RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: New Zealand v Australia

18.08.2012
New Zealand v Australia in Sydney (Bledisloe Cup)

Venue: ANZ Stadium

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

Preview
Whilst much of the world rugby attention is focused on South Africa where Argentina debuts in this competition, the other big guns of the Southern Hemisphere square off in Sydney.

Australia has a shaky time in their test series against Wales in June. They just won each of the three tests with the results just as easily going in Wale’s favour. New Zealander Robbie Dean’s job is under threat as Australia has not produced the goods since before the 2011 Rugby World Cup. A disappointing Rugby Championship series could see him ousted.

New Zealand are riding high. They won the 2011 Rugby World Cup and went on to dispatch Ireland, 2nd test excluded, with considerable ease. They are the favourites to win this competition.

Last Five Encounters
16.10.2011 New Zealand 20-6 in Auckland (World Cup, Semi-final)
27.08.2011 Australia 25-20 in Brisbane (Bledisloe Cup, Tri-Nations)
06.08.2011 New Zealand 30-14 in Auckland (Bledisloe Cup, Tri-Nations)
30.10.2010 Australia 26-24 in Hong Kong (Bledisloe Cup)
11.09.2010 New Zealand 23-22 in Sydney (Bledisloe Cup, Tri-Nations)

Australia last defeated New Zealand in Sydney in 2008. Australia won 34-19.

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

IRB Ranking Points
New Zealand 91.43, Australia 87.05

Prediction: New Zealand by 12 points

TEAMS

New Zealand

15		Israel Dagg	Hawkes Bay
14		Corey Jane	Wellington
13		Ma'a Nonu	Auckland
12		Sonny Bill Williams	Canterbury
11		Hosea Gear	Wellington
10		Daniel Carter	Canterbury
9		Aaron Smith	Manawatu
8		Kieran Read	Canterbury
7		Richard McCaw (Capt.)	Canterbury
6		Liam Meesam	Waikato
5		Samuel Whitelock	Canterbury
4		Luke Romano	Canterbury
3		Owen Franks	Canterbury
2		Keven Mealamu	Auckland
1		Tony Woodcock	North Harbour
16		Andrew Hore	Taranaki
17		Benjamin Franks	Tasman
18		Brodie Retallick	Bay of Plenty
19		Victor Vito	Wellington
20		Piri Weepu	Auckland
21		Aaron Cruden	Manawatu
22		Benjamin Smith	Otago
		HEAD COACH: Steven Hansen

Australia

15		Kurtley Beale	Melbourne Rebels
14		Adam Ashley-Cooper	NSW Waratahs
13		Robert Horne	NSW Waratahs
12		Anthony Fainga’a	Queensland Reds
11		Digby Ioane	Queensland Reds
10		Berrick Barnes	NSW Waratahs
9		William Genia	Queensland Reds
8		Scott Higginbotham	Queensland Reds
7		David Pocock (Capt.)	WA Western Force
6		David Dennis	NSW Waratahs
5		Nathan Sharpe	WA Western Force
4		Sitaleki Timani	NSW Waratahs
3		Sekope Kepu	NSW Waratahs
2		Tatafu Polota Nau	NSW Waratahs
1		Ben Robinson	NSW Waratahs
16		Stephan Moore	ACT Brumbies
17		James Slipper	Queensland Reds
18		Robert Simmons	Queensland Reds
19		Radiki Samo	NSW Waratahs
20		Michael Hooper	ACT Brumbies
21		Nicholas Phipps	Melbourne Rebels
22		Drew Mitchell	NSW Waratahs
		HEAD COACH: Robbie Deans