@Catogrande said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

@gt12 said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

@junior

Their fans are frothing though. I work with (and teach) and few poms and every single one of them were 'you're going to get smacked this weekend', which I found interesting as they seem to be embracing the pressure.

If they're your average English rugby fan I'd say those sentiments are aimed specifically at you rather than a heartfelt belief. All the guys I've spoken to on this feel that whilst we have a chance on Saturday we are very far from confident and recognise that the stars would have to be aligned in our favour to get the correct result.

That’s in synch with me. Haven’t met a confident Pom yet, and also not met a Pom who thinks they have no chance.

I was just re-watching the game and the amount of work Cane gets through on defense is noticeable. He really has a knack for being in the right place to shut down the attack and he hits hard.
Be a real mistake not to start him I think.
But I'm not going to argue, all the selections have been spot on so far.

@KiwiPie said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

@Magpie_in_aus said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

Some milestones going into the game according to wiki.

Read will tie with Fitzy for 2nd most games as captain.
BB scores any points he overtakes fox to go third all time.
He is also on top ten try scorers of all time which in itself is crazy considering how much he played fly half.

I'm sure BB made a pact with the devil at some point so that every bouncing rugby ball he chases jumps straight into his arms. It's uncanny .....

Reminds me of a Blues game a couple of years ago which we'd have won but for a couple of BB 'specials'. Said the same thing to me son.

@Victor-Meldrew said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

@taniwharugby said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

I dont rate Itoje at all, like a lazier version of Ali Williams.

Without the discipline.

Itoje is brilliant at getting away with murder at rucks: grabs ball, and if ref says, 'Let go 4' counts one and does so. Professional fouls in red zone, and flails around long arms at lineout which often dislodges ball. Most refs are soft on him.

In English Premiership final he was penalised promptly for slowing ball in ruck and yellow carded in red zone. Then ineffective for 30 minutes but in last 20 ref had lost interest and buggered up Exeter's ball with impunity.

So not a great textbook player, but can be highly effective if unchecked.

NZ Herald now reporting the good oil...SB to start ahead of SC.

Fair play to our forum poster.

@Billy-Tell said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

NZ Herald now reporting the good oil...SB to start ahead of SC.

Fair play to our forum poster.

Yep, he only payed 40 min last week, so I guess he plays the 2nd half this week.

@No-Quarter said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

@mariner4life said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

Not starting Cane would be precisely the lynching rope i am looking for if it goes tits up

It's fine I'm sure they're just saving him for the final.

Would make sense for Cane to drop to the bench if they anticipate England looking to play without the ball. Not much use having a defensive colossus being only asked to make 3-4 tackles a half. And Cane is extremely average with ball in hand.

Driving Mauls and Drop Goals........

When is the team announced?

@pakman said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

When is the team announced?

(Checks Calendar. "Thursday".)

3;30 NZT Today

@MajorRage said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

@junior said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

@Snowy said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

@mariner4life said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

who do the neutrals go for this weekend?

My guess:

I don't think Wales will want us in the final if they manage to win (so not neutral anyway)
Saffas aren't generally on our side, but maybe some support as usual from tanned ones
Aussies and Irish will all be conflicted. Probably ABE.
French likely with us (in spite of my comments on here about them and their referees).
Scots with us.
PI's with us (I would hope).

The best bit will the Japanese fans who more than likely will be with us too.

Gonna be fun.

Wales are firmly in the ABE camp - there' a lot of disquiet on social media about people (i.e. the "British" media) forgetting they also have a big match this weekend.

You've got to be kidding me.

The day a Welshmen supports NZ is the day a Welshmen forgets the ridculous sized chip on his shoulder about New Zealand. And I've never seen anything close to that. From any of them.

I only want England to win because we may have a sniff if we make it through our SF.

If it was a one-off or the Final, then NZ all day.

@MiketheSnow said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

I only want England to win because we may have a sniff if we make it through our SF.

That was my rationale. You have beaten England this year whilst 1953 was quite some time ago. Not to say it wouldn't happen but I think Wales odds would be better against England.

If either us or England win the RWC then I win big. In fact I win bigger (from a $ perspective anyway) if England win the world cup but really an All Blacks victory is what I am really hoping for.

At least one of them will be in the final. So not as nervous as I was last weekend.

@Nepia said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

@Machpants said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

@Nepia said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

@bayimports said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

Ok so don’t have full team this week... however, from inside the camp....

S Barrett replaces Cane at 6, Tuipolotu on the bench for Todd. Savea at 7. Cane on bench.

Perhaps wrist not great, or just want a bigger/taller team

Can't say that makes any sense to me, our game has been all about the trio all year and now we go for a slower option to add height? I hope Cane is slightly injured and it's enforced because he leads our defence in the opening trench warfare.

Yeah this, we win sith speed and a ferocious and fast loose trio. Ah well in Shag we trust, if true!

Definitely for now, but if we lose I'm going to meltdown like a Cantabrian complaining about Mauger being left out in 07. :face_with_tears_of_joy:

It will have only taken you 12 years to see some sense then. Even a little slow for you @Nepia

@Bovidae said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

@taniwharugby said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

hasnt it always been if they are carrying a niggle, they start so you can control thier gametime better.

My guess is, they have determined SB suits whatever plan they intend playing v England.

It does change the dynamic of the substitutions though because for Paddy T to come on then one of BBBR or Whitelock must be subbed, or both if SB moves to lock (VERY unlikely). It is possible that Ardie could end up at no.8 if Read's calf isn't 100% and SB remains at 6.

If it is close Whitelock and Retallick will play 80. Paddy T is insurance. However we have seen Whitelock pack down on the flank before so if they want to replace Barrett there’s always that possibility.

Cane is there for Savea and Read.

@ACT-Crusader said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

@Nepia said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

@Machpants said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

@Nepia said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

@bayimports said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

Ok so don’t have full team this week... however, from inside the camp....

S Barrett replaces Cane at 6, Tuipolotu on the bench for Todd. Savea at 7. Cane on bench.

Perhaps wrist not great, or just want a bigger/taller team

Can't say that makes any sense to me, our game has been all about the trio all year and now we go for a slower option to add height? I hope Cane is slightly injured and it's enforced because he leads our defence in the opening trench warfare.

Yeah this, we win sith speed and a ferocious and fast loose trio. Ah well in Shag we trust, if true!

Definitely for now, but if we lose I'm going to meltdown like a Cantabrian complaining about Mauger being left out in 07. :face_with_tears_of_joy:

It will have only taken you 12 years to see some sense then. Even a little slow for you @Nepia

To be fair, he hasn't yet gone through all the grieving stages for Cully in 2003 - let alone started on processing the injustices of Aaron!

@KiwiMurph said in RWC: England v New Zealand (SF1):

View embedded content

These huas read the fern!

three times in the past week, about a couple of hours after a conversation on these threads, suddenly an article would appear.

@Hooroo Of course they do, where else would they get controversial and idiotic ideas, theories and analysis ( used loosely) from?