All Blacks Vs England, Twickenham

[Jimmy Jimmy]

EDG not there I suspect is a fitness issue.
TJP now just a mentor.
Good to see Finau getting more minutes.

[sparky]

@Billy-Tell Maybe that's conversation. At the start of the year, we were worried about Lock. Now it's an area of strength.

[Jimmy Jimmy]

10 is now our only real worry

[sparky]

Is Finau best used off the bench?

[sparky]

@Jimmy-Jimmy said in All Blacks Vs England, Twickenham:

10 is now our only real worry

And complacency.

[sparky]

Will England find a way to run away from or past Mark Telea?

He's a great stepper, but his lack of top speed as been notable in other Tests this year.

[Mr Fish]

EDG's absence is a disciplinary thing apparently.

[Jimmy Jimmy]

@sparky said in All Blacks Vs England, Twickenham:

@Jimmy-Jimmy said in All Blacks Vs England, Twickenham:

10 is now our only real worry

And complacency.

True

[kpkanz]

God I hate the backline..

Beauden at 10..why? He is going to kick most the ball away, and barely gets our attack going compared to Dmac.

Last game against Aussie we looked decidedly average for the first 60 minutes he was leading. His passing is just quite poor. He shuffles and the rest of the backline pays the price.

And he's 33...so what is this working towards?

Jordie/Rieko continuing their tenure as guaranteed starting midfielders. No surprise the last 5 years we have struggled on attack coincides with when we decided to stick two midfielders who either can't pass or choose not to as our starting pair.

Why are we obsessed with ATHLETES at centre? Conrad was our best center ever and all he did was spend the entire game trying to set up players outside him.

Meh..

At least our pack is trending towards World Class

[KiwiMurph]

Once you factored in who didn't play vs Japan and injuries - a very predictable 23 outside of no EDG.

[Bones]

Yeah, that should take care of England without too much stress.

[sparky]

The two sides look very evenly matched to me.

Based on form this year and home advantage, England to win by less than 3, but if the All Blacks reduce their error rate they'll win.

[Frank]

They can't be happy with DMac because BB is nothing more than a stopgap measure.
I like the bench. Proper impact if used correctly.
And thank God TJP isn't on the pine.

[Bones]

@sparky I highly doubt England have improved since they went down under, having not played. If Razor's team can't take care of them after a whole season of learnings, then that's a complete failure.

[sparky]

@Bones That was at the end of a very long season for England. They will be fresher now and have had a couple of weeks in camp to prepare.

[ACT Crusader]

@sparky said in All Blacks Vs England, Twickenham:

Talking points:

A 5-3 bench when England are going 6-2
No sign of De Groot
Vaii ahead of Patrick T
Sititi at 6 rather 8
Ratima at 9 ahead of Roigard
B. Barrett at 10 ahead of DMac
Will Jordan picked at 15 not 14.
No sign of Reece

Other than EDG being out - because there is a back story that is not public - the others are barely worth raising a breath.

[Jet]

England to win by 6+

[Tim]

NZ should be good for this. Probably 7 or less.

[sparky]

Current forecast for the match is 14 degrees, a gentle breeze and a 4% chance of rain:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2635308

[DaGrubster]

@Bones said in All Blacks Vs England, Twickenham:

@sparky I highly doubt England have improved since they went down under, having not played. If Razor's team can't take care of them after a whole season of learnings, then that's a complete failure.

I have to agree Bones. They have also had some upheaval with Felix Jones leaving and his tactics were the main reason for England doing well in NZ.

Playing at Twickenham is a factor but if we get beaten or beaten well, then it does make you wonder if we have improved. Especially as we have better personnel in this side for Saturday