Article

McCaw:It's a huge achievement to play one test let alone 100, and you should be very proud as I know at home your mum and dad and kids will have huge smiles on their face.

McCaw: Like all players you've had your ups and downs over the years but it's a testament to your hard work and dedication that you're still able to turn out performances like we saw tonight.

From Pat McKendry in Newcastle: Better from the All Blacks. Much better. If they needed a challenge to get going in this World Cup they got it in the first half of this big victory over Tonga when skipper Kieran Read was sinbinned.

The response was impressive after Read departed two minutes from halftime with his team holding a 14-3 advantage. The All Blacks had to withstand enormous pressure from the Tongan scrum.
But, on their final warning from referee John Lacey after two collapses, the black pack held their own and the threat was effectively over. It was a significant moment, the All Blacks holding together better than the pitch.

Wynne is standing by ready to field your questions. Keep sending them through.

Wynne please don't answer a question with a question....

You need to realise most of the club rugby grounds in the UK have rediuced capacity and as the RWC is about making $, they have to use soccer grounds with greater capacity. You are right though, the ground cut up badly at the scrums.

No question. The All Blacks fitness is one of their main weapons. They might not play well but they never lie down and that is part of why they are such a formidable opponent.

Sorry to offend with M-Skud. Perhaps we could use Milner-S or just Nehe, heh heh, heh. You know who we are talking about. Is that your most interesting obserbvation about the match?

Fitzy (with apologies to the online Skud) started the trend and this bloke is very good as well. It is the way the All Blacks play, leaving pods of forwards on the flanks and Coles has the speed, skills and ability to make a run or work the rucks or tackle out there.

He seemed to be much the same as the others we have had in the tournament. He was apparently hampered by not seeing the replay screen so had to take advice and I'm not sure he got the lifting rulings right with Ben Smith a shade dangerous as well.

At times. While games in this tournament have been closer than others, there is still quite a gulf between sides and that does not spin my wheels. However there have also been some crackers although I feel some of the congested weekend scheduling could be rearranged.

That is something which will be gnawing away at the All Black coaches. It is a pattern they are finding hard to break. Most rivals have begun well and made it tough foir the ABs who, to my mind, look to be in too much oif a hurry to find width on the field.

Kaino does a massive amount of the heavy slog. Thing our best propping arrangement is the senior men first but we could get more from the backups by bringing them on earlier.

Spot on. That is the danger against sides who will not tire and have defined and reliable defensive systems. The ABs do not want to be playing catch-up rugby against them.

That would be a massive call. Don't think they will because they will feeel that Read, even in this modest form, is a better bet than Vito who is a fine attacking athlete but may not do the other pieces quite so well. But Read's form does not appear to have shifted for some time.