ABs land knockout blow against willing Welsh

Joseph are you sure your name is not Piri??? Would make sense to your pointless ramblings, you either need a job or you need to go to ward 12. Just relax the 3 or now 4 wise men have more clues about the game than you ever will, Did you ever take into account the fact that Dan Carter prob has alot of say who wears the No9 jersy???? Carter has looked better outside Cowan than he ever has with Piri and why? because he gets the ball faster , Cowans pin point accuracy his kicking and his defence end of story! Weepu has played buggerall with carter on this tour because Henry knows the Cowan/Carter is safe and sensible. And why are you so anti other peoples opinion? We have to put up with your small novels all the time. The "BEST COACH" in the world has Cowan at 9 so get over it and get behind the All Blacks. You talked about Weepu in the Munster game, he was captain and got dragged in the 62nd minute while his team was losing!!!! Has an AB captain ever been dragged so early for playing poorly???

Stephen Jones will comment when one of the NH teams win a game against one of the tri nations teams... Thats looking a long way away right now. But when they do win one game the headline will go something like this: Northern Hemisphere Now Holds the Power...

To Phil and all the other Cowan fans who have given me stick the last few weeks - Dominant forwards equals "front-foot ball" which in turn means "time & space" for halves to make and effect profitable decisions.

As our forwards are rarely put under such pressure as what they were in that 1st half Jimmy's normal "dream-ride" came unstuck and he had to make extraordinary decisions and It was there for all to see wasnt it?

Poor choice of ball runners passing to team-mates NOT in space but with a defender on him, passing when he should have ran himself, kicking over the top into the cnr when we should have gone wide WHY??? cause it was from a turnover just outside the attacking 22 with 2/3's of their team still to get back onside..... that should have gone wide!

Twice fed the ball in the scrum crooked and why oh why Jimmy do you find the need to have to throw your weight around with someone after we had been awarded the penalty?? dumb pal...simply dumb!! The refs mic did pick up Kaplan considering reversing the penalty. We can only summise it was too early in the game for such a big call. Leave that crap for Rugby Park and not while wearing Black. To Jimmy's dad "Phil" your boy has always lacked the composure and maturity to make good decisions under pressure....Sunday morning was no different.

Compare Weepu from the Munster game - his forwards were under the pump the entire game but he still cleared effectively and "cleaned-up" strongly and responsibly his only problem was Donald could not handle (like Cowan) the pressure and imploded. Further to say it is easier to look better late in the game when Weepu enters holds little credibility also as by virtue of the lack of structure (..ie..loose) it is easier for rucks to become free for all's putting halves under more pressure not to mention harder to direct the ball to the point of attack ...but Weepu still maintains structure and still gets the ball to space.

FTR - My player of the day was Rodders Soioalo with Kaino a very close second. MONSTEROUS on defence and made the gain-line all day ball in hand.

Re: Cowan vs Weepu

I really wonder whether Cowan's off-field issues (i.e. alcohol ban) is starting to get to him. He hasn't looked himself on this northern tour. Hong Kong was his strongest game, but he has gone downhill. I still rate him hugely, and he's easily the best defensive halfback in the country, but Weepu has done enough to earn that 9 jersey now.

During this tour both halfbacks have been forced into errors under pressure. I just think that the game seems to become more fluid when Piri's playing. But maybe that's because the opposition is starting to tire when he comes into the game...

Totally agree about Cowan. The guy is very limited. Yes, he plays with heart and gives his all, but to be an international half there has to be much more. Cowan is not improving and continues to make the same errors. Cowan will never be a top class test halfback. Weepu is far more assured and composed and absolutely should be the ABs' halfback.

The AB coaches have to replace Cowan with Weepu as the starting scrumhalf against England. Cowan has been given far too long to impose perceived abilities at this level by the coaching staff. Cowan has neither the nous nor the ability to be the number one selected scrumhalf. He has not performed over the past four tests... after being penalised against Ireland for incorrect scrum feeds he AGAIN did it twice against Wales (has he NO brains?) He gets flustered and is often slow clearing the ball (after taking steps) placing Carter under pressure and giving the AB pivot less time to kick out of hand (hence Carter's inconsistent line kicking lately!) Over the past five tests (including the Tri-nations) the ABs have not played well in the first half (with Cowan as the starter), with the one exception being Scotland, where the ABs were comfortably ahead at halftime, with Weepu the run on number nine!! Cowan's kicking from the base is lacking distance, one aspect of play Weepu is clearly superior, and the soft quick hands of the Wellington captain means the nut is cleared away much quicker! Weepu simply deserves to start ahead of Cowan who has not improved over the AB campaign!

Great game, right from Wales standing up to the Haka, brilliant and got the game going with a real edge.

This was not contempt for the Haka it was Wales taking up the challenge, loved it.

Awesome backbone the ABs are showing, no panic setting in as we've seen other AB teams do when the pressure is on.

Hey great comments! I especially enjoy and totally agree with numbers 1, 3 and 5. Some people and/or critics may suggest that the standard of 6 nations rugby is not so strong, but the fact remains that the AB's are not letting their opposition play that well. Go boys!!!!

What a fool Observer! The Welsh could not have been anymore respectful of the haka. How can their response be considered contemptuous when they didn't even move?! What would you have them do, genuflect in obedience? Well done Wales for a great response and a great game.