@JA said in England Vs All Blacks:

With the way game is going (if in doubt - boxkick it), I think this area is getting to be one of the core elements of the game on par with scrum/breakdown etc.

That’s funny that you say this because I’ve started thinking about the kick-chase as the back equivalent of the lineout. Like the lineout, you have guys who are excellent on their own ball and then you have those who excel in defensive disruption.

It’s actually quite rare – again, like the lineout – that you have players who truly excel in both attacking and defensive facets of the ‘set piece’, because the dynamics, game sense and skillset are so distinct from each other.

I also think coaches are increasingly approaching it as a form of set piece, because a lot of strike moves have incorporated the box kick as a starting premise for the strike, similar to a lineout attack.

@pakman said in England Vs All Blacks:

Will the Fern melt down if ALB goes well?!

I'd be stoked. He's better than people think - like Rieko it's easy to pile on.

That said, I don't think I'd be picking him at the moment...

The issue for me with ALB ,you can hardly say he’s played his way into a starting XV not to mention his ability to pick up a card ..An average selection imo based on recent form can recall him being outplayed by Faletoi Peni during the Bunnings NPC

Well I am pumped for this one, we win this and the grand slam is all but ours - that's no mean feat. And I am finally excited about our bench again, I am fine with Parker starting and grinding them down for 50 minutes to allow us to unleash a fresh and in form Wallace for the last 30 minutes. I think that's a very good 1 - 2 punch.

I don't really know what to expect from England, other than I expect them to be seriously determined to get the W after so many close defeats to us in the last few years. What I am hoping is they come out all guns blazing, we weather the storm, and then we finish all over them with our bench forwards wrecking havoc against tired legs.

A big point of interest is how SBarrett goes. His work in the tight is going to be crucial to weathering that initial storm. I really hope he finds form again, he has shown glimpses, and he does so much work for us in that space that it allows our ball running loosies to have a much bigger impact on the match.

Just win. They are pricks to lose to!

@MN5 said in England Vs All Blacks:

@kiwiinmelb said in England Vs All Blacks:

@MN5 said in England Vs All Blacks:

@Landers92 said in England Vs All Blacks:

@MN5 yes, still a pinch. Just passing on the reasoning.

Yeah but they have three guys who can cover 12 in Tupea, LF and Ardie. I'd prefer Ioane there to cover centre and wing with that added dynamism that ALB lacks.

Sititi covers 13 as well , best distributor in open space in the team

You certainly wouldn't see Rassie wasting a spot with the likes of ALB.

Rassie did select Edwill Van Der Merwe though, who many knew has defensive flaws and was exposed by the Wallabies at Ellis Park….

@No-Quarter I just hope Scooter gets through the game uninjured.

Predictions for the match

• ABs by 9 with penalty kicks being a key part of the game
• two YCs (one each team)
• Lakai to top the tackle count
• Breakdown to be a mess (this Italian ref is as much a lottery as our Georgian friend)
• Will Jordan, QT and Codie Taylor with tries

Hopefully Codie Taylor has one more big game in him for the year

I got the sense last week he was starting to run on fumes.

@Jet said in England Vs All Blacks:

@brodean said in England Vs All Blacks:

@restofit said in England Vs All Blacks:

@DaGrubster said in England Vs All Blacks:

CLW, Josh Beehre and Caleb Tangitau added to the squad as training cover.

Finau and Jacobsen are heading home

Clarke, Jordan, Tangitau - the back 3 for 2027 World Cup?

It sounds exciting but I honestly don't see us winning an RWC with Jordan at 15.

We need someone at fullback with a better aerial game, a better boot, and a better play making ability.

11. Clarke
12. Leicester
13. Tupea
14. Jordan
15. Jordie

Agree with R Ioane and DMac on the bench.

This weekend All Black supporters should be sweating on the fact J Barrett is out and the massive hole this leaves defensively at the back and the weakness it opens up under the high ball. This is not really occurring because it is the status quo for the All Blacks and we are always vulnerable at the back now so why bother continually talking about it.

@game_film said in England Vs All Blacks:

@Bovidae Leinster must be wishing they’d signed Proctor instead.

Why? He's hasn't been a star performer for the ABs this season and has less name brand recognition than Ioane.

The oddest feeling about seeing this team is that even when I'm not happy with a team I'm confident we're going to win. I looked at this, which isn't much different than a lot our teams this year (when I've been confident we're going to win) and I instantly thought we're gonna lose this one. Hopefully my pessimism is hugely misplaced.

Lee Germon Barrett is due a big game, hopefully this is it.

@Mauss Entirely on the money in my view, as well - though, I watch a lot less of non AB tests, so can't really speak authoritatively about that trend - but, from what I've seen the high ball creates chaos - and teams have got to work out how - on balance - to be beneficiaries rather than victims of the chaos.

I think the Boks have a headstart because they've probably got the strongest scrum in world rugby. It was disturbing to me to see how badly they took our scrum apart - I haven't seen anyone else manage that, but I was also surprised how well the Scots stood up last weekend.

But, back to the Boks - their scrum gives a significant advantage where any ball is knocked on. And I think it encourages their contesters to be more disruptive - as compared to our guys who still very much look like they're mainly trying to catch the ball - which looks cool when it comes off, but might be a lower percentage option. But, also I suspect we're more inclined than most to use the ball in hand in offensive areas - rather than box kick - and on defense we're often kicking for touch rather than to contest.

Another chance to be a broken record about our idiotic media

"The 25 year old's return sees Wallace Sititi demoted to the bench"

Sititi has NOT been demoted. Repeat, NOT demoted, he has been put on the bench because he is an absolute fucking weapon for us at the back end of the game. You know, the part of the game where matches are won and lost? If he had been DEMOTED as this absurd article suggests, we wouldn't be fucking trusting him with winning us the game at the end would we!!

Jesus H Christ when will these idiots learn that modern rugby is a 23 man game?!?

TSF is essentially an island of rugby reason in a sea of idiots

@No-Quarter said in England Vs All Blacks:

Another chance to be a broken record about out idiotic media

View embedded content

"The 25 year old's return sees Wallace Sititi demoted to the bench"

Sititi has NOT been demoted. Repeat, NOT demoted, he has been put on the bench because he is an absolute fucking weapon for us at the back end of the game. You know, the part of the game where matches are won and lost? If he had been DEMOTED as this absurd article suggests, we wouldn't be fucking trusting him with winning us the game at the end would we!!

Jesus H Christ when will these idiots learn that modern rugby is a 23 man game?!?

The week after a bench player got man of the match and essentially was the match winner.

Most of them wanted Mackenzie promoted to start as a result. Same reason Beauden and Ardie have been shoehorned into the starting 15, unbalancing it for years when they were the two best bench/impact players in the world.

@No-Quarter the media love a victim or scapegoat and using emotive language even if it is way off what is reality.

Given Sititi has been used in this role during the year, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see him again off the bench.

I guess if it goes pear shape with Parker this journo has already written his post game article….

@Nepia said in England Vs All Blacks:

The oddest feeling about seeing this team is that even when I'm not happy with a team I'm confident we're going to win. I looked at this, which isn't much different than a lot our teams this year (when I've been confident we're going to win) and I instantly thought we're gonna lose this one. Hopefully my pessimism is hugely misplaced.

England at Twickenham is rarely easy. I think this was always likely to be the trickiest assignment on this tour, given we played the Irish on neutral territory.

Looking at the injury ward: Clarke, (the forgotten) Narawa, JBarrett, Hotham, Tuipolotu, Vaa'i, Aumua and Lomax.

Most of these guys would have played a role in this game - plus a few others like Norris and 2TVs probably a bit less likely.

@No-Quarter said in England Vs All Blacks:

Another chance to be a broken record about out idiotic media

View embedded content

"The 25 year old's return sees Wallace Sititi demoted to the bench"

Sititi has NOT been demoted. Repeat, NOT demoted, he has been put on the bench because he is an absolute fucking weapon for us at the back end of the game. You know, the part of the game where matches are won and lost? If he had been DEMOTED as this absurd article suggests, we wouldn't be fucking trusting him with winning us the game at the end would we!!

Jesus H Christ when will these idiots learn that modern rugby is a 23 man game?!?

Yup, we’ve (Ferners) realised it, the smart teams have realised it and one of the trends of 2025 is that it is creeping into mainstream/casual fan rugby thinking. Looks like Stuff journalists are missing the trend!

FFS Borthwick is deliberately putting 4 of his better players on the bench for the last 20 mins. Players who are highly probable to be better than their starting equivalents. SAF has been playing around with the optimal bench composition for years – and they have the requisite squad buy-in to do it.

@Chris-B yeah that's right everyones favorite Ta$man player TT would've been ideal for the bench this weekend had he not been injured, he would've gave Henry a right lesson