[2014 EOYT] England vs New Zealand

[willutalk]

The amount of Bath players in this squad is the most we've had for years.
Kind of concerning for Bath as a team in International periods but hopefully the experience will be brought back to The Rec when the International period is over.

 

[Every Time Ref]

Don't usually go in for these kind of puff pieces, but quite enjoyed this interview with Semesa Rokoduguni:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrcP8sLCC9A

Reminded me a bit of Aussie cricketer / World War II pilot Keith Miller's famous quote when asked about the "pressure" of playing test cricket - "Pressure is a Messerschmitt up your arse, playing cricket is not"

Anyone think Roko won't be able to handle the pressure ... ?

 

[Larksea]

kinda crazy seeing SBW starting. He was brilliant against the US and looked like he'd never left but still!

the great thing about his play last week was that even though hes like 195cm tall and 110KG of muscle the majority of his play was based off speed, agility and skill. You would expect him to use crash ball as his go-to play but he rarely does it. Its like his surprise play rather than his bread and butter.

Strong team otherwise. My only concern is Crudens kicking. Was rubbish last week and it seems like he struggles to get to the posts from 40m. However I doubt they would be starting him if he had not worked hard on it this week and proved he can do better.

Also wonder if carter is still not right. He looked great last week and his goal kicking was spot on, carters goal kicking could easily be worth 6-9 points in a game on the form Cruden & Carter showed last week.

 

[Alex Anghel]

I'd quite frankly liked to see the ABs starting with Barrett as fly half, I think his running game, passing and the ability to break the defensive lines are better than Cruden's, but most probably Hansen wants him to add dynamics at a later stage of the game coming off the bench.

ABs by 20.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Thankfully the weather forecast seems to be shifting away from the earlier prediction of rain!
Touch wood, it will hold off.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Thankfully the weather forecast seems to be shifting away from the earlier prediction of rain!
Touch wood, it will hold off.

I if anyone has said "touch Wood" and then piled in on Tom Wood?

 

[ratsapprentice]

I wonder if anyone has ever said "touch Wood" and then grabbed another man's raging hard on?

 

[Big Ewis]

kinda crazy seeing SBW starting. He was brilliant against the US and looked like he'd never left but still!

the great thing about his play last week was that even though hes like 195cm tall and 110KG of muscle the majority of his play was based off speed, agility and skill. You would expect him to use crash ball as his go-to play but he rarely does it. Its like his surprise play rather than his bread and butter.

holy shiit, yeah, didn't realize SBW was in the 108kg/110kg ! Yeah he's definitely a unique specimen...being that tall (1m96)...I'd have said about 1m91/102kg if I were asked. Indeed he could've gone for crashball only, and with a little bit of his good mobility and athleticism => easily enough a spot on a pro Rugby team, and with just a bit of passing, even the All-Blacks. But nope. I haven't seen tons of him lately, but last I remember he's not even a terribly physical player, he seems quite an avoider of a center not the contact-crazy type, is that fair ? Lovely player to watch, he's got one of the most redneck names in Rugby but goddaym I reck'n he can run n' gun, heeeheee !...

And I've always felt Cruden's goal kicking looked dubious, in its form. I understand stats offer enough indication for kicking (contrary to most other fields where they don't necessarily mean too much) and his stats are fine as posters have demonstrated, maybe better than ppl I'd think are better kickers in fact, but that form...hey, just can't say it inspires pure confidence out of me and wouldn't be taking a nap with a sombrero over my head and my legs on the desk if he were kicking for my life. In fact I'd likely not wear a sombrero even in peace of mind, so don't worry too much about that part.

 

[Every Time Ref]

I wonder if anyone has ever said "touch Wood" and then grabbed another man's raging hard on?

#rugby

 

[RoosTah]

ALL BLACKS TEAM NAMED TO FACE ENGLAND!

Experience rules supreme | What do you think?

Starting XV:
1. Wyatt Crockett (33)
2. Dane Coles (24)
3. Owen Franks (65)
4. Brodie Retallick (34)
5. Samuel Whitelock (60)
6. Jerome Kaino (54)
7. Richie McCaw - captain (134)
8. Kieran Read (70)
9. Aaron Smith (36)
10. Aaron Cruden (36)
11. Julian Savea (30)
12. Sonny Bill Williams (20)
13. Conrad Smith (83)
14. Ben Smith (35)
15. Israel Dagg (45)
Reserves:
16. Keven Mealamu (121)
17. Ben Franks (39)
18. Charlie Faumuina (24)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (5)
20. Liam Messam (37)
21. TJ Perenara (8)
22. Beauden Barrett (26)
23. Ryan Crotty (10)

Join the discussion tonight on ‪#‎SKYRUGBY‬ ENGAGE
8:30pm LIVE on SKY Sport 1.
Photo: www.photosport.co.nz | All Blacks | Come With Us.

I think that's a f##king good team.

 

[goodNumber10]

the scary thing is it could get even stronger...

 

[RoosTah]

the scary thing is it could get even stronger...

I'm seriously impressed with how quick SBW has made it back in. People were doubting he could switch gears so easily, but you wouldn't guess he'd gone anywhere... although in some ways it shouldn't be that surprising - he just spent two years playing lock in the NRL - a much more physically demanding position than centre in Rugby, so in many ways this is probably a breeze for him.

 

[Larksea]

hard to believe Owen Franks has clocked up 65 tests at only 26 years old.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

hard to believe Owen Franks has clocked up 65 tests at only 26 years old.

If you think that's crazy, at 23 James O'Connor had clocked up 44 tests for the Wallabies. Pity he hasn't stuck with them or we could have been looking at the first player to reach 150 games.

 

[Jaguares]

If you think that's crazy, at 23 James O'Connor had clocked up 44 tests for the Wallabies. Pity he hasn't stuck with them or we could have been looking at the first player to reach 150 games.

Michael Hooper could reach 150 caps, he has 38 caps and he's just 23 years. If we add the 4 games of EOTY 2014, then there are 42 games. Also he never gets injured, I don't remember he has suffered major injuries despite playing at 7, one of the most demanding positions.

 

[nickdnz]

If you think that's crazy, at 23 James O'Connor had clocked up 44 tests for the Wallabies. Pity he hasn't stuck with them or we could have been looking at the first player to reach 150 games.

I think asking him not to do something outrageously stupid in that frame of time would be asking a bit much.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Michael Hooper could reach 150 caps, he has 38 caps and he's just 23 years. If we add the 4 games of EOTY 2014, then there are 42 games. Also he never gets injured, I don't remember he has suffered major injuries despite playing at 7, one of the most demanding positions.

It's normally when forwards get a bit older that they start getting injured, to be fair. I'm not sure if Hooper will hang around past 2019. Realistically it's only your real salt of the Earth characters (like McCaw) that would possibly get to 150 due to how alluring France etc. is. As it is McCaw will likely come up a few tests short of the mark.

 

[austingtir]

I'm surprised to see SBW starting to be honest. He looked sharp versus USA, but he hasn't played much rugby union in the last few years.....

Apart from that the 23 is very predictable... Bloody Israel Dagg....

Yep my feelings aswell on dagg. Charles Piutau has to be in on the wing by the WC and Smith at the back. IMO hansen is wasting some good experience here for Piutau.

 

[Helmy]

Hansen in pet favourites shock... :lol:

 

[big ginger 8]

If you think that's crazy, at 23 James O'Connor had clocked up 44 tests for the Wallabies. Pity he hasn't stuck with them or we could have been looking at the first player to reach 150 games.

Whoever it is it will be a SH player, although of course it may be harder to break into the teams you guys play a lot more internationals a year at the moment.