Despite all the excitement of the build up to Friday’s match at Ravenhill I can’t help but look forward to what should be an interesting match on Saturday morning, namely the Tri Nations game between Australia and New Zealand.
Both teams need to win, and that alone should produce an intense encounter, but why I’m particularly eager to view the battle in Sydney is due to the selection of three players – James O’Connor and Rocky Elsom for the Aussies and Dan Carter for the Blacks.
Undoubtedly, the most pressure must be on Carter.
I’ve often wondered what it must be like to be Dan Carter. In such an insular country, where the only pastimes are rugby and sheep worrying, his status amongst his countrymen must be the equivalent of Queen, Prime Minister and President all in one. (No wonder he fled to France and how unfortunate to be blighted by injury.) And now, after recovering, he’s been rushed back into the New Zealand squad with unseemly haste with the crown of Messiah placed firmly on his head! The pressure on his gifted shoulders must be immense.
Unfortunately, even his undisputed talents will not be enough to raise New Zealand’s shaky form, for despite their stuttering win over Australia in the opening round the Blacks have shown in their recent heavy defeat to South Africa that there is something is seriously wrong. Regrettably for Carter the problem lies at the breakdown which, thanks to better refereeing of New Zealand’s multiple infringements, is no longer the steady source of turnover ball and the Blacks are struggling to re-adjust their game plan.
Australia will undoubtedly be strengthened by the return of the charismatic Elsom. I remember standing on the Promenade last season at the Ulster – Leinster match telling the visiting Mexicans how disappointed I was with Rocky’s form and how I expected so much more. However from that game on he produced some outstanding displays and dragged, bashed and smashed the Leinster side all the way through to Heineken Cup victory. Forget BOD’s genius, it was Elsom that turned a labouring pack, famous for bottling the big match, into the forceful unit it now has become. Oh, how I pray that Ferris will have the same effect on Ulster in the seasons to come.
Elsom will unquestionably add to New Zealand’s woes at the breakdown and his immense presence will put much needed steel into the Aussie pack. With any sort of parity of possession the gifted Australian backs should steal the show.
Speaking of gifted Australian backs, how wonderful it must be to be able to roll out the sublime talent that is James O’Connor. While I may have wondered what it would be like to be Dan Carter, I definitely want to be James O’Connor. Nineteen years old, good looking, and more talent than you can shake a stick at, young James is certainly going to be a superstar of world rugby.
With his eye for the break and the half chance his selection at full back should provide an opportunity to showcase his wonderful running skills. He really does seem to glide past defenders with his relaxed style and incredibly for one so young he never seams to panic. The Ulster Rugby Academy could do a lot worse than to get their charges to sit down for two hours on Saturday morning and watch this boy perform.
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