[2014 Mid-Year Tests] New Zealand vs England (2nd Test)

[Big Ewis]

Interesting words from Moe Jarler. I like his attitude:
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,,16024_9344908,00.html

Let's not forget France were within a very good shot of winning Test 1 last summer, Picamoles catches that low pass he's all alone, miles away from any defenders for the score. And that's France in total crisis coming off their worst 6N of all-time with the Wooden Spoon. So I'm saying the AB often come out and punish teams on the second test. But England have the defense on one hand as France did but also a more assimilated attack now. Anything can happen, but I think England have smelled blood from that first encounter and will make sure they push the Blacks harder. The AB do traditionally have a hard time with Tuilagi, so England ought to make damn sure they start him. We need to see England's selection before really projecting any prognostic though...

Get his name right it's Bin Smuth.;0)

Crouch !.....Bind !.....SIT !!
Still waiting for both scrums to sit down after the call...start a picnic or smt.

 

[Patchey]

with smith at 15 England will have to cut down the aimless kicking late in the game, they'll need to forgo the bombs and kick the angles better.

Good think Youngs won't start then!

 

[ollecrab]

with smith at 15 England will have to cut down the aimless kicking late in the game, they'll need to forgo the bombs and kick the angles better.

Poms will just target jane, there has to be a better inform winger in NZ

 

[ollecrab]

Looking to the world cup, ABs are in trouble

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Big day of rugby and footy on Saturday:
Rugby:
The All Blacks v England;
Australia v France; and
SA v Wales.

Footy WC:
Columbia v Greece;
Uruguay v Costa Rica; and then the big one:
England v Italy. This is the only one I will watch though.

God I'm gonna be so smashed by the end of the day.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Poms will just target jane, there has to be a better inform winger in NZ

Jane's probably the best of the AB back 3 under the high ball.

 

[Darwin]

Poms will just target jane, there has to be a better inform winger in NZ

In what way will they target him? His attack has been very average all year - he can still link well and has a clever kicking game, but he seldom breaks a tackle these days. His defense has been fine though, and he remains a world class operator under the high ball.....

It is hard to judge, but I suspect Jane would no longer make the 23 if everyone was fit as Piutau would likely be rated ahead of him (along with Savea, Smith, and Dagg).

 

[ollecrab]

Jane's probably the best of the AB back 3 under the high ball.

Thats if they kick. He will get smoked by the English wings, he is so out of form its not funny, Osborne would be a better option if you look at form, speed and power

 

[nzlizard]

All Blacks: Ben Smith, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (captain), Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Tony Woodcock.

Reserves: Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Patrick Tuipulotu, Victor Vito, TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Malakai Fekitoa.

So a lot of Kiwi fans on here got their wish their wish with Bin Smuth at full back. Savea on the left wing will also strengthen the All Blacks back 3. Savea has scored 4 tries in his last two meetings with England. Read still being out is a boost for England.

Happy with this team, glad Messam stays after his defensive effort last week, I like watching him and Kaino work together.

I'm pretty sure that back three is one of the best in world rugby. I think Israel Folau is probably the only guy I can think of who would have a decent chance of forcing his way in.

If we pick Ashton against that, well I don't know what I'll do.

Yup, Folau is the best fullback in world rugby at the moment, best back 3 would be: 11: Savea, 14: Smith, 15: Folau

Jane's probably the best of the AB back 3 under the high ball.

Outside of Folau I rate Jane as the next best under the high ball, and Jane is one of the smartest outside 3 in the game, while he may have lost some pace his game play is just awesome. The work he has done with Savea shows that, a couple of years ago Savea was **** under the high ball, after working with Jane he is mint.

I think Jane could go on to be one of the best backline skills coaches ever.

 

[nzlizard]

It is hard to judge, but I suspect Jane would no longer make the 23 if everyone was fit as Piutau would likely be rated ahead of him (along with Savea, Smith, and Dagg).

I agree, his injuries have cost his pace and while he is cunning as ever he does not have the ability to break the tackle like he used.

 

[Darwin]

Thats if they kick. He will get smoked by the English wings, he is so out of form its not funny, Osborne would be a better option if you look at form, speed and power

Janes defense is fine - indeed he is a far better defender than Pat Osbourne!

 

[Patchey]

Well it's a good think Izzy Folau isn't a kiwi theni

Thats if they kick. He will get smoked by the English wings, he is so out of form its not funny, Osborne would be a better option if you look at form, speed and power

U wot? Out of form? Really?


I'm starting to get nervous sweats about the England team. Surely we're not stupid enough to pick Ashton and Youngs and out Manu on the wing?

 

[Maverick1987]

They all have their place, but from memory a couple of reasons:

It promotes straight running and passing after contact, it's more regimented as peopel can't deny the tag has been made as people do itn touch.

Touch tends to bring more of people running sideways and a relcutcance to offload before contact: rolling drives and truck an trailer etc... means there is actually less creative passing.

I played international Touch rugby, it was one of the hardest sports I've ever been involved in.

What's the difference between tag and touch rugby ? Maybe we use a different terminology where I'm from ?

 

[Bada-Bing!]

Well it's a good think Izzy Folau isn't a kiwi then

Dave Rennie of the Chiefs did enquire whether Izzy had an Kiwi lineage before he left RL. Fortunately for the Wallabies, he did not.

I'm starting to get nervous sweats about the England team. Surely we're not stupid enough to pick Ashton and Youngs and out Manu on the wing?

Only, 35 minutes to go to the England team news announcement. The suspense is killing me.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

What's the difference between tag and touch rugby ? Maybe we use a different terminology where I'm from ?

Often tag rugby is a term used for flag rugby (when you have ribbons etc. attached to you sides and they have to be pulled out/off for it to constitute a 'tag').

 

[ratsapprentice]

What's the difference between tag and touch rugby ? Maybe we use a different terminology where I'm from ?

Tag refers to physical tags - they are strips of plastic attached to a belt by velcro... you "tackle" someone by ripping off one of their tags.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tag_rugby

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I'm thinking we might see TKB start the third test...

 

[Maverick1987]

Yup, Folau is the best fullback in world rugby at the moment, best back 3 would be: 11: Savea, 14: Smith, 15: Folau

My best back 3 would have to be

15. Folau
14. North (I know he's a left wing but he's too good not to pick)
11. Savea

 

[ollecrab]

Well it's a good think Izzy Folau isn't a kiwi theni



U wot? Out of form? Really?


I'm starting to get nervous sweats about the England team. Surely we're not stupid enough to pick Ashton and Youngs and out Manu on the wing?

Manu on the wing sounds good, him and jane will beable to have a catch up over a cuppa tea out there

 

[SomeOke]

New Zealand: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Jerome Kaino, 7 Richie McCaw (captain), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Victor Vito, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Malakai Fekitoa.

Team more or less the same for the All Blacks but the one pretty obvious change has been made. Good to see BSmith playing where he should be, Savea back can only be a good thing as well. Personally I would rather see Barret start purely based on form, but they likely consider it less of a risk than playing Cruden just out of injury. Anyway this team is good enough to do the business, but who knows.

God knows who I'll support when the whistle blows.