RugbyShout

The Highlanders have signed Manawatu Turbos players Nick Crosswell and Aaron Smith for the upcoming Super 15 Rugby tournament.

At the end of each game throughout the 2010 Super 14 season over at the forum, readers have submitted their 3-2-1’s for each Australian team. All of these votes will accumulated and an overall 3-2-1 assigned for each match to the three leading point getters for each Aussie team. This is a throw back to the old fashioned best and fairest type voting that various media organisations, and indeed players, would do at the end of the match.

We think so much of the posters on this site that last year we introduced the G&GR Wallaby Player of the Year award, decided by way of the same method (votes made after each test match). King George won the title last year and was so overcome with emotion he soon realised that there was no longer anything he needed to accomplish in World Rugby, and retired.

Let’s hope that same doesn’t occur with this years inaugural (and once off it would seem) Super 14 winners.  So now we’re off to have a look back how it all unfolded for the Brumbies.

Round 1 v Force

3 Stephen Moore
2 Christian Lealiifano
1 Matt Toomua

Brumbies 24 (Josh Valentine, Stephen Moore, Huia Edmonds tries; Stirling Mortlock 3 con 1 pen) defeated Western Force 15 (James O’Connor 5 pen)

***

Round 2 v Bulls

3 Rocky Elsom
2 Christian Lealiifano
1 Matt Giteau

Bulls 50 (Morne Steyn 2; Fourie du Preez, Gerhard van den Heever, Wynand Olivier tries; Morne Steyn 5 con, 5pen) defeated Brumbies 32 (Rocky Elsom, George Smith, Pat McCabe tries; Stirling Mortlock 1 con, 4pen, Matt Giteau 1dg)

***

Round 3 v Stormers

3 George Smith
2 Adam Ashley-Cooper
1 Josh Valentine

Brumbies 19 (George Smith try; Matt Giteau 1 con, 4 pen) defeated Stormers 17 (Pieter Louw try; Joe Pietersen 4 pen)

***

Round 4 v Lions

3 Ben Alexander
2 Pat McCabe
1 Christian Lealiifano

Brumbies 24 (Christian Lealiifano, Stephen Moore, penalty tries; Matt Giteau 3 con, 1 pe) defeated Lions 13 (Hannes Franklin try; Burton Francis 1 con, 2 pen)

***

Round 5 v Sharks

3 Ben Alexander
2 Rocky Elsom
1 Francis Fainifo

Brumbies 24 (Ben Alexander 2 tries; Matt Giteau 1 con, 4 pen) defeated Sharks 22 (Ruan Pienaar try; Andy Goode 1 con, 5 pen)

***

Round 6 v Blues

3 Rocky Elsom
2 Salesi Ma’afu
1 Matt Giteau

Blues 39 (Joe Rokocoko 2; Rene Ranger, Benson Stanley, Isaia Toeava tries; Stephen Brett 4 con, 1 pen, 1 dg) defeated CA Brumbies 34 (Salesi Ma’afu, Huia Edmonds, Patrick Phibbs tries; Matt Giteau 2 con, 5 pen)

***

Round 7 v Chiefs

3 Patrick Phibbs
2 Stephen Moore
1 Julian Huxley

Brumbies 30 (Josh Valentine, Michael Hooper, Matt Toomua tries; Matt Giteau 3 con, 3 pen) defeated Chiefs 23 (Brendon Leonard, Richard Kahui tries; Stephen Donald 2 con, 3 pen)

***

Round 8 (BYE)

***

Round 9 v Cheetahs

3 Rocky Elsom
2 Patrick Phibbs
1 Ben Alexander

Brumbies 61 (Ben Alexander 2; Stephen Hoiles, Patrick Phibbs, Tyrone Smith, Rocky Elsom, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Matt Toomua, Alfie Mafi tries; Matt Giteau 6 con, Julian Huxley 2 con) defeated Cheetahs 15 (Sarel Pretorius, Adriaan Strauss tries; Naas Olivier 1 pen, Riaan Vijoen 1 con)

***

Round 10 v Hurricanes

3 Julian Huxley
2 Adam Ashley-Cooper
1 Stephen Hoiles

Hurricanes 23 (Conrad Smith, Victor Vito tries; Aaron Cruden 2 con, 3 pen) defeated Brumbies 13 (Patrick Phibbs, Matt Giteau tries; Matt Giteau 1pen)

***

Round 11 v Waratahs

3 Adam Ashley-Cooper
2 Pat McCabe
1 Stephen Moore

Waratahs 19 (Lachie Turner try; Daniel Halangahu 1 con, 4 pen) defeated Brumbies 13 (Matt Giteau 4 pen)

***

Round 12 v Reds

3 Ben Alexander
2 Rocky Elsom
1 Adam Ashley-Cooper

Brumbies 32 (Ben Alexander 2; Mark Chisholm, Josh Valentine tries; Matt Giteau 3 con, 2 pen) defeated Reds 12 (Quade Cooper 4 pen)

***

Round 13 v Highlanders

3 Matt Toomua
2 Stephen Moore
1 Rocky Elsom

Brumbies 31 (Rocky Elsom, Salesi Ma’afu, Josh Valentine, Matt Toomua tries; Matt Giteau 4 con, 1 pen) defeated Highlanders 3 (Israel Dagg 1 pen)

***

Round 14 v Crusaders

3 Adam Ashley-Cooper
2 George Smith
1 Ben Alexander

Crusaders 40 (Sean Maitland, Kieran Read, Owen Franks, Richie McCaw, Zac Guildford tries; Daniel Carter 3 con, 3 pen) defeated Brumbies 22 (Tyrone Smith, Ben Alexander, Huia Edmonds tries; Matt Giteau 2 con, 1 pen)

***

And that was that for the Brumbies. I think most judges thought there might be an extra game or two at the end of the season but it didn’t happen. Interestingly that one of the players who has copped some flack for sub-par performances this year is actually the winner of the inaugural G&GR Brumbies S14 Player of the Year award. That’s right, star recruit Rocky Elsom. It was a tight finish over try-scoring machine Ben Alexander and the fast finishing (in more ways than one) Adam Ashley-Cooper. The final tally is as follows:

So how about that? Is does somewhat surprise me that Rocky finished on top. In saying that he is a player that I think the punters look out for and he did play some mighty fine rugby this year. Stephen Hoiles so low surprises me as well. I think he carries a bit of a stigma, and perhaps people reacted to his captaincy style, but I thought this was one of his best seasons of footy. And Matt Giteau. In equal 11th. Not the type of finish you want for your leading play maker.

Izzy, you're such a Dagg

The All Black squad to play the Irish and Welsh touring sides named today contains four new players but few real surprises.

You wouldn’t describe any of the newcomers as ‘bolters’, as the four new caps have been speculated upon at length by the Kiwi media (well, what else is there to do over there?).

The new boys are young Aaron Cruden from the Hurricanes, Israel Dagg (Highlanders), Benson Stanley (Blues) and Victor Vito (Hurricanes).

A plethora of injuries have opened up opportunities for these guys; however, at least three of them wouldn’t be there if everyone had been on deck.

The depth in New Zealand rugby just ain’t what it used to be but this will help to broaden the pool for future battles.

There are casualties of course – Rodney So’oialo being the most prominent. Again, it’s not a surprise as some telegraphing had been going on since this time last year.

Other players who haven’t made it include Luke McAlister, Isaac Ross, John Afoa, Liam Messam, Hosea Gear, Brendon Leonard, Tanerau Latimer and Corey Flynn.

Mils Muliaina and Tom Donnelly return from injury without any substantive game time but that luxury wasn’t afforded to McAlister who is dropped to the NZ Maori team.

Vibrant Victor Vito

Notable returnees include hard running halfback Piri Weepu and Joe Rockocoko, a former great who seems to have overcome his form slump from recent years.

If Daniel Carter gets injured they’re going to be in a bit of trouble as they have no depth whatsoever in the five eighth position due to injuries to Stephen Donald and Mike Delany.

Aaron Cruden is a highly talented young bloke but his ability to manage a fully-fledged All Black backline would have to be in some doubt.

The Manawatu Turbos star’s selection is a ‘Julian Huxley’ good news story – he overcame testicular cancer in 2008 to reach this new peak – great stuff.

Israel Dagg is the backup fullback for Muliaina. A former NZ Sevens player, he originates from Lindisfarne College in Hawkes Bay (‘There’s something about a Magpie’).

Interestingly, he’s a former junior representative fast bowler for Central Districts and reportedly reached speeds of up to 143 kph to frighten the life out of pedestrian middle order batsmen.

Benson Stanley is a hard running centre as you’d probably expect from the nephew of All Black great Joe Stanley. He’s a graduate (BCom) from Auckland Uni. He was born in NSW so we’re too late…..

Victor Vito is another who’s come up via the Sevens ranks as well as NZ U19 and U21 teams. He’s had a great Super 14 series for the Hurricanes and is lightning fast for a backrower (40m @ 4.91sec). He’s doing Law and Classics at Victoria Uni in Wellington and is a male model in his spare time.

Any forward pack that contains the Myth, Mealamu, Thorn, Kaino and McCaw is going to take some stopping. The Irish (now minus Captain Paul O’Connell) and Welsh test sides are both experienced and successful; however, I can’t see them overcoming the All Black First XV too easily, despite ‘confident’ Northern Hemisphere predictions.

All Blacks Squad (for the Irish & Welsh Tests)

Backs: Cory Jane (Wellington Hurricanes), Israel Dagg (Otago Highlanders), Mils Muliaina (Waikato Chiefs), Joe Rokocoko (Auckland Blues), Zac Guildford (Canterbury Crusaders), Conrad Smith (Hurricanes), Richard Kahui (Chiefs) Benson Stanley (Blues), Aaron Cruden (Hurricanes), Daniel Carter (Crusaders), Jimmy Cowan (Highlanders), Piri Weepu (Hurricanes).

Forwards: Kieran Read (Crusaders), Richie McCaw (Crusaders, captain), Adam Thomson (Highlanders), Jerome Kaino (Blues), Victor Vito (Hurricanes), Brad Thorn (Crusaders), Anthony Boric (Blues), Tom Donnelly (Highlanders), Owen Franks (Crusaders), Neemia Tialata (Hurricanes), Ben Franks (Crusaders), Tony Woodcock (Blues), Keven Mealamu (Blues), Aled de Malmanche (Chiefs).

Injured: Mike Delany (shoulder), Stephen Donald (shoulder), Jason Eaton (knee), Andrew Hore (shoulder), Ma’a Nonu (knee), Sitiveni Sivivatu (shoulder), Isaia Toeava (hip) and Ali Williams (Achilles).

Matches: 12 June v Ireland (New Plymouth), 19 June v Wales (Dunedin), 26 June v Wales (Hamilton)