England vs All Blacks
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Not nearly what it would have been 2 years ago, but fair to say this is the first match against England with a big game feel since the ‘05 slam?
Juggling the squad and sending the first line squad early is ominous for England, seems like winning this one has been mission #1 for 2018 from the get go.
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Last night I wanted Farrell to be cited and miss the NZ game. This morning I want England to have as full a complement as possible so there can be no bullshit excuses when NZ smash them
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@mikethesnow they were already trying to line up that excuse for the SA game. First thing the other half said to me was "haven't England got 14 players out?". Sigh.
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My worry is that England have this weird ability to drag other teams down to their shitty game so they can compete.
Hopefully we have learned the lessons from the Lions tour of not getting sucked into their style.
Even Australia playing in their usual manner would have been all over that England side (although they probably would have fucked up the chances just like SA).
One big lesson the Boks learned for everyone else is not to keep pushing the same thing at them even if you think you have dominance in that facet. One thing the attritional club rugby in the UK teaches players is to work out solutions if given time.
Yes, SA had been drawing penalties from the maul and England were on a warning but they switched up the line out to make it difficult to even create the maul instead of putting themselves in the hands of the ref. Was smart.
SA should have changed up to the scrum with Itoje gone and created a new problem for England to solve. -
I would start TJP if it's wet and windy. Smith never seems to play well in that stuff and frankly TJP is probably the better halfback atm form wise.
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@canes4life said in England Vs All Blacks:
I would start TJP if it's wet and windy. Smith never seems to play well in that stuff and frankly TJP is probably the better halfback atm form wise.
If AS is firing bullets at training he needs to start. Run these fuckers around and keep asking questions of them. Any slowing of the game (even slightly) plays into their hands
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Forecast now for rain to come earlier and to be dry by Saturday afternoon. Should be a great spectacle in front of a packed, noisy and passionate crowd.
Plan A: Attack and play at a pace England can't live with for 80 minutes.
Plan B: Use our experience and saavy and be shrewder at Trench warfare than them.
Plan C : Drop goals
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Plan D. Outscore them 5 penalties to 4 in a gripping contest they’ll be talking about for years to come. Would frighten the life out of Ireland too!
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@billy-tell said in England Vs All Blacks:
Plan D. Outscore them 5 penalties to 4 in a gripping contest they’ll be talking about for years to come. Would frighten the life out of Ireland too!
Are you Scott McLeod’s Mum? Because, she’s about the only person who I can see considering this as a possible outcome.
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@crucial said in England Vs All Blacks:
My worry is that England have this weird ability to drag other teams down to their shitty game so they can compete.
Hopefully we have learned the lessons from the Lions tour of not getting sucked into their style.
Even Australia playing in their usual manner would have been all over that England side (although they probably would have fucked up the chances just like SA).
One big lesson the Boks learned for everyone else is not to keep pushing the same thing at them even if you think you have dominance in that facet. One thing the attritional club rugby in the UK teaches players is to work out solutions if given time.
Yes, SA had been drawing penalties from the maul and England were on a warning but they switched up the line out to make it difficult to even create the maul instead of putting themselves in the hands of the ref. Was smart.
SA should have changed up to the scrum with Itoje gone and created a new problem for England to solve.Excellent analysis 👏
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@rocky-rockbottom said in England Vs All Blacks:
would be funny if AB's took them on at their own game. No frills or cross kicks, just kicked it to the corners, play it tight, smash their forwards with scrum after scrum, knacker them, bang over a few penalties, forwards rumble over for one try, NZ win 19-0. Ok, we've beaten you at your own game, so what's your plan B for RWC next year?
Love it
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The first Test match I went to was a "must win" 3rd Test against the Lions in '71 (I was young...). I was also at Cardiff in '07 for the "must win" Quarter Final against France...
I'm at Twickenham next week for the AB's v England.
The Curse of the Meldrews. Be afraid, be very afraid.
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@crucial said in England Vs All Blacks:
The last two posts are doing a good job of eroding my confidence
At least its not
Ref: Stu Dickinson
AR: Derek Bevan
AR: Ed Morrison
TMO: Tappe Henning -
@billy-tell it's worse.
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@rocky-rockbottom said in England Vs All Blacks:
would be funny if AB's took them on at their own game. No frills or cross kicks, just kicked it to the corners, play it tight, smash their forwards with scrum after scrum, knacker them, bang over a few penalties, forwards rumble over for one try, NZ win 19-0. Ok, we've beaten you at your own game, so what's your plan B for RWC next year?
Wow I like the sound of that! Bring it on...
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@bones said in England Vs All Blacks:
@billy-tell it's worse.
I really hope we aren’t having threads about French refs this time next week.
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@billy-tell
Things have improved on the reffing front.I remember one Test in Argentina (Tana was captain, IIRC) where the reffing was utterly bizarre and baffling to both sides. Truly weird. Whitehouse I think it was.
Then there was Ed Morrison, who in his last Test, stood idly by while a Welsh forward leisurely kicked McCaw.
