General rugby thread

[prand]

Smollet said:

Even if we don’t win it’s been a very encouraging start to the series

Not bad.... concerned that switching out key players at 9/10 and back row/second row has lost a fair amount of shape for England.

Last minute though, NZ now scrambling!

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Phew!

That was far closer than I'd have liked.


Very, very well played England. could have gone either way.

[Jasey_]

Oh well.

[Kermit power]

To me that completely turned after Mitchell went off.

There's no way of knowing if the change of Smiths was an issue, simply because the ball never really made it to Fin Smith.

[PhilboSE]

Well done NZ. Good game, as I thought it would be. NZ running game and work at the breakdown very good. Smith left a lot of points on the park from his place kicking.

Officiating really poor.

[type-r]

Can someone explain to me why this is only a 2 test match series? Kind of deflating to know no matter what we do next week, we can't win the series now.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Officiating was awful.

We looked like it was our first game for months, was a good test against the Motherland.

I enjoyed that.

Expect a different Haka next week. We always do Ka Mate at Eden Park.

Hope TJ Perenara is OK and that isn't a serious injury. He's worked really hard on his come back.

[prand]

Decent showing from England, NZ as ever are quality. With a couple of more converted kickS, England could have should have but sadly the records for All Blacks will get the W.

As I said earlier I don't think England subs had the impact that was much needed at the end, but credit to Engoand defence preventing NZ from scoring any tries in second half, I was expecting them to stretch their legs beyond England.

[Jasey_]

type-r said:

Can someone explain to me why this is only a 2 test match series? Kind of deflating to know no matter what we do next week, we can't win the series now.

If we beat them at Eden park it will feel like a series win.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Jasey_ said:

type-r said:

Can someone explain to me why this is only a 2 test match series? Kind of deflating to know no matter what we do next week, we can't win the series now.

If we beat them at Eden park it will feel like a series win.

That's a big 'if' mate.

We will take a lot away from that match and learn.

[prand]

Jasey_ said:

Oh well.

despite some very good performances, l'm actually pretty gutted England didn't win. 1 point is as good as 1000 at the final whistle.

And England really failed to exert consistent attacking pressure the second half without scoring. Missed kicks in front of goal is literally throwing points away sadly.

NZ will know they can't muck about next week both teams will raise their game. Looking forward to it.

[PhilboSE]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

We will take a lot away from that match and learn.

To ask for a Georgian referee for all future matches?!

[s6boy]

I know the Kiwis originated playing up to and often being the rules but there was as much going on off the ball than on it!
Missed the first half but thought the ref missed a lot of cheap shots in the 2nd.

[prand]

PhilboSE said:

To ask for a Georgian referee for all future matches?!

Personally I think the ref gave poor decisions equally to either side, so at least it was a consistent performance.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

PhilboSE said:

Jordie Barretts sock said:

We will take a lot away from that match and learn.

To ask for a Georgian referee for all future matches?!

Jeez! Nah. He was awful.

I'd have taken an English ref for that game in preference.

[PhilboSE]

prand said:

PhilboSE said:

To ask for a Georgian referee for all future matches?!

Personally I think the ref gave poor decisions equally to either side, so at least it was a consistent performance.

I think he was very lenient towards NZ. Standing up in the scrum x3, not-straight lineouts, neck tackles. I don’t recall Eng getting away with anything so blatant.

[antipodes40]

Almost capacity crowd and a great atmosphere. The game itself, however, was a bit lacklustre, as evidenced by the crowd getting stuck into a Mexican wave on more than one occasion. The officials were indeed poor, but I thought that cut both ways, with both sides getting away with some very questionable play on occasion. Overall, glad we went, but, apart from some very brief periods of play, both my partner and I found very little in either side to really enthuse over.

Next test will be very interesting.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

Someone posted on insta that they saw five Kiwis on their way home, something they never see.

First reply from an Aussie "f--king loads of the b--tards over here"




Anyway. Here we go, Wales vs Aussies...

[XCP]

Sound was awful, could barely hear the commentary.

Has booing the kicker as per Scotland become a thing in NZ?

[Jasey_]

Jordie Barretts sock said:

Jasey_ said:

type-r said:

Can someone explain to me why this is only a 2 test match series? Kind of deflating to know no matter what we do next week, we can't win the series now.

If we beat them at Eden park it will feel like a series win.

That's a big 'if' mate.

We will take a lot away from that match and learn.

You'll have to.

England by 35 in the next match