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I have been remiss - the rugby international season is well underway and I have not yet shared my views on our first four matches, something that I wished to do after each match. Therefore I will summerise my views thus far and will endeavour to blog more often. Rugby Union: It certainly is the game that they play in heaven - and the Bledisloe Cup is the reason why the game was invented! There is a long standing rivalry between Australia and New Zealand and this tournament is probably the most hotly contested battle in the war. A new era of Australian rugby union started this year under the tutledge of Robbie Deans and I am still a sceptic of his abilities, especially when it comes to being impartial during the Bledisloe Cup. My dad tells me that I am too harsh on him and also on the progress being made within the Wallaby ranks. Yet I firmly believe that more progression is still needed if we are to quieten our critics and make rugby union a more publicised sport within Australia. Last week's triumphant win over the world champion Springbok's; started a grumbling in the stomachs of all Wallaby supporters, a feeling that I must admit has been sorely missing over the past few seasons - it is the feeling that maybe, just maybe our fortunes may be changing. I will be believer of this change - should we come out on top this saturday against the All Blacks. There is a lot of speculation surrounding this weekend's match which includes some of the following thoughts: 1. The All Blacks will either come out firing all guns as they have something to prove after failing in the quarter finals of the last world cup or alternatively they will still be licking their wounds and be preoccupied. 2. The switch of Robbie Deans from New Zealand to Australia and his recent success will play on the minds of the players and coaching team and thus result in less than perfect execution on the field. 3. The pre-match verbal slanging between teams is an unneccesary drain on the players and will ultimately affect their performance. I will withhold judgement until after the match on Saturday; however I am an Australian through and through and feel that the below words from a fellow blogger sum up the situation very well: " I'd suggest kiwi fans leave their tv's off. Monday will be a NZ national day of mourning. " Until next time....
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