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

[Geordie]

I think Lancaster is just trying things. He wants to see combinations. Hes wanted to see Tuilagion the wing for a long time now. Its not a secret. Buts its a move im not sure on.

He obviously likes the combo of Burrell and Twelvetrees. It possibly gives him more options than say Burrell and Tuilagi....

Eastmond is unlucky as is Haskell...but i think they'll have been told its about trialling a few things....and maybe they'll be back for an all out assault on the AB's in the final test with a full strength side or at least the best performing players getting a run out.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

As said, really harsh on Haskell and Eastmond.
Haskell you can understand as Lancaster likes replacing his 8, and two of the locks can cover the flank, but putting the chocolate teapot that is Ashton in over....well, pretty much any back is a terrible shout.

 

[goodNumber10]

No no but a 23 with half of it the exact same, can you call that second string?

You're arguing semantics over two words. It was clearly a hugely weakened England side.

I think Lancaster is just trying things. He wants to see combinations. Hes wanted to see Tuilagion the wing for a long time now. Its not a secret. Buts its a move im not sure on.

He obviously likes the combo of Burrell and Twelvetrees. It possibly gives him more options than say Burrell and Tuilagi....

Eastmond is unlucky as is Haskell...but i think they'll have been told its about trialling a few things....and maybe they'll be back for an all out assault on the AB's in the final test with a full strength side or at least the best performing players getting a run out.

I think the 36 and Burrell combination is there to straighten the line which strangely Manu and Eastmond dont' do - Tuilagi likes to take people on the outside and he gets us to the gainline, but unless he's close to the try line I don't recall him hitting unders - Burrell likes to come in field on the pass which in theory will stop that crabbing we did last week and leave more space for Brown and the Wingers to hit.

 

[ratsapprentice]

No no but a 23 with half of it the exact same, can you call that second string?

Ok let's put out the AB's equivalent to last week's England team (in terms of pecking order, not player equivalent):

1. Crockett
2. Harris/Coltman? (3rd choice)
3. Faumuina
4. Retallick
5. Tuipulotu
6. Vito?? (3rd choice)
7. McCaw
8. Kaino
9. Perenara
10. Barrett
11. Jane
12. Crotty/Taylor?
13. Smith
14. Piutau
15. Smith

16. errr... pick a hooker who's 3rd choice for his franchise!
17. ??? (4th choice)
18. Afeaki?
19. Thrush/Bird
20. Latimer??? (5th choice?)
21. TKB
22. Slade
23. Anscombe

 

[Maverick1987]

No no but a 23 with half of it the exact same, can you call that second string?

We have 8 injuries as well remember and because of the standard the second team played at last week some people kept their places who wouldn't have been in the team otherwise

 

[ratsapprentice]

Positive mindset, guys!

 

[ollecrab]

Looks like everyone thinks that the English are going down and using the excuse of a second string team.
ABs are without Reid and have Cruden and Jane starting, is this a second string team?

 

[ratsapprentice]

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I think we'll see a reasonably big win for the All Blacks in this match, possibly the biggest for this series.

NZ 35 - 13 ENG

 

[goodNumber10]

Looks like everyone thinks that the English are going down and using the excuse of a second string team.
ABs are without Reid and have Cruden and Jane starting, is this a second string team?

Last week called it want's it's post back.

 

[ollecrab]

I think we'll see a reasonably big win for the All Blacks in this match, possibly the biggest for this series.

NZ 35 - 13 ENG

The ABs coaches and players need a good wake up with the WC around the corner

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I think we'll see a reasonably big win for the All Blacks in this match, possibly the biggest for this series.

NZ 35 - 13 ENG

Blooming heck, that's a bit optimistic. If I were a betting man I'd say the ABs are still favourites, but I think it will be much, much closer; by a score of less than 5. England are really pumped for this and will compete hard at the breakdown, scrums, line outs and mauls. In the past 3 contests between the 2, the ABs have not bettered England in these key areas.

Every top team peaks and it is impossible to keep that level up. Look at a team like Barcelona in 2011, they were at a tremendous peak of their cycle (the words of SAF when Man U lost the CL final). The year after they lost to Chelsea in the semis, the season after that they were spanked 7-0 on aggregate by Bayern. The same went for Bayern where they peaked last season and then were spanked by Real this year.

For me, the All Blacks have reached that plateau and it is only a matter of time now that they will be beaten.

 

[ollecrab]

Last week called it want's it's post back.

If England had what you call the top team on the paddock, are you confident they will blow the ABs off the park?

 

[goodNumber10]

If England had what you call the top team on the paddock, are you confident they will blow the ABs off the park?

what does that have to do with your original point?

No one is saying this week is a second string side, everyone is saying last weeks wa s asecond string side.

Keep up at the back.

 

[Darwin]

I think we'll see a reasonably big win for the All Blacks in this match, possibly the biggest for this series.

NZ 35 - 13 ENG

I agree. I'm predicting a similar margin. I expect our backs to thrive under the roof. The English side and supporters seem confident they will be able to cope with a fast-paced open match - I guess we will find out on Saturday!

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I agree. I'm predicting a similar margin. I expect our backs to thrive under the roof. The English side and supporters seem confident they will be able to cope with a fast-paced open match - I guess we will find out on Saturday!

That's if they get hold of the ball.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

England going for the Clarkson school of rugby:

 

[Big Ewis]

Not happy. That is all...

have faith, Mumbles !

About Tuilagi on the wing, I'd be confident he'll fall right in to place. He just won't be a kicking winger. He'll play Tuilagi-ball, but on the outside in stead of midfield...defense won't be a problem. In fact he has a much better chance of containing a Savea than fkng Jonny May. The only problem will be the high ball for him, but that's just a risk to take from Lancaster. Hopefully England position themselves as best they can to avoid him handling/receiving the ball too much, but he'll be huge in bringing the ball up the pitch, and isn't exactly a piece of cake to tackle into touch.
NZ will have to contain him along with Twelvetrees and Burrell all at the same time, at all times, and that's a lot of meat. And Yarde has that low center of gravity and quick steps and they'll have to watch out for him too.
With Mike Brown at FB, a ball of nerve in Danny Care and a handful in Owen Farrell, NZ are really going to have their hands full defending the backline alone; and it may not play a style similar to that of the Wallabies, but it plays fairly efficiently and simply, they don't over-complicate things on attack (like a certain side...).
If their handling improves just a bit from last week and they gain confidence passing the ball fluidly, NZ are in for a difficult time.

And that's just the backs. NZ have to deal with the England pack first.

My prognostic:
I'm going to go conservative and vote for NZ winning this. England do need to keep the same intensity as last week and they may not handle too well given the pace of these matches and have looked overtaken by it in Test 1. I see the NZ forwards play with more commitment on the floor, and with Savea back and Bin Smuth back in place at 15, while considering the fact their attack and overall play will certainly be sharper...England look good but they could be in for a long one too.
NZ 25-16 ENG.

 

[Darwin]

That's if they get hold of the ball.

We have never really had any problems getting hold of the ball in the past - I can't see it being a problem on Saturday...

 

[goodNumber10]

We have never really had any problems getting hold of the ball in the past - I can't see it being a problem on Saturday...

agreed, i don't think getting the ball is a problem for the AB's - quality of ball was an issue last week, and traditionally NZ don't really care about possesion it's about good possesion and what you do with it - trys in under 5 cycles anyone?

The biggest issue for you is in broken play where your missing Read, it's really changed your attack system and the guys didn't look comfortable last week playing a punch and spread pattern.

That'll be different this week. Will be interesting to see how England approach defending you.