@KiwiMurph said in England v All Blacks:

@brodean said in England v All Blacks:

@sparky said in England v All Blacks:

@Dodge England are a damn good side at the moment. Lots of balance to their game, they are really well drilled and confident in what they are doing, they have threat in so many aspects of their play, young guys like Feyi-Waboso, Pollock and Pepper are coming on leaps and bounds at the moment.

The Triple Crown, the Six Nations Title and the Grand Slam are all realistic objectives for England in the spring and making the Nations Championship final and the World Cup Final beyond that.

There was no shame in losing to England.

What there was deep shame in for the All Blacks was the manner of the defeat and the performance that proceeded it. We were way off.

We beat England reasonably comfortably in all 3 games last year. This manner of win shows that England have clearly improved while we have either stagnated or gone backwards.

Reasonably comfortably? What?

The ABs scraped home at Eden Park last year vs England due to the bench and the ABs were very lucky not to lose at Twickenham last year - Telea's match winning try only occurred because Beauden got subbed off due to injury (so Telea came back on the field after being subbed off). Combine that with George Ford having a shocking bench appearance for England and they missed two late chances to win it themselves (missed penalty which hit the post and a missed drop goal).

Edit - and the opening test of Razor's tenure the ABs won by 1 point in Dunedin.

Yeah fair enough I take your point. If you look at those matches I believe we were leading the majority of the time regardless of the points difference.

We historically do poorly in the first test.

@brodean said in England v All Blacks:

@KiwiMurph said in England v All Blacks:

@brodean said in England v All Blacks:

@sparky said in England v All Blacks:

@Dodge England are a damn good side at the moment. Lots of balance to their game, they are really well drilled and confident in what they are doing, they have threat in so many aspects of their play, young guys like Feyi-Waboso, Pollock and Pepper are coming on leaps and bounds at the moment.

The Triple Crown, the Six Nations Title and the Grand Slam are all realistic objectives for England in the spring and making the Nations Championship final and the World Cup Final beyond that.

There was no shame in losing to England.

What there was deep shame in for the All Blacks was the manner of the defeat and the performance that proceeded it. We were way off.

We beat England reasonably comfortably in all 3 games last year. This manner of win shows that England have clearly improved while we have either stagnated or gone backwards.

Reasonably comfortably? What?

The ABs scraped home at Eden Park last year vs England due to the bench and the ABs were very lucky not to lose at Twickenham last year - Telea's match winning try only occurred because Beauden got subbed off due to injury (so Telea came back on the field after being subbed off). Combine that with George Ford having a shocking bench appearance for England and they missed two late chances to win it themselves (missed penalty which hit the post and a missed drop goal).

Edit - and the opening test of Razor's tenure the ABs won by 1 point in Dunedin.

Yeah fair enough I take your point. If you look at those matches I believe we were leading the majority of the time regardless of the points difference.

I've barely felt comfortable during an entire ABs performance since before the Ireland QF in 2023

@canefan said in England v All Blacks:

@brodean said in England v All Blacks:

@KiwiMurph said in England v All Blacks:

@brodean said in England v All Blacks:

@sparky said in England v All Blacks:

@Dodge England are a damn good side at the moment. Lots of balance to their game, they are really well drilled and confident in what they are doing, they have threat in so many aspects of their play, young guys like Feyi-Waboso, Pollock and Pepper are coming on leaps and bounds at the moment.

The Triple Crown, the Six Nations Title and the Grand Slam are all realistic objectives for England in the spring and making the Nations Championship final and the World Cup Final beyond that.

There was no shame in losing to England.

What there was deep shame in for the All Blacks was the manner of the defeat and the performance that proceeded it. We were way off.

We beat England reasonably comfortably in all 3 games last year. This manner of win shows that England have clearly improved while we have either stagnated or gone backwards.

Reasonably comfortably? What?

The ABs scraped home at Eden Park last year vs England due to the bench and the ABs were very lucky not to lose at Twickenham last year - Telea's match winning try only occurred because Beauden got subbed off due to injury (so Telea came back on the field after being subbed off). Combine that with George Ford having a shocking bench appearance for England and they missed two late chances to win it themselves (missed penalty which hit the post and a missed drop goal).

Edit - and the opening test of Razor's tenure the ABs won by 1 point in Dunedin.

Yeah fair enough I take your point. If you look at those matches I believe we were leading the majority of the time regardless of the points difference.

I've barely felt comfortable during an entire ABs performance since before the Ireland QF in 2023

I thought our loose forwards in the first two tests last year clearly won the contact. Statistically we had the fastest ruck ball in both games.

@game_film said in England v All Blacks:

I honestly think Beauden is calling it after Wales

something in his face as he left the field on sunday gave me the same impression TBH

Moving Jordan, who was the worlds premiere winger, to fullback is such a great example of how these coaches have absolutely no idea what they are doing at test level. Nary a thought for the defensive side of test footy, or the importance of the 15 marshalling the troops from the back, or their ability to be a playmaker, it was just "he did well there at Super look at the tries he scored! Let's put him there for the ABs!!".

Such low IQ stuff. It was so obvious that all of his flaws would get exposed at the back, and so it has come to pass. The only thing worse is that they continue to persist playing him there. The absolute height of idiocy.

The other obvious example already mentioned is moving Rieko on and putting blokes with no defensive ability at 13, only for them to get exposed over and over again. For all the "both sides of the ball" horseshit they trotted out to explain away their ridiculous anti-Blues bias, they don't seem to have any idea what that phrase even means.

@No-Quarter I think that's a bit harsh.

Yes Jordan has glaring weaknesses, but he's no worse than our other options under the high ball. His blinkers and poor passing cause issues on the wing too. He was the best fullback in Super, it's worth a go.
Ioane was not flourishing at 13 last year, and there was a lot of criticism on here. Proctor was outstanding in Super as was Tupaea, and Jordie carved it up up north. Again worth a go.

Having said that, if you try something and it doesn't work, then it fucking well should be changed.

I would say (yet again) that the backs' problems are at 10 and the game plan. If you won't change those, then nobody in the backs is really getting a fair go.

@mariner4life said in England v All Blacks:

@game_film said in England v All Blacks:

I honestly think Beauden is calling it after Wales

something in his face as he left the field on sunday gave me the same impression TBH

But thats also bollox if it happens, even if I want him gone.

We have spent 2 years of this World Cup cycle with him getting the most minutes at ten.

Shows a player and coach not on the same page.

Im sure Hansen was aware McCaw and Carters last rodeo was the 2015 final.

Would Razor pick Beauden as his 10 for two years if he knew he was going mid cycle?

Love/Jacomb/DMAC could have got more minutes.

@reprobate I am not sure it is that harsh, even the casual observer can see the weaknesses in Jordan's game and how they would be far more apparent at 15, just ask @Bones.

The casual observer could also see the huge upside Rieko brought to the team on defense, and could also see that his attacking ability could be much better utilised by giving him a yard of space instead of using him as a crash ball merchant. It was also obvious to the casual observer that Proctor was never going to be suitable for the way they want to use the centre, with the added downside of being much poorer defensively.

Nearly every single issue with the current side that casual observers were pointing out have come to pass. And they came to pass in a BIG way against an English side that didn't even play close to their own potential, without even mentioning all the other record losses under these clowns.

@reprobate said in England v All Blacks:

@No-Quarter I think that's a bit harsh.

I would say (yet again) that the backs' problems are at 10 and the game plan. If you won't change those, then nobody in the backs is really getting a fair go.

That only applies to attack though. Beauden has actually been a reliable tackle this year.

@No-Quarter said in England v All Blacks:

against an English side that didn't even play close to their own potential,

this is it eh. They didn't play well and yet we conceded 33 points.

@brodean said in England v All Blacks:

@reprobate said in England v All Blacks:

@No-Quarter I think that's a bit harsh.

I would say (yet again) that the backs' problems are at 10 and the game plan. If you won't change those, then nobody in the backs is really getting a fair go.

That only applies to attack though. Beauden has actually been a reliable tackle this year.

Yeah he has defended solidly, I have no issue there.
On the weekend: Carter's miss and in a no-win situation he couldn't make the cover tackle, and he got run over by a forward on the line - but that's not his fault, he shouldn't have to defend in those positions.
It's stifling the attack that's the issue.

@No-Quarter said in England v All Blacks:

@reprobate I am not sure it is that harsh, even the casual observer can see the weaknesses in Jordan's game and how they would be far more apparent at 15, just ask @Bones.

The casual observer could also see the huge upside Rieko brought to the team on defense, and could also see that his attacking ability could be much better utilised by giving him a yard of space instead of using him as a crash ball merchant. It was also obvious to the casual observer that Proctor was never going to be suitable for the way they want to use the centre, with the added downside of being much poorer defensively.

Nearly every single issue with the current side that casual observers were pointing out have come to pass. And they came to pass in a BIG way against an English side that didn't even play close to their own potential, without even mentioning all the other record losses under these clowns.

Equally a shitload of casual observers would have been happy to see Jordan there and Ioane out though bro.

@reprobate said in England v All Blacks:

@No-Quarter I think that's a bit harsh.

Yes Jordan has glaring weaknesses, but he's no worse than our other options under the high ball. His blinkers and poor passing cause issues on the wing too. He was the best fullback in Super, it's worth a go.
Ioane was not flourishing at 13 last year, and there was a lot of criticism on here. Proctor was outstanding in Super as was Tupaea, and Jordie carved it up up north. Again worth a go.

Having said that, if you try something and it doesn't work, then it fucking well should be changed.

I would say (yet again) that the backs' problems are at 10 and the game plan. If you won't change those, then nobody in the backs is really getting a fair go.

It is interesting question though
if Super just isn't good enough prep for test level
or if our players at Super require different skills as ABs
and/or if the coaching (skills and strategy) at AB level is incapable of helping players play to a higher level.

@No-Quarter thing is, we have missed the opportunity with Rieko, hisnpacebisnt what it was, yet back through Fozzie years, they wanted him there crashing it up, but ignoring his pace.

They wanted a 12 like Laumape.with Goodhues brain, so asked Goodhue to play like Laumape, instead of utilising Laumape for his trick.

Been some real issues.ths past years about how they want to play and shoehorning players in rather than the best player for the position

@reprobate said in England v All Blacks:

@brodean said in England v All Blacks:

@reprobate said in England v All Blacks:

@No-Quarter I think that's a bit harsh.

I would say (yet again) that the backs' problems are at 10 and the game plan. If you won't change those, then nobody in the backs is really getting a fair go.

That only applies to attack though. Beauden has actually been a reliable tackle this year.

Yeah he has defended solidly, I have no issue there.
On the weekend: Carter's miss and in a no-win situation he couldn't make the cover tackle, and he got run over by a forward on the line - but that's not his fault, he shouldn't have to defend in those positions.
It's stifling the attack that's the issue.

BB is a better handbrake than the English rush D

@taniwharugby said in England v All Blacks:

@No-Quarter thing is, we have missed the opportunity with Rieko, hisnpacebisnt what it was, yet back through Fozzie years, they wanted him there crashing it up, but ignoring his pace.

They wanted a 12 like Laumape.with Goodhues brain, so asked Goodhue to play like Laumape, instead of utilising Laumape for his trick.

Been some real issues.ths past years about how they want to play and shoehorning players in rather than the best player for the position

Ability to select well has been on the wane since about 2017

@reprobate said in England v All Blacks:

The way Jordan stopped running when Darry threw him a bad pass looked very much like 'fuck these useless fluffybunnies, I'm not cleaning that up'. Not a good look, especially from someone strong on the shit pass himself.

If you listened to the most persistent broken record on the fern, you wouldn't be surprised though. I'm sure he's a nice guy, but the way he plays rugby you'd swear he refers to himself in the 3rd person. On the field it's all about Will Jordan.

@Bones said in England v All Blacks:

@reprobate said in England v All Blacks:

The way Jordan stopped running when Darry threw him a bad pass looked very much like 'fuck these useless fluffybunnies, I'm not cleaning that up'. Not a good look, especially from someone strong on the shit pass himself.

If you listened to the most persistent broken record on the fern, you wouldn't be surprised though. I'm sure he's a nice guy, but the way he plays rugby you'd swear he refers to himself in the 3rd person. On the field it's all about Will Jordan.

Reprobate wonders if you noticed BB was a bit shit too.

@reprobate said in England v All Blacks:

@Bones said in England v All Blacks:

@reprobate said in England v All Blacks:

The way Jordan stopped running when Darry threw him a bad pass looked very much like 'fuck these useless fluffybunnies, I'm not cleaning that up'. Not a good look, especially from someone strong on the shit pass himself.

If you listened to the most persistent broken record on the fern, you wouldn't be surprised though. I'm sure he's a nice guy, but the way he plays rugby you'd swear he refers to himself in the 3rd person. On the field it's all about Will Jordan.

Reprobate wonders if you noticed BB was a bit shit too.

If we take the logic in the get a grip thread, I'm pretty sure there was a moment in the game where he was the best player on the field.

@KiwiMurph said in England v All Blacks:

@booboo said in England v All Blacks:

@reprobate said in England v All Blacks:

The way Jordan stopped running when Darry threw him a bad pass looked very much like 'fuck these useless fluffybunnies, I'm not cleaning that up'. Not a good look, especially from someone strong on the shit pass himself.

Got a time in the game?

76:35

It's the English try to Roebuck after Pollock toe-d it through

That’s when DMac was in position to recover the ball - as he was in the secondary attacking line - but he didn’t.

I’m all for picking a part bad plays and errors from Jordan, but I’m not sure Jordan is overly at fault in this one. Proctor was in position to try and make the tackle which was away from Jordan and DMac for that matter.

@pakman said in England v All Blacks:

@Mauss said in England Vs All Blacks:

I thought the Dingwall try was actually quite symbolic for some of the deeper-lying issues within this team. It shows that the players don’t trust each other and that the opposition is generally smarter than them.

View image

It is honestly an embarrassingly easy score for England: Mitchell throws the long pass to Lawrence, taking out both Taylor and Lakai from the defensive picture. It leaves England and the ABs with a two-on-two: Lawrence and Dingwall against Carter and Tupaea.

There is really no reason for Tupaea to bite in here, unless he doesn’t trust Carter to make the tackle on Lawrence. And that takes us all the way back to the try in the first half, where Carter gets flattened by the English centre. Tupaea gets a flashback, wants to put in a double shot, and then it’s just easy hands at the line for Lawrence. Proctor is far back because he’s covering the English attackers hidden in the boot; he’s trusting his teammates to execute the defensive 2-on-2.

It's smart from England but it is painfully naïve from an AB perspective. Big, individual errors, like Leroy Carter’s in the first half, are a mental challenge for a team. If you’re a good side, you immediately put it behind you and start again. If you’re mentally fragile, it becomes like a domino-effect, influencing your every move and decision from that moment onwards.

After the England Test, I think it’s pretty clear what kind of team these ABs are.

Fragile and lacking composure.

That happened right in front of where I was sitting.

Strikes me positioning of Carter was a bit close to end of lineout. He and Tupaea being another metre wider and Dingwall gap would have been
much narrower.

Dingwall has revealed that a lineout or two before this cock up he and Lawrence had noted a flaw in the AB alignment. They swapped possies to allow Lawrence to run a hard line with Dingwall coming close for the short offload.

@Bones said in England v All Blacks:

@reprobate said in England v All Blacks:

@Bones said in England v All Blacks:

@reprobate said in England v All Blacks:

The way Jordan stopped running when Darry threw him a bad pass looked very much like 'fuck these useless fluffybunnies, I'm not cleaning that up'. Not a good look, especially from someone strong on the shit pass himself.

If you listened to the most persistent broken record on the fern, you wouldn't be surprised though. I'm sure he's a nice guy, but the way he plays rugby you'd swear he refers to himself in the 3rd person. On the field it's all about Will Jordan.

Reprobate wonders if you noticed BB was a bit shit too.

If we take the logic in the get a grip thread, I'm pretty sure there was a moment in the game where he was the best player on the field.

He had two good touches in our second try, but should have been off at 30. He was at half pace after we got counter rucked in corner after LF surge.

For me the real question is, ‘How do we expect to beat a top team playing with our five five CROCKED FOR 25 MINUTES!

Don’t recall media posing that one.

As an aside, the drop off between Roigard and Ratima was huge.

Of the alternatives it’s hard not to feel that Fakatava would have asked many more questions of the Poms.

@pakman said in England v All Blacks:

@pakman said in England v All Blacks:

@Mauss said in England Vs All Blacks:

I thought the Dingwall try was actually quite symbolic for some of the deeper-lying issues within this team. It shows that the players don’t trust each other and that the opposition is generally smarter than them.

View image

It is honestly an embarrassingly easy score for England: Mitchell throws the long pass to Lawrence, taking out both Taylor and Lakai from the defensive picture. It leaves England and the ABs with a two-on-two: Lawrence and Dingwall against Carter and Tupaea.

There is really no reason for Tupaea to bite in here, unless he doesn’t trust Carter to make the tackle on Lawrence. And that takes us all the way back to the try in the first half, where Carter gets flattened by the English centre. Tupaea gets a flashback, wants to put in a double shot, and then it’s just easy hands at the line for Lawrence. Proctor is far back because he’s covering the English attackers hidden in the boot; he’s trusting his teammates to execute the defensive 2-on-2.

It's smart from England but it is painfully naïve from an AB perspective. Big, individual errors, like Leroy Carter’s in the first half, are a mental challenge for a team. If you’re a good side, you immediately put it behind you and start again. If you’re mentally fragile, it becomes like a domino-effect, influencing your every move and decision from that moment onwards.

After the England Test, I think it’s pretty clear what kind of team these ABs are.

Fragile and lacking composure.

That happened right in front of where I was sitting.

Strikes me positioning of Carter was a bit close to end of lineout. He and Tupaea being another metre wider and Dingwall gap would have been
much narrower.

Dingwall has revealed that a lineout or two before this cock up he and Lawrence had noted a flaw in the AB alignment. They swapped possies to allow Lawrence to run a hard line with Dingwall coming close for the short offload.

@ACT-Crusader said in England v All Blacks:

@KiwiMurph said in England v All Blacks:

@booboo said in England v All Blacks:

@reprobate said in England v All Blacks:

The way Jordan stopped running when Darry threw him a bad pass looked very much like 'fuck these useless fluffybunnies, I'm not cleaning that up'. Not a good look, especially from someone strong on the shit pass himself.

Got a time in the game?

76:35

It's the English try to Roebuck after Pollock toe-d it through

That’s when DMac was in position to recover the ball - as he was in the secondary attacking line - but he didn’t.

I’m all for picking a part bad plays and errors from Jordan, but I’m not sure Jordan is overly at fault in this one. Proctor was in position to try and make the tackle which was away from Jordan and DMac for that matter.

Ya what mate, I'd have another look at that?
Proctor is in the ruck that the ball came from. McKenzie is heading wide and has to change direction completely. Both of them try desperately to get back and dive on the ball, while Jordan - who the pass goes in front of - drops his head and lets Pollock run through - does not even try to get back and cover. He's one of our quickest, and he lets their flanker run away without bothering to chase.

@pakman said in England v All Blacks:

@pakman said in England v All Blacks:

@Mauss said in England Vs All Blacks:

I thought the Dingwall try was actually quite symbolic for some of the deeper-lying issues within this team. It shows that the players don’t trust each other and that the opposition is generally smarter than them.

View image

It is honestly an embarrassingly easy score for England: Mitchell throws the long pass to Lawrence, taking out both Taylor and Lakai from the defensive picture. It leaves England and the ABs with a two-on-two: Lawrence and Dingwall against Carter and Tupaea.

There is really no reason for Tupaea to bite in here, unless he doesn’t trust Carter to make the tackle on Lawrence. And that takes us all the way back to the try in the first half, where Carter gets flattened by the English centre. Tupaea gets a flashback, wants to put in a double shot, and then it’s just easy hands at the line for Lawrence. Proctor is far back because he’s covering the English attackers hidden in the boot; he’s trusting his teammates to execute the defensive 2-on-2.

It's smart from England but it is painfully naïve from an AB perspective. Big, individual errors, like Leroy Carter’s in the first half, are a mental challenge for a team. If you’re a good side, you immediately put it behind you and start again. If you’re mentally fragile, it becomes like a domino-effect, influencing your every move and decision from that moment onwards.

After the England Test, I think it’s pretty clear what kind of team these ABs are.

Fragile and lacking composure.

That happened right in front of where I was sitting.

Strikes me positioning of Carter was a bit close to end of lineout. He and Tupaea being another metre wider and Dingwall gap would have been
much narrower.

Dingwall has revealed that a lineout or two before this cock up he and Lawrence had noted a flaw in the AB alignment. They swapped possies to allow Lawrence to run a hard line with Dingwall coming close for the short offload.

if that is true, and they came up with it on the field, it must be the first time in years that England have played heads up rugby where the players have taken responsibility. It also suggests that these two might make a decent centre combo. I'm a bit shocked. I hope that's Blackett's influence

@Dodge said in England v All Blacks:

@pakman said in England v All Blacks:

@pakman said in England v All Blacks:

@Mauss said in England Vs All Blacks:

I thought the Dingwall try was actually quite symbolic for some of the deeper-lying issues within this team. It shows that the players don’t trust each other and that the opposition is generally smarter than them.

View image

It is honestly an embarrassingly easy score for England: Mitchell throws the long pass to Lawrence, taking out both Taylor and Lakai from the defensive picture. It leaves England and the ABs with a two-on-two: Lawrence and Dingwall against Carter and Tupaea.

There is really no reason for Tupaea to bite in here, unless he doesn’t trust Carter to make the tackle on Lawrence. And that takes us all the way back to the try in the first half, where Carter gets flattened by the English centre. Tupaea gets a flashback, wants to put in a double shot, and then it’s just easy hands at the line for Lawrence. Proctor is far back because he’s covering the English attackers hidden in the boot; he’s trusting his teammates to execute the defensive 2-on-2.

It's smart from England but it is painfully naïve from an AB perspective. Big, individual errors, like Leroy Carter’s in the first half, are a mental challenge for a team. If you’re a good side, you immediately put it behind you and start again. If you’re mentally fragile, it becomes like a domino-effect, influencing your every move and decision from that moment onwards.

After the England Test, I think it’s pretty clear what kind of team these ABs are.

Fragile and lacking composure.

That happened right in front of where I was sitting.

Strikes me positioning of Carter was a bit close to end of lineout. He and Tupaea being another metre wider and Dingwall gap would have been
much narrower.

Dingwall has revealed that a lineout or two before this cock up he and Lawrence had noted a flaw in the AB alignment. They swapped possies to allow Lawrence to run a hard line with Dingwall coming close for the short offload.

if that is true, and they came up with it on the field, it must be the first time in years that England have played heads up rugby where the players have taken responsibility. It also suggests that these two might make a decent centre combo. I'm a bit shocked. I hope that's Blackett's influence

If that is true, it's a bit like that "uh-oh. Happy's learned to putt" moment. :hushed_face:

This is why we are where we are.

There is no edge.

I listened to a podcast recently where Conor Murray told an anecdote from his new book of how he tried to go into the Allblacks dressing room to get a jersey swap and Ma'a Nonu was stood outside eating.

He turns to Murray and says "where are you going?" "eh I was going in to swap a shirt" "you're not going in there mate".

Thats Henry Pollock. Englands youngest player, shithouse in chief, and Cortez Ratima is gurning with him for a photo after a rubbish performance himself.

I know im a dinosaur, but I preferred when our boys were aloof, unapproachable, hard nosed, miserable looking bastards.

You are giving Pollock an inch there. It's all cosy. "These Allblack lads are sound".

Imagine Austin Healy sat beside Tana Umaga in the dressing room...........

We are being gaslit by the Allblacks social media team on a weekly basis. Im with Devlin on this.

Footage of Savea sweeping the floor of the dressing room to ethereal sombre music.

The lad spent 80 minutes avoiding tackling and hitting rucks.

@Jet said in England v All Blacks:

View embedded content

We are being gaslit by the Allblacks social media team on a weekly basis. Im with Devlin on this.

Footage of Savea sweeping the floor of the dressing room to ethereal sombre music.

The lad spent 80 minutes avoiding tackling and hitting rucks.

Gotta give it to Ardie to pick himself up off the goalpost looking into the sky to then have the courage to pick up a broom and try and sweep that performance under the rug......

@Jet said in England v All Blacks:

View image

This is why we are where we are.

There is no edge.

I listened to a podcast recently where Conor Murray told an anecdote from his new book of how he tried to go into the Allblacks dressing room to get a jersey swap and Ma'a Nonu was stood outside eating.

He turns to Murray and says "where are you going?" "eh I was going in to swap a shirt" "you're not going in there mate".

Thats Henry Pollock. Englands youngest player, shithouse in chief, and Cortez Ratima is gurning with him for a photo after a rubbish performance himself.

I know im a dinosaur, but I preferred when our boys were aloof, unapproachable, hard nosed, miserable looking bastards.

You are giving Pollock an inch there. It's all cosy. "These Allblack lads are sound".

Imagine Austin Healy sat beside Tana Umaga in the dressing room...........

I don't mind the jersey swapping and beers with the opposition in the changing sheds - it's kinda part of the game. But the photo displaying the back of his jersey showing his name and number proudly screams "teenage fanboi", not "professional competitor".
Notable that Pollock isn't holding up Ratima's jersey and is instead wearing it like he owns it...

@Jet

I have zero problem with Ratima swapping jerseys with Pollock and welcome it. It's always been part of the game since time immemorial. Meads used to take cases of beer into the opposition's dressing room after a game. Said it was how he made so many friends in the game.

I actually find that Nonu story hard to believe. Nonu is/was renowned for fraternising with opposition players and how it was key to his love for the game. So much so, he once broke his arm and made a point of leaving his jersey on his opposite number's peg before heading off to the hospital.

This is why we are where we are.

There is no edge.

I give you Jerome Kaino......

@Jet said in England v All Blacks:

View image

This is why we are where we are.

There is no edge.

I listened to a podcast recently where Conor Murray told an anecdote from his new book of how he tried to go into the Allblacks dressing room to get a jersey swap and Ma'a Nonu was stood outside eating.

He turns to Murray and says "where are you going?" "eh I was going in to swap a shirt" "you're not going in there mate".

Thats Henry Pollock. Englands youngest player, shithouse in chief, and Cortez Ratima is gurning with him for a photo after a rubbish performance himself.

I know im a dinosaur, but I preferred when our boys were aloof, unapproachable, hard nosed, miserable looking bastards.

You are giving Pollock an inch there. It's all cosy. "These Allblack lads are sound".

Imagine Austin Healy sat beside Tana Umaga in the dressing room...........

Good lord. What a complete load of wank.

Two young players swapped a jersey. A photo was taken of just after it, clearly with little planning.

Hate to tell you this, but if losing teams didn’t want to swap …. You could only do it when you drew.

@Jet said in England v All Blacks:

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This is why we are where we are.

There is no edge.

I listened to a podcast recently where Conor Murray told an anecdote from his new book of how he tried to go into the Allblacks dressing room to get a jersey swap and Ma'a Nonu was stood outside eating.

He turns to Murray and says "where are you going?" "eh I was going in to swap a shirt" "you're not going in there mate".

Thats Henry Pollock. Englands youngest player, shithouse in chief, and Cortez Ratima is gurning with him for a photo after a rubbish performance himself.

I know im a dinosaur, but I preferred when our boys were aloof, unapproachable, hard nosed, miserable looking bastards.

You are giving Pollock an inch there. It's all cosy. "These Allblack lads are sound".

Imagine Austin Healy sat beside Tana Umaga in the dressing room...........

Maybe the stupidest post I've ever read on here

Colin meads used to make a point of taking beers into the opposition sheds after the game

@MajorRage said in England v All Blacks:

@Jet said in England v All Blacks:

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This is why we are where we are.

There is no edge.

I listened to a podcast recently where Conor Murray told an anecdote from his new book of how he tried to go into the Allblacks dressing room to get a jersey swap and Ma'a Nonu was stood outside eating.

He turns to Murray and says "where are you going?" "eh I was going in to swap a shirt" "you're not going in there mate".

Thats Henry Pollock. Englands youngest player, shithouse in chief, and Cortez Ratima is gurning with him for a photo after a rubbish performance himself.

I know im a dinosaur, but I preferred when our boys were aloof, unapproachable, hard nosed, miserable looking bastards.

You are giving Pollock an inch there. It's all cosy. "These Allblack lads are sound".

Imagine Austin Healy sat beside Tana Umaga in the dressing room...........

Good lord. What a complete load of wank.

Two young players swapped a jersey. A photo was taken of just after it, clearly with little planning.

Hate to tell you this, but if losing teams didn’t want to swap …. You could only do it when you drew.

You're misreading me.

You go and hand the jersey, shake the hand and walk away. Maybe do it in corridor.

It shouldnt be ceremonial. You shouldnt be smiling. You should be filthy. You avoid a photo if possible.

Ratima looks like someone who won a prize to be there.

All these little percentages of beta behaviour are compounding.

We used to be aresholes, sure, but we were winners.

@SammyC said in England v All Blacks:

@Jet said in England v All Blacks:

View image

This is why we are where we are.

There is no edge.

I listened to a podcast recently where Conor Murray told an anecdote from his new book of how he tried to go into the Allblacks dressing room to get a jersey swap and Ma'a Nonu was stood outside eating.

He turns to Murray and says "where are you going?" "eh I was going in to swap a shirt" "you're not going in there mate".

Thats Henry Pollock. Englands youngest player, shithouse in chief, and Cortez Ratima is gurning with him for a photo after a rubbish performance himself.

I know im a dinosaur, but I preferred when our boys were aloof, unapproachable, hard nosed, miserable looking bastards.

You are giving Pollock an inch there. It's all cosy. "These Allblack lads are sound".

Imagine Austin Healy sat beside Tana Umaga in the dressing room...........

Maybe the stupidest post I've ever read on here

Colin meads used to make a point of taking beers into the opposition sheds after the game

Pre social media. Pre camera phones. Pre professionalism.

Ratima is like Henry Pollocks nephew there.

Its like Kolisi with his arm around young Sititi saying "im so proud of him".

Kolisi should be spat out the back of a ruck covered in stud marks. We dont need your patronage mate.

@Victor-Meldrew said in England v All Blacks:

@Jet

I have zero problem with Ratima swapping jerseys with Pollock and welcome it. It's always been part of the game since time immemorial. Meads used to take cases of beer into the opposition's dressing room after a game. Said it was how he made so many friends in the game.

I actually find that Nonu story hard to believe. Nonu is/was renowned for fraternising with opposition players and how it was key to his love for the game. So much so, he once broke his arm and made a point of leaving his jersey on his opposite number's peg before heading off to the hospital.

This is why we are where we are.

There is no edge.

I give you Jerome Kaino......

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Nonu story 21:47 mins in this podcast.

I just relistened. He said they are notorious for not letting people in to their dressing room. But they come into yours. They didnt swap after Chicago. Conor Murray tells the story of how it was O'Mahoney going in to get McCaws jersey after the 60-0 drubbing in Hamilton in 2012 and Nonu refused him entry.

I don't mind them making friendly after the match. That is the way it is today. As long as we smashed the crap out of them on the pitch first. I'm not sure it's about lack of effort for many of our players. It all starts with selection and game plan to give our best combination of players the chance to excel

@SammyC said in England v All Blacks:

@Jet said in England v All Blacks:

View image

This is why we are where we are.

There is no edge.

I listened to a podcast recently where Conor Murray told an anecdote from his new book of how he tried to go into the Allblacks dressing room to get a jersey swap and Ma'a Nonu was stood outside eating.

He turns to Murray and says "where are you going?" "eh I was going in to swap a shirt" "you're not going in there mate".

Thats Henry Pollock. Englands youngest player, shithouse in chief, and Cortez Ratima is gurning with him for a photo after a rubbish performance himself.

I know im a dinosaur, but I preferred when our boys were aloof, unapproachable, hard nosed, miserable looking bastards.

You are giving Pollock an inch there. It's all cosy. "These Allblack lads are sound".

Imagine Austin Healy sat beside Tana Umaga in the dressing room...........

Maybe the stupidest post I've ever read on here

Colin meads used to make a point of taking beers into the opposition sheds after the game

ABs have almost always invited opposition in for a beer , remember McCaw and Jerry Collins talking about it. I like it, I of the old school where you beat the shit out of each other and as soon as whistle goes you all mate playing same sport!
I know one of reasons that Umaga and Gregan both ended up playing for Toulon, they talked about playing in same team while having beers after a test.

@Dan54 said in England v All Blacks:

@SammyC said in England v All Blacks:

@Jet said in England v All Blacks:

View image

This is why we are where we are.

There is no edge.

I listened to a podcast recently where Conor Murray told an anecdote from his new book of how he tried to go into the Allblacks dressing room to get a jersey swap and Ma'a Nonu was stood outside eating.

He turns to Murray and says "where are you going?" "eh I was going in to swap a shirt" "you're not going in there mate".

Thats Henry Pollock. Englands youngest player, shithouse in chief, and Cortez Ratima is gurning with him for a photo after a rubbish performance himself.

I know im a dinosaur, but I preferred when our boys were aloof, unapproachable, hard nosed, miserable looking bastards.

You are giving Pollock an inch there. It's all cosy. "These Allblack lads are sound".

Imagine Austin Healy sat beside Tana Umaga in the dressing room...........

Maybe the stupidest post I've ever read on here

Colin meads used to make a point of taking beers into the opposition sheds after the game

ABs have almost always invited opposition in for a beer , remember McCaw and Jerry Collins talking about it. I like it, I of the old school where you beat the shit out of each other and as soon as whistle goes you all mate playing same sport!

It's one of the great things about rugby. Unlike say football fans, rugby fans of all teams are generally happy to have a chat anytime