[2014 Mid-Year Tests] New Zealand vs England (1st Test)

[ratsapprentice]

Danny Care is out

 

[SomeOke]

yup I disagree. NZ had one heck of a hard time in Europe in all 3 tests last November, certainly way more difficult than the 3 tests they had away in TRC mind you. Yeah Aus, SA and Arg, I'm lookin at you.
And England, bar the first test, is coming to challenge the AB on their own homeground, 3 times, and NZ cannot afford to lose a single one and considering the most crisis-enduced France side of all-time gave em 2 out of 3 scares last year, they better bring it big time, and close contests would be worrying for NZ.
I was only saying England can only gain *FROM TEST 1*. Unless, again, they take 60pts or smt ridiculous like that.

France may have Saint-André and co. leading the charge, nevertheless they've got quality on paper, always. Australia could easily lose one game, and they'll have to give it their all if they want a sweep. It's no holiday for the green and gold men this summer.

As for Wales, they may have a woeful record against SH sides in general, they're still a handful to contain and have quality throughout that XV, and SA will have to make sure they dodge the World XV bullet, beat a hungry Welsh side twice, and a new look Sottish team. And I don't see SA putting 40 past all those.

You're missing the point, if England is sending a second string side to NZ and the same goes for the Welsh then if we win - it's only against a weak side and means nothing. The media and the world will take nothing from it (including the hosting nations) and if we lose it's a disaster because we lost to a second string side.

It's not about losing to NH sides it's about losing to second string NH sides. It honestly just makes this whole business a bit of a let down. I know it has to do with scheduling and injuries but it's a real pity.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

To be fair it's only really the first test England have a second string side.
Fingers crossed the other two we should have our first choice out, minus Corbisiero and Cole.

 

[Big Ewis]

You're missing the point,.

no, you are. England's FIRST TEST, that's right, the FIRST TEST is the one where they don't get to play the guys from both Premiership final participating teams. Then they get a near full strength team, minus the injured...
As for Wales, I have no indication they want to send a crappy team to SA...you read smt about that, or did you just assume out of nothing ?

And then there's Scotland and France, and they're sending their best teams too. And I don't exactly feel Australia is considering this series like a yearly break or something they'll "gain nothing out of".

 

[goodNumber10]

???????

 

[Big Ewis]

it's interesting how Danny Care started playing well out of nowhere just starting this 2014 year, and now all England fans feel like if he's not there all is lost.

 

[ratsapprentice]

It's not really that Danny Care isn't playing... it's that Ben Youngs is.

I'm not his biggest fan.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

it's interesting how Danny Care started playing well out of nowhere just starting this 2014 year, and now all England fans feel like if he's not there all is lost.

It's not that strange - we had a few years of dross in the 9 shirt (when Youngs lost form after the RWC), Care finally gets back on form internationally, everyone's happy...now he's gone.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

It's not that strange - we had a few years of dross in the 9 shirt (when Youngs lost form after the RWC), Care finally gets back on form internationally, everyone's happy...now he's gone.

He's not gone; he should be ready for the 2nd test.

 

[Patchey]

You're no Englishman.

*twirls cane and rolls mustache between finger and thumb*

I feel pretty bad about it, I just think that a good beating might persuade Lancaster to get rid of some of the squad deadwood.

Also, don't twirl your cane at me!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

He's not gone; he should be ready for the 2nd test.

I know, was just addressing Ewis' point.

 

[Darwin]

It will be interesting to see how NZ approach this match tactically. I suspect we will see a rather conservative game-plan from New Zealand in the 1st half, though we could open up if we get a bit of a lead. It is the 1st match of the season so I expect we will be rather rusty, and we are missing a couple of the key components we need for our expansive game-plan - a wide ranging 8 (Read), and an explosive wing (Savea). Kaino and Jane are excellent replacements, but are more suited to a game-plan involving hitting it up close to the breakdown, and attacking England in he air (as Jane is superb under the high ball). Indeed I expect we will see a lot of box-kicking from Aaron Smith, which I think could be a very effective tactic, as Ben Smith (like Jane) is brilliant in the air.

I'm hoping to see Nonu running straight and hard this week and testing Burns and Eastmond on defense. I understand Eastmond is a reasonably solid defender, but Nonu has a 20kg+ weight advantage, so there is no reason why he shouldn't get well past the advantage line every time even if Eastmond brings him down. Having Ben Smith running off his (or Cruden's) shoulder will be a good tactic too - it worked very well at the start of last season, but we weren't able to use that tactic when Ben Smith was moved to centre.

I'm hoping for a comfortable victory, but get a feeling it may be a bit closer than most AB's supporter would like. I'm picking the AB's by around 15.

 

[Big Ewis]

It's not that strange - we had a few years of dross in the 9 shirt (when Youngs lost form after the RWC), Care finally gets back on form internationally, everyone's happy...now he's gone.

I understand. But can he dare ? Canny Dare ?
...okay I'm off to bed now.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I'm hoping to see Nonu running straight and hard this week and testing Burns and Eastmond on defense. I understand Eastmond is a reasonably solid defender, but Nonu has a 20kg+ weight advantage, so there is no reason why he shouldn't get well past the advantage line every time even if Eastmond brings him down. Having Ben Smith running off his (or Cruden's) shoulder will be a good tactic too - it worked very well at the start of last season, but we weren't able to use that tactic when Ben Smith was moved to centre.

Wouldn't be overly surprised to see Tuilagi marking Michael Nonu, on set piece at least - a bit more MASS on the crash ball plays.

 

[Rich Taff]

As for Wales, I have no indication they want to send a crappy team to SA...you read smt about that, or did you just assume out of nothing ?

We're missing a lot of key players through injury (for a change....), plus I'm not sure if gogzilla is going out at all. (which could be a good thing for him, as I'm sure there'll be a few 'heroes' looking to make their mark with some dodgy play vs him.

 

[Jaguares]

ABs by 17-20 points

 

[Big Ewis]

We're missing a lot of key players through injury (for a change....), plus I'm not sure if gogzilla is going out at all. (which could be a good thing for him, as I'm sure there'll be a few 'heroes' looking to make their mark with some dodgy play vs him.

you never closed that parenthesis, is that to symbolize your post is infinite ? God, how pretentious....and wtf is gogzilla ?! Georth Norge ?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Stuart Barnes and Justin Marshall are both on my screen.

I wish I got whatever channel is showing it in New Zealand instead of Sky Sports.

 

[Sam Owen]

Stuart "nickdnz" Barnes lol

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Justin Marshall isn't so bad when he's calm - the problem is any sort of excitement, such as a rugby game, and he loses his chips