZ, what a second half it was; Carter’s drop goal gave the game to NZ.

3. left for deadshark 3

   31 October 2015 at 3:51 pm

   I’m sorry, but can I frame it another way…
   World number one in Domestic violence nation against number one gang rape nation , (at least that was true though out the twentieth century) .Not looking forward to the end result, but on a selfish level , out of our faces for awhile.

   • Treetop 3.1

     31 October 2015 at 4:01 pm

     So you’re not a rugby fan!

     • left for deadshark 3.1.1

       31 October 2015 at 4:49 pm

       No, was I so post to be, played football, all sorts of sport, thats called participation, no supporter of this muck sucking up most of the sponsorship money about, and I think they are failing grassroots rugby I would add, like some other sports here an in Australia, they add a sort of twisted bullying nature to politics.

       • Treetop 3.1.1.1

         31 October 2015 at 5:06 pm

         I don’t like the corruption of betting in cricket, no doubt some corruption of betting occurs in many other sports.

         Rugby has changed over the years, big play pay packets and sponsorship deals.

         Your view is as valid as anyone elses.

         • left for deadshark 3.1.1.1.1

           31 October 2015 at 5:11 pm

           I should add that I wasn’t getting at you, just a wee rant. please enjoy.

           • Treetop 3.1.1.1.1.1

             31 October 2015 at 5:30 pm

             I enjoyed your wee rant. I expect there is going to be a bit of ranting if NZ lose, bulging eye balls, griting teeth etc. Any win against Aussie is always the best.

4. Matthew Hooton 4

   31 October 2015 at 5:08 pm

   This is an interesting outsider look at this game by American National Public Radio. It really is the biggest rugby match in history. Even people who aren’t sports or rugby fans might get something out of watching such a spectacle. You don’t have to be a football fan or know anything about it to enjoy watching a FIFA World Cup final between Brazil and Italy.
   http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/10/30/453287933/the-rugby-world-cup-final-is-saturday-and-its-going-to-be-a-doozy

   • ropata 4.1

     4 November 2015 at 8:16 pm

     Interesting link, and here’s the follow-up from NPR
     http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/10/31/453462384/new-zealand-wins-rugby-world-cup

5. Ffloyd 5

   31 October 2015 at 5:32 pm

   Key has already been published as predicting a win to the ab’s 27-12 I believe. Key curse will guarantee a loss. Hope I’m wrong. But not really.

   • alwyn 5.1

     1 November 2015 at 6:46 pm

     He wasn’t too far out, was he?
     He predicted a 15 point margin and it was in fact 17.
     I didn’t think it would have been that much and if I had been willing to bet on it I would have picked the ABs by about 5.

6. Chrys Berryman 6

   31 October 2015 at 5:34 pm

   ….part of me wants the All Blacks to lose,so I don’t have to watch Key dribble all the celebration…..with his sycophantic”me to…me to” lackeydom and his grovelling fourth form boys toadyism………..oh god…..go Australia!!!!!

   • Treetop 6.1

     31 October 2015 at 5:41 pm

     Some cardiologist on TV yesterday reckons the rate of heart attacks double or triple within a few days of the ABs losing. Coleman won’t want extra hospital admissions.

     • Treetop 6.1.1

       1 November 2015 at 7:57 am

       Correction the increased rate of heart attacks is 50% – 100% when the ABs lose.

   • Ffloyd 6.2

     31 October 2015 at 6:04 pm

     Do you think key has had a path already cleared so he can scuttle down to the sheds after the game, before the AB’s can get there, so he can nab the seat next to Richie’s and be there waiting with his stubby in hand?

     • Anne 6.2.1

       31 October 2015 at 7:33 pm

       His minders are setting up the cones and brightly coloured tapes as we speak.

     • ropata 6.2.2

       31 October 2015 at 9:19 pm

       I reckon Key has a plan to pinch the seat of the CEO of World Rugby and be centre stage at the cup presentation ceremony.

       Key will also hand out a bunch of shiny medals with his face on both sides. (they will look good on TV but in reality they are cheap plastic)

7. les 7

   31 October 2015 at 5:34 pm

   AB’s by 13 and over….pile it on like brylcreem.

   • Treetop 7.1

     31 October 2015 at 5:45 pm

     I don’t think SA liked the slippery ball last week. Could you imagine brylcreem on the ball, penalty after penalty and nothing going over the goal post.

     • alwyn 7.1.1

       1 November 2015 at 6:51 pm

       What a dreadful thought.
       It is probably lucky that we don’t have a Dennis Compton clone in the team.
       I wonder if he rubbed his hands through his hair before polishing the ball when he was playing for England?

8. SaveOurNix 8

   31 October 2015 at 6:41 pm

   I actually hope the All Black’s put the game beyond doubt, with 10 minutes to go. Already found the semi-final stressful enough LOL. (Although I think the AB’s will win 20-10.) Also, with the Rugby League/Cricket/Netball world Cups, already across the ditch, I think the Aussies have enough silverware.

9. b waghorn 9

   31 October 2015 at 6:47 pm

   Its good of prime to put it on for us non sky customers.
   Looking forward to good match

10. millsy 10

    31 October 2015 at 7:01 pm

    The AB’s to win — they seem to be unstoppable, and have come together as a unit. There were some concerns early on, but their performance against France (a thrashing), and SA (hanging on in a tight match) have led me to the conclusion that they are firing on all cylinders.

    Whatever your opinion of McCaw, he is a legend of the game — he first played in 2001,and has racked up over 100 tests, over 14 years.

    And there has been a lot of stuff said about Sonny Bill Williams, but playing in world cup finals for both union, and league (and even representing your nation both those codes) is a tremendous achievement.

    Though, If we do lose, I hope we all remember that its not the end of the world, and the sun will still rise tomorrow.

    • ropata 10.1

      31 October 2015 at 9:21 pm

      I find your last sentence implausible in several ways 😉

      • miravox 10.1.1

        1 November 2015 at 8:01 am

        Lucky that it doesn’t need to be tested 🙂

        Well done All Blacks and hard luck Australia – coach and team have moved mountains in the last 6 months, but not this one.

        Player of the tournament for me – Nonu. Magnificent final try and sadly the end of a mid-field era with he and Smith moving on.

        • Olwyn 10.1.1.1

          1 November 2015 at 11:11 am

          I agree – Nonu’s try was just brilliant! This is an exceptional All Black team, with a few ready to bow out now. They have earned this moment of glory.

11. Esoteric Pineapples 11

    31 October 2015 at 10:03 pm

    Good to see David Pocock say global warming worries him more than the All Blacks. Sorry can’t post the link but its at The Mirror. Worth reading.

    • SaveOurNix 11.1

      31 October 2015 at 10:21 pm

      This is the same Pocock whom disagreed with coal-mining in a NSW forest-and chained himself to one of their diggers-and would refuse to marry his partner until same-sex marriage was legal in Australia

      • maui 11.1.1

        1 November 2015 at 12:15 am

        Yep, be good if we had an All Black one of those. It might be the best shot at getting good progressive change in this country.

        • ankerawshark 11.1.1.1

          1 November 2015 at 1:09 pm

          http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2015/oct/30/australia-flanker-david-pocock-sport-politics

          My favourite rugby player. Puts McCaw, Nonu and Dagg, the latter two who tweeted support for JK on election day to shame.

          In my mind the true winner and hero of the world cup…………David Pocock.

        • alwyn 11.1.1.2

          1 November 2015 at 2:47 pm

          The closest we had was possibly before your era.
          Graham Mourie. A very good player. Pity he was a bloody awful coach for the Hurricanes later on.

    • Macro 11.2

      1 November 2015 at 3:28 am

      GeezI hope the Wallabies win! Am in Perth tonight- so it’s its more Dockers v’s Eagles. Pocock could be the deciding factor.

      • alwyn 11.2.1

        1 November 2015 at 2:50 pm

        Can’t they ever give it a break over there in Perth, the reincarnation of the 1950s?
        The season has been over for a month and they still haven’t anything else to talk about? Even in Melbourne they give the AFL a break from about a week after the Grand Final until the end of the Spring Racing Carnival in mid-November.
        I guess in Perth there is nothing else that ever happens.

12. Ad 12

    1 November 2015 at 5:53 am

    Awesome try right on half time!

13. Ad 13

    1 November 2015 at 6:56 am

    Bigger score than I expected.

    Great finish!

14. mickysavage 14

    1 November 2015 at 7:09 am

    Great game and well done All Blacks. I imagine that John Key is now sprinting towards the All Black dressing room with his camera ready to go …

    • Ben 14.1

      1 November 2015 at 8:37 am

      FFS, let it go and enjoy the moment. Plenty of time over the ensuing weeks to critique every photo and comment made by Key & Co.

    • Prickles 14.2

      1 November 2015 at 9:09 am

      Best quote from the commentary team after the match when discussing Key arriving in the dressing room – “just as well Richie doesn’t have a ponytail”.

    • Enough is Enough 14.3

      3 November 2015 at 2:21 pm

      You are obsesseed

15. vto 15

    1 November 2015 at 7:54 am

    If there was an election this month then whoever the incumbent happened to be would win

16. infused 16

    1 November 2015 at 7:57 am

    That second half… nail biting there for a second

    • One Anonymous Bloke 16.1

      1 November 2015 at 8:27 am

      Yeah Aussie were looking good ’til they dropped the ball 🙂

17. les 17

    1 November 2015 at 8:04 am

    thank god team Key got us over the line…again.Thanks John.

18. Treetop 18

    1 November 2015 at 8:08 am

    I just loved the piling on of points in the last quarter from 4 ahead, then 7, then 10, then 17.

    McCaw has now played 148 tests, there are at least two more tests in him. Ma’a’s try was a blast.

    Congratulations to the team on a historic win, first time for a team to make it 3 wins and both Australia and NZ entered the final as being unbeaten in the tournament.

19. millsy 19

    1 November 2015 at 8:40 am

    First team to win two in a row.

20. Whispering Kate 20

    1 November 2015 at 8:47 am

    Great game and congratulations on the team’s hard work. My only grouch is our rugby commentators over here, when I have watched games with Welsh, English, Scots etc commentators they are calm, measured, usually only one voice sparely giving an account of the game with an occasional comment by a second commentator. They just know when to shut up. A pleasure to listen to as it doesn’t grate and get in the way of concentrating on the game. Always here in NZ the two commentators keep up a running conversation on the game together and it grates on the nerves with them testing each other’s opinions – who cares – why can’t they just shut up occasionally. I end up with the sound turned off and can see and get everything from the game without their input quite nicely thank you. The All Black’s deserve better.

    • GregJ 20.1

      2 November 2015 at 6:04 pm

      I’ve really enjoyed the ITV commentary and analysis which we received here in the Middle East – as you say calm, measured and non-intrusive to enjoying the spectacle. The biggest issue I have with the NZ commentary is Justin Marshall – sometimes he says things that make me wonder if he had even played the game at all – let alone at the highest level!

21. SaveOurNix 21

    1 November 2015 at 8:48 am

    …As well as the first team to win three World Cups (the most by any other rugby nation). Also, it’s the first time that the All Blacks had won a World Cup away from home.

    • Treetop 21.1

      1 November 2015 at 1:42 pm

      Is it called a hat trick if you win three in a row? (I realise the third win cannot happen until 2019). I know that I sound like a Nat on election night.

    • alwyn 21.2

      1 November 2015 at 6:56 pm

      I assume that they don’t have the rule they used to have in the FIFA World Cup.
      When Brazil won for the third time in 1970 they got to keep the trophy.

22. RedLogix 22

    1 November 2015 at 9:06 am

    For all the grouching and bad history between progressives and the conservative rugby hierarchy – you have to acknowledge excellence when you see it.

    This impressive team can teach us all something about contemporary leadership, and a commitment to mastery.

23. mary_a 23

    1 November 2015 at 10:17 am

    Congratulations ABs, who played strong and played well. A well deserved win 🙂

    Commiserations Wallabies. Excellent work for getting up there into the finals to play off the ABs.

    Also well done the other rugby teams whose contribution made this event possible.

    Leave the politics aside for today and allow the boys to enjoy their glory, without hindrance. Hopefully a politician or two, or three will respectfully do the same.

24. ianmac 24

    1 November 2015 at 11:01 am

    Quite disappointed. Expected Key to be on the dais but he wasn’t. Left all looking bereft and flat. Really took the shine off the whole Cup. Sigh.

    • alwyn 24.1

      1 November 2015 at 2:59 pm

      John Key had to go down to the Police office at the stadium I understand.
      Some balding little fellow in glasses tried to get on the pitch and take a selfie with McCaw. He got flattened by a tiny little policewoman though.
      The pitch invader tried to claim he knew McCaw but Richie said he had no idea who he was. They asked Key to go down and identify the chap as being little Andie and to explain that, although he was delusional, he was actually harmless.

25. GregJ 25

    1 November 2015 at 11:48 am

    Superb stuff. Well played Australia but what a super All Black performance. I bet Ben Smith will cop a few fines though in the kangaroo court later on!

    Watched the ITV coverage beamed through here in the Middle East – great commentary and after match analysis (Sean Fitzpatrick, Johnny Wilkinson & Michael Lynagh).

    • Treetop 25.1

      1 November 2015 at 1:47 pm

      There was certainly a gap in the backline defence when B Smith was yellow carded on the bench and he knew it.

26. Ad 26

    1 November 2015 at 12:05 pm

    Nothing like an Otago pub to re-understand the religious force Rugby opens up. Great screaming and cheering. Pity the only dark beer was Guiness!

    I would wish all the retirees well, but especially Richie great success in his future life. Huge and humble service to this country for a decade and more.

    Unless he chooses politics. Then he’ll see what a contact sport looks like.

27. tc 27

    1 November 2015 at 4:24 pm

    Back to back WC’s is a unique achievement so well done AB’s, Hansen etc.

    I hope the NZRU has a good look at youth and grassroots (provinces) as we don’t seem to have the ritchies/dans/kevins coming through in enough numbers imo as not all make it to the very top.

    Only 3% of all german youth academy attendees make it as a pro so you need the raw material and plenty of it to keep the top level supreme.

• Comments are now closed

• Log in
• Donate
• Contribute post

• Articles RSS