All Blacks for England

First topic message reminder :

Apologies to those obsessed with the NH showpiece, but interesting things are afoot in Aotearoa that may have ramifications for England.

Steve Hansen has already suggested that the staggering 23 new all blacks he has blooded will provide the basis for his squad for 2015.

However there are a number of interesting prospects who I believe should get All Blacks trials if England deliver on their promise to bring a weakened squad for the NZ tour.

1. Jerome Kaino. Unquestionably NZ's most consistent and important loose forward in the RWC 2011 triumph. We've missed his raw physical aggression of late. Let's see if he floats.

2. Robbie Fruean. With a physique matching Jamie Roberts and electric speed, Fruean has been over looked by All Blacks selectors due to his serious heart condition. But with a new bionic valve fitted, can the giant speedster provide depth in the All Blacks mid field?

3. Johnny McNicholl. The guy shows more toe than a roman sandal. NZ's plethora of wing options make this a hard call. Let's at least cap him before he finds an English ancestor.

4. Ardie Savea. With training from the All Blacks unit Savea has added bulk to his speed and athleticism. Can he pull his new giant frame around and make the impact he promises?

5. Victor Vito. Cover at 8. We need it.

6. Joe Moody. Would've been the greatest Bolter into the All Blacks squad ever had he not had a crazy run of last minute injuries. The giant wrestler would sure be welcome in the NZ front row where stocks are low.

These guys should get a crack at England B in my opinion.

GloriousEmpire wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Is it the RFU thats insisting on the extra tests or the near bankrupt NZRU?
Honest question

NZ aren't nearly bankrupt at all. Profits are up and NZ have the most lucrative sponsorship package in professional rugby. Suspect it's the RFU who are after all, more interested in money than rugby.

But what do the RFU get for the tests? The home teams gets the gate money, TV rights, sponsorship, etc. It's only unions like NZRU and ARU that demand pay-to-play isn't it?

RFU get the privilege of playing NZ.

Dunno, they wouldn't do it without a $.

GloriousEmpire wrote:RFU get the privilege of playing NZ.

Dunno, they wouldn't do it without a $.

Bull poopie to one side, if only this tour could be taken in isolation?

However the facts are we are where we are and the reality is we're coming together at the end of another ridiculously long NH season, headed by a 'learning' coach who will hesitate unknowingly about what needs to be done.

An upside to the tour might be the opportunity it could give to some of the returning injured players; Wade, Corbisiero, Webb, Yarde, Croft, Tuilagi, Parling, Foden, to name a few.

Plus and others the chance to show; Eastmond, Cipriani, Burns, Attwood, Trinder, Garvey, Watson, and some other propping lumps......

All in all I'd like us to be brave and bold in our approach and selection, everyone backing everyone, top to bottom, back to front, however I'll finish where I started, this tour does not take place in a vacuum, our guys will be pretty much shot and desperately vulnerable to serious injury prior the most important year of the four season cycle. Genius.

aucklandlaurie wrote:

Metal Tiger wrote:Why would NZ insist on the 1st test being played on a day when they know England will be missing many of their first choice players?

Because we are busy with the Super XV, and only have a three week break.

It does seem poorly planned then causing issues for player availability either end of this international window. Perhaps a 2 match tour would have been better... or maybe 1st test shohld be maori rather than a full test?

kingelderfield wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:RFU get the privilege of playing NZ.

Dunno, they wouldn't do it without a $.

Bull poopie to one side, if only this tour could be taken in isolation?

However the facts are we are where we are and the reality is we're coming together at the end of another ridiculously long NH season, headed by a 'learning' coach who will hesitate unknowingly about what needs to be done.

An upside to the tour might be the opportunity it could give to some of the returning injured players; Wade, Corbisiero, Webb, Yarde, Croft, Tuilagi, Parling, Foden, to name a few.

Plus and others the chance to show; Eastmond, Cipriani, Burns, Attwood, Trinder, Garvey, Watson, and some other propping lumps......

All in all I'd like us to be brave and bold in our approach and selection, everyone backing everyone, top to bottom, back to front, however I'll finish where I started, this tour does not take place in a vacuum, our guys will be pretty much shot and desperately vulnerable to serious injury prior the most important year of the four season cycle. Genius.

I wondered how long it would be before someone mentioned the length of the nh season

I believe when the tables are reversed, NZ is called "match fit and tuned" and England are called "rusty".

England are missing a great chance though. NZ are always weakest in the first couple of games of the season. Providing an easy hit out first up is throwing that chance away.

GloriousEmpire wrote:

kingelderfield wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:RFU get the privilege of playing NZ.

Dunno, they wouldn't do it without a $.

Bull poopie to one side, if only this tour could be taken in isolation?

However the facts are we are where we are and the reality is we're coming together at the end of another ridiculously long NH season, headed by a 'learning' coach who will hesitate unknowingly about what needs to be done.

An upside to the tour might be the opportunity it could give to some of the returning injured players; Wade, Corbisiero, Webb, Yarde, Croft, Tuilagi, Parling, Foden, to name a few.

Plus and others the chance to show; Eastmond, Cipriani, Burns, Attwood, Trinder, Garvey, Watson, and some other propping lumps......

All in all I'd like us to be brave and bold in our approach and selection, everyone backing everyone, top to bottom, back to front, however I'll finish where I started, this tour does not take place in a vacuum, our guys will be pretty much shot and desperately vulnerable to serious injury prior the most important year of the four season cycle. Genius.

I wondered how long it would be before someone mentioned the length of the nh season

I believe when the tables are reversed, NZ is called "match fit and tuned" and England are called "rusty".

England are missing a great chance though. NZ are always weakest in the first couple of games of the season. Providing an easy hit out first up is throwing that chance away.

Funny - because I distinctly remember NZ supporters (and England bashers) telling us how tired NZ were after they were beaten at Twickenham.
Sauce for the goose is apparently also coulis for the gander.

GloriousEmpire wrote:

kingelderfield wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:RFU get the privilege of playing NZ.

Dunno, they wouldn't do it without a $.

Bull poopie to one side, if only this tour could be taken in isolation?

However the facts are we are where we are and the reality is we're coming together at the end of another ridiculously long NH season, headed by a 'learning' coach who will hesitate unknowingly about what needs to be done.

An upside to the tour might be the opportunity it could give to some of the returning injured players; Wade, Corbisiero, Webb, Yarde, Croft, Tuilagi, Parling, Foden, to name a few.

Plus and others the chance to show; Eastmond, Cipriani, Burns, Attwood, Trinder, Garvey, Watson, and some other propping lumps......

All in all I'd like us to be brave and bold in our approach and selection, everyone backing everyone, top to bottom, back to front, however I'll finish where I started, this tour does not take place in a vacuum, our guys will be pretty much shot and desperately vulnerable to serious injury prior the most important year of the four season cycle. Genius.

I wondered how long it would be before someone mentioned the length of the nh season

I believe when the tables are reversed, NZ is called "match fit and tuned" and England are called "rusty".

England are missing a great chance though. NZ are always weakest in the first couple of games of the season. Providing an easy hit out first up is throwing that chance away.

On a sensible level it’s the number of commercially imperative games each set of players are subject to. Don't be silly, x number of SXV + x number of internationals are not comparable in their degrading effect. Don't think for one moment I believe this is a good thing; however for the time being those are just the breaks.

Now let’s hear those Welsh boys sing!

nobbled wrote:
Funny - because I distinctly remember NZ supporters (and England bashers) telling us how tired NZ were after they were beaten at Twickenham.
Sauce for the goose is apparently also coulis for the gander.

I thought they'd blamed the chef for them all being sick the night before the game ?

nobbled wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:

kingelderfield wrote:

GloriousEmpire wrote:RFU get the privilege of playing NZ.

Dunno, they wouldn't do it without a $.

Bull poopie to one side, if only this tour could be taken in isolation?

However the facts are we are where we are and the reality is we're coming together at the end of another ridiculously long NH season, headed by a 'learning' coach who will hesitate unknowingly about what needs to be done.

An upside to the tour might be the opportunity it could give to some of the returning injured players; Wade, Corbisiero, Webb, Yarde, Croft, Tuilagi, Parling, Foden, to name a few.

Plus and others the chance to show; Eastmond, Cipriani, Burns, Attwood, Trinder, Garvey, Watson, and some other propping lumps......

All in all I'd like us to be brave and bold in our approach and selection, everyone backing everyone, top to bottom, back to front, however I'll finish where I started, this tour does not take place in a vacuum, our guys will be pretty much shot and desperately vulnerable to serious injury prior the most important year of the four season cycle. Genius.

I wondered how long it would be before someone mentioned the length of the nh season

I believe when the tables are reversed, NZ is called "match fit and tuned" and England are called "rusty".

England are missing a great chance though. NZ are always weakest in the first couple of games of the season. Providing an easy hit out first up is throwing that chance away.

Funny - because I distinctly remember NZ supporters (and England bashers) telling us how tired NZ were after they were beaten at Twickenham.
Sauce for the goose is apparently also coulis for the gander.

No, not really the lack of energy in the ABs performance was understandable,they had played tests for 5 of the 6 previous weekends (Remember Bledisloe 3 was a late addition to the calander). Have England ever played more than three tests consecutively?

Same xv started each game did they........

There were a couple of things that NZ had that weren't ideal but they can't make up a 17 point stuffing IMO. England deserved their moment in the sun as they came tactically prepared and outplayed NZ on and off the field.

Sheeeit that was hard to write.

disneychilly wrote:There were a couple of things that NZ had that weren't ideal but they can't make up a 17 point stuffing IMO. England deserved their moment in the sun as they came tactically prepared and outplayed NZ on and off the field.

Sheeeit that was hard to write.

It's alright Disney, a few heavy wins int he summer will help it receded into distant memory

aucklandlaurie wrote:Have England ever played more than three tests consecutively?

All of Englands tests are consecutive.