FR Keven Mealamu (NZL) - 330
FR Tony Woodcock (NZL) - 255
LK Brad Thorn (NZL) - 190
LK Tom Donnelly (NZL) - 160
LF Juan Smith (SAF) - 350
LF Schalk Burger (SAF) - 350
HV Daniel Carter (NZL) - 315
HV Morne Steyn (SAF) - 210
CT Conrad Smith (NZL) - 270
CT Jean De Villiers (SAF) - 270
OB Cory Jane (NZL) - 340
OB Bryan Habana (SAF) - 280
3 try bonus - 100
Total Points - 3,420
Saturday, August 21, 2010
All Blacks fitter than Boks
The Boks were fantastic. The first half saw them dominate the Kiwis at the collision, drive them back on defense, and the elements of doubt crept back into the All Black game. Pressure forced dropped catches, missed passes, knock-on's. The brilliant form of the All Blacks may have a lot to do with the lack of pressure they've been under, more than a sudden improvement in their play. For sixty minutes they were beatable - barely, but the cracks were showing. (They are undoubtedly the best team in the world currently and playing beautiful rugby.)
And then a series of events conspired to see the Boks grab defeat from the jaws of victory; 22-14 up with twenty to play should be an automatic victory at altitude. Some of the most telling were:
1) The substitution of Juan Smith. He was epic in defense and at the breakdown, and not too shabby with ball in hand. The coaches claim it was injury enforced... if not, they made a serious blunder, because clearly Spies was the loosie to sub. When Smith left the field, the Boks defensive resolve began to crumble.
2) Morne Steyn's missed touch-finders. Those two kicks - the penalty and the grubber to the corner - shifted the momentum of the match entirely. Instead of pressuring the All Black five metres out on two occasions, probably sucking up 5 to 10 minutes of playing time, the Boks found themselves facing a powerful All Black scrum deep inside their own territory, contributing directly to New Zealand's scoring opportunities.
3) Bok fatigue. This Bok team is clearly not fit enough. When it came time to put bodies on the line in those last 5 minutes, they just weren't up for it anymore. The cover defense was slow on McCaw's try, and non-existent on Dagg's. More tellingly, with one minute to play and a drop goal in range, they turned over ball because there were NO forwards to the ball when De Villiers went to ground. The All Blacks strolled over the top to secure the ball, and ultimately victory. This player run team clearly doesn't have the self-discipline to ensure they are properly match fit. Under Jake White, this team would have closed out the game because they were superbly conditioned. PdV is clearly too interested in being the players mate to crack the whip and get those fatboys running. Smit missed that final tackle because he was exhausted.
4) Poor use of the bench. When the Boks were flagging, and out of steam, they sat with 3 unused players on the bench. Why play a 4/3 bench when your game plan is forward oriented? SA has some spectacular forwards, but instead Chiliboy, Olivier and James watched from the side-line while Smit almost collapsed with fatigue and Matfield lay about trying to catch his breathe while the Kiwis ran rampant. Play a 5/2 bench! PdV never uses all his backline subs anyway.
All is not lost for the Bokke. They proved that their game-plan, when executed with skill, is still the way to beat the All Blacks. They don't have to start afresh, they just need to get fitter, and select and sub a little smarter. The return of Bismarck and Brussow will also have a massive effect on their breakdown dominance.
Should be a cracker of a World Cup semi!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Week Six: Andrew's Team
THE ORCADIANS - Facebook S14
*New buys in italics
FR John Smit (SAF) - $1,250,000
FR Keven Mealamu (NZL) - $1,297,500
LK Tom Donnelly (NZL) - $805,000
LK Victor Matfield (SAF) - $1,172,500
LF Richie McCaw (NZL) - $1,247,500
LF Pierre Spies (SAF) - $1,147,500
HV Morne Steyn (NZL) - $1,207,500
HV Daniel Carter (NZL) - $1,405,000
CT Jean De Villiers (SAF) - $1,190,000
CT Ma'a Nonu (NZL) - $1,322,500
OB Joe Rokocoko (NZL) - $1,127,500
OB Mils Muliaina (NZL) - $1,327,500
Team Value: $14,500,000
Cash in Bank: $988,350
I did okay last round, rising 10 places to 40th in the world rankings and closing the gap ever so slightly on league leader The Pikey Soldiers (a very impressive 16th in the world - congrats, Pikey).
Most of my substitutes this week are the obvious candidates - Smit for Faingaa and Matfield for Mumm are no brainers - but the loosies provided more of a conundrum. After a lot of soul searching I chose Spies. Even though he's been practically anonymous in the games thus far he has been scoring reasonably well. I feel sure that Read will outscore him (yet again) but I really don't want to run out of transfers in the final round so felt I needed to think ahead and pick a Bok. I hope I don't regret it.
In the halves, Steyn again seemed like the only viable candidate - with Hougaard listed as an Outside Back, it was a choice between the Bok flyhalf and Jimmy Cowan, and even as poorly as Steyn has been performing he's still the better bet.
In the centres, if transfers were no issue I'd probably have picked Conrad Smith but again I felt I needed a Bok and so plumped for Jean De Villers, since I assume that Fourie will be back next week in place of Juan de Jong. JDV's been earning horribly in the competition so far but then again he's been on the wing and as we all know nobody sees less ball than a Springbok winger.
I couldn't bring myself to pick a Springbok OB. I suppose it's possible that Aplon might shine points-wise but I wouldn't bet on it, and Pietersen and Habana aren't likely to set the scoreboard aflame either. Since I'll likely be picking two Wallabies next week anyway, I chose Rokocoko as he's been scoring a bit more consistently than teammate Cory Jane.
Good luck everyone!
*New buys in italics
FR John Smit (SAF) - $1,250,000
FR Keven Mealamu (NZL) - $1,297,500
LK Tom Donnelly (NZL) - $805,000
LK Victor Matfield (SAF) - $1,172,500
LF Richie McCaw (NZL) - $1,247,500
LF Pierre Spies (SAF) - $1,147,500
HV Morne Steyn (NZL) - $1,207,500
HV Daniel Carter (NZL) - $1,405,000
CT Jean De Villiers (SAF) - $1,190,000
CT Ma'a Nonu (NZL) - $1,322,500
OB Joe Rokocoko (NZL) - $1,127,500
OB Mils Muliaina (NZL) - $1,327,500
Team Value: $14,500,000
Cash in Bank: $988,350
I did okay last round, rising 10 places to 40th in the world rankings and closing the gap ever so slightly on league leader The Pikey Soldiers (a very impressive 16th in the world - congrats, Pikey).
Most of my substitutes this week are the obvious candidates - Smit for Faingaa and Matfield for Mumm are no brainers - but the loosies provided more of a conundrum. After a lot of soul searching I chose Spies. Even though he's been practically anonymous in the games thus far he has been scoring reasonably well. I feel sure that Read will outscore him (yet again) but I really don't want to run out of transfers in the final round so felt I needed to think ahead and pick a Bok. I hope I don't regret it.
In the halves, Steyn again seemed like the only viable candidate - with Hougaard listed as an Outside Back, it was a choice between the Bok flyhalf and Jimmy Cowan, and even as poorly as Steyn has been performing he's still the better bet.
In the centres, if transfers were no issue I'd probably have picked Conrad Smith but again I felt I needed a Bok and so plumped for Jean De Villers, since I assume that Fourie will be back next week in place of Juan de Jong. JDV's been earning horribly in the competition so far but then again he's been on the wing and as we all know nobody sees less ball than a Springbok winger.
I couldn't bring myself to pick a Springbok OB. I suppose it's possible that Aplon might shine points-wise but I wouldn't bet on it, and Pietersen and Habana aren't likely to set the scoreboard aflame either. Since I'll likely be picking two Wallabies next week anyway, I chose Rokocoko as he's been scoring a bit more consistently than teammate Cory Jane.
Good luck everyone!
Week Six: Kynan's Team
NO POOFTAHS - Facebook S14
*new trades in italics
FR John Smit (SAF) - $1,250,000
FR Kevin Mealamu (NZL) - $1,297,500
LK Victor Matfield (SAF) - $1,172,500
LK Tom Donnelly (AUS) - $805,000
LF Richie McCaw (NZL) - $1,247,500
LF Schalk Burger (SAF) - $1,097,500
HV Morne Steyn (SAF) - $1,207,500
HV Dan Carter (NZL) - $1,405,000
CT Juan De Jongh (SAF) - $737,500
CT Ma'a Nonu (NZL) - $1,322,500
OB Joe Rocokoco (NZL) - $1,127,500
OB Gio Aplon (SAF) - $642,500
Team Value: $13,638,850
Cash in Bank: $326,350
It's like having a fresh start - new transfers, a whole new team, and a whole new optimism about life. I even believe that the Springboks can win... but not really. In my mind I have a fantasy where De Jongh and Aplon are cutting the All Blacks to pieces with their scything runs... but then I remember they'll never get the ball.
But I've picked on hope. So, here's hoping the Boks keep the ball in hand a little more and actually make an effort this time.
*new trades in italics
FR John Smit (SAF) - $1,250,000
FR Kevin Mealamu (NZL) - $1,297,500
LK Victor Matfield (SAF) - $1,172,500
LK Tom Donnelly (AUS) - $805,000
LF Richie McCaw (NZL) - $1,247,500
LF Schalk Burger (SAF) - $1,097,500
HV Morne Steyn (SAF) - $1,207,500
HV Dan Carter (NZL) - $1,405,000
CT Juan De Jongh (SAF) - $737,500
CT Ma'a Nonu (NZL) - $1,322,500
OB Joe Rocokoco (NZL) - $1,127,500
OB Gio Aplon (SAF) - $642,500
Team Value: $13,638,850
Cash in Bank: $326,350
It's like having a fresh start - new transfers, a whole new team, and a whole new optimism about life. I even believe that the Springboks can win... but not really. In my mind I have a fantasy where De Jongh and Aplon are cutting the All Blacks to pieces with their scything runs... but then I remember they'll never get the ball.
But I've picked on hope. So, here's hoping the Boks keep the ball in hand a little more and actually make an effort this time.
Best Players After Round Five
TOP 5 FRONT ROWERS
Keven Mealamu (NZL) - 423 (no change)
John Smit (SAF) - 367 (no change)
Gurthro Steenkamp (SAF) - 262 (no change)
Tony Woodcock (NZL) - 201 (no change)
Saia Faingaa (AUS) - 165 (no change)
There's no change among the front row, with Mealamu inching even farther ahead of Smit and currently sitting second behind Muliaina as the best earning player in all positions.
TOP 5 LOCKS
Nathan Sharpe (AUS) - 253 (up)
Dean Mumm (AUS) - 240 (down)
Victor Matfield (SAF) - 215 (no change)
Danie Roussouw (SAF) - 212 (up)
Tom Donnelly (NZL) - 206 (down)
A massive score from Nathan Sharpe last game sees him leapfrog from fifth to first, which shows just how tightly grouped are the top five locks.
TOP 5 LOOSIES
Richard McCaw (NZL) - 408 (no change)
Kieran Read (NZL) - 356 (no change)
David Pocock (AUS) - 315 (no change)
Rocky Elsom (AUS) - 292 (no change)
Schalk Burger (SAF) - 285 (new entry)
The top four loosies remain in their relative positions from last week, and are joined by Schalk Burger, whose average score sees him sneak into fifth place at the expense of Kaino.
TOP 5 HALVES
Daniel Carter (NZL) - 383 (no change)
Will Genia (AUS) - 247 (no change)
Enrico Januarie (SAF) - 243 (no change)
Morne Steyn (SAF) - 218 (up)
Quade Cooper (AUS) - 215 (new entry)
Daniel Carter cements his position as king of the halves with little other movement apart from Weepu dropping out the top five, allowing Steyn to rise a spot and Cooper to make his first appearance, despite only having played one game, over a month ago.
TOP 5 CENTRES
Ma'a Nonu (NZL) - 378 (up)
Matt Giteau (AUS) - 313 (down)
Conrad Smith (NZL) - 271 (no change)
Rene Ranger (NZL) - 235 (no change)
Jacque Fourie (SAF) - 235 (no change)
Nonu and Giteau swap places at the top of the centres and the chasing pack remain the same.
TOP 5 OUTSIDE BACKS
Mils Muliaina (NZL) - 431 (no change)
James O'Connor (AUS) - 327 (no change)
Drew Mitchell (AUS) - 303 (no change)
Joe Rocokoco (NZL) - 298 (no change)
Adam Ashley-Cooper (AUS) - 250 (no change)
There's no change of any kind among the best scoring backs, which pretty much sums up this week's stats.
Keven Mealamu (NZL) - 423 (no change)
John Smit (SAF) - 367 (no change)
Gurthro Steenkamp (SAF) - 262 (no change)
Tony Woodcock (NZL) - 201 (no change)
Saia Faingaa (AUS) - 165 (no change)
There's no change among the front row, with Mealamu inching even farther ahead of Smit and currently sitting second behind Muliaina as the best earning player in all positions.
TOP 5 LOCKS
Nathan Sharpe (AUS) - 253 (up)
Dean Mumm (AUS) - 240 (down)
Victor Matfield (SAF) - 215 (no change)
Danie Roussouw (SAF) - 212 (up)
Tom Donnelly (NZL) - 206 (down)
A massive score from Nathan Sharpe last game sees him leapfrog from fifth to first, which shows just how tightly grouped are the top five locks.
TOP 5 LOOSIES
Richard McCaw (NZL) - 408 (no change)
Kieran Read (NZL) - 356 (no change)
David Pocock (AUS) - 315 (no change)
Rocky Elsom (AUS) - 292 (no change)
Schalk Burger (SAF) - 285 (new entry)
The top four loosies remain in their relative positions from last week, and are joined by Schalk Burger, whose average score sees him sneak into fifth place at the expense of Kaino.
TOP 5 HALVES
Daniel Carter (NZL) - 383 (no change)
Will Genia (AUS) - 247 (no change)
Enrico Januarie (SAF) - 243 (no change)
Morne Steyn (SAF) - 218 (up)
Quade Cooper (AUS) - 215 (new entry)
Daniel Carter cements his position as king of the halves with little other movement apart from Weepu dropping out the top five, allowing Steyn to rise a spot and Cooper to make his first appearance, despite only having played one game, over a month ago.
TOP 5 CENTRES
Ma'a Nonu (NZL) - 378 (up)
Matt Giteau (AUS) - 313 (down)
Conrad Smith (NZL) - 271 (no change)
Rene Ranger (NZL) - 235 (no change)
Jacque Fourie (SAF) - 235 (no change)
Nonu and Giteau swap places at the top of the centres and the chasing pack remain the same.
TOP 5 OUTSIDE BACKS
Mils Muliaina (NZL) - 431 (no change)
James O'Connor (AUS) - 327 (no change)
Drew Mitchell (AUS) - 303 (no change)
Joe Rocokoco (NZL) - 298 (no change)
Adam Ashley-Cooper (AUS) - 250 (no change)
There's no change of any kind among the best scoring backs, which pretty much sums up this week's stats.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Round Six: Team Announcements
South Africa: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Subs: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Francois Louw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Butch James, 22 Wynand Olivier.
New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 John Afoa, 18 Sam Whitelock, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Israel Dagg.
Subs: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Danie Rossouw, 19 Francois Louw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Butch James, 22 Wynand Olivier.
New Zealand: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw (c), 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Subs: 16 Corey Flynn, 17 John Afoa, 18 Sam Whitelock, 19 Victor Vito, 20 Piri Weepu, 21 Aaron Cruden, 22 Israel Dagg.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)