All Blacks v England. Oh sh**.

[zer0]

Team named.

1. Joe Moody (44 caps)
2. Codie Taylor (49)
3. Nepo Laulala (24)
4. Brodie Retallick (79)
5. Samuel Whitelock (116)
6. Scott Barrett (34)
7. Ardie Savea (43)
8. Kieran Read (125) (C)
9. Aaron Smith (90)
10. Richie Mo’unga (15)
11. George Bridge (8)
12. Anton Lienert-Brown (41)
13. Jack Goodhue (12)
14. Sevu Reece (6)
15. Beauden Barrett (81)

16. Dane Coles (67)
17. Ofa Tu'ungafasi (34)
18. Angus Ta'avao (12)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (28)
20. Sam Cane (66)
21. T J Perenara (63)
22. Sonny Bill Williams (56)
23. Jordie Barrett (15)

So the speculation was spot on about S.Barrett, not so much about Moli.

[Lizard]

I love Sbarrett, but not sure if he is really a starting test 6.

[Puja]

And on the English side of things...

George Ford has been tipped to make shock return to the England starting team for Saturday's World Cup semifinal against the All Blacks. UK newspaper, the Telegraph, has reported that Ford will come into the starting team at first-five, with Owen Farrell moving out to No 12 and Manu Tuilagi playing at centre.

England coach Eddie Jones is also expected to tinker with his forwards and call up George Kruis to play a lock, in place of Courtney Lawes. Kruis is expected to be more of a handful in the lineouts than Lawes, with Jones believing this will be a crucial part of Saturday's game in Yokohama.

Jonny May, the winger who scored two tries against the Wallabies last weekend, is expected to recover from his hamstring injury and will be available to play.

...

Ford's recall will be bad news for Henry Slade, who'll be making way in the starting team for him. Slade got the nod to play against Australia because Jones feared the physical presence in the midfield of Samu Kerevi. The expected All Blacks midfield of Anton Lienert-Brown and Jack Goodhue will provide England with challenges, but running directly up the middle of the field won't one that features as prominently as it did with the Wallabies.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/rug ... -semifinal

Potentially dual playmakers and reinforced lineout's on both sides. Have a sneaky suspicion that there just may be a bit of kicking in this one.

Our odds of winning have just doubled with Ford's recall.

Puja

[cashead]

And on the English side of things...

George Ford has been tipped to make shock return to the England starting team for Saturday's World Cup semifinal against the All Blacks. UK newspaper, the Telegraph, has reported that Ford will come into the starting team at first-five, with Owen Farrell moving out to No 12 and Manu Tuilagi playing at centre.

England coach Eddie Jones is also expected to tinker with his forwards and call up George Kruis to play a lock, in place of Courtney Lawes. Kruis is expected to be more of a handful in the lineouts than Lawes, with Jones believing this will be a crucial part of Saturday's game in Yokohama.

Jonny May, the winger who scored two tries against the Wallabies last weekend, is expected to recover from his hamstring injury and will be available to play.

...

Ford's recall will be bad news for Henry Slade, who'll be making way in the starting team for him. Slade got the nod to play against Australia because Jones feared the physical presence in the midfield of Samu Kerevi. The expected All Blacks midfield of Anton Lienert-Brown and Jack Goodhue will provide England with challenges, but running directly up the middle of the field won't one that features as prominently as it did with the Wallabies.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/rug ... -semifinal

Potentially dual playmakers and reinforced lineout's on both sides. Have a sneaky suspicion that there just may be a bit of kicking in this one.

Our odds of winning have just doubled with Ford's recall.

Puja

The double of 0 is still 0.

[Beasties]

I don’t like the idea of playing guys out of their best position in RWC play offs. It never ends well.

I hope that Hanster know what they’re doing. I guess they want the presence of S Barrett but without breaking up the Whitallick locking partnership. Unless they’ve been doing some huge shifts in training, this move on top of using Beau’unga could be a shift too far. Even having Breece on the wings instead of Nahoane is a bit recent, as is using Moolala as props in place of Frankuafe.

{golfclaps} Excellent work.

Puja

+1
WT's obv had to go and find his safe place.

[jngf]

I love Sbarrett, but not sure if he is really a starting test 6.

Going to be interesting to see if Eddie makes a change at 6 to compensate -a barrett’s 5” taller and 3 stone heavier than T Curry.

[Renniks]

Yeah - personally I love the idea of Curry and Underhill up against someone bigger and less nimble.
Just ask a lot of our second row and that helps us in my view

[Mellsblue]

Loving the fact NZ are selecting a lock at 6 whilst England are selecting a 7 there. It’s like an alternate universe.

[cashead]

Team named.

1. Joe Moody (44 caps)
2. Codie Taylor (49)
3. Nepo Laulala (24)
4. Brodie Retallick (79)
5. Samuel Whitelock (116)
6. Scott Barrett (34)
7. Ardie Savea (43)
8. Kieran Read (125) (C)
9. Aaron Smith (90)
10. Richie Mo’unga (15)
11. George Bridge (8)
12. Anton Lienert-Brown (41)
13. Jack Goodhue (12)
14. Sevu Reece (6)
15. Beauden Barrett (81)

16. Dane Coles (67)
17. Ofa Tu'ungafasi (34)
18. Angus Ta'avao (12)
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (28)
20. Sam Cane (66)
21. T J Perenara (63)
22. Sonny Bill Williams (56)
23. Jordie Barrett (15)

So the speculation was spot on about S.Barrett, not so much about Moli.

Meanwhile, here's England
1. Mako Vunipola
2. Jamie George
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. Maro Itoje
5. Courtney Lawes
6. Tom Curry
7. Sam Underhill
8. Billy Vunipola
9. Ben Youngs
10. George Ford
11. Jonny May
12. Owen Farrell (C)
13. Manu Tuilagi
14. Anthony Watson
15. Elliot Daly

16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Joe Marler
18. Dan Cole
19. George Kruis
20. Mark Wilson
21. Willi Heinz
22. Henry Slade
23. Jonathan Joseph

[Lizard]

Looks strong. Still fucks with my head to see Willie Heinz there though.

[Mellsblue]

Still fucks with my head to see Willie Heinz there though.

Same for every England supporter.

[Banquo]

Which is better, Curnderhill or Cavea?

Undercurry is the moniker shewerly

[Puja]

Which is better, Curnderhill or Cavea?

Undercurry is the moniker shewerly

No, an undercurry is the rookie mistake of having the curry at the start of a night out which ends with everyone calling it a night by 10pm.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Which is better, Curnderhill or Cavea?

Undercurry is the moniker shewerly

No, an undercurry is the rookie mistake of having the curry at the start of a night out which ends with everyone calling it a night by 10pm.

Puja

Not to be confused with thundercurry which is the 30min liquid poo the following morning.

[Puja]

Undercurry is the moniker shewerly

No, an undercurry is the rookie mistake of having the curry at the start of a night out which ends with everyone calling it a night by 10pm.

Puja

Not to be confused with thundercurry which is the 30min liquid poo the following morning.

Or where Greta Thunberg plays 8.

Puja

[Lizard]

In a former work place, there was a team headed by 3 people, 2 had surnames Curry and Dunning, and the 3rd had initials MP. The team was known as Team Currydump.

[Banquo]

No, an undercurry is the rookie mistake of having the curry at the start of a night out which ends with everyone calling it a night by 10pm.

Puja

Not to be confused with thundercurry which is the 30min liquid poo the following morning.

Or where Greta Thunberg plays 8.

Puja

How dare youuuuu

[J Dory]

this is kind of cool

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/375343 ... vs-england

[J Dory]

Anyone else ridiculously excited to watch this match? I feel like a kid a Christmas.

[Puja]

Anyone else ridiculously excited to watch this match? I feel like a kid a Christmas.

I know exactly the feeling; I'm still awake at 12.15am, cause I'm too wired for bed.

Puja

[J Dory]

Anyone else ridiculously excited to watch this match? I feel like a kid a Christmas.

I know exactly the feeling; I'm still awake at 12.15am, cause I'm too wired for bed.

Puja

Sweet! Good luck to you Puja, but not too much.

[Puja]

Anyone else ridiculously excited to watch this match? I feel like a kid a Christmas.

I know exactly the feeling; I'm still awake at 12.15am, cause I'm too wired for bed.

Puja

Sweet! Good luck to you Puja, but not too much.

As to you. It's been a very long time since I've looked forward to a game this much - there's not been the feeling that we're genuinely toe-to-toe with you since half our team retired in 2003 and you very definitively informed us that their replacements were not up to scratch in 2004. It's not the same when we've just had a puncher's chance - this is two heavyweights scrapping it out and I literally cannot wait.

I'm supposed to be playing tomorrow/later on today and I'll be shit(ter) if I can't get to sleep soon. I just hope to gods that we don't fold like an Ikea deckchair as Ireland did; I'll feel a right tit having got so excited if we let ourselves down.

Puja

[J Dory]

I think it's going to be close, or else the ABs will run away with it, or England will run away with it, ok, I don't know what the fuck is going to happen. Here is to a great WC semi.

[cashead]

I think it's going to be close, or else the ABs will run away with it, or England will run away with it, ok, I don't know what the fuck is going to happen. Here is to a great WC semi.

I agree. I suspect one team might win, and the other team might not.

[zer0]

Big, if true.