I can almost hear the hoofbeats, as we get ever closer to November and the Southern Hemisphere teams begin their journey, to take on the North.
Hong Kong marks a first for an International played in a neutral venue(other than RWC games) for both Australia and New Zealand and the talk is, they are looking to do it more often, in the quest to globalise the game and their profits.
The All Blacks having won the Tri-Nations and Bledisloe Cup, go into this game favourites, but I think now that Deans has had time to analyse their play and restuctered the Wallabies, he will be looking for a reversal of past results.
Deans Vs Henry: Mind Games!
Graham Henry has selected 7 new players for the tour North, but has gone with the tried and true for the Hong Kong game (it is a Bledisloe Cup game,but the ABs have won it already), with just Hosea Gear gaining his first cap, following in the footsteps of his brother, Rico.
2nd Gear, looking to get into overdrive.
Dan Carter has been shifted to inside centre, allowing Donald the pivot role, but then giving the option of a right boot, left boot, through pairing the two together.
Australia is not able to field it's best team, with some notable injuries such as Lote Tuqiri, Wycliff Palu, Hugh McMeniman and James Horwill.
Mortlock, combative & competitive.
Striling Mortlock will stay at inside Centre, so the clash bewteen him and Carter, also at 12, will be a feature of the game.
Both teams have not played a lot together, since the Tri-Nations finished, so they will be looking to blow out a bit of rust, before the tour proper begins, when they land in Europe.
Australia: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Stirling Mortlock, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Richard Brown, 7 George Smith, 6 Dean Mumm, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Mark Chisholm, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 Adam Freier, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Phil Waugh, 19 David Pocock, 20 Sam Cordingley, 21 Berrick Barnes, 22 Lachie Turner.
Burgess back from injury, at scrum half.
Muliaini drops the ball, but catches the baby,misses this game.
New Zealand: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Hosea Gear, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Dan Carter, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Greg Somerville, 18 Anthony Boric, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Ma'a Nonu, 22 Corey Jane.
Date: Saturday, Novemebr 1
Venue: Hong Kong Stadium.Malta Venue:Times Square
Kick-off: 16:30 (09:30 GMT) Malta Time:09.30am
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland), Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Assessor: Bob Francis (New Zealand)
Played in Hong Kong, where for many years the Hong Kong Seven's Tournament was the fixture of the year and a great display of running rugby.We hope that this game can also be a show case, with some open rugby, that can win many converts to the game.It will also launch the intent of both sides, as they strive to achieve a Grand Slam on their tour to the Northern Hemisphere.
Local Rugby.
The Malta National side, leaves today for Sweden to play their RWC 2011 playoff game in Stockholm, without their inspirational Rugby League player Jarrod Sammut, as he was banned from playing,because of his contract with Penrith Panthers in Australia.His contract does not allow him to play Union.
He was the "Man of the Match" against the Croatians, with some big tackles, scything runs and safe under the high ball and he kicked, what should have been the winning goal, in the dying moments of the game, until we were penalised for hands in the ruck,allowing Croatia to kick the winner, right n the hooter.
But the team has depth and will adjust, we wish them well.
They put in a big hearted effort last Saturday, we hope they can rise to the occassion again.(some rumours coming through, is that Sammut was on the plane to Sweden).
The 8th November marks the beginning of the domestic competition, with Kavallieri and Stompers facing off to play for the Ray Elliotte Cup.
A lot of Rugby coming up, so get ready!
Until Next time,
Stay in Touch,
Regards,
Bryan
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