New Zealand v England

[I Bleed Black]

I just think it is a shame that an England back must find it so difficult gain a level of confidence in a position.

Everyone has a bad game, every AB has, yet you need to have a certain amount of faith in the players and they in turn will grow into the position.

If England can settle their knee jerk reaction to dropping players and gain the players trust in a structure that the players know will grow them into their chosen role, England will again be a force to be reckoned with.

 

[danny]

I just think it is a shame that an England back must find it so difficult gain a level of confidence in a position.

Everyone has a bad game, every AB has, yet you need to have a certain amount of faith in the players and they in turn will grow into the position.

If England can settle their knee jerk reaction to dropping players and gain the players trust in a structure that the players know will grow them into their chosen role, England will again be a force to be reckoned with.
[/b]

Too true, good post. Also our players dont get enough time to prepare for internationals due to the demands of their clubs. This has now been ironed out and from July we will be on a level playing field with the rest of the world in terms of preparation. This I feel is crucial.

 

[darwin_23]

Is Rudi Wulf in the 7's team, or am I thinking of someone else? [/b]

Wulf has played for the sevens team -was back in 2005 I think... David Smith is the blues winger currently playing in the sevens team that you may be thinking of...

I rate Wulf very highly - has a very high work-rate, is strong in defense, and takes his chances... very similar player to Doug Howlett (though he hasn't reached the level of Howlett yet....). He's also rated by the AB's coaches as the best player in New Zealand under the high ball. He's not the sort of player who can score tries out of nothing like Sivivatu or Rococoko, but I think he will be very successful at the end of this AB's backline.

 

[MunsterMan]

New Zealand 20 - 0 England at half time. Tries from Kahui and Carter. McCaw of injured, looked like he was in pain.

 

[jme]

how can we get rob andrew out of england set up? he is to invovled and we end up playing his bland style of rugby

 

[Incredible Schalk]

England always play a "bland" style of rugby, atleast they got a couple of tries. Good same to watch, that 3rd try was an absoloute beauty which could only be scored by New Zealand. Care was very good, he offers much,much more in attack than Wiggelsworth, Tait played well. Kahui and Nonu were awesome in the centre, those who continously slate Nonu should be cutting themself a large slice of humble pie after his performances this year.

 

[gingergenius]

well, new zealand are better rugby players. Simple as.

We competed with them physically, and were equal in terms of possession, territory, and at the breakdown.

We created 4 golden chances to score tries, we scored 2.

New Zealand created 5 and scored 4.

Barkley missed kicks, Carter missed none.

The NZ backplay was outstanding, Kahui, Nonu and Carter all play for different teams but they had the cohesion of a club midfield. If England want to compete at this level we need firstly to pick centres who can play at this speed and then practice as much as the Kiwis do in order to get the set piece moves as slick. Whenever we had it, we were so static and petered out.

The scoreline was thouroughly deserved, simply because NZ were so much more clinical. Like Strettle last week, Varndell should have scored in the corner. I watched Sivivatu against Ireland slide in from 5 metres so the Irish cover could do nothing to stop him; England wings need to learn that on fast SH pitches you have to slide in.

-----------------------------

Players who come from the tour with reputations enhanced:

Haskell - outstanding
Rees - ditto
Care - very bright spark
Tait - why does he not get picked more often?
Ojo - did nothing wrong, needs to work on his kicking

Players who proved they're not up to the level:

Mears - out physicaled
Hodgson - we knew this before the tour...
Noon - defence is his strong point; too bad the Kiwis can cope with his in-ya-face defending easily

Players who were unlucky:

Barkley - forced to play 10 with very little practice there
Flood - great performance today before getting injured

Players who are past it and should be got rid of:

Kay
Worsley
Tindall

 

[ChiefsFan]

I think it was a very good performance from NZ.

It showed that Kahui can play Internationally, and well.

McCaw and Williams could be huge losses. Our next best 7 is Tanerau Latimer, a guy who (no offense to him) only since this year has had regular selection at Super 14 level... I suppose they could always grab Messam though. Hopefully the injuries heal over the next two weeks.

 

[Incredible Schalk]

Lauakis a joke :angry:

 

[nam97]

Lauakis a joke :angry:
[/b]

To be honest I thought Lauaki did very well coming on early for McCaw. He got involved for once and used his power both in the tackle and at the back of the scrum. Yes, he still needs to lift his intensity before I can fully appreciate him but he somewhat redeemed himself this week after last weeks performance.

Latimer the 2nd best 7 in the country? No way. If someone's going to be called up if McCaw is badly injured it will be Chris Masoe.

 

[ChiefsFan]

Ah, forgot about Masoe, just seemed like he wasn't playing without him being in the ABs. Scratch that last idea then. Latimer would be third, but only because Masoe can cover 6 and 8 as well.

 

[jawmalawm24]

Awesome game by the All Blacks blew the English off the field. I was pretty impressed with no.6 Adam Thompson he was awesome in the rucks always stealing the ball and popping up to his feet and must of made a few tackles too.

 

[Incredible Schalk]

<div class='quotemain'>
Lauakis a joke :angry:
[/b]

To be honest I thought Lauaki did very well coming on early for McCaw. He got involved for once and used his power both in the tackle and at the back of the scrum. Yes, he still needs to lift his intensity before I can fully appreciate him but he somewhat redeemed himself this week after last weeks performance.

Latimer the 2nd best 7 in the country? No way. If someone's going to be called up if McCaw is badly injured it will be Chris Masoe.
[/b][/quote]

I was a bit strong there but he was cack over the series, last week especially, forward pass and countless dropped balls. This week he was better, scored and try and carried reasonably but again he dropped the balll a couple of times. Masoe anyday for me.



Also apparently Adam Thomson is the second quickest over 25 metres in the All Black squad, second to only Sivivatu. I dont know much about Wulf except that he has Ojo on his arse, is he quite a slow wing?

 

[jawmalawm24]

I'm a Hurricanes fan but even I think Masoe didn't do enough this season to warrant selection for the All Blacks. In a way I'm kinda glad they didn't pick him because it gives the new up and coming talents time to shine.

I really hope McCaw and Ali Williams are all good for the Tri Nations because we need them especially since there's no other specialist no.7 to cover Richie.

 

[shtove]

Only saw the last 15 mins - a bit scrappy - but some of the AB handling was magic. Couldn't tell much from what I saw of Kahui, but with Nonu not fewking up that looks a really good centre combination.

ABs to repeat the last four years?

Tri-N pencilled in to my diary.

<div class='quotemain'>
12. Geherety / Flood / Allen

[/b]

Ha Ha! Gereghty is a good call.[/b][/quote]
I remember Bill Beaumont years ago trying to pronounce Simon Geoghegan's name during commentary and giving up half way through: "Gee-o-hay-o ...agh, whatever!"

Seriously, this proves that Geraghty should not be playing for England. How will he feel when all his team mates keep getting his name wrong? Traumatic. It could ruin him. Give up now and send him back to Ireland.

 

[nik]

I would put Daniel Braid into the number 7 jersey if Mccaw does not recover, but the problem is that he got injured last week and was ruled out of the NZ Maori team for PNC. It's a shame Braid cannot make most this opportunity, he is a class act, playing in the shadows of Mccaw all this time.

BTW Adam Thompson and Richard Kahui played really well. I think Kahui will eventually get the number 13 jersey, probably at the end of the year tour, but for the 3Ns the selectors will stick with Conrad Smith for some assurance.

 

[nam97]

Did Thompson really play that well? The guys I was watching it with were all in agreement he had a shocker, dropping balls, throwing dodgy passes etc... Then in the post match talks and everyone said he played great, we were like wtf?

Now everyone on here is saying he played great. We mustn't have watched the game all that closely then. Kahui was a beast though, Tindall will indeed be having nightmares.

Now who to start at 13? Smith or Kahui? I'm still backing the Nonu/Smith combination.

 

[gingergenius]

<div class='quotemain'>
<div class='quotemain'>
Lauakis a joke :angry:
[/b]

To be honest I thought Lauaki did very well coming on early for McCaw. He got involved for once and used his power both in the tackle and at the back of the scrum. Yes, he still needs to lift his intensity before I can fully appreciate him but he somewhat redeemed himself this week after last weeks performance.

Latimer the 2nd best 7 in the country? No way. If someone's going to be called up if McCaw is badly injured it will be Chris Masoe.
[/b][/quote]

I was a bit strong there but he was cack over the series, last week especially, forward pass and countless dropped balls. This week he was better, scored and try and carried reasonably but again he dropped the balll a couple of times. Masoe anyday for me.



Also apparently Adam Thomson is the second quickest over 25 metres in the All Black squad, second to only Sivivatu. I dont know much about Wulf except that he has Ojo on his arse, is he quite a slow wing?
[/b][/quote]

From an England perspective, Thompson was a nuisance. It seems that either all the players NZ pick are awesome; or, more likely, the ones who come in get an armchair ride - it's easy when there's quick ball and the likes of Carter & McCaw are playing well.

How did Wulf have Ojo? Wulf hardly touched the ball...

 

[Incredible Schalk]

<div class='quotemain'>
<div class='quotemain'>
<div class='quotemain'>
Lauakis a joke :angry:
[/b]

To be honest I thought Lauaki did very well coming on early for McCaw. He got involved for once and used his power both in the tackle and at the back of the scrum. Yes, he still needs to lift his intensity before I can fully appreciate him but he somewhat redeemed himself this week after last weeks performance.

Latimer the 2nd best 7 in the country? No way. If someone's going to be called up if McCaw is badly injured it will be Chris Masoe.
[/b][/quote]

I was a bit strong there but he was cack over the series, last week especially, forward pass and countless dropped balls. This week he was better, scored and try and carried reasonably but again he dropped the balll a couple of times. Masoe anyday for me.



Also apparently Adam Thomson is the second quickest over 25 metres in the All Black squad, second to only Sivivatu. I dont know much about Wulf except that he has Ojo on his arse, is he quite a slow wing?
[/b][/quote]

From an England perspective, Thompson was a nuisance. It seems that either all the players NZ pick are awesome; or, more likely, the ones who come in get an armchair ride - it's easy when there's quick ball and the likes of Carter & McCaw are playing well.

How did Wulf have Ojo? Wulf hardly touched the ball...
[/b][/quote]


Because he sat Ojo on his arse when he ran at him.

 

[gingergenius]

<div class='quotemain'>
<div class='quotemain'>
<div class='quotemain'>
<div class='quotemain'>
Lauakis a joke :angry:
[/b]

To be honest I thought Lauaki did very well coming on early for McCaw. He got involved for once and used his power both in the tackle and at the back of the scrum. Yes, he still needs to lift his intensity before I can fully appreciate him but he somewhat redeemed himself this week after last weeks performance.

Latimer the 2nd best 7 in the country? No way. If someone's going to be called up if McCaw is badly injured it will be Chris Masoe.
[/b][/quote]

I was a bit strong there but he was cack over the series, last week especially, forward pass and countless dropped balls. This week he was better, scored and try and carried reasonably but again he dropped the balll a couple of times. Masoe anyday for me.



Also apparently Adam Thomson is the second quickest over 25 metres in the All Black squad, second to only Sivivatu. I dont know much about Wulf except that he has Ojo on his arse, is he quite a slow wing?
[/b][/quote]

From an England perspective, Thompson was a nuisance. It seems that either all the players NZ pick are awesome; or, more likely, the ones who come in get an armchair ride - it's easy when there's quick ball and the likes of Carter & McCaw are playing well.

How did Wulf have Ojo? Wulf hardly touched the ball...
[/b][/quote]


Because he sat Ojo on his arse when he ran at him.
[/b][/quote]

oh yeah fair enough. thought TO was good otherwise