England walloped by All Blacks

I wondered why Richie McCaw looked like a 'mere mortal' today - it turns out he hasn't played at all for the last couple of months (if I heard the commentary correctly).

I thought the infusion of new blood was a definite plus point for England though, and despite the silly mistakes, and it must be said some slightly questionable refereeing decisions, it was good to see them taking the game to the All Blacks.

Let's see if they can build on this against Argentina next Saturday.

I thought England played pretty well, some stupid errors against a good side who punish you like few others.

Some good signs though.

Actually although the All Blacks had a reasonable first half, they played like crap in the second.
Still it doesn't take much to push the pommy bastards over eh

Next move is to roast the roosters!

Pete

The All Blacks will win nearly all of their games until the next Rugby World Cup semi-final - where they will lose.

I think it may well be your turn this time, Deane. The ABs are a street ahead of the rest. Graham Henry seems to have managed to take that free running style and merged it with some absolutely outstanding forward play like the ABs of old.

They play like the Auckland Blues of Sean Fitzpatrick's time when Henry was in charge of them.

Your only real threat will come from the French I think, although the Aussies seem to have a hex on you in the world cup.

Mark

Mark, funnily enough I was thinking Sean Fitzpatrick too throughout the game.

I think the worrying thing is that the AB's flashes of brilliance came from a relatively rusty and experimental squad. Also that, like the Cybermen, they just keep on coming! Strength in depth.

Also, where the ABs seemed (broadly) to have their flashes of brilliance amongst the cobwebs, England (from some of the more 'established' players certainly) only really seemed to manage flashes of adequecy amongst plain old incompetance in fundamental skills - catching, passing, kicking for position (as lamentably predicatable at times as inaccurate). Even the disallowed Try - as much as we may justifiably moan about the poor decision - could have been much more certain if Noon hadn't gone for the bit of personal glory, heading into a bunch of fired-up Kiwis, and passed outside to the unmarked man in empty space...

However, the new caps I thought on the whole encouraging. As new guys they must be allowed their mistakes, but at least they brought a breath of fresh air.

Enough time for the RWC? Which one...?
James

quote:

England (from some of the more 'established' players certainly) only really seemed to manage flashes of adequecy amongst plain old incompetance in fundamental skills - catching, passing, kicking for position (as lamentably predicatable at times as inaccurate). Even the disallowed Try could have been certain if he hadn't gone for the bit of personal glory

James

You could have been talking about the England football team as well there.

Why is it that we struggle with the fundamentals of these games. It really is easy when it is kept simple, but your comment about Noon taking the glory route rather than making the simple pass to the player outside (Cohen?) sums up the difference. A good player takes the right option more often than not. England players seem to do it the other way around.

There is no real team play and we are nowhere near quick enough to support at the breakdown.

The ABs excel in this area and don't need the amount of possession or chances that we do.

On the up side at least the second try saw some good quick hands and off-loading before contact.

Not the next RWC, I'm afraid, James.

Mark

quote:

Enough time for the RWC? Which one...?

Err...how long have you got left to live.......?

I've just been watching some of the "action" replays of the International Rules tournament going on in Ireland.

Just wondered why they don't do away with the ball entirely and have a roped sideline...

Oh, and bells every three minutes.

Yes but Great Britain beat Australia 23-12. Forgot about the kick and clap rubbish. Watch some proper rugby for a change

quote:

Originally posted by jcs_smith:
Yes but Great Britain beat Australia 23-12. Forgot about the kick and clap rubbish. Watch some proper rugby for a change

ooh tap and go.

Jono

quote:

Originally posted by jcs_smith:
Yes but Great Britain beat Australia 23-12. Forgot about the kick and clap rubbish. Watch some proper rugby for a change

Didn't the Kiwis play them not so long ago...

Yes they played badly against the Kiwi's, were disallowed a try that should have been given and would have given them a win, but overall didn't deserve to win. The thing I don't get is this - with all the hookers and hal-backs available in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands why did the Kiwi's pick an Australian? The ironic thing is that within a few weeks he would have been eligible on residency since he's been playing for the NZ Warriors for the last 2 years or so.
Incidentally my favourite player of all time is a Kiwi - Kirk Sorensen

quote:

The thing I don't get is this - with all the hookers and hal-backs available in New Zealand and the Pacific Islands why did the Kiwi's pick an Australian?

there are a good number of people asking that same question down here; nuff said. plonkers for such a fundamental error. the response to the whole thing smacks of political correctness and whitewash.

quote:

Originally posted by Jono 13:

quote:

Originally posted by jcs_smith:
Yes but Great Britain beat Australia 23-12. Forgot about the kick and clap rubbish. Watch some proper rugby for a change

ooh tap and go.

Jono

Tap and go, dont let me start on the league vs rah rah.

there is no comparison. Flick between a game of league/union, I can almost say for certain, when you turn to union, the ball will not be in play, it will be in the car park or the empty stands.


Regards

I watched the "Lions" vs All Blacks, i couldnt believe how un-athletic the england lads looked, compared to the all blacks they looked fat, out of shape ordinary guys.

Right Wing

I like watching league occasionally but cannot stay with it for long as I find it a bit one-dimensional. For me, union v league is like chess v draughts.

Each to their own though, of course and different opinions help the world go around.

Regards

Mark