@Victor-Meldrew Steve Borthwick is doing a great job with his squad this year. Only one loss in 2025 and that was their first game away to Ireland. Nine wins in a row. Bringing on some excellent young players. Not rushing other young talent. Keeping his squad happy and avoiding any of them shooting their mouths off in public. Playing a robust very-English style of rugby but also with a "we can score from anywhere" threat.
Saturday is going to be a tough game for the ABs.
@Victor-Meldrew said in England Vs All Blacks:
@sparky said in England Vs All Blacks:
Nearly time again to take on the "pricks to lose to" at their beloved Cabbage Patch.
Get ready for a week of anti-Haka and "they just win because they cheat" nonsense.
They are trying to make it ten wins in a row.
We are trying to complete Leg Three of Operation Grand Slam.
The Raeburn Shield is on the line.
To the victor the spoils. I can't fucking wait for Saturday.
To be fair, England are a much more likeable side since Borthwick took over. Way less dickdead-ness
Itoje says hold my beer
@canefan said in England Vs All Blacks:
Itoje says hold my beer
Only if it's made up of his salty tears postmatch...
I don't usually watch The Breakdown, but caught the guys discussing squad makeup for England. Lots of differing opinions ranging from Gus towing the party line, to Beaver thinking DMac is best locking down the subs bench. Mils wants DMac in and Love at 23. Like Mils
Andrea Piardi of Italy, who did the Bledisloe game at Eden Park this year, will be the man with the whistle.
Is there anyone in Nz rugby who can catch a high ? Who ever it is, they can’t start
60% of restarts won. That’s fucking awful
@jimmyb said in England Vs All Blacks:
Is there anyone in Nz rugby who can catch a high ?
Take a trip to the Coromandel...
The forecast is for it to being pissing down in West London for most of the week and on Saturday afternoon too.
Time for the wet weather strategy.
@canefan said in England Vs All Blacks:
@Victor-Meldrew said in England Vs All Blacks:
@sparky said in England Vs All Blacks:
Nearly time again to take on the "pricks to lose to" at their beloved Cabbage Patch.
Get ready for a week of anti-Haka and "they just win because they cheat" nonsense.
They are trying to make it ten wins in a row.
We are trying to complete Leg Three of Operation Grand Slam.
The Raeburn Shield is on the line.
To the victor the spoils. I can't fucking wait for Saturday.
To be fair, England are a much more likeable side since Borthwick took over. Way less dickdead-ness
Itoje says hold my beer
He's hugely improved. When he looks back on his career, wonder if he'll think he wasted his early years being a dick-head.
@Victor-Meldrew said in England Vs All Blacks:
@canefan said in England Vs All Blacks:
@Victor-Meldrew said in England Vs All Blacks:
@sparky said in England Vs All Blacks:
Nearly time again to take on the "pricks to lose to" at their beloved Cabbage Patch.
Get ready for a week of anti-Haka and "they just win because they cheat" nonsense.
They are trying to make it ten wins in a row.
We are trying to complete Leg Three of Operation Grand Slam.
The Raeburn Shield is on the line.
To the victor the spoils. I can't fucking wait for Saturday.
To be fair, England are a much more likeable side since Borthwick took over. Way less dickdead-ness
Itoje says hold my beer
He's hugely improved. When he looks back on his career, wonder if he'll think he wasted his early years being a dick-head.
He’ll look at his series winning Lions Captain’s shirt and not care one iota
It is about 99.999% unlikely there will be any experimenting or positional changes, so I reckon that team above is a long way off...
It doesn't make sense bringing on one of your best players into the backline for the last 20 or 30 minutes. BS.
@BerniesCorner said in England Vs All Blacks:
Twickenham is an awful stadium too.
82,000 people can make a lot of noise if they want to, but as a spectator it's a less enjoyable experience than Wembley, the Emirates or the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Only the London Stadium (West Ham's ground) is worse of the major London stadiums.
Eventually it will need to be demolished and totally rebuilt or sold off.
England have named their squad for Saturday. The additional of Elliot Daly and Max Ojomoh the only changes.
My Backline for England: 9. Roigard 10. DMac 11. LF 12. Tupaea 13. Proctor 14. Jordan 15. Love
Carter has been a bit average the last two tests so might be worthwhile giving him a spell. Beaudy to covere 10 and 15 from the bench where I think he's the most impactful these days.
@pakman said in England Vs All Blacks:
Clarke out. I think I’d prefer Rieko to get a start there, rather than start monkeying around with other things.
Yep, Proctor who has been underwhelming all year isn't going to scare England like QT and LF could well do. Ioane in as a straight swap as the only change ( I won't even bother suggesting McKenzie over BB, won't happen )
