Official Rugby Thread

[hendrix]

Finally, Ben Smith at fullback.

With Cory Jane at right wing and Julian Savea back on the left wing, this is our strongest back three.

Not far away from our strongest team either.

 

[91Jmay]

Terrific half so far. Worry is that we played well and only have 4 point lead. Good for England is how strong our bench is. Can't wait to see Courtney Lawes on after an hour, absolute monster of a player.

 

[Flem274*]

What's the rule regarding your own arm? Did Mike Brown block his own try or is your arm an extension of the ball?

 

[social]

Result was never in doubt from the time the dickheads in the English press started claiming that the ABs had lost their aura

Couple of late tries made it close but truth is that the Kiwis did it easy

 

[Hurricane]

Result was never in doubt from the time the dickheads in the English press started claiming that the ABs had lost their aura

Couple of late tries made it close but truth is that the Kiwis did it easy

Can't say this on cricsim as I have said enough on the topic - but the game was lost as soon as they put Manu on the wing.

 

[James]

What a difference Beauden Barrett makes to the All Blacks when he comes on. Surely Barrett has to start next week, and the sooner we have Read back, the better. Continuing to struggle to have any decent go-forward without him IMO. I'd dump Cruden all together and bring Slade onto the bench.

England wouldn't be a bad bet for World Cup winners next year. Homeground advantage and playing the way they are, they'll go far. Some real class in their lineup.

 

[Hurricane]

What a difference Beauden Barrett makes to the All Blacks when he comes on. Surely Barrett has to start next week, and the sooner we have Read back, the better. Continuing to struggle to have any decent go-forward without him IMO. I'd dump Cruden all together and bring Slade onto the bench.

England wouldn't be a bad bet for World Cup winners next year. Homeground advantage and playing the way they are, they'll go far. Some real class in their lineup.

I have predicted England to win it. But not with that line up of backs they won't even get out of their very difficult pool.

 

[James]

I have predicted England to win it. But not with that line up of backs they won't even get out of their very difficult pool.

As their coach said before the game, they're still trying things out. Come next year, they'll be shining through and will get through their pool IMO. Tuilagi as a lot of people thought would happen was wasted out on the wing tonight so that will be the end of that I imagine.

 

[Mike5181]

Notes:

• Cory Jane was terrible. Almost every time he was involved he either dropped it, or it was a turnover.
• Beauden Barrett should be our starting 10. Cruden doesn't look test standard at the moment.
• Aaron Smith's aimless kicking was really bad. As Kaino said at half-time, their decision making particularly in regard to kicking was poor. Ball retention should have been the main focus. Then out comes Smith in the first minute of the second half and decides to put up two ridiculous box kicks.
• Ben Smith is class, but we already knew that. He breaks the first tackle nearly every time he gets the ball.
• Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the ball has to touch the ground for it to be a try? The fact that it was Brown's hand underneath the ball and not Jane's shouldn't change that.
• Manu Tuilagi's possibly wasted on the wing. I'm not sure he has the pace for the position either. Ben Smith is quick, but he's not that quick.

 

[Hurricane]

As their coach said before the game, they're still trying things out. Come next year, they'll be shining through and will get through their pool IMO. Tuilagi as a lot of people thought would happen was wasted out on the wing tonight so that will be the end of that I imagine.

Ok good points. If this was just an experiment then they have a chance.

Notes:

• Cory Jane was terrible. Almost every time he was involved he either dropped it, or it was a turnover.
• Beauden Barrett should be our starting 10. Cruden doesn't look test standard at the moment.
• Aaron Smith's aimless kicking was really bad. As Kaino said at half-time, their decision making particularly in regard to kicking was poor. Ball retention should have been the main focus. Then out comes Smith in the first minute of the second half and decides to put up two ridiculous box kicks.
• Ben Smith is class, but we already knew that. He breaks the first tackle nearly every time he gets the ball.
• Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the ball has to touch the ground for it to be a try? The fact that it was Brown's hand underneath the ball and not Jane's shouldn't change that.
• Manu Tuilagi's possibly wasted on the wing. I'm not sure he has the pace for the position either. Ben Smith is quick, but he's not that quick.

Agree with all your points. Don't mind Cruden too much. Do think Barrett is better though.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Quite a pleasant surprise seeing how England are competing so well on this tour. Was worried all the optimism might be shot down by getting hammered but that hasn't been the case. Obviously losing both games isn't great but we have done far better than I expected.

 

[hendrix]

What a difference Beauden Barrett makes to the All Blacks when he comes on. Surely Barrett has to start next week, and the sooner we have Read back, the better. Continuing to struggle to have any decent go-forward without him IMO. I'd dump Cruden all together and bring Slade onto the bench.

Disagree.
I come from Wellington so I love Barrett, but the English were broken by the time Barrett came on. Slade isn't a patch on either of the two, I'm afraid. What exactly did Cruden do poorly?

Cory Jane butchered a first half try, and Aaron Smith's kicking was poor, and Richie McCaw slipped off a tackle.. (love Aaron Smith though, great halfback).

However, the biggest non-performing starter for the ABs was Liam Messam (again). He looks great against weak forward packs like the Aussies, but as soon as he comes up against SA or the English he folds. The sooner Kaino reclaims 6 the better - we'd be better off starting Vito at 8 in the absence of Read, IMO, and move Kaino back to 6 ASAP.

 

[social]

Disagree.
I come from Wellington so I love Barrett, but the English were broken by the time Barrett came on. Slade isn't a patch on either of the two, I'm afraid. What exactly did Cruden do poorly?

Cory Jane butchered a first half try, and Aaron Smith's kicking was poor, and Richie McCaw slipped off a tackle.. (love Aaron Smith though, great halfback).

However, the biggest non-performing starter for the ABs was Liam Messam (again). He looks great against weak forward packs like the Aussies, but as soon as he comes up against SA or the English he folds. The sooner Kaino reclaims 6 the better - we'd be better off starting Vito at 8 in the absence of Read, IMO, and move Kaino back to 6 ASAP.

One of my good mates is Alan Lewis (Alan Lewis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia) and he repeatedly tells me how crap the Oz pack is

Whenever I point out 2 WCs, he says " well ........."

Oz forwards aren't that bad but our tactics are

 

[social]

Very poor test

 

[ripper868]

That was atrocious. If anyone is wanting to watch a replay, don't.

 

[91Jmay]

Can't wait for Christian Wade to be back on the wing with Manu at center with Billy. Wade the best English finisher I have ever seen.

Our pack is good enough to win a world cup, the backs a bit more of a work in progress but there is certainly talent in there. Our pool is very difficult but if we get out of it think we have a shot at getting to the final.

2nd half was disappointing, thought Farrell's yellow was very harsh as it looked like a maul to me but the ABs had more than enough to win. Game was over 10 mins to go, scoreboard not reflective of how comfortable it was. Is very grating watching NZ though, almost every 50/50 call goes their way. Not to mention Nigel Owens appalling miss call on Care's kick being out on the full.

 

[dermo]

thats what happens when you allow the cancer that is brumbies ball to spread through the national team, nic white should be forever banished from the wallaby set up.

 

[91Jmay]

Willie Le Roux. What a genius. So many great 15s around today.

 

[Flem274*]

I come from Wellington so I love Barrett

hendrix continuing the great tradition of the big six claiming the provinces players as their own i see. as if conrad smith wasn't enough.

 

[Frost]

I guess the abs have lost their aura winning all these games and what not.......