England vs All Blacks

[Bones]

I heart this photo and hope to see plenty similar today.
Check out @AllBlacks’s Tweet: https://twitter.com/AllBlacks/status/1060034108133265408?s=09

[Margin_Walker]

@bones

I'm hoping for a few more like this. Albeit minus Dagg

[Crucial]

These moments are quite enjoyable too...

[Bones]

@margin_walker said in England vs All Blacks:

@bones

I'm hoping for a few more like this. Albeit minus Dagg

Jesus. Just when you think you know someone.

[Bones]

@crucial
https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/opinion/108485774/all-blacks-v-england-discipline-vital-for-abs-with-jerome-garces-as-ref?cid=facebook.post.108485774

[Unite]

How’s the weather there this morning?

[Crucial]

@unite said in England vs All Blacks:

How’s the weather there this morning?

Quite OK at the moment. Doesn't look like much chance of rain until after the game.
I assume the ground drains ok but it will be damp as nothing dries at this time of year.

[Crucial]

@bones said in England vs All Blacks:

@crucial
https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/opinion/108485774/all-blacks-v-england-discipline-vital-for-abs-with-jerome-garces-as-ref?cid=facebook.post.108485774

Garces is an equal opportunities dickwad.

[pakman]

Having mulled things over, for me England's chances rely on disrupting our lineout. Itoje and Kruis are a very good unit, and were effective for Lions. Less competent at back, so some planning will have gone into shutting down Read.

If we get quick ball off the top will be a long day for the MWWW.

[Victor Meldrew]

@pakman said in England vs All Blacks:

Rieko and TJP were on South West Trains yesterday evening handing out free tickets and doughnuts

Bearing in mind the appalling reputation of South West Trains, winding up the locals may not be a good idea....

[pakman]

@victor-meldrew said in England vs All Blacks:

@pakman said in England vs All Blacks:

Rieko and TJP were on South West Trains yesterday evening handing out free tickets and doughnuts

Bearing in mind the appalling reputation of South West Trains, winding up the locals may not be a good idea....

Agreed. Hampton Wick to Clapham, so probably one of the safer ones?

[Victor Meldrew]

@pakman

I'm training up from Kent (currently staying with in-laws).

[Crucial]

Luckily for those relying on trains to get to the ground.

"RMT industrial action planned for this date has been cancelled. We plan to run a full service on this day subject to engineering works."

[Bones]

@pakman hmmm... Read typically jumps at the front though?

@Victor-Meldrew geez who woulda thought there'd be so many ferners in the garden County.

[SimonAdd_2]

@booboo said in England vs All Blacks:

Of the apparently 16 players missing for Ingalund is it possible to get a list and rank them in terms of their position?

As an example NZ is missing the number one and number three ranked LHPs (Moody, Hames).

Even just a list so we can start trying to work out how badly affected the Poms actually are.

Thanks in anticipation.

Off the top of my head:

Loosehead: M Vunipola, Marler (retired), Mullen, Genge, Obano
Lock: Launchbury, Lawes has recovered to make the bench
Flankers: Robshaw, Curry
Number 8: B Vunipola, Hughes, Simmonds, Clifford, Morgan
Scrum-half: Robson
Centres: Joseph, Tuilagi (unsure if he's still injured or just unselected), Lozowski (banned)
Back 3: Watson

Of those, I'd say Vunipola, Launchbury, Robshaw, Curry and Watson would have been likely starters, and Joseph/Lozowski would have been pushing Slade hard.

But the bigger problem than missing starters (which we're used to) is how far down the depth chart we're having to go at loosehead and 8. Moon is a journeyman prop who used to play in the Championship (one league below the premiership) and Wilson is a jack-of-all-trades 6 being played out of position at the base of the scrum.

[Billy Tell]

@bones said in England vs All Blacks:

@crucial
https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/opinion/108485774/all-blacks-v-england-discipline-vital-for-abs-with-jerome-garces-as-ref?cid=facebook.post.108485774

Because with other refs discipline is not important...?

[Bones]

@simonadd_2 we're playing a loosehead who pretty much only took up rugby a year ago.

[Bones]

@billy-tell correct, they're in our pocket.

[SimonAdd_2]

@bones said in England vs All Blacks:

@simonadd_2 we're playing a loosehead who pretty much only took up rugby a year ago.

Wow, he must be really good to establish himself as the second-best loosehead in New Zealand in such a short time. Will look out for him.

[scribe]

My tickets fell through so me and a mate are heading out to Twickenham now to 'negotiate'. Added bit of a excitement before the game ...

Any sure things from Ferners heading to game, gratefully received.