England vs New Zealand - Sunday 19th April 7.30pm

[Puja]

Or Saturday 9th November 2002 if you prefer

England: Jason Robinson; James Simpson-Daniel, Will Greenwood, Mike Tindall, Ben Cohen; Jonny Wilkinson, Matt Dawson; Lawrence Dallaglio, Richard Hill, Lewis Moody, Danny Grewcock, Martin Johnson (captain), Phil Vickery, Steve Thompson, Trevor Woodman.
Replacements: Regan, Leonard, Kay, Back, Healey, Johnston, Stimpson.

New Zealand: Ben Blair; Doug Howlett, Tana Umaga, Keith Lowen, Jonah Lomu; Carlos Spencer, Steve Devine; Sam Broomhall, Marty Holah, Taine Randell (captain), Keith Robinson , Ali Williams, Kees Meeuws, Andrew Hore, Joe McDonnell.
Replacements: Mealamu, Hayman, Mika, So'oialo, Lee, Mehrtens, M. Robinson.

Anyone who is confused: http://rugbyrebels.co/board/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4512

https://discordapp.com/

Basically allows me to stream my laptop screen to you lot. You just need to download the program and I'll put a link and password to the stream on here (once I've got round to setting it up).

Here should be the link to the stream: https://discord.gg/uaxBxbP

If you all check it to make sure that it works okay - you should be able to log in now, it's just there'll be nothing happening till tomorrow at 7.30pm.

[Mikey Brown]

I can’t wait to see how good Simpson-Daniel is once he gets a chance to settle in at this level.

[Puja]

It's a weakened NZ side - no Muliaina, Nonu, Kelleher, Marshall, Thorne, or Jack, but they're still scary. There's no such thing as a weak NZ side and I don't think any of these players fear England at all. Not sure I can say the same about our lot and Lomu!

I'd've picked Bracken over Dawson myself for a better pass and Back being dropped for Moody is ridiculous. Moody's promising, but he's young and we shouldn't be experimenting against NZ of all teams. Keep the Holy Trinity together!

Really interested to see how Simpson-Daniel copes on his first cap - he's looked great for Gloucester this season but facing Lomu and Howlett is a big ask for a debut.

Puja

[Danno]

Probably an idea to stick the Discord link in there

[Puja]

Probably an idea to stick the Discord link in there

Will do once I've got the link to the stream set up.

Puja

[Danno]

Would it not be an idea to.. Nevermind

[Digby]

It's a weakened NZ side - no Muliaina, Nonu, Kelleher, Marshall, Thorne, or Jack, but they're still scary. There's no such thing as a weak NZ side and I don't think any of these players fear England at all. Not sure I can say the same about our lot and Lomu!

I like the idea no Thorne weakens the side, it's possibly the first time in history someone will have made that assessment including Thorne as a missing component, and excluding McCaw for that matter. That said whilst Taine Randall looked a much better player at club level than Thorne I don't think he ever quite found his feet at test level despite seeming the better prospect

[Puja]

It's a weakened NZ side - no Muliaina, Nonu, Kelleher, Marshall, Thorne, or Jack, but they're still scary. There's no such thing as a weak NZ side and I don't think any of these players fear England at all. Not sure I can say the same about our lot and Lomu!

I like the idea no Thorne weakens the side, it's possibly the first time in history someone will have made that assessment including Thorne as a missing component, and excluding McCaw for that matter. That said whilst Taine Randall looked a much better player at club level than Thorne I don't think he ever quite found his feet at test level despite seeming the better prospect

Well he's better than Broomhall! And let's face it So'oialo won't ever amount to anything - he's far too error prone on the big stage. Had forgotten about young McCaw though.

Puja

[Digby]

So'oialo had a lot of very good games for NZ, especially as a foil to McCaw and Collins, a class act was Rodney. Broomhall I don't remember anything about, had to look him up and it seems he even played in Europe and I still don't recall seeing him play

[Puja]

So'oialo had a lot of very good games for NZ, especially as a foil to McCaw and Collins, a class act was Rodney. Broomhall I don't remember anything about, had to look him up and it seems he even played in Europe and I still don't recall seeing him play

Yeah, but the gag is that back in 2002, he was a young 7s player still to win his first cap.

Puja

[Beasties]

Looking forward to Grewcock and Johnson in tandem.

Who tf's Johnston?

[Stom]

So I was just looking up...are there 3 or 4 debutants in that NZ side?

[Puja]

Looking forward to Grewcock and Johnson in tandem.

Who tf's Johnston?

Ben Johnston, Saracens centre. He's a good solid player, although I'd rather we be using this opportunity to give Phil Christophers another chance.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Looking forward to Grewcock and Johnson in tandem.

Who tf's Johnston?

Ben Johnston, Saracens centre. He's a good solid player, although I'd rather we be using this opportunity to give Phil Christophers another chance.

Puja

Harsh. I reckon he’ll nail his cameo in the last 10 mins and go on to be motm in the 2007 final, which will be the culmination of another 4 years of England’s dominance. He is just one of many examples that Woodward isn’t throwing all his eggs in one 2003 basket but is planning meticulously for the future. There will be no World Cup hangover for this regime.

[Puja]

Looking forward to Grewcock and Johnson in tandem.

Who tf's Johnston?

Ben Johnston, Saracens centre. He's a good solid player, although I'd rather we be using this opportunity to give Phil Christophers another chance.

Puja

Harsh. I reckon he’ll nail his cameo in the last 10 mins and go on to be motm in the 2007 final, which will be the culmination of another 4 years of England’s dominance. He is just one of many examples that Woodward isn’t throwing all his eggs in one 2003 basket but is planning meticulously for the future. There will be no World Cup hangover for this regime.

Eh. He's always struck me as one of those middling players with no great virtues aside from being okay at everything. I'd be more interested in seeing more of that young Jamie Noon if we're going to try another centre - he looked mustard in the Churchill Cup. Or Ollie Smith at Leicester, who is going to be one of the greats.

Frankly I don't see why we're picking from a bottom of the table rubbish side like Saracens anyway, instead of from the HEC and Premiership winning Tigers.

Puja

[Mr Mwenda]

Woah, this is so meta!

[Danno]

I'd much prefer Robinson on the wing furthest from Lomu. Can't we start Back opposite him?

[Puja]

I'd much prefer Robinson on the wing furthest from Lomu. Can't we start Back opposite him?

Robinson's at full-back. It's little debutant Simpson-Daniel on Lomu's wing. Can't see this going badly at all!

Puja

[Danno]

My point remains valid

Is there a game on Saturday?

[Puja]

Stream link for 7.30pm tomorrow: https://discord.gg/uaxBxbP

There'll be a 97-03 England highlights reel (excluding these games) running from 7pm on repeat (about 15m in length so it'll run twice), if anyone wants to tune in early and make sure their setup is working.

Puja

[Puja]

I'd much prefer Robinson on the wing furthest from Lomu. Can't we start Back opposite him?

Robinson's at full-back. It's little debutant Simpson-Daniel on Lomu's wing. Can't see this going badly at all!

Puja

Mind, looking back over things, I'd forgotten that JSD had already played Lomu and made an idiot of him earlier in the summer. Might be his first England cap, but not his first experience.



Puja

[Banquo]

It's a weakened NZ side - no Muliaina, Nonu, Kelleher, Marshall, Thorne, or Jack, but they're still scary. There's no such thing as a weak NZ side and I don't think any of these players fear England at all. Not sure I can say the same about our lot and Lomu!

I'd've picked Bracken over Dawson myself for a better pass and Back being dropped for Moody is ridiculous. Moody's promising, but he's young and we shouldn't be experimenting against NZ of all teams. Keep the Holy Trinity together!

Really interested to see how Simpson-Daniel copes on his first cap - he's looked great for Gloucester this season but facing Lomu and Howlett is a big ask for a debut.

Puja

...or McCaw...

[Puja]

Stream is live with the highlights. Will start the game at 7.30pm. Anyone in already?

I will note that the game will be higher quality picture than the highlights, some of which were digitised back when they happened!

Puja

[Puja]

Bueller?

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Steve Thompson a better winger than Mike Brown.