All Blacks vs England I
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@Kiwiwomble 5.50 at the TAB, but presumably you'll get better odds online
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@Chris-B said in All Blacks vs England I:
Halfback will be pretty interesting.
I can see a case for any of the three starting.
Most likely Christie or Perenara on the bench - I'd either start the rookie in tandem with his Super partner or let him sit this one out.
Under the roof could be ideal conditions for Ratima to debut. He has the quickest service of the 3 (which plays to DMac's strengths) as well as the combo with DMac so let's make use of it.
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My expectation is the first Test will be the most challenging. Reduced time in camp against a team getting better as their coach gets his feet under the desk.
As @reprobate points out, our strength may be in the bench. I'll just be interested in what patterns we want to implement, preferably good exits, a desire to play in their half and offensive defence.
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@antipodean Yeah I think if there's one super obvious thing which another team has used with success, it's the SA bench. And I reckon we can outdo them at their own game, so hopefully we go down that path rather than the christie, havili, laulala, ALB etc - good players all, but not impact players.
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its scary the idea that the bench is just the second best person in a position is still so prevalent....how effective it can be if you treat them as their own specialist positions has been known for many years
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@sparky said in All Blacks vs England I:
@Chris-B My guess is that the 23 will be almost entirely players who featured in the World Cup in France and that the new coaching team are going for evolution rather than revolution.
That would make most sense to me, they have no time to try anything too new
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have basically spent the last 5 years tearing my hair out watching england, no obvious future talent, no obvious tactics, no obvious commitment to the grunt, let alone any ambition to put people through gaps.
Bloody Borthwick has given me a sniff of optimism in the last 3 games, we have some genuine prospective talent around, Martin and Itoje in the second row, our back row looks class with Earl in form, our halfback is starting to look like he can play rugby, we have a centre combination, our wingers are quick, our full back has changed from a lumbering chap who's good under the high ball to a guy who two years ago i wouldn't have picked for a local club side but has put on some weight and has improved out of sight.
Playing in NZ will be a fascinating test for them, i hope they enjoy it, i hope they turn up. I have no real knowledge of the new ABs in the squad and don't know how much of a reset this really is, but playing in NZ is always bloody hard.
As they say, its the hope that kills you
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Genuinely looking forward to this one. This game is right up there at an interest level comparable to the 2023 WC.
Razor and co have nowhere to hide, this is it.
If we lose, this place will erupt into flame, currently smouldering at the moment. So many cross winds.
Huge. -
@BerniesCorner he would've had a lot more leeway if he'd selected the team I faxed to my cousin to hand to him at his local cafe.
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You jest but it probably happens
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@Dodge said in All Blacks vs England I:
have basically spent the last 5 years tearing my hair out watching england, no obvious future talent, no obvious tactics, no obvious commitment to the grunt, let alone any ambition to put people through gaps.
Bloody Borthwick has given me a sniff of optimism in the last 3 games, we have some genuine prospective talent around, Martin and Itoje in the second row, our back row looks class with Earl in form, our halfback is starting to look like he can play rugby, we have a centre combination, our wingers are quick, our full back has changed from a lumbering chap who's good under the high ball to a guy who two years ago i wouldn't have picked for a local club side but has put on some weight and has improved out of sight.
Playing in NZ will be a fascinating test for them, i hope they enjoy it, i hope they turn up. I have no real knowledge of the new ABs in the squad and don't know how much of a reset this really is, but playing in NZ is always bloody hard.
As they say, its the hope that kills you
I think you'll recognize most of the key players from the RWC.
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@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks vs England I:
Genuinely looking forward to this one. This game is right up there at an interest level comparable to the 2023 WC.
Razor and co have nowhere to hide, this is it.
If we lose, this place will erupt into flame, currently smouldering at the moment. So many cross winds.
Huge.A loss in the 1st Test would be an embarrassment after all the hype, that's for sure. Personally wouldn't read too much into it, but the memes posted will be something to see...
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Certainly going to answer a lot of questions.
Hoping for a Ratima-DMac combo. -
No Aaron Smith, Mo’unga, Retallick, Whitelock, Sam Cane, that’s about 540 test matches of experience goneski. We got this Razor…
