All Blacks v England. Oh sh**.

[Lizard]

Oh shit.

[zer0]

Absolutely chuffed with that performance. Was not confident this group had it in them, but very happy to be wrong! Though think we'll need another step up to to overcome England. Hopefully no injuries arise...

[canta_brian]

Do you really think we need to step up from Ireland to beat England? I think if we play as well as that we win by a decent margin. I don’t think we beat England by as big a number however. They are big ugly lumps and don’t often get thrashed but we were pretty decent against a team that has beaten us twice in the last “World Cup cycle”. (I feel a bit ick just typing that).

[Cameo]

I think if you play like that you win against England but England's power and aggression may be able to rattle you. They also have the pace that means they are not out of it at 17 nil down like Ireland were

[Digby]

Scotland put 38 points on England, NZ should have a field day

[Puja]

Scotland put 38 points on England, NZ should have a field day

Australia put 47 on NZ. Should be 80 points to us.

Puja

[Digby]

Scotland put 38 points on England, NZ should have a field day

Australia put 47 on NZ. Should be 80 points to us.

Puja

If we can finish with 15 on the pitch it'll be a moral triumph

[morepork]

England have much more strike power than Ireland. We have the kicking game to keep them away from the posts but our pack will need to be right up for it. Elliot Daly is ripe for exploitation at the back. Our midfield is much more dynamic than theirs but if they settle into their structure they have some pace to finish off. They also have proper flankers for the first time in a while.

[Digby]

What are Reece and Bridge like under a box kick? Not that I want to give away our secret approach to playing rugby

[cashead]

Both are generally OK there. It's pretty much a required skill after our wingers got box-kicked into oblivion back in 2009.

[Lizard]

English RWC squad players who have beaten NZ (all once in 2012):
Jonathan Joseph (1 cap v NZ)
Mako Vunipola (1)
Dan Cole (3)
Manu Tuilagi (4)
Owen Farrell (5)
Joe Launchbury (5)
Courtney Lawes (7)
Ben Youngs (8)

English RWC squad players who have played but never beaten NZ:
Joe Marler (5)
Billy Vunipola (4)
Jonny May (3)
George Ford (2)
George Kruis (2)
Elliot Daly (1)
Jamie George (1)
Maro Itoje (1)
Jack Nowell (1)
Kyle Sinckler (1)
Henry Slade (1)
Sam Underhill (1)
Anthony Watson (1)
Mark Wilson (1)

English RWC squad players who have never played NZ:
Joe Cokanasiga
Luke Cowan-Dickie
Tom Curry
Piers Francis
Ellis Genge
Willi Heinz
Lewis Ludlam
Ruaridh McConnochie
Jack Singleton

[Lizard]

NZ RWC squad players who have never lost to England:
Beauden Barrett (5)
TJ Perenara (5)
Ryan Crotty (4)
Patrick Tuipulotu (3)
Sonny Bill Williams (3)
Scott Barrett (1)
Jack Goodhue (1)
Rieko Ioane (1)
Nepo Laulala (1)
Richie Mo'unga (1)
Ardie Savea (1)
Codie Taylor (1)
Matt Todd (1)
Ofa Tu'ungafasi (1)

NZ RWC squad players who have lost to England (all lost once in 2012):
Kieran Read (8 caps v England)
Sam Whitelock (8)
Dane Coles (7)
Brodie Retallick (7)
Aaron Smith (7)
Ben Smith (7)

NZ RWC squad players who have never played England:
Jordie Barrett
George Bridge
Sam Cane (63 caps but never played England!)
Liam Coltman
Shannon Frizell
Luke Jacobson
Anton Lienert-Brown
Atu Moli
Joe Moody
Sevu Reece
Angus Ta'avao
Brad Weber

[Puja]

You're forgetting the Lions. Daly, George, Itoje, Nowell, Sinckler, and Watson have all beaten NZ.

Puja

[Lizard]

You're forgetting the Lions. Daly, George, Itoje, Nowell, Sinckler, and Watson have all beaten NZ.

Puja

Shit. Good point!

[Digby]

You're forgetting the Lions. Daly, George, Itoje, Nowell, Sinckler, and Watson have all beaten NZ.

Puja

Shit. Good point!

I assumed it was sterling work to overlook the pointless jamboree. Still, at least England are finally recovering from the affect of the Lions tour

[Numbers]

You're forgetting the Lions. Daly, George, Itoje, Nowell, Sinckler, and Watson have all beaten NZ.

Puja

Did Nowell get off the bench in that game?

[Lizard]

You're forgetting the Lions. Daly, George, Itoje, Nowell, Sinckler, and Watson have all beaten NZ.

Puja

Did Nowell get off the bench in that game?

Yep. He replaced Watson during his HIA (24-30) minutes after SBW decided to shoulder Watson in the swede.

[Lizard]

Nigel Owens will have the whistle. Pretty happy with that.

[canta_brian]

According to Chris Ashton and Danny Care the following is what a combined NZ/England team would look like.

Backs: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Jonny May, 13 Sonny Bill Williams, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Aaron Smith.

Forwards: 1 Joe Marler, 2 Jamie George, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Maro Itoje, 6 Ardie Savea, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Billy Vunipola.

Any thoughts?

[Stom]

According to Chris Ashton and Danny Care the following is what a combined NZ/England team would look like.

Backs: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Jonny May, 13 Sonny Bill Williams, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Aaron Smith.

Forwards: 1 Joe Marler, 2 Jamie George, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Maro Itoje, 6 Ardie Savea, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Billy Vunipola.

Any thoughts?

lol.

I'd do something very difference.

BB, May, Tuilagi, Crotty, Reece, Ford, Smith, Mako, George, Sinckler, Retallick, Itoje, Who TF knows!

[Mellsblue]

According to Chris Ashton and Danny Care the following is what a combined NZ/England team would look like.

Backs: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Jonny May, 13 Sonny Bill Williams, 12 Manu Tuilagi, 11 Sevu Reece, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Aaron Smith.

Forwards: 1 Joe Marler, 2 Jamie George, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Maro Itoje, 6 Ardie Savea, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Billy Vunipola.

Any thoughts?

Much as I think he’s a solid bloke and a test quality player, even Joe Marler doesn’t think Joe Marler should be in that team.

[Lizard]

Oh man. Imagine going up against Itoje/Retallick!

What does Jamie George bring to the table?

Only an Englishman could pick SBW and Tuilagi as a centre combo. NEEDS MOAR BOSH!

[Puja]

Oh man. Imagine going up against Itoje/Retallick!

What does Jamie George bring to the table?

Only an Englishman could pick SBW and Tuilagi as a centre combo. NEEDS MOAR BOSH!

George is very good in the tight and at the basics, but his USP is his carrying and handling in the loose. He's quick, skillful and keeps the ball alive well.

SBW at 13, Tuilagi at 12, and Farrell at 10. The wingers seem largely irrelevant to that team! Mind, Care's a rubbish pundit, so it's to be expected.

I'd have:

Mako, George, Sinckler, Retallick, Whitelock (just), Savea, Cane, BillyV, Smith, Mo'unga, May, ALB, Tuilagi, Watson, Barrett

Touch and go on Whitelock/Itoje, BillyV/Read, and Mo'unga/Ford, but a comedy gap between Smith and Youngs (or any of your 9s and Youngs!)

Puja

[Lizard]

I guess it depends on whether you’re picking a team to play England’s game plan or NZ’s. I would probably go for Moody and Coles for their handling game. Sinckler is good though.

[Puja]

I guess it depends on whether you’re picking a team to play England’s game plan or NZ’s. I would probably go for Moody and Coles for their handling game. Sinckler is good though.

Oddly, I'd be picking Mako and George for the same reason!

Puja