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
![8[1]](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-pXNb1yUUwcw/UC7YHDmOIiI/AAAAAAAAEpE/l5FyxEW5NZ4/s1600-h/8%25255B1%25255D%25255B2%25255D.gif "8[1]")
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 | |||
![7[1]](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-P8qCiKIcHEY/UC7YI4JGsbI/AAAAAAAAEpU/1yHGNFNIjIQ/s1600-h/7%25255B1%25255D%25255B2%25255D.gif "7[1]")
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 | |||
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