RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1)
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Key Facts
The All Blacks and England have played each other 41 times, with the All Blacks winning 33 times, England seven times and the one draw. The last result was a 16-15 win to the All Blacks at Twickenham in November last year. They’ve played each other three times at the Rugby World Cup, including the classic semi-final at the 1995 tournament in South Africa. They also played Pool matches in 1991 and 1999.
As well as Codie Taylor playing his 50th Test, Brodie Retallick will be playing his 80th, Ofa Tuungafasi and Scott Barrett their 35th and Nepo Laulala his 25th.
While loose forward Sam Cane will be playing his first Test against England (in his 67th Test), Captain Kieran Read and Samuel Whitelock will be playing their ninth Test against the Northern Hemisphere foe, while Dane Coles, Brodie Retallick and Aaron Smith have played them seven times.
Kieran Read will be captaining the All Blacks for the 51st time, equalling 1992-1997 All Blacks hooker Sean Fitzpatrick.
Beauden Barrett scored his 35th try for the All Blacks last weekend, the same number as All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan scored.
Brodie Retallick and Samuel Whitelock have had 46 wins as a starting second row pair, one behind the world record held by South African duo Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha
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barring Injury, have to assume IF we make the final, the wings out there today will start.
So how many minutes did Ioane get? That Italy game really threw a spanner in a probably took away valuable minutes for a number of players.
Has everyone played so far?
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You have to hand it to the selectors. The SB selection aside, it really looks like they have built up to this combo with perfect timing.
I LOVE that we have made just 1 change to the starting 15, if we have learned anything over the years it is that combinations really matter at this stage. Knowing instinctively where your runners are going to be, trusting your insides in defense, reading each other on both attack and defense.
I'm so fucking amped for this game!!!
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team announcements are boring, we break the news early here on the fern.
Admittedly still would have Cane to start
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Ok this is my biggest issue with the SB over Cane.
All year we've had Cane playing as hard hitting defensive wall 7.
We've had Ardie playing as a loose running 8 while wearing 6.
We've had Read playing as a tight workhorse 6 while wearing 8.
This one selection changes the role of two players from what has worked successfully in the first half for most of this year.
I've got these out just in case:
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@booboo said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):
@Crucial said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):
The matchday 23 is as follows (Test caps in brackets):
- Joe Moody (44)
- Codie Taylor (49)
Taylor has more caps than Moody?
but probably less injuries, Codie debuted about a year after Moody I think
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@Nepia Geez those are expensive knives, you are rich now that you have moved. Are you planning on re using them after you offer them to the Hawkes coach?
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@Nepia said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):
Ok this is my biggest issue with the SB over Cane.
All year we've had Cane playing as hard hitting defensive wall 7.
We've had Ardie playing as a loose running 8 while wearing 6.
We've had Read playing as a tight workhorse 6 while wearing 8.
This one selection changes the role of two players from what has worked successfully in the first half for most of this year.
I've got these out just in case:
I look at the impact Red Barrett had coming on at half time and I thought we took another step up
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@bayimports said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):
@Nepia Geez those are expensive knives, you are rich now that you have moved. Are you planning on re using them after you offer them to the Hawkes coach?
I'm happy with how our young mostly home grown Magpies team are travelling, win, lose or draw tomorrow ... and I fully expect the lose. So the knives will be fresh.
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I am guessing Hansen is guessing that England will look to give us the ball more in the early stage and rely on their strong defence to force mistakes. Thus, choose Scott Barrett as the superior ball runner and bring on Cane later when England might be looking for more attack.
Scooter is in very good form and our lineout will be stronger.
Eddie will look to exploit his relative lack of pace on the blindside and our defense on the openside with Ardie won't be nearly as punishing.
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@Nepia Good luck either way..always just fun banter here,
I will also save my cheaper knives for the selection committee, just in case
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@Frank said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):
I am guessing Hansen is guessing that England will look to give us the ball more. Thus, choose Scott Barrett as the superior ball runner and bring on Cane later.
Yep thats what I think and SB is a better carrier than Cane, and SB is no slouch defending either (although not as dominant as Cane who is also usually one of our top tacklers) as long as he keeps his shoulder away from peoples heads...
#TTP
