England v New Zealand @ Twickenham

[Ulrich]

England's first game of the season is the defining factor here I believe. Sure, they have injuries but I don't think that matters as much in the modern English setup (Read: Lancaster).

If it were England's 2nd or 3rd game I'd be more wary as an All Black. Not to say England can't win this, but it's still a bit unlikely regardless of how far they've come.

They stand a real chance next week.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

New AB jersey launched:

Black collar, AIG logo in "gun metal silver" & forwards one is a looser cut with raised bits for them to grip on at scrum & maul time.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/10707739/Unveiled-New-All-Blacks-jersey-blackest-ever

 

[Dan54]

Personally, I like the jersey, not a fan of teams changing jerseys, but in todays world they do, so All Blacks going out in more black works for me!!

 

[boyo]

Richie McCaw's been working on that for years.

 

[Brumby Jack]

New Zealand

1. Wyatt Crockett (33)
2. Dane Coles (24)
3. Owen Franks (65)
4. Brodie Retallick (34)
5. Samuel Whitelock (60)
6. Jerome Kaino (54)
7. Richie McCaw - captain (134)
8. Kieran Read (70)
9. Aaron Smith (36)
10. Aaron Cruden (36)
11. Julian Savea (30)
12. Sonny Bill Williams (20)
13. Conrad Smith (83)
14. Ben Smith (35)
15. Israel Dagg (45)
Reserves:
16. Keven Mealamu (121)
17. Ben Franks (39)
18. Charlie Faumuina (24)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (5)
20. Liam Messam (37)
21. TJ Perenara (8)
22. Beauden Barrett (26)
23. Ryan Crotty (10)

 

[SaderCheif]

New AB jersey launched:

View attachment 5614

Black collar, AIG logo in "gun metal silver" & forwards one is a looser cut with raised bits for them to grip on at scrum & maul time.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/10707739/Unveiled-New-All-Blacks-jersey-blackest-ever

"The blackest ever" The GOAT will be even less visible!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

"The blackest ever" The GOAT will be even less visible!
View attachment 5616

Richie modelling his new hoodie.

Surprised to see SBW starting, the way Foster was talking he was a shoo-in for the Scots game. Kaino's foot has obviously come right quicker than expected, I recall reading before they left NZ that he'd likely miss the USA & Eng matches. Other than that a predictable lineup & should be good enough to get the job done if not by many (say 8ish).

 

[Dan54]

Already for this test, although I say almost every year what a pack of bastards Setanta are, I weakened again and forked out money to hook up!!

Geez I'm weak!

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Already for this test, although I say almost every year what a pack of bastards Setanta are, I weakened again and forked out money to hook up!!

Geez I'm weak!

Yeah, gotta admit that if I wasn't flying back to NZ on the 19th for the in-laws' 50th wedding anniversary I'd probably have done the same without informing her indoors. But given I am it's hard to justify $40 for just the Poms. Can't blame Setanta, though, they're just doing what TV stations do, likewise NZRU are doing what every other ...RU on earth would do if they could. At the end of the day I guess it's really our fault for being rugby tragics. I can live with that.

 

[Dan54]

Well it's $60, there is a $20 sign up fee too, Welsh test is on Setanta too!!
Yep we suffer as rugby tragics, still gave me something to waste money on!

 

[The Red Baron]

6. Jerome Kaino (54)
7. Richie McCaw - captain (134)
8. Kieran Read (70)

Phark that's a good backrow.

 

[Highlander35]

Lucky me who has Setanta. Well, the old man does.

Ah well, the Scots game is on Fox. Probably because of the BT Sport thing.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Well it's $60, there is a $20 sign up fee too, Welsh test is on Setanta too!!
Yep we suffer as rugby tragics, still gave me something to waste money on!

OK, thought it was $20 + $20 for the month which I may just have worn for both games but not just the Poms. Having said that I'd possibly have weakened so thank GOAT for in-laws 50th & SkyNZ (unless of course Setanta have the rights back home as well).

 

[qwerty51]

Would love to see an even playing field for jerseys.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

As I was enjoying this united hatred for the soap dodgers, I realised that it's all unopposed; do we not have any England supporters floating around GAGR? We have Wales, Scotland and Ireland covered. But any English?

Found a Gaggerlander sporting an English Rose.

This bloke

 

[Tigs Man]

England:
1) Marler
2) Hartley
3) Wilson
4) Attwood
5) Lawes
6) Wood
7) Robshaw
8) Vunipola
9) Care
10) Farrell
11) May
12) Eastmond
13) Barritt
14) Rokoduguni
15) Brown

Replacements: Rob Webber (Bath), Matt Mullan (Wasps), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle), George Kruis (Saracens), Ben Morgan (Gloucester), Ben Youngs (Leicester), George Ford (Bath), Anthony Watson (Bath).

I understand the selections there but I just not that keen on the backline.

Forwards are the best we could have picked ATM, expect maybe Kruis for Kitchener maybe.

Should be a comfortable win for NZ, England have no hard runners in the backline to draw defenders in, Roko is a string finisher but will be marked out in this game.

Our Defence should be a lot better with Barritt there but against the AB it will stretch him.

 

[waiopehu oldboy]

Current odds being offered by sporting bet:

StraightLineMargin 1-12Margin 13+Handicap
England. 3.65 (+8.5) 1.91 (1-12) 4.75 (13+) 13.00 (+12.5) 1.57
New Zealand. 1.29 (-8.5) 1.91 (1-12) 2.50 (13+) 2.30 (+12.5) 1.01

PR tipping AB by 12 but I'm with Nick Evans, this is gonna be closer than a lot of people think.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_9552360,00.html

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/international/10713113/England-are-no-easy-beats-warns-Nick-Evans

@Tigs Man good to have an English perspective, looking forward to your thoughts, esp over the next few weeks.

 

[MrTabua]

"The blackest ever" The GOAT will be even less visible!

As long as the alternate strip is silver I'm happy.

 

[JSRF10]

Very uninspiring England 10,12,13. All Blacks by 8+ for me

 

[scaraby]

England have claimed home ground advantage and will play in their traditional strip