England v New Zealand

[bondiallblack]

You're about as useful as a one-legged man in an arse kicking contest mate!!!

The question was "Anyone know a pub playing the game in Sydney out Eastern Suburbs or in the city"

i wasnt asking for a link to sentana sports!!! ffs

 

[Shaggy]

It'd be nice just to have a first five on the bench full stop! :roll:.

We have mate ... I think his name is Toeava ... does anyone know if he can kick goals?

 

[nickdnz]

We have mate ... I think his name is Toeava ... does anyone know if he can kick goals?

Actually he can. Always wondered why he was never given any duties. In November 2005, during the U19 World Championship, he kicked 37 points in four matches, while also scoring five tries, finishing on 62 points in the tornement. I'd happily play him instead of Donald.

 

[Shaggy]

Actually he can. Always wondered why he was never given any duties. In November 2005, during the U19 World Championship, he kicked 37 points in four matches, while also scoring five tries, finishing on 62 points in the tornement. I'd happily play him instead of Donald.

It would certainly free up a the bench options if he was covering the first five/back up kicker options ... I wonder if they'd try it

 

[nickdnz]

It would certainly free up a the bench options if he was covering the first five/back up kicker options ... I wonder if they'd try it

Doubt it, if they were considering it, they would have tried it by now. It's a shame, because I think he'd make a good cover as a 1st 5/8th, and it would free up the bench even further. I think it would also result in him getting more game time, so I certainly would have given him a shot at it. I think because he's been around for so long, people forget he's only 24. He has plenty of time to further develop his game, so maybe in the future he may take a goal kicking role. That said, because he hasn't had goal kicking duties in 5 years, I doubt he'll ever be a first choice kicker.

 

[northharbour]

You're about as useful as a one-legged man in an arse kicking contest mate!!!

The question was "Anyone know a pub playing the game in Sydney out Eastern Suburbs or in the city"

i wasnt asking for a link to sentana sports!!! ffs

Well i'm sorry then for trying to help :-\

 

[TRF C A Iversen]

I'm predicting a low scoring first half and a bunch of very knackered England players in the second half which will translate to the All Blacks winning by 8-12 at the final whistle.

 

[Hurricane Nate]

8-12? really?. More 9-28 if the ABs come anywhere near top gear and if England take them on at their own game. Look what happened to the french last year. England better hope SBW starts at number 12, that might see the AB backline misfire a bit as he hasn't played with anyone in that backline and still looks a bit suspect IMO. On the other hand if he did start he's proabably got dummy runner written all over him so never mind combinations just having him running dummy lines and fakes would open up bountiful space surely. Mix that with him taking it to the line and offloading and the rest of the backs could have a pretty good day at the office providing they get front foot ball. He'd be lucky to make the bench though...

 

[veux]

I had no idea Ben Foden was so young, from his look/playing he appears about 30, I didn't realize he was only 25...

 

[Teh Mite]

Mike Ford confirms that England are still endevoring to be the most boring rugby team on the planet..

So much for the "rugby league people only like to win through attack" ethos.

I'll challenge the boring statement though - That goes to South Dropgoalia.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

The only two players who remain in the XV from the last time England playing New Zealand are Cueto (who was at FB) and Moody
Hartley started at 2 as well



Anyone know when the NZ squad get anounced?

 

[Shaggy]

The only two players who remain in the XV from the last time England playing New Zealand are Cueto (who was at FB) and Moody
Hartley started at 2 as well



Anyone know when the NZ squad get anounced?

The policy seems to be naming the AB's team on Thursday NZ time, so that's today ... I think they named the team to play in Hong Kong around lunch time in NZ, not sure if that will change though, because that's midnight where they are/in your part of the world

 

[Larksea]

yeah I expect it to be named mid day thursday UK time so we will find out friday morning NZ time I guess.

Though the midia obviously havn't bowed to the coaches request not to release the combinations they are running in training which usually tell what the actualy side will be.

So far from the media loosk like Sonny Bill & Whitelock could get a start. maybe a couple changes on the bench. Obvious one being Ben franks for Afoa and Maybe Messam for Braid & Boric to replace Whitelock.

 

[Larksea]

could see Mathewson start as well by the sounds.

 

[gingergenius]

i thought cowan was excellent against Australia... why Mathewson?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Just read an article on Planet Rugby that said that SBW is likely to start at 13 tomorrow (as mentioned above)
I'm interested to see how he goes against Hape (I know Hape is 12 but whatever) - I think they're very similar players, i watched a highlight video of Hapes time at Bradford and he looks exactly like Williams - same big hits, same offloading, same step, it's mad.

Will be also be interesting to see Tindall vs SBW. 13 is very positional/takes knowhow, i think Tindall will school him tbh. He's not the fastest or strongest guy around, but he's got a truckload of experience, and has been on good form for Gloucester so far.

 

[Darwin]

i thought cowan was excellent against Australia... why Mathewson?

I think selecting Mathewson would be a strange decision to be honest. As you say, Cowan was excellent against Australia (after being average for most of the tri-nations) - it seems strange to reward a strong performance by dropping him to the bench. Despite this, I will be very excited if Mathewson does start - I've been wanting them to give Mathewson game time all year, as he was easily the form NZ halfback of the Super 14 in my opinion. Selecting Mathewson points to an 'all out attack' philosophy, as he's got a far better running game than Cowan - hopefully we get to see this running game at international level.

 

[Hurricane Nate]

Surely SBW won't get a start at number 13 he's been at 12 through the ITM cup. Smith is too good and would do a better job of looking after SBW playing at 12 than Nonu would if he were 12 and SBW 13. Nonu is only as good as he is because of his combination with Smith. Anyways SBW will be lucky to make then bench if he does make the starting lineup would show they don't really rate England much.

 

[Shaggy]

yeah I expect it to be named mid day thursday UK time so we will find out friday morning NZ time I guess.

Though the midia obviously havn't bowed to the coaches request not to release the combinations they are running in training which usually tell what the actualy side will be.

So far from the media loosk like Sonny Bill & Whitelock could get a start. maybe a couple changes on the bench. Obvious one being Ben franks for Afoa and Maybe Messam for Braid & Boric to replace Whitelock.

Just heard that the AB's are named at 6:30 pm today (NZ Time)

 

[smartcooky]

I have no problem with a Nonu-SBW pairing on attack; its the defensive acpect that has me worried.

1. Nonu falls off tackles too regularly for my liking. He missed a couple of sitters in the Hong Kong test, one of which IIRC led directly to a try, and the other was in the build-up to a try.

2. Sonny Bill may not know what defensive lines to run at centre, and a wily old campaigner like Mike Tindall will spot that in a flash. Cart-horse or not, he will know how to exploit it.

I would rather see an SBW-Smith combination, with Nonu on the bench covering wing-centre-2nd 5/8. This would put Gear and Rokocoko on the wings.



PS: For what its worth, I will be very surprised if SBW starts at 13 outside Nonu. If you recall a week or two back, Steve Hansen made some comment where he asked NZ media not to publish what the AB's do in their training runs. This business with Nonu & SBW running together in training could well be a smoke screen