the game this sat is really gonna be tuff to close to call really but it could end up as an all home nations final wouldn't that be nice

needles to set I'm rooting for England as there are 8 players from my local team in the squad

and on the plus side I've managed to see every game ina pub as quite a few are opening early for the games
but however there is a down side I'm not getting any tracklaying down on a sat at the mo and the dead line of when I wanted all the track down (about 120 yards) is getting closer I'm on my 3rd box of track tho so I have about 45 yards to go and considering I didn't start lay track till this July I'm doing OK  (my target is to get all the track down and tested by the end of the year )

Bit of a shame that Japan went down to South Africa. Now that the Aussies are gone, I was sort of rooting for the host team.

Ah well, we've got England vs Kiwis coming up. Looking forward to that, but once again with a little ambivalence.... while I am still English, I have spent a lot of holidays in NZ, and my old school mate lives there.

May the best team win! 

Similar to @Bealman I am still English, and my best mate is a kiwi, so this weekend is going to be interesting. Hopefully will get to watch the game even if on catchup before SWMBO wakes up the next morning.

So you're going for the kiwis, then? 

Quote from: Bealman on October 23, 2019, 08:37:14 AM
So you're going for the kiwis, then? 

Kiwi by birth and passport; Scots by domicile, passport and parents.

Best

Scott

Looking forward to the All Blacks vs the Springboks in the final. I hope that the Springboks put up a good fight at least.

Webbo

Right, so we've got a turn coat Englishman from Wongolongoland, a Kiwi with Scottish blood and an Aussie (I think) with leanings towards South Africa  .

Just seeing what we're up against on the banter front  .

Bring it on!   

Cheers weave 

Quote from: weave on October 23, 2019, 10:34:55 AM
Right, so we've got a turn coat Englishman from Wongolongoland, a Kiwi with Scottish blood and an Aussie (I think) with leanings towards South Africa  .

Just seeing what we're up against on the banter front  .

Bring it on!   

Cheers weave 

Nothing from me Weave, I'll just let the MIB provide the "bants"........

Webbo might have something to say about that!

Bring it on!! 

Wales haven't played particularly well but have found a way to win most games over the past couple of years (plus they have a good recent record v SA).  SA play an even more limited version of rugby than England but if you let their forwards and centres get on top then they've got the power to blow most teams away - the problem comes that better teams offer too much variety for them.  I can definitely see Wales winning that SF.

England v NZ - I'll mostly be watching from behind the sofa or shouting at the TV! Far from the best ABs team ever but the relentless pressure wears teams down. England's defence needs to be on the top of their game, but if England get a bit of control and more importantly territory they've shown that they have the backs to score points. It feels quite strange to say that this current ABs side has some distinctly average players in it but interspersed with some of the potentially best players ever (B Barrett, Retallick, Read). The percentages always favour NZ but this England team definitely have a decent chance.

I spent my foramtive years in Canada, but have spent most of my life in Australia. Ice hockey is my #1 sport, then daylight, but rugby is a solid #2.

To me the ABs are a master class and the Springboks play hard - I like them too. Would be quite happy if England or Wales were in the final, but what is most important is that we are treated to a good suspenseful, skillful game no matter which teams are there.

My preference is for a Southern Hemisphere to win though.

Webbo

The New Zealand team to face England: 

15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Anton Lienert-Brown, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 1 Joe Moody, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Nepo Laulala, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 6 Scott Barrett, 7 Ardie Savea, 8 Kieran Read (capt).

Replacements:  Dane Coles, Ofa Tuungafasi, Angus Ta'avao, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Cane, TJ Perenara, Sonny Bill Williams, Jordie Barrett.


Just the one change, Barret in for Cane, which might be a bit surprising, but he's a bit bulkier than Cane, which will help. He also adds to the lineout mix, maybe giving better options there.

Beauden stays at 15. I thought he had a near perfect game against Ireland, reminded me of Carter's performance in the second test against the Lions, 2005. Not that it was anything like as complete a performance, it just reminded me of it.

Key for England is to get a good start and they mustn't make any mistakes. This All Black side are ruthless with mistakes. Ireland were on the backfoot from the very start and never recovered. South Africa started well but were punished heavily for mistakes.

I'm not sure I'd agree with Mike regarding distinctly average players, but it's not the best collection of individuals I've seen in the black jersey, and there have been a couple of performances this year that haven't been great. And goal kicking remains a concern at times.I do think they are clicking as a team at the right time though.

An NZ win by 10 or 14 for me.

Best

Scott

We'd prefer to meet England in the final, so we can spoil another RWC for them!

Mike

I'm not sure that I want to tempt fate by saying who and why I think are average in the NZ team! However I don't think the 10, wingers, centres or flankers would have got into the NZ team even 2-4 years ago. 

Mo'unga isn't the best 10 in the team though his goal kicking is much better than B Barrett's!
Reece/Bridge aren't a patch on Reiko Ioane (at his best), Naholo or Julian Savea.
Goodhue/Lienert-Brown similarly currently fall short compared to Nonu and Conrad Smith.
Same with back row when compared to McCaw/Kaino.

I completely accept that these are slightly unfair comparisons and that Hansen can only pick who is available, not too old and on form! Perhaps I'm spoilt as I've been fortunate enough to see NZ play a lot over the last 8 years (courtesy of my mum living in NZ!) so it isn't a view I say lightly!

I didn't see the article but a few days ago one of the papers picked a "combined" Eng/NZ team and IIRC there were 8 England players v 7 NZ players, but the writer (and plenty of others) made the point that NZ's strength is not in the individual (though they have plenty of very talented individuals - Ben Smith, B Barrett and SBW are some of the most talented rugby players I've ever seen!) but in the team - undoubtedly true.

Hence I shall be hiding behind the sofa every time the ABs get the ball anywhere on the pitch!

As an aside I was surprised that Scott Barrett was picked at 6 - strengthens the line out (which England can be shaky at) but weakens the ABs at the break down which I'm not sure makes too much sense playing against Curry and Underhill (both of whom have been superb). England have recalled George Ford which is a smart move (provided we don't let A Savea or Read run at him too much!).