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Get your Halloween face on! |
But first we have the 3rd/4th playoff, which Argentina and South Africa must be looking forward to like root canal therapy. Who wants to be the third best team in the world anyway? South African coach Heyneke Meyer reckons this match is like kissing your sister – TMI Heyneke, TMI! The Springboks name the same team from last week, while the Pumas have made nine injury enforced changes – wow those Australians are a rough bunch! I would say those injuries will count against Argentina, and the Springboks will be able to give Victor Matfield a win in his final match.
Australia and New Zealand have a fractious sporting relationship to start with, never mind when they meet in a World Cup final. It must be really annoying when a big country is dominated by a little country in rugby – no I’m not talking about England and Ireland, but it must be galling for Australia to be losing to little New Zealand on a regular basis. They also have regular tussles in cricket, rugby league and netball. They look on each as both the worst team to lose to, and the best to beat. So never mind the rest of the teams, the rest of the rugby world, this one’s personal!
The All Blacks have an advantage in that they are technically more skilled, and play a high paced game, waiting to exploit mistakes. The Aussies are not as skilled, but have compensated over the years for their lack of player numbers by playing it smart. And the 2015 model Australia has identified the breakdown as the area they can use to gain an advantage, slow down the All Blacks ball, get turnovers and have ball to use in a disruptive situation where the New Zealand defence is disorganised. Step forwards Messrs Pocock and Hooper who are just like machines in a tackle, it’s like taking candy off a baby for them. They do face the master poacher Richie McCaw, but it’s 2:1.
And the Aussies really want it, making sacrifices for their country, they have players like Giteau and Mitchell who have lost income from Toulon of between Aus$100 000 -250 000 to play for Australia. In New Zealand’s favour is that they’ve had an extra days rest, and their match against the Springboks wasn’t as sapping as Australia found it against Argentina. That probably just just tilts it in the All Blacks favour, but it’ll probably be decided by a few points.
Friday, October 30
MATCH
Argentina v South Africa
Saturday, October 31
MATCH
Australia v New Zealand
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