Test Rugby: New Zealand and Australia Play for Bledisloe Cup

31.10.2009
New Zealand v Australia in Tokyo (Bledisloe Cup)

Venue: Olympic Stadium

Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)

Preview
It's Bledisloe Cup time again. Again!! As I did last year, I cannot quite get my emotions around such a clash being played away from the tradition venues, either 'here' or 'there'. But this is a modern game and this match showcases Japan's recent appointment to run the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The Bledisloe Cup. Image thanks to www.rugbyfootballhistory.com

New Zealand's starting team is very much the same that thrashed Australia 33-6 in Wellington. New Zealand has made one change to the original selection. Newcomer Zac Guildford replaces rookie Tamati Ellison on the bench.

Australia is embarking on a Grand Slam tour of Europe (meaning they play all four Home unions-England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales). Their form this season has been consistently off. This tour could either be a nightmare of the making of the team. Australia lost veteran Stirling Mortlock to injury and has lost Berrick Barnes to injury during a training run after selection. It's going to be tough for the Aussies

Last Five Encounters
19.09.2009 New Zealand 33-6 in Wellington (Bledisloe Cup, Tri Nations)
22.08.2009 New Zealand 19-18 in Sydney (Bledisloe Cup, Tri Nations)
18.07.2009 New Zealand 22-16 in Auckland (Bledisloe Cup, Tri Nations)
01.11.2008 New Zealand 19-14 in Hong Kong (Bledisloe Cup)

GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-New Zealand 2nd, Australia 3rd
Oceania Table-New Zealand 1st, Australia 2nd

Prediction: New Zealand by 9 points.

Teams

Image thanks to www.irb.com

New Zealand
15 Mils Muliaina (Waikato) age 28, 77 tests, 120 test points
14 Cory Jane (Wellington) 26, 7, 5
13 Conrad Smith (Wellington) 28, 28, 55
12 Ma'a Nonu (Wellington) 27, 41, 70
11 Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato) 27, 38, 130
10 Daniel Carter (Canterbury) 27, 62, 947
9 James Cowan (Southland) 27, 28, 10
8 Rodney So'oialo (Wellington) 28, 60, 30
7 Richard McCaw, Capt. (Canterbury) 28, 75, 85
6 Adam Thomson (Otago) 27, 11, 5
5 Tom Donnelly (Otago) 27, 1, 0
4 Bradley Thorn (Canterbury) 34, 32, 15
3 Neemia Tialata (Wellington) 26, 36, 5
2 Andrew Hore (Taranaki) 30, 43, 20
1 Tony Woodcock (North Harbour) 28, 57, 25
Replacements
16 Corey Flynn (Canterbury) 28, 5, 5
17 John Afoa (Auckland) 25, 20, 0
18 Jason Eaton (Taranaki) 26, 13, 5
19 Kieran Read (Canterbury) 24, 12, 0
20 Brendon Leonard (Waikato) 24, 12, 10
21 Stephen Donald (Waikato) 25, 16, 91
22 Zachary Guildford (Hawkes Bay) 20, 0, 0
Head Coach: Graham Henry

Image thanks to www.irb.com

Australia
15 James O'Connor (WA Western Force) Age 18, 9 tests
14 Peter Hynes (Queensland Reds) 26, 17
13 Ryan Cross (WA Western Force) 29, 15
12 Adam Ashley-Cooper (ACT Brumbies) 25, 31
11 Digby Ioane (WA Western Force) 24, 4
10 Matt Giteau (WA Western Force) 26, 73
9 Will Genia (Queensland Reds) 21, 6
8 Wycliff Palu (NSW Waratahs) 26, 30
7 David Pocock (WA Western Force) 21, 11
6 Rocky Elsom, Capt. (NSW Waratahs) 26, 43
5 Mark Chisholm (ACT Brumbies ) 27, 43
4 James Horwill (Queensland Reds) 24, 19
3 Ben Alexander (ACT Brumbies) 24, 13
2 Tatafu Polota-Nau (NSW Waratahs) 24, 18
1 Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs) 24, 26
Replacements
16 Stephen Moore (ACT Brumbies) 26, 41
17 Matt Dunning (NSW Waratahs) 30, 42
18 Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs) 25, 15
19 George Smith (ACT Brumbies) 28, 104
20 Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs) 25, 19
21 Drew Mitchell (WA Western Force) 25, 37
22 Tbc
Head Coach; Robbie Deans