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

[donmcdazzle]

We're not going to be cohesive enough to put on 40 points. You guys are over-estimating how good we will be. It'll be NZ: 20-30 England:10-15

Just wanted to pat myself on the back for this prediction..

 

[The Jones Boy]

That is why he is a 6, not an 8. I think Vito should start at 8 next test (with Kaino at 6), as Kaino is even better playing in the 6 jersey....

Absolutely.
Kaino is an unbelievable no.6
Messam is just plain too small at the very top level.
He looked like Ben Morgans illegitimate lovechild.
I like Messam he is a very fine player and a world beater at the Super Rugby level but at the very top level he's just not big enough and I completely agree, now that the Collossus Kaino is back he must start at no. 6 and Vito to start at no.8 if the worlds best player is not fit.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

This certainly puts a lot of pressure on the England's selectors! Do the go back to there 1st choice players or do they reward the players that played so well in the 1st test?

It's a good point - some of our best performers were the guys who were playing because of the unavailable players.
Parling and Haskell, especially, were superb.

Think they only changes I'd make would be Care in for Youngs, Hartley in for Gray, Wood in for Johnson, Sinkler in for Thomas.
I want Lawes in there, but I don't really want to drop any of the locks. I think Lancaster might drop Attwood, but he's needed if Thomas is still on the bench.

Centres performed very very well - 36 and Burrell have their work cut out for them!


I think Bomber will go with,
Marler, Webber, Wilson,
Launchbury, Parling,
Wood, Robshaw, Morgan,
Care, Farrell,
May, Twelvetrees, Tuilagi, Yarde,
Brown

Hartley, Mullan, Thomas, Lawes, Haskell, Youngs, Burns, Eastmond

 

[Bazzy]

Thought there might be a bit of ref bashing here. We did get the rub of the green today. Unlucky England.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Just wanted to pat myself on the back for this prediction..

Fair play but it was a safe bet with the AB's not having played a game for more than half a year.

 

[nzlizard]

I'll tell you who was invisible. Woodcock, Retalick and Whitelock... they did NOTHING. (Retalick just got lucky with his run)

Exactly, I saw Messam making tackles all over the place, felt like him and Kaino did all the work.

 

[donmcdazzle]

I'll tell you who was invisible. Woodcock, Retalick and Whitelock... they did NOTHING. (Retalick just got lucky with his run)

I thought Rettalick did some alright work at the breakdown but yeah Woody and Whitelock were poor. I wanted Tuipoltu to replace Whitelock

 

[Sam Owen]

This certainly puts a lot of pressure on the England's selectors! Do the go back to there 1st choice players or do they reward the players that played so well in the 1st test?

Id stick with the same side. Those guys have had a taste and now know they can roll with the ABs and what to work on for next week. Yarde needs to go I think, either that or he gets asked why he didnt do much

 

[nzlizard]

I thought Rettalick did some alright work at the breakdown but yeah Woody and Whitelock were poor. I wanted Tuipoltu to replace Whitelock

Retallick was so quiet by his standards though, if this is Woodock now what do we get in 14 months when he is even longer in the tooth.

 

[Peat]

Mmph. Coulda Shoulda Woulda. The ref had a game to forget but England could have won that anyway with better handling, better use of the subs (Youngs in particular was on too long, maybe being on at all was wrong but definitely dropped his standards for a good five minutes before coming ashore), better multi-phase play and possibly a bit more chutzpah. I think if we'd gone to the corner for some maul action we'd have got over.

Excuses can be made for the ABs being rusty but a lot of those errors were personal rather than systematic. Very odd.

 

[austingtir]

Id stick with the same side. Those guys have had a taste and now know they can roll with the ABs and what to work on for next week. Yarde needs to go I think, either that or he gets asked why he didnt do much

No way, they've got to have better players than that. We were very very poor dont read to much into this match imo.

WE WERE SUPER LUCKY THEY DIDNT GET THEIR TOP PLAYERS FOR THIS MATCH WE'D OF LOST BY 10 TO 15 IMO.

 

[Gena_ZA]

Ben Smith is wasted on the wing - put him back at 15 and drop Dagg
Needs creativity at the back
Kaino at 6 and Vito at 8, Messam is hard but has very little impact apart from defending, same in Cheifs games of late
Savea back fit is a no brainier
I would put Fekitoa in and reshuffle the centers, sentiment excluded but Conrad Smith is just Mr reliable, not a game breaker

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Thought the Eastmond Manu combo has potential, Manu draws in the defenders where Eastmond can expose the gaps, and Eastmond creates space for Manu.

May is a very good player when he runs straight.

Can see 36 dropping behind Eastmond.

But who would you replace for the second test.

Lawes for Launchbury or Parling, (Would drop Parling due to the Lawes, Launchbury combo)
Care for Youngs
Burrel for Manu or put him on the bench.
Farrell for Burns (Thought burns was great so wouldn't do it)
Vunipola for Johnson on the bench
Hartley for Gray (webber was brilliant)

My team next week
!) Marler
2) Webber
3) Wilson
4) Launchbury
5) Lawes
6) Haskell
7) Robshaw
8) Morgan
9) Care
10) Farrell
11) May
12) Eastmond
13) Burrell
14) Yarde
15) Brown

16) Hartley
17) Mullan
18) Sinckler (Will be Thomas
19) Parling
20) Vunipola
21) Dickson
22) Burns
23) Tualigi

 

[nickdnz]

Well, pleased we won. A loss would have been a difficult pill to swallow. Bit of a tedious match though. Still, I agree that England were pretty hard done by from Mr Owens. The All Blacks could have got a few yellow cards through spoiling England ball near the try line, yet Yarde gets a yellow on their first infringement. Add that with his ridiculous interpretation of what constitutes a knock-on..

It was great to see Kaino back, he's still a beast. I have to say, I'm not Messam's biggest fan by any stretch but he was good on defense today, no notable runs and he's not really a physical presents at the breakdown but his defense was solid all game. I agree with Darwin, a 6. Kaino 8. Vito would be the best looking team for next week.

 

[j'nuh]

Next week:

1. Marler
2. Webber
3. Wilson
4. Launchbury
5. Lawes
6.
7. Robshaw
8. Morgan
9. Care
10.
11. May
12.
13.
14. Yarde
15. Brown

16. Hartley
17. Mullan
18. Thomas I guess
19.
20. Vunipola
21. Youngs
22.
23.

6 - Haskell or Wood
10 - Farrell or Burns? Surprise of the season how well Burns played. Afraid it confirms how terrible the coaching at Gloucester has been. I'm glad Davies is gone now.
12/13 - Pick two of Twelvetrees, Eastmond, Burrell and Tuilagi. Would argue Tuilagi is at the bottom of the pecking order. Would be tempted to look at Eastmond-Twelvetrees.
19 - Parling or Attwood? I think Attwood is a better impact player personally.
22 - the other from Farrell or Burns
23 - fill the gap

Here's a thought though. Next week. Replace the 6 with Vunipola. Keep Morgan on. Bring Attwood on. Bring Burrell/Tuilagi on. **** **** up at 60 mins.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

My only criticism of Owens was the inconsistency in sin binning Yarde, but no AB was carded when they infringed 5 metres from their line.

I was impressed with England at the breakdown; overall England were quite disciplined there and did not allow NZ many turnovers. England definitely had the better of the set pieces, which gave them a great platform. Apart from the last 5 minutes England did not give NZ a sniff of a try.

Still, it goes to show that New Zealand are there for the taking eventually. No team is invincible and half our 1st team weren't playing. A lot of players really stood up in this test and showed all the predictions by NZ media and public thinking that the ABs would beat England by 40 to 50 points was laughable. I bet they'll remember a few more of the England players' names after this game.

Predicted line up for 2nd test:

1. Marler
2. Hartley
3. Wilson
4. Launchbury
5. Lawes
6. Wood
7. Robshaw
8. Morgan ( tough on Binny, but I thought Morgan was outstanding)

9. Care
10. Farrell
11. May
12. Eastmond (definitely deserves another chance, plus 36 is not match fit)
13. Tuilagi
14. Yarde
15. Brown

16. Webber ( thank god that we have another hooker who can throw in at the lineout)
17. Mullen/Waller
18. Thomas/Sinckler
19. Parling
20. Billy Vunipola
21. Dickson
22. Burns
23. Foden

 

[donmcdazzle]

How would you guys drop Tuilagi? He was the best back on show from either side. Burrell must be some player

 

[Chikwa]

How would you guys drop Tuilagi? He was the best back on show from either side. Burrell must be some player

At least you know you their players are !

 

[austingtir]

How would you guys drop Tuilagi? He was the best back on show from either side. Burrell must be some player

Take him and Robshaw out of that team and they'd be going nowhere.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

How would you guys drop Tuilagi? He was the best back on show from either side. Burrell must be some player

I wouldn't but Lancaster would probably do it, thought the combo work very well together