Tag Archives: bledisloe cup

Bledisloe 2: Australian team named

August 19, 2014 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , , Leave a comment

Ewen McKenzie has named an unchanged line up for the second Bledisloe Cup match to be played this weekend at Eden Park.

The team is:

Israel Folau, Pat McCabe, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Toomua, Rob Horne, Kurtley Beale, Nic White, Wycliff Palu, Michael Hooper (c), Scott Fardy, Rob Simmons, Sam Carter, Sekope Kepu, Nathan Charles, James Slipper. Replacements: James Hanson, Pek Cowan, Ben Alexander, Will Skelton, Scott Higginbotham, Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley, Tevita Kuridrani.

The All Blacks are likely to name their line up tomorrow.

The Bledisloe: Australian and New Zealand Teams Named

August 22, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , Leave a comment

The teams for the second Bledisloe Cup test match have been named by the respective coaches and are as follows:

Australia:

Jesse Mogg, Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Leali’ifano, James O’Connor, Matt Toomua, Will Genia, Ben Mowen, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, James Horwill (c), Rob Simmons, Ben Alexander, Stephen Moore, James Slipper

Reserves: Saia Fainga’a, Scott Sio, Sekope Kepu, Kane Douglas, Liam Gill, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani

New Zealand:

Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea, Tom Taylor, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Steven Luatua, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Jeremy Thrush, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Colin Slade, Charles Piutau

Australia has only made one change with Scott Fardy coming in for the injured Hugh McMeniman. Kane Douglas takes Fardy’s spot on the bench.

New Zealand have their first three choices at fly half, Carter, Cruden and Barrett, all out injured so Tom Taylor comes in in that position and Colin Slade joins the bench. Brodie Retallick replaces the injured Luke Romano with Jeremy Thrush taking his place on the bench.

Rugby Union: My Wallabies Team to face the All Blacks

August 13, 2013 By in Shumpty Speaks Tags: , , , Leave a comment

As there is a break is hostilities in the Ashes, it is time to focus on other sporting events coming up this weekend and there is no big sporting event upcoming that the first Bledisloe Cup Test match between the Australia Wallabies and the New Zealand All Blacks on Saturday night.

Ewen McKenzie has named of squad of 30 for the game and has suggested that he will wait until just before game time to name his number 10. Given that delay, it is time to look into the crystal ball and make my own selections for this weekend’s test match. So here is Shumpty’s Wallabies XXII:

1. Scott Sio

2. Stephen Moore

3. Ben Alexander

4. James Horwill

5. Scott Fardy

6. Ben Mowen

7. Michael Hooper

8. Jake Schatz

9. Will Genia

10. Quade Cooper

11. Nick Cummins

12. Christian Lealiifano

13. Adam Ashley-Cooper

14. Israel Folau

15. Jesse Mogg

16. Albert Anae

17. Sekope Kepu

18. Rob Simmons

19. Liam Gill

20. Nic White

21. Matt Toomua

22. Joe Tomane

In picking this squad I have looked for combinations and form over reputations and thus it will be no surprise that I am picking mainly Brumbies and Reds players. Matt Toomua only misses out because of the form of Genia and Cooper together for the Reds. The Brumbies front row gets my nod and I have put Albert Anae on the bench because of his versatility in being able to play all three positions up front. Jake Schatz is my bolter: I have a preference for Ben Mowen at number but given the squad to choose from it is pretty obvious that Coach McKenzie will be playing him at 6 so Schatz gets rewarded for a brilliant season at the back of the scrum for the Reds.

I find no place for James O’Connor in my team. The reason is simple: he is out of form and needs some time in club rugby to regain same.

It will be a fantastic test match in Sydney to kick of the Rugby Championship and, if Australia is to have any hope of getting back the trophy, one that Australia must win given that the last two fixtures between the teams will be played in New Zealand (Westpac Stadium and Forsyth Barr Stadium).