England vs All Blacks
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@pakman said in England vs All Blacks:
In forwards Vunipola (M and B ) missing and would be in top 8. Launchbury, Curry (T) and Robshaw all out and they are borderline starters. That takes a lot of bulk/go forward out.
In backs Tuiglai would have been in 23, and Watson a starter.
A fair number of other lesser lights. Jonathan Joseph would be close to starter and second and third best LHs and no. 2 (and possibly no. 3) no. 8s crocked.
Tuilagi's fairly theoretical these days, given how long he's been off the scene. Wouldn't say he's a guaranteed to have been in the 23. In fact I've not seen anything to suggest he's actually still injured this week. Joseph and Watson are the main losses in the back line.
Talk of 16 players out is a little disingenuous given the players missing tend to be clustered in a few positions as you say. Definitely bare bones stuff at loosehead (Vunipola, Genge, Obano, Mullan and Marler if he counts out) and 8 (B Vunipola, Simmonds and Hughes). Still got first choice (or close to) options at lock, TH and hooker. A bit make shift on the flank.
Backs in general have a few out, but it's still not a million miles away from first choice. Players like Ashton and Slade (despite his poor game against SA) aren't the worst options to come in. Not a fan of Te'o at 12, but Eddie seems to like him.
Injuries certainly shouldn't be any kind of excuse if it goes badly wrong tomorrow
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@kruse said in England vs All Blacks:
@bones said in England vs All Blacks:
@pakman said in England vs All Blacks:
@bones said in England vs All Blacks:
@pakman you're fucking joking me! Free tickets. They were a struggle to find at the club even for 150...
I kid you not. But if you don't have big tits you'd probably have scored the doughnuts! BTW I got a pair for 75 each via Team All Blacks. Not great seats, though.
I've got some pretty sizeable moobs these days.
Shit, I just had the visual of multiple London based ferners creating competing moob-cleavage, parading around in front of ABs.
I have no moobs
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@pakman said in England vs All Blacks:
@bones Rieko and TJP were on South West Trains yesterday evening handing out free tickets and doughnuts.
Now I know that is fake news because for starters finding a Southwest train that is actually running is as rare as an English back that runs at a gap. When you do find one you certainly wouldn’t be able to move around passing out doughnuts
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@catogrande I have no problem the coaches saying that to a player but it's not something I would say in the public domain and be quoted.
Itoje could be penalised often depending on the ref (see last week with Gardner) so as a player, if you push the boundaries you have to accept the consequences if you fall on the wrong side of the line.
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@margin_walker said in England vs All Blacks:
I'm hoping for a few more like this. Albeit minus Dagg
Jesus. Just when you think you know someone.
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@unite said in England vs All Blacks:
How’s the weather there this morning?
Quite OK at the moment. Doesn't look like much chance of rain until after the game.
I assume the ground drains ok but it will be damp as nothing dries at this time of year. -
Having mulled things over, for me England's chances rely on disrupting our lineout. Itoje and Kruis are a very good unit, and were effective for Lions. Less competent at back, so some planning will have gone into shutting down Read.
If we get quick ball off the top will be a long day for the MWWW.
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@pakman said in England vs All Blacks:
Rieko and TJP were on South West Trains yesterday evening handing out free tickets and doughnuts
Bearing in mind the appalling reputation of South West Trains, winding up the locals may not be a good idea....
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@victor-meldrew said in England vs All Blacks:
@pakman said in England vs All Blacks:
Rieko and TJP were on South West Trains yesterday evening handing out free tickets and doughnuts
Bearing in mind the appalling reputation of South West Trains, winding up the locals may not be a good idea....
Agreed. Hampton Wick to Clapham, so probably one of the safer ones?
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@booboo said in England vs All Blacks:
Of the apparently 16 players missing for Ingalund is it possible to get a list and rank them in terms of their position?
As an example NZ is missing the number one and number three ranked LHPs (Moody, Hames).
Even just a list so we can start trying to work out how badly affected the Poms actually are.
Thanks in anticipation.
Off the top of my head:
Loosehead: M Vunipola, Marler (retired), Mullen, Genge, Obano
Lock: Launchbury, Lawes has recovered to make the bench
Flankers: Robshaw, Curry
Number 8: B Vunipola, Hughes, Simmonds, Clifford, Morgan
Scrum-half: Robson
Centres: Joseph, Tuilagi (unsure if he's still injured or just unselected), Lozowski (banned)
Back 3: WatsonOf those, I'd say Vunipola, Launchbury, Robshaw, Curry and Watson would have been likely starters, and Joseph/Lozowski would have been pushing Slade hard.
But the bigger problem than missing starters (which we're used to) is how far down the depth chart we're having to go at loosehead and 8. Moon is a journeyman prop who used to play in the Championship (one league below the premiership) and Wilson is a jack-of-all-trades 6 being played out of position at the base of the scrum.
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