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

[RoosTah]

This is the most "flattering" 1-point loss I've ever witnessed watching Rugby. If you look at the score, you'd think this was an absolute nail-biter. Incredible to see that score at the end if you've actually watched the match.
First half belonged to England. Ran out of gas and the second half belonged to NZ. But Eng with a strong reaction towards the last 15min.
Well done, both teams. Another very cool match. Props to England.

First 20 minutes were all England, but you could see the All Blacks rallying well before half time and they started hammering them in the forwards before they went in for the break. England were also quite lucky to get away with their constant rucking infringements - ever second ruck they had a guy putting his feet in there from an offside position.

 

[Aristodemus]

Proud of the lads, Ben Smith is a beast and we were clearly burnt out from that first half. Lancaster needed to empty the bench much earlier I feel and I really didn't like his lineup. Didn't Savea knock on on the last NZ try though? Nobody seemed to mention it though so maybe I am wrong. Anyway, I really hope we see Launchbury Lawes in the 2nd row and go back to Eastmond Tuilagi in midfield. Going to be some sore bodies tomorrow morning!

 

[martinspoonboy1]

Good character from the lads til the end (seems to be a trait since the Cardiff meltdown) but we were outplayed in the second half. Great game to watch.

 

[Bazzy]

Fun game. So considering that you don't have to ground the ball to score a try, is it still a try if you are on your back over the try but still holding the ball. Your back is in contact with the ground!

 

[Tony Manx]

I would agree with you BUT surely after this debacle Hansen must realise there are about 4 or 5 players in this team he needs to change out. I suspect its going to take until next year though.
IF that AB team had the right selection of form players and old heads we'd be 20 clear of this England team every test at home.

SCW just said AB's were fantastic!!! Well he did call for Manu on the wing last week......................

 

[Maverick1987]

It was conclusive. Both the ref and TMO saw an arm under the ball. The only reason a try was awarded was because the TMO stated it was an English arm so for some reason didn't count!

The whole question system is stupid . Is there any reason I can't award a try etc . Needs changing imo

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

SCW needs to shut up, moaning about selections. Webber played well.

 

[Tony Manx]

The whole question system is stupid . Is there any reason I can't award a try etc . Needs changing imo

Gives some of the Kiwis something to moan about......would not be Sunday after a rugby match if they did not have something to moan about....!!

 

[austingtir]

First 20 minutes were all England, but you could see the All Blacks rallying well before half time and they started hammering them in the forwards before they went in for the break. England were also quite lucky to get away with their constant rucking infringements - ever second ruck they had a guy putting his feet in there from an offside position.

They did that last week aswell what is the story with this? I have no idea how they are getting away with it.

 

[barkinghooker]

Wow. What a game. The abs were class in the second half but to score 3 times is a big positive. Not sure the Manu wing role worked to well. I'd go back to a proper winger and use him as a sub.

 

[RoosTah]

The whole question system is stupid . Is there any reason I can't award a try etc . Needs changing imo

The question was fine. It was the answer that didn't make sense; there was a clear reason not to award the try and it should have been provided.

 

[goodNumber10]

Manu cant make important offloads/passing.

There are plenty of occasions when he hasn't, one swallow and summer spring to mind mate.

First 20 minutes were all England, but you could see the All Blacks rallying well before half time and they started hammering them in the forwards before they went in for the break. England were also quite lucky to get away with their constant rucking infringements - ever second ruck they had a guy putting his feet in there from an offside position.

Perhaps, but then New Zealand were also quite lucky to get away with their off the ball nudges and blocking lines on Englands kick chase (again) - Yarde never once wasn't hit on the chase.

My point isn't to moan but more if you trawl through the game only looking for negatives you'll find them for both sides, especially at ruck time - NZ sealing off for example.

Both sides played some fantastic positive rugby, how about we all applaud that before complaining about reffing decisions? (not having a go, just suggesting for everyone)

The question was fine. It was the answer that didn't make sense; there was a clear reason not to award the try and it should have been provided.

Didn't think that mattered if it was an england hand (which it was brown, wears the wrist bands we saw under the ball).

Guess this one is for smart cooky.

 

[smartcooky]

This is the most "flattering" 1-point loss I've ever witnessed watching Rugby. If you look at the score, you'd think this was an absolute nail-biter. Incredible to see that score at the end if you've actually watched the match.
First half belonged to England. Ran out of gas and the second half belonged to NZ. But Eng with a strong reaction towards the last 15min.
Well done, both teams. Another very cool match. Props to England.

I agree. The score flattered England.The All Blacks dominated for all but the first and last 10 minutes. They were dominant in the lineout and in the scrum for all but the last few minutes.
There is no way on God's green earth that Mike Brown's try should have been awarded. George Ayoub needs to be put out to pasture.

 

[exeter]

New Zealand were 15-20pts better, despite the final score. I don't know what New Zealand put in their halftime kiwis, but they utterly dominated the 25 minutes after the break.

The Tuilagi experiment didn't work - England's best player was stuck out on the wing and hardly got the ball. Apart from that, England's first half was very good, but the players switched off after halftime - and kicking from the half-backs was poor.

On the bright side, this is an England side still on an upward curve, with still a lot to learn, combinations to find and a couple of players to come back from injury.

Hartley, Lawes and Vunipola to come back next week. Ashton to come in for Burrell.

 

[Bazzy]

Jaco Peyper looked pretty amused when the TMO said that but I guess he couldn't call him out in front of international audience.

 

[austingtir]

Funny how we dont hear any Aussies praising Folau's name after that Ben Smith performance. IMO he was outstanding despite Jane out there "helping" him.

 

[dasNdanger]

I'm not overly thrilled by this win mostly because the ABs seem to have invented a new type of game - bipolar rugby. They're on fire one minute, and then making dumb mistakes the next. Last week was worse, so I'm hoping they're just having a bit of a struggle finding their rhythm. But let's face it, if England hadn't made dumber mistakes, they very well could have walked away with both games so far.


das

 

[Phlegm & Poise]

Sounds odd, but England lost that game in the first half. The amount of chances they butchered, they could easily have been 17-3 or something up at halftime, and then it really is game on. As it is, 10-6 is an advantage, but one which means nothing really.

NZ were so good in the period after half time though - they had a similar 'dominant' patch in the first game but Morgan's break down the blindside gave England some respite then, this time no-one quite managed to force something big like that and England's kicking from hand throughout the game was really poor.

I wanted Lancaster to change things up in midfield especially earlier.

 

[Tony Manx]

Jaco Peyper looked pretty amused ........

........that would be a first!!!

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

There are plenty of occasions when he hasn't, one swallow and summer spring to mind mate.

I agree

No but where was the centres passing? Just annoys me that that people mention Manu hands but where in England who has shown at top class international level centre shown they have the handling skills to match NZ, AUS or SA. (Eastmond has the most potential).

I understand Manu doesn't pass much but at least when he gets the ball he goes forward. Twelvetrees hasn't shown a clean distributors skillset outside of club imo.