Showing posts with label ITM Cup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ITM Cup. Show all posts

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Canterbury rebounds in Christchurch - Sonny Bill Williams scores crucial bonus point try against Wellington...

Canterbury rebounds in Christchurch  -  Sonny Bill Williams scores crucial bonus point try against Wellington...  .




.Canterbury bounced back from last week's upset ITM Cup defeat to Taranaki with a 37-30 win over Wellington in Christchurch on Saturday.







A late furry of scoring with the wind behind them earned the home side their victory over the Lions in front of a bumper home crowd that was given free entry in respect of the recent Canterbury earthquake.





In an even contest throughout, both sides played open and enterprising rugby whenever possible and each scored four tries. But it was Canterbury tries in the 64th and 68th minutes that helped make the difference, giving them a 34-25 lead heading into the last 10 minutes.





With Wellington in front 25-20 following a try off the back of a scrum to number eight Faifili Levave, Canterbury full-back Sean Maitland scored in the corner and fly-half Colin Slade converted to put his team ahead for the first time since midway through the first half.





Replacement centre Sonny Bill Williams then broke through for a second quickfire converted try to extend their advantage to nine points.





The Lions hit back almost immediately through scrum-half Alby Mathewson who stole the ball from the back of a Canterbury scrum on their own tryline and darted over for a five-pointer, bringing the score back to 34-30.





The home side were able to re-establish field position and hold off the Lions once more and Slade was able to kick a late penalty to make sure of the victory.





Despite the defeat and Canterbury's retention of the Harry Saundercock Memorial Trophy, the Lions earned two competition points and will remain near the top of the ITM Cup points table at the conclusion of this weekend's tenth round.





Tighthead prop Neemia Tialata failed a pre-game fitness test on his injured ankle and wing Hosea Gear assumed the captaincy of the Lions for the first time.





It was Gear who helped spark the Lions to a 20-13 lead at half-time with a pair of wonderful tries, after Canterbury had opened the scoring in the 12th minute through their speedster Telusa Veaniu who took a final pass from former Wellington centre Robbie Fruean after a midfield scrum turnover.





Wellington answered through Gear who raced up into the defensive line and plucked a Canterbury pass out of the air and cruised 60 metres for a try under the bar. Fly-half Lima Sopoaga's conversion evened up the ledger to 7-7 after 17 minutes.





Both sides probed for further opportunities and Slade and Sopoaga exchanged penalties to make it 10-10.





The tight run of play ensued. Slade put his side back in the lead with a penalty in front. Sopoaga replied with his second penalty after a concerted period of attack, making it 13-13 after 30 minutes.





Sopoaga put Canterbury back inside their 22 with a pinpoint touch-finder into the corner. Canterbury's defensive line-out was overthrown and the loose ball was snaffled at the back by flanker Scott Fugistaller.





From Fugistaller's initial incursion, Wellington swung play both ways across the posts to Gear, who effortlessly steamed in for his second try. Sopoaga converted to put the Lions ahead 20-13.





A Slade penalty attempt hit the uprights, before a Sizzling break by Julian Savea put the Lions back into the attacking zone. Canterbury held on and the half-time hooter sounded soon after with the home side inside Wellington's half of play.





Now with the wind advantage, it was Canterbury's turn to score next through halfback Andy Ellis who finished off a sweeping movement.





Canterbury failed to control the next re-start, leading to a Lions scrum and surge at the line by the Lions forwards. Prop David Te Moana crashed over in a heap of bodies for a try in reply that the TMO couldn't award due to inconclusive evidence.





But with the heat still on, the Lions attacked from a 5m scrum and Levave made a powerful burst at the chalk and was rewarded with a try. Sopoaga pushed the conversion wide but the visitors were back in front at 25-20.





Maitland scored in the corner in broken play and Slade converted to put Canterbury back in front with 15 minutes remaining.





Sonny Bill Williams scored his try next. Slade's conversion extended their advantage to 34-25 and the Lions now needed to score twice with 12 minutes on the clock.





Flanker Api Naikatini couldn't reel in a fingertips pass in the left-hand corner, leading to a defensive Canterbury scrum feed.





From the set-piece, Mathewson snaffled the ball from Canterbury number eight Nasi Manu's grasp and came up with the Lions' bonus-point try and the deficit was whittled back to four points ahead of a tense final nine minutes of play.





The scorers:





For Canterbury:

Tries: Veainu, Ellis, Maitland, Williams

Cons: Slade 4

Pens: Slade 3





For Wellington:

Tries: Gear 2, Levave, MathewsonCons: Sopoaga 2

Pens: Sopoaga 2





Canterbury: 15 Sean Maitland, 14 Tu Umaga-Marshall, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Telusa Veainu, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 George Whitelock (c), 6 Matt Todd, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Peter Borlase, 2 Corey Flynn, 1 Wyatt Crockett.

Replacements: 16 Steve Fualau, 17 Andrew Olorenshaw, 18 Rob Verbakel, 19 Ash Parker, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Stephen Brett, 22 Sonny Bill Williams.





Wellington: 15 Apoua Stewart, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Shaun Treeby, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Faifili Levave, 7 Scott Fuglistaller, 6 Api Naikatini, 5 Nick Passi, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Neemia Tialata/David Te Moana, 2 Dane Coles, 1 John Schwalger.

Replacements: 16 Ged Robinson, 17 David Te Moana/Reg Goodes, 18 Brad Shields, 19 Dean Brunsdon, 20 Ruki Tipuna, 21 Fa'atonu Fili, 22 Alapati Leiua.





Referee: Bryce Lawrence


Related articles by Zemanta
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Richie's the best - but it means nothing according to Phil Gifford...

richie mac caw rugbyman jouantImage via Wikipedia Richie's the best but it means nothing...


OPINION: Returned and refreshed, let's look at some burning issues.



How good have the All Blacks been this year? For mine, the fact they've not only won everything, but played with such breathtaking flair, means they match the benchmark set way back in 1967, when Fred Allen coached a team that not only swept through Britain unbeaten, but also showed you could win by running the ball. In other words, the class of 2010 is as good as we've seen in the last 50 years.



How good is Richie McCaw? Not just as good as All Black flankers of the past 50 years, as good as any All Black of the past 50 years.



Does that mean we'll bolt the Rugby World Cup? Bitter experience says no. Sudden death games are never a certainty. But wouldn't you rather start from the level we're on now than several steps below?



So who might tip us over next year? Australia, because their team is even younger than ours, and they've embraced the potential offered by the change in ruling the tackled ball area. South Africa, if they get to grips with playing like the Bulls and using the ball. And, of course, France, because they're France, and it's what they do.



What about England? They're dreaming.



PICK AND MIX



The Last task of the year for the All Black selectors, choosing the team to tour Britain, looked a breeze until the Sydney test. Now it offers some fascinating challenges.



Take it as read that the 10 players the selectors have limited to no play in the ITM Cup will be going. Add Keven Mealamu (if he's fit), Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Tony Woodcock, the Franks brothers, Jimmy Cowan, and Israel Dagg.



As a service to amateur selectors, here's the roughest of guides to the prospects for other contenders.



Sonny Bill Williams (90%). Barring a catastrophic loss of form in the ITM Cup, this tour is the only chance they'll have to really see how he fits into the team environment. If it doesn't work, better to have taken the chance now than discover at the world cup that there's a problem.



Aaron Cruden (60%). His starting debut was shaky. The question is whether his strength of character persuades the wise men he can learn and improve.



Colin Slade (40%). Neck and neck with Cruden. His goal kicking might be a clincher.



Benson Stanley (50%). He could suffer from the Sonny Bill experiment. In a year when the coaches got almost everything spot on, what happened to Stanley was a small, but spooky, reminder of the belief Henry and Co seem to have that players are better off training with the All Blacks than getting regular footy. Insisting he stay on in the All Black camp, and not get game time for Auckland, hasn't been a help to Stanley, just as the same tactic didn't help anyone in 2007.


 Rene Ranger (80%). Tough minded, versatile, he should get the benefit of selectors who are daring enough to accommodate players whose style falls outside the square.



Victor Vito (50%). Until his catastrophic defensive error against the Wallabies, he'd have been a 100 percenter. His physical gifts are huge, but whether he reads the game well enough at test level is now a burning question.



Joe Rokocoko (50%). James and Dagg, both basically brilliantly gifted fullbacks, will be perfect wings to play in Britain, where it's likely their opponents will still be kicking and chasing. If Sitiveni Sivivatu is available again he's guaranteed, and then it gets really tight for Rokocoko. His place could depend on whether Mils Muliaina is the only fullback picked.



Corey Flynn (50%). His prospects will depend on Andrew Hore making it back from injury, and whether, if Hore is fit, the selectors trust John Afoa to be a back-up hooker.



A bolter? Robbie Fruean. Physically he makes Sonny Bill look almost delicate, and he's quick too. If he continues to improve, he may not make this tour, but he'd be hard to keep out of the world cup squad.



FORWARD BATTLE



Tradition gets turned on its head this Thursday night when Auckland challenge Southland for the Ranfurly Shield.



In the past you could write the script with cliches. Hard as nails swede bashers in the maroon jerseys, with backs who just filled out the numbers in the programme. Nancy boyish forwards in blue and white, with flashy backs.



In 2010 rip up the pages and set a match to them. Auckland now, as demonstrated so dramatically against Manawatu, have a forward pack that eats barbed wire at halftime.



Lovers of watching big tough men smash the tripe out of each shouldn't miss the game on Thursday. As just one example, the first time Jason Rutledge and Charlie Faumuina smash into each other should be a great test of whether human bodies alone can produce nuclear fission. With the passion Southland bring to defending the shield expect a potent throwback to the days of titanic forward battles.



SBW WATCH



The Sonny Bill watch continues to be a fascinating exercise.



Taranaki, a team using 125 years of history as inspiration, were terrific in beating Canterbury and it was Williams' misfortune to be the fallguy in two Taranaki tries, when, after running his heart out in defence trying to cover other people's errors, he found himself out of options.



His game remains the antithesis of showboating, and there are some big chapters in this story still to come.



Talking of talent, first-five Beauden Barrett was being talked bout in hushed tones in New Plymouth back in June when the All Black test was there.



Now we all see why. Still a schoolkid last year, and turning 19 just four months ago, it's too soon to go crazy about his prospects, but he has the breeding (father Kevin played 169 games for Taranaki), the class, and the speed (he's played sevens for New Zealand) to continue to make a big impression

Acknowledgements: Phil Gifford


Related articles by Zemanta
Posted by at No comments:
Labels: , , , , , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)