England vs All Blacks + Munster vs ABs XV

[Certain Navigator]

The officiating in this match is, shall we say, interesting.

[JM2K6]

The officiating in this match is, shall we say, interesting.

Part of the joy of these games tbh

[fishfoodie]

That was exactly what this game needed

[Uncle fester]

Paul O'Connell's nephew is making his debut btw.

[PornDog]

Paul O'Connell's nephew is making his debut btw.

Surprised he's only making his debut now! Was he down in SA with Emerging Ireland?

[Uncle fester]

Paul O'Connell's nephew is making his debut btw.

Surprised he's only making his debut now! Was he down in SA with Emerging Ireland?

He was yeah

Only just out of 20's.

[OomStruisbaai]

Score?

21 - 17 to AB's

FT?

[Uncle fester]

Ah balls. Well it's a decent effort anyway.

[Uncle fester]

Score?

21 - 17 to AB's

FT?

33-24. Finishing up soon.

[Gumboot]

That'll do.

[Uncle fester]

21 - 17 to AB's

FT?

33-24. Finishing up soon.

Not soon enough. AB's got an intercept as well.

[Uncle fester]

38-24 to the AB's.

[Certain Navigator]

These Irish commentators don't seem to know the name of a single NZ player.

Are they supposed to know the names of the 24th-46th most talented players in NZ?

Well, I expect professionals to be...professional. What do you expect?

If anything, they got worse as the game went on. Between the 70th and 74th minutes, when they were whipping themselves into a paroxysm of ecstasy, not a single NZ player was mentioned, until they belatedly noted that Kellow had pulled off a try-saving tackle.

Holland a deserved MOM. Hotham and Kellow provided huge impact off the bench.

[Uncle fester]

People here stopped watching super
rugby a long long time ago so it's only the internationals we'll be familiar with.

[Guy Smiley]

These Irish commentators don't seem to know the name of a single NZ player.

Are they supposed to know the names of the 24th-46th most talented players in NZ?

Well, I expect professionals to be...professional. What do you expect?

If anything, they got worse as the game went on. Between the 70th and 74th minutes, when they were whipping themselves into a paroxysm of ecstasy, not a single NZ player was mentioned, until they belatedly noted that Kellow had pulled off a try-saving tackle.

Holland a deserved MOM. Hotham and Kellow provided huge impact off the bench.

Cool story bro.

Shame its not true.

[Uncle fester]

Happy enough we didn't make a holy show of ourselves after the week we've had. AB's deserved winners.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Razor looks like a blonde Hitler

The Hitler that Hitler always wanted to be

[Jim Lahey]

WTAF was George Ford doing with that tackle "attempt" for the 3rd try? He's a yard away from touch, any kind of hit with his shoulder and the dude is out. Why on earth would you be attempting a wrap tackle in that scenario?

[Flockwitt]

WTAF was George Ford doing with that tackle "attempt" for the 3rd try? He's a yard away from touch, any kind of hit with his shoulder and the dude is out. Why on earth would you be attempting a wrap tackle in that scenario?

This, from any rugby players perspective. Aim for the hips and Telea is gone.

[Sandstorm]

WTAF was George Ford doing with that tackle "attempt" for the 3rd try? He's a yard away from touch, any kind of hit with his shoulder and the dude is out. Why on earth would you be attempting a wrap tackle in that scenario?

This, from any rugby players perspective. Aim for the hips and Telea is gone.

Yeah, better tacklers than Ford have tried that on Tele’a and he just keeps moving. Nightmare trying to tackle that greased eel.

[Enzedder]

Sorry AB's, you got lucky! Work-ons for this week are:
Catching
Running
Passing
Kicking
Rucks and mauls
Lineouts
Tackling the actual person with the ball.

Anyone got Razor's phone number?

[Jethro]

People here stopped watching super
rugby a long long time ago so it's only the internationals we'll be familiar with.

Getting even worse in Oz, reckon its going to get even worse over the next few years, people really don't care anymore. Rugby could be done in Australia to be honest.

[Paddington Bear]

WTAF was George Ford doing with that tackle "attempt" for the 3rd try? He's a yard away from touch, any kind of hit with his shoulder and the dude is out. Why on earth would you be attempting a wrap tackle in that scenario?

Ford’s cameo was not his finest. For me he’s a poor bench option, he either starts and runs the show or shouldn’t play. Smith played very well and there was no pressing reason for a switch

[Sandstorm]

Both England and NZ have dysfunctional back lines. SA, Ireland and France are going to eat them alive.

[Hal Jordan]

WTAF was George Ford doing with that tackle "attempt" for the 3rd try? He's a yard away from touch, any kind of hit with his shoulder and the dude is out. Why on earth would you be attempting a wrap tackle in that scenario?

Ford’s cameo was not his finest. For me he’s a poor bench option, he either starts and runs the show or shouldn’t play. Smith played very well and there was no pressing reason for a switch

The analytics probably mandated the switch due to win percentages or something.

[Paddington Bear]

WTAF was George Ford doing with that tackle "attempt" for the 3rd try? He's a yard away from touch, any kind of hit with his shoulder and the dude is out. Why on earth would you be attempting a wrap tackle in that scenario?

Ford’s cameo was not his finest. For me he’s a poor bench option, he either starts and runs the show or shouldn’t play. Smith played very well and there was no pressing reason for a switch

The analytics probably mandated the switch due to win percentages or something.

Seems that way. See also subbing Spencer. I like Randall but his game is not suited to trying to hold a lead and Spencer was playing well. He has 80 in the tank, keep him going. And a Bomb Squad may seem like a good idea but it does not have the same effect when it’s Dan Cole and Finn Baxter.

Very frustrating, four of the last five games we’ve played well against good sides and blown it at the death

[tc27]

Yeah very annoyed to be 0/3 against New Zealand this year but got to keep in perspective that only needed to convert two relatively easy kicks to make it 2/1.

It is going to be hard to close out games with a weak scrum however.

[ASMO]

Yeah very annoyed to be 0/3 against New Zealand this year but got to keep in perspective that only needed to convert two relatively easy kicks to make it 2/1.

It is going to be hard to close out games with a weak scrum however.

And if my uncle had tits he would be my aunt, we are just simply not good enough, we lack a dominant scrum, we lack any sort of attack plan and an attack coach who is basically stealing a living, we heavily rely on defence and big hits but even we fail at that. We have a coach steeped in 90's Leicester tactics, and too many players who should be nowhere near that test side. There are so many things wrong here and it all starts at the top.

[Openside]

These Irish commentators don't seem to know the name of a single NZ player.

Are they supposed to know the names of the 24th-46th most talented players in NZ?

Indeed, you usually leave that to the IRFU scouts

Very good Chapeau

[OomStruisbaai]

England need a proper bomb squad.

[SaintK]

England need a proper bomb squad.

No they don't
They just need sensibly selected substitutes who are not sent on by the coach at a pre determined time.
Spencer and Smith should not have come off at 60 minutes.

[Paddington Bear]

England need a proper bomb squad.

No they don't
They just need sensibly selected substitutes who are not sent on by the coach at a pre determined time.
Spencer and Smith should not have come off at 60 minutes.

Scrum is a genuine issue and not helped by Marler’s retirement. But we can’t magic up a front row. As you say we’d have won with smarter subs with the team we had

[JM2K6]

The good news is we finally have some quality tightheads coming through and a clutch of good young looseheads. It'll be a struggle for a year or two though.

[SaintK]

The good news is we finally have some quality tightheads coming through and a clutch of good young looseheads. It'll be a struggle for a year or two though.

I'd like to see them added to the training squad occassionally as part of their development.
Not sure if that's feasible but there is a big gap between being succesful at U20 and joining the senior squad.

[sockwithaticket]

The good news is we finally have some quality tightheads coming through and a clutch of good young looseheads. It'll be a struggle for a year or two though.

I'd like to see them added to the training squad occassionally as part of their development.
Not sure if that's feasible but there is a big gap between being succesful at U20 and joining the senior squad.

There's a big gap between U20 and making it as a pro, let alone a senior international. Down the years there've been a number of heralded U20s props who just disappear after having made a handful of Premiership appearances.

[SaintK]

The good news is we finally have some quality tightheads coming through and a clutch of good young looseheads. It'll be a struggle for a year or two though.

I'd like to see them added to the training squad occassionally as part of their development.
Not sure if that's feasible but there is a big gap between being succesful at U20 and joining the senior squad.

There's a big gap between U20 and making it as a pro, let alone a senior international. Down the years there've been a number of heralded U20s props who just disappear after having made a handful of Premiership appearances.

Agreed but there a number of young props coming through who are no longer U20 and are playing Premiership rugby (albeit off the bench in some cases) who may well benefit from the exposure to what is required at the highest level

[OomStruisbaai]

The good news is we finally have some quality tightheads coming through and a clutch of good young looseheads. It'll be a struggle for a year or two though.

I'd like to see them added to the training squad occassionally as part of their development.
Not sure if that's feasible but there is a big gap between being succesful at U20 and joining the senior squad.

There's a big gap between U20 and making it as a pro, let alone a senior international. Down the years there've been a number of heralded U20s props who just disappear after having made a handful of Premiership appearances.

Yes Fatties is like red wine. Matured with age.

Springboks are in a very healthy fatties and locks stage. Hope to see a bit of Wilco.

[OomStruisbaai]

Want to congrats the All Blacks. I had to pick up our fish and chips in that last 10 minutes but always knew the All Blacks will come up with something special. England looked in control. This close losses is hard on the stomach. I don't think the Springboks would changed that around. It's going to be a tough one but first we have the flying Skotte.

[JM2K6]

I'd like to see them added to the training squad occassionally as part of their development.
Not sure if that's feasible but there is a big gap between being succesful at U20 and joining the senior squad.

There's a big gap between U20 and making it as a pro, let alone a senior international. Down the years there've been a number of heralded U20s props who just disappear after having made a handful of Premiership appearances.

Agreed but there a number of young props coming through who are no longer U20 and are playing Premiership rugby (albeit off the bench in some cases) who may well benefit from the exposure to what is required at the highest level

I also agree that the step up is usually far too much, but Fasogbon and Opoku-Fordjour are both mixing it with the big boys quite nicely already.

[Paddington Bear]

There's a big gap between U20 and making it as a pro, let alone a senior international. Down the years there've been a number of heralded U20s props who just disappear after having made a handful of Premiership appearances.

Agreed but there a number of young props coming through who are no longer U20 and are playing Premiership rugby (albeit off the bench in some cases) who may well benefit from the exposure to what is required at the highest level

I also agree that the step up is usually far too much, but Fasogbon and Opoku-Fordjour are both mixing it with the big boys quite nicely already.

Agree with this, and likewise Baxter whilst bested yesterday was by no means out of his depth, it just takes time and unfortunately he doesn’t have it as he’ll be taking on the Boks in two weeks.

Cole probably has to soldier on now