All Blacks Focus on Lineout, Wallabies Tipped to Ring in the Changes

Robin Brooke has been providing tips to the All Black coaching staff on how their lineout could be improved, according to recent media reports. I am not going to go back and what I said earlier, good stuff I say. Get him in there and see what he can do. It is, and has been a persistant weakness of All Black teams in recent memory. For some reason they just can't get it right. Is Robin Brooke the man? Who knows? Not I. But we will be able to see what his involvement has been able to achieve since he came on board in the next Tri-Nations clash in Auckland weekend after next. Brooke has not been appointed to any position, and will not be involved in the camp on a full time basis - he is reportedly involved on a request basis from the full time All Blacks coaching staff. Clearly this area of the All Blacks game will be targeted by Australia, and even more so by South Africa as their lineout seems to be the strongest in Southern Hemisphere rugby at the moment. Click here for more on Robin Brooke's involvement with the All Blacks.

Meanwhile the Wallabies are ringing in the changes in anticipation of the final Bledisloe Cup clash for this season. Three changes are expected to the forward pack, with George Smith, Nathan Sharp, and Tai McIssac all reported to be in the firing line. Phil Waugh will come in for Smith, Chisholm will come in for Sharp, and Jeremy Paul will return for McIssac who was made to look like he could be a shoe in for the All Black team which such wayward throwing in the narrow victory over the Africans last weekend.

However, most speculation centres on the captain and his laboured pass. Can Gregan retain his top spot heading into the World Cup, especially when he has suggested that he should be rested for the tour of the Northern Hemisphere at the end of this current season. With injury to his immediate replacement, Cordingley, it seems that George has been given a bit of a lifeline. The selectors will need to pick someone to cover the position for the Auckland game should Gregan be injured or come off early. Speculation is that Mat Giteau may be called in to cover the position, or the little known Warratahs halfback Brett Sheehan may be given a crack. For more on the Aussie selection conundrums, click here. There are also reports that Josh Holmes, another littel known halfback from New South Wales is also in the frame. For more on him, click here.

Frankly, it doesn't really matter who they pick at this stage. The World Cup is still a long way off, and anyone would think that Cordingley is a shoe in to either replace Gregan, or serve as his understudy for that tournament. Leadership is important, and there are many games that the Wallabies have reveled in winning that can be put down to the tenacious temprament of Gregan. His tackle on Jeff Wilson, and his "Four more years" remark as the Wallabies knocked the All Blacks out of the last World Cup are some of his more memorable moments. Could it all be over for the coffee man?

Elsewhere Matt Dunning's test night escapades have been resolved with the 2006 Billy Bunter look-a-like competition winner being handed a $3,000 fine for being inappropriately affected by alcohol. I wonder, does that mean he couldn't handle his booze like a real front rower should be able to? Or is there something more obvious at work here - like making an idiot of yourself in a taxi and then not working things out with the driver if you do something wrong in or to the cab and waiting for the police to contact you before trying to put things right? It seems Matt isn't too sure, reportedly stating that he will take some time to decide if he will appeal the decision as he is trying to understand the finding. He does think the fine is harsh, but "men smarter than me came up with that fine". For more choice comments from the man, click here.

Lastly the African team lying in wait for the tourists to the Republic has been named. There has been mixed reaction to the selections made, with most comment focussing on the omission of Western Province captain and flanker Luke Watson has again been overlooked by the selectors. It does not look like there will be many changes to the team that toured, apparently on the basis that it has been improving since the tour started. Mate, from that first game, the only way was up. They couldn't have played any worse than that! To be fair though, they were unlucky not to upset the Wallabies on Saturday. The other changes focus on the halfback area with Januarie being likely to be replaced by Penaar who can also cover first five. For more on the African team, click here.

Oh yes, I almost forgot, Wendell Sailor's appeal failed. Surprise, surprise. Might need to get down to Centrelink mate. I wouldn't waste any more money on lawyers bills by reviewing the entire prcoess at the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Click here if anyone is in the least bit interested in yesterdays news. Get your head down, do the two years, and see how you are placed then.